Hearing a sharp female voice, Umberto looked back to meet Lila’s surprised eyes.
-What do you want?
Lila’s heart fluttered at his gaze and she hastened to shake her head:
-No, nothing, nothing at all!
Umberto looked at her coldly:
-If you have nothing to say, I have something to ask you.
-What? -Lila couldn’t help taking a few steps back.
Umberto said in a low voice:
-A moment ago, if I didn’t prevent you, what would you have Albina?
Lila stammered and her fingers trembled slightly:
-I…
-Did you just try to hit her?
-She was the one who hit me first!
Lila’s expression was aggravated as she pointed to the slap marks on her face,
-Look. Look at this mark. Albina made it. She hit me. Why can’t I return the favor!
Macos looked at her face. Indeed, there was a red mark on it and it was very obvious. He looked at Albina and asked:
-Did you really hit her?
Albina did not lie and nodded sincerely:
-Yes, I hit her.
Lila was a little happy and looked at Umberto and Macos:
-She admitted it. She hit me first.
Albina smiled and was about to speak when Umberto spoke before her:
-Albina would never hit someone for no reason. Since she hit you, you should be the one with the problem.
Lila’s face turned pale.
Her voice was low and her words were to defend Albina. It even sounded irrational.
He touched Albina. This unprincipled favoritism made her smile. He was defending her so much that she couldn’t let others think he was unreasonable himself.
-Lila, I did hit you, why don’t you also tell the cause?
Albina’s face was serious, and Lila was frightened under his gaze.
-If you don’t want to say it, I’ll say it for you.
Albina smiled, ready to open her mouth. Lila hurried to stop her, her face pale and her expression altered:
-No, don’t say it. It was my mistake.
Saying this, she glanced at Macos. Lila liked Macos, and she wanted to leave a good impression in the eyes of her boss.
Albina discovered her little thought and didn’t say it directly to embarrass her, but merely said:
-So you deserve it?
Lila gritted her teeth and nodded:
-Yes, I deserve it.
-Just remember not to mess with me in the future. I’m not one to indulge your temper.
Albina finished speaking and left with Umberto.
Lila let out a sigh of relief and looked behind her back, gritting her teeth fiercely.
If Albina didn’t have Umberto, she would have certainly taught him a lesson!
Seeing Albina and Umberto leaving, Macos turned his head to look at Lila:
-Lila, why do you always go against Albina?
Before, when Albina wasn’t here, she wasn’t as bad as she is now.
Lila lowered her head and didn’t have the courage to tell him she was doing it for him, so she stammered:
-I just don’t like her personality very much…..
Macos frowned:
-Albina was nice and a good personality. She gets along well with other people in the design department. If you’re nice to her, she’ll be nice to you. Why don’t you two get along since you’re colleagues? Why do you always make scenes?
Lila gritted her teeth. She became more envious of Albina the more she listened.
Even though she now knew Albina didn’t like Macos, his attitude towards Albina made her feel extremely uncomfortable.
-I understand. I’ll get along with Albina just fine!
***
Albina was sitting in Umberto’s car, talking to him about what had happened today with Silvana.
Umberto kept smiling, and looked at her face with affection.
-Silvana, that woman is too ruthless. Fortunately she was caught, otherwise there’s no telling how many girls will be victims in the future.
Albina finished with a sigh of relief:
-Umberto, you haven’t seen me today. I am powerful. I have not been frightened at all in front of Silvana.
Umberto laughed out loud:
-I didn’t see you stand up to Silvana in a big way, but I saw how tough you were on others.
Albina blushed at the thought of her confrontation with Lila:
-You saw me hit Lila?
Umberto smiled, that the meaning was clear.
Albina’s face turned even redder as she whispered:
-Lila spoke too harshly, that’s why I….
-I don’t hate you.
It was time to wait for the traffic light, Umberto stopped the car and caressed Albina’s hair, his eyes were soft,
-On the contrary, I appreciate you doing this. For people who offend and intimidate you, you should not be polite. Weakness instead will fuel their flame and you will get yourself hurt more severely. Be tough so that others will not dare to bully you. Protect yourself well.
Umberto looked serious:
-Keep the goodness inside you and that’s enough.
Albina looked at him, nodding:
-Good, I see.
-Good girl,” Umberto laughed, his voice low.
Albina’s face reddened.
The voice and the words were so sweet that her heart could not resist.
She opened the car window and the cool breeze from outside blew in, lowering the temperature of her face a little.
Albina’s mood relaxed before she looked at him and asked:
-And you? What interesting things happened to you today?
Anything interesting? Umberto smiled and his eyes sparkled.
There was one interesting thing, which was not appropriate for Albina.
-Nothing, it’s just work.
-Your life is so boring.
Umberto smiled and his eyes were full of affection:
-Yes, my life is boring, that’s why I especially want you to come into my life.
One sentence made Albina shy again. She looked at him shyly with a red face and turned her head to look out the window, ignoring him.
Why did this man talk like that? He had clearly been a serious person before.
Umberto drove in silence, remembering what had happened today, and frowned.
He had gone to the hospital today to pick up Miguel, in addition to work.
***
At lunchtime this day, he deliberately sat in front of Miguel with his collar open. With those scratches, though he said nothing, the marks made Miguel’s face darken.
Apart from Albina, who else would dare leave scratches on Umberto’s neck?
Miguel was very rude to him. His words were full of aloofness, as if even one more look was repulsive:
-What do you want from me, I’m an ophthalmologist here-are your eyes sick?
Umberto smiled at her hostility:
-I didn’t come to see a doctor.
-If not, hurry up and leave. Don’t waste my time.
Miguel’s voice was annoying. The others were afraid of Umberto, but not him.
Umberto tapped lightly on the table, with a calm expression:
-Don’t get angry. What are you going to do if you scare your patients with such a strong temper?
Miguel took a few deep breaths and tried to control his temper. Umberto actually seemed more upset the more he looked at him.
Especially the scratches on his neck. Miguel didn’t give them another glance.
-What the fuck do you want! -Miguel’s voice sounded like he was squeezing it between his teeth as he said one word at a time.
Umberto saw that his temper had reached its peak. Only then did he get to the point:
-Who gave you those two pictures?