SPINSTER'S PLANS GONE WRONG

CHAPTER 6: Yam's Denial

Mariam denied it, "I am not. We are just talking here and now you are assuming that I like the man."

But in her mind - Yes I like him. But you should not know about it. You should not know that I spent a wonderful night with him.

Kathleen then decided to tease her best friend, "Well, he is not rumored to have married any lady during the past nine years of gallivanting the world. So he is most probably still single. If you are indeed romantically interested in him, then I might as well ask Lola to be a matchmaker between the two of you."

Mariam responded, " I just want to focus on my work, Kat. So let us drop the topic of matchmaking. If someone I like pursues me, then I will be open to the idea of dating again and perhaps eventually getting married if the right man comes along. But for now, let me just finish all the jobs that you and Julie assigned to me."

"Okay," Kathleen agreed and then asked, "Anyway, will you be going home to Victory Homes tonight, Yam?"

Her non-affirmative answer was, "No. I plan to stay in my apartment unit just nearby while I am working on Louisse Manzano's nullity case and all the financial analysis jobs that Julie assigned to me. They would need my full concentration. Driving back and forth to Victory Homes will reduce the time I will spend resting. So please just check my house every once in a while. You got a spare key anyway."

Kathleen affirmed, knowing how serious her best friend was when it came to work, "Okay, but be sure to eat healthily."

Mariam replied, "Of course, I will. I do order healthy food from the food delivery app of our favorite organic gourmet restaurant whenever I cannot cook."

Kathleen pointed out, "Yeah. Actually, you do not even cook anymore."

Mariam said, "Well, it is not that my dishes are at par with those of a chef. It is just more practical given the fact that cooking will also lessen the time I will spend resting. Don't worry much about me, Mommy Kat. I am in perfect health as my medical check-up confirmed. Just focus more on Dex and on my godchild growing inside of you. You have always been looking out for me. I really appreciate that. But now that you're married, please worry less about me, Momma Bear."

Kathleen bantered, "Okay, my Yam Yam Bear."

August 29, 2018. Wednesday. Mariam's secretary had connected her to a call from the General Manager of Odessa Commercial Building.

She spoke - Yes, sir. This is already Atty. Acosta speaking. What can I do for you?"

The general manager said - The term of your lease will already end towards the end of this month. Will you still renew?

She answered - Yes, sir. I already told my secretary beforehand to contact your office regarding that. And I even had the business space upstairs reserved so that it will be included in the renewal.

The general manager responded - I have not been notified yet by my secretary regarding it. Anyway, the owner of the building wants to meet you.

She then felt so nervous, she did not know what to say.

She heard the general manager talk more - I think she is in search for new accountants and lawyers to replace her old retiring ones. When will you be available for a meeting? Are you free this lunch break? I can escort you to her private residence.

She responded - Yes, sir. I will be available for a meeting this lunch break. You can just send me the address because I still have to go to another appointment after lunch. I will just drive to the location on my own.

She heard the general manager agreeing - Okay.

Then the general manager gave her the address and she scribbled it down.

After the call, she could not help but think - Does Oli live with his grandmother? I hope not. I am not yet ready to face him again after what happened between us last Monday. I also hope that his grandmother did know anything about what happened between me and her grandson. It would be so embarrassing. But a client is a client. I cannot reject her just because she is the grandmother of the man I had a one-night stand with.

On the other hand, Doña Ofelia was so pleased with the results of the comprehensive background investigation on the lady who caught her grandson's interest. The results were given to her by Samuel late that morning. Afterwards, she immediately asked the General Manager of her commercial building to set up a business meeting with the impressive lady that her grandson liked.

