Chapter 4: The Invitation (Part 1)

I leaned my back in my seat and looked at my phone. How cute she is, right? I'm in the middle of the meeting with my employee and she break the ice inside them. "Ms. Gabriela?" I put my phone after he call my name. All eyes on me.

I tapped my finger on my desk and turned on the mic. "In this report you told me… my employee has a low morale? How can be like that!?" I raised my eyebrow. "I already raised their salary, renovate employee break room, and added more facilities. How can we get such of this low score!?"

I'm flipping the page on the report, "also this!? What the hell is that!?" Oh, shit. I should change my attitude towards them from now on.

"Um… my apologize, Ms. Gabriela." We looked at my secretary. "Your… report paper was missing. I thought you wouldn't notice it." She said, lowered her head.

I took a deep breath and exhale it. Now, what? I asked for nothing!? "It's fine, Kiki." She's not Drake's ex-girlfriend, okay? She already has a husband named Dani. He worked as a factory foreman. "Next time, don't do it again. I'm not giving you a warning letter. It's your first day, but all the people here, it's not their first day ever, right?"

All of them lowered her head. I took a deep breath and massaging my temple. Oh my Lord, this is the worse day ever in my whole life. Next time, I should be more careful with my report. "Where's Silvia!?" I asked Kiki.

Kiki keeps lowering her head and shivering. I took a deep breath and exhale. Oh God, what the fuck you want again!? I only want to… wait. Silvia with her, right!? I send her to… I facepalmed myself. "Okay, just e-mail me your presentation and tomorrow we will continue this meeting again."

All the employees inside this meeting room get out, except her. Whenever I looked at her, she looks like me when the first I met my friend. Maybe I should lower my tone and keep patience with her. Since she is just a new employee here.

"Kiki, looked at me." She lifted her head, looked at me. "I'm not firing you, okay? It's just…" remember Lobak, keep patience, don't raised your tone. "That report is important. Please do not let it happen again, okay!? You… smarter than Silvia. Your score is higher than all the employees inside this room, but fix your clumsiness."

Kiki nodding her head, sobbing. I know she doesn't have an intention of losing the report, but it's a fatal mistake. She already tried her best. I looked at my phone and sighed. Today is the tailor day. I should visit my tailor soon. "Hey, it's fine." I put a tissue box in front of her.

I took a deep breath, waiting for her to stop crying. Am I too harsh on her!? Since Kwang In absent, I fucked my day in the office. I was never late to meet someone, but she made me do it. Just trained your patience, Lobak. Just be patience.

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I get inside of the shop as they greeted me with a bow. "Lobak, you late!" I took a deep breath as Mr. Valentino walking approach me. "Everything is fine, young lady? I heard from my dear friend you're about to getting married with… someone pretty, I guess?" He asked as he looked at me from head to toe.

Yep. This is my suit designer. I often bought a suit from him. Valentino D'Martuccio. Well known as an Italian-style suit maker, a friend, and an ex-mob. "I'm sorry, Mr. Valentino. It's her first day." He nodding his head.

He takes out his notebook and his tape meter to measure my body. Italian-style suit should be fit. I hope I'm not gaining much weight. "You… in love, my dear?" I'm nodding my head. Am I gaining much weight? "You seem to take care of your body well."

Huff… I should keep my body weight until the d-day. "Black like usual, or do you want to browse another color?" Never asked a tailor for his skill. Mr. Valentino began to stitching the clothes to make a sample.

"I want to… explore another color, sir." I said. He gave me his clothes sample.

"My suggestions are black, blue navy, charcoal grey, and light grey, or do you have theme on your wedding?" I'm scratching my hair. Theme? We should discussing it? Mr. Valention, who understands my confusion, he stops stitching and looked at me.

He pulled a chair and sit next to me. "Marriage is a once in a lifetime event, my child. You should have a discussion with your spouse. Have you discussed it yet?" I'm nodding my head.

"We… haven't decided the theme yet, sir. It's because of… my work." He squeezed my shoulder. Even he is the tailor now, but he has a stronger arm. I rubbed my shoulder.

"Call me when you already discussing it with your lover, comprende!?" He stared at me. I'm nodding my head and he continues to stitch my suit. I will search in the Pinterest with her today for the inspiration. Fortunately, today I stay at her house. "By the way… your parents already know you're about to get married, right?"

Right, my parents. "Um… not yet, sir. I will tell them by tomorrow." Honestly, Rose went to my parent's house. I'm getting anxious about their behaviour towards her. Will they hurt her verbally as they did to me or worse?

Mr. Valentino put the suit in front of me. "I know you are still upset with your parents, but they are still your parents. I suggest you should go and asked them for blessings. As long as they still live, keep respect and don't burn the bridge." He knows about my problem with my parents. I'm wearing his suit sample and continue to measuring.

"I know, Mr. Valentino." I'm looking at myself in the mirror. "In the sleeves, oversize." He straightened my arms to the side.

"Keep your weight, alright? Already set the date?" I shook my head. He facepalmed, then looked at me. "Tell me, kid." I took off the sample. "Why you bought the suit first? You… seem to have a burden on your shoulders."

I took a deep breath as I wear my vest. "My brother got shot because of me." He hummed.

"Lift your head. Life must go on and keep positive. You haven't lost him yet." He tapped my shoulder and walked to the counter. "Ah… don't forget to… visit me when you can decide the theme of your wedding."

I did not respond to his suggestions this time. Am I able to trust him? Even he lost most of his brothers. I'm nodding my head and walked away. Hanks open the door for me. "Ms. Salsabila called. She said she wants you to meet her at G-Walk."

What!? Today is Saturday, right? We should meet at her house first, then we can go wherever we want. "What happened?" Hanks shook his head.

"It's better you asked her, Ms. Gabriela. She only told me to meet her at G-Walk." He said.

Argh! Why she keeps puzzling me. I walked to the lobby of this mall and looking at my phone. She keeps messaging me and missed the call. What the fuck is going on? I press the red button, then walked rashly to G-Walk. My heart pounding fast as I walked. Shit. What happened in front of me!?

I'm keep walking through the crowds, and "Lobak! Here!" I'm looking at her, raised her hand and smile. My hand was shaking and took a deep breath. Yeah, my family already here sits and glared at me. I'm looking at my dad, who crossed his arms over his chest.

Okay, I should tell them about my marriage. Remember what Mr. Valentino said, Lobak. He knows the best. Rose tapping the empty seat next to her. "I invited your parents to our dinner, it's that okay?" I'm nodding my head.

I can't reject what my future wife wants. I sit next to her and took a deep breath. "Now, you can talk. I want to get our order!" She standing up. "Your card!" Oh, right. I gave my money clipper to her. Oh, fuck. It's awkward.

TBC