'She is not the typical woman who would be clingy to our master, she evaded him even more.' Gary observed.

"Miss Howard, wait!" Gary ran after her.

Ingrid heard him, so she stopped her tracks and waited for him.

"Where is Mr. Briggs office?"

"Follow me, Miss Howard." Gary used the CEO's elevator.

Ingrid was silent and thought about what had been revealed. She was contemplating Lance confession. She was wondering why he did those things to her. Why her parents did allowed such agreement. Why her?

She is really in deep thought that she just unconsciously following Gary and never listened to him. She even did not notice that she was already inside the office of the CEO.

'I really should talk to them. They should have prevented it the moment I ran away from them. And this Clifford Briggs, he's seeping through my nerves! What are his motives?' Ingrid frowned at that thought and rolled her eyes remembering what he said to her before he left earlier on the rooftop.

'You look amazing tonight, Ingrid...' those words keeps on echoing in her mind that she shook her head thinking that through that it will go away.

...

Clifford was talking to the client when he heard a knock on the door. Gary entered followed by Ingrid who seems to be mentally absent. Her eyes where moving to and fro, she even frowned and then rolled her eyes and then shook her head later.

Clifford gestured Gary to go and signalled to be quiet. He was so amused looking at the expression displayed by the woman before him. She seems not aware that she is already in his office.

He stood up from his chair and went over where she is standing. Still she did not notice him. Clifford then cleared his throat.

"Aheemmm..." Ingrid was startled when she heard his voice that she almost lost her balance. Luckily, Clifford immediately cleaves to both her hands.

'Goodness! Why am I so clumsy, when he's around? I hate this!' she grumbled.

"Are you okay? You seem in daze?"

"Y-yeah. I am so tired, so let's get down to business." Her voice is seriousness but tiredness is written all over her face.

"Are you sure? Or should we just to discuss about it tomorrow?" Ingrid was confused.

"What are you talking about?" she asked creasing her brow.

"You look so tired and unfocused. I think you need a rest first. We'll just talk about it tomorrow." No hint of emotion could be heard in his voice but his inward parts are shouting to console her.

Great control he had to exert just to hide the urging he felt.

"Believe it or not, I can manage it. Besides, if it's not that urgent or important matter, why would you waste your time and effort just to make a sudden flight on the rooftop, right? I even chose to be here and disappointed Lance. Wouldn't it be irrational if you'll just postpone it just because you think that I am unfocused?" Clifford almost choked when he heard her rationalization.

He almost forgot that the woman before him is not an easy woman that mostly he knew. She is a very rational person and wise. She almost caught his manoeuvre.

"Oh... that's good to hear. Please have a seat." Ingrid sits at the couch while Clifford took the doc.u.ments from his table.

He then gave it to Ingrid and sat opposite to her. Ingrid flipped the doc.u.ments and was curious as to why the clients decided to have a conference with them in Maldives for two days and two nights.

"I really don't understand it, why do they choose this place? It's very inconvenient and impractical."

"We could not say no to their request, since we would like to collaborate with them." Clifford was no longer confident with his plan when she noticed that she is starting to suspect. "...besides, it's. .h.i.tting two birds in one stone; you'll close the deal while at the same time enjoying the beach. It's mixing business with pleasure, Ingrid. Haven't you tried that?"