Armani.

"Are you okay?" Enate asked, forcing me out of the abyss of hypnosis.

I cleared my throat. "Yes."

"You look pale."

"I'm fine, can we eat someplace else?" I asked, desperate to leave.

"This is our favorite place. Don't play games with me young woman, what's going on?" he questioned, his forehead creasing with worry and concern.

"Nothing, I just..." I threw a hand to my forehead, unexpectedly running out of excuses why I needed to leave. I couldn't tell him that on the far end of this same table, sat the people I did not wish to meet. Not when I couldn't recognize what Hazel did to herself. Did she go for cosmetic surgery?

"You feel sick?" Enate asked.

"Yes," I responded, amused. How could I not have thought about that? "Yes, I don't feel so well."

"I'm sorry. We will leave right away. Oh..." He furrowed his eyebrows. I wondered if he saw or recognized Ms. Asa too, why else would he be surprised?

"What's going on?"

"There's...a lady. She is calling us," he stated. "I think she knows you. Let's say hi and we will leave right away."

I nodded and turned to see who called us, disappointed to find the same people I was trying to run away from, calling us.

If only I could be invisible.

Without another word, we made it to the far end of the table. My eyes landed on the last person I need to see. Even after so many years, she did not fail to make my insides turn with disgust.

Hannah Ford.

Even the thought of her name made me feel dizzy. Despite my displeasure, I managed to plaster a plastic smile on my face as I greeted.

"Hi." I smiled at Hannah, then Hazel.

My fucking goodness she looked fucking gorgeous and I could not even contain myself. I wanted to scream.

She was more breathtaking up close. Her hair was perfect, straight, and cut up to just under her chin, giving it a nice bob cut. I had no idea what she had done to her face but it glowered more than ever. Not because of any makeup. It naturally glowed.

Her lips were concealed by a deep maroon lipstick and I couldn't stop licking mine. Suddenly feeling like trash in her presence. When did this transformation happen?

My eyes darted to her maroon shirt, hiding under a dark jacket. A few buttons left open, not too much, but from where I stood I was able to take a peek at her cleavage. Fucking wow, again.

Was it just me or had she suddenly turned into this dangerous beauty goddess? Overnight?

"Hey," Hannah chirped, bringing me back and reminding me that I was nervous as fuck to be here. The faster we concluded with all this, the better for all of us.

"Boss." Ms. Hazel Asa slightly nodded, her hair falling to her face gracefully and I felt the urge to push it out of her face so I could stare one more time.

I wasn't sure why I suddenly found Ms. Asa attractive. It was disturbing, but there was no way of denying it at this moment. But it'd pass, she probably just got too prepared for her little dinner with Hannah. And I had no fucking idea these two were so close.

"This is Enate," I spoke, trying hard to make the situation less awkward. "You cut your hair?"

Fuck. I messed up.

They all turned to me.

"You two know each other outside the office?" Hannah did not hesitate to question.

I shook my head. "No, I remember her from the interviews," I lied and I had no idea how Hazel would take it. But by the firm smile on her maroon-painted lips, I figured it wasn't much of a big deal.

"How about you guys?" she gestured between Hannah and I with her folk. "Know each other? She called you, I did not think it would be our boss." Something told me there was some sort of sarcasm to her tone but I ignored it.

I was going to answer her question and deny any involvement with Hannah when 'She Devil' responded.

"Oh, yes, our boss and I go way back. We were good friends back then." Hannah turned to me and gave me the fakest smile ever. "Why don't you two join us for dinner? We have more room."

Umh. No?

"Oh, we were just leaving," I declined with a very nervous chuckle.

"Wait a second, we can stay just for an hour, then we'd be on our way." Enate gave me a scolding look. "Besides, it'd be fun to get a chance to dine with our employees, we'd probably talk about work."

Haha! I laughed in my head because nothing about this setup would be formal. Of course, we'd try to push the conversations to those ends but it'd end up revealing way too much about me and I hated it. Why had I even agreed to do this? If I stayed at the office, none of this would have happened.

"What do you say, boss?" Hannah spoke, clearly mocking me. I wanted to slap her across the face but that'd be way too dramatic. Before I could say anything, I glanced at Enate who glared at me, It'd be another battle if I declined.

I sneaked another tiny glance at Hazel, she seemed to be way too absorbed in that plate of pasta that she barely looked up at us. At me.

"Fine, we will stay," I smiled,  settling next to Hannah. Enate settled next to Hazel who did not flinch or stop enjoying her food. What was in that food?

"So, how's work going?" I asked and immediately regretted because they all turned to me, even Hazel. They gave me questioning glances, as though I uttered something forbidden.

Right.

No talking about work.

Not here.

##

And yet we thought this would be formal!