Chapter 32 Conflictions
It was a very busy day at the firm. Getting updates on the current projects and operations after long hours of meeting, she suddenly felt tired and wished for the day to come to an end. When she noticed her phone rang, she immediately took it in her bag and got excited when she found out its her Dad calling.
"Yes, Dad?" She answered.
"Hey, Sunshine! How are you doing?" She smiled when she heard her father's voice. It's been months since they weren't seeing each other since she moved to her condo unit. She just suddenly missed him after hearing his father's voice.
"I'm fine. Why did you call? Suddenly missed your Sunshine's voice?" She stated in a sweet tone.
She has always been sweet and kind when she was talking to her father. After all, she will always be a Daddy's girl. Just hearing his voice made her stress and weariness fade away.
"Yeah, that's also one reason. Your uncle Ben called, he wants us to come to Elena's new restaurant opening party and that would be tomorrow night. He said Elena invite you to come." With that, her brow automatically raised.
What's with her drama now? After all these years she decided to reached and invite her to her new restaurant opening party? A typical not so Elena. They've never been close or friends before so why invite her? Her father knew how much she hated Elena after what she did to her in their teenage days. She never hides things from her Dad and until now she still holds a grudge for what she did on her.
"I don't know if I can go, Dad. I'll be very busy tomorrow and I'm just not sure If I can make it." Of course, it was an alibi. It will only going to be an awkward moment if she decided to attend that party knowing they hate each other.
"Sunshine, don't you think it's time for you to patch things the rift you got? You're both mature now, besides I think she was trying to reach you now. Give it a chance." Her father solemnly explained.
Elena never apologized and reached for her for eight long years so she was wondering why now? Her Dad was aware of all the terrible things Elena had done to her way back in their teenage days. She just couldn't understand now why he was suggesting her to patch things up with that woman. Her father was the kindest person she ever knew, he might want what's that best for her but honestly, she was not yet ready to face Elena and forget what she did in the past. She don't know if that time will ever come but how can you forgive a person when she never even tried to apologize or did something to compensate for her mistakes. Maybe just as long she never seen her changed and regretted what she did, she doesn't think she will ever patch things up between them.
"I'll see what I can do, Dad," Ahe replied starting to get irritated upon the situation.
"That's my Sunshine. I love you, sweety..." Her father said before he decided to bid goodbye and hang up the phone.
She pulled out a frustrated sigh afterward. Her father had always been very understanding and a kind-hearted person. He believes that if a person hurts or harms you, you can still find a way to forgive them in due time. She was blessed to have a parent like him and she loves him so much for that. But in Elenas' case, she can't seem to find a reason to forgive her still knowing she wasn't sorry at all.
She smiled wickedly at the thought of Elena. Her cousin was now a famous International Supermodel. Her face and features can be seen on the cover of magazines, billboards, commercials, and even on TV screens walking down the catwalk. She earns money when she struts her stuff on the camera and her name was always been in the news for she is always being rumored dating politicians and rich businessmen. A typical gold digger that suits her profession. She can say she was now successful in her own way but her predictions about her are still the same as before, a shallow person that easily gives in in sparkling and expensive gems. Elena was nothing but an expensive rag without her physical features. She remembers she took up a Theatrical course at college but she end up being a model, now she was planning to run a restaurant for a business? Why those details simply don't jibe? She viewed her as a person who doesn't know what she really wanted in life. She won't be surprised if her life ended up a wreck.
And now she was inviting her to come to her restaurant's opening party? What's with the drama? Why all of a sudden after almost eight years she wanted to see her? If she intends to make friends after all these years, she doesn't think it was possible. She will even laugh at her if she tried though. And about her invitation, there's no way she will attend it. It's not like she was afraid to meet her but she just can't stand to pretend and act good to her when all she just wanted is to hurt her physically. Dealing with people like Elena was a complete waste of time so there's no way she'll waste time for that unimportant event.
She was at that point of thinking when her phone rang again. When she noticed it was Thyago calling, a tinge of excitement crept in her chest. As curiosity struck her, she picked her phone wondering what's his reason for calling her this time. She couldn't understand herself but she felt happy and excited every time he call her on the phone.
"Hi!" He greeted cheerfully on the line.
"Hi! Why did you call?" She asked.
"Hope I'm not disturbing you. Are you at the site with your team?"
"No, I'm at the firm. I was about to discuss important matters with my staff in the office. I can't go to the site today, my schedule will be very busy for the full day ahead. Client appointments, meetings with my staff, stuff like that. Hope you wouldn't mind my absence besides my co-designers can take good care of everything there. I have instructed them and made sure things will be run smoothly even if I will not be around today." She explained.
"Hey, will you stop explaining? I completely understand, okay. Are you having a hard time making the project? Is there a problem in the firm?" Why he's so smart to sense her problems, she thought.
