"Only your mother?

" Richard looked intently at Ellena's face as if he couldn't believe it right away.

"Where's your father?—Oh, or maybe you already have a partner, I mean a husband?

"

Richard was silent waiting for an answer. Trivial question. However, for some reason he had to ask that question, as if something was pushing his heart.

Ellena seemed to intertwine her fingers on the table, then smiled at Richard.

"My father died when I was little.

" She answered, looking relaxed and not bothered by Richard's questions.

"Ah, I'm sorry.

" Richard whispered sympathetically.

"It's okay,

" replied Ellena with a smile.

"So?

" Richard raised his gaze as if to demand another answer from Ellena.

However, unfortunately, no answer came straight out of Ellena's mouth. Instead, she rolled her eyes while shrugging her shoulders slightly, questioning what Richard was asking at the moment, indicating that he didn't quite understand where the question in front of her was headed.

"What?

" asked Ellena courageously, after a few seconds of silence.

"What about your partner? Don't you have a husband yet?

" asked Richard a little doubtfully. However, his heart kept pushing to ask that question, even though he was sure that Ellena was not married. Just wanted to make sure it didn't hurt, right?

Fall silent. Again, Ellena did not immediately answer Richard's question. She looked down for a moment, just wanting to neutralize her feelings. Really Richard's question this time made her a dilemma what to answer.

Ellena then looked back at Richard, trying to put on a casual expression by forcing a smile on her face.

"Nothing.

" She replied, shaking her head and looking the other way, breaking eye contact with the man.

For a moment a happy grin appeared on Richard's face. Of course she thought that Ellena claimed not to have a husband, even though the answer she gave was a little ambiguous.

After all, Ellena's answer didn't go that way. It's just that Richard interpreted it differently, when Ellena meant that her husband wasn't in town. Ah, looks like she doesn't really care about Richard's response.

"Okay. So, you only live with your mother in this town?

"

"Yeah,

" replied Elena nodding.

"May I move on to the second question?

" Richard looked expectantly at Ellena's face while frowning.

"Ah, this is exactly like attending a Q and A event, or do you really want to interview me here?

" Ellena chuckled in response to Richard's question.

"So, how many collections of questions have you prepared for me?

" She added later.

"Ha ha ha. Yes, think of it as an interview, before you start working at my company.

" Richard replied, breaking a laugh.

"I shouldn't be in interviews like this anymore, because you've accepted me to work at your company.

" Ellena glanced slightly at Richard. In her mind of course she was worried if Richard asked too much personal questions.

"It's a special interview for you.

" Richard laughed again at his silliness. Meanwhile, Ellena only responded with a chuckle, then pursed her lips.

"Are you ready?

" Richard began to stare seriously, just to make sure the woman in front of him was ready.

"Okay. What else do you want to ask? My strengths or weaknesses?—Oh, or maybe you want to ask about my experience?

" said Ellena, attacking with a few questions.

"It's useless. I don't have any advantages or work experience, other than selling my mother's cakes.

" She later admitted.

'Sorry, I lied, Richard. I just don't want you to find out so quickly about who I really am.'

"Oh, no! That's not what I wanted to ask you, Miss.

" Richard argued.

"So what do you want to ask?

"

This time it was Richard's turn, who seemed silent, not responding to Ellena, who was already curious about the question that the man would ask.

Richard seemed to move, adjusted his sitting position to be more upright and began to focus back on Ellena, after a while just staring in any direction, thinking of the right sentence for a question.

"Okay. There's one thing I want to confirm,

" said Richard, holding up his index finger.

"Okay. What is it?

"

Like Richard, Ellena began to put on a serious expression. It looked like Richard was about to ask something important, but he couldn't be sure about what.

"You and I are friends now, aren't you?

" Richard seemed to be pointing at Ellena and himself in turn. His gaze demanded Ellena to agree with it.

"Yes.

" Ellena whispered curtly.

"If we were friends like this, would someone be angry?

" Richard said, which managed to make Ellena chuckle again while looking away to the left.

"Ah, what kind of interview is this?

"

Richard's question managed to make Ellena sigh in frustration, then look away to the left. However, a moment later she chuckled again. Funny. Should she answer that question again with a joke?

'Isn't there a deeper question than this?' She thought.

"How could my mother be angry, she's actually happy that I have a new friend—

"

"Ah, that's not what I meant,

" concluded Richard, ignoring Ellena's words.

Of course Ellena wasn't an stupid either who didn't understand where Richard was talking. She knew the meaning behind the question. However, she deliberately deflected the answer in another direction, in order to first confirm her guess.

"So, what do you mean?

