Chapter 1.1 - Chen

'Have you ever loved someone, sir?" Arman, who was standing in front of me, asked while I flipped through the pages to look at the reports that were filed in folders. He has been married to a younger woman since he was in his late thirties just a few years ago. Although the work was physically and mentally demanding, he stayed and remained loyal, unlike the majority of his peers. So, his question caught my attention. My eyebrows furrowed in response while showing a faint smile on my face. 'Why did you ask that?" 'I don't know. I wondered why you remained single all these years. Well, in fact, you have everything a woman wanted," he paused and gestured by raising his arm a bit to emphasize what he was talking about. 'You know, I don't mean to pry over your private matters, sir. You have the face, money, and fame. Unlike you, I don't have such things but I was able to find my true love. So, I was wondering if you fell in love with someone at least in your life. Did you?" I glanced briefly at him and noticed that his hands were threaded while waiting for my reaction. He gulped when our gazes met. I let out a soft chuckle before I found the right answer to his question. 'I did," I said, almost stuttering with his face forward. 'How come you didn't end up together?" 'It was a complicated situation." He nodded in agreement. 'I see." He noticed that I was about to finish signing the papers he wanted me to sign before the meeting. 'I didn't mean to meddle with your private life, sir. It's just that everyone in this company has been talking about it only to find ourselves guessing. Some of them were even betting on your love life." 'Is that so?" I scoffed while leaning against the back of the chair with my hands draped on the armrest. 'Yes, sir," he approached my table to grab the folders and wrapped his arms around them, hugging them to carry all the reports at once. 'Anyway, we are almost prepared for the upcoming meeting this week." 'Are you good?" He nodded. 'Yes, I'll go ahead after you sign the papers today and continue working on it." 'Sure, you can leave now." 'Yes, sir," he nodded in agreement and turned to walk towards the exit. When I heard the doors close, I rose and faced the large windows, taking in the beauty of the city and hearing nothing but silence within my office walls. I reached inside the pockets of my dark plaid slacks with my hands. A creaking sound came through the door, followed by footsteps from a woman's heels. I cocked my head to check the view from the side. She looked familiar. When I turned to face her, I said in a chilly baritone, 'Anna." She grinned and moved to the couch, where she sat with her legs crossed. 'How have you been, Chen?" She hummed and smirked as she elevated her face without losing eye contact. She laughed. 'We haven't seen each other in ten years. How are you doing?" I took a deep breath and walked over to the couch in front of her. But I stood there with my arms folded. 'I'm good." I approached the cabinet and opened it, taking two glasses and a bottle of wine with me before I shifted my gaze. She shrugged. 'It's okay. If that's how you express your hospitality, I don't mind a red wine during the day. That is much appreciated." She leaned her body forward towards the table with her purse and coat on her side and her elbows on her lap. Her hands were interlaced as she looked at me suspiciously.