CHAPTER 4 - SOLUTION TO A PROBLEM

After the meeting, Althea went directly to her office waiting for Mr. Lim.

Mr. Lim has to get the Japanese documents from his office to drop them at Jade's office as instructed by the latter.

After dropping the documents, he proceeds to Althea's office, with the copy of the Japanese documents in hand.

"Joanne can you inform Althea that I'm here?" - Mr. Lim.

When Althea's secretary looks up, she's kind of shock not noticing the old man immediately in front of her.

"I'm sorry sir I was not able to notice you, I will inform Ms. Althea now". Joanne excuse herself and when she came back from Althea's office she instructed Mr. Lim, that he can go inside now, informing him that Althea was waiting for him. Mr. Lim just nods and proceeds to Althea's room.

When Mr. Lim is in front of Althea's door, he knocked first hearing Althea saying to come in.

"Hi sir, come in....have a seat." Althea standing up with a comforting smile on her face leading the old man to sit in front of her table.

"Thank you Althea, still the same Althea I know before....respectful and courteous. And quit the formalities Ms. Galura were alone now....I told you before, you can call me uncle Han". Mr. Lim smiled, impressed by how down-to-earth Althea is.

From her success right now......she could be intimidating and unreachable but the way she showed respect to her seniors.....it's beyond her.

Althea just smiles, showing her eyes disappearing smile. Even with the big problem, they face now, seeing Althea smiled at him, makes the old man relieve and calm. Everyone......not just him.....if they saw Althea, it's like the burden on their shoulder just lessen.

"Thank you, sir....I mean uncle......don't worry tito, we will surpass this predicament, have fate......okay?" Assuring Mr. Lim, reaching for the old man's hand and squeezing it lightly.

The warmth of Althea's hand makes him still and hearing this from her makes him relax now, for a couple of weeks, he had a problem sleeping. His family beginning to notice his weight loss and his losing of appetite.

As Althea reviewing the documents in hand, Mr. Lim was telling her the situation now in their Japan project.

While scanning the papers and listening to Mr. Lim, Althea suddenly smile. As Mr. Lim sees Althea smile, he immediately stops talking and asks Althea why she's grinning.

"Oh uncle Han, I've got it......I know what to do"! Beam Althea with a big smile on her face.

"Really you do Althea!? You're not joking at me right!? You are serious!?" - Mr. Lim, with a big smile on his face and relief.

"When did I joke to you uncle? I'm serious, I know how to handle the Japanese." Then Althea explained the solution she comes up with.

"Just live it to me uncle. I will fly tomorrow evening to solve this problem and I will call Mr. Tanchinco now, I know he's worried." Then picking her phone, dialing Mr. Tanchinco, informing him of her plan.

"I will ask for an appointment with Ms. Tanchinco from her secretary, early morning." - continued Althea.

"Thank you so much, Althea, I don't know what will I do without you." Mr. Lim was sobbing in front of their young Senior Architect.

Althea comforts him, she stands up and hugs the old man, hushing him. Althea has high respect for the people in TGC, especially Mr. Lim when she was a newbie in TGC, Mr. Lim was one of her mentors, he is being patient with her, explaining the things that hard for her to understand at that time.

"Hey hey now old man don't cry." Joke Althea.

Mr. Lim laughs so hard he couldn't almost breathe. Hearing Mr. Lim laugh causes Althea to laugh with him.

Suddenly a knock was being heard that made them stop laughing, they were kind of surprised its already late in the evening as Althea check her watch........it’s already midnight, who could this be?

Althea stands up and walks to the door when she opens it she is surprised at the person in front of her, even the person in front of her looks shock too.

Mr. Lim stands up and follows Althea, as he saw the person behind the door, he grabs her hand and leads her inside passing Althea which is a little bit stun.

Mr. Lim is so static knowing Jade still here in the building.

Yes..it was Jade who knocking on Althea's office.

Jade is actually on the way to the elevator when she heard laughter, she was scared knowing that it's already late, but as she nearer to the elevator, she notices an office still has a light, so she walks closer, then she confirmed that the laughing sound she heard was coming from this office.

Without any hesitation, she nocks the door and to her surprise, it was the goddess personified itself....... Althea. She doesn't know how long she's been staring at Althea.

Jade is captivated by Althea's big round black orbs, staring right back at her, she was just brought back to her senses when a man taps her face lightly to wake her up from being amazed, even Althea was worried.

"Jade are you alright?" Ask the old man, worries are evident on his face.

Jade blink rapidly, then she shut her eyes longer to calm herself....she doesn't know why she behaves like this, it was so immature, is it from the shock? Or is it from this woman in front of her? She so confused, this woman makes her confuse............... Althea makes her confuse.

Then suddenly two soft hands caressing her both checks tenderly, it caught her off guard but instantly as the two soft hands gently stroking her face, she became calmer.

Althea was surprised also.....about her behavior......she doesn't know this woman in front of her personally. The only thing she knows that Jade is the only daughter of Mr. Oscar Tanchinco and her boss. Why suddenly the concern?

When Jade opens her eyes Althea spoke.

"Are you alright Ms. Tanchinco?" Her voice is so enchanted and gentle from Jade's hearing.

Althea's voice becomes her favorite music that lulling her to sleep.

"Hey, are you okay now?" Althea asks her again, showing a smile on her face, Jade just nod, leaning her face more to Althea's touch, feeling the softness of the latter's bare palm.

Then Althea instinctively rubbing gently her thumb on Jade's cheek one last time, before slowly removing both of her hands that cupping Jade's face.

The latter smile as to how the former so ever gentle to her. Thinking they just meet.

"Ehem....ehem!" Interrupted Mr. Lim, jokingly coughing with a smile plaster on his face.

"I'm sorry." Jade apologizes. A red tint evident on her face.

"Hey no need to apologize, it's okay, we should be the one apologizing for scaring you." Althea reasoned, still smiling, a comforting smile that is.

"Althea is right Jade." Mr. Lim seconded.

"Were sorry.....oh Jade I have good news, sorry for grabbing you without permission...... it's just......I'm so overwhelmed and excited!