I Married A Teen

One - The Meeting

'Charice, for the love of God please tell me that there will no longer be any paper to dissect and sign today. Please.' Lila begs while pouting by the intercom asking her secretary Charice to give her a miracle.

'Would you like me to lie or to disobey your order?' Charice teasingly asked back.

'Ugh! You're unbelievable! I'm done with the meter-thick papers you placed by my in-tray this morning.' Lila banters back while rubbing her forehead. Her migraine seems to visit her too often now. She's been working since 6 o'clock this morning, just so she can go out of the office early and get to Alvin's gig at The Mezzanine. It's a big deal for his artist/musician boyfriend and she would definitely not miss it for the world.

Charice then knocks lightly on her glass door. 'I'll get those papers now. You're a miracle worker Lila. But sorry I have some more here.' placing another thick stack of papers.

'Are they urgent?' Lila asked while still rubbing her forehead.

'Some can wait till Monday, but these two need your signature ASAP. They're for the Photoshoot first thing Monday.'

'Thanks. I'll check them through now and give them to you before I leave for the gig. Lila answers.

Charice then stops halfway through and turns. 'You mean your dinner with your dad and the Gonzales Group CEO right?'

Charice then stands abruptly almost falling out of balance.

'What dinner?!'

'The special dinner your father booked two weeks ago.'

'I thought that's Friday next week?'

'No, it's tonight. So I hope you have brought something more appropriate because I don't think your dad will be happy seeing you in a cropped top and jeans.'

'I've dressed like this for tonight's gig. It's Alvin's first major gig and he's ecstatic about it. I promised him I'll be there.' Lila then backs out sitting by her seldom-used couch.

'I'm sorry dear but your dad deliberately asked me, not ordered me to make sure you'll be there. It's that important to him. I guess you just have to make a choice.'' Charice's last words before leaving the office.

Lila knows better than to defile her father's order. Her dad and apparently her boss is a man who does not take no for an answer. For the longest time, she's always wanted and worked to get her father's approval. After the death of her mother and older brother in a car accident, her father was never the same. So to make up to him and ultimately help him get over the pain of losing them Lila promised to do everything in her power to make her dad happy. Even if it means she has to let go of her dream career in arts and embrace the business which is her father's world.

Staring at the horizon seen clearly in her 40th-floor corner office. She feels empty. They say having the corner office means two things - identity and power. But as of the moment she felt like she doesn't have both. Even if she's the company owner's daughter she worked her way up to where she is now. She started as a Marketing Assistant for a year, before becoming a marketing head, then an executive. Now she's the youngest VP and is eyed as the next in line to her father's post. But none of those actually mattered to her now. Because after working for 5 years in this concrete jungle, she misses the simple carefree life she once had. With the remaining strength in her blood, savoring the once freedom she used to have, she dialed her dad's number.

'Hello, Lila you called?'

'Dad, I mean SIR I called to ask if maybe we can move tonight's dinner meeting to Monday?'