Nights Like This

CHAPTER 17

"Camila I need you in my office right now," ani Sir Vance when he walked in front of my desk.

Agad akong tumayo dahil mukha ring he's on the edge today. "Coming, sir."

Kakatapos lang kasi ng meeting nya with the higer ups and I guess that didn't end well. Mas lalolng naging hard yung expression nya today. Things are going hectic talaga whenever there's a meeting with the higher ups involved. Because KSW Global is one of the leading comoanies in the business industry, they don't kid around.

When I entered Vance's office, malamig na nga yung aircon malamig na rin yung expression nya.

I just stood in front of his table while I wait for him to say anything. Pinakikiramdaman ko lang sya and lets him because baka totoo na nga na mangalmot na sya this time.

"Inform the team for a meeting later at four. I want everybody to be there and note them to be attentive sa lahat ng ipapagawa ko. I want no delays and I want it to be perfect," tuloy tuloy na sabi nya and I couldn't help but to notice the command in his voice.

I guess we really have to do well about this if he's this stressed and on the edge about this.

I looked to him and hinintay kung may sasabihin pa ba sya but instead, he just looked at me with his tired eyes. That stare went on for a moment hanggang sa nag buga sya isang malalim na hininga.

"I'm sorry, Camila. I am just stressed about this whole thing. They're demanding better from us that's why I am pressured to do everything," aniya.

"It's okay, sir. I understand why. Don't worry, I'll talk to them."

There are few people on our department na napa tawag nya sa office nya kaka pa-revise ng gawain nila nung nakaraan pa and that also didn't end well.

"Thank you, Camila. Do you want to grab coffee with me after the meeting?" he asked me.

Ako naman ang natahimik dahil sa pagdadalawang isip. "I'm sorry sir, I still have a lot of things to do later."

Bumaba ang tingin ni Vance. " Oh, okay. If magbago yung isip mo, you could tell me."

I stretched my lips and gave him a nod. "I really don't think I could, sir. I'm sorry..."

"It's fine, Cami," aniya.

Lumabas ako sa opisina nya while mentally convincing myself that I did well and I did the right thing to do.

Ever since Janine told me that people have been aware of me and Sir Vance's closeness, I am trying to detach myself from him. Siguro nga nakakalimutan ko talaga yung reality that we're on sometimes. We're supposed to be just co- workers and not really involved on the personal lives each other.

I said it before. Ayaw ko ng magkaroon ng drama between me and Vance. For us, our closeness might mean nothing but for the people who could see it, baka ma mis- interpret nila and I don't want that to happen.

And I think it's just better this way.

The meeting came and I went on a full office worker mode. I don't have any problem having Sir Vance on the same room becaise we are just doing what we're supposed to do and that's business. Hindi ko naman sya iniiwasan because I am cutting him off. I am just doing this to retain professionalism whenever we're in the office.

I guess calling him just in his name isn't really a good deal.

Nauna ako sa meeting room earlier than the meeting time because I have yet to prepare the materials that we will be using. Instead na ipa gawa ko sa iba, I'd rather do it myself. I only expected to see bunch of swivel chairs and a long table but I certainly didn't expect to see the man sitting on the center of the table.

"Why are you here, Sir? Sir Vance didn't notify us that you will be joining this meeting," I said to Gabriel who's already smiling at me as I place my things on the table.

"Why Cami? Do you not miss me? I'm here because I missed you and I want to see you," aniya in a very loving tone that I just wanna p**e. "I came here as soon as I got off from the car."

Ugh. What's with them? Gabriel and Zara. Sa akin talaga sila dumi- diretso after they come back from a different town or country? I am very sure naman that I don't give them the feel like they're home because I certainly don't want them here. The least they can do for me para hindi nila masira ang araw ko is to stay in their offices and not to see me.

Clearly, the didn't understood the assignment.

I had less stress when Gabriel was out of town for a business summit and now that he's here, hindi ko alam kung ma to- tolerate ko pa ba sya especially now that Zara's back here. I know that the both of them will annoy the hell out of me.

"Welcome back, Sir. You should have rested instead of coming here, Sir. You could take your time in your home. I'm sure napagod ka sa byahe."

"No, I'm fine now that I'm here and Iget to see you after almost a week of not being here. I've been reaching out to you, Cami but you're not answering any of my calls," aniya.

Of course, I wouldn't answer his calls.

I masked my irritation with a smile when he asked about the question. "I've been crazily busy, sir. Oh. Maam Zara will be happy to see you, Sir."

Gabriel raised his eyebrows and closed his eyes from a brief moment like he's already getting stressed about it. "She's here?"

"Yes, sir. She already returned from the states," I said and he massages his temple.

I am enjoying to see Gabriel getting stressed and annoyed with the sudden news. Although hindi ko alam kung guguluhin pa ba ni Zara ang buhay nya because it seems to me that she already has has an interest on somebody and it's none other than the guy that entered.

