My CEO Boss Is A Masked Internet Sensation-Chapter 43: This One Is For You, Phoenix

(Arata)

Stella was waiting for me when I arrived back. She listened to the whole conversation as I narrated what Karsten bought for me.

"Are you ready to do this? Ara. I hope you are not doing it just because of Andy’s words. You realise his words mean nothing." I knew she was just looking out for me and didn’t want me to get hurt in the process.

"That’s the thing, Stella. You only get hurt when feelings are involved. Andy hurt me because I was in love. It won’t happen with Karsten for I am keeping myself detached. It’s not real."

I was astonished at how clearly one could see when the glasses of love were removed from one’s eyes.

"I know but still be careful. Let’s speak to sister Cheryl and take her opinion too." Sister Cheryl was Uncle Lawrence’s younger sister.

Although she was much older than me and Stella, we had a special bond with her. She always looked after us like an older sister. She was extremely close to Baba and considered him a father figure.

After what went down with Andy, she was there for me like an elder sister and still texted me daily to inquire how I was doing.

"I don’t want to trouble her Stella. You know how close she is to Baba. She can spill to him so I don’t want to involve her."

Stella squeezed my hand, the tension rippling on her face. The prospect of me going to meet Karsten’s family wasn’t sitting right with her.

"I just don’t want you to get hurt. Uncle and aunt will be cross if something is to happen to you." I patted the back of her hand.

"It’s fine, Stel. I trust Karsten. And news won’t leak; he just doesn’t want it to spread to media yet so no one will find out who I am." My reassurances made her half-heartedly smile but I knew she wasn’t convinced.

The next few days were spent in nervousness. He went back to remaining distant and cold.

I used some of my older bank balance to purchase a gift for him and hoped he would like it. Mr Arctic had strange tastes so I was a bit skeptical.

Thursday night was the most stressful and I couldn’t sleep. I had to leave with him Friday evening and spend the weekend with his family.

Tossing and turning for a while I gave up on sleep and picked up my phone. He said I could text him whenever. So here went nothing.

Opening my Desperate Princess account I tapped on text messages and sent him a text.

Heartbeat escalated as soon as pm said sent.

I let my cell phone drop on my chest.

What if he won’t reply and just said it in the heat of the moment?

He surely didn’t entertain women after sleeping with them. I had hardly seen him reply to anyone on his posts.

All my apprehensions were wiped away when my phone vibrated and his reply came within two minutes.

{Phoenix...}

Gulping down I typed back with my thumbs trembling as they dashed over the keypad.

{Are you free? Can we talk?}

Three dots instantly appeared indicating he was typing.

{For you, yes. Speak freely.}

Not expecting such a reply, I pulled my blanket over my head and snuggled underneath it changing sides. Excitement leapt inside me.

"{I was feeling very anxious, so I needed someone to speak with. My boss is taking me to meet his family and I have to act as his fake girlfriend. I am apprehensive. What if I somehow fuck up?}"

Hitting send, I let out a frustrated breath from the side of my lips.

He took a while to reply, and I wondered what he would say. Finally, his message dropped and flashed against my screen.

{Phoenix, always remember never to let others see your weakness. Even if you feel overwhelmed or see control slipping from your fingers, keep a smile going, sip on some water and not break eye contact. Confidence is the key in such situations and to handling difficult questions. Be respectful to them but gently say no. If any situation escalates let him handle it because he knows his family best and if he is taking you along then he will stand up for you.}

How his words calmed the storms raging within me. The sun seemed to have risen inside of me after the dark clouds of doubt abated.

I typed back.

{Thanks! He keeps saying not to disappoint him, and although I always keep a bold stance, a trickle of doubt sometimes invades my brain.}

His reply was instant.

{It’s natural to feel that way. We all have doubts when dealing with something of this calibre. I can bet you will win their hearts.}

A silly smile spread on my face. I didn’t need validation from a man but it was just easier to talk to him, knowing we had no strings attached. My thumbs quickly formulated another response.

{I will let you know how it goes once I return from my trip.}

{It’s a deal. Why don’t you come and meet me when you return? I will take you out for a ride on my bike. Do you like bikes?}

His text seemed to have submerged me in a sea of excitement.

Like, I loved bikes. Baba’s old thing was the one I learnt to ride. He was very particular about it but always made an exception for me. Zaylen wasn’t allowed to ride it, though. Hence, he became a car nerd.

And who wouldn’t want to go on a ride with Twisted Rider?

Fucking yes.

{I would love that, and yes, I like bikes. I will see you when I return. I appreciate you listening to me.}

His reply came shortly.

{Like I said, anytime Phoenix. Later and you will rock this weekend. (^_°)} He sent a winking emoji.

Still smiling to myself I closed the message box and clicked on his latest video. He had only loaded once since I went to meet him and it seemed to have been shot in the very same room we had met.

~This is for you~

The caption got me wondering, but as the video began to play, my suspicions were confirmed.

He was still in the Ken Kaneki costume, standing in front of the full-body mirror, showing off his abs as he slowly slid his glove-clad fingers between the ridges on his lower belly.

His gaze pierced into the soul of the onlooker as he whispered.

"This one’s for you, Phoenix..." freeweɓnøvel.com

What the hell? I almost fell out of my bed.

For me? Was it for me? He called me Phoenix. But he might call all the girls he met with the same name.

He had never dedicated a video to anyone else before.

Quickly I scrambled to the comment section. There were thousands of comments, as usual, and everyone just seemed confused and surprised.

One of the users said,

"Who is this Phoenix?"

Another said.

"Did he get a girlfriend?"

Another one had commented.

"OMG! What a lucky girl or gal this Phoenix must be."

There were a few comments who seemed jealous.

"I am so very jealous right now. I can give my kidney to become the Phoenix."

I nibbled on my lower lip and shook my head.

"What have you done, Azul?" I was certainly going to have a talk with him when I met him next week.