Chapter 4 Wrong Number

• Shannon Luke was Tia's best friend, and the two had been inseparable from elementary to college. However, after graduating from college, she took on a white-collar job while Shannon became a tour guide for a travel company.
• Since she remembered calling Shannon during the day, she pressed the first number on her call history without a second thought.
• After a few rings, the call was finally answered. However, the voice on the other end of the line didn't belong to Shannon. It was a man, and his voice was deep with a hint of stupor at that.
• "Hello? What is it?"
• Tia faltered for a moment, and she reflexively checked the number only to discover she had dialed the wrong number! It was only then she remembered Lewis had used her number to call his before he left.
• "I… um… I…" Mortified, she suddenly didn't know what to say after realizing what she had done.
• "What's wrong?" Lewis sounded wide awake at this point.
• At that, she sighed and shook her head helplessly. "Nothing. I just dialed the wrong number."
• On the other end of the line, it sounded like Lewis was sitting up from his bed. "Do you have the habit of calling people in the middle of the night?"
• His deep voice sounded alluring on a silent night like this.
• Tia shook her head in response and clarified, "A friend of mine is abroad right now. It should be noon where she's at."
• "You're calling her in the middle of the night, though. Did something happen?"
• His question stumped Tia, and she smiled. "Is your observation normally this good?"
• "I forgot to mention that I have a keen power of observation."
• To that, Tia joked and said, "Well, looks like I'll be an open book to you."
• "I can play dumb." Even though he was joking, Lewis responded with a straight face.
• Tia smiled in response, then checked the alarm clock on the bedside table to find it saying 2.00AM. It was indeed in the middle of the night. With that, she ended the call. "I'll let you get back to your sleep."
• "Yeah, you should get some rest too." With that, Lewis said nothing more.
• After hanging up, Tia looked out the window. It was pin-drop silent out there. Well, there goes my sleep tonight. Who knew just how many times she had stayed wide awake until daybreak after being woken up by this dream.
• After concealing her dark circles with a thick layer of foundation the next morning, she came out of her room with her handbag to find that Elizabeth had already made breakfast. "Did you have trouble sleeping again?" Elizabeth shook her head and asked upon seeing her granddaughter.
• Tia smiled in response and answered, "How could I sleep when I'm so happy? At last, someone wants me."
• Elizabeth rolled her eyes at that but said nothing more other than telling her to have her breakfast before going to work.
• Just like every other day, Tia would go to work. However, she didn't have to rush for another blind date after clocking off anymore, and her colleague, Ysabel Litton, seemed to have noticed that. "Hey, Tia—is it me, or have you not gone on another blind date lately?" she asked from across the table.
• "Yeah, I'm done with that." Tia nodded with a faint smile.
• "Why? Have your 'fantastic' dates scared the hell out of you?"
• In Ysabel's mind, those who needed to rely on blind dates to find a partner definitely had issues, be it mentally or physically, for no normal person would choose an old-fashion method like blind dating. Only those with narrow social circles, had ugly looks, were strapped for cash, or were disabled would be forced to choose this method.
• Hence, her jaw dropped when she first heard that Tia wanted to look for a partner through blind dating. After all, being colleagues for a couple of years, she knew Tia was far from the people she reckoned could only find a partner through speed dating.
• Meanwhile, Tia reached for a file on her table instead of looking up, continuing the business case she had yet to complete. Speaking of which, Tia worked in the planning department.
• "That's right. Tia, you haven't met some weirdos, have you?" Her other colleagues got curious as well.
• "Well, there was actually one." Still, she didn't look up. She spoke as she flipped through the file.
• "Come on, spill the tea! What kind of weird are we talking about?" Ysabel's interest was clearly piqued. Though she hated blind dates, she was super gossipy about the weird people others met through blind dates.
• With that, Tia put the file down and looked at Ysabel, who had a face full of curiosity. The former said, "He only ordered a cup of milk tea for me. When we were supposed to pay the bill before leaving, he took my untouched milk tea and even insisted that I pay for it. He's quite the 'catch', don't you think so?"
• She was all relaxed, recounting her experience as though she were telling a joke.
• Ysabel, however, shuddered and said with disgust, "Ew, is there really a guy like that in real life?"
• How can a guy like that possibly exist?! Gross!
• Tia shuddered in response, not making another comment.
• Zayne, who sat behind Lydia, then asked curiously, "Well, did he scare you out of going on another blind date, Tia?"
• "No." Tia turned her chair toward him. "It's because I've already found the right guy."
• "Is it Mr. Garrett?"
• Whoever it was who asked, the entire office silenced instantly in response.
• A few seconds later, Tia came back to her senses and answered with a faint smile, "No, it's not him."
• However, only the sound of everyone's breathing resounded in the space, saying nothing while they all stared at her.
• With that, Tia smiled and said nothing more, turning back to the business plan she had yet to complete.
• Meanwhile, Lance stood still by the door and fixed his gaze on the woman focusing on her file as he clenched the document in his hands. It was unclear how long he had been standing there. Finally, after closing his eyes hurtfully for a moment, he spoke up. "Tia, come into my office."
• Everyone looked to the door reflexively and finally noticed Lance standing there. Someone gasped in response, and it was loud and clear in contrast to the deadly silent office space.
• Similarly, Tia was a little surprised to see Lance at the door when she stood up. However, it was only for a split second, for she nodded calmly and answered, "Okay."
• Following that, she put her file down and went toward him.
• Meanwhile, Lance turned around and headed to his office.
• Inside, Lance stood facing the window wall with his hand behind his back while Tia stood behind him. "You wanted to see me, Mr. Garrett?"
• Lance turned around in response and looked at her with a hurt expression. "Tia, are you really willing to choose some random stranger over me?"
• Tia, however, wasn't moved by his hurt expression and distressed tone. "Mr. Garrett, I thought you wanted to see me for business," she said calmly while looking at him.