Chapter 6: Elevator

In the blink of an eye, morning arrived. Numerous people have started going through their humdrum daily routines, including getting up, taking a shower, having breakfast, and commuting to work. All activities were done hastily, as if they were running out of time. Everyone was the same in the face of work; they had to start before the boss even arrived. Kathrina wasn't an exemption.

Kathrina lowered her head and tapped her finger on the wall while waiting for the elevator to drop to the ground floor. The ding sound made Kathrina raise her head to look at the indicator above, which showed the 20th floor. The elevator doors opened smoothly. It revealed a shadow of a man standing in front of it until it finally exposed the full figure of the man. Kathrina scanned the man from head to toe without a slight hint of embarrassment. The man towered over her; he was about 6'2" ft tall. He had a couple of thick eyebrows, and under them were pair of brown orbs; they were sharp, almost like an eagle; he also had a perfect nose, a nose someone would ask at the plastic surgery clinic. Lastly, his lips were kissable. At the end of her quick observation, Kathrina concluded that the man was an excellent specimen.

The man, Arthur, entered the elevator and positioned himself right beside her. From his peripheral view, he stole a glance at her. The woman definitely looked better than yesterday. Suddenly, and for no apparent reason, he broke the silence, "Are you feeling better?"

Startled, Kathrina's eyes landed on him at a rapid pace. Her brows frowned together, and the perplexity that she felt was vividly shown on her face. "I'm sorry?" she asked carefully.

'She did not remember me' Arthur almost laughed with the sudden realization. "You vomited yesterday."

Katharina shifted her posture to face him as if she had received a flash of insight, "I'm sorry, I was rude. Yesterday must be uncomfortable for you." She remembered how she talked back to him; her tone was harsher than she intended.

"It's okay. I assumed you felt embarrassed to be seen like that."

"I was not embarrassed. It was just your coffee."

"My coffee?" Arthur's tone sounded like he did not believe her.

"I loathe coffee."

Her answer only made Arthur probe further because what he saw yesterday was not only her pale face. But he also caught her gaze wandering left and right in a hurry, like she was scared. Arthur holds himself back from asking.

"It was my fault then. I'm sorry, Miss…" He deliberately trailed his last words.

"It's Kathrina."

"I'm sorry for the coffee, Kathrina."

Kathrina's head snapped to the left, their gaze locked together; He studied her as if he wanted to solve the most complicated question in SAT while she looked at him in a daze. She was shocked by how beautiful her name sounded when he said it.

The tranquil atmosphere between them shattered the moment the elevator voiced its sign that they had arrived at their destination. Both came out from the elevator like the elevator was on fire.

Kathrina's steps were faster than his; she wanted to get away from that man. Her instinct told her to stay as far as possible from that man's reach. She had an inkling that if she neglected the alarm in her head, she would make a grave mistake.

"Why are you walking so fast?" Arthur's voice echoed through the basement.

Kathrina did not stop her steps but slowed her feet just to make it as if she was waiting for him to catch up. "I'm late."

"It's only seven." He said carelessly.

Kathrina halted her steps. His nonchalant answer irritated her, "Not everyone is a boss like you, Sir."

Her remark made Arthur grin. He did not consider the possibility of her being an employee. Instead, he thought she was the boss of her own business because she lived in the Centre Palace Apartment, which meant she had enough money to burn.

"It was very insensitive of me. I'm sorry."

Kathrina shrugged and did not look interested enough in whatever he said to give him a reply. Instead, she measured the distance between her and her car. She had to walk proximity two hundred meters. Running could be a better choice, but the man was not going to let her go because, right now, he was already walking with her.

"I forgot to say my name. I am Arthur." Even though Kathrina didn't ask, Arthur went ahead and introduced himself. He kept his gaze on her just to see her reaction, whether she would recognize him as Arthur Ford, the CEO of FSS or not. Much to his dismay, she did not react at all. Nothing. She ignored his existence like he was only air flowing freely around her.

" Would you please stop staring at me? It is uncomfortable." Kathrina made her voice sound colder than usual, hoping Arthur could take a hint that she wanted to be left alone.

"Okay."

After that, they ceased communicating with one another. The faster Kathrina walked, the more space she created between her and Arthur. It was imperative that she get to the station before the arrival of her team leader. They had to discuss Alex Frank's case again. In no time, Kathrina managed to reach her small car. She pressed the key in her hand until the sound indicator beeped. Then, with ease, she slipped her body. When she was to close her car, she heard him saying 'see you around in his deep sexy voice.

After buckling her seatbelt, Kathrina started the vehicle's engine and waited two minutes before putting her foot on the gas pedal. Then, she took a look from the rear mirror, and there she saw him still glued in the same place, watching as her car drove away.

When Kathrina's car vanished from his vision, Arthur finally entered his vehicle. He leaned his forehead on the steering wheel. Arthur could not believe he had just made an awful first impression. Annoyed, he hit the steering wheel.

Arthur closed his eyes in order to get his usual self back; he could not face his employee with another face except the cold and indifferent ones. It was his default expression toward most people, other than his closed one.

'But Kathrina is a stranger, yet you treat her differently….' He felt like he could hear his own voice whisper in his ear. 'You are attracted to her.' Once again, the voice whispered a sweet seduction to his ear.

While he was drowned in his thought, as in a cue, the flash of a certain short-haired woman with dead eyes suddenly struck his mind like a heavy storm. The image of her running in his head was so vivid as if it was a short video playing in the highest quality.

Arthur recalled her dead eyes; they almost seemed empty but still appeared beautiful and enchanting. He wondered what she had gone through that made her lose the gleam of life in her eyes. Someone with that kind of eye must have gone to hell and come back alive.

'Her eyes' in shock, Arthur straightened his body as though he received an answer from God. "Right, it must be her lifeless eyes." He muttered slowly. Her eyes were the magnet; it was what pulled him to her. He wanted to know her story. He had the strong urge to peel every mask she used till what could be seen was only her. It was a madness need, and he'd be damned if he acted on it.

Arthur was so lost in his mind that he did not realize that he had wasted his precious fifteen minutes thinking about Kathrina.

The ringtone of his phone woke him from his daydreaming. On the screen, it showed Belle Hills. Arthur pressed the green icon, then held the phone near his ear.

"Yes?"

"Arthur, where are you? We are almost late." Belle sounded agitated; it showed because his name flowed easily from her throat. He could imagine her going back and forth in the lobby, waiting for him.

"Ask Dion to drive you. I will meet you there."

"What? Did something happen?"

'Yeah, Kathrina happened.' He answered his question in silence and let the lie out of his mouth. "Nothing. I woke up late."

"Late? You?" Belle voiced her question in disbelief. Arthur was never late; he was the definition of punctual.

"Hmm, I'll see you there, Belle."

He ended their communication with her and started to drive his car to the Grand Blue Hotel. He needed to get this client for his future plan, so Kathrina's matter could wait. He would take his time to debate the positive and negative effects of his interest in Kathrina. Right now, he had to complete his responsibility until it succeeded; then, Kathrina should never occupy his mind again.