CHAPTER 4 A New Suitor?
1803 Words
"The following day.......
Ariane arrived at the office early in the morning...
"Good morning Madam" her employees greeted her with a smile.
"Good morning," Ariane respond with a smile then walked through her room.
Upon seating on her swivel chair, she opened her email. She is quite busy when her executive Secretary Cathy knocks on the door.
"You may come in Cath," she said while signing the documents in front of her.
Cath immediately opened the door and enter with a big bouquet of white roses. "Hi Madam, there is a bouquet delivery for you," Cath teased Ariane.
"Who sent it?" Ariane asked while getting the card inside the bouquet.
"For a Beautiful Lady, who made me awake the whole night thinking of her," Love Mr. Russel Lee.
Ariane read aloud. She blushed after reading the message written on the card.
"Wow Madam, it seems that Mr. Lee likes you," Cath almost shouted it with full of excitement.
Ariane doesn't know how to react to Cath. She just put the card on her bag and said " Well, I don't know what to say," she smiled. "Cath kindly put these flowers in a vase,".
Suddenly her mobile phone vibrates. Upon checking it, no name appeared, it is just a number.
Ariane answered her mobile phone " Hello,! May I know who is on the line please?" she said.
A whole baritone and manly voice said," Good morning Ms. Vicente, can I call you Ariane? This is Russel. Russel Lee."
A moment of silence before Ariane replied "Oh Yes, Mr. Lee,"
"Do you like the flowers I've sent you?" he asked.
"Yes Mr. Lee, I do like the flowers. I appreciate it so much. Thank you," Ariane politely said. She needs to treat and be polite to Mr. Lee since he is her business partner already. Though it seems he has another intention, she won't mind it for now.
"Can I invite for a lunch later," Mr. Lee asked her.
Ariane replied "Alright, where Mr. Lee."
"I'll visit you at your office later and fetch you." Mr. Lee said.
"Hmmph, there seemed to be a conviction already, as if I can't say no.'" Ariane told herself.
"Okay, I will wait for you then. Do we need to discuss additional inputs so that I can bring the documents needed?" she asked.
"No need. I just want you to have lunch with me," Mr. Lee said.
Ariane called her secretary Cathy and informed of her lunch with Mr. Lee.
" Wow, I smell romance Madam," Cath said excitedly to Ariane.
Ariane widened her eyes to Cath." Hah! Cath you behave. It isn't funny. Romance hmm," she told Cath in a high pitch.
Cath ignored her Madams reaction and smiled sweetly.
"Whatever Madam. I am too excited for you too," Cath said.
"He will drop by here and fetch me later.," Ariane said.
"And by the way Cath, I hate unnecessary
issues or gossip here in our office, understood," Ariane reminded Cath.
"I know right Madam," Cath teased Ariane.
-----
A few moments later...
A tall and handsome man appeared at Ariane's office. All lady employees got mesmerized by the aura of Mr. Russel Lee.
"Hi Cath, is Ariane inside," Mr. Lee asked Cath while smiling handsomely.
Cath almost dropped her jaw and immediately respond to Mr. Lee," Eeeer, Good afternoon Mr. Lee. Yes Madam is inside . I will accompany you,". she headed him to Ariane's room while winking with her co-employees.
"Aaaaw, Cath is so blessed to assist Mr. Lee, how a Godly man, oh my God...So handsome," one of the lady employees said to her colleague.
Cathy swayed her hips while accompanying Mr. Lee to Ariane's office. "Hmmmn this man is so yummy, grrrr!" she murmured happily.
"Are you saying something Cath, "asked Mr. Lee.
"Eee, nothing Mr. Lee," she said. "Where are here."
Knock! Knock!
Cath slowly opens the door. "Hi, Madam. Mr. Lee is here already," she informed Ariane.
Ariane politely replied while fixing her things," Alright, please come in." She is wearing a black silk dress with a cream coat on top. Her skirt is above the knee showing her long-shaped legs.
Mr. Lee gentlemanly approached Ariane with a smile and said "Are you ready? Can we go?"
Ariane smiled and replied, "Sure, Let's go!" "Cath we will be having our lunch first. Don't forget to inform Wall of Asia regarding our cooperation with them ." she reminded Cath while bringing her shoulder bag.
"Well noted Madam," Cathy replied to Ariane. "Enjoy your lunch with Mr. Lee. "Are you coming back Madam?" she asked Ariane then winked her eyes.
Before Ariane replied...
"We will be discussing other matters after our lunch. She might be coming here late to get her car." Mr. Lee said.
"Madam, if it will be late, you can leave your car keys to Noah so that he can bring your car to your home tonight," Cath suggested to Ariane.
Ariane widened her eyes to Cath.
"Who is Noah?" asked Mr. Lee.
"He is our Supervisor here, Mr. Lee. He used to be Madams driver when there are important appointments and urgent matters for our clients. He is Madam's neighbor too," Cath said.
