After a minute, the elevator door swings open, and I bolt out of there like a madman, desperate to put some distance between me and Mr.Mu Liam. I reach my workspace and slump into my chair, immersing myself in work to escape the lingering unease.           

"Hey there," a voice calls out from behind me. I jump, startled, as the office had been eerily silent just moments before. Turning around, I see Maria standing there, her presence bringing a sense of calm. 

"Maria," I exhale, relieved to see a familiar face. "You scared the living daylights out of me," I confess, trying to shake off the lingering tension. Maria chuckles, her grin putting me at ease. "Sorry about that, Emily," she offers.

"It's okay," I reply, grateful for her familiar presence. "Why are you still here?" Maria asks, her question sending a shiver down my spine. The implications swirl in my mind, a nagging sense of dread creeping in. "Working...?" I offer tentatively, my voice betraying my apprehension.          "Why are you still working?" Maria presses, her words causing a knot of anxiety to form in my stomach. Confusion and fear dance in my mind, a silent question lingering in the air. Am I... in trouble? Am I... being let go? 

"Emily, stand up and see by yourself," Maria interrupts my spiraling thoughts, her voice soft but insistent. I rise from my chair, hesitantly scanning the room to find it empty – my coworkers vanished without a trace. Panic sets in as my mind races with worst-case scenarios. They're not fired, right? The company isn't in trouble? I stammer, my voice trembling in my mind. Maria takes my shaking hand, her touch grounding me in reality.

 "Emily, didn't they tell you?" she asks gently, her words cutting through the fog of fear clouding my mind. What... what do she mean ? , my heart pounding in my chest. Maria's eyes search mine, a mix of concern and reassurance evident in her gaze. "Are you feeling sick?" she asks, her voice filled with compassion. 

"No, I'm fine," I reply quickly, trying to push aside the rising panic. "Are you sure?" Maria persists, her worry palpable. "Yes, I'm sure. But please, tell me what's going on," I plead, desperate for answers to dispel the growing dread. "It's nothing bad, Emily. We're leaving early for a party, a celebration for Mu Company," Maria explains, her words a lifeline in the sea of uncertainty. Relief washes over me, grounding me in the present moment. "A party?" I exclaim, a mix of surprise and disbelief in my voice. 

I remember Maria mentioning it on my first day at Mu Company. "How could I forget?" I muse,, trying to shake off the lingering anxiety."Did you remember anything at all?" Maria raises an eyebrow, her voice tinged with amusement. I force a smile, but the weight of uncertainty still lingers. "Not really," I admit, a sense of vulnerability creeping in."Really?" Maria's voice is filled with a mix of amusement and concern. 

"Yeah, it's like my brain decided to take a vacation," I joke, trying to lighten the mood. Maria laughs, her warmth breaking through the tension."Emily, let's cut the games and get ourselves ready. We need to get dresses or we'll be late for the party," Maria nudges me, a hint of excitement in her voice as she steers us towards a brighter moment.  

She beckoned me to her car, a sleek and vibrant red vehicle that looked as fast and beautiful as she did. "Get in," she ordered with a confident smile. I turned to look for Maria behind me, but she was already in the driver's seat when I faced forward. She was quick, I thought to myself as I quickly jumped into the passenger seat.Maria brought the car to life with a turn of the key, the engine purring to a start.

 She began to drive, not too fast or slow, but at a steady medium speed. As we cruised along, she turned on a song, the melody filling the car with its beauty. I couldn't help but feel a sense of excitement and exhilaration as she drove, the wind blowing through the open windows. Maria's presence and the music created a perfect harmony, making for a memorable and thrilling ride.

https://youtu.be/tRFLs_-54gE

As the current song came to an end, I interjected, "Do you mind if I pick the next one?" Maria glanced at me with a smile and replied, "Sure, go ahead!" Her easy acceptance of my request made me feel more at ease and comfortable. 

I quickly scrolled through the playlist, searching for a song that matched the mood of our drive. 

After a moment of consideration, I selected a upbeat tune that I knew we both would enjoy. As the music filled the car once again, I couldn't help but notice how Maria's eyes lit up with appreciation for the song choice. The rest of the journey continued with laughter and shared enjoyment of the music, creating a bond between us that felt truly special.

https://youtu.be/KQvYQPpkm4U

As the second song began to play, Maria and I couldn't help but get caught up in the music, with both of us singing along and bobbing our heads to the beat. The energy in the car was infectious, and we shared a moment of pure joy and connection.Before we knew it, we had arrived at the shopping center. The ride had flown by in a whirlwind of music and laughter, and I couldn't help but feel a pang of disappointment that it was over.

Exiting the car, Maria and I exchanged a knowing smile, the bond between us strengthened by our shared experience. I knew that this impromptu car ride with Maria was one I would never forget. center, with the music still blasting from the car speakers. Maria and I were in high spirits, dancing and laughing as we made our way towards the entrance. People passing by couldn't help but smile at our infectious energy.

As we entered the shopping center, the song continued to play in the background, adding an extra pep to our step as we browsed the stores. Maria and I were like two peas in a pod, enjoying each other's company and the shared moment of spontaneous fun.Our impromptu dance party in the car had set the tone for a memorable day of shopping and bonding with Maria. I couldn't wait to see what other adventures awaited us.

