Chapter 3

    Angela 

    The tips of my fingers rub my forehead, slowly massaging my temples as if to conjure myself back into a state of peace and normalcy. She's having a headache right now, I slide my reading glasses off and drop them onto my desk together with a bunch of document that needs my signature. An exasperated huff exists in my mouth when the clock of my phone reads its quarter to ten.

    'Hey, honey. Are you in Cebu right now? Call me if you are free, okay? Is Thomas okay? Love you both, can't wait to be with you and Thomas.' I automatically sent my message to Sebastian.

    "Meredith, will you please come in," I press the intercom, calling my secretary. "And, please bring the papers that Mr. Takahashi, needs to sign."

    "Coming right away," she responded.

    I heard a knock on the door, and later on, my secretary pops her head in. My forehead knot when I saw how nervous Meredith is.

    "Ah, Angela. I'm sorry, but Mr. Takahashi's secretary called and canceled the meeting."

    "Are you sure?" I looked at Meridith, my secretary. My sweet-looking assistant, now she looked apologetic about my situation. Meredith is a petite woman with shoulder-length brown hair, and although she doesn’t turn heads, she’s pretty in a modest way. Her eyes while faint light up and she smiles at me, ready and eager to please. While I am the only other person in the office right now, it is not uncommon for Meridith to scramble into work once she starts to see me sending work emails.

    "Yes, Angela. Mr. Takahashi, reschedule you're supposed to be meeting today. And schedule it tomorrow same time,"

    "Oh, God. Grief!" I can't help to curse the old man. He's the reason why I'm not with my family right now. Then now he has the guts to cancel our meeting. "Tell me, Meredith. Does Mr. Takahashi, give an acceptable reason." I calmly ask.

    Maybe, he has a reason. I'll just have to relax.

    "His secretary said that he's in a clinic right now. He forgot that he has a schedule for his monthly check-up. And he added that he was sorry about the trip,"

    "Damn!" I drastically stood up from my swivel chair. 

    This situation is giving me damnation!

    I look out the window, admiring the daylight beautiful of the city, the cars moving in unison, the people out about and enjoy their daily life routine. And here I am, having trouble just because a certain old man, who is not true to his words. And love to play and mess with someone's life.

    "Meredith, aside from being my trusty secretary your my friend, right?" Suddenly I said. I turn my back at the city view and looked at my secretary who's giving me a sympathetic smile right now. I slowly approach Meredith.

    The office has plush carpeting, which I picked out myself as it feels incredibly soft beneath my bare feet. I made sure to decorate it so it had a homey feel, with a plush couch and recliner, a coffee table, pillows, a bookcase stuffed with books for both work and pleasure, and beautiful artwork on the walls. This office is my home away from home, as I’ve spent more time here the past five years than I have at my actual home. And far away corner of the office is some of Thomas, flush toys. Ready for Thomas, if he wants to stay with me here in my office.

    "Yes, of course. I'm grateful that you choose me." She added. I reached Meredith and put a hand on her shoulder.

    "Cancel all my meetings today, and come with me. I'm having a hard time right now, all I need was to relax,"

    Meredith was in a state of shock because of what I've said.

    "Are you sure, Angela?" Meredith shakes her head as if I was just cracking a joke.

    "Yup, you will come with me, stay with me until I got wasted," I playfully said.

    "Are you sure? How about your meeting tomorrow?" Meredith said. I can see the hope in her eyes from a friend’s standpoint who wants the best for me and the uneasiness from an employee’s stance who also wants the best for me.

    "Yes, I'm entirely sure." I grin.

    Meredith claps her hands together. “I’ll call your driver, right away.” She excitedly said and walks towards my office door with a little bounce in her step.

    I can't help to laugh at her little antics. Yeah, Meredith and I need this little relaxation.

    Then I heard my phone ring. I excitedly picked it up.

    "Hello, Hon? Where are you right now?" 

    'Hey, Hon. We're on our beach house right now. You really should see this, the house is amazing and the beach is magnificent,'  I can hear how excited he is, just by hearing his voice.

    I can't help to smile. I'm happy that they are having a good time. And that's enough with me.

    "The broker didn't fail me, I love the house already even I didn't see it," I playfully said.

    The beach house was newly purchased. If I remember correctly I purchased it last year when a friend of mine asked me a simple favor if I could buy his house, and there it is. I'm happy that I purchased it.

    'When, will you come here? Thomas and I miss you already.' And then she heard a little static on the other side of the phone. 'Hey Thomas, you can swim, later on. Let me put you some sunblock, hey, son.' Then I heard Sebastian sigh. 

    "Hey, take good care of Thomas okay?" I sweetly said. "And oh, by the way, Meredith and I will go grab some drinks. Cause' Mr. Takahashi rescheduled his meeting, that's why I'm a little bit frustrated right now," I said with a little bit of frustration in my voice.

    'What? Oh come on, you should come here, and forget about the agreement,'

    "No, I can not do that, he is one of our big investors, you knew that," I can't help to sigh. "Are we on this again? Did we talk about this right? The business needs a stable ground to stand firmly. After you mishandled the company some of its profit is lost and I--"

    She can't help to automatically shut up her mouth. 

    Damn! Me and my big mouth.

    'Yeah, sure do whatever you want...I'll just have to take good care of our son,' I can hear a defeat in his voice.

    "No, honey. That's not what I mean," I try my best to apologize.

    'You said it already. I'll have to go, bye.' He said with a dreadful voice.

    Then all she could hear was the busy tune of the phone.

    "Damn! It's not my fault..." I said out loud.

    But her conscience screams.

     It is your fault.