Chapter 29 Armani Kid
Romeo blinked.
It took a moment for him to understand what he had said correctly and the reason she was feeling so flustered. His eyes shone in realization.
"Oh wait no!" He exclaimed. "That is not what I meant. Okay, uh it's not what I meant to say. What I meant by what I said is that I want you to spend a fun weekend with us."
Cara's brows creased. "Us?" She poured confusedly.
"No, uhm..." He rubbed his forehead and cleared his throat. "Okay. So a few close friends and I-- we knew each other from business and whenever they were throwing a party or hanging out somewhere, they always invited me so I thought it wouldn't be a bad idea to invite them too. Anyway-- we are going on a cruise to celebrate, spending the weekend on a cruise ship and it would mean the world to me if you could attend it."
Cara sighed softly. A sigh of relief. Why was it so flustering spending time alone with a man? There were women out there who hooked up with strangers and called it one night stands so why did it sound so absurd with Romeo? Because he was a friend?
She shook her head softly to chase the intruding thoughts away. "Cruiser ship, it sounds fun and all but I am afraid you will have to do it all without me. As much as I need a break--" she expressed with a sigh, "--I can't leave the office unattended to."
"It isn't unattended to," Romeo stated. "What are the staff members for?" His thick brow arched upward.
"It just isn't the same without me around. There are a lot of upcoming conferences that I have to prepare for over the weekend, a huge pile of paperwork that needs to be filed--"
"That shouldn't be a part of your job--"
"But it is." She smiled. "Plus, wouldn't it be awkward for your friends? I am a total stranger to them. I know I don't do well with strangers."
"Well I don't know if you have heard the latest update but it says everyone isn't like you, Carina."
She glared at him and he smiled. Rolling her eyes, she stated. "I also don't do well on things that float. I don't like it, especially now that a vast amount of water is included. I would rather die from falling off a plane than to drown in the depth of the cold sea."
"That... Is creepy, plus, no one is going to drown or fall down a plane. It is going to be fun with people your own age."
"Two whole days on a floating machine! That's worse than a death sentence. I'm not not going." She packed up her things and started for the door.
"Okay, so it's three days, Friday, Saturday and Sunday but still! How is a weekend of fun worse than a death sentence? Huh? Don't act like an old lady here, Carina." He whined.
She scoffed a laugh and rolled her eyes. He was also so cute when he wasn't so serious. And when he was serious, he was dead handsome! She felt a warm smile creep up her face at the thought of it and cleared her throat.
At the door, the sound of her phone ringing brought her to a halt. Taking it out of her bag, she slid it to the receive button on seeing Miranda's name on the screen. "Hello?"
"Hello dear, I am so sorry for calling you at this time when you are probably so busy." Miranda's motherly voice echoed through the phone.
"Oh it's alright, we are a family and you can call me any time. Besides, I am on my way home already and I know it is earlier than my closing time but I am extra tired today. I really could use a holiday break right now."
Romeo was standing with both of his hands in the depth of his pocket. His brow arched at her words. He was offering a break on a platter of gold! Yet she was waiting for a holiday. What if she passed out before Christmas?
Her lips curved into a smile. "But unfortunately, Christmas is still quite far away."
Romeo's eyes rolled skyward and she almost broke out in laughter.
"I understand how you feel, it really must be tiring working from nine to five every single day." Miranda sighed. "I'm sorry you have to carry such a heavy burden."
"Miranda, I love my Job and I am happy I have it." She statedconfidently and she could feel Miranda smiling on the other end of the phone.
"I called because of your dad." Miranda said.
Cara's eyes widened. "Did something happen to him? Is he okay?"
Concerned look bloomed on Romeo's face, spreading its petals all about. He didn't want to say anything to disturb her call but he also wanted to know if there was a need for an alarm.
"Oh no dear!" Miranda clearly responded. "He is fine, totally alright." She added, trying to make her words clearer than crystals.
Cara sighed. A sigh of relief and happiness. She didn't think she would be able to go on without her father by her side-- not literally most times though but-- telling her what to do when it got hard and giving her elderly advice.
"Thank goodness." She muttered to herself though Romeo's pricked ears caught the words effortlessly.
"I'm sorry if I had got you worried by placing my words in the wrong manner." Miranda immediately apologized. She loved being on good terms with Cara and never wanted a reason for them to fight or argue.
"Oh it's alright." Cara smiled. "I'm the one who got myself worked up without listening properly to you." She flashed a glance at Romeo, noticing that the anxious expression on his face had been replaced by a calm one. It was all thanks to her own relaxation. "So what did you want to say?" She asked Miranda.
"Your father said to invite you over for dinner today and... He wants you to bring that boy, uh... Romeo, yes him. The Armani kid."
Cara's brows furrowed. "What?"