PSYCHOLOGY
Caroline Havens: At Work
"Mr. CEO?" What is he doing here? Isn't he supposed to be out of the city? Or is this a trap set up by those two?
"Sit down!" I didn't notice I instinctively stood up. Is he gonna scold me? No, Caroline, calm down. You're supposed to be their PA.
"Yes, sir." My anxiety and nervousness are killing me.
"No need to be formal. You are, from today onwards, the PA of those two. I hope you perform well."
How does he know that? Who told him? And why is he so calm? Gosh! I hate that smile on his face.
His face always carried a faint smile.
He stood up and left the room. Was he waiting here for me just to give me a heart attack? This man will seriously kill me one day.
Ten minutes passed. I was resting on the velvet couch; the soft fabric caressed my skin in a flimsy manner.
"Uh... master!!" Nickel came rushing in as I stood up like a corpse waking up from the dead. My muscle memory got the better of me.
"What is it?" Did I fall asleep? How long was it for?
"Here it is, come with me!" He seemed worried, so I followed his lead.
And now I ended up in a control room-like place where, on the control panel, there was a mic, headphones, and some useless buttons. This room was straight out of a sci-fi detective noir-type movie.
Even the chair.
"So, what's the matter?" I looked at Nickel with my hands on my waist. Around Nickel and Cupra I'm just too expressive—and I don't hate it.
"Look at the screen!" He turned on the screen. All I could see were some credits rolling, and then company names flashing. I gave a deadly glare to Nickel as he skipped it all and the cam started.
He could skip all that, and yet I had to wait for that long?
There were 5–8 cams and in it was—
"CUPRA is on a date!??" I slammed my hands on the control panel, looking at him. He was with a blonde girl, a rose hairpin, and a burgundy gown.
Already feels like a no to me.
I sat on the chair, and Nickel sat on the other one. We both connected our headsets, and I turned on the mic. Let's see the situation.
[]:-Mic voice
():-Thought bubble
Cupra was sitting calmly; however, his mind was getting cold as the blonde was drinking her coffee.
What should I do? I don't even know her name... Where is master?
"Is there any problem?" the blonde asked with a smile.
"No, I was just thinking something."
"Oh! So, let's start with greetings."
This was a blind date, so they both saw each other for the first time at this table. The blonde was a rich man's daughter, so she didn't know much about Nyco Brothers.
[ KOADA-HYPER HAS BEEN CONNECTED SUCCESSFULLY ]
Master?
[Cupra, can you hear me? Turn right if yes, turn left if no.]
"I am Momo Butcher. Distant relative of famous actress Lia Butcher. And you?" She raised a hand and bowed elegantly.
What should I do? Should I look right? Where was I supposed to look? What is my name??
[Just stand up. (Oh my! He's already butchered...)]
I stood up.
[Now press your right palm to your left side, where you think your heart is, and introduce yourself. And don't ask any weird question like 'heart is in the middle' or else.]
I pressed my palm on the left side of my chest and— I can do this!
"I. Cupra, The—"
[Just cough and restart. Don't say your status out loud, just 'Cupra' is enough.]
Cough! I pray I don't mess it up.
"Are you okay?" She looked at me while drinking her coffee. What should I do now? Yeah, greetings.
"I'M CUPRA. Nice to meet you."
"Me too. Nice name, Cupra."
"Oh, thanks!" I smiled half-wryly, half-genuinely. I guess I pulled it off. I sat.
[ Now ask her, what she'd like to eat, she'll say anything. So, start with have you ever came here before or is this your first time?]
""Is this your first time here?" I smiled to appear as normal as possible. I believe in master.
"Oh, me? I actually come here often. This is one of my favorite places."
She locked her fingers under her chin, looking at me directly.
[Don't break eye contact, wait for 5 seconds, and ask her favorite meal (God, I now think how hard it must be for guys on a date. He's too helpless)]
[Nickel: Master, I think a soup would be ideal. Caroline: No, let him ask.]
3... 2... 1...
It was hard to maintain eye contact; I was sweating. Her eyes, blueish with long lashes, were killing me.
"What's your favorite dish here?" I did as master said—let's see what happens.
"Well, I love the soup here, but I don't mind Italian pizza either." She leaned back and opened her menu.
[Now listen carefully. Order pizza, but not Italian. I'm straight up dropping wisdom now. This is such deep knowledge even countries are after me.]
"Let's order Chicago deep dish Pizza!" I said it! Master is best.
"Okay."
[Wait... Let her order, don't order yourself.
Nickel: - But master, isn't it good manners to order for your date?
We are dealing with a type you don't know. My wisdom is beyond your comprehension, monKEYS!!]
The waiter came near us; she was looking at me. To avoid it, I looked at my phone so she had to order. This feels like a gut punch to my morals.
"Waiter, a Chicago deep dish pizza, please!"
"Yes, ma'am."
I don't know what's happening, but she looks like she's enjoying it. What kind of psychology is this? Master is great.
"I've ordered it. Any drink you like?" she asked me. She's asking me!! What should I do?
[Say NO to her. Nooo!!]
"No, not right now!" That sounded so rude. I want to die. Why can't humans be nice and easygoing??
"Oh... okay!" She removed her hands from the table. Is she feeling bad because of me? Master, what are you doing?
[Don't be fooled by this. Her action shows we're on the right track!]
But what now? We are empty, looking at each other.
[Ask her if she's going to pursue a job after marriage. Ask it like you aren't being forceful, just curious.]
"So, are you thinking of pursuing a job after marriage?" That sounded so bad. She'll think I'm one of those who don't like women working. What should I do?
