Chapter 5
It's been one week since the conference room incident. I mentioned it to Sandy, and she never does anything but laugh her life out of everything she remembers.
"I wish I were there to capture the moment."
That's what she always says. I also laughed with her, but thank God the issue has died suddenly.
And here we are again at the Cafeteria, having our lunch with Troy .. again beside me.
"Ahm.. Madi?" Troy caught my attention while munching on my gingerbread.
"Hmm?"
"I have a question."
"What is it?" I looked at him. He's wearing a sheepish smile on his face.
"D-Do you have a boyfriend?"
Sandy and I stopped our trance, and I subconsciously swallowed my food fast.
"No...why?"
"Uhm, c-can I i-invite for a d-dinner sometime?" he asked stuttering and scratching the back of his neck. He's really cute when blushing.
"Are you asking her for a date?" My eyes snapped in Sandy's direction when she thankfully voiced my question.
Troy scratched the back of his neck again.
"Uhm.. I guess?"
"You guess? You mean you don't know if it's a date or not?"
"Uhm----"
"Sandy, let him talk." I cut what Troy was saying and glared at Sandy. She just rolled her eyes.
"If that's so... I mean, if that's what you call it, then yes. I am inviting her for a date." Troy said looking at me. "I just thought since I'm still single and you don't have a boyfriend, uhm... why don't I invite you for a date? Don't worry, not tonight. But some other night, if you agree."
I was about to say something but Sandy opened her smart mouth again.
"Wow! I am starting to like your bravery, Troy. You had asked a girl on a date in front of her friend. Just wow!" she said nodding while grinning.
"Ohh, thanks," Troy said proudly. "So, can I have the honor of dating you, Ms. Madielyn Davis?"
He acted like a prince asking his princess to dance with him.
"Okay, just tell me in advance where you are going to take me so I can prepare."
"Yes!" instead of Troy, Sandy exclaimed loudly.
"Your voice!" and I warned her in unison. We didn't notice the same pair of eyes watching our conversation intently until we finished our lunch.
Same as my everyday routine after lunch and every 4 pm, I brought Mr. Wilson's coffee. And it's now his 3rd coffee of the day. I am wondering how he can drink too much coffee in a day and take notes --- every day. Wouldn't he become high on caffeine?
Yeah.. not in drugs but from coffee. Wouldn't he become acidic or have an ulcer?
My thoughts stopped when I was standing right in front of his door. I knocked 3 times before he answered, 'Come in.'
I found him standing at the large window behind his desk with his hands in his pants pockets. He's staring at the busy streets down the building.
"Mr. Wilson's, you're coffee, Sir." I put it on top of his table.
He watched my every move before he walked towards his desk and got the cup of coffee. I averted my eyes when he brought it to his lips to take a sip.
When he put it down again, I asked him the same question after giving him his coffee.
"Anything else, Sir?" although I know he would just answer me with the same answer. 'Nothing more.'
"Do you have a boyfriend, Ms. Davis?" My eyes widened in a bit of surprise as I gulped. For all the questions that he would possibly ask me about in this world... really this question?
"I'm sorry, Sir?" I asked him again; maybe I was just playing by ear.
"I said, ' Do you have a boyfriend?"
-' So he asked me that question!'-
I don't have an idea why suddenly he's asking me a very personal question that is not related to my work. But since I didn't see any problem with that, I still answered him in a polite manner.
"No, Sir. I don't have a boyfriend." I answered, although my voice was laced with confusion.
"Are you dating someone right now?"
"I'm sorry again, Sir?" ..where is this question going to?'-
He sighed loudly. I can see he's tensed and annoyed. Well, it's not my fault. I was just shocked, you know.
"Do I have to repeat myself every time I ask you, Ms. Davis?" Now, he's annoyed.
"I'm sorry Sir, but I was just shocked by your questions. And I was taken aback because I'm not expecting you to ask me such questions." I reasoned with him in all honesty.
"Is it difficult to answer that? It's just a yes or a no!" he snapped ignoring what I said. "Are you dating someone right now, Ms. Davis?" he looked at me intently.
"No, Sir. But I am about to -------"
"Good." he cut me off, but I didn't control myself to raise an eyebrow.
'-Good?'-
"What?" I voiced out confused.
"Because I have a deal to offer you, Ms. Davis. My driver will pick you up by 7 tonight. Be ready by then."
"Sir?"
