Chapter 4. Resignation Letter

Aria Anastasia

A gasp escaped my lips, seeing a real gun in front of my eyes. It reminded me of the dead body I saw last night. “No!” I dropped the files from my hands and covered my face with my hands in fear.

I could feel a hand being placed on my shoulder just when the elevator made a ‘ding’ sound.

“Aria, are yo-” Before Zaiden could complete his sentence, I pushed his hand away from my shoulder. Picking up the documents from the ground, I dashed out of the elevator, leaving him behind.

Instead of going inside the conference room, I went to the washroom first. I kept the files at one side and turned toward the sink. I splashed some water on my face, trying to forget the dead body which was bleeding in front of my eyes, and how the two men were dragging the dead body as if it was an old toy they were getting rid of since Zaiden was bored of it.

It was not going to be okay now. I thought I could pretend to know nothing, but knowingly, I couldn’t work under a murderer. I couldn’t hide the secret of a murderer and help him; it was against my morals. I would always be reminded of the murder every time I would see Zaiden.

I had to make a decision – a tough decision.

I wiped my face with some tissues and took a deep breath. Taking the files in my hand, I proceeded to enter the conference room.

I entered with a small smile playing on my lips as I would be meeting the owner of the Arizon Fashion, Aurora Arizon. She was sitting on a chair, along with Zaiden, whose eyes met mine for a brief moment.

I glanced at Aurora, and said, “Hello, Mrs. Arizon. I hope you didn’t have to wait for long.” I took a seat next to Zaiden.

Aurora smiled at me. “Don’t be foolish, Aria. We still have five minutes till the meeting starts.” She added, “Also, how many times do I have to tell you to call me by my name?”

“Don’t mind her, Mrs. Arizon. Recently Aria is in a mood to be fully professional,” Zaiden uttered, the taunt was visible in his tone.

I narrowed my eyes in his direction. Exhaling a sigh, I said to Aurora, “Let’s begin the meeting and at the end of it, you can sign these papers.” I handed the file to her.

We started discussing everything for the last time to keep our goals clear on the contract.

All this time, I stole a few glances from Zaiden and found him to do the same. Yet, I pretended to keep my full attention on whatever Aurora was saying, not wanting to think anything about Zaiden anymore.

***

I was returning from the cafeteria with a cup of coffee in my hand.

I was given so much coffee that if I didn’t walk carefully, the hot coffee would fall on my hand. The cup was literally filled fully and I couldn’t even take a sip to lessen the amount because of the steam coming out of it.

If I wanted, I could stay in the cafeteria and drink coffee there, but people there would complain about Zaiden. If I listened to their complaints or even talked to them, I might end up revealing what I saw last night. So it was better for me to stay away from gossip if I didn’t want to reveal one.

Also, Yana took a half-day leave because she had to visit her sick mother in the asylum today.

“Don’t spill,” I mumbled to the cup on my hand, my eyes glued to it as I continued walking.

“Aria, c-”

I jumped at the sudden voice, making the coffee spill on my right hand. I hissed at the painful burning sensation.

“Holy shit,” Zaiden let out and rushed to me. He grabbed my hand after taking the cup and placing it on the nearby desk. “You are such a fool.”

I closed my eyes, my hand stinging in pain. I tried to free my hand from his grip but he held it tighter.

“Let me have a look,” he said sternly and I opened an eye, only to find him examining my wound, which was red now. “I have an ointment in my cabin. Come with me.”

“Boss, I have one t-” I was interrupted midway by Zaiden.

“You are coming with me.” He was glaring at me, his eyes challenging me to disobey him.

“As you say,” I spoke up, not wanting to anger him. He might end up killing me if I pissed him off.

We walked to the private elevator and waited to reach Zaiden’s floor. I didn’t utter a word this entire time because he seemed to be in a bad mood, and I didn’t want to be the sheep he would sacrifice to lighten up his mood.

As soon as we stepped into Zaiden’s cabin, he closed the door and spat out, “What’s wrong with you? Why are you being reckless?”

I arched an eyebrow while watching him open a drawer and taking out a first aid kit.

“Nothing’s wrong with me,” I answered, still standing near the door.

He took out an ointment and when his eyes fell on me, he asked, “Do I need to email you for sitting on the couch? Or are you waiting for the doctor to tell you that this burned hand left a permanent mark since you didn’t apply ointment at that very moment?”

My eyes grew bigger in terror at the thought of having a big permanent scar on my hand. Immediately, I sat on the couch.

“Give me the ointment before it leaves a permanent mark,” I said to him, stretching my other arm, wanting him to hand over the ointment to me.

Zaiden shook his head and sat next to me. “Let me do it since you got injured on your right hand. It will be difficult for you to apply using your left hand,” he told me and took my injured hand, placing it on his lap.

He opened the ointment and started to apply the cold gel to my hand. I could feel the goosebumps at his cold touch on my hand.

I watched him being fully concentrated while applying the gel, not wanting to miss any burned part. “Thank you, Boss,” I breathed out with a small smile on my lips.

“Why did you go to the cafeteria to get the coffee?” he simply asked, avoiding my thanks.

“My coffee machine broke and I told Yana to fix it. She will do it by tomorrow,” I informed him.

“I have a coffee machine here, you know? You could use it easily.” His fingers trailed on my arm, as he mumbled, “Then you wouldn’t have gotten injured like this.”

Due to the chills I was getting by his touch, I pulled my hand back. Putting a few strands of hair behind my ear, I said, “This was why I came to your cabin last night but then, I saw that unfortunate scene.” I further spoke, “Besides, it wouldn’t have happened if you didn’t call out my name. I jumped in fear and this happened.”

“Are you really so scared of me, Aria?” he asked, his voice sounding like he was hurt.

I didn’t dare to look into his eyes.

Why would he be hurt? He should be happy that finally, the only woman who would talk back to him was afraid of him now.

“Look at me,” he commanded.

Hesitantly, I looked at him, my eyes meeting his ones.

“Bos-” I was interrupted by him.

“Zaiden.” When he saw me raising my brows, he cleared out, “I am habituated with you calling me by my name. It feels weird when you call me boss.”

“But I want to be fully professional now,” I pointed out, but his next words made my breath hitch.

“Then for you, calling me by my name is professional.”

He looked so sexy at that moment. I couldn’t help but look at his lips. How would it feel to ki – stop there, Aria Anastasia, I controlled my chain of thoughts.

“Thank you for aiding my wound,” I said, averting my gaze. I got up from the couch and sauntered out of his cabin without even looking back for once.

Was I thinking of kissing him? Did I go crazy?

After I got into my cabin, I closed the door and sat on my comfortable chair. I replayed in my mind whatever happened a few minutes ago.

It was not right. Nothing was going to stay the way it is now if I didn’t do something. Earlier, I was close to Zaiden only due to work but now that I knew his secret, if I didn’t do anything, I would be pulled closer to him due to whatever I saw last night. And I didn’t want to get close to him after I saw him killing someone mercilessly.

Every day when I would see his face, I would remember the dead body I had seen. He would stay as a murderer in my eyes and I couldn’t work under a murderer. It was dangerous for me.

If I make a tiny mistake, he will just threaten me with a gun since I know his real identity. Or worse, he will shoot me.

I shook my head at the scary thought and opened my laptop.

The decision had to be made soon, which I did already. Even though it was my dream job, and I loved working here, I couldn’t see a criminal every day in the office. So I decided to write a resignation letter.