Office Diaries - Chapter 113

“So, how was it?”

Yanee lifted her head from her notes to see Tohru walking towards her. Since she decided to accept him, she started to dare look at him properly and see a human instead of a walking potato. He wore a simple blue yukata as he approached, and she couldn’t help but how appreciate how good he looked.

As if reading her mind, a mischievous tilt formed on his lips and he shifted on his feet to let her take a better look at him. All the glimmer of admiration on Yanee’s eyes vanished as she looked at the silly potato modeling in front of her.

“Boss, what are you doing?”

“Making sure you have more to admire,” he answered unabashedly that Yanee wanted to feel embarrassed on his behalf.

Shameless potato…

Ah, but she already knew this about him. Didn’t he say that the party stopped due to his good looks before?

Urgh…

Tohru James took the place next to her along the wooden corridor facing the garden and sat. But he flicked her nose as he did so. “What’s with the boss? I told you to start calling me by name already.”

“But I’m working right now,”Yanee countered as she added some words on her notebook.

“Oh, you’re working on Ria’s story then?” he asked with a smile as he leaned sideward to check out her writing.

He already saw her notes before so Yanee didn’t have any problem letting him check it. She even handed him her notes and he too switched on work mode and scanned her notebook seriously.

“You wrote this from the recordings?” he asked lightly and she nodded as she showed her the recorder.

“Thanks for telling me to use this,” she added.

If she did not record, she’d have a difficult time writing notes as she was too mesmerized with the story telling. It was a story that needed more details as it was unique in a way that one had to be knowledgeable or at least a bit knowledgeable about mental health.

“Well, I knew the story was complicated so I told you to use it. I don’t want you to have difficulty afterwards,” he said softly.

He looked satisfied with her notes and Yanee felt a bit proud. But not for long…

“What’s with that expression?”Tohru suddenly asked as he flicked her nose again. “Don’t look smug, you haven’t started the real writing yet,” he told her which made her pout.

“Don’t be such a kill joy boss,” she grumbled but let out a helpless sigh right after. “Ah, you reminded me of writing again,” she said woefully as she slouched, her energy leaving her.

Tohru took this chance to place his arm over her shoulder and pull her close so she could lean against him. Yanee was surprised but she didn’t fight. She tilted her head to look up at him as his cool, minty scent teased her nose.

“What’s wrong with writing? You have good notes, you can just arrange them to a story, right?” he suggested teasingly.

Although Yanee pouted at him, she was not really mad. She’s conscious he’s not being serious. Tohru James was aware of how difficult it was to write. Stories weren’t like pancakes one could dish out at a whim. If someone wanted to write something good, not only he needed meticulous research, but he also needed the correct state of mind and technical skills to be able to make sense of all those information and create something good out of them. This was why authors who were serializing had too much pressure since they had to do this cycle in a continuous phase.

Yanee hadn’t even started yet and she already wanted to join the two runaway authors.

“Don’t think about silly things,” he softly scolded her.

“How do you know I’m thinking about silly things?” Yanee was amazed. Could the potato read minds now?

“Because you have a silly expression on your face,” he answered matter-of-factly and Yanee hurriedly made her face blank, making him laugh.

“Come here,” he said as he pulled her into his arms.

The next thing Yanee knew, Tohru had his phone camera on and he took a picture of the two of them with her in his arms.

“Y-You…”

She tried to grab the phone, but before she’s able to, he already had it at arm’s length.

“Why are you trying to take my phone?” he asked before a mischievous glint lit his eyes. “Or is this the ‘jealous wife wants to check her hubby’s phone’ thing that the sisters were talking about?”

“Who is your jealous wife?” Yanee countered as she retracted her hands. She wouldn’t dare touch his phone now as he knew it— the potato jerk.

Tohru laughed as he placed his phone down and gathered her in his arms again. It was the first time he had really touched her, but a hug like this was not that bad. Yanee was taking this moment to get used to him— well as long as it’s just a hug.

