HEART OF THE ROSE

CHAPTER 9

A WEEK quickly passed and just like what Charles has said when he told her, she needs to justify her proposal in the meeting. She maybe lacked on that part so, in the end, her entry was not the one chosen.

 “Are you okay?” Charles asked her when she placed the cup of coffee in front of him on the top of his working table. 

 Keira lightly chuckled and glanced at Charles whom she caught staring at her. Their eyes met and abruptly she felt the sudden blow of nervousness in her chest so she decided to look away. 

 “Yes, I am not really expecting my concept to be chosen. The truth is, I just gave it a try, in case I win I am planning to save the cash prize for myself,” Keira admitted. 

 The young man nodded. 

“It may be embarrassing to admit but I do not have any savings in my bank account. You know I am the one financing my brother’s college expenses so why all my income goes there” she said while deeply wondering why despite the fact that she is a private person she has this feeling that with Charles, she does not need to hide anything. 

 Her boss smiled. “Maybe not literally but you have a lot of savings. The fact that you are helping your young brother to have a better future, which is actually a very good example of investment. The truth is that I admire you because of that. You are fond of helping your family at your age. I should know, I have met and been with a lot and different kinds of women” he said then shrugged and remained staring at her. 

 Keira bowed her head because of that. “Thank you, sir.”

 “You’re welcome” he replied. 

 She was about to exit the room when Charles spoke again. Keira then stopped and turned to the young man. 

“Yes sir?”

 “Be ready, I have an out of town meeting in Palawan next week. I want you to come with me,” with his tone it is like she does not have the right to refuse.

 Keira felt a little annoyed because of that. “P-Palawan, sir?” gradually she felt the unexplainable nervousness inside her chest again while staring into his dark eyes. “So, who will be doing my works here if you want me to come with you?”

 Charles chuckled. “You have your laptop, don’t you? And besides, most of the works here are computerized. Wendy will take care of the other” he speaks like he is telling her that there is nothing to worry about. “We will be leaving on Saturday and stay there for a couple of weeks” he even added. 

 “Okay, Sir Charles” Keira replied feeling a little excited because for the first time she will be visiting the paradise place of Palawan. Charles nodded. “I will give you a ride home tonight to personally tell your parents about it.” 

 Keira’s eyes grew wider because of what she heard. “Oh that is not really necessary, I can tell them myself,” she said in an assured tone. 

 The young man clicks his tongue and a breathtaking smile broke his lips. “Tsk, I want to talk to your father also,” he said and gave her a meaningful stare. “Something personal so I’m sorry but I can’t tell you about it” he continues then winked at her. 

 Keira almost gasped because of that. Luckily she was able to act normally. “Okay sir, if that’s what you want” when she felt the persistence of the young man.

 “Thanks, you can go now,” he told her. She nodded then turned her back from her boss.

 “Okay, sir.”

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 A BEAUTIFUL smile broke Charles’ lips when Keira left his office. He shook his head and took the cup of coffee to sip and lowered it again after. It has been a week already since his father gave her that idea and why it is just now that he found the courage to tell Keira about it, he doesn’t know. 

 On the other hand, he must admit that he is nervous about his plan of talking to Keira’s parents. Especially to the young lady’s father, but despite that, he knew he needs to take the courage about this just like what his father said, no matter how strange the kind of feeling Keira is giving her, he is obviously going in one direction. And that is the reason for all of this. It is only now that he will be doing this and it is because of Keira, the most beautiful woman that he met in his entire life.

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 “THANK you again, Sir Charles” that night of the same day when the young man decided to leave already. Over dinner Charles personally told her parents about their two weeks seminar in Palawan. While after dinner, it was when she saw her father and the young man having a private talk. 

 She will be lying if she will not admit that she is really curious about what her father and Charles are talking about. But she is too shy to ask about it so she holds back.

 It was dark and only those lights from the street post have lit the surrounding. But in spite of that, the sparks of joy in the young man’s eyes are very clear to her sight.

 “You’re welcome and thank you for the wonderful and delicious dinner. I promise to return the favor to your parents as soon as we came back from Palawan,” assurance was in his tone. 

 Keira shook her head. “There is no need for that, sir. You have done so much favor especially to me. Look, it is not your obligation to give me a ride home every night.” 

That is true. In a week, Charles is actually driving her home three times. The young man chuckled. “Believe it or not, to be with you every day is like breathing that I can’t stop.”