Page 105 of The Fallacy of True Love
Smiling came easier today. Not easy, because I was trapped in a glass building with a bunch of guys. But considering I was chatting with the person I hoped would be my new boss, the act of curving my lips upward wasn’t as hard as I thought it would be.
Surely, it was because in two days, I would be back home, where the air smelled like sea and sunshine. It wasn’t related to a person. No way.
“I’m glad you were able to join us for the boot camp,” Faye told me. “We wanted to meet our applicants in person so we can ensure we’re choosing someone who will fit in with our team.”
I nodded. “It’s good to talk with you face to face.”
“Isn’t it? Out of curiosity, do you come to Manila often?”
“No,” I answered without hesitation. Seeing her brow pinch at my abruptness, I followed up with, “I haven’t had a reason to go here since I work remotely. Thankfully, I have everything I need to work in Juana.”
“I see. I ask because although the role is a remote one, we’re transitioning to having regular in-person meetings. We believe face-to-face time is essential in building teamwork and collaboration.”
So much for easier smiles. My facial muscles seemed to stiffen with this recent update. “When you say regular, what does that look like?”
“We’re still ironing out the details, but we’re planning for a few days every month. Many of our team members live outside Metro Manila—some farther than La Union—so we’re considering the simplest way to go about this. That said, we will definitely have in-person days. I wanted to bring this up now so we can determine if this will be workable for you.”
“I appreciate the information. I’m really interested in the opportunity, and of course I will make sure to be present for all meetings if I do get the job.” I held my breath, agonizing over whether I had said the right thing.
Her expression didn’t change, so I figured I was in the clear. Whether I would get the offer or not was up in the air, but at least I hadn’t blown this meeting.
Faye and I chatted for a while longer, mostly about Juana and my hobbies. Then she wished me luck for the remaining sessions and told me to have a safe trip back.
I would have preferred to end the meeting with a clearer idea of where I stood, but I supposed she needed to evaluate the boot camp’s final results.
The news about the regular in-person meetings, though? That hit me out of nowhere.
My initial instinct had been to write the whole thing off. But then came the relief that I could see Alonzo more often. I wouldn’t have to wait for him?—
No. I shouldn’t wait for him. And he shouldn’t factor into my decisions, most of all when they related to my career.
If I got the offer—no, when because I couldn’t consider the alternate possibility—I would decide based on what made sense for my long-term goals of financial freedom and independence. The two things I’d been working toward for so many years.
But that didn’t mean I couldn’t enjoy Alonzo’s company just for now.
Chapter Thirty-Seven
Alonzo
A girl came up to me at the counter, but instead of telling me her order, she asked, “Are you Alonzo Reyes?”
I froze. My nametag had Lonzo printed in all caps, but she shouldn’t have known my full name. I could only chalk it up to one thing.
“You’re Tala’s brother?” the girl asked, confirming my suspicions.
I gave her a single nod. “What can I get for you?”
“A meet and greet with Jason Meyer?”
I looked at the menu and back at her. “Sorry, we don’t offer that. How about an Americano?”
She ordered our fluffiest drink that had a dozen ingredients, none of which was coffee. As I prepared it, I tried to ignore how she snuck pictures of me and did a bad job trying to hide it.
Later in the afternoon, more people came in. I fielded questions about why I was working there and if I was really single and was Jason dropping by today. Some people asked for photos, and when I refused, they took their shots anyway. Even the regulars stared at me like they’d never seen me before. Fred took a peek through the pass-thru window and stepped out of the kitchen because I couldn’t keep up with the orders.
I felt like I was suffocating, and I still had two hours to go.
When the rush finally died down, I asked Fred to hold the fort while I went to the bathroom. I needed to take a breath. And I needed answers.
