That One True Love

Pretty and Ugly Re-united

In a private room, the dinner set by GTC for the project team worth the praise.  The banquet showcased western cuisine and a soft jazz music piped into the room.  It was business luxurious if that category exists. 

On the way in the official company vehicle, Tim has been the hot topic.  Funny how they called him a ‘greek god’ when his face is mix of Asian and Western facial features.  He got those beautiful almond eyes with light brown eyes that compliments his fair complexion that seems to glisten.  How can a man have a smooth complexion as Tim?  Everyone is eager to see what is beneath those suit that perfectly fits him.

“Six packs and toned biceps?”  Unexpectedly Lila has blurted out what is on her mind.  Although she realized there is something wrong with what she said, Lila showed no other expression on her face as if it’s a given and no brainer.

Deedee burst into laughter.  “What’s so funny?” Lila asked.

“If I don’t know you, I would think you slept with him Lila!”

This caught Lila off guard her face turned ugly, afraid Deedee will add fire to the smoke that came out of her mouth unexpectedly.  She rolled her eyes.  “Can’t it be an intelligent guess?  With his height and built duh”

The chit chat continued, and Lila has regained her mood and managed to throw away the discomfort on earlier meeting.   Entering the banquet brightens up everything, she is a big eater after all.  Despite her petite figure she eats like a man.

There were other executives in the banquet as the function room can actually accommodate 50 to 80 people.   This gave Lila comfort as the chances of crossing path with Tim is less.  All the senior executives are likely to be seated in one table.  Unexpectedly she heard someone call her. 

“Lila?”

Lila widened her eyes and flashed a big smile on her face, “Jade?” 

Jade flashed her signature girly smile that never failed to melt any boy’s heart then.  She was the sweetest and kindest girl she met back in her early working days.  They were not necessarily close friends but comfortable enough to exchange hugs.

“Lila, you look pretty!” Jade said with the sweet smile still on her face.

“The boy has turned into a lady,” Lila chuckled.  “No way near how pretty you are Jade.”  She genuinely like this pretty lady in front of her.  If only she stayed in her first company, likely they could have turned to best friends like Deedee.

“Don’t say that.”  She is flattered with the compliments she’s getting from Lila and it made her eyes sparkle.  “How are you?”

“I am good!”

“You don’t know how sad I was when I learned you resigned from the company.”  She bit her lips and a tone of loneliness can be traced from her voice.

“I had to leave for personal reasons.  You know how…” she just smiled as if Jade would have understood her situation.

Jade hugged her and gave her a pat on the back, “no worries.  I admire your determination. Not everyone has the courage to make bold decision after going through so much.  You are brilliant anyway!”

Lila is overwhelmed by the compliments from Jade.  She is exaggerating if only she knew about the reason why she left then. Nevertheless, this is something she will just keep hidden in her heart. “Are you part of GTC? So, you left Blue Electronics too?”

Jade bit her lower lip and curved her thin lips up.  “Well It’s I guess I was destined to be in this company because of one person.”

“Oh ~ did you follow VP…” trying to recall Jade’s boss in the administration department of Blue Electronics she kept her statement hanging.

“No, I am Executive Secretary to Tim. You know him, right?  The former Software Head Architect in Blue Electronics, Timothy Andrews.”

Lila was surprised but quickly she is able to hide in her smiling expression.  “Oh good for you!” Something tells her that there is something more than Secretary and Boss relationship with Jade and Tim.  She called him intimately with his nickname.  Not everyone can address him that way.  He was an aloof, arrogant and all mighty guy who happens to be a gifted IT professional.  No wonder he rose to where he is now.

Saving her from the miserable feeling is when Jade phone buzzed.  Someone is calling and from a distant there was an emoticon beside the name.

“Hey”.  Jade signaled she is walking away and whispered ”I will see you around the boss is calling.” Jade held her hand before walking away.   Lila could still hear how she affectionally said ‘hey’

As Jade walked in small quick stride before continuing to speak in a formal tone, “Sir sorry about that I bumped to an old acquaintance. What can I help you with?”

Tim resisted the urge to be angry at Jade.  She is an efficient Secretary.  She is naturally sweet with everyone but for some reasons he gets annoyed by her tone in some cases when she talks to her from time to time casually.  He never talks intimately with colleague, not at least from long time ago.  “Have you brought the document I asked you to bring?

From a distant, Lila knew that Jade is going towards Tim’s direction, so she is able to observe them from afar.  She saw Tim stood from his chair with Jade assisting him to remove his coat.  Tim drew his face near Jade ear. Jade patted his back and walked away holding his coat like a wife serving his husband.

She is not supposed to be affected whatever relationship they have now.  Whomever Tim is with now is none of her business. Somehow, she felt a little bitter inside like as if an old wound is pricked. Five years…. It has been five years.  How can it still be this painful?  She clearly knows she is a ‘Plain Jane’.  She clearly knows who she is.  She is always honest and embraced her limitation like how heaven and earth is separated or how oil and water cannot be mixed.   As the saying goes there are so many fishes in the ocean.  Fish will throw themselves to Tim.  Nothing is special about her, in fact she does not know what Tim liked about her.  This is how she felt 5 years ago she was abandoned undeserving of Tim.