Missing River

Reyna P.O.V

"Aaachoo." I sneezed once again for the nth time in just an hour after entering the office.

Wiping her nose with the soft cotton clothes I sighed lowly. Feeling limp. 'Fuck those bitches and my crappy fate!' I cursed in my mind out of anger and frustration.

Because of falling in the water yesterday, I caught a cold and fever. A very disturbing feeling. I have always been sensitive to water, and that's the main reason I never learnt to swim.

'Aaachooh!" Another blow came, startling me. "Fuck!" I cursed again and this time audibly. I have been having a sneezing trauma since this morning!

"Hey, Reyna." Nelson, my colleague pushed his chair a little toward my desk, giving me a cup of hot ginger tea. "Here drink this. Maybe, it will help you to feel a little better?"

Wiping my nose, I looked up at him and smiled brightly, or I tried, just then, "Aachooh." I sneezed again. I sniffed "I am sorry, Nelson, and... Thank you for this." I took the cup of tea. "I really needed this."

"Hey, it's alright. We are both colleagues." He smiled back and when I sneezed once again, his eyes flashed with a bit of concern. "Why don't you just take a leave for today? You really need a good amount of rest."

Taking a sip of My tea, I inhaled the hot mist coming from the tea to feel some warmth of the ginger. "I can't... Really. Or, I have done it by now." I pointed at the stack of files on my desk. "I need to complete this by today.

So..." I shrugged. The message was very clear.

Nelson nodded in understanding. He knew the amount of passion I had for my job. Unlike them, it's not a job for me but a dream. "Okay, I know I can't convince you in this sector. But at least, don't forget to take rests in between.”

I chuckled and nodded her head. "Thank you, Nelson." Then we both switched back to our work.

Putting my cup on the desk, I pulled the pile of files in front of me, and with an inward sigh, I dived into the stack.

No matter what happens, I could not let go of this opportunity, because, unlike others, I had to spare lots of effort just to get the beginner position.

I was a perfumer in the company without having any perfumery degree. While it needs chemistry to be a perfumer, I have majored in Business. Though I had passed with higher grades and had an outstanding result to get a successful job easily, I never even tried for it, as I always had a dream to be a perfumer.

It was my father, Mr Parker forced me to take Business as my major. Now, I was having a hard time doing my job, and even my colleagues from the same team never acknowledged me because of the extra mark I got from my superior because of my special ability for scents. Of course, excluding Nelson. Who was the only one who supported me?

So, to prove myself to others and even to myself that I was not selected without proper judgment, I had to do a lot of work, more than others.

I cherish this one chance a lot and am adamant about not gambling it at any cost!

While I was concentrating on my work, suddenly my phone beeped. I missed it at first but noticed it the second time, as I picked up with a deep frown. It was River’s father, because of whom I was suffering today.

"What is it?" No hi, no hello but direct to the point.

"Why are you not receiving my call?" Mr Pattson was displeased, and an angry voice came from the opposite.

I rolled my eyes, feeling annoyed. "I am in the office, working, not lazing around. Now, come to the point, what do you want?"

Pattson scoffed. "Yeah, smelling some shits what you call work? I don't understand why you are wasting your major like this!?"

I rubbed my temple impatiently. "If you don't come to the point, I am hanging up."

"Don't you dare! I have news for you." Mr Pattson said, making my eyes narrow.

 "What is that?" I was full of doubts. Whenever Mr Pattson gives news, it always turns into a disaster. At least for me!

"We have another dinner party to attend next Friday. And I want you there on Friday night without any deception." He announced.

My grip clenched tightly on the phone. I was hella annoyed. 'This man is crossing his limits with time!' I thought. However, those words didn't come out of my mouth because of the relic I was aiming to have.

Inhaling a deep breath, I spoke, "Fine, I will agree, but on one condition."

"What?" Mr Pattson snapped over the phone, seeming very angry.

I shrugged. I have decided to play his games with him. "I want the relic this time. If you give it to me, I will be attending the party, or else, you can count me out of this."

Though I kept my demands in front of him confidently and held them so gracefully, my palpitation was hard, waiting for his answer. And somehow, I was expecting something negative from him.

However, to her surprise, Patterson agreed. "Fine. You will get what you want."

Suspicion inside me growled gradually as my eyes narrowed. "You will?"

"Hmm, I will." He agreed.

Still, I couldn't believe his words fully. Something in my mind was happening when she heard his words. Though they were convincing enough it was baseless. 'What if he has some other plans?' I thought and wanted to find out.

But interrupted in between when my phone beeped again. I looked at the number, and it was from the restaurant I fancied. It's not a very high-profile place nor a low, but it's a simple place with great tastes.

"Fine then, I will attend the dinner party next Friday. Remember your promise." Saying she cut the call on my father, picking up the next call.

"Miss Reyna speaking?" A woman said the opposite.

"Yes, speaking."

"Ma'am you have a reservation tonight in the 'Cloud 9’ restaurant. Would you like to keep it?"

This forced me to recall the memories with my boyfriend. Today is our third anniversary. I reserved a table for me and River tonight there. However, it seems to be a waste now.

I sighed inwardly before speaking. "Umm... Can I cancel the reservation? Is it possible now?"

"Surely ma'am, you can cancel it. But, you won't get the money back." The woman replied.

I frowned. 'What a waste!' I thought. 'If I cancel it now it will be such a waste of my hard-earned money.

Maybe, I can take Becky with me?'

"It's alright. Then I won't cancel it. I would like to keep it." I said.

"Sure, ma'am. Thank you. Just to remind you, your reservation is at seven o'clock this evening." With that, the woman cut the call and, letting go of a helpless sigh, I once again drowned in my work.

******************

Soon it's seven and the time for dinner. I went inside the restaurant, and one waiter showed me the seat.

After I was seated the waiter gave me the menu card. "Will you be waiting for someone?" He asked politely.

Smiling up at him, I shook my head. "No, it's only me. Thank you."

After the waiter had gone with my order, I looked beside me. The restaurant was on the rooftop and the view from the top was so beautiful. 

I always feel relaxed whenever I come here. But, today my mood was a bit off. I had a lot of plans for this night. In my mind, maybe I was going to give my virginity to River. But, nothing happened like that, and it took a 360° turn in my life when Hailey and her mother fed him with lies.

I inhaled a deep breath. "Well, things happen for good and I should move on from my past. Let's make it a breakup celebration!" I gulped a sip of my wine. "I wish Becky could come then I shouldn't have to be alone." I sighed.

Initially, I thought to bring her, but because she had work to do, she couldn't come, and I came alone.