She reckoned she’d hyperventilate with more stimuli.

But because she thought about this, her initial bravado suddenly left her and she started feeling nervous at how close they were. She felt like bolting out of his arms, but then he spoke again and she felt relieved.

“So, what do you think of Ria’s story?” he asked softly.

“It’s very interesting,” she said as she told him what she had told Ria.

“I see,”Tohru said with a smile.

“By the way,”Yanee looked thoughtful as she remembered something.

“Yes?”

“Normally, it’s you who asks me what lesson I learn from each story,”Yanee began as she remembered that unusual thing about the interview this time. “Why did you ask Ria to ask me that question this time?”

“Oh?” The smile on Tohru’s lips widened.

He looked very much like an amused young lord.

“What?” Yanee couldn’t guess what’s on his mind.

“Well, what was the lesson in her story then?” he asked, and Yanee told him what Ria answered.

“Ria said it’s knowing your worth,” she informed him.

She’d never pretend and take the credit as she was not the one who came up with that answer.

“Hmmn…”he murmured as he shifted her in his arms and he looked at her eyes. “And what do you think about that answer?”

“What do I…”Yanee frowned, not really understanding what he wanted her to say.

To be safe, she parroted what Ria already said and Tohru listened as he nodded.

“That’s right. Not losing sight of yourself regardless of what’s right in front of you,” he said in approval.

But Yanee had a feeling that there was another reason why he and Ria seemed to deem this lesson very important. It was related to the story but at the same time it wasn’t. But what could it be?

Well, she didn’t have to wonder long.

“Yanee, the reason why I emphasize on this lesson this time is because it’s for you,” he said and her eyes widened.

Huh?

“For me?” she asked. Why?

“Yes,” he replied more firmly this time. “I noticed that even if you’re really amazing, you don’t think highly of yourself.”

EEEEH?

“I’m not amazing,” she denied. It’s even embarrassing to think of her that way. She wouldn’t dare. But it seemed Tohru was already expecting her to react that way.

“See?” he commented. “It’s like this.”

He reached out and poked her nose again— a habit that this mister had developed. But Yanee was not in the mood to think about that at the moment. She wanted to know what the deal was with his words.

“Yanee, I don’t want to remind you of your past. But I want to let you know that I’m not someone who holds wealth or status at a high importance. I like you because you are you,” he said and Yanee paused and stared at him in surprise.

“You already know who I really am. I don’t want you to feel any pressure because of my identity. No matter what happens in the future, I want you to remember that I simply love you and you don’t have to be anyone else or please anyone if you’re not willing.”

Oh…

Yanee was speechless. She had never really thought about Tohru James’ real identity— well except that he’s now her boyfriend and that he’s also her boss. But beyond that…

Oh. My. God.

As if she just realized it now, she was dumbfounded. Tohru James was the only son of the chairman of Arcus Iris and the heir. His presence was akin to a king.

“Don’t look like that. Honey, I just told you to have confidence in yourself, right?” he teased her but he was serious at the same time. “No matter who I am— you are definitely worth my love. I’m even the one who’s scared you’d dump me because I’m not good enough.”

What not good enough?

“Are you kidding me?” she retorted, but her insecurities and her sudden horror upon realizing his identity was already ebbing away. She sighed heavily. No wonder Ria and Tohru were both so enigmatic about this lesson. Her situation now was similar to Ria’s even if her family was also rich. The disparity between her and the James family was really miles apart.

“Don’t worry. I may freak out at times and I feel insecure. But I’m accepting this new challenge. Just be patient with me,” she said.

She already agreed to date him. She might as well try her best to make things work between them. Tohru looked very happy. She was unprepared when he suddenly leaned over and planted his lips on hers.

The kiss was fast that it was gone before she realized what happened. She reached out and touched her lips as she looked at his grinning face in wonder.

“Yanee Lee, I love you…”