Chapter 16 You Really Are Impressive

When Curtis arrived home that evening, Sabrina and Daniel were still awake, engrossed in a television show. They were watching a popular drama from over a decade ago, starring a handsome actor and a beautiful actress. The couple fell in love while working together, but sadly, ended up divorcing. Such bittersweet romances always evoked a feeling of melancholy. "I heard you're now working as an assistant?" Daniel asked Curtis, surprise evident in his tone. "Didn't you say you're a manager?" Daniel had consented to Curtis keeping his real identity a secret, but the sudden change in designation was puzzling. He distinctly remembered introducing Curtis as a manager to Sabrina. But now that he's an "assistant", the stories didn't match up. Caught off guard, Curtis pondered, 'Since when did I become an assistant? Why am I the last to know about this?' "You're really something," Sabrina pipped in. "I met our boss, Victor, today. He mentioned that you two are quite close." She recalled that Daniel had described Curtis as a tech company manager, hence Sabrina was momentarily puzzled when Victor introduced Curtis as his assistant. But being Victor's assistant was pretty good too, it indicated Curtis' caliber. Her mention of the "boss" caused Curtis' heart rate to spike. He was anxious about the possibility of his true identity being exposed. Following that, when Sabrina mentioned Victor's name, Curtis' eyebrows furrowed. The fact that he, the actual boss, was now being introduced as Victor's assistant, felt unsettling. 'So, Victor is the reason behind the mysterious role change?' Daniel coughed subtly to hide his amusement. "My relationship with Victor is strictly professional," Curtis quickly clarified. "You should stay away from him. He's not as genuine as he appears." While Curtis did not know what Victor and Sabrina talked about, he was confident it was not in his favor. Sabrina's brow knitted in confusion. Her recent interaction with Victor had been pleasant. He had even assisted her and struck up a friendly conversation. Why was Curtis painting such a negative picture of him? "You shouldn't badmouth your boss behind his back," Sabrina warned, her tone stern. "In fact, speaking ill of one's superiors is considered a taboo in the professional world." Curtis wanted to retort but hesitated as he noticed Daniel nodding in agreement with Sabrina. The two appeared to share an unspoken understanding. This made Curtis wonder about the significance of his role in the household. How much did his views really matter? * That night, Sabrina and Curtis resumed their sleeping arrangement, one on the bed and the other on the couch. Perhaps due to guilt or a hint from Daniel, Curtis grabbed his blanket and opted for the couch obediently. After her shower, Sabrina planned to take her rest on the couch. However, she found him already entrenched there, surrounded by stacks of documents. Wearing gold-rimmed glasses, Curtis was engrossed in his computer, fingers dancing over the keyboard at a rapid pace. Recalling the past few days, Sabrina realized Curtis had not used his computer at home, at least not in Daniel's presence. They had spent evenings chatting and, though Curtis seldom spoke, he always sat with them. It seemed he had taken her words from a few days ago to heart. The thought made her feel strangely proud, as if her words had made a difference. “What's on your mind?” Curtis asked. Sabrina had been standing at the bathroom door, lost in thought. Curtis could pretend as if nothing had happened, but Sabrina's increasingly peculiar gaze on him bothered him. “Nothing much,” she said, “I was just recalling how you worked at the headquarters and now you're with Victor at the branch office. You really are impressive.” Curtis had encountered many who flattered him due to his status, both men and women. Yet, he had not expected Sabrina to be one of them. Just as he was about to reply with a sarcastic remark, he caught Sabrina’s sincere gaze, causing the words to get stuck in his throat. Her genuine expression made him reconsider his initial judgment. While Curtis never considered his achievements to be extraordinary, they were undoubtedly beyond the reach of many. “You could achieve the same if you put in the effort,” he mumbled, turning his attention back to his work. Sabrina chuckled softly, feeling somewhat dejected. She wished she could work harder, but sometimes it felt like she had already peaked in her life. “What did Victor discuss with you today?” Curtis suddenly inquired. Taken aback, Sabrina replied, “Not much, really. He just greeted me and mentioned the relationship you two share. By the way, will you be returning to the headquarters with Victor in a year?” 'By then, who knows what state Daniel's health would be in? If it deteriorates further, will Curtis insist on going back?' mused Sabrina. “I'm not sure yet. We’ll cross that bridge when we get to it. For now, let's live in the moment.” Curtis had plans, but he chose to answer vaguely, not wanting to delve deeper into them. Sabrina sensed his evasiveness and irritation. She realized her questions might be probing too deep into his life, which could be making him uncomfortable. Their relationship was still quite superficial, after all. “You're right,” she concurred, “I’ll head to bed now. Don't stay up too late, you’ve got work tomorrow.” After drying her hair, Sabrina went to bed. She left a lamp on for Curtis, knowing he still had work to do. The dim light from the lamp created a warm glow, illuminating Curtis as he worked. Every so often, he would glance up at the silhouette of Sabrina on the bed. It was odd to think that a woman, who was a stranger not too long ago, now shared his bed. It was a situation set to continue for another year.