Earlier, I always looked at my phone because there might be some notifications in my Cheekbook that I mentioned in any post or article. Until now, I seem to be paranoid because of what Ivo said that my name will be in the newspaper because of what I did.. I'm just pretending that I'm not affected but of course, if ever that my name was involved in such a thing, even our family business that has been standing for a long time will collapse suddenly because of that jerk!

"Ma'am, don't worry about that at all. But can I ask why you do that?" I looked at Aileen and sighed, "You didn't tell me about it, Ma'am, so why did you slap Sir Rye? He's so handsome then ---"

"Aileen, I don't care if he's handsome. He's a jerk! He totally ruined my day and I will never forget him. He sounded like a gay in how he talked to me and worst, a judgemental. I didn't know that he definitely knew me. Do you know what I’ve been doing all the time? I've been so mysterious all my life then he suddenly comes into my life just to judge what I’ve achieved." I almost gasped at my repeated complaints and she handed me bottled water. I drank it and massaged my temple.

I really don't want to see that Rye again. I think that will be my daily prayer.

"Please calm yourself, Ma'am. You won't be able to focus on work when you think about it. He's a billionaire and I'm not sure what happened was a big deal. I also saw that there were women who slapped him as he used to in the news, because of his playboy nature." she said and I stopped.

Playboy nature? Have the women slapped him too hard? Ha, serve him right.

I just nodded because of what she said. I seem to be relieved because of that. Maybe I don't have to overthink that thing anymore. Stay away from my life, you jerk. You can't disturb my peaceful life.

"Thank you, Aileen. I'm a little relieved by what I found out." I said and she smiled.

I just continued what I was doing that day. I suddenly became in a good mood because of that. My energy returned so I could finish my paperworks easily. My employees left when work was over while I went to a restaurant to buy Lip a bucket of chicken. I’m really happy with that kid. I think he is the one who gives me happiness now. I have nothing more to ask for.

When I arrived at home, he greeted me immediately. I immediately hugged him. We immediately went to the dining table and I could see the excitement in him when he saw his favorite chicken.

"Why is there so much chicken? Do we have a guest tonight?" he asked and I just smiled.

"What are you? It's so late at night right now. This bucket of chicken I bought is for you. Isn't it your first day next Monday? So you need to have courage. And to celebrate your excellence because you passed the acceleration exam. Alas, you're really silly. " I told him and ruffled his hair.

I can see that he was satisfied because of what I said. I want to fill him with so many praises that he deserves. I really wanted to give him things he had never experienced before. I also thought that because of what I was doing, he was like my youngest brother. If I really had a brother like this, I wouldn't get tired of living. I have a brother Patry, but I seem to grow old so early because of annoyance and headache. I kept on thinking back then about how to keep him away from Kira because of his harshness. I was even more depressed because of what that ex-senator did. Their love story is really very meaningful. I wouldn’t have wanted that complicated when I had a love life. But thankfully until now, I no longer have any interest in men or have a love life.

I want to be single with Lip. Only Lip will make me happy.

"You adopted him? When else? Sera, I know that somehow, you are confident that you will never love any man or have a love life. But try to explore the world and not just stay in that mindset."

Kira and I met one time when she was having free time at a restaurant. Patry was left at their home to take care of their child, thankfully and we had time to talk. I told her about my adoption of Lip and it looks like she was so shocked about it. What is wrong with not having a love life?

"Is it bad if I adopt him? Because he doesn't have a family and then the goons on the streets kept on taking money from him. Besides, he's a good boy and smart. I enrolled him already in a school then he will enter tomorrow. He passed the acceleration exam. " I told her and she was surprised.

"Wow! That’s great! Though it's not bad to adopt. But ---"

"No buts. He's the only source of my happiness right now because I don't have anyone at home. Besides, I've arranged everything for him to go to school. Maybe I'll take care of the adoption papers and his last name will be changed as well. I don't want his classmates to bully him just because he's adopted. I need to work out everything in order for him and I to be legal in papers. The fact that I’ll be his guardian." I told her and she smiled eventually.

"Are you an instant mom now? If you want, when Lip has free time, he can visit us at home so he can play with Kit. Kit is kind and silent, he's not always crying."

When she said that, my eyes just rolled. "Kit really inherited that attitude from Patry. Given that he doesn't have any emotions at all so you don't have to tell me about your children’s attitude.."

We just laughed and continued to eat. Lip is at home and he is studying. Kira and I will talk quickly and I will be right back.

We went to the restroom together and I was just washing my hands while Kira was busy on her phone.

"Oh!"

I looked at Kira in the reflection of the mirror. "Why?"

She looked at me as her eyes widened. "You're in an article in the Cheekbook."

