C2 Do You Love Me?

"Alright, that's right," Daniel said briefly in a softer tone.

Emily was relieved to hear those words. Although she still felt a little nervous, she felt proud that she had overcome the challenge.

"What is my schedule today?" asked Daniel.

"This morning at 10:30, you have a conference call with a large overseas client. Next, at 12:00 you have lunch with a potential partner at XYZ restaurant. After that, at 2 p.m., you have a meeting with the sales team to discuss strategies to increase the promotion of products and services in conference room A.," Emily said while continuing to explain all the details of Daniel's schedule.

"Okay, make sure all the presentation materials are ready and available. Also, make sure that the meeting room is also well-prepared for any scheduled events.,"

"Yes, sir. I will make sure that all presentation materials are ready and prepared for the meeting rooms properly as needed."

"I also need all the information before a conference call with a big client from overseas," Daniel said with assertiveness.

"Yes, sir. I will immediately prepare all the information for the conference call." Emily replied while bowing her head respectfully before stepping away to complete the task ordered by her superior.

However, Daniel suddenly called her back, making Emily's heart skip a beat. "Wait, Emily."

"I want you to accompany me on my way to meet my business partner tomorrow in Thailand," Daniel ordered firmly.

"What, sir?" asked Emily, unable to believe what she had just heard. Normally, Daniel always went on business trips with his personal assistant.

"Were my words unclear to you?" asked Daniel with a sigh, looking rather reluctant to repeat himself.

"I'm sorry, sir. I didn't mean that. I meant... It's..." Emily stammered as she tried to explain.

"Accompany me tomorrow on a trip to meet a business partner in Thailand. Is that clear?" said Daniel slowly, trying not to repeat himself.

"Y-yes, sir," Emily replied, but a look of doubt was clear on her face.

"Why are you afraid to go on a business trip with me? Do I look like someone who would do something to you?" Daniel asked.

"Of course not, sir. I'm just confused because Mr. Richard usually accompanies you," Emily said a little nervously.

"Richard can't accompany me on this trip because he has to take tomorrow off," Daniel explained.

"Yes, sir. I will accompany you," Emily said while still standing in front of Daniel for fear that her boss would say something more. But after waiting for a long time, Daniel said nothing at all.

"Why are you still here?" asked Daniel, looking at Emily, who was still standing in front of him.

"Eh? I'm sorry, sir," said Emily, about to leave Daniel's room, but because of her lack of caution, she tripped and fell. The sound of Emily falling made Daniel immediately turn to her.

"What happened to you?" asked Daniel, with an annoyed face.

"It's nothing, sir. I'm sorry," Emily said as she stood up and rushed out of Daniel's room.

Daniel shook his head at his secretary's behavior and exhaled harshly. After that, he refocused on the documents on his desk.

"Ouch, my knee hurts," Emily hissed as she winced in pain and stroked her aching knee.

"Should I really go with him on this business trip? He's so cold and scary," Emily muttered.

"Not to mention that he's so arrogant. Why do I have to end up being his secretary?" Emily muttered softly, cursing her bad luck.

Emily took out her cell phone, then typed a message to send to Ethan.

After you're done with your reunion, come see me. No excuses.

The hours passed quickly, and it was finally time for Emily to return home after completing all the daily tasks according to the set schedule. She closed her computer and moved towards the elevator. Along the corridor, Emily saw that Daniel Winston had not yet returned to his room, probably because of his busy schedule. Emily looked at her phone again and there was a message notification.

I'll see you later but it's a bit late, after my reunion is over.

After getting into her car, Emily immediately started the engine and drove down the street. Just as Emily was leaving, Daniel arrived at the company with his personal assistant. He rushed to the elevator and pressed the floor number where his office was located.

"Sir, there was a message earlier that the chairperson invited you to dinner at his residence tonight," Daniel's personal assistant said as he relayed the message.

"Alright, I'll be there later," Daniel said.

"Yes, sir," replied his personal assistant.

Daniel walked towards his office after the elevator stopped right at the floor he wanted to go to.

