Be Mine

24

Carlos was running late for a meeting. He is not usually like this. If he only checked his battery, he would not have to wait for a delivery guy for a new one. He is already twenty minutes late and his secretary has been updating him since the meeting started. He got to the conference room and Gary is seething mad at everyone. He got to his seat and tried to catch up. Gary looked at him for a bit and called his attention.

"Carlos, bakit ganito yung proposal? Akala ko ba naayos niyo na ito."

He looked at the folder that his secretary handed to him. He double checked and read that everything looks okay. "Sir, ito naman yung sinubmit ko sa table niyo the other day.", he explains.

"Well, did you contact the other department heads? Coz apparently, hindi na yan yung gusto ng client.", Gary says with a poker face.

Carlos tried not to sigh. He was already late that morning and he does not want to add more stress on himself, "Sir, can you give me the day to at least double check and fix everything? This will be at your table first thing tomorrow morning."

"You better make sure, Carlos, because this client has been with us since we started, and I don't want to lose them especially now that RL International has been going up the ranks these past few months."

"I will, Sir.", he answers. He finally figured out why Gary is mad. He is sure his Dad has something to do with this.

"Meeting adjourned", they all hear Gary say and was the first one to leave the conference room. Carlos went back to his office; he asked his secretary to set a meeting with the team and started to do all the things he needed to do. It is going to be a long day for him.

Lianna has been baking since she got to the cafe. It was a full day of deliveries and her staff miscalculated the number of orders. The customer was not pleased with what happened, so they are trying to make up for it by sending the missing orders and also deliver the ones that are still pending. Bianca was not around since her Mom is not feeling well and she is needed at home.

She is currently busy when one of her staff approached her, "Ma'am Lia, may inquiry po sa inyo."

"Um.. pwede bang kunin mo na lang yung number niya? Then we'll call?"

"Ma'am, sinabi ko na po yun pero maghihintay na lang daw siya. Table 12 po siya nakaupo."

Lianna sighs. She cannot let a client wait. She asked the staff to continue what she is doing. She checked herself in the office first before meeting up with the customer. She got a pen and their order notebook to take note of whatever is needed. She approached the table and introduced herself.

"Good day, Sir. I'm Lia, the owner, how may I help you?"

The man smiled at her, "Please take a seat, Lia." She did and looked at the man with a very familiar set of eyes.

"Good morning, Lia.", the man said. She faked a smile as she feels uncomfortable with this customer.

"How may I help you?", she asks so she can get on with her day.

"I want to order a personalized cake. You do that, right?"

"Yes, Sir. What is the occasion?", she asks.

"Wedding anniversary.", she started writing everything down. "For when, Sir?"

"Next week. Monday. It's up to you with the flavor. Just give me your best seller."

She nodded and checked the calendar. They have time to make it. "Is there a dedication or something needed on the cake?", she asks for more details.

The man nodded, "Can I write it down for you?"

"Of course, Sir." She let him have the pen and notebook. She just observed the man in front of her. She still feels uneasy with him. The man handed the notebook back and held her breath when she read what was on it.