Chapter Eleven
CONTAGIOUS LOVE
At the Endless Love Arcadia
The quinquagenarian beautiful Chairman got to her office that day with great expectations. She had the spirit of a princess longing to meet with her knight in shining armor. She covered her longing from her staff by locking up herself in her office because she knew that she may not miss the opportunity of smiling to herself at the thought of some special moments about her past. Besides, she may be caught off guard and shed some tears unknowingly. She instructed her secretary before getting into her office.
"I have an appointment by 11 am today. The Operations Manager is aware of it."
"All right, boss."
The essence was to avoid keeping her guest waiting. She got into her office, fished out the visitor's form and read through it again and smiled.
The secretary who was unable to connect the dots furrowed her brow and thought.
'Why does boss want to attend to a client by herself? The client must be a big one then.'
At the Parking Lot of the Eagle City University.
Jeff settled down and sent the mail to multiple recipients using the Blind Carbon Copy. With that done, he drove off. Though, it was too early, but he just had to leave to avoid the likes of Greg that may ruin his mood. He got to his destination fifteen minutes earlier and sat in his almost clunker and waited. He went through the message sent to him by the Operations Manager the previous day just to while away time. Soon, it was time. He was at the reception at exactly 11 am with the same intimidating demeanor. He greeted the front desk officer with a confident smile.
"Good morning ma'am. Good to see you again."
"A good morning to you, Young Master. Nice to meet you again. Please take your seat."
Replied the officer who was more organized today as she motioned him to the visitors' seat. The Operations Manager's voice halted his steps.
"Good morning, Young Master. Please, come with me."
"Good morning Manager. It is all right."
Jeff followed him to the tenth floor of the building. The secretary was amazed when she beheld the client that captured the attention of her boss. She jolted out of her bewilderment when she heard a husky voice.
"Good morning ma'am. Good to see you."
Jeff greeted with aplomb. The startled secretary responded.
"Good morning, Young Master. Welcome to Endless Love, Arcadia."
"Thank you."
"Inform the boss that the guest is here."
The Operations Manager requested, while Jeff stood still and watched their body languages.
"She had been expecting you. Just go in."
"Oh! Shall we?"
He asked looking at Jeff who followed him immediately. They got into the beautiful, large office that reminded him of the grandfather's office. The difference was just the colors. This had female like color, while his grandfather's was more like officious colors. The beautiful boss welcomed them with a face void of expression.
"Good morning boss. Meet Young Master Jeffrey Israel. He was here yesterday and requested to see you."
The Manager introduced, switching his gaze from the boss to the guest. The boss looked at Jeff, who knew that it was time to greet.
"Good morning Madam. I'm happy to meet you."
"Good morning, Young Master. Nice to meet you and welcome to Endless Love Arcadia. Please take your seat."
She welcomed him officiously, showing him the visitors' seat.
"Thank you, Madam."
Jeff greeted as he took his seat while the manager stood.
"I saw your form. What exactly do you mean by choosing us as your case study?"
"Thank you, Madam…"
"Sorry young Master. What can we offer you?"
She interrupted Jeff, looking at him directly into his eyes.
"Oh! That's very thoughtful of you, Madam. It may be some other time. I truly appreciate."
"It all right. So, what exactly do you need from us?"
"Thank you Madam. I will appreciate …."
"That won't be a problem. You have our full. Support."
"Thank you Madam. I'm highly honored."
"When are we expecting you?"
"Same time coming week if it Will be convenient for you."
"That won't be an issue. You can have my contact. Give me a call whenever you wish to see me."
She called out her personal number for Jeff, who typed it into his phone and requested.
"Sorry madam, what name do I store the number with?"
"My name is Sica Ray."
"All right madam."
Jeff thanked as he stored it up in his phone. The Operations Manager who had taken a seat on the couch was shocked by that act.
'Giving a stranger her personal number? It is unbelievable.'
"Are you sure you don't need anything?"
"No madam. I have to be on my way."
"Yes. But if you can spare a few minutes, Jeff, I would like to take you round our facilities."
Jeff was bereft of speech. She addressed him with the short form of his name, as though they have known for long. At this point, Jeff could not reject her offer, as he may appear arrogant and rude.
"I don't mind, Madam Ray."
The Operations Manager had never known the boss as a woman of easy virtue, but a reserved woman who did not have a social life or a male acquaintance.
'If she must start an affair, must she start with a baby? This boy is young enough to be her son.'
Madam Sica Ray took Jeff around the twenty-story building. The aides and security guards followed them from a reasonable distance to give them some privacy. When they got to a certain floor, she called.
"Jeff, this is the Cryogenic Center."
The shocked Jeff inquired.
"Do you have patients there?"
"Yes, about five hundred of them."
"Wow! That's enormous."
"Really. We hope to expand in the near future. The demand is getting higher as people keep being exposed to the medical services."
"I see."
"All right, Jeff, we will continue some other time. Let me allow you to return to school."
"Thank you very much, Madam, for your time. I truly appreciate."
"Yes, before you leave, I would like to offer you some of our Organic Tea."
"I will be highly delighted."
Madam Sica Ray ordered that two cartons of Organic Tea be deposited in his car. The staff members were shocked because the price run into millions.
"All right Jeff. Hope to hear from you soon."
"Thank you so much, madam. You will hear from me soon."
Jeff got back to school after about 1 pm. He felt it was useless going to the Accountancy Department because he was late and would not want to be embarrassed. He got to the canteen and had his lunch before proceeding to the Aviation Department. On his way to the department, he got a call. He ignored it, hoping to park at the department car park before he could pick. When he finally parked, he picked up his phone to check the caller, he was amazed by the caller. It was Madam Sica Ray. He smiled and concluded that – Indeed, Love is Contagious, proliferate love anywhere you find yourself, it will always come back to you. Jeff, loved his grandfather so much, and he always attracted love wherever he went.
Madam Sica Ray, who was high-spirited after Jeff left, returned to her office and took her Organic Tea. Reminiscing her walk with Jeff.
'If we had been married, our son would have looked handsome like him and would have named him Jeff, as we had planned.'
She thought and smiled. Before now, such thought made her shed tears, but today, she was happy and fulfilled. She had never seen someone that can take away the vacuum that the death of her lover created in her life.
'Wow! I have found a son."
She smiled and sipped her tea before she gave him a call.