"You're dismissed, Ms. Davis," he said completely ignoring me by dialling on his phone
But of course, being a boss myself, I insist on asking him.
"Excuse me Sir, but may I ask what deal that you are talking about?"
His eyes immediately snapped at me. "Ms. Davis, it's not work-related, so I won't discuss it with you right here in the office." his cold look gives shivers down my spine.
"Exactly Mr. Wilsons! If it's not work-related, then why do you have to offer me your deal? And why did you have to ask me about having a boyfriend or if I am dating? Does your offer something connected with it?"
"Ms. Davis, don't push me on telling you right now. Because it won't happen! You're dismissed!"
-' That's it?'-
He completely ignored me by turning around his swivel chair after getting his phone. And now the back of his chair is the one facing me...
-'Wow! What a rude attitude! What if I tell you, I won't go and listen to what you will say?'-
I didn't bother to ask him again and to say goodbye. I just walked out the door and headed towards my desk.
"He doesn't know how to talk sufficiently! Oh God! I'm going to have wrinkles because of you, Gabriel Wilsons!" I groaned as soon as my butt touched the soft pad of my chair.
At 5:00, I peeked again at his office. Although I knew I would just get the same response, as an act of professionalism, I knocked on his door. And after he said, 'Come in,' I just stood on the door frame saying goodbye to him.
"Okay, be ready at 7:00 pm," he said not even glancing at me.
I just nodded and didn't bother if he saw me or not.
At 6:30 pm, I finished taking a bath and drying my hair with the blower.
"What am I supposed to wear? He didn't even mention where he was going to take me or talk to me. My God!" I pulled my hair and sighed in irritation.
I picked up my mascara and applied it to my lashes. And since it's not a date, I just add eyeliner and nude lipstick.
"That's it! This would do. No need to put on more makeup. He's my boss and this is not a date." I told myself in front of the mirror.
For my dress, I just wear my simplest sleeveless navy blue floral dress that ends just above my mid-thighs. I added some curls to my hair to make it more bouncy, and that's okay. Two inches of black sandals for my feet. I don't want him to think that I put an effort into this 'Setup", although I did a little...
Just a little.
At exactly 7:00 pm, I heard a knock on the front door. I headed down the stairs to open it, but I found Jaime (my apartment mate) talking to someone at the door.
"Here she is," she said looking at me, smiling. I walked towards them.
"Good evening, Ms. Davis. I'm John, and I am Mr. Wilson's driver. I am here to pick you up."
"Oh, okay." I smiled at him and turned to Jaime, but she had an arched eyebrow.
I winked at her and exited the door following John to the car. He opened the passenger's seat door for me.
"Thank you, John," I said before he closed the door.
"You're welcome, Ms. Davis." he closed it before I could speak again.
When he was already seated in the driver's seat, I called him again.
"John?"
"Yes, ma'am?" he looked at me waiting for my next statement.
"Just call me Madi, please. Calling me Ms. Davis can make me feel old. I'm only 26." I smiled to ease his tension.
"Okay Madi, if that's what you want."
"Thanks." I smiled at him and he started the engine.
I didn't bother to ask him where we were going. I just waited till we came to our destination.
After 20 to 25 minutes of sightseeing the streets that we passed by, the road seemed very familiar to me. And I closed my eyes tightly when we stopped, and he parked at the parking lot in front of the very - very familiar fine dining restaurant.
"Ms. Davis--- I mean Madi, we are here. Mr. Wilson's is waiting for you inside." John informed me.
"Where are we exactly?" I asked without opening my eyes.
"At the restaurant where Mr. Wilson told me to take you."
I take a deep breath. "What is the name of the restaurant?" I asked him again, still with closed eyes, silently praying that it was not the same restaurant I'd been thinking of.
"Maiden restaurant."
"Oh, shit!" I muttered under my breath.
Maiden is short for Madielyn, and it was my Dad's nickname for me when I was young. It's the first restaurant I built out of the three.
"Is there any problem, Madi?" he asked, sounding concerned.
I opened my eyes, took a deep breath, and smiled at him.
"No, John. I'm okay. Thank you for picking me up."
"My pleasure." he would just take his seatbelt, but I stopped him.
"It's okay, John. Let me." I smiled again before opening the door and stepping out.
His eyes held the silent protest but I just waved at him before walking to the entrance of the restaurant. But of course, not before calling Noelle. I am shaking my head at the scenario I am imagining in my head after this.
Tbc ✍️