As we entered the shopping center, the storekeeper greeted us with a cheerful "Welcome." Maria immediately stated, "I need the best dress for tonight." I glanced at her and replied, "Sure, follow me," said the shopping assistant, leading us to the dress section.

After trying on almost 10 dresses without finding one we loved, I turned to Maria and inquired, "Why are you waiting for me? What about your dress?" She proudly displayed a stunning blue shimmering dress she had already chosen. "I love it, I think it looks great on you," I complimented her. "Girl, that's why I brought it," Maria replied. I remained silent, continuing my search for the perfect dress for myself.

Suddenly, the storekeeper approached me from behind, holding a beautiful yellow dress. "What about this one?" she suggested. Intrigued by the new brand from Paris, I decided to try it on. Maria then took my hand and urged, "Go... Go Emily, try it on," with a smile on her face. I took the dress from the shopkeeper and entered the fitting room. 

As I tried it on, the dress fit me perfectly. Stepping out, Maria's expression of delight confirmed my choice. "You...you look gorgeous!" she exclaimed, clearly impressed by my appearance.

Maria insisted on buying the dress for me, but I insisted on paying. "No, you can't buy this, it costs a lot. I'll pay for it," I argued. Maria cheekily challenged me to a deal, saying, "What about a deal? You buy me lunch tomorrow, and I'll buy this dress." After a moment of contemplation, I agreed, "Sure." Maria then instructed, "Go and change."

After paying for our purchases, we left the store and drove back to Maria's luxurious home. As we got ready in her room, applying makeup and styling our hair, we prepared for the upcoming party. "The party will start soon, we need to go," Maria reminded me, and we quickly finished our preparations.

Leaving her house and locking the door behind us, Maria asked if I had everything I needed. "Yeah," I replied. "Get in," Maria instructed as we approached her car. She took the driver's seat, and I settled into the passenger seat, excited for the party ahead

After arriving at the party, we noticed the shimmering lights outside, with a red carpet laid out for the guests' grand entrance. "Let's go in," Maria suggested, and we stepped out of her car while a valet driver took her car to the parking area. As we walked the red carpet like celebrities, there were paparazzi and news media photographers capturing moments of not just us but also other guests making their arrival.

Emily

Maria

As we finished walking the red carpet, a guard approached us and requested, "Invitation card, please." I felt a pang of panic that Maria might have forgotten it, but she confidently handed him the card. With the guardian's approval, we entered the party, greeted by a sight of elegance and grandeur.

 "Enjoy," Maria said as she prepared to mingle with her old friends."Are you leaving?" I asked, not wanting to be left alone. "Yeah, I'm going to look for my old friends," Maria responded, ready to explore the party on her own. "Okay, bye," I said, watching her disappear into the crowd as she ventured off to reconnect with familiar faces.

I picked up a drink from a guy who was offering them to guests. When I turned, I saw Mu Liam smiling with his friends. "Hi," a voice greeted me. Turning towards the voice, I realized it was a stranger.

Mu.James

 "Hello," I replied. "Are you Emily?" he asked. "Yes, I am," I confirmed. "I am Mu James," he introduced himself. "You're the manager, right?" I inquired. "Yes, I am," James replied. "It's nice to meet you," I said, shaking his hand.

 He looked handsome in his black suit tonight. James then suggested introducing me to his brother. "Oh, sure," I agreed, not knowing who his brother was. He called out to his brother, "Mu Liam," and my heart raced as I realized who he was. Mu Liam approached us, looking equally handsome in a matching outfit with James.

Mu liam

 "This is Emily," James introduced me. Mu Liam gazed at me with an intensity that made me feel warm. "Emily," he echoed my name, locking eyes with me. "Yes, she's Emily, our new employee, as pretty as her friend," James commented.

 "Did you know my friend?" I questioned, surprised that he might know Rose, my cousin who is also my friend. "Yes, she is Maria, right?" James confirmed, and I smiled with gratitude. "Yes," I responded. Suddenly, someone called out to James from behind. "Excuse me, I have to go," James excused himself. "See you," I bid farewell. 

As James left, I found myself alone with Mu Liam, who continued to gaze at me with an unreadable expression. "Have we met before?" Mu Liam asked, making me feel increasingly warm and nervous. "No, I don't think so," I replied, trying to maintain composure. Just then, a girl called out to Mu Liam from behind. When I turned, I recognized Hana, the Paris model. She approached us and took Mu Liam's hand. "Hi, are you...?" she began, looking at me. "Emily, my name is Emily," I introduced myself.

 "Emily," Hana smiled. "I miss you so much, Liam," she expressed, turning her attention to Mu Liam. "Hana, can you act properly?" Mu Liam gently removed her hand from his arm. Sensing the tension, I excused myself, saying, "Excuse me, I need to go." "Sure, see you soon, Emily," Hana bid me farewell with a smile. I moved away from them, watching from a distance. Maybe he has a girlfriend. Yes, I'm free now. He'll never find me. I turned to another direction, avoiding looking back at them.

 The music started, and people began dancing. "Can you dance with me?" James asked, already next to me. Just as I was about to take his hand, Mu Liam held mine. "What is it?" James inquired. "Mu Liam," Hana called out from behind. Our eyes met, and I noticed that he was still holding my hand. "We need to talk," Mu Liam finally spoke up. I felt a rush of warmth and nerves. Damn it.

********

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see you in next chapter:)