The Chef's Critic

Chapter 11 - The Agreement

Maine arrived in New Jersey Friday afternoon. Once she deposited her bag in her room and flopped on her bed, her phone rings.

"Hi Love! I miss you!"

"Hello! I missed you too!"

"How was your trip?" he inquired.

"It was alright. I'm just a bit tired as I wasn't able to sleep well last night." She answered.

Richard then pouted. He knows that he was the cause of that. He called her last night and refused to put down the phone.

"Hey, I was just teasing you." Maine added. "Wait, you're calling me, you're not busy? You don't have a meeting?"

"I am in the middle of a board meeting." He declared.

"What!!!! Then why are you calling me?"

"Well, the junior associates are just presenting. I can't concentrate and I am bored." He looked around the table and some of the officers were glancing at him.

"What?!? You better put the phone down and pay attention to your meeting." But she couldn't help but smile. She can imagine the board of directors all looking at Richard and questioning his actions.

"It seems like my mind and my heart is in New Jersey." "I wonder why?"

Maine, couldn't help but feel giddy with what her boyfriend said. She's smiling from ear to ear and is blushing. She then said, "I miss you too! Now, put down the phone and be attentive with your meeting."

"I love you!" he whispered.

"I know." She's now smiling from ear to ear.

"I love you!" he repeated now a little louder than before.

She knows that he will not put down the phone until she responds and so "I love you too!" and she made a kissing sound to emphasize it. "Now put down the phone and pay attention."

"Yes ma'am."

She then laugh and said "Bye."

Richard then finally said "Bye!" and put down the phone.

---------------------------------------------------

After the meeting, Sam exited the conference room and headed to the elevator for a coffee. When he reached the ground floor, he walked towards the entrance when he saw someone who looks familiar at the concierge. As he approach, he heard the conversation going on.

"Hi. I'm Crizza Martinez. I would like to see Mr. Richard Faulkerson Jr. please. Can you direct me to his office?" the lady asked too sweetly.

Before the concierge answered, Sam immediately stepped in.

"Crizza is that you?" Sam inquired while smiling.

The lady turned around and smiled when she saw the guy standing at her back. "The one and only." She then twirled around so that can look at her. She was smiling from ear to ear. "How are you? Where's Richard?"

"I'm good. I'm good." Sam replied and added. "Well, Richard. You know him. He's in his office working."

"Oh, nothing really changes. Well, it's time I paid him a visit." Crizza said.

"Yes I think you do. But I think it will be more fun if I go with you."

"Yeah, that will be fun. Just like the old times."

"But you first need to accompany me buy some coffee. I badly needed it."

"Hey, I just got here, and now you wanted me to go outside again. I think it's better if we will just go to Richard's office and bullied him to treat us for dinner. It's almost time to leave the office and I think we can just fetch him instead"