Fountain of Love

Chapter Five

Lunch Date

I smiled bitterly as I remember those memories, it’s one of the best that happened to my life. A happy memory with the person you love.

I woke up early to prepare going to work. Nay and Tay did not ask about work anymore and I feel relived about it. I am not ready yet to explain it to them. Tay is busy preparing our things here in the mansion for us to easily sent off if the rightful owner will come and wants to take over the mansion.

I already packed my things too. It’s just so heartbreaking so think that in few days we will leave it. We’ll that life. It has ups and down.

I sighed as I enter the locker room to change my uniform. Another battle of surviving at work. I already cleaning at my post for almost two hours when Ben come and approach me.

“Hi there Luna! It’s almost break time why don’t you join me for a snack?”, he said cheekily.

“I will have 10 minutes remaining Sir”, I answered.

“Nah, I told you to just call me Ben, Sir makes me feel old”, he said while leaning at the wall.

“I’ll just wait for you here and then when you’re done, will go”, he continued smiling at me.

But suddenly he stood up straight and greet the person behind me.

“Good Morning Sir!”

I immediately looked behind me and I saw Dominik gawking at me. I feel nervous about the way he looked at me always.

“Good morning Sir”, I greeted him and step aside to give him more space to walked in.

He just walked seriously passing at us and went to the private elevator.

I sighed in relief when he is out of our site. And I continued sweeping the floor. I forgot that Ben is here beside me. I back to my senses when he speaks again.

“Tsk. Don’t tell me you are at Mr. Montreal too? Every girl’s employee here is always doing their best to have some bit of attention of him. He looks mysterious and of course handsome and rich. Maybe that’s why girls are interested with him huh”, he said to me.

“I’m not into him Ben, I’m here to work and earn’, I replied.

He just rises his eyebrows and shrug his shoulders.

“As you say Luna, I believe you”, He said smirking as if I’m lying.

I just shake my head to him and said.

“C’mon now to the company restaurant so we can eat I know you are hungry”, I said to him.

“It’s my treat today so what do you want to eat?”, he asked.

“No. I will pay mine”, I refuse to his offer.

“Luna it’s my treat so don’t worry okay? he insisted.

“Okay, thank you”, I said and don’t want to argue anymore.

“So what now”, referring to the food.

“I will have an empanada and a halo- halo”, I said looking at him now.

“Okay.. hmmn mine is- ah I want some puto and mais conyelo’, he said.

When we get our order, we sat to the nearest table and started eating. Ben is

Entertaining and funny so I enjoy being with him. All I do is laugh the whole

Time with his Dad’s joke. I forgot the hardness of my work for a while.

Because I’m still adjust for it.

Break time ends and we need to go back to work. I say my goodbye to him and back to my cleaning post. After this, I will clean to the ground floor restroom. I feel exhausted after doing it all for this morning, Luckily, it’s almost lunch time, I can eat and maybe take a nap again. Never knew that this job will drag your energy.

I out of my locker and already going to the restaurant to eat my lunch. When Mina is fast half running approaching at me. I stopped walking and she called me.

“I’ve been looking for you around Miss Ramirez, thanks I found you now. By the way, Mr. Singh called, you are called to go to Mr. Montreal office now”, she said informing me.

“Huh, why?”, I asked her.

“I don’t have any idea Miss Ramirez that the only ordered Mr. Singh gave me is to inform you”, she said.

“Sorry, I’ll go now then. Thank you Mina”, I said before walking to the elevator.

I have a lots of questions in my head when I am in the elevator. All I can do now is to face him again. I am already avoiding everything to never cross our paths or have anything that in touch with him. I need to be casual to him after all he is my Boss.

When the elevator opened at the seventh floor, I immediately got out of it and saw Mr. Singh already standing at the door.

“Good noon Mr. Singh! I was informed by Mina that you called and need to go to the office of Mr. Montreal.”, I said.

“Good noon, Yes Miss Ramirez, Mr. Montreal is already waiting for you inside”, he said looking at the golden door.

I nod and smiled at him before walking to his office. I slowly open the door and walked silently. I saw him looking outside his big windows standing.

“Good Noon Mr. Montreal”, I greeted to catch his attention.

He faced me immediately and walked towards his office table.

“Do you have any errands for me Sir?’, I asked him directly.

“Follow me”, he said in a commanding tone.

I followed him to the small room on the left side of his office. When I enter the room there are food on the table. It’s his dining area in the office, also a glass wide that you can see the things down there. A terrace with a small table and only chairs outside.