"Honestly Thyago, yes. You see I can't serve two masters at the same time. Yes I placed a person to handle my position in the firm and I love being a part of your project but I own and also run the firm. I'm having problems working as the main designer on your project and running the firm at the same time. Yes, someone doing my job but it was not that easy. My presence was still needed in the firm. I don't even know how to handle this anymore." She said in a weary and almost surrendering tone.
She felt him went silent for a while and she suddenly wonder what does he thinking. She just hope he will not think thy she was becoming m unprofessional. She knew she shouldn't accept the project if she can't handle it but she never thought that it will be this hard. A big problem came in at the firm and it badly needed her presence. She can handle the project but she was hoping he could give her some considerations. After all, they were now friends.
"Did I make it hard for you when I demanded that you should be the main designer of the project? " He asked worriedly.
"Don't get me wrong, you might be thinking now on why I accepted the project and agree with your demands on being the main designer when I couldn't make it after all. I know it was so foolish of me but I needed this project for my plans in the firm's expansion. It's just that-- "
"Hey, I don't mind. Stop explaining." He cut her off in between chortles.
"I should be the one apologizing for giving you such obligation like that knowing you're handling your firm. It's okay with me, you can appoint another designer to take your position while you have important matters to attend to. After all, it was your main design." He understandingly said that stunned her.
If this happened to a different client, she was totally dead for sure. It was her loss and he tolerates it. This is business and he was not even mad for not being able to fulfill her obligations. Why he's so kind to her?
"Are you serious?" She clarified. She was hoping he was not joking because it really means a lot to her. Besides, he was right. It was her main design and she trust her team to do the works while she was not around.
"Yes. Actually, I didn't call for business matters. Can we drop the topic now and go on with my reasons why I called you?" He stated naughtily.
"Oh yeah, why did you called anyway?"
"Ummm, we have these high school reunions on Saturday night. I was kinda thinking if you could be my date at the party?" He asked in a very gentle way.
She could feel it in his voice that seems like he's nervous or something. Is this why he suddenly became kind and immediately agreed to her request? Because he has a favor to ask for?
"You're kidding right?"
She suddenly felt uneasy. Doesn't he know that she can't bear to face his batchmates? His friends and batchmates used to bully her way back in her junior high. She could still remember those Senior bullies including Elena and his friends that used to make fun of her and most of them are Thyago's batch mates as far as she could remember.
"I really want you to be my date at that event and I was asking you a favor, Bea." He pleaded.
"Remember when they used to bully me? I don't think I can face them. I know it's been eight years but I'm afraid to face them and earn insults. Besides, I have a boyfriend and I think it's inappropriate for me to be your date at that party." She honestly told her reasons.
"Are you hearing yourself, Bea? You are an amazing and successful woman now. No one will dare to insult you. And so what if you have a boyfriend, it's not like they knew who he is? Come on, I'm asking you as a friend because I can't attend that party without a date." He can't be without a date? She suddenly wonders what is his reasons?
"You can't blame me for being afraid. Besides, I hate them and I don't wanna face them. Call me childish but I still resent what they have done."
"Don't you think it was time to face your fears? Face them, show them that this is now the girl they used to insult and bully. Don't you think this will be like your revenge? You are now a strong woman, just like you told me. Show your fierceness and kick their asses." He convinced. With that, she thinks deeply.
I think he's right! I have to face my fears. To show them that I'm not like the old pathetic Bea they used to bully. To show them that I am a strong and fierce woman who can't be easily intimidated now. And I was wondering what would be their reaction if the pathetic girl that used to have a crush on Thyago was the woman he brought to his date? Revenge? Not so bad idea...
"Okay, I'm in!" She finally decided.
"Great!" he replied happily.
"Don't you think that it was really inappropriate to be your date at that event? I have a boyfriend and what if I meet a relative or a friend of Matt." She awkwardly stated. He went silent for a while and that worried her.
"We are.... friends, right? I don't see anything wrong in it." She heard him sigh after that.
"One more thing, Thyago. Will you stop sending me flowers or anything from now on. I mean some people might get a wrong idea about it and I don't want to create a misunderstanding between Matt and me." After their truce, he often sent her flowers and sweets and he often send food for the team also which she find unnecessary and a bit confusing.
She herself was having a wrong idea for the things he send her. She was worrying her employees might get the wrong idea that he might be courting her. Well everyone knows in the office her boyfriend was Matt so she shouldn't be entertaining those stuff. She also had different thoughts about him sending her flowers and stuff so she wants to end it.
"I understand. Sorry about that... " To her surprise, he suddenly hung up the phone without saying goodbye.
Did I upset him? Well, it's true, it was inappropriate for a woman like me who was in a relationship to accept stuff like that. He can be mad at her approach but she really has to stop those to avoid future conflictions.