In The Arms Of An Angel (ON HOLD)

CHAPTER 37

"Dei, we're here na sa resort! Wake up, sleeping beauty!"

Val shook her shoulder to awaken her. Dei opened her eyes. She did not notice that she fell asleep on their way to Laguna. The last she remembered was that she was daydreaming of hazel eyes as she stare out the window of their service van while listening to her playlist on her phone.

Dei stretched like a cat to lessen the stiffness she felt after the long trip. As usual EDSA traffic was a monster. She peered at her watch and saw that it was already almost 1pm. No wonder her stomach is already growling due to hunger. She gathered her things and followed Valerie out of the van and into a very cosy foyer.

"Welcome po to Rio's Haven! Tulungan na po nila kayo sa mga gamit nyo..." A middle aged woman greeted them at the foyer with a wide smile. She was accompanied by two young men who took their bags from them.

"Wow, ang ganda naman dito! Mas mukhang hacienda instead of an actual resort..."Val commented as they looked around at the homey furnitures littering the entrance to the main building of the resort.

"Ay mam, dati po kasi itong resthouse ng mga may-ari pero mula ng mamatay yung mga magulang ng boss namin ipinaconvert na po ito to a private resort at dinagdagan ng guest villas. Sa Maynila na po kasi nakatira si sir at para di masayang ang property ginawang resort..." explained the employee who welcomed them earlier.

"So di namin mamemeet today yung owner? Ang sabi kasi sa amin ni Sir Paolo from Millennial na may meeting muna kami with the owner before we start the shoot..." Dei asked absentmindedly as she continue to inspect the premises already conceptualizing in her mind the lay-outs for their shoot.

"Ay mam, dadating po si Sir Jay! On the way na po sya. Tumawag na nga po sya kanina para ibilin na iassist muna namin kayo to check in sa rooms nyo then after iescort kayo sa may poolside cafe para po sa lunch nyo before yung meeting nyo po." The same employee informed her. She just nodded in answer.

"Lika na, Dei! Dalhin na natin ang mga gamit natin sa room para makapaglunch na tayo! Gutom na gutom na 'ko!" Val nudged her shoulder as the employee gave her their room key and turned to lead the way to the villas. Dei quietly followed them, still surveying the surroundings.

They enjoyed a sumptuous lunch consisting of Filipino dishes made from organic ingredients. They also learned from the servers that the resort has its own organic farm where they get their supplies from.

"Ang shala naman ng may-ari ng resort na ito! Kuya, single pa ba yung boss nyo? Sa tingin mo ba bagay kami?" Valerie asked the server while the rest of the team are laughing at her. The server just laughed with them while scratching his head.

"Ano ka ba, Valerie! Nakakahiya ka! Umayos ka nga!" Dei reprimanded her friend but also laughed with the rest of the team. After resting, the other people on their table stood up to explore the amenities inside the resort since they have a lot of free time that afternoon. The models will not be arriving until early in the evening since their shoot will not start until the morning of the following day.

Dei and Valerie were left to wait for the editor-in-chief  and the resort owner to arrive at the cafe so they can start the meeting. They were informed that both have already arrived but they just went to the ancestral house of the owner located at the other side of the property and will be back any minute now.

Dei was going over the concept for each layout with Valerie taking down notes when she heard a familiar voice call her name.

"Dei!"

Val was the first to acknowledge the newcomer since her chair was facing the entrance to the cafe.

"Uno! Talagang sumunod ka. Ang aga mo, ha! Akala ko mamaya ka pa?!" Val immediately stood up from her seat and did a beso with Uno as he approached their table. Dei remained seated but offered her check for a beso as well but Uno had another idea. He pulled her up from her seat and engulfed her in a bear hug. Dei was too surprised that she was not able to react at all.

"Dei, I missed you. It's been a while." He said to her before he stepped back from the embrace but he kept his hands on both her shoulders as he looked at her intently as if drinking in her presence. Dei felt self-conscious and just gave him a timid smile.

"Hi, Uno...akala ko mamaya ka pa makakasunod. How was your meeting?" She asked trying to distract him from staring. She was just about to step back to get away from him when she heard the voice of the editor-in-chief of Mega Mag from behind her.

"Girls! We're here na! I want you to meet the owner of this gorgeous resort...oh hey! Uno! Fancy seeing you here!"

Dei abruptly stepped back so Uno's hands fell from her shoulders and she immediately turned towards Paolo to explain but her words died down in her throat when she saw the tall man in a fitted white t-shirt and distressed jeans standing beside the editor-in-chief.

"Oh my God, this can't be happening again. Please wake me up from this nightmare..." she silently prayed as she stared wide-eyed back at the man in front of them who is regarding her with a piercing stare.

"Hi, Paolo! How are you? Sorry to gate crash on your shoot. I was in the area and just thought of dropping by to see you guys since I'm done already with my meeting. I hope you don't mind..." Uno explained to the editor while stealing curious glances at the other man beside Paolo who is still staring openly at Dei. Paolo saw this and introduced the man to them.

"Oh no worries, Uno. It's fine. I'm sorry, RJ. Again guys, I want you to meet the very dashing owner of Rio's Haven, Richard Faulkerson, Jr. Mr. Faulkerson, this is Mr. Juan Emilio Enriquez or Uno, CEO of Brilliance Advertising, this tisay over here is Valerie Montenegro, our design consultant and partner at Maiden Photography Studios; and finally the talented Ms. Dei Mendoza, our lead photographer for this shoot and owner of Maiden Photography Studios." Paolo said and the man beside him gave them a bedimpled smile and offered his hand to Uno and Valerie for a handshake. But when he turned towards her his smile changed subtly to that of a smirk.

"So we meet again, Ms. Mendoza...Okay ka lang ba?" He asked softly as their hands touched. The tingling sensation coursed through her again from his hand. She tried to pull back her hand like before but Richard tightened his hold on hers a bit that she looked up to his face in surprise. He just maintained his steady gaze, not giving anything away.

"Uhm, magkakilala na kayong dalawa?!" Paolo asked while curiously looking back and forth between her and Richard. The same unspoken question is written all over Uno's face when she glanced his way. She glanced at Valerie to ask for reinforcement. And her friend did not disappoint.

"Ahm, guys...shall we start the meeting na?!" Valerie blurted out.