Please be joking?
(Bella)
"Alright honey, be good okay?" I say, smiling warmly at Jav and Jas as their teacher waits behind to take them from me.
Jas smiles. "Okay, mommy"
"Mommy, are you picking us up from school today?" Jav asked, as he looks at me.
"Of, course, honey. Henceforth mommy's going to be picking you both from school,"
I watch his face break into a big smile, Jas is not left out. "Really?" Jas asked, her eyes gleaming.
I nod. "Yes, baby. I promise."
"Pinky promise," Jav brings out his tiny finger and I almost burst out laughing with the way he did it.
"Pinky promise," I mutter, crossing my finger with his little one.
I kissed them on the cheeks, watching and waving at them with a smile as bright as the sun as their teacher guides them away.
Once out of sight. I take a deep breath, checking my wrist watch to confirm the time.
I walk back to my car and head straight to work.
After the early morning meeting where I delivered an excellent pitch to our future investors. Everyone seems impressed, I know this because of their gentle nods and how the room erupted in an applause as I concluded my pitch.
I could see a warm smile on Calvin's face as I move back to my chair, just beside him.
"You did great, Bella." He says, his eyes gleaming with pride.
"Thank you, Calvin. That means a lot," I mutter but then the investors asked to finalize the contract with him.
I excused myself to use the restroom as Calvin is deep in talk with the investors.
Outside the restroom, Cynthia is there waiting for me, alone. Well, not everyone was impressed after all.
Here we go again but let's just say I'd expected her to show up anyways, she always do.
I dispose of the tissue, after wiping my hands clean and turn to face her.
She's wearing an acid smile, one that doesn't reach her eyes, her arms crossed as she leans slightly on the wall frame.
"Cynthia, still stalking me outside restrooms I see."
Her fake smile wears off in a split second, there, the real Cynthia.
"Shut up!" She seethes at me in a low voice, stepping closer to me but I don't flinch, just meeting her gaze with a hard look, and just so she knows she doesn't scare me.
"You must think you're better than everyone else here?" She spat, her eyes cold, emitting an intense grudge, one I know nothing about. "Great at pitching? Client's favorite, must feel really good being at the spotlight, huh?" She lets out the words, unfiltered, like a wounded lioness.
I chuckle lightly. "Honestly, you should stay off cheap drugs, you're being ridiculous right now," I retort, giving her a bored expression.
She looks at me and smiles. "You know, the only ridiculous thing is you showing up here, acting like you're better off and taking all the credits but that won't be for long, I assure you that," she says in a calculated tone, one that ought to send chills down a spine, but definitely not mine.
Okay, this is getting way too weird. I just can't with Cynthia and her bitchy attitude right now. And I honestly can't be bothered wasting my energy on her.
Her kind isn't foreign to me, if I'd survived girls like Fiona back at club forte then Cynthia isn't a hard pill to swallow, trust me.
I see two of our junior staffs approaching with smiles on their faces. I take that as my cue to leave Cynthia and her jabs behind.
After a while, I heard a gentle knock on the door and almost immediately Calvin walks in bearing a smile that doesn't reach his eyes, his steps measured.
"Hey," I mutter, smiling back at him.
He takes his seat, just across and furrows his eyebrows at me.
I sense his discomfort. I'm very perceptive because we are close after working for four years. "Is anything the matter, Calvin?" I ask, because that smile a while ago, isn't like Calvin's.
He nods slowly. "Well, it depends on how you take it," he says, his voice calm.
I adjust briefly on my chair. "Tell me what it is, best believe I can take it," I try to coax him into speaking up.
He hesitates.
I step in quickly. "Or are you dying?" I joked.
He smiles despite himself. "What? No. Far from it,"
I chuckle. "Well, if you aren't dying then?" I retort, giving him a quizzical look.
He holds my gaze a little longer before he divulges. "The project is hundred percent ready, Bella. We'd need to relocate." He says, watching my reaction closely.
I'd expected this but hearing him say it just leaves me rattled, perhaps it isn't about the relocation, it's the fear of my past, a past I've buried years ago.
I didn't realize I was lost in thoughts till I heard Calvin call my name for God knows how long.
"Yes?" I answered, shifting my gaze to him and trying to mask the horror brewing inside me.
He furrows his eye on me, concern etched on his face. "Are you alright?" He asks and then pause midway. "Look, Bella. If you want to change your mind about working with me over there, it's fine. I can—,"
I cut Calvin off sharply. "Nonsense. It's not that. Of course we'd work together as promised. I don't go back on my words," I say firmly even though wheels are turning in my head at the mere thought of leaping into the unknown.
But I can't let my past hinder me from this. It's a big project, which means more money and besides I've promised Calvin we'd do this together.
So I push the unsettling thoughts aside. I'm taking this offer, of, course I am.
Calvin gives a small smile, taking my hand into his. "Thank you, Bella. I'd make the necessary arrangements."
"Oh, no Calvin. I should be the one thanking you, for this opportunity."
He smiles, caressing my hand gently. "You earned this, do not forget that."
He's right but still… I wouldn't have been here without his unwavering support.
Calvin relaxes back on the chair, his gaze never leaving mine and then he tilts his head, as if remembering something.
"Uhm, Cynthia would be coming along. I need capable hands on desk for this one. We'd be partnering with the famous Brenco. We need to give it our best shot,"
At the mention of Brenco, I froze, my eyes widened as I try to process the name I just heard.
"Please be joking?"