That One True Love

Lila helplessly collapsed in one of the restrooms of GTC’s executive floor.  After an hour of meeting with the executives of the biggest client they have in Country A, she felt so drained. If not for the nude pink lipstick she is wearing, her paleness will be discovered.   After 5 years she did not expect to face this man again.  “Oh God help me…” she could only mutter this to herself.   “Lila?”  Her train of thoughts is suddenly pulled back to the ground from a call out.   She took a deep breath and went out of the cube.  “I am here.”   Deedee stood side by side Lila who is fixing her clothes.  “Are you not feeling well?”  Lila responded with nod.   “Come on, don’t make excuses for not joining the dinner!” Deedee is her best friend since college.  They made a pack to help each other in all aspect in life.  They considered themselves sisters from different mothers.   Deedee knows how Lila has been avoiding so much of these social gatherings.  “It’s been a long time since we are assigned on the same project. Let us celebrate free from our own pockets.”   Lila sighed but quickly curved her lips up trying to bring up the original mood she had before this project meeting, “Of course!”   An hour ago, Lila got the shock of her life.  Five years of work experience in their company taught her to be confident and strong in her career as Application Consultant.  She is good at what she does that she has been assigned overseas for several engagements.  This gave her sense of fulfillment and escape from what broke her heart and soul.  She is ready to face any client.   Looking at the executives who just entered the conference room in time for the project kick off, Lila’s face was showing no emotion, but her heart is racing 200kph.  The last towering guy to enter in royal blue suit caused Lila to slightly brush her nose with her pointer finger.  ‘What the…why is he here?’ Lila can only ask herself this question.  This mannerism caught the man’s attention in a snap but showed no emotion.  In his mind ‘is she distracted or irritated?’  Tim has expected meeting Lila today.  While the project is in search for delivery partner he knew that their path will cross once again, this is fated to happen.   The project head from GTC has introduced each and every executive reiterating the very familiar personality to Lila.  “Last but certainly the most important stakeholder in this project, our Chief Technology and Operation Executive, Timothy Andrews.”   Tim welcomed everyone scanning each face in the room, making sure he pays no particular attention to anyone from the partner side.  “I am looking forward an excellent collaboration on this project.”  It was a short message and fits well Tim’s personality of less-talk and more action kind of guy.   “Isn’t he hot?”  Deedee whispered this to Lila who is seating right next to her.  Lila responded with yet another discreet rubbing of her nose.  She is in no mood to exchange whispers with Deedee and pretended not the hear what she said.    The action was once again caught by Tim’s hawk eye.  He sneered for a second and same question in his head floated ‘is she distracted or irritated by his presence?’ Thinking of the second got his palm twitching.   When it’s time for Lila to present, as courtesy she had to stand in front to talk just like her other colleagues.  She is wearing black pencil pants that ends on her ankles paired with white chiffon inner blouse and black blazer.  She is also wearing 3-inch black suede pumps to make her look tall given her 62 inches height.  Such shoes give her confidence and power to stand taller when she speaks.   This is clearly the biggest transformation that happened to her.  Back in the days when she was still a developer, sneakers, jeans and casual dresses are her staples.     Lila’s sophistication washed away her innocent years when debugging software program was the thing she enjoyed the most and nothing she ever wanted but to live a simple and comfortable life by getting well paid as an IT employee.   Her 15 minutes allocation to speak has finally come to an end. God knows how she tried to keep herself stable.  This is the longest 15 minutes of her life.   The man seated 45 degrees in front, looked at her without emotions sending shiver in her spine. Unable to read what is running on this guy’s mind.    The meeting has come to an end and it’s the ceremonial shaking of each other’s hand towards successful partnership.  The room buzzed with ‘thank you’ and ‘look forward working with you’ while exiting the room.   Lila pretended to fix her laptop seamlessly avoiding shaking hands and final greeting to Tim and to one or two other directors from GTC.  She put her act on stop when she sensed a force beside her and an extended had in front of her.   “I look forward to your execution of the plan Miss Sy.” Lila felt a chill hearing this remark.  Tim sounded distant, this is good.  Let’s go with the play of pretending to never have known each other.     Lila extended her palm to shake Tim’s hand, “Thank you Mr. Andrews, rest…” before she could even finish her statement, she was cut by Tim.   “Certainly! I heard how focused you are in your target and goals. I hope there is no leaving in between the project.”  It sounded pleasing to the ears like a compliment if not for a hint of disgust that flashed in his eyes.  He then released Lila’s hand like a hot potato.   Tim’s words and action did not rest well with Lila.  No matter how much he trained herself to be poker faced, this caused her heart to tremble.  The warmth of that palm but the coldness in his attitude made her heart race. It brought complex emotions.  ‘Why is he making me feel like I did something wrong with him?  Isn’t she the aggrieved party?’   Until now Tim is someone, she will never be able to decipher.   Before her mask dissolves, she quickly put her things together.  She bowed her head and uttered with a smile on her face, “I’ll excuse myself Mr. Andrews.”    Looking over to Deedee who is about to shake Tim’s hand, “Deedee I’ll see you in the rest room.” Walking straight out of the room, calming herself one thing is sums up whatever happened to him and Tim, he was a supposed beautiful dream turned nightmare.