chapter13 baby steps

Grace have been avoiding all members of her family especially Anna for the past three days, she felt so very pressured and not the good work kind that she enjoyed, but the out -of -control- emotional kind. she knew her father wanted the best for her so she couldn't just pick any random stranger to play pretend boyfriend at the anniversary party

Is it weird that although Grace had all these fantasies about Lucas Lin she hadn't thought as far as marriage? it probably is. in fact, while other girls were visualizing their future weddings, Grace was planning on how to be as great as her father or even better and being as great as a twelve time winner of the business man of the year award and one of the top ten richest man in the continent takes a lot of work.

Grace is a perfectionist and so, if her father wants not to marry a good man, she would marry a perfect man and who is more perfect for her other than her dearly beloved Lucas Lin but the question is 'how do you charm your dream guy into marrying you'

so, you went online and downloaded a file titled 'baby steps in courtship' on her office computer

Step#1: find ways to spend time with him ( feelings are bound to grow overtime when people meet often enough)

the only time Grace and Lucas are liable to meet is over work-stuff, they are both busy people and Grace the workaholic takes how work very seriously and didn't want to mix romance with work 'lets see what step 2 has for me' Grace thought as she scrolled to step 2 on her computer

Step#2: Engage simple physical contact (this is to show interest; a light touch on the hand or shoulders, hinting at your romantic intentions)

' how am I supposed to carry out step 2 without step 1 and step 2 is almost impossible' "ugh! let see if step 3 is small doable" grace grunted

Step#3: Flirting (this is a verbal confirmation your romantic tendencies)

this seems simple enough except for the fact that when it comes to this kind of stuffs, Grace didn't have a single coy bone in her body and doesn't help that she will need to start with step 1 to get to step 3

"I give up, why does the universe hate me" grace sighed dramatically

"how does the universe hate you" a voice asked from behind her, startling her almost enough to fell off her chair

"Anna? what the fridge are you doing here?" she asked while calming her fast beating heart

"baby steps in courtship huh? smart" Anna teased

grace ignored her taunts "when did you get here?"

"since step 2, you were so focus you didn't notice me come in"

"what do you want " grace scowled

"am here to help, you are so clueless when it comes to men"

"thank you Anna, mocking me is helping my situation" grace taunted

"says the girl that have been avoiding me, you think I didn't notice" Anna retorted

"are you going to help me or not"

Anna sighed shaking her head " so, when are you putting step one to motion"

"possibly...never"

"what! why?"

"it harder than it seems" grace mumbled

"it's literally called BABY steps, emphasis on baby, that is: even a baby can do it" Anna almost yelled in frustration

"step one says, find ways to spend time with him, how am I supposed to do that " grace grumbled

"I know you have his contacts, how bout you give him a call and ask him out" Anna suggested

"no way.....that sounds..."

"doable" Anna interrupted

"what if he rejects me" grace asked looking as uncertain as she felt

"so let me get this straight, you really like Lucas but you don't want to ask him out because you are scared?....of rejection." Anna asked and grace simply nodded in affirmation

"are you kidding me Grace, this isn't a business deal that you have to calculate your chances at profit and what not. you have to take risks even in business besides if you don't find out how will you know?"

this is different, it feels different"

"I kind of understand" Anna sighed and they both fell Into a mindful silence

honestly, she had been pinning over Lucas since forever, creating fantasies in her mind, fantasies that has become part of her memories and she wouldn't want to put herself out there just to be heartbroken. in situations like this she believed in the 'better safe than sorry' strategy

"at least order for tea or something" Anna whined

grace was about to call secretary to bring two cups of tea when a stack of books fell over

"these are Mr hottie's romcom novels' she thought while picking them up and stumble a page that has his name and phone number written on it

"hey Grace, where's my tea'' Anna complained

"I think I have an idea" grace mumbled

Anna immediately stood up from the couch she was lying on and rushed over to where grace was

"tell me, tell me, tell me " Anna urged

"remember Mr hottie?"

Anna frowned "that guy from the hospital?"

"yeah, the same"

" don't tell me you're going to ask him out" Anna was stunned

"what?, he looks handsome and respectable and we can actually hold a conversation"

"did you even meet him even once after you got discharged from the hospital?"

"well...no, but., this might just work"

"I don't know grace, I have a bad feeling about this" Anna said with uncertainty

Grace just ignored her. either way she was happy to have a solution to her problem