Chapter 366 - Merl

Nick felt newfangled at how he could flush at a stranger's praise. When the murmurs sprang in the room, he realized he was still holding the woman in his arms without taking eyes off the beauty. Her jet-black and her long, freely flowing hair caused him to stargazed at her. 

''I am fine.'' She said. ''You can release me now.'' 

Sensing the girl struggle in his arms, Nick immediately straightened his back and backed off, two feet distance away from her.

Awkward silence wheedled in between the two.

''Who are you?'' Nick cursed at himself for bringing an off-the-beat question. He sees several clients who come and goes every day, and never he posed such a question. ''Umm...I didnot mean to_''

''Ah, that's fine.'' Nick watched her eyes twinkled as she spoke. ''I am here to meet Leena. I am Merl. Merl, Sojen.''

''Pleased to meet you. I am Nick.'' He introduced, with style edged to his voice.

''I always loved that name on someone, and am glad I finally found one.'' She smiled, pulling her short dress down as a distraction.

Nick stroked the back of his neck, unsure of what to reply. Is she flirting with me or commenting genuinely? Nick dared to question her. In the end, he gave her an awkward smiled and led her inside.

''Stay here. I will bring Leena.'' He opened Leena's office door and guided her to the chair.

Nick then straight away entered Reese's room and disrupted both the woman's serious discussion. '' You can argue later. A girl is waiting for you in the office room.''

Leena checked the time and nodded. ''It must be Renya's replacement.'' Leena then turned to Reese. ''I will deal with you later.'' 

''I will deal with you later.'' Reese mimicked Leena and followed her to the office to see how the new girl's face looked. Nick tagged behind her as well to see the girl for another time.

''I thought you would call me before coming here,'' Leena said, entering the office room.

''I was supposed to..but I completely forgot seeing something divine.'' Merl's last words were a whisper as she darted her eyes to the man who just entered. ''I hope you are not bothered by my early presence.'' She quickly composed and addressed Leena.

''Not at all.'' Leena smiled and gave Nick a questioning look, but he was too involved in something else to look at Leena.

Reese's hawk-like eyes were drifting from the girl to Nick, clearly noticing something between the two. She nudged Leena, pointing her eyes towards Nick and the girl. ''Look at them.''

Merl shyly tucked her hair and darted her eyes away when Nick looked at her. On the other hand, Nick readjusted his shirt and ran a hand through his hair in an attempt to tidy himself up and make himself better.

Leena, Reese : '' '' 

It's happening under their nose. Leena never expected Nick has this side of an angle in him. ''Alright, Merl.' Leena raised her voice to bring the romantic couple into this world. ''Reese will show your seat and explain the work.''

''Umm...Thanks.'' She went along with Reese without tearing her eyes away from Nick until she reached the door.

''I am so happy?'' Leena said, crossing her arms when Reese and Merl were out.

''Me too,'' Nick muttered, watching the girl from the glass door as if she has cast a mist of magic on him.

Leena shook her head and kicked Nick out of the room. Since the day Nick has come to the office, she has not seen him interacting much with women, but this is the first time he has seen him interested in a girl. Is it love at first sight? Although Merl has a good educational background, she will not let Nick take the wrong step without knowing anything about the girl.

''What a progress on the first day.'' She smiled and sat on the chair. She glanced at her mobile to check notifications. Her mood went down the hill when she saw Enger's text. [Enger: I am drinking a banana smoothie at your favorite restaurant. What are you doing, Leena?]

''Wish magic existed,'' Leena angrily muttered. She badly wanted to put poison in that glass right now. She changed the name Enger to Psychopath Enger and sent him a fake reply. [Yum, Yum banana! I wish I were there]

[Psychopath Enger: Drink it. I am sending a virtual banana juice. Enjoy!]

''Phtoo!'' She spitted. ''He doesn't have comedy sense as well.''

Leena plowed her anger and energy into something positive. She pressed the switch on her bracelet, and immediately, her babylicious serious working face popped up. How can he look so handsome even while working? Leena pouted. ''Are you controlling your laughter?''

Like a bolt, Devin's eyes snapped to the wristwatch. ''Will you stop scaring me by suddenly turning up?'' With the quietness around in the office, the sudden, alarming sound caught the wits out of Devin. Sometimes, when Devin makes her angry, Leena will take revenge by switching that damn button of the bracelet when he is in a conference. She plays all weird ringtones in front of the employees. If Leena decided to release the software to the outside world, he is sure all women would be ready to buy it to spy on their husbands.

''Happiness lies in annoying my husband.'' She giggled. ''What are you doing?'' Without giving him a chance, Leena began the story of Nick that happened in the office. An hour later, Leena stopped eating Devin's brain and started her work.

When it turned evening, Leena dropped Cutie at the music class and waited until it ended. While coming back, she crossed paths with the flute teacher, who was twiddling his front hair. ''What?'' She asked impatiently.

Hmph! He muttered under his breath. Baddd behavior! Pointing his index finger at Savny, he growled. ''Veryyyy badddd Savnyyyy....She pinched my t.h.i.g.hs yesterday.'' He again complained to Leena.

''Human behavior flows from three sources: D.e.s.i.r.e, emotion, and knowledge. But for people like you, it comes from stupidity.'' Having said that, Leena walked past him. While going, Cutie turned back and stuck her tongue out at him.

''Hmph. Like mother, like daughter. Veryyyy badddd girlssss.'' He muttered before turning to walk away.

''What's your Flute teacher's name, Cutie?'' Leena asked, ordering the driver to start the car. All the strange people she met have freakish names. Uncle Pumpkin, and Jack C.o.n.d.o.m, Aunt Jalapeno. She wondered what's the name of that ringmaster.

''Geelad.'' Cutie said. Geelad? With Cutie's broken words, Leena knew she made a mistake asking the question to her.

....

The following day, when Leena was getting ready for the office, Nick demanding her to come to his room. Surprise, shock, all emotions heaved, seeing the new Avatar of Nick. A grey bomber jacket, paired with ripped jeans, was looking dapper, added to his fitness.

''H_ow do I look? Is it bad? or okay?'' Nick eagerly asked, tapping his foot on the floor.

'Are you courting the new girl Merl?'' She directly questioned.

Nick's eyes widened. ''W_hy would I? I am just trying a new outfit'' Nick walked past Leena, not looking into her eyes. How did Leena find out so quickly?

''It's definitely for her.'' Leena smiled. While having breakfast, Leena received a text from Kyle, asking if she can meet after the office at a shopping mall. Her love for dresses is a never-ending saga. She immediately agreed to meet Kyle.

....

The shopping mall was fully crowded in the evening. Sitting inside the car, a laptop in his l.a.p, Kurt was watching the GPS tracking device of a criminal's car, which their team threw a tracker in the automobile's glove box under the seat car. ''Get ready. She is close. That woman is real dangerous. Deal with her carefully.''

''Yes, sir.'' The team stepped out of the different cars and dispersed into the crowd like normal people.

With the purpose of a mission to catch a certain woman who is slipping from the FBI fingers by committing serious thefts, Kurt stepped into the shopping mall, and the real problem started when someone addressed him. A familiar voice tortures him by calling from every different number as if her father is the owner of a SIM company. Standing in front of him, she was grinning, slurping her lollipop. Kurt immediately turned in the opposite direction to escape without knowing, another storm was awaiting.