CHAPTER FOUR - Disappear into the background
1598 Words
Ashiya
"Is there still food for me?" Kalisha asked hesitantly. “Can I really join you? I don’t really want to bother your moment.”
It was an innocent question, teasing even, but surely it was a loaded one. As if I don’t want to be bothered with my romantic breakfast with Damon. I was never possessive of his company. When it comes to Damon, I know that the company and business are always his top priority. I was never the type who wished to hoard his attention especially when work was concerned.
"Of course, Ma'am Kalisha. I ordered a lot and we would love to share it," I replied in a friendly tone.
I stood up and went to Damon's own office pantry to get Kalisha's plate. Usually, Kalisha's presence makes me feel uncomfortable. Right now it was the relief I needed to distance myself from Damon and his outrageous belief when it comes to having his own family.
From the pantry, I could hear their friendly chatter as I watched them from the side of my eye. “Where is my souvenir from Milan?” inquired Kalisha who was now seated beside Damon.
“You had just gone back from Milan last month.”
Kalisha laid her palm. “I still want a gift from you and for the kids as well. They've been checking on their favorite uncle."
I made myself busy by getting her a freshly brewed cup of coffee as well. Damon was more of a father to Kalisha's two teenage sons compared to her deadbeat ex-husband. That was why it baffled me why having his own children scared him when he was good at taking care of other people's children. Was he really that emotionally unavailable to rear his own family?
“Your Louboutins are in the package and Carlson will bring them tomorrow," Damon declared. Carlson was his assistant who stayed the longest with him.
Kalisha squealed in glee like a teenage fangirl and gave Damon a hug. “You are such a good friend and a wonderful boss.”
Damon clicked his tongue. “You can't have it yet. You can only get it when we get the deal for the casino complex.”
The hotel and casino complex to be built in Pampanga was the biggest project they were preparing for. Several companies were asked to submit the initial proposal for the project. Savas Builders was among the top three companies that were asked to submit the final presentation. It costs several billion dollars and was expected to be a major tourist attraction in Southeast Asia.
They wanted it eco-friendly and would boast a relaxing man-made lake with a floating casino barge for intimate games and entertainment. That was the main proposal and the best-kept secret of the team so far. A brilliant idea of Kalisha and was approved by Damon. Now they were working on its feasibility and the supposed budget proposal.
“No worries, boss. It’s in the bag. I'm sure they will be amazed by the design.” Kalisha gave him a thumbs up.
"I know you won't let me down."
I brought the coffee and sat across from them. They didn't pay me any attention at all and I was like a fly on the wall. This was nothing new to me so I excused myself and fired my own iPad to check on my to-do list for today.
When the two of them talk, I feel like I disappear into the background. As if they had their own world. They were best of friends. Kalisha married in college and was not able to finish her architecture course. She had two kids and was separated from her husband who was lazy and treated her like a punching bag.
Kalisha escaped from her hell of a marriage with the help of Damon and some friends. He put the lazy husband in jail, helped with the annulment, sent Kalisha back to architecture school, and eventually graduated with flying colors. Their bond was too tight, almost like siblings.
I was fine and not jealous of their friendship. I definitely admire their camaraderie because they've been close for almost two decades now. That kind of friendship was rare and precious. It made me like Damon more because he didn’t forget his friends when he had nothing on his way up. He saw their potential and harnessed it. That was why Damon got their loyalty. He was the same with his workers, not just his friends.
I just felt left out sometimes when we were together. As if Kalisha was deliberately isolating me when monopolizing Damon's attention. Like there’s an invisible dome shield around them and she couldn’t be a part of it.
“Who will you bring to the Paris conference next month?” Kalisha asked, then sipped her coffee.
“Ashiya will come with me," Damon declared smoothly.
"Eh!" When I looked their way, Damon had a warm smile on his lips. There was also fondness in his voice. It was as if our argument a while ago was erased from his memory.
That was a shocker and I felt warmth in my heart at the same time. I definitely didn't expect that he would bring me to Paris. It was such a big deal because only the executives and talented workers he really trusted were part of the entourage.
International Green Architecture and Urban Planning Conference would give the participants a chance to network and collaborate with leading scientists, researchers, and companies in different fields. It would also give them the chance to explore the host city.
I noticed the dark clouds looming on Kalisha's face. Her lips tightly held together and give me a menacing look. As if taking me to Paris was faulty on Damon’s part and I was the one who gave him an idea.
“B-But I am needed here," I interjected to make it clear that I didn’t ask Damon for it.
“I need you more, Ashiya. You have to expose yourself. I want you to know more about green architecture. It would be easier for you to mingle with startups. You are good at headhunting promising talents.” During the Dublin Conference, we were able to support an app that was actually a game about building your own house then rating it if it was environmentally safe or not and how much the materials would cost. There was an option for a professional to check it for a consultation then the user has a high chance of being a client later on.” And now, we are raking in billions from it."
I shrugged as if it was no big deal. "Well, their idea was really good. It just happened that I was there during the presentation."
They only tweaked it a little because they opened the app for other partner construction and architectural companies. The app accommodated other firms where Savas Builders didn't have a branch. Because we didn’t treat those companies as competition, we were open to tie up and possible investment in companies that have great potential.
"A presentation that was a nuisance to others but you gave them a chance." Because of that project Damon gave me a huge commission. I was able to pay off my address payment to him and clear my debts. I was also able to send my sister to one of the best universities in the country. "You haven’t been to Paris, right? I'm sure you can help me find more clients and talents there."
“But you always bring me to the Paris Conference,” Kalisha complained. A with a mix of frustration and disbelief was etched on her face. "I could also help you deal with clients and the new designs can help me improve as well."
Her voice raised a bit. She was ready for a debate on why she should be brought to Paris as well. She was like a spoiled child who had no plans to give a chance to others.
Despite being good with designs, I was afraid that Kalisha was lacking in communication skills.
I just shut my mouth because last year’s Paris Conference was a failure on Kalisha’s part. I already scouted a start-up company that produced resilient eco-bricks and could mass-produce them for Savas Builder’s housing projects. Kalisha ignored my recommendation and so was her other colleagues who were supposed to check on the company’s presentation. The CEO of the company even expressed their dismay because Kalisha left a few unsavory remarks about their products.
Now, the eco-brick company was working with a huge multi-national company in China exclusively. We missed the chance when it was us Savas Builders that was supposed to be raking in the profits.
Damon waved his hand as if to dismiss Kalisha. “You will be busy with the casino complex design by then. You know how important it is. You are the team leader of the project and you promised to oversee it until the end."
“Right.” I noticed that Kalisha picked on her food. Being not part of the Paris conference dampened her mood. She forced a smile and tried to cheer up. She changed the topic. “Do you want to check out our progress, Damon? We still need your input. You will be so proud of what my team did so far.”
“You can show it to Ashiya and she can update me with the progress. I need to rest. I just came here to see my girl.”
- Writer
