Chapter 20 Theodore Agustine Williams Jr.
A frustrated sigh escaped her lips in the office as she was greeted by a deck of paper works. It was a manic Monday knowing she will have a very busy day ahead. She took two days off in the office for a long weekend in preparation for meeting Matt's family and relatives so she expected to deal with bunches of paper works as soon as she comes back to the office.
"Good morning, Bea." Cheerfully greeted by Liz, her Assistant/Secretary.
"Good morning, Liz." She greeted back.
Liz doesn't usually call her Ma'am because she knew she doesn't like a formality. She was comfortable working with someone who can treat her with no superiority and could build mutual trust with. Liz was an efficient and reliable Assistant/Secretary and it's her will to call her by her name for they had treated each other more like friends.
"Looks like I got lots of things to finish within the day uh..." She mumbled as she walk towards her table then sat on her reclining chair. She couldn't help to frown as she stare at the deck of papers on top of her table then started dealing with them.
"How's the Aragon Mansion project?" She started getting updates to their ongoing projects of the month, the rich business tycoon's mansion that they were developing.
"The furnishings are almost done. Rachel and Angelo assured me that the project will be done and over with by the end of the month. These are the reports and updates." Liz reported then handed her the file. Rachel and Angelo are some of her designers who were handling the said project.
"How's the firm when I was gone?" She asked Liz as she turn the pages on the paper she was reviewing.
"Yesterday, We got a call from the Tiger Estate Corporation. Mr. McCartney, the assistant of Mr. Williams requested a meeting to talk about the project he was proposing. It was a hotel and resort project in Austin, Texas and they want mostly their hotel rooms to be fully furnished. I already set an appointment for you to meet their boss- Mr. Williams and that would be tomorrow at three o'clock pm." Liz stated. Tiger Estate Corporation is one of the biggest and successful real estate companies in the country and it will be a huge project if they got the offer.
She was stunned for a moment when she heard the last name of their client. A man with the same surname suddenly occupied her mind together with the flowers she just received this morning. They happened to have the same surname and it's kinda funny for he suddenly thought about him.
"Mr. Williams? I thought the Gonzales owned the Tiger Estate Corporation?" The words burst out of her mouth.
"Yeah, Mr. Theodore Agustine Williams Jr. The new president and CEO of Tiger Estate Corporation. He took his late grandfather's position Apolinario Gonzales just a year ago since he was the sole successor of The Williams family." Liz informed her. She gasped as she recognized who it was. How could she forget that Thyago is the only grandson and heir of the Gonzales clan since his mom was the only child and him being the only heir?
Shocked and mixed emotions rushed rapidly through her mind as the past started to flashback like a ghost slowly haunting her. She never noticed the papers she was holding fell from her grasp as Liz's attention caught and weirdly state at her. Dammit! They don't just have the same surnames because he happens to be the same person in her mind. First the flowers, now this project? What the hell! Is this some kind of a coincidence?
Thyago Williams is asking her firm services? Doesn't he was aware that she owned Bea's Interiors Inc? Does he get amnesia and suddenly forgot the past? Is this for real? He has chosen her firm's services? Because the last thing she could remember, he don't wanna talk to her. He intentionally avoided her and told her to stay away from him because he thought she fooled and betrayed him. Now he wants them to meet for business matters and do business in her firm? Can he now stand a place where she was with? Yeah it has been eight years ago and that was way back in their teenage days but she couldn't still help to have doubts. Why does she have a bad feeling about it?
"Hey Bea, are you still there?" Liz catches her attention by waving her hand in front of her face.
"I'm sorry, I just got preoccupied. Where are we again?" She apologized She didn't notice she suddenly got preoccupied with the thought of him. It has been eight years ago and she thought she was done with the hate and bitterness she had for him, but why did hearing his name suddenly brought again the pain and grudge she has in her chest?
She took a deep breath and tries to think professionally for a long moment. Thyago is offering a business and they were both professionals in their own craft. She has to set aside unnecessary things that will spoil her professionalism and deal with her job well. They were both professionals now and she have to accept the project because this was a huge favor to her firm.
"When should I be meeting him?" She finally asked Liz.
"Tomorrow, three o'clock pm at Chef Gino's restaurant." The said restaurant is an Italian restaurant just a few blocks away from the firm.
"Okay, please remind me tomorrow with my meeting with Mr. Williams." She stated formally then composed herself to get back to work.
"Got it." Liz carelessly replied then walked away to her office door to proceed to her own working station.
She was left thinking about Thyago and her upcoming meeting with him tomorrow. A nervous and frustrate sighed came out from her chest as she closed her eyes in hatred.
I'll meet him tomorrow. I never thought this will come. I never wished this, you know. Will I have the courage to face him? Of all the firms all over the country, why does have to be my firm?
This is nothing but pure business alright, but why am I being bothered for our upcoming meeting. I had said goodbye long ago to the old Bea but why do I feel scared and nervous like hell about our upcoming meeting? Besides, what are the flowers all about? Why did he and send me those? I think he knew all along that it was me who owns the firm. I will let him meet the new Bea. The smart, professional, and confident Bea. I will meet him and will at professionally. But damn, why am I feeling this way? Why it seems like I kinda anticipating to finally meet him? This is absurd and I shouldn't be entertaining these strange and ridiculous feelings!!!
Gazing her reflection in the full-length mirror closely looking at herself, for how many times she turned around and checked herself if she looked presentable enough. It's the day she was about to meet Thyago at the nearby restaurant and she's been in the front of the mirror for like an hour now. She decided to wear her usual office suite, above the knee cream skirt, a white blazer, and under it is a black tube top that tucked in her skirt and a 3 inches black stiletto. She applied light makeup and she just let her long curly hair untied to compliment her features. She looks fine in her thought but she can't seem to get comfortable with her looks still. She knew she doesn't need to wear a sexy and elegant dress to impress him. She doesn't want Thyago to give her the wrong impression that she was trying to look beautiful to catch his attention. It is only a pure business meeting but she can't seem to be satisfied with her looks. Not that she cares what he will think about her, she just wanna show and prove to him that she was fierce and confident now. She pulled a frustrated sigh and made up her mind to go when Liz suddenly butted in and catch her attention.
"I'd like to remind you that you have a meeting with Mr. Thyago Williams at the Chef's Gino restaurant and if you didn't go now, you'll probably get late," Liz stated.
"How do I look? " she suddenly asked Liz eagerly.
"Fine," Liz answered with brows furrowed. Then her look turned malicious as a mischievous smile painted her lips.
"May I ask why are you so conscious about yourself when it's just a business meeting you're about to attend?" Liz stated suspiciously keeping the mischievous smile on her face.
"What do you mean?"
"Why do I have a feeling that you know Mr. Williams personally? I men you got stunned when you heard his full name. I heard he's a hunk and a playboy. Did you happen to be his ex?" Liz nosily asked.
"Hell, no! What made you think that way?" She angrily snapped.
"Because you were acting weird and strange. Tell me, you know him personally, right?"
"Liz, do you love your job? " She told her Assistant/Secretary as she cocked one brow.
"Yes, why? " Liz asked curiously.
"Because I'll get you fired if you kept asking questions!" She snapped then left her irritatingly. She could hear Liz chuckle as she walks away out of the office but she didn't mind her.
Lisa was right. I was acting weird and very strange. Damn, what the hell is wrong with me? I was even overreacting when this is only nothing but a pure business meeting...