Yelena noticed that Thomas Faery was still waiting for her response. She only came to check but who would have thought that he would be completely intimidated by it?! It was like killing two birds with one stone!

"What can you do for me?" She asked, turning to him with a nonchalant face.

​​

"If it's within my authority, I will do whatever you ask but... you should trust me. I'm not the one who attacks you." Thomas Faery promptly said.

"Whatever I ask?" She slightly smiled when one thing crossed her mind. "I heard that you are the one with the highest authority among those who opposed me. I already have so much on my plate and I won't be able to tolerate it if I have to continue dealing with internal issues."

Thomas Faery's eyes flickered as he understood what she meant. He hated but... he had no other choice. He had to swallow his pride if he didn't want to be the first to suffer. As such, he slightly lowered his head. "I understand. You don't have to worry about that matter anymore."

Yelena briefly flashed a smile and suddenly rose from her seat. "Then I'll count on you, Mr. Faery. I have work to do, so I'll leave now." Without waiting for his response, she walked out of his office right away.

Thomas Faery stared at her disappearing form and when his office door was shut, he let out a sigh. She's young but too formidable. "She's just like her mother." He said, clenching his fist.

*

The moment Yelena entered her office, the pain in her heart resurfaced now that she was alone. She settled on the chair and glanced at some of her photos with Ella which she stored on her phone.

The two friends were all smiles in each photo and that only hurt her more. "Will this beautiful smile fade away because of me?" She murmured, touching Ella's face on her phone screen.

In a split second, she pressed out Ella's phone number but before she could press the call button, she shook her head and put down her phone. This cycle was repeated many times until...

"Come in." She responded when she heard a knock on her office door.

When she glanced at the door, she saw Jason Moravsky who was making his way to her. Then she realized about yesterday.

"Are you feeling better?" Jason asked her, standing in front of her desk.

She nodded her head. "Thank you for yesterday. I won't be able to leave the base if not for you."

"Don't mention." He promptly said but when he noticed her face that was still quite pale than usual, he felt more concern again.

"Do you have something to say?" Yelena asked when he fell silent. This was quite unlike him.

"I think you shouldn't spend too much time alone. I don't know what happens to you but... "He paused, wondering if he should continue. Then he said, "I think I understand your current situation. You are been tormented by self-guilt."

Yelena slightly raised a brow. He talked like he knew what happened but said that he didn't know. She realized what she said to Maj. Gen. Lucian yesterday and Jason was also there. Was that why?

"I indeed heard your words yesterday but I don't understand a thing. However, the way you are now... is just like the past me. I've been there." Jason's voice trailed off and when it comes to his last sentence, his voice was already as low as a murmur.

Before this, he never gets involved in other people's lives and he didn't know how to behave. He was even feeling uncomfortable.

Yelena was taken aback by his words again. Did he say that he experienced this kind of feeling before? She was about to speak up but...

"Now that I know you're feeling better, I will take my leave now. Please take my advice to heart. Don't spend so much time alone." Jason said and quickly left the office.

Yelena blankly stared at the empty door and then turned back to her phone. When she saw Ella's number, she sighed. Maybe Jason was right. At least, she was distracted when she wasn't alone.

* * *

Ella was in her office in the base. She was sitting in a chair and her expression was just blank. She sat that way for minutes, without uttering a single word yet her mind was fully occupied.

What she heard and witnessed yesterday at Yelena's office was played in her mind and her friend's words repeatedly echoed in her ears. They had known each other for 6 years but... it's the first time Yelena treated her that way!

They were best friends yet very different in personality. They were like the total opposite. Yelena was always the calm and patient one who put up with her every whim while she was always impatient and reckless, sometimes immature too. But yesterday, the usually calm Yelena was very cold to her and that broke her heart.

Was her father really that kind of person? But why?! Why did he do that to Yelena's brother?! Ella was well aware of how much Yelena love her brother. He meant the world to her!

She wanted to meet Yelena and ask her for more but... she was scared. What if Yelena hates her? She was so cold to her yesterday and she didn't know if she would be able to go through that again! Their friendship was once broken and it's so tormenting to break ties for a whole year! What if it's broken forever? She didn't even want to think about it!

No! This was not right! She suddenly lifted her phone. If she keeps her silence for too long, it won't be good. What if... she really lose her friend again? Yelena was always firm and it would be impossible to get her back. She didn't want that to happen!

Without thinking twice, she immediately called Yelena.

*

Yelena was going through some files, trying her best to distract herself when she received a call. She simply looked at the caller ID but when she saw Ella's name, she abruptly rose from her seat. She called?! She was happy but scared at the same time. Then she picked up the call.

"Ella." She promptly muttered.

Ella was very nervous. Her mind even went blank which made her unconsciously silent.

"Ella," Yelena called her friend's name again when she didn't receive any response. She was starting to feel anxious.

"Yelena." Ella finally muttered. "Are you busy? Can we meet up?"

Yelena immediately nodded. "Okay. Where do you want to meet? I will come right away."

Ella didn't dare to expect such a positive response. As such, her lips unconsciously curved into a smile. "I will text you an address. Let's meet after half an hour."

"Alright." Yelena ended the call and put down her phone. She quickly glanced at her schedule for the day which Julia Corell gave to her the moment she reached her office. She noticed that she had a meeting after half an hour yet she wasn't bothered. Then Ella's message arrived and she quickly rose from her seat and took her bag.

She walked out of her office and turned to Mrs. Corell who was on the left. "Can you reschedule my meeting with the team from the Group of Hotels? I have an urgent matter."

Julia Corell narrowed her eyes at the schedule and then turned back to her. She knew that the Acting Chairwoman was a responsible person despite her young age. So, if she asked for this, it must be something important. "I will do that." She responded.

"Thank you for the trouble, Mrs. Corell." Yelena promptly said and left the company building with Alan.

While driving the car, Alan would glance at the Chairwoman through the mirror once in a while. He noticed that she seemed to be quite nervous which was very unlike her. "You seem to be nervous, Chairwoman." He finally remarked after refraining himself for a while.

Yelena turned to Alan and slightly smiled. "I am. I will be meeting my friend. I don't know what will happen, so I'm feeling nervous."

"What do you mean?" Alan asked with a confused face. She didn't know what will happen? What was she trying to say?

"I don't know how she will feel about me," Yelena said. "I hurt her and also hurt myself. That's why I keep on wondering what she would say."

"Will she hate me? Will she curse at me? Will she be angry at me?" She paused and then stared out of the car window. "But it's fine as long as it can make her feel better."

Alan recalled about yesterday and just like Jason, he heard her words but he didn't understand. Was she talking about the friend she mentioned yesterday? She seemed to be deeply hurt but... why did she still say such words?

Only a good and true friend would be able to say that while ignoring her own's pain.....