"Okay. Ariane you may just let Noah bring your car and then I will send you tonight to your home. Would that be fine with you?" Mr. Lee asked her.
Ariane has nothing more to say. Seems that Cath planted this idea already and Mr. Lee grabbed the opportunity."
"Alright.," she helplessly said to Mr. Lee. Besides he is now her business partner, she doesn't want to disappoint him.
Ariane gave her keys to Noah and advised him to leave the car keys to their caretaker after. She then called up her brother Rodel to pick up Jude later in school and accompany him at home.
Mr. Lee and Ariane then went to the parking lot.
Mr. Lee opened the door at the passenger seat to Ariane right away.
"Thank you," Ariane said to him.
Mr. Lee smiled and then went to the driver's seat and started to drive. He is so excited.
Ariane is busy texting on her mobile phone to Cath for additional reminders while Mr. Lee is driving.
Mr. Lee's secretary booked at Chinese Restaurant near Southmall Las Pinas. It's quite near Ariane's office.
Upon arrival at the restaurant, the chief waiter headed them to the reserved table for them. His secretary already ordered their meals. She researched Ariane's preference on dishes ahead.
"Wow, these are all my favorites. How did you know?" she asked happily with Mr. Lee.
"Really?," Mr. Lee said excitedly. "They are all my favorites as well. Meaning we have the same taste buds."
Ariane is quite enjoying Mr. Lee's company. It seems that her first impression of him as a p*****t changed. He is quite approachable and sociable...
Mr. Lee's POV:
"Ariane is adorable. I like her," Mr. Lee said to himself. He used to stare at Ariane while they are having their lunch.
"Aren't you eating? The dish is great!" Ariane said to him. She is not at ease with his stares.
"Well, yes the dish is great. I am glad you like it?" he said.
"I loved it. These are all my favorites," Ariane said to him with a smile.
They talked about their cooperation while having their lunch and it seems that they have great chemistry with each other.
While discussing their cooperation... "By the way Ariane, I'll go straight to the point. I know that you are a single mother, but do you have a boyfriend as of the moment?" Mr. Lee directly asked her.
Ariane almost blow her drinks after hearing Mr. Lee.
"Why all of a sudden, you asked that Mr. Lee? I guess we are discussing our cooperation here," she finds it awkward already.
"I just asked. So that I know that there will be no one to be mad at me when we are having lunch or dinner in the future," Mr. Lee said then drink his beverage.
Ariane was about the say something to Mr. Lee when her mobile phone vibrates. Upon seeing the message it came from Paulo.
"Hi Ariane, have you take your lunch already?" Paulo messaged her.
Mr. Lee then called the waiter then and asked for their bill. He is waiting for Ariane to finish.
Ariane hesitantly answered Mr. Lee's question after she sent her reply to Paulo.
"I am focused on my son and my job for now Mr. Lee. I don't intend to have any boyfriends indeed," she said directly to Mr. Lee.
"Alright then," Mr. Lee smiled at her. "I am happy to hear that. At least I know that."
After several hours of cooperation. They decided to leave the restaurant.
However, Mr. Lee decided to bring Ariane to their office instead since it was quite too early.
"Where are we heading?" Ariane asked.
"I will show you our office and some of the designs of our garments for your familiarity," he said.
"Okay," Ariane said.
They proceed to the Hard Core office then and Mr. Lee introduced Ariane to his employees.
Upon entering the office, the majority of female employees of Hard Core are widening their eyes. It is the first time Mr. Lee accompanied a beautiful woman in his office.
"Who would that be?" Lisa said to her co-employee. Lisa is the receptionist in the front office.
"I don't know, but she seems to be special to Mr. Lee," her co-employee replied.
Mr. Lee headed a tour at his office for Ariane.
After several hours...
"Can I go home now Mr. Lee?" Ariane politely asked him.
Mr. Lee stared at him and said, "Do not address me Mr. Lee anymore. I prefer you call me Russel okay."
"Okay. Russel, can you please send me home now?" she said.
They both went to Mr. Lee's car.
While driving... Russel said," Thank you so much Ariane for allowing me to have lunch with you and sending you home."
"Thanks also, Russel. I hope you won't misinterpret me but I rather take this action of yours as part of our cooperation with our business," Ariane said directly to him.
Mr. Lee breathe out deeply and said," I hope this will be the start of our getting to know Ariane. I do promise to you I know where to stand to... for now." He looked at Ariane's side and smiled at her.
He continued to drive then.
Upon reaching Ariane's place...
Russel reached Ariane's hand and said "Thanks again and good night."
Ariane slowly pull her hand from Russel's touch and said "Thanks and welcome Russel. Good night."
Ariane didn't invite Russel inside and waved her hand already while saying goodbye to him.
__________
Would Mr. Lee take this opportunity to pursue Ariane?
- Writer
