AROUND THE HEART IN 80 DAYS

Twelve

Victor had started talking to him again when he had to inform Edrei about travelling to Colorado for a trade event. After all, that was one of the functions marketers had to attend to. And the little silent treatment managed to last even during the morning board meeting.

Edrei was aware however of the trade fair and had already prepared a budget for the event with consideration with the last one. Money was tight indeed. Still, Victor was glad that the Big Man was successful in the Colorado contract. Josefo Burgham, the Marketing Manager, or 'Big Man', as they informally called him, had never been unsuccessful in gaining deals, being a good ambassador, being an extremely great asset to the winery, so the Colorado thing wasn't news to anyone anyway.

Victor could only briefly relay what he could relay to Edrei about the travel and seemed hesitant to say more, but for the sake of whatever friendship they had, he took a seat.

"I honestly don't need any more rebuke, Victor. Isn't your flight set for today? Shouldn't you be on your way to the airport?"

"Was snapping her bones necessary?" Victor ignored Edrei's remark.

"Now, I didn't snap her arms off, you're very extra with that one."

"You might have as well as. Next time, you should just press a pillow over her face." The marketer leaned away from Edrei. "Is this how you chose to handle this?"

"I was caught in an angry moment."

"Every single time." The larger man sighed in resignation. "I would have loved to have seen this girl that has moved you to the life of crime. I just hope you won't go running away again. From a lady. You run away a lot these days."

"Damn it. I got these figures wrong. Victor, you should let me concentrate on this."

"I always wondered why you stuck around doing the numbers instead. You are the assistant sales manager. There are personnels under you, you do control people who do these things."

"It's what I'm doing now. Controlling. I got the reports from the countries the team members are in right now, Callum and I are trying and browsing for better selling strategies. And we've got the shipping to the retailers-"

"Garrett was smarter when he went on a break." Victor coyly mentioned, fully in contrast to the earlier anger he came into the office with. His mild brown eyes snuck glances to see if the victim had taken the bait.
Then again, as it has always been, at the mere sound of that name, Edrei was always on high defense. For Victor, it was pleasing to tease high strung people.

The aforementioned name of the Sales Manager created the very same expected effect. The accountant's jaw ticked. "Aren't you the same person always telling me to try my hardest and keep my job here?" He spoke with all the calmness of a professional. "The choice to not leave should do just that, shouldn't it?"

"You talk to me like I'm extremely stupid. Like Becca and I didn't know your sabbatical leave would have been one with no return. To Germany, man. Too bad a lady thwarted you with another lady."

Edrei looked at his confidante. The latter's gaze stayed focused on a tiny scratch on the gleaming tabletop like there was an interesting riddle to be solved on it. "You won't quit pestering me, I assume."

"Bad thing. You're forcing yourself so hard to be cold and broody." Victor made a faux face to describe his sentence. "You're carefree by heart, Rideau, let yourself go. Or not. You can tie her to the stakes and set her ablaze."

"I hope you miss your flight."

The marketer doubled over in hysteric fits. "I hope so too, Rideau. You think it's a curse and that's cute of you. I hate the trade events."