Could It Be You? |✓

(20) All Work No Play

Time flies when you are having fun - and it truly does. The holiday ends as quickly as it starts, and Emma is back in New York, having Monday blues all over because of work. Emma sits in the cab scrolling through the photos on her way to a meeting with the client, and that actually brings a smile to her face. They forged so many sweet memories in a short span of five days, all captured as little snippets in her camera roll.

She lets out a giggle as she recalls how they had trouble coming back, because Alice had refused to pass through the airport check, for fear that the rays would deform her baby. It took only a mere Google search to assure her so they managed to return, although Emma wouldn't have minded staying there for a little while longer.

She watches the cars drive by on the roads. The streets are wet - it has been raining. The window wipers push the water off the windshield diligently, leaving two overlapping semi-circles of clearness that are soon tarnished by the sliding drops of rain. She has always been obsessive-compulsive over the fact that they could not clean away the water outside the semi-circles, and would imagine herself wiping rainwater off with her bare hands. The street lights on the roads are merely little blobs of unfocused orange spheres that kept moving closer, but never touching.

She is due for a meeting with Joshua, but she is pretty okay with it by now. She has no lingering feelings whatsoever and she knows that business is business. Her company's partnership with Joshua's firm is an important one for both. Hers is looking to launch a new financial product. Joshua's firm is a market leader. If the deal is successful, they could potentially gain many new clients. Negotiations have been going well so far, and it is her job to seal the deal.

She soon alights in front of a silver commercial building, and heads in. She obtains a Visitor's pass from the reception counter and squeezes into an elevator just before it leaves. It is just after lunch hour, so the elevator is packed to its full capacity. She straightens her blazer and tucks her files properly, before the doors open at her floor. She hastens her footsteps towards yet another reception, and the lady checks to make sure she had made an appointment, before leading her to Joshua's office, where he awaits her in a spiffy suit.

He gives her a formal handshake, and they are quickly left alone for their discussions. Emma cannot help but let her eyes roam around to take in the spanking new office. Everything looks perfectly organised, from the neatly arranged files to the clean office desk. It is not at all surprising of Joshua, however. She recalls him as someone meticulous who is to a fault.

"Good afternoon Mr - "

"Joshua will do. We're not strangers," he interrupts remorselessly. He gives her an are-you-serious look and gestures for her to sit down.

Emma looks at him suspiciously, then clears her throat and tries again. "Alright. Hello, Joshua. I'm here with the first draft of the contract, as you already know. So please go through it and let me know if there are any clauses you wish to amend. We could discuss that."

She digs into her bag for the file and retrieves a pressed copy of the contract. She pushes it across the table, and Joshua gives it a short glance.

"Uh, sorry. Before we begin. Coffee? Americano, right? No sugar, no nothing."

He looks at her expectantly, as if waiting for the bell to go off and tell him he is right.

"Yes, that's right," Emma replies. She seems a little warmed that he remembers her preference. But really, didn't she already mention - he is meticulous.

Joshua presses the button on his phone, and a cheerful female voice answers on the other side. He simply gives his orders and the person dutifully claims she'll bring the drinks right away. It was fuss-free and quick. He ends the call and returns his attention to Emma.