Answer Lies on the Same Page

Chapter 4.2

"Gabe!" Philip almost exclaimed.

The younger man who happened to have fallen asleep was immediately awakened. It felt like an electric shock that went down his spine causing him to jolt up.

"Shit," Gabe cursed after slamming his knee on the underside of the table.

The silverware that clinked together and fell off of the table caught the attention of most of the diners sitting near their table.

"I'm sorry," Gabe immediately apologized while he rubbed his knee to soothe the pain.

"Were you sleeping?" Philip asked him after their eyes made contact.

Gabe stared at his boss for a little while since he's still lost after that very quick power nap and his soul is still traveling back to his body.

"Kinda." Gabe sighed before ruffling his own hair. "I didn't even notice that I was sleeping."

"You should have seen yourself from my perspective," Philip replied. "I thought you were suddenly meditating in the middle of daylight and busy Manhattan."

"I really apologize about that. Must have been because of tiredness."

Philip didn't say anything, instead, he took his suitcase and placed it on his lap. Then he looked at Gabe and saw him stretching his arms. Philip looked down at his suitcase and opened it before taking his wallet out. "Gabe, can you call- what's her name again?"

"Who?"

"The server earlier," Philip said. His eyes wander around to look for the familiar face.

"Oh, you mean Grace?"

"Yes, Grace." Philip shook his head as he opened his wallet and took out his card. "Why do I suck at remembering names?"

"You're not alone, sir." Gabe looked in the direction where he saw Grace, then he raised his hand up and waited for her to notice him.

"Really?" the boss asked. He extended his hand holding the card towards Gabe and waited for him to take it from his grip. "You forget names too?"

"Yes, sir. Which is why I always try to say my client's name after every 5 minutes," Gabe explained. "Or else I'll call them somebody else accidentally and that will be embarrassing."

Philip chuckled, imagining how Gabe would have handled such a situation. Although he knows how the latter would deal with emergencies such as the aforementioned because he showed it already before and it was astonishing. As if it was a talent given to him by God.

Another minute had passed and finally, Grace approached the two of them.

"Ready to order a main course?" Grace asked.

"Oh, we're actually going to ask for the check already," Gabe answered. "We, unfortunately, have to go already."

"I see," Grace replied with a smile. "Let me get the check for you."

"No, wait," Philip called her and took the menu placed on the table. "Can we order something and pick it up later? Is that possible?"

"Yes, sir," Grace answered, subsequently taking her order pad and ballpen from pocket. "I can write down your order and the pickup time."

Philip looked back down at the menu and scanned it briefly before looking back up at the waitress. "How about I let the chef decide. Lunch meal for 30 people."

"Okay, I'll take note of that." Grace wrote down the instructions. "Anything else?"

"A key lime pie for dessert."