I looked at her as if it was nothing—it's everything.
"I think I'll open up a fashion brand." She looks like she's getting disgusting vibes from me.
"Oh!"
[Don't "oh" her. Tell her your plans! Just say something like, "I'm planning to run a company."]
"I'm planning to lead a company." I giggled a bit due to the situation—I'm being narrated by a female to impress a female, where I know nothing.
"That sounds great. So, what kind of company?" She leaned on the table, her eyes were shining. Did I pull it off?
Then suddenly, a sizzling smell caught my nose. I wanted to eat it no matter what.
The waiter served us the pizza slices with the pizza resting in the center of the table. Knife and fork in front of us. She took the slice and took her bite. I can't wait. It looks delicious. I was about to move my hand up.
[Don't eat that! You're there for a date, not a trip. Let her taste it. If she asks why you're not eating, just tell her your fingers have small cuts, so you can't eat anything by yourself. And then add your sorry as the last topping ]
She looked at me while my puppy eyes were locked on the pizza.
"Why aren't you eating?" She dropped her fork on the table and asked me.
I want to eat, but master.
"I won't."
"What?"
"I mean, I can't. My fingers have small cuts. I can't pick up the fork and knife. Sorry."
Her face was both confused and slightly sad. What does this mean? Master?
"Let me feed you." Master? What should I do? She's feeding me.
She stood up with the pizza's piece on her fork near my mouth. I couldn't resist it and ate the pizza.
She seemed happy.
[ Let's go. Guilt-tripping with white rook. Now you have the control and she has the illusion. Now's the time for the final test. Ask her these three questions, then we'll conclude if she's a Yes or No.]
[ Nickel:- But what about her? She hasn't approved it yet? ]
[ She did. I can see it, she won't admit it, instead, she'll ask for another date. ]
[ Ask her if she's a dog person or a cat person? ]
"Hey, are you a dog person or a cat person?" She stopped eating and looked at me. Then she thought for a second and said,
"A cat person."
What now? She said it so fast... second question?
[ She's expecting your answer. Just say you're a cat person too.]
"Me too! Cats are so cute."
"Yeah, I even have three pet cats."
[ I know we are supposed to ask her the names, but now isn't the time. I'm already getting bad vibes from her. ]
I stared at her while she was enjoying her pizza. Whenever she asked me if I want to be fed, Master said say NO. What is happening? It's getting awkward.
[ Cupra, I know you're feeling awkward, but we can't just directly ask her the second question. It's not an interview. Just let it be awkward. Trust me. ]
After some time, she stopped eating pizza and was looking at her phone while the main pizza in the center was getting cold. I'm sorry, pizza, if it wasn't for Master, I'd have never left you in such a state. I promise to order your whole family and eat it for compensation.
It's getting awkward.
[ Just a little more.]
Momo smirked, looking at her phone, and then looked at me, asking,
"Do you listen to songs?"
[ HERE IT IS! Oops, sorry for the yelling. Now is the chance. Answer as I say and use the lead to ask the second question. ]
But what should I say? All songs I hear either are dopamine rushes for feeling like a hero or some childish tunes.
[Just say you like lo-fi music. I'm about to turn this date upside down.]
"I... listen to lo-fi. What about you?" I guess I did right with the addition.
[You're on track. I'm proud of you. Now, whatever she says, listen to our second question correctly. Ask her, Hey, are you a news-person?]
"I? I like songs which give me the feeling of softness and love."
[Softness my ass. She's making it up.]
"Great. Hey, are you interested in news?" What kind of question is that? I feel like an old man with seven kids.
"Yeah. I like to be up-to-date."
[Ask her views on the news about Shi Lian Fu. For context, that businessman is assumed dead and people are now coming out claiming his wealth. I wanna know her views on it.]
"Did you hear about the businessman, Shi Lian Fu?"
"Oh, him? My relative Lia used to work with him once. I heard he's assumed dead and people are claiming to be his relatives now? Real talk? I think he probably is the type of person with too many relations."
"Oh, I think so too."
[We got her. A businessperson would never state something unless they see both sides of a trivial matter. She's faking many things. But even if her comment is reasonable, it tells me enough about her personality, summing up with everything that's happened until now. Here's the last question. Don't care about anything. Lean near her, be full confident. Ask her,...]
Really? I have to do it? I guess I have no option.
I stood up, leaned near her face, my palm on the edge of the table.
"Do you... love me?"
She didn't back off, her eyes didn't flutter. She was more confident than me.
[Back off right now and look around if there are girls with cameras on you. She's trying to trap you in an undeniable relation.]
I backed off instantly. There was a disappointing look on her face, but she stood up and started to walk near me.
[There it is. She knows you. She was just faking it all. Extend your arm in front of your chest. No woman with enough mind will push over that hand if it's not her lover.]
She was getting closer. I don't know if I heard a click sound or not, but I did extend my arm, defending my space.
But she...
[How can anyone? She's totally mad. She was just waiting for you to say it. If you care about your wealth, just take some steps back and reject her!! Immediately!]
But she, she...
"I love you."
She said that and started pressing her breast into my hand. My hormones and male fear kicked in. I couldn't help it, but emotions were surging. Should I back off? But she's comfortable with this? And she even said "I love you"—isn't this the most ideal date?
I think I should say yes? But Master will be mad. But she's also a human, maybe she's mistaken?
[GODDAMMIT, WHAT ARE YOU DOING? PEOPLE ARE WATCHING YOU. DO AS I SAY!!
NICKEL:– What are you doing, Cupra? Get back to your senses!]
People were watching for my answer, and she was just slowly coming closer to me.
What should I do?