His Lady Suitor

Chapter 1: Spaghetti Incedent

15 years ago...

One sunny day, on a playground by the park, children's laughter filled the place. The lot were enjoying, riding the see-saw, sliding, running around and even stumbling down.

But on one corner stood a little girl with a curly hair, wearing a baby blue shirt paired with white jumpers with dust and dirt all over. She also had her kneesocks scratched . She was making sounds like that of a kitten when she heard a cry.

She looked around wondering where the sound came and it led her behind the bushes. Before entering the bushland, as what she call it, she said.

"Yes! I'd finally have a pet. I've been longing to have one. Meow, meow." Then she smiled, showing the gap between her two front teeth.

The cry grew louder and so she entered the  shrub crawling and mewling.

"Here kitty, kitty. Mommy will bring you home, come--ahh!" But what she saw surprised her. It was a boy about her age with bruises on his elbows and knees. The sleeve of his shirt was slightly ripped and  and he crying openly.

"Mommy!!!" The only word he uttered then continued crying.

***
"Sir, you have an appointment with Mr. Dela Cruz at nine, a lunch meeting with Mr. and Mrs. Gonzales by noon and at two pm, a board meeting on the conference room regarding this months housing project." Jeniffer, Kairo's secretary, started mentioning his schedule in a haze. His clock said 7 a.m. and his secretary reminded him again of how busy he was today.

"Also, someone with a name of Geff Castro wanted to set an appointment with you but I haven't confirmed it yet since I needed your approval." Jeniffer added with a hesitant look, waiting for him to finish fixing his things.

Kairo raised his head at the mention of the name. He raised a brow and thought of an answer for a while before nodding. He knew that man. He had quite a part on his college life.

"Okay sir. Umm. Coffee?" Jennifer asked again.

"Yes, please." He replied fixing his pens again making sure everything is in line. Rex Kairo Gonzales has an Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder. He is a dirt freak and he hated unorderliness, for him, everything must be organized. One reason why he is so strict.

Jeniffer turned to the door and stopped when she remembered something.

"Sir?"

"What is it now, Jeniffer, be quick because I am busy as you see." He replied slightly losing his temper. Another thing about him is that he is short-tempered and is easily irritated. One wrong move and you'd hear lots of words from him. His got a sharp tongue too.

"Yes, sir. Ahh, the newly hired architect to replace Mr. Lukes position would have her first day today, sir." Jeniffer hurriedly spoke.

"So?" Kairo retorted in a tone uninterested.

"Nothing, sir. I just wanted to inform you of that matter." His secretary uttered in surrender. Now getting nervous while anticipating the words she is about to hear.

"Jeniffer, as my secretary you should very well know that I only care about important matters where I am involved. What care do I have on that architect? What? Should I organize a welcome party for her? I believe you are proving to be quite incompetent as of the moment, not knowing which matters the most and which details I do not care." He said not bothering to look at his secretary who was now fidgeting and shaking in fear of losing her job. Jeniffer bowed guiltily.

"Yes, sir. I'm sorry."

"You may return to your post." He muttered under his breath getting ready for a long day of work.

***
Dion stared at the building she is about to enter. She still couldn't believe she'd have a job now. And to a company in a building this high!

She took a deep breath before walking towards the building's entrance.

"Good morning Sir." She greeted the big fat guard standing by the glass door.

"Good morning, miss." The guard greeted back.

"I'm Dionesia Ortega of GoArt Inc., sir. But I still don't have an I.D since I am newly hired. But may I know what floor that is? The GoArt, I mean?"

"Oh? Ahh. You may ask the front desk, miss." The guard answered and opened the door for her.

She thanked him and proceeded to the front desk where she got GoArt's location at 17th floor.

When she reached the floor, a lot of her now co-workers looked at her. She was introduced to them as the new head architect and was instructed of the present housing project they'd propose on that same day. The designs were shown to her and she started working on it with her new team and hopefully, new friends.

***
Kairo had just finished his appoinment with Mr. Dela Cruz and was on his way to La Brunch, a restaurant near the building he's working at, where he'd meet his parents.

He parked his car, got off and looked for his parents through the transparent glass walls of the restaurant. He pushed the glass door open and was greeted by the lady receptionist.

"Good morning, sir. Any reservation?"

"Mr. Gonzales, please." He answered not looking at the lady.

"Mr. Gonzales at table nine, sir. Allow us to lead you." Then the girl motioned a waiter to guide Kairo to where his parents were after recieving a nod from him.

His parents, especially his mother greeted him with a smile. They talked about health, business, for his dad, and life for his mom, the one involving love in it.

"Come on, Kai. You're almost 30 and you haven't even had a girlfriend yet." His mother told him in an exaggerated manner. Exaggerated in a form that 25 wasn't even that close to 30 and that it was 5 years away.

"You've been working, and working, and working. It's a good thing to have someone to take care of you aside from us, your parents, right? Besides, having one won't even harm you, would it?" His mother added giving a sideward glance at his dad who was busy munching a slice of chocolate cake served earlier for their dessert.

"I don't need someone to take care of me." Kairo answered his parents and got ready to leave. "Mom, Dad, I got to go. I still have a conference at two. Great lunch." He stood up and tapped his dad's shoulder then gave his mom a peck on the cheeks before leaving their table. It was actually his way of avoiding the topic.

His mom's eyes followed him towards the door with a worried expression in them.

"Hon, you know what, I am starting to think that Kairo is somewhat, you know, a member of the federation." Mrs. Gonzales told his still busy husband who just raised his head to ask.

"What? You think he's gay?" And Mrs. Gonzales' answer was a simple shrug.

***

Kairo's car stopped by the building's parking lot. He went out and rushed to the elevator and waited for about a minute before he heard it ring.

He entered it and fished for his phone out of his pocket before pressing 17. Kairo was busy checking the mails on his phone when the door opened once again. He looked at his watch and noticed that it was almost two and that the meeting might be starting anytime soon. When the most unexpected thing happened in a flash. And the next thing he knew was that spaghetti sauce had spread all over his shirt.