I seemed to be nervous when I heard that from her. Has Rye ever told the media that I slapped him? That jerk! He should be really ready for me when we meet again! He won't really stop pestering me?

Kira handed me her phone and I looked at it. But contrary to what I thought happened. "Sera, he's asking you for a date."

I gritted my teeth. That jerk!

"He asked you for a date?"

It's been two weeks and I didn't bring myself to Fujisaki to the place he wanted me to go. I’m definitely not going to go into the nonsense date he said. I will not allow myself to bite the bait he said so publicly! I was really enraged and even my employees asked me if anything was happening to us privately because he asked me for a date!

"First of all, our clients are increasing because he dragged me into many articles. All of our clients have recently been asking about what kind of relationship Rye and I have. Can you tell your friend about issues like this that suddenly happen? He just brought these up? It's so nonsense!" I shouted and I saw that Ivo gave me a canned soft drink.

"I told you, we're not that close like you thought. His industry is different, that's why it's vague that I can talk to him for just a second or an hour. Maybe he's really interested in you. That's why he mentioned your name to some reporters who asked him. You know you are a different woman, so unique from the others because you’re like a tigress, so maybe you're his target."

I rolled my eyes. "Target? What did he think of us, toys at the fair being shot to get a reward? What kind of brain does he have? I slapped him and I told him how much I hated him. I don't like people like him, swear!"

"You don't really plan to follow what he's saying? Maybe later he'll talk to the media again about you not going. We don't know what's on his mind and that he might be annoyed with you." he added.

I just smirked, "If he's annoyed with me, I'm more annoyed with him. I don't care anymore. Does he make me look like I can't succeed so he mentioned my name publicly just for our clients to increase? I don't need help from him, of all people."

I looked at Ivo as if I just didn't tell him anything. He mentioned that he's his friend before, but even then, they still can talk. He surely didn't want to help me in this matter. Why is it like that? If Rye was really pestering me, it was impossible for him not to talk to that man for even 30 seconds? Is he hiding something from me?

I stayed in the hospital for a few minutes and then left. I actually just went to the hospital to talk to him. I was trying to get some help from him but I didn't get a sensible answer from him. I went back home to prepare a snack for Lip. I got home really early since I finished my jobs quickly. Aileen will take care of supervising the staff there. And one more thing, Lip is about to come home from school. I'll prepare snacks first, maybe just baked cookies. I already hired someone to pick him up from school so I'll just wait.

A few more minutes later, Lip finally arrived with the service driver. The service driver is from one of our delivery drivers at the company so I'm no longer worried about Lip's safety.

"How's your school, Lip?" I asked as soon as he entered the door.

He immediately smiled at me. "Sorry, sister."

I was shocked when he suddenly said that. Then I noticed his right hand with bondage. I immediately touched it gently and looked at him. "Where did it come from? Did you fight with someone?"

I could see the fear in his eyes even though he was smiling so I sighed deeply. "Did you win? Did you knock down the one you punched?"

He laughed at what I said, "I win, no worries. He just bullied me so don't worry anymore, it’s normal. I have to fight back so that such scenarios won't happen again."

As if he speaks like he is really an adult. He really had been through a lot outside so I think he got used to it because of that.

"But Lip, don't hit them back if the argument is also non-sense. The ones with empty brains, they are the ones who say a lot. They only say harsh words to you, maybe they are also jealous. You're a smart kid and they have nothing else to judge you but your background. Everything will pay off, just keep excelling at school, okay?" I asked him and he nodded.

We both ate the cookies I baked and I was happy with his reaction because he was really good at eating. It just means he liked the cookies I made.

"Can I finally call you my mom?"

I was stunned by what I’m eating and looked at him. I really felt so touched when he asked me that, though I also felt relieved. I also want the things I’ve been waiting for to come from him. I don’t want to force him to call me Mom just because I adopted him. He has a free will on his own which made our relationship grow stronger.

"Silly. Of course, it's a yes."

He smiled sweetly at me. "Okay, Mom. Thank you for always being there for me. What happened to me won't happen again. But I can't help but fight back when they insult me. Like you did to Rye. You didn't go to that place. He wants to meet you for a date, doesn't he?"

My eyes widened when he said that. "How did you know that?"

"I read that in the newspaper. I know you won't just agree to things like that. But what are your plans because he might make another article about you. Or maybe something worse will happen."

I just sighed. That really can't be avoided because that man is influential. He is really interfering in my life and many already know that. When will he stop? Did I hurt his pride so much? Tsk, serves him right. It should have been just him so that he would have stopped bothering me but he seems really stubborn.

