I Am Not A Fool

Chapter 8

After leaving Bruno and Ghea, Anna continued to chuckle as she drove, remembering the faces of the two people who looked surprised that Anna was richer than Bruno. She glanced back at Dakota. "Did you see how surprised their faces were? It was so funny."

Dakota smiled in response to Anna's words. She didn't expect that a seemingly shy woman like Anna could do such a brave thing. "It turns out you're brave enough to fight them too."

Anna smiled, watched Dakota for a moment, then focused back on looking straight ahead. "That's because of you. You helped me first. Thank you, Dakota."

Dakota nodded her head in response to Anna's thanks. "Now we're even. You don't have to treat me anymore."

Anna immediately turned to Dakota with a severe look in her eyes. She shook her head, disagreeing with the man's words. "I can't. I've promised to treat you better than today, Dakota. And you can't refuse it."

Dakota nodded with a chuckle. "Okay."

Although she refused on her lips, she was pleased in her heart. Today's treat alone was enough for her, even though everything was a mess because of Ghea and Bruno's arrival.

Anna glanced at her watch. The look on her face changed from happy to panicked. "Ah, Dakota. I'm sorry, I don't think I can take you home now. I'm really late. Do you mind if I ask you to accompany me to the company? I promise when I'm done, I'll take you home."

Dakota paused, considering it. But looking at Anna's agitated face, she finally nodded, agreeing to Anna's request. "Okay."

Anna smiled with relief. "Thank you, Dakota." Anna raised her index finger. "I owe you one more favor."

Dakota only responded with a smile. Anna immediately accelerated her vehicle towards the company where she worked. Finally, the car stopped right in front of a large and tall building with many floors. Dakota and Anna got out of the vehicle.

Dakota was confused about why Anna didn't park her car directly in the parking lot, but soon, the question in her head was answered when they started to step near the door. One of the security officers respectfully approached Anna.

The security guard bowed halfway before Anna. "Good morning, Miss." He extended his hand to Anna.

"Morning." Anna smiled kindly back at the security guard, then gave the guard her car keys.

Dakota understood that the security guard would park Anna's car there. Dakota walked into the company, following Anna.

Anna glanced at her watch again. "Dakota, I'm sorry. I'm really very late. Can you wait for me here for a while?" Anna led Dakota to sit inside the lobby on the sofa in the waiting room. "I promise, just for a little while. It won't take an hour."

Dakota nodded her head, agreeing to Anna's request. "Okay."

Anna strokes Dakota's arm with an anxious look on her face. "You can order any food from the staff here. Please forgive me. I have to go now."

Dakota smiled as she nodded. "Yes, no problem. Just relax, Anna."

Anna smiled. "Thank you." She waved goodbye to Dakota, then stepped into the elevator to head to the company's meeting room on the second floor.

Almost thirty minutes had passed, and Anna hadn't returned. Dakota began to feel bored. She repeatedly read the magazine on the table. Occasionally, she even adjusts her sitting position. She didn't want to order food like Anna said because her stomach still didn't feel hungry. Dakota began to be confused about what else to do to kill boredom.

Dakota got up from her couch and then looked around the lobby. She was pretty amazed by the very luxurious state of the hall. The floor and walls were covered with granite tiles that sparkled beautifully. Dakota was also interested in one of the nature paintings displayed there. It looked expensive and classy even though it was just an ordinary landscape painting.

"Hey, who are you?" Dakota was startled by the voice of a man who suddenly came to surprise her.

Dakota turned his head towards the direction the voice came from and noticed the neatly dressed man who greeted him. A light blue shirt with black cotton pants and black pentacle shoes. Dakota smiled, trying to be friendly.

Dakota extended his hand to the man, introducing himself. "I'm Dakota."

The man with the name tag named Dominic frowned, taking in Dakota's appearance from head to toe. "You're not an employee here? Your clothes are wrinkled and dull. It's so ugly. How can you be here? This is no place for a man like you."

Dakota was a little surprised by Dominic's insult. She retracted her hand as she watched the man in front of her. "I was waiting for Anna."

Dominic's brow furrowed even more at Dakota's mention of Anna's name. His heart spoke. Anna? Which woman did he mention? As far as I know, there is only one Anna in this office, none other than Miss Anna.

Dominic folded his hands in front of him, giving Dakota a sharp look. "You mean Miss Anna? Are you kidding me?"

Dakota heard the man's inner voice. She immediately nodded her head, agreeing with the man's words. "Yes, Anna."

Dominic chuckled at the severe look on Dakota's face. "You even dare to say her name directly? Shameless!"

Dominic's voice was so loud that some other employees turned their heads toward them. Some employees were curious and approached, crowding around Dakota and Dominic.

A woman dressed in a white shirt approached Dominic. "What's going on? What's all the fuss about? This is an office, not an amusement park."

Dominic chuckles in annoyance as he points his index finger in Dakota's face. "Look, a homeless man walks into the office and he says he's waiting for a woman named Anna. Is there any other Anna here, other than Miss Anna? And how dare he say her name directly without any frills."

The female employee immediately glanced at Dakota, looking sharply with eyes that moved up and down, watching Dakota's appearance. "Wow, a tramp like you is presumptuous to enter this office. Never mind, you should just leave here. You're dirty. You don't belong in a place like this."

Dakota exhaled in response to those people, still remaining calm. "I'll leave after Anna is done since I came with her."

The female employee named Elie chuckled while scrunching her waist. "Hey, don't you know who Miss Anna is? She's the daughter of the owner and CEO of this company. Are you kidding me? How could you come with Miss Anna. What a no-brainer!"

Dominic pushed Dakota's shoulder with the tip of his index finger. "Just get out of here! No more talking and making up stories!"

Dakota threw Dominic's hand off his shoulder, leaving Dominic stunned. The few employees who saw it immediately cheered in disgust, thinking Dakota was dirty.

Dominic was angry with what Dakota had done. "How dare you touch me. How dare you touch me! Get lost!"

Elie raised his hand, calling for security. "Security! Come quickly!"

The security officer standing guard in front of the lobby door turned around, entered the office, and immediately approached them. "Can I help you?"

Elie pointed his index finger at Dakota with a very annoyed look. "Look at this! How can a man like this just walk into the office? Are you guys not doing your jobs well enough to let a guy like this in?"

The security guard watched Dakota with a furrowed brow. "I don't know when this man came and how he got in here."

Dakota looked at the security guard, who was already different from the previous security guard because he had changed shifts. "The other security guard saw me come in with Anna."

The employees laughed at Dakota's answer. "You suck. Stop making up stories because we won't believe you."

"Never mind, get her out of here." Dominic pushed Dakota's body until it hit the security guard. "What a nuisance!"