8. Salon

Maria has lived at Jake's house for a week, every morning she always goes to school, and continues to be Jake's secretary in the office. Maria is getting used to her activities. And it's been a week since every time they met, they only chatted moderately. Even now, Maria is still indifferent to Jake, she is quieter than usual who likes to argue.

This morning they were having breakfast, as usual, Jake was busy with his cellphone and Maria was busy eating her breakfast bread. When she was done Maria was about to get up and leave the dining room but was held back by Jake's words.

"I've been patient enough with you all this time. Do you think that with my silence, you can just go along with it?" Jake said without taking his eyes off him.

Maria sat back down, silent again without answering. This made Jake even more annoyed.

"Starting tonight, you must be ready to serve me. I don't accept rejection," said Jake, he pounded the table and left Maria.

Maria, although on the outside she is silent, tries to be strong and is always challenging. But actually, her heart always shrank when Jake spoke out loud. Maria took a deep breath, trying to calm her beating heart. After that, she stood up, took her bag in the room, and immediately went to campus.

As she walked forward, she still saw Jake who was in the living room. It's a shame she hasn't left yet, thought Maria. Maria ignored him and walked back to the front. 3 days ago, Jake sold Maria's motorbike, he didn't want to see Maria wearing a motorbike, and now here she is, in a car that is considered luxurious as Maria's new vehicle.

Maria wanted to be angry because the motorbike was her favorite motorbike. She bought the motorbike herself with her savings while she was working. But what's the point of fighting Jake, she can never.

Maria drove her car to campus when she arrived at the parking lot she was stopped by the silver-haired man.

"Maria," Ashley said to Maria.

Maria just looked at Ashley, they walked hand in hand towards the cafeteria. Because their lecture hours are still half an hour away.

"Where exactly did you get that car from?" asked Ashley curiously.

He had asked Maria this for 3 days, but the answer was always the same. How could her stepfather be nice to Maria in an instant, Ashley thought.

"I've said it many times if it's my father's boss's car. Dad asked me to use it. Why don't you get tired of asking this over and over again?" said Maria.

Not only did that make Ashley weird, but Maria's appearance also changed. She often wears dresses to college. What happened to her, Ashley looked at Maria intently.

"Don't look at me like that or you'll fall in love," Maria said, sipping her drink.

"Tch, who would fall in love with a barwoman like you," said Ashley. But in his heart he said differently, 'I liked you, Maria, even before we became close.'

Maria just snorted, there was something wrong with Maria's attitude. But all this time he thought it was a natural thing for a woman to do. But it turns out that is not the case in the eyes of men.

"Tonight can you come with me? There will be a party at my father's friend's company. Father asked me to come, but it would be very sad if I came alone." said Ashley.

Maria wanted to go with Ashley, she was also really tired of wanting to go for a walk. But can she get out of the lion's den? Maria bit her lower lip.

"I'll tell you later, I have an appointment with my father tonight," said Mary.

"These days I noticed you no longer work at the cafe, is there a problem?" Ashley asked, looking at Maria.

"No, it's just that my father gave me a job in his office," said Maria, looking down, not daring to look at her best friend. Surely Ashley would know if she was lying.

"Let's go to class, I don't want to miss a lesson from Miss Claire," Maria said again, she stood up and walked away leaving Ashley.

While Ashley also stood up, she looked at Maria's back which was slowly drifting away. Something was strange about Maria, something was being hidden from her, Ashley thought.

**

Maria entered the office sluggishly, she hadn't had lunch but Jake had called her to come quickly because there was urgent work.

She went into Jake's room because her room was in it. Jake made his desk which was placed in the corner next to the door and facing Jake. Let Maria always know if Jake was looking at her.

"You're almost an hour late Maria," Jake said as Maria came inside.

Maria ignored him, she walked towards her desk. Instead of immediately opening the file in front of her, Maria leaned her head on the table. Jake couldn't help but turn his attention to Maria. He walked over and stood in front of Maria's table.

"What happened to you?" Jake asked.

"Hungry," answered Maria curtly.

"Why haven't you eaten, it's already 2 o'clock and you haven't had lunch yet. What were you doing this afternoon?" Jake asked, frowning.

"I have a deadline for tomorrow. If I didn't do it last night, I couldn't do it tonight. Coming home from work always makes me sleepy," said Maria.

This is Maria's longest utterance this week. Jake cracked a smile, but only briefly. He walked to his desk, picked up the office phone, and called someone.

"Order food blah...blah...and..blah," said Jake who spoke to the person he was calling.

Maria didn't listen because she was still laying her head on the table, she was feeling very tired. Jake let Maria go and sat in his chair again, he did his job again.

Kenzo entered his boss's room, almost half an hour waiting in line for the food his boss ordered. He wondered, instead of Jake having eaten earlier, why ordered more food.

"Put it on the table, take the file on Maria's desk and do it," Jake said casually, ignoring Kenzo's arrival.

Kenzo snorted, he had expected. Even though there was a new secretary, it was nothing more than usual. Because Kenzo still does everything. He took the file and said goodbye to his boss' room.

Jake walked to the table where Maria was, he called Maria's name but the woman didn't answer and turned out to be asleep.

"Hey, wake up," Jake said, shaking Maria's body.

Maria who had fallen asleep immediately woke up, she looked at Jake whose face was already in front of her. She was shocked and immediately lowered her head.

"Wash your face and eat soon," Jake said nonchalantly and then returned to his chair again.

Maria was still dumbfounded for a moment. After realizing it, she immediately went to the bathroom and washed her face. As she exited and headed for the sofa, Jake remained silent and didn't take his eyes off him.

Maria ignored that and immediately opened the food that was on the table. She ate voraciously because she was really hungry.

"After this, you come with me," said Jake.

Maria turned her head, still with her mouth full of food she nodded at her boss. After that, she immediately finished her meal.

It turned out that Jake took her to a salon, a very large salon in the mall and crowded with visitors. Suddenly a man with an eccentric appearance approached them.

"Hello handsome, who else are you bringing with you this time?" he said sarcastically.

Maria raised her eyebrows a little, it turned out that the man in front of her was letoy (like a woman). Maria wanted to laugh but she held it in.

"Don't ask much Sisi, hurry up and make her as beautiful as possible. I'll wear her tonight" Jake said nonchalantly, left them, and went up the stairs.

Maria didn't hear what Jake said because she was busy looking at the room around her.

"You son of a bitch," Sisi snorted at Jake.

Maria wanted to laugh again, not that she was a boy either.

Maria was then invited to climb the stairs, she entered the room and it turned out that Jake was already there too. She was seated in a chair with a large mirror in front of her, and Sisi immediately started the action.

**

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