Chapter 475 Hesitation

**A few months later**

“What do you mean? You’re really quitting?” I asked as shock took over me.

“Keep your voice down..” Richard warned as he looked around to see if anyone had overheard us.

That was when I realized that I had raised my voice without meaning to. I was just too shocked when he suddenly told me that he was quitting his job at the end of the month. That meant that there was a little more than a week until his last day at the company. I never imagined that Richard of all people would be the one to leave the company first out of everyone else at the CEO’s office. He was so serious about his job and is also well known for his loyalty to the company.

“Did something..bad happen to you after the merger or something?” I asked while stating my best guess.

“Not at all. Everything is fine. It’s just the choice that I made, and it has nothing to do with the company. There’s nothing wrong with the company,” he replied firmly.

“I see..” I murmured.

I didn’t dare ask why he was quitting because by that time I figured that he must have found a better opportunity elsewhere. With the skill that he has, I wouldn’t be at all surprised if some other company made him such a good offer that he couldn’t refuse. I wanted to know where he was going but I wasn’t sure if he would tell me if I asked him.

“Aren’t you going to ask where I’m going?” he asked with a knowing look on his face.

“Will you tell me? Maybe I can join you too,” I asked teasingly.

I had no idea where Richard was moving to work but I knew for sure that that new place must be something if it could make Richard decide to quit the company like this. Then again, even if I knew where he was going it wasn’t like I was interested in joining him or that I had the capabilities to join him. If that company is only looking for elites like him then I probably won’t stand a chance.

“It’s a brand new company actually so I’m really taking my risk here,” he said although he didn’t sound so worried. historical

“It’s a new company?” I asked in disbelief.

“You should know about it best. After all, the CEO is the man that you’re dating,” he stated factually.

He’s joining Ace’s company? Really?

“You’re joining Ace’s company? You’re not kidding me, right?” I asked without hiding my shock.

“Keep your voice down, Karina,” he said with a disapproving glare my way.

“Oh, I’m sorry. I’m just very shocked..this is very unexpected and..” I said as I struggled to take in what he had just told me.

Ace did tell me that he was actively recruiting people to join his company. He even tried to recruit me to join his company as well, but I have yet to give him my answer. Since the day that he showed me the new office building, Ace had returned to his fully busy mode. I knew that he was busy with the preparations to start his new company, completing the interior of the building, and also recruiting people.

“Please don’t tell anyone. Ace is telling me to keep it a secret as well,” Richard said with a nod of his head.

“Aren’t poaching people from the company against the rules or something?” I asked while feeling slightly worried for Ace.

“In general, probably, but I think Ace made some deal with the CEO so that he can poach people from his old team,” Richard explained with a shrug of his shoulders.

I had absolutely no idea that something like this was going on behind the scenes. Ace absolutely did not tell me anything.

“Is anyone else from the CEO’s office joining Ace’s company?” I asked when it occurred to me that Richard might not be the only one.

“Not that I know of. We’ll probably find out soon,” Richard said like he couldn’t care less.

“Right..” I murmured.

..

That evening when I went back to Ace’s place, I made sure to interrogate him about what he was doing regarding the set up of his new company, especially regarding the recruitment of people.

“Richard told me today that he’s quitting his job and that he will be joining your company,” I said as I stared at Ace from my side of the dining table.

“He did?” Ace replied without much care.

“Yes, he did. Why didn’t you tell me about this?” I asked.

“Because you never asked,” he replied teasingly.

“Who else? Is anyone else from the CEO’s office team joining your company?” I asked with widened eyes.

“That’s confidential information,” he pointed out jokingly.

“Come on. There’s nothing confidential about that. You can tell me..” I argued desperately.

“This information is reserved for those who have decided to join the company only. If you want to know, what about deciding to join the company as well?” he suggested with a sly grin my way.

“I’m still deciding. It’s not like I’ve turned you down,” I mumbled.

It was true. However, I knew that I was taking my sweet time in making my decision. It was just such a difficult decision to make, and I have to admit that a certain part of my hesitation must have come from my commitment issues. I used the convenient excuse that work had been too busy for me to properly consider switching jobs. In the end, I knew that I was just scared of being even more dependent on Ace. If I moved to work with him, I would be with him all the time and my livelihood would also depend on him.

As it was, I was already living with him after my move into his place. If I were to work with him as well, then he would be my boss and my main source of income. Honestly, I wasn’t quite sure how to feel about that. Although I didn’t want to think about it, there was always that possibility that we could break up and go our separate ways. If that were to happen, what would happen to me then?

--To be continued..