MARITA

A Reason to Stay (part 1)

All was going great until Violetta entered his life and turned his life upside down. Frank punched his fist lightly to the elevator wall to release the pent-up emotion he had been keeping for so long. Violetta... that name spelled trouble. He cursed the day he met her.

Ding... 

The elevator door opened.

Frank straightened his body and put on his work face. He wanted to make sure no one can read his tumultuous heart. It has been a long time since he last thought of Violetta.

"Morning, Frank!" the staff greeted him as he walked by. He made sure he smiled at each one of them and nodded.

"Morning, everyone!" he replied.

"Frank!" someone called him

"Yes?" He stopped and looked around at who called him. Joshua walked fast from the direction of the photocopying machine.

"We have a bit of a problem. Two of our big payment from last month projects bounced. Big sum!" He showed the report and some paper he was bringing with him.

"Hmm... this is bad." Frank flipped through the finance report and bank statement. "Let's talk in my office".

He hastened to his office with Joshua following him. Violetta needed to take the backseat on his mind.

Diah and Mama Vina came out of Diah's office just in time to see Frank and Joshua walking fast to his office.

"Looks like there's problem," said Mama Vina. Diah nodded. She recognized Frank's I-Mean-Bussiness look. Diah sighed... Few months ago (and still is now) that kind of expression and demeanour of Frank's melt her knees to a puddle. She weaned herself out of it but she couldn't deny this sudden burst of fangirling moment.

"Ma, Marita still need to finished some documents and handover. Why don't you and I go for a spin to check on those small details for the wedding? I have submitted a day off for today" said Diah finally getting over herself.

"Oooh... I do like that. Can we go and check the wedding dresses? Let's check their progress." Mama Vina was excited.

"We can do that! Let's go!" Diah took Mama Vina's hand.

Ding... 

The elevator door opened again. Marita walked out.

"Honey, Diah and I will go take care of the wedding errands. Will you be OK?" said Mama Vina.

Marita grinned. "Of course, mama. Have fun with Diah. You too, Di" She patted Diah's arm.

"Hmmm...." replied Diah.

"Thanks for taking mama around today," Marita added.

"She's my mom too" snapped Diah and pursed her lip into a pout.

Mama Vina laughed and pinched Diah's cheek. "OK, enough teasing girls. Let's go my darling Girl." She tugged at Diah's arm. "We are going to have a fun Mom and daughter's day".

"Hmm... Hear that?! Hear That?!!!" Diah comically teased Marita who is now pouting.

Marita waited for the elevator door to close again with Mama Vina and Diah inside. Diah blew raspberries at Marita just as the door closes. Marita could hear her mother's laugh rang as the elevator went down. That made her smile wider.

'Right! Time to work' she took a deep breath and smoothed her dress.

"Good morning, all!!" She gave them all a cheery greeting which was met with a chorus of cheeky reply.