Declined
Fatima was already in the office when Margaret returned, surprising her and making her feel alarmed.
“Where have you been? You didn’t even bring your cell phone with you.”
Margaret looked at her table, finding the mobile unit showing five missed calls from Fatima.
“Can you make me tea? I need to calm myself.” Fatima went to her office leaving her assistant by her desk.
Margaret prepared tea as told, and she also gave her some of her favorite biscuits to complete the set. Fatima is pleased as always.
“The meeting ended because everyone was unprepared. Gosh! Get the minutes from Angela, then send an email to the participants as a reminder of what reports I will be needing when our meeting resumes. How can they be so irresponsible?”
Margaret did not answer. She herself has a sin making her illegible to stoke her boss’s anger. But the chamomile tea might have made her feel a little calmer as she was able to offer her to join her.
“I forgot to tell you to make yourself tea. Sorry, I was just very upset,” Fatima said.
“It’s okay, Ma’am. I already had tea.”
“Is that why you were out when I came back?”
Margaret nodded.
“Marga, it’s fine if you do that since I was in a meeting and I won’t be needing you. But please, next time you do that, don’t forget your phone so that I would know where you are.”
“I’m sorry, Ma’am. I was just... too surprised...”
Fatima frowned.
“Well, Mrs. Ortega came to see me...”
“Mrs. Ortega... Aunt Céline?”
Margaret nodded.
“Why? What happened?”
Margaret sighed. “I guess she came to tell me to stop seeing her son. She might think that me and Auguste has continued communicating with each other. I hope you can tell her the soonest that that is really not the case, and that I do not intend to get close to his son.”
“She said that? She told you to keep away from Auguste?”
“Well, she didn’t. But I think that is what she wanted to say.”
Fatima contemplated. “I can’t believe it. Aunt Céline is not the type of person to do that. And besides, how did she even know about you? Well, she could have seen the post, alright. But is that enough for her to think that you and Auguste has something? It didn’t even go that viral as it was taken down immediately.”
She looked at her. “Are you really sure that’s what she wanted to say?”
Margaret did not answer. Why does it seem like her boss does not want to believe her?
“I can’t imagine Aunt Céline being that arrogant. She's one of the nicest persons I know.”
But you’re not a threat to her son’s love life, Margaret thought. And even so, Fatima is someone that Céline Brizuela-Ortega would want to be the wife of his son. Fatima Velasco fits all the criteria to be an Ortega in-law. She's beautiful, smart, and most importantly, affluent enough for Auguste to show around in social events he will be attending. Such a power couple they could be.
“I really think you are mistaken,” Fatima said to her. “You should know her a little better, I guess. I could set you up to meet her.”
“I don’t think that would be necessary,” Margaret said. “She just wanted to meet me because of that photo on your Facebook Group. I guess she was just curious. Since I will have nothing to do with Auguste, I don’t think meeting his mother is something that I should do.”
“But if you will help me find someone for Auguste, then I think you should also know his family as well.”
“Please, Ma’am.” Margaret suddenly felt agitated, and she doesn’t know why. “Please don’t do that. I’m... I'm a bit uncomfortable meeting her.”
She is very intimidated. Céline Brizuela-Ortega might not look domineering enough, but Margaret still could not help but feel that unnerving aura that she exudes. Like she is a queen to whom your fate to live depends on.
Fatima stared at her assistant, seemingly contemplating on what she said. In the end, she just gave in to her request.
“Okay, then. I won’t make you meet her.”
This might not be the time yet, Fatima said to herself. But eventually, she will find a way to immerse Margaret into the world of the Ortegas, thereby engaging her to Auguste’s life more and more.
*************************************************************************************
Geoffroy can't take his eyes off the beauty that’s in front of him. He can’t help but be mesmerized with the girl’s beautiful face, her tantalizing eyes and her Angelina Jolie lips that he wants so hard to kiss. Man! It would take forever before he’ll get tired of kissing those lips for sure.
And it seems the girl is very much aware of his admiration for her. The way she eats that cake, make that swallow that fork like she’s taunting him, partnered with that seducing look on her eyes, it’s obvious she is playing her charms against Geoffroy. And it is working, because right now the Ortega bachelor wants to leave this place and take this goddess into somewhere he can bask in her sexuality.
“Waiter!” He asked for the bill, which they immediately gave him. Their lunch was a little over ten thousand, typical for a date with Geoffroy. He nonchalantly gave his credit card to the waiter as he looked and smiled provocatively to the girl in front of him.
Who reciprocated with the same seductiveness. Geoffroy is feeling more and more aroused that he wants to run away with this woman immediately and go to a nearby hotel where they can spend the afternoon together, until nightfall and maybe, until tomorrow morning. Geoffroy doesn’t care, as long as he could get his hands onto the sexy body of this woman. Make that his whole body on hers.
But his desire was delayed a little when the waiter went back to their table with his credit card.
“Sir, I'm afraid your card was declined.”
“What?” He looked at the waiter. “That’s impossible. That card has no limit.”
“Yes, Sir, but the bank said that your credit card is on hold.”
Shock was an understatement. Geoffroy just gaped at the waiter who stands apologetically beside their table.
“If you have another card, Sir, we could reprocess the payment for you.”
Geoffroy just gave them his other two credit cards, those that have credit limits because they are not premium cards. The waiter left immediately to process the payment, leaving Geoffroy still dumbfounded as to what happened.
“Is there a problem?” the woman asked him.
Geoffroy looked at her, then smiled. “No, just... some misunderstanding.”
How can his card be on hold? That card was an extension of his father’s credit card. Did his father notify the bank to freeze his account? But why did he do it?
The waiter came back, and again Geoffroy’s cards were declined. Now he’s starting to get alarmed.
“I’m sorry, Sir, but we need you to pay cash. If you have a debit card, that could also work.”
Geoffroy does have a debit card, and that’s where his monthly allowance is being transferred. Today is pay day, and usually the salary is processed in the morning. It's almost three o’clock already, so maybe the money was already transferred to his account?
He gave the debit card to the waiter, then smiled again at the girl in front of him. This afternoon is turning out to be a crazy one, but once they got out of this place, he will surely have a good time with this woman in front of him. And he’ll sure give her a good time. He doesn’t have a reputation of the best woman pleaser for nothing.
But it seems the situation will not be that easy. The waiter came back again with his debit card.
“Sir, the balance is not enough for the bill.”
Now, this is outrageous! If his debit card balance is insufficient, then that means his allowance was not yet transferred to his account. What in the world is happening to the Ortega Group?