Doña Ofelia was thinking - I do not really mind if you are not from a rich family. Your parents were both righteous individuals who worked hard to support all their three offspring to finish their college education. One is a well-respected retired government accountant, while the other is still a well-respected public high school teacher. Well, I do not like that you have a snake for a younger sister. She betrayed you, seduced your fiance just to enjoy a more comfortable life as the wife of the Medina Heir. But I am a little thankful for that because it has made you available for my grandson. You are a very diligent lady, Miss Acosta. When you finished your first degree, you immediately worked and then pursue another degree, which is law. You are even included in the top ten passers for each licensure examination for CPA and lawyers. Back then, you already had a full-time teaching job but you still accepted accounting jobs. You are indeed very hardworking. After your failed engagement, you left your teaching career at LLSU and established your own accounting firm and law firm with your best friend and cousin. You are even the best friend of the granddaughter of my best friend, Carlota Dy. Your firm might not be very big compared to the other giants in similar professions, but you and all of your coworkers always try to provide the best possible service to all your clients. You could even beat lawyers from the Medina and Associates Law firm in the court fair and square. And your ex had not won any case against you. The betrayal of your sister and your ex has made you estranged from them, but that is just understandable. I just hope that you are not still in love with that cheater-ex of yours. You have rejected several suitors after that, even the ones much richer than your ex, so it means that you are not after one's fortune like your sister. Her husband is cheating on her yet she is swallowing her pride. I don't think that it is just for her twin sons, but for the privilege as well of being the legal wife of the Medina Heir. The parents of her husband would also not allow that. Anyway, you are not like your younger sister. You do not care if your friends are wealthy or not. You work hard and then provide yourself with a comfortable life without depending on your parents or a rich husband. You have managed to buy a house and lot in Victory Homes which happened to be just beside the one Oliver owns. But you don't stay that much there. You would rather stay in your old apartment unit because it is much nearer to your workplace. You recently traded your three-year-old car for a brand new SUV. It is not a luxurious brand, but at least, it is your own. I just hope that my grandson will be able to win you over. I like you already, so I want to know you even more.

As the lunch breaks got nearer, Mariam was feeling more and more anxious - Shall I ask Kat or Julie to accompany me? But then the invitation was implicitly extended just to me. It might not be good if I came with either or both of them. She is another prospective big client. I need to be very careful so as not to offend her. Besides, Kat and Julie both have a lunch partner. Oh office romance! Why do I allow it? Well, they were all professional in their respective jobs. Anyway, will Oli be there? I hope not. It seems that he is very busy as the Acting CEO of Prime Care while his father is still recuperating from his ankle injury. But he had still managed to spend time with me last Monday night. Gosh! Why am I still thinking of him? You should calm yourself, Yam Acosta. You will be meeting his grandmother as a prospective client and not for anything else. You have no future with Oliver Del Castillo. He might even have no plans of getting married. At least you've got to spend time with him, even for just one night. Gosh! Am I really romantically interested in him, just like Kat assumed? Well, I considered his genes for my baby plan. Will I have another chance with him if the first attempt did not work out? Gosh! What are you thinking, Yam? Did he bewitch you? You are not a hormonal teenager anymore. Snap out of this fantasy. Oliver Del Castillo is a very rich man. The two of you don't match except in s*x.

When Mariam reached the gate of the private residence of Doña Ofelia Quirino, she was immediately given passage by the guard on duty. The vast manicured lawns on each side of the driveway leading to the main house were so breathtaking. There were trees, flowering plants and ornamental plants. When her car reached the entrance of the driveway, an employee guided her to a parking space.

Then afterwards, she was escorted inside the big beautiful old European brick-style home by a female employee who introduced herself as the personal secretary of Doña Ofelia Quirino. The interior was as impressive as the exterior. She was led to the outdoor back patio where the Quirino Martriarch was comfortably seated on a cushioned wicker sofa, gesturing her to sit down with her as she was petting a liver and white springer spaniel dog.

Mariam greeted the matriarch, "Good afternoon, madam," as she extended her hand for a handshake, the dog licked her hand and so she petted the dog.

The matriarch smiled and said, "Prince likes you," wanting to add - Just like his original master. Then she asked Mariam, "Do you like pets, Atty. Acosta?"

Mariam replied honestly, "Yes, madam. But I do not have one at my residence."

The matriarch asked, "Why?"

Mariam answered, "I live independently. I will not be capable of taking care of one, because of my demanding career."

The matriarch then said, "Prince was originally owned by my grandson. He was just almost a year old when my grandson traveled for an undisclosed sabbatical leave. But now that he is back, he will also not have much time taking care of Prince. Just like you, he is now busy with his work. Anyway, thank you for agreeing to my invitation even on short notice."

She answered, "It is my honor and privilege to be invited by you, madam. People of caliber like you seldom avail the services of our accounting and law firm."

The matriarch got down to the business, "You see, I have got private lawyers and accountants but they are all as old as me now. I need a new breed of talents to work for me, and eventually for my grandson. You are a tenant in my commercial building, and a good one. Plus, you are best friends with Carlota's granddaughter. I already had a comprehensive background check on you before I invited you here to formally ask your firm to handle all of my accounting and legal service needs."

She responded, "Thank you very much, madam. Rest assured that we will handle all the jobs you would like us to do for you with the utmost care. I will personally assign Atty. Kathleen Dy and Miss Julie Acosta, my two department heads and most trusted employees, to help me out with handling all the accounting and legal matters you want us to work on."

