Toria only blinked blearily at her, muttered something, and turned over again.
Tossing off the cover that Reyona had just adjusted.
Reyona's smile broadened as she adjusted the cover again.
"Of course, she would toss it off again," Reyona thought to herself as she went to the bathroom to get started with her day.
When she looked out of the window, she could see her employees arriving already.
By the time she was done, the phone was ringing again.
Only this time, it was not her personal phone.
It was the office phone.
She picked up the call. "Hello"
"Good morning, ma," the man on the phone answered respectfully.
Reyona's good mood plummeted a bit when she heard the voice.
It was Andrews, her chief of security.
She had informed the man to call her directly and immediately if there was any cause for concern, just as they had in the past few weeks.
If he was calling, that means...
"What is it, Andrews?" she asked.
"Ma, I am very sorry for disturbing you, but it is that woman. She is here again"
Reyona's apprehension was reduced at that point.
Then she said, "I told you to send her away; why are you still calling me for this?"
The man answered with a flustered "Because, yes, you said so, ma. And she left the other time but..."
"Do I need to teach you how to do your job, Andrews?" Reyona said with an exasperated sigh as she sank into her chair.
She had no time for this.
"She wouldn't leave, ma," Andrews said urgently.
"What do you mean she wouldn't leave?"
"Well, she said I should inform you that she would stay out here until you are ready to see her. And from the look of it, she is serious, ma. She brought…things"
"Things? Are you incapable of the vocabulary now, Andrews? Do you need me to get someone who will know not to waste my time?"
"No, ma…Ah well, she is settling down."
"Settling down?"
"At the entrance, ma. You might want to see this, ma."
*********
"Beatrice! You are finally willing to see me!" Celia Jordan said it excitedly.
Then she turned towards Andrews and said, "I knew you were lying, you disagreeable man."
As if inviting Reyona to high tea, she waved her hand towards the spread of bread, croissants, pain au chocolat, jam, tea, fruits, chocolatine, and brioche on the flowery picnic blanket she was seated on.
Reyona's surprise was beyond indescribable as she took in the three formidable-looking men and two maids who stood behind her with passive looks as if this was something they were used to.
"What are you doing?!" Reyona asked urgently as she bent to her face level.
When Andrews had mentioned "settling down" earlier, Reyona wouldn't have believed this was what he meant.
Celia blinked her eyes innocently at Reyona and said sweetly, "Why? I am inviting my friend to breakfast, of course. We are friends, right?"
Since when? Reyona wondered.
But she said, "Yes, but you can't just... do this." She ended with an airy wave of her hand over the mouthwatering spread at the entrance.
"Oh, okay." Celia looked around as if she just realised that.
Then she looked back at Reyona. "Does that mean you are ready to talk to me now?"
"I…"
"Good, now help me up and let's find a better spot." She stretched her hand towards Reyona.
Reyona didn't believe that innocent, guileless look for a second.
The woman knew exactly what she was doing.
As Reyona helped her up, she couldn't help but feel a bit of admiration for the heavily pregnant, petite woman.
She had gotten what she wanted after all, didn't she?
Celia brushed her hand over her bump and addressed the maids behind her.
"Please pack up this food and share it with the employees interested. We must not let good food go to waste now, can we?"
She smiled at Reyona. "You are welcome. What kind of friend would I be if I came empty-handed?
Then she hooked her arm around Reyona's as if she were afraid she would run away.
"So, where are we having our talk? They would stay behind."
Reyona couldn't think of a better place to take her than her office.
She had thought of taking her to the cafeteria. That way, she was sure she could easily make her escape and send the woman on her way.
But then she thought of the demonstration her employees were just treated to.
No, the best way to handle this was to take her to her office.
Even if the woman decided to dance on the table or suddenly had the urge to run around naked, at least it would stay in her office.
Her employees had been shocked enough for one day.
With that thought in mind, Reyona said, "Please, come with me."
Celia beamed at her like a child who had just been handed candy and said, "I am all yours."
She held on to Reyona's hand as if they were attached.
Like that, the two of them entered the company, leaving behind whispers and chuckles among the employees.
Reyona allowed herself a small smile as she entered the elevator.
At least her employees will have something lighthearted to gist about instead of the gloomy consequences of their boss's scandal.
They would get some good meals out of it too. The aroma of the breakfast spread still lingers in Reyona's nostrils, and she suddenly realizes that she is hungry.
One more blame to put on the shoulders of the woman beside her. She thought with amusement.
"Look at that. I wish I could paint you right now."
Regina looked aside to face Celia with a "what are you talking about" look.
"You were smiling. It looks so beautiful on you. You should smile more," Celia said simply.
Reyona could only nod.
She thought of waiting for the woman to say it, but then she asked, "Why are you here?"
"Because..."
The elevator opened to Reyona's office floor, and Celia stepped out with a sound of admiration.