"Nothing worse is going to happen there. I just want him to know that I don't like what he's doing anymore. Let it go, let's not talk about him anymore." I just said and he nodded.

We also finished eating and suddenly someone called me. I saw that it was Aileen so I answered right away.

"Oh, Aileen, why did you call? It's late." I said.

"Ma'am, all the clients who just bought parts recently pulled out. Because you allegedly rejected Mr. Fujisaki's date offer. Ma'am, we need a strong refund now."

I pursed my lips. Aish! That guy is really annoying! He's a pest!

"It's your passion to really get attention. Will you stop from pestering me? Are you happy that what you want has come true?" I asked him and I saw that he just smirked at what I said. So shameless.

"I have nothing else to ask but to see you always." It was as if I shivered the hardest when I heard that from him.

I gritted my teeth and looked at the media reporters around us now. I had no choice but to go to the man in front of me so that he could stop his evil acts. It's just that, instead of a date happening and me yelling at him in great annoyance, we are surrounded by media reporters here in the restaurant and it seems like every move I make must be calculated because I will be judged based on my actions. It was his plan, obviously. He wanted to embarrass me in front of a lot of people. But what are his other plans, why is he treating me like this?

"Waiter." I heard him speak but he was still looking at me. I'm like that too because I really want to punch him when I have a chance.

The waiter approached and handed him the menu booklet. "What do you want?"

"I don't want to eat. I'm leaving right away, I just want to ask something."

"I want you to eat." He blatantly rolled his eyes at me and looked at the waiter. He pointed to something there on the menu. "Give me these meals." That's all he said and the waiter left.

I roamed my eyes here in a transparent room of the restaurant and the media reporters could not hear what we were saying to each other. I just closed my eyes again to calm myself.

"I knew that you loathe me and I hurt your pride, but why did you know me from the start? Why are you doing this to me? Have I done anything before to make you angry like that to me? The words coming out of you… seems to have a source. I have a decent job, business, and badly wanted a peaceful life. Why did you invite me for a date? I know you don't want a date, you’re just toying with me." I said while catching my breath because my speech was mixed with annoyance.

"You're too noisy for a feisty woman. I just want to continue pestering your life until I see that you're suffering. Just for fun." he said so I clenched my fist.

"Just for fun? You know that all our clients have returned all the parts that they've ordered and it costs us so much because of the turnovers. Are you happy now? Do you have nothing else to do with your life?" I asked and my ears reddened when I heard him laugh.

"It's your fault. Maybe you didn't properly monitor the quality of the parts your business is selling. Why put me the blame? That's your business."

I faked a laugh. "We've been selling quality parts since day one and you’re telling me that to cover up what you’re doing? Asking them to pull out because I didn’t accept your date offer? And don't drag my name in any of the interviews again. You won't get anything from me. Find another person you can trick with your ways."

I was about to get up and to walk away when suddenly some juice was thrown at me, causing my clothes to get wet on my chest.

"Ma'am! I'm sorry! I'm sorry I didn't see you going in my direction! I'm sorry!"

I looked at the waiter who continued to apologize to me. It's a good thing the glass didn't fall off completely, otherwise the supervisor might scold him so much, "No, it's okay. It's not your fault." I just said and turned to the jerk man again.

I walked over to him and I saw that he covered his face with his hands. "Will you slap me again?"

I just smirked and stepped on the part of his body that would definitely hurt him. "AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH!"

"Don't you ever pester me again. Leave me and my business alone." I turned my back on him and walked out of that room smiling.

And as expected, some media reporters approached me immediately but so that they wouldn't approach me, I immediately screamed. They were shocked by what I did so I started acting. "I can't stand his behavior anymore .... he harassed me! He kept on saying such absurd words that my dignity as a woman has been degraded! It's true what women online always say about him, he's really a playboy and doesn't know how to respect women. So beware of him! " I just said with emotions then got the guts to leave.

I walked and ran so that they could no longer reach me. I breathed a sigh of relief as I got into my car and drove it away. I looked at myself in the mirror and smiled. "You thought that I'm the only one to be brought down? I don't care about your popularity and the control of our clients. You want a war? I'll give you then."

No one has challenged me like this in my whole life so bring it on.

All my employees looked at me when I returned to the site.

"Ma'am, what happened to you?" Aileen asked me as soon as I entered the office.

"Filled with juice." I said and opened the drawer of my table. I picked up the reserved blouse there and looked at Aileen.

"Don't worry about me. What's going on now with the clients?" I asked and I saw that she was stunned.

"Ahh ... that's still the case, Ma'am. We're still halfway through the turnovers. It's really costly and the production has been affected. Have you talked to Sir Rye Fujisaki ---"

"Let's just let what happened go." I just said and walked to the restroom to change.