Time flew fast, and soon, it was time to set out for Pennsylvania. She ought to leave in the afternoon. After finishing her work, Irish went to Fredrick's office before leaving since he had urged her several times that she had to meet him.
Due to time constraints, he only did a psychological test for her and could do anything else. Staring at the test form, Fredrick frowned and asked, "Why are you laden with anxiety?"
"I'm tired of my work. That's it. Don't be too surprised," Lying on the couch leisurely, Irish answered briefly with a cup of tea in her hands.
Perceiving she was dodging the topic, Fredrick asked directly, "Tell me frankly, why did you go to Runestone Group?"
Fredrick was her mentor, and she always chose to keep silent when she didn't want to tell him the truth. She knew clearly that he could easily see through her mind. Putting the test form on the desk, Fredrick asked her again, "Tell me that you are living a happy life now?"
This time Irish gave him an answer and shook her head. Instead of being happy, she was depressed. Fredrick pounded the table and said, "Then leave Runestone Group as soon as possible."
Irish smiled and looked at him with her doleful eyes. "I need the pain to keep me awake all the time."
"Irish!" Fredrick was displeased by her words and said loudly. "Don't try to play a dangerous game, or you'll regret it." He understood what she was in pain for, and he also knew that she was a girl who was adamant outwardly but flimsy inside.
Irish smiled softly, and when she was about to answer him, her phone rang. It was Joseph, and he said in his deep voice, "Come down. I'm here."
"Okay. Wait for a moment," Standing up, she patted Fredrick's shoulder and said, "Don't worry. I know when to stop."
"I'll bring presents for you when I come back." Waving to him, Irish walked out of his office.
****
The sun was blazing at noon, and the weather was muggy, but Fredrick's office was located at a great place not far away from which a row of fountains stood in a unique shape, while on the left, a large pool of lotus flowers lay there silently. The lotus in the pond had not bloomed yet, and there were only small buds. The fountains cooled down the hot air.
Joseph just stood beside the lotus pond, and his shadow was elongated under the sunshine. His car was parked nearby, and the driver was still in the car while he was leisurely enjoying the sight of the lotus pond.
When Irish went down, his broad and strong back, as well as his tall figure, unfolded before her. He didn't wear casual clothes; perhaps it was because this was a business trip. He was dressed in a bluish-white polo, a light color shorts, which were clean and simple, but he still looked energetic and handsome. Sticking one of his hands in his pocket, he was feeding the fish with fish bait.
After that day, when they played golf together, she made an investigation of him that he loved to play golf when he was young, and his coaches were all big shots who gained many international awards. He was also brilliant at playing golf, so it was not hard to imagine that he had a great performance when he competed with Leo.
When she was about to call him, her arm was pulled by someone, and then a man's unpleasant voice sounded, "Are you going to travel with him?"
She was startled, and when she looked back, she found it was Fredrick.
"I went down because I was worried about you." Before she could ask him, he explained to her first, and then he continued with a low voice, "If you work in Runestone Group for him, then you may have to think twice whether you really have fallen in love with him or you just do it for other purposes."
Her arm was pinched by him, and she was worried when she saw his unpleasant look. She was eager to dismiss him, but soon Joseph walked directly toward them.
"Fredrick, let me go. I promise I will explain it to you." She said anxiously, but Joseph was walking close to her, and she was afraid that he would have suspected something.
However, Fredrick did not intend to let go and frowned, "You know who he is, do you want to stir up a fire and burn yourself? Are you crazy?" Though he came late to New York, it did not mean he didn't know what had happened to her.
When Joseph stepped toward her, Irish felt an unnamed pressure on her. "Isabel, who is he?" He spoke to her first, and his voice was still soft but with a trace of exploration.
"Isabel?" Fredrick's eyes turned severe suddenly, and he looked at Irish as if he was trying to figure out the origin of this name.
She hastened to answer. "Oh, this is my mentor, Fredrick." And then she turned to Fredrick and said, "This is Joseph, the manager of Runestone Group."
Fredrick ignored the hint from Irish, his jaw clenched, and he stared at Joseph with vigilant eyes while Joseph just stood there silently and then took the initiative to shake hands with him. "Nice to meet you." He said languidly.
As a result, Fredrick had to loosen Irish's arms and stretched hands to shake with
him: "Nice to meet you too."
When they were shaking hands with each other, Irish took the time to rub her arms where Fredrick pinched them. After the brief greeting, Joseph turned to her and said, "Can we leave now?"
"Well, yes." She answered quickly and then took a glimpse at Fredrick, who looked annoyed at the moment. A feeling of hesitation lingered in her heart, but she beat back the impulsion soon.
Joseph smiled and took her luggage and then looked at Fredrick, "Goodbye, Fredrick."
Fredrick understood that he couldn't ask the origin of the name but said goodbye to her. When she was about to get into the car, she turned back at Fredrick, who still stood there, lonely and doleful.