78 Change

"Uh-fine? H-how about you?"

Seeing Liz reply with a stammer, Will once again looked to the side, unable to meet her eyes.

Since he had left her room last night after hearing her snores which meant that she had fallen asleep, he couldn't get the memory of her face scrunched up in pain from his mind.

He even knew that if anyone else had told the same story to him, he wouldn't have been as affected. Instead, he would simply have brushed it off after feeling sorry a little, as it was something that a lot of people definitely experienced throughout the world.

However, the fact that it was HER who had had to go through such a harrowing experience had changed his very perception of her, and he frankly felt a curiosity to find out why this was so.

As for the fact that he at least had someone to see in the darkness in which he led his life, it was something that he kept buried deep inside, as he was still not capable of reading more into it.

Overall, his perception of her had changed, which he had realized after seeing her today in the plane.

And with the change in perception, his behavior was also different.

Yet, seeing the extreme reaction in Liz, Will wondered if he was going too fast.

But…he had only asked her how she was.

Wasn't it something that any boss would do when they saw their employee cry?

Could even this be going too fast?

And wait…why was he even thinking so much about the matter?

Realizing this last point and putting these thoughts out of his mind, Will replied, "I'm fine."

As another silence came over them in which they didn't even touch the food, Will decided that it was probably best to address the night before.

"About last night, I only followed because I wanted to check on you. I apologize if it was inappropriate. I am sorry to hear about the accident, and I'm also really glad that nothing life-threatening happened to them due to it."

Hearing the CEO say these words in a calm tone, Liz raised her head and their eyes finally met.

So far, his face from the night before when he had actually seemed to feel something for her had been appearing in her mind again and again.

Comparing what she saw now with that and how she usually saw the CEO, Liz realized that there was some change.

Yet, she just couldn't put her finger on what exactly that change was.

However, one thing was clear to her: she liked it.

Indeed, for once, the CEO was looking at her as someone who was human, like normal people did.

With this realization, Liz couldn't help but smile, and stopped berating herself for exposing that painful memory.

Hey, it was already done, and it had even caused this result to appear.

Hence, smiling comfortably at the CEO for the first time, she said, "Its all right. It happened long ago, but the flashbacks are still painful. Has Xander said anything else?"

While Liz waited for the answer, she didn't realize that her action just now had made the CEO's mind go blank again.

A smile could be…so pure?

He had seen it before once, outside the mayor's residence in California.

Then, he had marveled at its charm which was like that of a pristine nature spot which was meant to be beheld in all its glory but not intruded upon by anyone.

Now, seeing that smile directed at him, Will couldn't help but freeze and go blank like a hiker who had just made it to the top of Everest to see that mesmerizing sight which he would never forget.

TRING TRING

As a ringing sound came from the tablet set on the table in front of Liz, the spell cast on Will was broken as he saw her pick it up and say "Excuse me for a second? Can I take this call?"

Nodding in response, Will reached for the glass of water to soothe his parched throat and heard Liz who had just gotten up and gone to the side of the room.

"Luke! I'm on my way back! Did anything happen?"