Looking back at him he is already sitting and I diverted my eyes to the food. I am already hungry and looking at it I’m salivating. There is a gourmet mushroom risotto, lechon belly, bulalo, fish escabeche, kare-kare, maja blanca and buko salad drink. I swallowed hard and looked at him again.

“Have a sit now”, he said.

“Why?”, I asked doomful.

“You will have lunch with me”, he said and looked away.

“Sit down now and let’s eat”, now he looked darkly.

I sat down and asked him again a question.

“Do you always eat with your employee?”.

“I eat with them too, in parties, events and social gatherings”, he said impatiently and give me a dagger glare.

He knows that not what I mean with my question. I just shut up my mouth and grab the spoon and fork. I started eating silently, he’s eating too but I can see his glances from time to time. I chewed my food slowly while he is eating normally. I feel so conscious while eating even when I get and put tve food on my plate. Plus, its awkwardly silence only our spoon, fork and plate are making the noises.

Even if I feel hungry earlier, it disappears thinking that we are eating here privately. Only the two of us! What a scenario to remember. I’m still eating and get some lechon belly when I notice that he is already done and sipping his water while watching me. I eat a bit fast to finished it.

“Slow done”, and he put a glass of water beside me.

I put down my spoon and fork as I finished eating. I drink my water and looked at him. I want to talk to him about what he wants for me except for this lunch we had. But I just zip my mouth. I just wait for him to say anything.

I looked around the room just to avoid eye contact with him. Until I heard him asked.

“Is Benford Samonte your friend now?”

“I met him just yesterday, in my first day at the Finance Department when I was cleaning”, I said honestly.

“Just yesterday huh and now you are eating with him”, he said mockingly.

“There is nothing wrong to be friends with other employee and eat with then even if you are in the lower position. Why is there a rule about it here?”, I asked him sharply.

He is silent for a second and then sipped his water again before speaking.

“The next time don’t flirt while you are at work”, he darkly accusing me.

“I’m not flirting when I’m at work. What’s your problem?”, my voice raises up a bit.

He just rises his brows at me and give me a small laugh.

“Then don’t get close to Samonte”, I finally said it.

Is he jealous? I want to ask him but I don’t want to argue with him. It will lead us to a heated argument and for me another heartbreak.

He looked at his Piaget watch and said to me.

“Lunchbreak is over now, you can go back to your post”, he said and stand up.

“Thank you for the lunch”, as I stand up and followed him outside leading to his office.

He walked fastly and follow him right behind when he suddenly stopped so I crashed at his back which I bit off my balance. He faced me immediately and catch my waist.

“Sorry, I did not see it coming:”, I apologize to him.

“Are you okay?”, he asked looking at my lips.

“Yes I am, don’t worry”, as I looked at him.

He let go of me and walked directly to his table. When Mr. Singh enter the room. He greets us and informed Dominik.

“Your meeting with the Agricultural Engineer will start in twenty minutes Sir”, Mr. Singh.

“Thank you Ali and you can escort Miss Ramirez outside’, he said

I just looked to him one more time before following Mr. Singh outside his office. I walked slowly until I reached the exit door. I say thank you Mr. Singh once again and went down to work in my post.

While sweeping the floor and wiping the dust on the windows, I feel so tired and sleepy already even I had just started. I put down the cleaning materials and sit on the floor. I looked at the ceiling and close my eyes for a bit little that I know. I fell asleep in there. I don’t know for how long and it’s embarrassing. Maybe some will think that I neglecting my work.

I went to the other side to clean, after this into the corridor and hallway. I am so run out of strength. Break time arrived and I’m half running going to the restaurant to buy my snack and after it I will take a nap again. When I’m already outside Ben saw me and asked.

“Where have you been during lunch time? I though we are going to lunch together. You ditch me”, he said pouting and made a sad face.

I don’t know how to explain to him that I had together with the CEO of this company. So, I create some white lies.

“I have an emergency to attend that why, I’m sorry Ben, maybe next time we can lunch out”. I said to him so he will not feel bad.

“You owe me a date for that, I mean outside the office Luna”, he said to me looking seriously.

My mouth opened to say something to protest but I close it so he will not have offended with my rejection. Ben is a kind man that what I see him for now. I don’t judge people with their status and everything. I judge the way they treat other people and based on their attitude.

“This Saturday or Sunday? Are you free with those days?”, he asked me.

“Uhmm let me see about it Ben, I’ll inform you about it when I am free”, I answered him back.

“Sure! It’s deal, don’t forget about it Luna”, he said. I’ll go get now too. Bye”, he waved and walked by.

Then suddenly I heard an angry deep voice behind me.

“A date and first name basis now huh”, as he walked pass to me holding his coffee.