***

After Emily arrived home, she saw her father had returned from work.

"How was your day, Em?" her father asked.

"Bad, Dad," Emily replied.

"Who has treated my daughter badly today? I'll fight him for you," said Fred.

"Will you fight my boss for me too?" asked Emily with a smile.

"Of course I'd be happy to do that for you," said Fred, making Emily laugh.

"Dad, don't you want to get married again?" asked Emily, hoping her father could find a replacement for her mother.

"Do you want to kick me out of this house?" asked Fred to his daughter in a joking tone.

"That's right. I want to kick Dad out of the house," Emily said with a laugh.

"I'm not getting married until I walk you down the aisle to your future husband at the wedding. I need to see my daughter happy first," Fred said sincerely.

Hearing Fred's words made Emily speechless. The kindness of her father, who loved her so much, touched her. For a moment, she reflected on her relationship with Ethan and felt that all the love Ethan gave her already felt very different.

"Em, what's wrong with you? Why do you look sad like that? Shouldn't you be happy that today is your birthday?" asked Fred with concern.

"I don't know, Dad," Emily replied in a weak voice.

"Don't you have anything going on with Ethan today?" asked Fred curiously.

"It might be a bit late," replied Emily.

Finally, as Ethan had promised, he came to see Emily a little later in the evening after the reunion with his friends had ended.

"Hello, Ethan. How are you?" asked Fred.

"Fine, Uncle. I want to pick up Emily," said Ethan, asking Fred for permission.

After asking permission, they immediately left the house.

"I'll go first, Dad." said Emily.

"Be careful on the road, okay?"

"Then, if you'll excuse us, Uncle," said Ethan, Fred only responded with a smile.

When she got into Ethan's car, Emily seemed more silent. She was still very upset with Ethan.

After a while, they finally arrived at a restaurant. Emily and Ethan sat in the restaurant. They felt a tense atmosphere between them.

"Are you still mad at me?" asked Ethan, carefully starting the conversation.

"Of course," Emily replied in a stern tone. Pain and disappointment were clear in her eyes.

Ethan sighed, trying to explain himself. "Em..." he said quietly, making Emily turn to him.

"I'm disappointed in you because it's like you don't think of me as your lover. For two weeks now, I've been waiting to hear from you. I was so worried because you just disappeared. Even on my birthday today, you forgot about it," Emily said with an annoyed expression.

Ethan was silent, trying to find the right words to explain his feelings. "Do we have to fight over a little thing like this?" he asked.

"Little things? You disappear without news for two weeks and that's a small thing for you? While I've been anxious about you," Emily looked at Ethan with an incredulous expression.

"Please be honest with me. Did you ever love me? Why do I feel like I'm the only one who hopes for your presence while you don't?" Emily said in a choked voice. Tears ran down her cheeks. She felt angry and upset with Ethan's indifference towards her all this time.

Ethan was silent, not knowing what to answer. He looked at their table, where a server had just served their drinks. The atmosphere became silent.

"Why are you silent? Did you ever love me?" asked Emily repeating her question.

"I know it was me who loved you for the first time. I was the one who had the courage to confess my feelings to you. But all this time, I thought you reciprocated my feelings because you looked like you were loving me. But was I wrong about that interpretation? Did you never love me?" asked Emily.

"Never mind, you're thinking too much," said Ethan, looking ignorant, and started sipping the drink in front of him.

Emily sighed deeply before finally expressing her feelings firmly. "I'm too tired of this relationship. Can you give me clarity about our relationship? I don't want to marry someone whose heart never beats for me," she said in a trembling voice.

"What more clarity do you want, Em? You know I'm not a person who is good at stringing together beautiful words. Just being together for a few years should be enough to explain my seriousness to you," Ethan said in a firm tone.

Emily felt a deepening disappointment in her heart. She wanted to hear words of love from Ethan, not just a flat explanation. "I want an answer to my question, Et! Do you love me?" asked Emily, insisting on hearing a sincere answer from Ethan.