" asked Ellena manipulating her expression.

"I mean... maybe someone will get mad if they see you close to me. Hm ... your boyfriend, maybe?

" said Richard hesitantly and a little awkwardly.

"Ah, sorry if my question is presumptuous, but it seems I have to make sure first, so that later no one will misunderstand our friendship. Do you have a boyfriend?

" Richard tried to confirm the meaning of the question.

Yes, apart from that reason. He also had to determine the next steps he could take when he faced Ellena. However, even if Ellena already has a lover, it doesn't mean she will just give up in order to melt Ellena's heart. Only, he had to use a more elegant way to approach her, to make it more memorable.

"Nothing,

" said Ellena, shaking her head, then took another sip of her drink. Just wanted to get rid of the nervousness.

This, of course, made Richard grin even more. However, he quickly hid that expression in front of Ellena. It would be a shame if he found out about it.

"Oh, I can't believe that!

"

Ellena quickly looked back at Richard, frowning with her lips still pressed against the straw of her drink. Instantly she released her tiny lips from the straw.

"Why? Do I look like I'm lying?

" asked Ellena, looking down at the handsome, sharp-nosed face in front of her.

"How could a woman as beautiful as you not have a boyfriend.

" Richard replied guessing.

"The proof is real. I really don't have a boyfriend!

" Ellena firmly denied Richard's words.

"Oh yes?

" Richard changed his seat again by leaning forward slightly, interlacing his fingers on the table.

"It means that I'm a very lucky man, right?

" He whispered, rolling his eyes.

Ellena jumped to get that treatment from Richard. How could Richard have dared to tease her like that, when they had only just met. Isn't that sexual harassment? Unlucky. She should have just answered that she already had a boyfriend, so that he wouldn't dare to tease her.

Regret always comes later. If it's like this, he is overwhelmed to control the tremors that are now ruling his body.

"W-what do you mean?

" asked Ellena nervously.

Don't think that Ellena is okay or flattered to be treated like that from a handsome and rich man, she just doesn't accept it and starts to feel worried about her fate because of it. What if later Richard teased her more than just a glance? Ah, he couldn't imagine Lucas knowing all this.

"Ha ha ha. Don't be so stiff, Patricia. I just need to thank God for bringing us together by accident.

" Richard replied as he normalized his attitude again. Don't want to make Ellena look stiff, scared, and awkward because of her actions.

"Because I'm one of those guys who are very lucky to have known you. You're beautiful, kind, and single. At least nothing will limit our friendship, right?

" added Richard later.

"Hm ... I assume you are right,

" replied Ellena not wanting to prolong. She glanced at the black watch on her right wrist.

"Well, looks like we've been here too long and I have to get home soon, sorry my mom is home alone.

" She added.

"Okay,

" said Richard, then called one of the restaurant waiters, asked for the bill and immediately paid it.

Ellena and Richard then rose from their seats, about to leave the place.

"I'll take you home,

" said Richard.

"Oh, there's no need!

" rejected Ellena on reflex.

"I can go home alone. You just go back to the office.

" She added later.

"I'll be back in the office, after dropping you off.

"

"No! I don't agree. Anyway, I'm going home alone this time!

" firmly Ellena still trying to refuse.

"Come on . . . just think of it as a sign of our friendship.

" Richard pleaded.

"I still don't want to,

" replied Ellena, still insisting on staying consistent with her decision.

"Ah, I wish I could take you home today, but if you don't want to, I won't insist.

" Richard seemed to have a slightly disappointed expression.

"Maybe next time.

"

Richard smiled again when he got a wide grin from Ellena. It seemed that the man's mood quickly changed because of Ellena.

"Okay.

"

They immediately left the place, leaving the restaurant which was already empty of visitors, maybe because they had returned to their respective places of work, or maybe they had gone home and moved to another place. Who knows.

Now they were standing in front of the restaurant, right beside Richard's car. The man turned to the side and said,

"I'll help find a taxi for you. You wait here!

"

"Wait!

"

Richard's steps came to a halt, as Ellena's scream suddenly rose through the air.

"No need! I can look it up myself. Besides, I'm used to taking public transportation,

" said Ellena after Richard turned to her.

However, Richard didn't care. He didn't even respond to Ellena's words and swung his feet back toward the highway. Standing on the side of the road, trying to intercept a passing taxi.

"Please go up, Miss Patricia.

" Richard begged as he opened the cab door, allowing Ellena to enter.

"You're really exaggerating!

" Ellena grumbled as she got into the car.

"Thanks for today.

" She said, looking at Richard and smiling broadly, as she sat in the back seat of the car.

"Be carefull!

"