Chapter 3

Czarielle woke up when sun rays reached her face. Its the usual scenario for her to wake up like that since the couch she's lying in has a small window beside it. She haven't wide awake yet when the plywood door swung open.

"Hey, did you stay here all night again? Why don't you go home and face the wrath of your family? Its been a while when you last saw them." Freeda squated in front of her friend.

"You know I don't want anyone to tell me what should I do in life and who should I marry. If I go back to them, I might lost contact with you and I won't be these carefree again. I don't want to have regrets that I didn't have the chance to do what I want to do." She suddenly jump off the couch and went to their small kitchen nearby to wash her morning glory in her eyes.

"Are you sure that's what they will do? What if they want to see you and they will let you do what you want? When people gets older after years of living, they think differently. They tend to be forgiving and will just want to spend their remaining days with their family." Freeda followed her and put some water in the electric kettle and pour two sachets of instant coffee in two big paper cups.

"They won't change their minds specially my father. For him, even his family is business. I told you that my mom and dad was in an arranged marriage. I saw how mom silently cried every night. She didn't have a say in the house. She's like a puppet that needs to obey what the master told her to do. I don't want to be like her." Czarielle wipe her face with a face towel that she got from her bag in one of the piled box where she hide her things.

"Speaking of business, we have an unscheduled photo shoot today at ten." Freeda gaze at her wrist watch. "And we only have twenty minutes to prepare!" She quickly run to their dark room and start to take out the things they need.

"Have some coffee first! Coffee can't wait for you! I'll just take a bath quickly. Watch out for the kettle, Freeda!" She walk towards the bathroom, swaying her hips side by side while humming her favorite song.

"Make sure to finish quickly! We need to set up the themed background!"

*****

Laxton Hendrix feels like he's very exhausted because his sleep was cut short by his very obedient secretary who wake him at exactly five in the morning. He glare at Billy who is smiling widely while taking down notes beside him. They were in a meeting from six in the morning and its already eight. He hadn't have any breakfast yet and Billy's smile adds to his frustrations!

"Can we take fifteen minutes break? I can't take it anymore!" He urgently stand up, force Billy to stand up and dragged him together.

Before he's able to reach the door, one of the board of directors said, "Why don't you wait for a few minutes? We're nearly done. Let your secretary buy you some breakfast while were finishing the details in this Flavour of The Month Project?"

Laxton's face reddened in anger. He swiftly turn around them and replied, "Are you the boss? I want to have a break and that's final! Be sure to came back here after exactly fifteen minutes or else, you know what will happen." Then he march down out of the conference room.

His face become relaxed when he reach his office.

"Its a hectic day today, sir. I called you last night to remind it but I see you're not prepared. What do you want me to order for breakfast?" Billy tore one of the paper sheets in the agenda book to write down his order.

"Coffee with brown sugar and some pancakes will do. Buy yourself what you want and eat with me here in the office. Make it quick!" He pulled out one of his credit cards in his wallet and held it out to him.

"Should I order in a nearby fast food or can I order in the cafeteria at the ground floor?" Billy sit in front of the chair in his desk.

"Just order in a fast food and make them deliver it here. And don't slouch here! Wait for the order down stairs. It makes me feel more perturbed when I see you grinning! I want you to get lost for at least a few minutes. Go!" Then he shut off his eyes with furrowed eye brows.

When the door open up after Billy left, he knew it was her mom walking towards him.

"Don't start with me, mom! I know what I'm doing and those people out there are topo workaholic! I bet they also don't have time to eat breakfast before they went here. They're just being polite or whatever!" Laxton let out a deep sigh before he open his eyes.

Margarita--his mom--is silently observing his actions while sitting in the visitor's couch.

"I haven't said anything yet." Her brows were raised and her facial expression show that she's against his actions towards the board of members.

he raise both of his arms. "Fine! What I did is wrong! I am unprofessional again and they might boycot the company. That my position is in stake now. I know all of that, mom! Do you also know that they think of me as your puppet? That my decisions are always to please you? Why don't you let me do my way in doing my job?" He turned away to face the skyscrapers from the glass window of his office.

"I think I need to remind you again that's why I'm here." Margarita walk towards him and give him a back hug.

"I knew you have other business to tell me so spill it, mom! Do I have another schedule blind date again? My schedule is busy until the end of the month. I need to do some research and project planning for my twelve-month Flavour of The Month Project. I swear, I can't take any breaks not more than thirty minutes for those days. You know how I always work." He unleashed his mothers arms from his waist walk towards his seat again.

"Can't I really change your mind to apologize to the Board Members?"

"Mom! You know I hate to say I'm sorry and I think I don't need to. For them to respect me and think differently of me, can you please don't meddle on how I manage my people? I know you're supervising me but just seldom come to our meetings or here in the office. You can just call Billy since he's with me all the time." He bounced down on his swivel chair and put both of his feet above his glass table.

"Okay! But promise me you'll let me know when you will be able to go to any blind dates again." Margarita took her Purple Channel purse on the couch and walk near the glass door.

"Deal! I know you won't take no as an answer to that. At least, that I can say yes."

She waved her hand before she get out off the door.

A few minutes later, Billy is rushing in with two plastic bags in both hands. "You have two minutes left for the meeting to resume! I'm afraid you can just eat this pancakes later." He put the plastic bags in the small cabinet table compartment.

"Hurry up, then! I'll just take the coffee with me. Don't you dare leave this room without the Agenda book!" Then he left the room.

"Or I'll fire you!" Billy mimicked him and chuckled before he run back to the conference room.