Page 34 of After Hours

“Fuck,” I whispered. “Reyes, can we fix it?”

He cleared his throat. “Yes, but we’ll need to draft a merger with the 26 investors on that board.”

My expressions eased. That’s good. “Great, let’s get it done.”

“Yes, sir.” He agreed and went back to his laptop.

“Oh, sir,” Johnathan said. He’s the company’s real estate developer. “That property off Malen has an interested buyer.”

Not a chance. “It’s not for sale,” Arnoldo answered before I did and thankfully. I needed the property like a baby needed milk.

“Why?” My father asked.

“Because it’s not for sale.”

He rolled his eyes. “You’re missing out on a huge deal because of sentimental attachment?”

“Father.” I paused to collect myself. “I’m not selling my gifted property. If you want something to sell, sell your house,” I suggested.

He gritted his teeth and didn’t say another word. All of a sudden, I like it better when he doesn’t talk. I wish all men would shut up more often.

The meeting continued for the next hour, and I was dying for it to be done. There’s nothing fun about not being able to focus or having a million different declines for investments. Arnoldo will take care of it, I know it, but this needs pressure, so I definitely will be checking up on it.

“Where’s Ms. Willis?” I asked. I went back to my office, and she was nowhere to be found.

“She stepped out for lunch,” Mellissa advised me. “Should I tell her you need her?”

I sighed. “No, it’s fine.” It wasn’t fine.

It wouldn’t be fine until I got her.

Azzaria

The afternoon sun bathed the city, casting a warm and inviting glow over everything. I had received an odd text from Mara, one of my colleagues and Mr. Xander’s sister, asking me to meet her at a sandwich bar during my lunch break. With the boss busy in a meeting, I decided to take this time to get away from the office for a while.

The sandwich bar was a delightful little stop nestled in a quiet corner, adorned with hanging plants and chalkboard menus. What caught my attention was the mini bookstore and cafe inside, its charm radiating a sense of comfort and tranquility. How long has this been here and why did I not know about this until now?

Stepping inside, I couldn’t help but be amazed by the sights and sounds. The smell of freshly brewed coffee mixed with the subtle aroma of books, created a unique and inviting atmosphere. I spotted Mara sitting at one of the tables, and I made my way over to her.

“Hey, Mara,” I greeted her with a smile, intrigued by her choice of meeting place. “This is a cute little spot. What’s up?”

Mara returned my smile, her eyes bright with excitement. “Azzaria, it’s so good to see you. I just wanted a change of scenery, you know? Thought it might be nice to catch up outside the office. I haven’t seen much of you lately.”

We engaged in small talk for a few minutes. She asked me how I was liking the office and how’s college going and I asked her about her pregnancy. It felt good to have a casual conversation, it’s something that rarely happened.

The waiter approached with a friendly smile on his face. I didn’t know what to buy because I’ve never been here but Mara was telling me that everything’s good to eat.

I can’t lie, the menu was filled with an array of tempting sandwich options, and the tantalizing aroma of freshly baked bread made my stomach growl in anticipation. I finally ordered a turkey club sandwich, and she just ordered chicken pasta.

Mara, with an air of enthusiasm, leaned in and asked, “Will you be able to make it to my birthday dinner tonight? I know I had already asked you but that was a while back and I wasn’t sure if you remembered.”

I could see that she just wanted someone to hang around with. That’s a sentiment I understood and could definitely appreciate. “Of course, I’ll be there. I wouldn’t miss it.”

She continued, “Great! I’m so excited about it. You know, I’ve been planning it for a while. It’s going to be a fun evening.”

“What’s the theme again?”

“The 1920’s.” Got it.

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