The matriarch asked, "Do you have plans for further expansion, so you can accommodate more clients like me?"

She affirmed, "Yes, madam. But we are doing it slowly but surely. We are not only hiring capable accountants and lawyers as associates. We also considered their moral values."

The matriarch then asked a probing question, "Is that the reason why you did not work for Medina and Associates Law Firm even if you had already applied for a junior associate position before you decided to establish your own accounting and law firm?"

The matriarch was so impressed with how Mariam answered confidently and honestly, "The day I discovered that my ex-fiancé was capable of cheating on me was also the day I realized that I was not a right fit for his family's law firm. His family and work values are very much different than mine. So I felt relieved that I didn't marry into that family. My family might not be rich, but my parents have instilled strong moral values in us, their offspring. It will just be up to us if we apply them or not."

The matriarch said, "Now that we have already talked, I am even more convinced that I made the right decision asking you along with your most trusted employees to work for me. Anyway, the table seems to be prepared for our lunch already. Let's just continue this worthwhile conversation over food."

Mariam guided the matriarch as they walked towards the four-seater patio dining set. Two female employees had approached with two rolling trays containing a wash basin, hand soap and paper towels. Then afterwards, the two employees used a roller brush cleaner to remove the dog's fur from their clothes. The first course was then served. They had lentil soup for the appetizer. It was then followed by the main dish, which was baked lemon salmon dijonnaise with garlic parmesan roasted asparagus on the side. And their dessert was peach crumbles.

Their conversation over lunch went like this ...

Doña Ofelia then asked casually, "Anyway, why are you still not married, Atty. Acosta? Kathleen is already married. Carlota even bragged to me just recently that Kathleen is already pregnant."

Mariam answered, "The right suitor just has not come along yet, madam. And I do not want to settle for less."

Doña Ofelia asked further, "What traits are you looking for in your ideal husband anyway?"

Mariam gave her answer, "Well, I just want someone who is devoted, morally upright, and dependable. Of course, he should also not stop me from having a career."

Doña Ofelia inquired, "And you have not found someone like that?!"

Mariam said, "I think I encountered one or two before, but then I just did not feel any physical attraction."

Doña Ofelia remarked, "Yeah, physical attraction is as important as emotional connection in a romantic relationship."

Mariam agreed, "That is what I believe in too, madam."

Doña Ofelia then said, "Anyway, please feel free to call me Mamu. That is what Kathleen calls me."

Mariam then responded, "And you can call me Yam, Mamu."

The matriarch said, "Okay, Yam," and then asked, "Anyway, when can you come again for the signing of our work agreement?"

Mariam answered, "I can draft a copy of the agreement and then send it to your secretary this afternoon. If there will just be minor corrections, then we can already sign it tomorrow. I can also formally introduce my cousin, Julie, to you, Mamu. I will also ask Kathleen to come with us."

The matriarch said, "That’s a nice plan " and then asked, "Do you mind if we schedule it for lunch again? You see, it is always fun having someone over to eat lunch or dinner with me."

She responded, "Then we will have it by lunch break, Mamu."

The matriarch remarked, "You are so considerate. How I wish I had a granddaughter-in-law like you!"

She smiled and then said, "We cannot force love, Mamu. You just feel it."

The matriarch affirmed, "That is very true, Yam. Well, my grandson might have a not-so good public image, but he is a very nice man. I hope to introduce him to you one day."

Her response was, "We shall see then, Mamu. I don't judge people. I believe that some public opinion might be true but most of those opinions are usually false. One must get to know someone better first, before casting any judgment."

But in her mind - I already met your grandson, Mamu. And yes, he is a very nice man in looks as well as in personality. But I would rather not meet him again. Else, I might give in again to the strong physical attraction that I have for him. It seems to be that I was bewitched by him. I didn't even feel this much physical attraction towards Carlos. When we were intimate before, I didn't keep on begging for more, unlike when I was with Oli.

And then she heard the matriarch saying, "Yes, one must know a person much better first before casting any judgment. My grandson has been kind of aloof around people ever since my daughter, Odessa, his Mom died. We both believe that it was not simply an accident. But then we had no proof. I let him travel the world to find some inner peace. I let him have fun but I also asked him to prepare for his future at Prime Care. I am currently its Chairman of the Board. But a lot of people are against us having the power."

She then suddenly blurted, asking with genuine concern, "Are the two of you in some kind of danger, Mamu?"

The matriarch assured her, "We are both safe. As long as I am alive, I will not let anyone harm my grandson."