While standing with his head courteously tilted down, Tristan waited for an answer, but not a peep was heard from his boss even after a long mont.
When he raised his head in confusion to check what was going on, he noticed that the cigarette in his boss' hand had mostly burned into ash. What remained in his grip was the cigarette butt, but Carlos had yet to realize it. His eyes were glued on the screen. Out of curiosity, Tristan turned his head towards the TV; a girl was taking the lead of the marathon.
The young lady wore a green T-shirt and sneakers sponsored by Carlos' company, ZL Group. Although her T-shirt was soaking wet from all the running, her pace was steady. Her face, on the other hand, was as red as a ripe apple. It was so adorable. One careful glance, and a person would be tempted to give it a little pinch. At least, that was what Tristan felt as he found himself watching and silently cheering for the athlete.
"Repeat your report. From the top," Carlos suddenly demanded, giving Tristan quite a start. When Tristan turned around to reiterate his report, his boss had already averted his gaze from the screen. Once again, his head was buried in a file, his eyes hidden from view, as though he was never distracted.
After so ti, the one-ti silver dalist managed to surpass Debbie. But this did not faze her, and 1 hour and 10 minutes later since the beginning, Debbie was ahead of everyone again. Everyone witnessed how much effort she put into each calculated step as she advanced forward. The whole venue was boiling with enthusiasm from every side.
As she gained montum, so students from the Economics and Managent School applauded her in excitent, shouting, "Well done, Debbie!" "Keep it going! You're almost there!" they yelled approvingly. Even the students who could not see everything clearly from a distance had joined in the cheering when they heard that Debbie was taking the lead again. Everything else was drowned out by the shouts, which ca in waves, one louder than another. It went without saying that as much as she showed no signs of slowing down, neither did their screams of encouragent.
Ten more minutes later, only three passes were left before they hit the finish line. All of a sudden, surprised exclamations ca from the crowd. Amidst a mixture of reactions, so students shouted Dixon's na.
When Debbie turned back, short of breath, she found that her friends, Jared and the rest, were nowhere to be seen. She realized that they had pulled out of the race. On the other hand, Dixon, who had been in the sixth place, had tripped for so reason. As he tried to get to his feet, it proved to be more difficult than he had thought and he failed.
Seeing this, Debbie hesitated for a second. Despite being several ters away from him -- the distance growing with each step she took, she let out a low growl and then spun back towards him, sending the audience into a hysterical fit of amazent.
The mont she made the call in that split second, the forr silver dalist took the lead again in her stead.
"Tom..." panted Dixon, sensing her return. "Tomboy. Don't co... don't... co back for ..." But before he could string a few more words together, Debbie was already standing before him with an extended hand. Looking up with a pair of apologetic eyes, Dixon fell silent, his jaw slack.
With a quick glance past Debbie's figure, he saw that the silver dalist was still finishing the race and it brought his focus back. If not for him, he had to keep going for Debbie who had risked what was possibly already a sure win for her. Resignedly, Dixon took her hand and got up.
However, his injury seed to be worse than he had thought. As soon as he stood up, the throb in his legs made him almost fall to his knees. Debbie was quick to catch him.
"Tomboy, listen to ," he said between gasps. "My legs hurt." He shook his head, feeling defeated. "I... I can't go on. But you can still go. Run. Just ignore ."
Looking at the scratches on his knees, Debbie encouraged him. "Doctor, it's just a couple of scratches. You can do it. Just let help you."
They had been friends for years. And in those years, he never failed to be there for her when she got into trouble with the teachers. This ti, however, he was the one who needed help. And like a true friend, she was not about to abandon him.
With Debbie's stubborn insistence, Dixon clenched his teeth, and started running again. It did not hurt as much, though, as Debbie supported him the entire ti for the rest of the race.
As their resilience was seen by everyone at the venue, the students scread at the top of their lungs, "Monitor! Tomboy! You're aweso!"
And sohow, a resounding voice stood out from the rest in the crowd. "Debbie, I love you!" It was received with a lot of giggling, and a few good-natured shaking heads, for it ca from a girl.
Despite being at a disadvantage, Debbie and Dixon gradually overtook so runners in front of them. Eventually, when they reached the finish line, Debbie ca third, while Dixon was fourth.
Although she did not co first, her decision to go back and help an injured friend engraved Runner #961's compassion in the hearts of everyone at the venue. Due to a decision that she made in split second, Debbie beca a star -- a hero.
The man in the VIP lounge saw everything that happened in the race. Although he did not show it, the incident appeared to affect him in so way.
The beloved female athlete was sward by a dozen boys. Out of elation, they carried her effortlessly with their hands, tossed her in the air, and caught her. They repeated this a few more tis, and although she was helpless and exhausted, it brought a genuine smile on her face.
Carlos sneered at the sight of it. 'Look at her, ' he thought in annoyance. 'Seducing those innocent boys. How flirty can she be?'
After the race, Debbie retreated to her dorm, and welcod her bed with open arms. A lot had happened, but the day was not over yet.