"Sir Vance," I said and signalled him to look at his right because he didn't even scan the room. He just directed hiseyes on me agad agad.

When he realized what I was referring to, agad naman syang lumapit kay Gabriel to shake hands with him. They greeted each other and went for a small talk while I did everything.

I could hear their conversation being about how he met new possible investors and partners through the summit but after that Gabriel just talked about the golf in the hotel that he stayed in and then continued to boast about how he got a really nice painting in an auction there for a very huge price saying that art is has been his religion but we never saw him took interest in art ever since. Hindi na yata iyon small talk.

Shortly after I finished, I checked the time and it's only ten minutes before the meeting at four. I sat at the chair far from them. I watched how Sir Vance thougtlessly nods at whatever Gabriel is saying as he keeps on glancing at me like he's sending signals that he wants to get out of there and just wants him to shut up at least.

Tumayo ako sa upuan ko at lumapit sa kanila to make Gabriel shut his mouth from talking about his dinner this time because honestly, nobody in this room cares what he had.

"Sir Gabriel, excuse me," I said as I called his attention. Gabriel's mouth stopped from talking and gave me his full attention.

I glanced at Sir Vance and his expression became better.

"Yes, beutiful?" nakangiti nyang tanong. Gosh. He's so cringe!

I faked a smile to him. "Are you going to stay for the rest of the meeting or you're gonna leave before we start the meeting?"

It's basically me asking him to get off of the meeting and just stay at his office and not to bother us, especially me.

"Do you want me to stay here?" tanong nya. For a moment, he looked thrilled and excited.

If there's really an opportunity for him to make his advances towards me, he'll grab it. He created this game but I'm not letting myself to be the player. Patigasan kami kung sinong unang bibigay at susuko and I am certain that it's not me. I will never give him what he wants.

"We're about to begin any minute, sir. It's your choice," ani ko sa kanya. It's his choice because clearly hindi ko naman sya mapapa alis rito. He's the boss and I can't bluntly kick him out of here and say that we don't want him here.

My inner self rejoiced when Gabriel stood up in his chair while buttoning his coat. "Alright. I'll just let you and your team have a peaceful meeting. I'll go now, Cami. And oh! Before I forgot, I bought you pasalubong when I was out of town and no, I am not letting you return those to me. It's on your table by now. Keep it," he said and then walked out of the room and that made me speechless.

I didn't even have the time to react but he already closed the door. Now what?

I really didn't think of this situation thoroughly that I didn't evern realize that when Gabriel gets out, Sir Vance and I will be left here and it's just the two of us dahil hindi pa dumarating ang iba.

"Thank you for that, Camila." Hinuhuli ni Sir Vance ang paningin ko but I just remained loyal on the original olan of mine which is to have a little distance with him.

"It's nothing, Sir. He just talks too much and we surely don't need noise in here," sagot ko like I didn't really do it for him.

Shortly after that, the whole team arrived at the meeting room and without further ado, we started to do our agenda for the meeting.

Sir Vance pointed out the things that the executives pointed out to him. Our job is to determine the problems within the company and of course, we can't just feed them with the problem. We have to come up with the solutions. But sometimes, there are things the executives that doesn't approve or something coul've been better for them and that's what we're working on right now.

"Please comply on the deadlines on time. We don't want everything to be delayed. Mapapa sama na naman tayo sa mga nasa taas n'yan. We don't have much time and I appreciate all of your hard work. Let's get through this team," aniya. "End of the meeting."

Lahat kami nabuhayan nang sabihin nya ang huling linya na iyon. Of course, we have to rest so we will have an energy to battle out everything tomorrow.

Isa isa ng lumabas sila, including me. Dumiretso ako sa desk ko to continue what I was doing before the meeting. I might have to overtime at this rate for probably an hour. I am almost finished naman na.

And Gabriel's right. There's no vacant space on my desk because of the different paper bags that contains his pasalubongs. Isa isa ko iyong hinilera sa lapag so I could have the space again.

Just as when I am drowned on my work, nawala ako sa trance ko nang marinig ko yung patong ng cup with ice on my table. I looked to see who it is and it's Sir Vance also holding a cup of coffee in his hand.

"Sir, this is for me?" I asked him.

"Yes. You declined to have a coffee with me but I think you still deserve a cup of coffee for working hard today so there," aniya while pointing out the coffee that he got me.

I completely forgot that he asked me to have a coffee with him. Na occupy na kasi ng inis ko kay Gabriel yung isip ko.

"Oh. Thank you for this, sir. I appreciate it. You also work hard today," I said to him while smiling a bit on him.

Sir Vance's forehead creased and his eyes was just on me, almost analyzing me. I widened my smile to him.

"Why are you so formal with me today?" tanong nya.

"It's because we're still at the office today, sir."

And that is the best excuse that I could give him for now.