"Nadine Lustre speaking." Nadine picked up an internal call from the receptionist desk at the front office while shuffling through papers on her desk, looking for a particular event schedule.
"Miss Lustre, there's a girl named Ashley looking for you here at front desk. She has no appointment; do you know who she is?" The company receptionist explained to her, it wasn't hard to catch the hint of doubt in her tone. Where is that paper!?
"No worries, just send her in. I'll see her in my office." Nadine told the newcomer who agreed readily.
Minutes later, she heard a knock on her office door.
"Miss Ashley." The receptionist introduced before leaving the room.
"I didn't know your previous receptionist left." Ashley said the moment the receptionist left.
"She's on maternity leave. This girl is on a 6-months contract." Nadine told her without looking up.
"No wonder she requested to register my ID."
"You might as well work here, Ash. At the rate you camp in my office. Ha! Found it!" Nadine happily waved the event schedule in hand.
"I wish! But too bad my boss rejected the idea of cutting costs on rent by letting me work here." she lamented dramatically, taking a seat in front of Nadine.
"What brings you here today?" Nadine asked, her fingers busy on the keyboard, typing out a quick email to the corresponding personnel.
"My PR event just ended at the hotel nearby thought I'll wait for you and we can head over together." Ashley flipped through the magazines lying around Nadine's table.
Nadine nodded, still concentrating on her work. "Give me a minute."
"Oh my God!" Ashley screamed and stood up immediately, totally ignoring Nadine and hurrying to a bouquet of roses that was by the side table in the corner of the small room.
"Who gave you these?" She squealed, examining the flowers.
"Ash, please. My ears."
"I knew it! It's Paulo! Oh my babygirl, will we be hearing good news soon?"
"Ash, just, please. It's nothing now, we're friends. If he wants to send me flowers I can't stop him." She continued upon seeing Ashley's expression. "He sent this yesterday, I told him not to waste money. You know I'm not a flower person."
"But you can't deny it's a sweet gesture."
"I know." Nadine sighed, "I really like him, I like going out with him, I like talking to him, I like him but I just can't find the spark. There's nothing that says, 'I want him'. He's nice and gentle and everything a girl needs but I just... I can't. I can't allow myself to commit to someone if I'm not 100% into him, it'll be unfair to him too."
"Of course you shouldn't!" Ashley put the flowers down, "Even though I really like Paulo for you, even though he's my cousin and even though everyone says he's good, I won't want you to compromise yourself if in your heart you can't find a space for him." She patted Nadine's shoulder, "Your happiness is our priority, even if who you love is a lousy hooligan, we will still be behind you because we love you."
Nadine smiled, "Weh? Even a hooligan?"
"Figure of speech!"
Their conversation was cut temporarily by another incoming phone call.
"Yes? Did he say from whom? Alright, let him in."
A delivery man came in moments later, a small bouquet of violets in his hands.
