Plans

Margaret is now at her boss’ office as they discuss about the new branch they were putting up in another province. But it seems her boss has suddenly lost her concentration as her focus shifted to her cell phone.

“A get-together, huh? I guess everyone wants to meet this royal prince of Astrid.”

Margaret looked up from her laptop, seeing her boss looking quite invested with whatever she’s looking at her cell phone.

“Wednesday? Oh, surely I won’t come.” Fatima looked at Margaret. “Do I have an appointment on Wednesday night?”

“I’ll check your schedule.” She opened her calendar on her laptop.

“If I don’t have, then make one.”

Margaret looked back at Fatima.

“A very convincing one, something that can make me avoid meeting a royal prince.”

Margaret got confused at what her boss meant, which Fatima immediately sensed.

“My friends are organizing a get-together to meet our friend’s fiancé, who is the crown prince of Xeglington. I don’t want to come, so make me an excuse.”

“Don’t you want to meet the prince as well?”

“Well, that will be great. But if that’s the only reason I'll come, then I rather pass. You see, I'm not really that much into those friends of ours. I only get along with one of them, and that someone will not attend this get-together for sure.”

“You seem so sure of that.”

“He’s the ex of the friend who’s marrying a prince.”

“Ah...” Margaret nodded. She looked at the calendar again. “Wednesday is our dinner treat for the employees.”

“Ah! Nice one. I guess they won’t question me treating my employees to dinner for a job well done. That's a good excuse.”

“But they would probably ask you if you could just re-schedule it next time.”

“You’re right... I need a full schedule for the dinner time of the entire week.”

“I could re-sched the meeting you have on Friday night to tomorrow. On Thursday, I could make you an appointment with the House of Gloria about them availing a spot on the mall.”

“Okay, do that. But what about on Friday?”

"Friday night is quite busy because a lot of customers go to the mall during that time. We simply could not schedule the dinner that day, as well as Saturday and Sunday night.”

“You’re right. Do as you mentioned, then.”

Margaret started filling in Fatima’s calendar, as well as making notes about the changes she just said.

“You know, this is the reason why I am grateful you are my assistant.”

Margaret looked at Fatima.

“What could I ever do without you, Marga?”

Margaret just smiled. Fatima smiled back at her.

“I hope you stay with us forever. I mean, well, I would understand if you want to spread your wings and look for other opportunities. Not just financially. I understand people need professional growth.”

“I’m not thinking of leaving any time soon, Ma’am. You can count on me on that.”

“I’m glad to hear that... I don’t think someone else would be willing to do crazy stuff for me like fix my schedule so that I could not attend a get-together with my friends or help me make my crush fall in love with me.”

“Well, you don’t need to do that one anymore, because your crush is now your husband.”

Fatima smiled. “Yeah, you’re right about that. Now, I am his crush.”

“Who has a crush on you?”

The two women looked at Stan Fontanilla who is now walking towards them. When he reached Fatima, he kissed her on her temple.

“Someone’s having a crush on you?” Stan asked.

“Yeah. I'm one heck of a hot lady, you know,” Fatima said as she smiled mischievously.

“Oh!” Stan’s eyebrow rose as he looked at Margaret, who just giggled at the couple’s banter.

“I was talking about you,” Fatima said to Stan. “Am I not your crush?”

“You’re not,” Stan answered. “You are my love.”

“Uh!” Fatima gushed at what her husband said.

“Crush is something that is more like an admiration only. Like, when you have a crush with Scarlett Johansson, or Gal Gadot.”

“Right.” Fatima scowled, making Stan smirk.

“Just fix my schedule, then arrange everything,” Fatima said to Margaret.

“Will do, Ma’am.”

“We’ll just go out for lunch.” Fatima took her handbag, then stood up. “Let’s continue after.”

“Okay,” Margaret said with a nod.

The three of them went out of Fatima’s office as the couple went out for lunch, and Margaret joined her colleagues on the pantry.

************************************************************************************

“Hey, Cousin!”

Auguste immediately felt annoyed as he saw Iñigo enter his office and walk towards him. Not that he hates his cousin that much. It’s just that whenever he talks to him personally, surely it is something that is meant to annoy him.

“How’s it going?” He sat down on the chair in front of his table. “I can see that you are too busy.”

“I am, so if what you’re about to tell me is something not worth my time, then please just leave.”

“Hey! This is no nonsense! Is social life not important to a person anymore?"

Auguste let out a sigh, making Iñigo sense his vexation.

“The group is planning to have a get-together dinner. You know, they all want to meet Astrid’s prince.”

Auguste’s surprise made Iñigo smirk.

“You should have known if only you did not remove yourself from the group chat.”

“I’m too busy to just chit chat.” Auguste went back to work.

“Busy, or you were just avoiding us?”

“Why would I even avoid you?” Auguste answered, not even breaking away from his laptop.

“Well, me, you have a lot of reasons. But the others, that’s what I don’t know. Are you for some reasons... mad at them?”

“I don’t have–” Auguste suddenly realized his sudden incense. “I don’t have any... grudge.”

“Even with Astrid?”

Auguste did not answer. Not because he has a grudge with Astrid, but because what he has for her is something else. It's more like regret. Or disappointment. To himself, that is.

“Cousin, could it be that you’re still not yet over her?”

Annoyance started coming back to Auguste. “How many times do we need to discuss about that?”

“Well then, prove that you are already over her completely. Go to the get-together.”

“Why do I need to prove anything to you?”

“To me, you don’t have anything to prove. Like, does it ever matter to you if I believe you or not? But to Astrid, and the others, I guess you need to show them you’ve already moved on.”

“I have ways of showing them.”

“How?”

Auguste did not answer. For the first time, he admits he doesn’t have anything to counter Iñigo’s allegations.

“I am telling you a very easy way. Just go to the get-together, face Astrid and her fiancé, and your friends who misses you so much... I’m not actually sure why they miss you. You're not very friendly with them anyway.”

That is quite true. Actually, the only reason why he really became friends with that group is because of Astrid. Yes, they might have known each other since they were young, but they are not really friends. They just became friends during college, when they shared a class or two, and they began hanging out because of group projects and all-nighters. And of course, Iñigo is his cousin.

“So, are you going?”

Auguste sighed. It seems he needs to make Iñigo win this time. “Fine! I’ll go.”

“That’s what I'm talking about!”

Since Iñigo already got what he went there, there’s no reason for him to stay. He started leaving the moment Auguste said yes.

“I’ll tell the group you’re coming. Don't even try to change your mind. You'll look stupid if you do!”

Iñigo is out of the office. Auguste stared at the door already regretting what he just said. He saw Robert go inside and watched him walk towards him.

“Sir, may I just remind you of your meeting in two minutes.”

Auguste sighed. He closed his laptop and searched for his phone. “Do you know what makes people look stupid, Robert?”

“Sir?” was all Robert managed to say.

“Ego.” Auguste stood up and looked at Robert. “Their unnecessary, fairly fragile pride. It ruins you, yet you still pamper it unintentionally.”

Robert did not answer. He just looked at his boss as Auguste started walking out the office, making him follow suit.