Solitaire ✔

Chapter Three

"Are you free tonight?" Her voice was cold with a pinch of familiarity.

I remembered the long wavy blond hair with that pair of sapphire eyes. She had a pale skin tone almost like fair white. Her favourite lip stick colour was red. She said before that the red could enhance her face features. Her high nose was the centre of attention. People speculated before that it was fake, that a person couldn't have look so flawless.

Compare to Rachel, Grace was another kind of beauty. A passionate kind that burns you inside.

Blinking indecisively, I wasn't certain of my answer

Deep inside me, the voice called out. It had been desperate for her passion. Like she was some kind of god that I worshipped. All that three years spent together was not easy to forget. We had candlelit dinners and even went on yacht for some private moments. She would do that seductive moves and sometime laughed hard on jokes that we would crack.

She was ... once my everything.

Just then, Rachel knocked on the glass door that I had exited to the roof top to phone Grace. She signalled the word 'Greene' in her cherry lips as her hand waved at me anxiously. Frowning her moves, she pointed at her watch to ask me hurry.

I nodded at her concern and went back to the phone conversation that hadn't ended.

"Grace, I am going for my meeting." I replied. Waiting patiently for her response. As much as I knew she would end the call in embarrassment. I was hoping for a slim chance that she would hold onto the line.

"I'm ... sorry. We will talk again." She startled for awhile before she knew she had to go.

I was surprised that she had initiated for a continue episode.

Pressing the end call button, I walked back into the office.

"Who was it?" Rachel asked as I walked side by side with her.

"Client." I replied, not wanting to say much.

"Client? Is it Bathermore Wesley?" She pondered the people in her mind as she thought deep if she had made a wrong move to cut in between my phone call.

"Where is Ms. Greene?" I didn't want to continue the lies and hence diverted the question. Raising my hand to eye level as I noticed the watch that had stroked twelve.

"In the room, waiting." She emphasized. I could imagine how impatient was Ms. Greene which she probably would have arrived at eleven.

Pushing the glass door open, I smiled in delight. The lady with a hair bun noticed the sudden movement from the door. She stood up, smiling with some effort. I could see the 'impatient' word written on her forehead. Signalling her to continue seating back., I whispered Rachel for Ms. Greene's favourite black coffee to be served.

"I had one before I came." Still, very displeased with the time wasted.

"How about some cheesecake? I just bought some from the seaside cafe." Smiling at her as I patted Rachel on her back for the cheese cakes that we bought back.

"That would be nice. How was the trip?" She grew some curiosity on the trip as she sat back. Listening attentively as I described the beautiful beach where me and Rachel had stayed over the weekend.

"It was such a good get-away from this busy lifestyle that we had." Her smiles clipped with her disappointment. Ms. Greene was hardly on vacation with her husband as they were both busy with parties and dinners for business purpose.

"Next time, hold a party there. You bring work and you take a break after work." I cheekily suggested.

"We will find you as the organiser." She laughed, while she took a small bite from the cheesecake.

"I will be the party crasher."  I followed with her not-so-serious conversation.

She coughed a bit, staring into spaces. A few seconds passed as she remembered the reason she had to came down to office.

"I had a favour." She watched my eyes, smiling gracefully.

"My pleasure if it's within my reach." I waited, giving her chance to continue.

"It's the party next month. I have heard many media people would be invited." She stated her point.

The upcoming jewellery showcase that would be held at the largest shopping mall next week.

It was the festive season to celebrate. Solitaire Holdings had came out a series of Christmas themed jewelleries ranging from rings, earrings, necklace and brooches. The designers team used gems of emerald, ruby, sapphire and our diamond solitaire of snow flake pattern as materials. It would be a grand exhibition as we had many local media people, ministers and even the tycoons from all over the world in the name list. A hundred manpower had been dedicated to support this showcase.

"Yes. We would be exhibiting a whole new series of Christmas jewelleries for the festive season." I smiled as I was very satisfied with my people's brilliant ideas.

"Good. As I said, a favour." She stopped, stirring the coffee in her cup.

I waited patiently to hear her out.

"I would like to add in a name to the list." She cleared her throat as her motive revealed.

"And ...  maybe I have the honour to know who is it?" I questioned, in doubts. It seems like some problem to get this person that she might be considering into the name list.

"Grace. Grace Emore." Her eyes stared straight at mine. Not budging in for a space of thoughts.

Pondering awhile if this Grace was my past tense Grace. I run back the names in my mind if it could be possible.

Yes. She would fit the criteria that this was a favour.

Grace had went hiding from the media for years. She was defamed for stealing wife's man. The third party name was echoed on the magazines and newspaper for months right after the connection between us had ended. Many said that she wanted to gain control of Solitaire as she approached Mr. Greene.

I  had suspected Mr. Greene could be her reason. But now that Ms. Greene pleaded for her as a favour. It aroused my doubts if all this headlines were hundred percent truth.

Now that she would want to return back to stage. I could foresee the damage that might cause either to the company's or hers.

"Ms. Greene. You knew about the storms for Solitaire that rode along with Grace Emore. It would be a risk taken to invite her." I stated my concern, objectively. 

"I am sure you will find a way." She smiled as her gesture stood up and leave the room. Leaving me not any chance of debating...