The closing ceremony of the half marathon was going to take place in a matter of hours, including an awarding for winners. What was more, the special guest to award the dals was the CEO of the ZL Group, Carlos.
Upon hearing Carlos' na, she bounced up like a spring. "What?!" Debbie could not help but shout out loud in disbelief. 'Carlos?' she thought angrily. 'Seriously! Why is he everywhere?' The young lady brooded in her bed, obliviously biting her lip while deep in thought.
Casting her a sympathetic look, Kasie said, "I have to say, Debbie. Mr. Huo and you seem to have a special connection. It's like wherever you go, he appears to be there as well!" Debbie sighed. 'A special connection?' She could not help but snort. 'He and I are, after all, legally bound together, ' she thought to herself.
"Now I'm worried that it might get ugly between the two of you at the award ceremony," Kasie was saying, as Debbie got out of her thoughts and looked at her. "I won't clash with him at the ceremony," assured Debbie. "Just that... well, who'd have thought that he'll be awarding the dals?" Huffing in a grumpy manner, she added, "Since I wasn't going to be the winner, I should have just let soone else take the third place. At least then I wouldn't have to see his face."
Granted, third place was not bad. But as long as she did not place first, a part of her still felt that it was a loss nonetheless. She was just competitive that way. And coming third ant she had lost her bet with Gail. Blowing at her new polished nails, Kristina chid in, "Actually, Debbie. I envy you. How lucky you are to get to run into Mr. Huo so many tis! He's so handso, so rich. He's just everything. It's like fate." Then, the dreamy look which had been present on her face a mont ago, disappeared. It was replaced by a pout as she continued, "But when I think of how badly things ended every ti you two saw each other, ugh, I'd rather not have such fate. Just like that, I don't envy you anymore." 'Only Debbie is bold enough to ss with Mr. Huo.
Is her background more powerful than Mr. Huo's?
There's no way that's possible.' Shaking her head, Kristina chased that thought away from her mind. In Y City, no one had dared to ss with Carlos except Debbie.
Sluggishly clutching a cushion, Kasie asked, "Tomboy, Mr. Huo is actually very handso. I just don't understand why you're not attracted to him." She then tilted her head in a curious way, and asked, "Why do you two hate each other so much?"
The smile on Debbie's face faltered. The first ti she had laid eyes on him, she was indeed attracted to his good looks. There was no doubt that the man was handso. But later on, every ti they saw each other, he managed to make it easy for her to dislike him. Why? Every ti they t, he would run his mouth off, and his sarcasm would get on her nerves. Also, why on earth did he have to make such a fuss out of a kiss? When it ca to kissing, should it not be the woman who was at a loss? She thought that as a man, he should not be so narrow-minded. On the other hand, he thought that as a woman, she should be more refined and less flirtatious.
In a way, it appeared that they had gotten off on the wrong foot. Yet both seed to be too stubborn to admit their flaws.
"I don't understand," Debbie whined. "Why is he everywhere? Why does he even show up at the award ceremony of a marathon?" She rolled her eyes. "Does he not have to work sowhere? Isn't he so CEO of a multinational group? Shouldn't he have so company-related things to attend to? Why does he have the ti to dilly-dally around?" After her rantings, Debbie folded her arms in anger and glared at nothing in particular.
"Debbie, ZL Group is the biggest sponsor of this marathon," Kasie told her. "They sponsored the clothes, sneakers, and the prizes. As the boss of ZL Group, of course, it's only natural that Mr. Huo is invited to the ceremony."
"Also as ZL Group is Keen on sport. They have sponsored a lot of sport eting," Kristina added. "It's not surprising at all to see ZL Group at marathon event." Even though Debbie believed them, she was still surprised by the fact that they knew so much.
Both girls were often up to date on news regarding Carlos. In fact, most girls were. He was, after all, the richest bachelor in Y City. Only Debbie seed to be repulsed by him at the mont, and given their status sitaution, the irony was not lost on her.
At the award ceremony, Debbie calmly stood on the third-place platform. When the crowd started to scream, she looked around, and saw Carlos coming into sight.
Wearing a suit and brand-new black leather shoes, the man got onto the stage at a steady pace.
The autumn sun cast a golden hue on everything. In the sunlight, with his distinguished aura and elegant deanor, he looked even more gorgeous than was usual. Every single woman off stage kept screaming in excitent. To her chagrin, even Debbie could not take her eyes off him for a while.
If things stayed the way, if they did not argue at all, he would be so perfect. Unobtainable, dashing, and influential. No wonder so many won were crazy about him.
When he drew closer, the host's eye glistened with enthusiasm. "Now, let's welco Mr. Huo," she announced, her voice trembling from the sheer thrill of being near him, "who we are lucky to have here with us. He will now be awarding the dal of the gold dalist."
One by one, the man presented dals. When it ca to the bronze dalist, Carlos inched towards Debbie, accompanied by the host. His face remained nonchalant as though he had never t the woman before. When he stood in front of her, she lifted her head to face him. Bearing in mind that everyone's eyes were on them, a smile crept on her lips, but there was no joy in her eyes.
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