The One Who Can Save the Prince

Fatima learned about the Facebook post yesterday, but it was just today that she was able to call Auguste and ask him about it. She was very sick, and all she wanted to do yesterday was to rest.

Auguste told her that they decided to not take down the post since most of the members of the group were able to get a screen grab of the post anyway. It will be useless to take it down.

“So are you going to the engagement later?” Fatima asked Auguste. Today is Saturday, the day of the engagement party.

Silence. Fatima waited for Auguste’s answer.

“I don’t know. I guess I will.”

“Why do you want to go? Are you okay to go?” She did not discount the possibility that he would go, but still, she thought he would choose not to.

“There’s something that I need to resolve,” Auguste answered.

“What is it?”

Again, Auguste remained silent. Fatima patiently waited, but this time, he didn’t say anything. Until Fatima realized he will never answer her question. She just continued the conversation.

“I won’t be going,” she said before coughing slightly. “I have been feeling under the weather lately. Yesterday I was very sick I skipped work. Right now, I'm feeling better. But still, I can’t go to the party. And besides, I did not really want to go in the first place. I thought you will not come as well.”

“So you’re telling me that you’re only going there because of me?” Auguste asked.

“You know the answer to that question,” Fatima answered.

Fatima felt Auguste smiled on the other line.

“Are you really sure that you will come?” Fatima asked again. “I mean, can’t you resolve that something without going to that engagement party?”

“I wish I have another way to do it,” Auguste answered. “I believe that the engagement party is the best venue for it to happen.”

Fatima wanted to know more about that something that Auguste wants to resolve, but it seems it’s better if she’ll just let it go.

“Okay. If that’s your decision, then I just hope you’ll be fine. I won’t be there for you, you know. You will practically be alone.”

“Thanks, Tim, but you don’t have to worry about me. I can take care of myself.”

Fatima nodded as if Auguste can see it.

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

After her conversation with Auguste, Fatima called Margaret next.

“There’s something that I need to tell you,” Fatima started. “You see, there was a post about you on our Facebook group. It's the same group where your photo with Auguste was posted before. And this second post, it is again about you and him.”

“I know about it already, Ma’am,” Margaret said.

Fatima was surprised. “Really? But how? You're not a member of that group.”

“Mr. Ortega came and told me about it yesterday.”

Fatima was surprised once again. “Auguste? He came to meet you?”

“Yes, Ma’am,” Margaret answered. “He was kind enough to tell me that someone posted about me again in your group, and that there might be some people who would want to see me.”

“Oh? Uhm... that was surprising,” Fatima said. “I mean... I don’t know... You’re not friends, right? But he still came to tell you about it.” Fatima chortled. “Sorry, I'm just really surprised that he did that. You see, Auguste is a very kind person, but ever since Astrid left him, he kind of changed a lot. He became quite... how can I describe it? Uncaring... Apathetic to other people...? something like that. He became so cold and detached.”

He did not have a lot of friends, and because of the breakup, Auguste lost even his few friends. More accurately, he avoided them. Fatima is glad that she is one of those that he decided to retain. Maybe because they also have business relations? Well, at least. Fatima is glad there is still that one thing that keeps them together, that force him to talk to her.

“Ma’am, why is everyone interested about Mr. Ortega’s love life?”

“Well, you know that Auguste belongs to one of the richest families here in the province, right? And not only that. He's very handsome. He's also very smart, and with all that, he still managed to be very kind and down-to-earth. He's like a prince charming from a fairy tale. The most eligible bachelor in town, every single girl wants him. That is why everyone is curious if anyone already caught the attention of Auguste Ortega.

“That is also the reason why you need to be on your guard,” Fatima continued. “A lot of girls desire him, so it won’t be surprising if someone would come to you and tell you all sorts of insults. That is also the reason why Auguste does not want anyone to know about you.”

“Because I'm not worthy of him.”

Fatima felt the self-deprecation on Margaret’s reply. “Again, I will tell you that social status is not an issue when it comes to the Ortegas. They are rich enough to not care about that.”

Fatima contemplated if she would tell Margaret about the real financial status of the Ortega clan. Anyway, she knows her executive assistant is trustworthy enough to know a secret that not a lot of people know. But then, she thought, does she really need to tell her about it right now? That is beyond what they are talking about as of the moment.

“I just hope that if Auguste decides to really go to that engagement party, it will not be that difficult for him. I hope whatever he’s trying to resolve, he could immediately settle it so that he doesn’t need to stay on that party for too long. If only someone could save him again.” She giggled. “Funny, you know? Auguste seems like a prince charming all the way, but he is always the one who needs saving. I guess his princess need to be someone dependable.”

And Fatima knows exactly who that princess might be. With everything that’s happening, her desire to make Margaret the princess that Auguste has been waiting for grew stronger. She realized she needed to act as soon as possible for that to happen.

She just needs to take care of this flu first. After that, she can proceed into making Auguste and Margaret fall in love with each other.

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

After her phone conversation with her boss, Margaret’s mind has been occupied by that man named Auguste Ortega.

'The most eligible bachelor in town, every single girl wants him.'

Margaret is well aware of all the good traits that Auguste Ortega has that could make any girl swoon over him. But of course, not everyone is worthy.

'Social status is not an issue when it comes to the Ortegas. They are rich enough to not care about that.'

Is that true? But even so, even if Auguste or his family does not care about that, what about what other people would say? If a girl from a lower social class became Auguste Ortega’s lover, then everyone would say that she is just after his money, his social status. They would not consider what the Ortegas really think. Not everyone knows about what they think anyway.

Margaret remembered how Auguste was when they talked to his car yesterday. There was an evident sadness on him that makes her feel sympathetic of him. She remembered their first encounter at Pure Act, and the Auguste that she met that night is so different from the one she talked to yesterday. It makes her feel sad just by thinking about it.

'If only someone could save him again.'

Yeah, if only someone could go to that party with him, to accompany him and somehow make him feel like he’s not alone. Margaret does not know the real story, but it seems his breakup with Astrid was not an easy one. Obviously, he’s still having a hard time whenever he needs to deal with his ex-girlfriend. Good thing she was able to take him out of the dinner with Astrid and the others at Cusina ni Ikay.

An idea suddenly struck Margaret. What if... 'No!' She shook her head. Why did she even think she could be the one who could save him tonight? How can she even go to that party? She doesn’t even have a dress.

But there’s a way she can get a dress and everything she needs to be in that party. But then, why would she do that? Who is she to help someone like Auguste Ortega? Yes, she might have given him a relief once, but does that mean she needs to do it again?

But as she remembered Auguste’s sad look on his face yesterday inside his car, the gloominess that adorned his blue eyes, she can’t help but feel sad as well. And with that sadness came a desire inside of her to help him, to make him feel better.

She took her cell phone and searched for a particular phone number. Sharon Cruz. She dialed the number.

“Hello?” It was Sharon herself.

“Hey, Sharon!”

“Marga! It’s been a long time.”

“I know. I'm quite busy.”

“I was busy as well. I’m working on a new collection.”

“Uhm... I hope you’re not too busy. I need your help.”

“Well, I could make time for that. What is it?”

Margaret contemplated. Will she really do it? Will she really be the one to save Auguste Ortega? Can she pull it off?

Yes, maybe she could do it.

“Sharon, I need a dress for a royal engagement party.”