At Chua Group Building

  CEO Kenzie had already left. Cris had to stay back for a while to fix some issues and take care of some documents. As soon as she was done, she left her office, which was connected to the CEO's office, and hurried towards the elevator.

  Her mobile phone rang so she picked it up from her bag while walking towards the elevator doors.

  "Ouch!" she muttered when her head bumped into something hard. She felt a strong grip on? her shoulders and heard a voice ask, "Are you alright, Cris?"

  Cris gulped on hearing the familiar voice. She raised her head and looked at the man standing in front of her.

  Her heart was throbbing hard like it always did, whenever she was near him.

  "Yeah. Ahm…… Yes, sir, I'm fine. S-sorry…" she whispered and silently cursed herself for stuttering. She felt nervous as usual and she didn't even know when she would overcome it.

  Her eyes looked at her shoulders. He was still holding on to her.

  "Oh, sorry. Next time be more careful. Stop when you see any obstacles and try to avoid simple accidents. What if you trip and hurt yourself?" Brix chided with a smile.

  He looked amused as he stood there watching the bashful expression on Cris' face. He liked seeing her cheeks turn pink whenever he looked at her. He found it really cute.

  "Yes, sir. I will." Cris mumbled quietly. Brix let go of her shoulders so Cris immediately turned to leave as she felt like she would swoon over if she remained near him any longer.

  "Cris," she heard Brix call, so she stopped and turned around.

  "Yes sir?"

  "Do you have any plans for tonight?" Brix asked.

  "Yes sir," she whispered while shaking her head. Her answer made Brix crease his forehead.

  "Why are you shaking your head? That means you don't have any plans for tonight, right?" Brix asked.

  Cris bit her lips. She did not have any plans but she wanted to stay at the hospital. The surgery was confidential so she could not tell Brix anything about it.

  "Can we have dinner together?" Brix asked.

  "Why?" she whispered.

  "I will tell you about it tonight. I honestly need your help, so can you please spare me some time and have dinner with me? I will pick you up at seven at your apartment," Brix informed Cris.

  "Wait. Uhm, just tell me where you plan to take me and I will meet you there instead," she replied, wondering why Brix was asking her out all of a sudden and how she could be of help to him.

  "Alright. I will text you the address of the restaurant. See you later, Cris," he confirmed and Cris turned back to walk towards the elevator. She stepped into the elevator as soon as the doors opened.

  She raised her hand and put it to her chest as she urged herself to calm down.

  Brix Chua… That man was her first love and until now she had kept everything she felt towards him hidden inside her.

  She recalled her first day inside Chua mansion.

  *

  She had been sixteen years old at the time when Master Jack had brought her home that night.

  Master Jack was busy on the phone and she had been looking for the restroom when she got lost inside the big mansion. She overheard an argument in a room whose door was slightly open.

  "You should study hard and prove yourself as your father's successor, Brix! This is not a game and your future depends on it! How can you be so irresponsible, coming home late like this because of a basketball game?!"

  She had no intention of eavesdropping or peeking but she could not find anyone else to ask the way to the restroom. The door flew open and a boy rushed out. He stopped, seeing her standing alone in the hallway.

  "Sorry. I got lost. I'm with Master Jack but he is on the phone right now. I'm looking for the restroom," she explained shyly.

  The boy seemed to be her age or maybe a year or two older than her. His eyes were red so it was obvious he had been crying. He wiped away his tears and gave her a wide and warm smile as he said, "Come follow me…"

  He had a nice and genuine smile that immediately caught Cris' attention. At her age, she had no interest in the opposite sex nor had she appreciated boys until she met Brix that night.

  *

  Cris shook her head to wake herself up from her daydreams. She should not comprehend why Brix would ask her out to dinner. That man had clearly stated that he needed some kind of help.

  She wondered if it would be regarding the company, but then if that were the case then Brix was asking the wrong person. She might have feelings for him but her loyalty would always remain with Master Jack and Kenzie.

  *****

  At The Yang Globals Hospital.

  "Stop pacing, dear" Jack scolded his daughter Kenzie.

  Kenzie chuckled and reasoned, "Oh, I can't help it."

  She felt like she was the one who was getting surgery, waiting for the doctors to arrive. Finally, the doctors came and medical assistants readied everything to move her father to the operating room.

  "You'll be fine, Dad," Kenzie cheered him, holding his hand. Jack chuckled and said, "You look more nervous and worried than me, dear. Relax and just wait in the room with your husband. Cris had also arrived by then and cheered him.

  "You can do this, Sir. See you soon." Cris said with a smile and Jack nodded. Instead of waiting in the VIP room, Kenzie and Daryl decided to wait in the waiting room. They were advised that the surgery could take 3 to 5 hours.

  Kenzie looked at the clock every once in a while. Three hours passed, but the operation was still going on.

  "Do you want me to get you something to eat?" Cris, who was waiting with them, asked.

  "No Cris. We are good. You should go first and have your dinner. Go home and get some rest. You don't need to stay here. I will call you once the surgery is finished," Kenzie said.

  "I will just have dinner and meet someone but I will come back here soon," Cris stated and Kenzie nodded her assent.

  Cris left the hospital to arrive in time for dinner at the restaurant where Brixwas waiting for her. It was not far from Yang Globals Hospital so it took her only about ten minutes. She went inside and the waiter assisted her to the table reserved under Brix's name.

  She could see him sitting at the table and as soon as he saw her he smiled brightly and waved his hand.

  'Oh crap!' Cris gasped, wondering when she would start feeling normal around Brix because it always felt as if her heart would burst just seeing the man smile like that for her.