Toto and the Boys II: George

Chapter 26

No one asked any question why George had to go home to Ayala when it was her time of the week.

She figured it was probably because Jackie and Dannie were more concerned on Dannie’s dilemma. Or maybe because they just got used to her being at Jordan’s place that the week didn’t matter.

She spent the weekend with her friends, her mind sometimes wondering around what Jordan told her that Friday night.

She tried to focus on Dannie’s problems, but at the back of her mind, she was also thinking it might be time for her to also face her own.

She did not hear from Jordan that weekend and when she went to spend the week with him that Monday, he was up and ready to go to work.

“Why so early?” she asked, feeling a bit awkward. They did not have time to talk when she went home early last Saturday.

“Meetings and more meetings,” Jordan answered with a sigh. He checked his watch and looked at her inquiringly. “Are you ready?”

She shrugged and walked toward Victor. “Sure, I am. Let’s go.”

Jordan was very busy that day and the next.

He did not even spend long hours inside his office before another meeting would take place. They would launch the new line in two weeks and there were a lot of people coming and calling in to talk to him.

George spent most of her time talking to her mother on the phone, checking if her father was in any way angry toward Jordan. It was surprising that Jordan was right. Her father was not that greatly affected, or if he was he was not showing it. “It’s like it never actually happened,” her mother had said. “But it tells us Jordan is starting to care for you. Maybe that’s why he doesn’t care.”

That was what she feared the most. That her family—their families—would think that way.

She was deep in thought that Tuesday. Jordan’s birthday was coming up. It seemed that no one was planning anything, not even his family. Maybe he just never celebrated his birthdays? But she had to at least do something. Or give him something.

Cassie might pop in unexpectedly, she thought.

But before she could tell him she’d be going home to the apartment to give him his space to celebrate, he surprised her by saying, “Model for us.”

They were eating lunch, the only time they could talk for the past two days, and she immediately said, “No.”

“I’ll consider it as your birthday present for me.”

“Think of something else. Just not that.”

“Oh, I have a lot of things I would want from you for my birthday, but this one is the most urgent. You are the one who inspired the Georgina line. It is only right that you model for us.” When she did not say a word, he peered down at her with begging eyes. “George, please. My birthday’s tomorrow, remember?”

George closed her eyes. He almost had everything he needed and it was hard to think of a gift to give him. “Fine. I’ll do it. But I won’t model for more than one clothing.”

“Five,” he bargained.

“Three,” she shot back.

“Deal,” he said with a grin.

“You’re good at this.”

“Of course. And there are only three set of clothing, by the way.”

She kicked him under the table and he winced in pain.

*****