The Penitent's Rose

CHAPTER 3

The sky was bright, clear and blue. The sun was already high, casting a luminescent glow; thin clouds surrounding it widely and creating a beautiful halo. A few Mares’ Tails were scattered high in the troposphere, moving slowly along the summer breeze.

People of different ages were present on both sides of the street. A group of young girls walks out of a swimwear boutique, chatting happily as they take a peek at each other’s bag. A middle-aged man dressed in a business suit bows and offers his hand to another man who does the same in front of a cafe. A saleswoman was standing in front of a bakery; smiling as she offered a sample of their products to passersby. A couple sipping on their Frappuccinos as they walk their cute little dogs.

  The scenery gives away a picture of a nice summer day. But Lance thinks otherwise.

 The young CEO heaves another sigh of irritation as his car stopped for the nth time in the middle of the heavy traffic. His fingers drummed distractedly on his leg, eyes narrowing on the old building he’s staring at since his car has been stuck in the past thirty minutes. He lifted a sleeve and consulted his watch. Quarter before eight.

Lance lifted his head; his eyes met his driver’s in the rear mirror. He catches how the poor man’s Adam’s Apple bobbed, as if swallowing an invisible lump on his throat.

“Can we take a different route?” he asked, voice laced with impatience.

“I’m afraid not sir,” his driver answered, fingers tweaking at the car’s SAT NAV monitor. “There’s an accident two streets ahead of us, blocking our current location as well as another alternative route. We can also turn left on the next street and drive to that shop where you went last time.”

Lance weighed his options in his head; He could go with his driver’s suggestion of taking the left turn, but that decision would also mean he’s going to ditch a board meeting which was due to start in an hour. It was not as if he had any intention of neglecting his duties as CEO of his company, but today was a very important day for him. Today was the day of his monthly trip to the cemetery.

Today was the day of his visit to his mother’s grave.

Before his mind settles on the final option, Lance’s cell phone ringtone resonates inside the car. He fished his phone out of his pocket and hit the answer button without looking at the screen. “Hello?”

“Good morning, Sir Lance,” the baritone yet gentle voice of his secretary immediately greeted him. “I am already here at the office, but the receptionist said that you haven’t arrived yet.”

“Good morning, Neil. I’m sorry but I’m still on my way there.”

Lance can easily visualize his secretary’s frowning face during the small pause that comes after he answered that.

“Sir, may I ask where exactly are you right now?”

Sighing heavily, he looks outside his window. His car manages to move a few meters away from the old building. “Currently at Rada Street. We’ve been stuck here for almost an hour now.”

“But sir, you have a scheduled meeting with the board at nine o’clock today.” Neil’s voice hitch a few notes up, an indication that he’s starting to get anxious. “And your senior-partners are expecting you to be there since some of our foreign partners will also join us later.”

Almost immediately, Lance can feel his head throb. How can he forget about having their foreign partners being present in the meeting as well? That they will be discussing about the company’s expansion to Northern America. He lifts a hand and gently massaged his temples.

“Sir Lance?”

“Yes?”

“I’m sorry, sir,” Neil muttered in a low voice. “I am aware of your monthly trips to the cemetery, but I failed to notice that I set our meeting on the same day. It was my incompetence that you’re dealing with this mess right now.”

“No need to apologize. It is not your fault,” he calmly reassured the other. “This meeting should have been last week. I instructed you to reset it this day without consulting my schedule. I’m the one who’s at fault.”

Neil has been his secretary for the past three years, and the guy proved that he made the right choice by having a male secretary instead of the usual female. He has nothing against female secretaries in general, but the creepy ogling stares, scandalous catfights, and death threats coming from a random ego-hurt boyfriend annoyed the hell out of him. He’d had enough problems from his company and he doesn’t plan on adding anything more. Thus, the decision to take a male secretary was born into light.

Since his first day at work, Neil provided him with nothing but polished work and perfectly set schedules. He made sure that his papers were on his table, perfectly arranged from what’s urgent to needed by next week. No overlapped or rushed meetings. Neil also proved his resourcefulness, knowing who to call in for their company’s every need. A restaurant for a board luncheon, a florist for their building’s interior, or even a good tailor where he can purchase his tux. Name it and Neil’s Address Book definitely has it.

“As soon as we can turn left, we can head our way back in the company in thirty minutes,” Lance said, voice confident after getting an okay from his driver. “Please set the materials and equipment needed in Conference Hall B.”

“Consider it done, sir.” There’s no more trace of anxiety on Neil’s voice. “Would you like a copy of our meeting’s agenda? I can email it to you.”

“No need. I already have it on my phone.”

A gurgling sound was suddenly heard. Lance turned his eyes at his driver who just shook his head amusedly. “Neil, do you mind getting me a cup of coffee? I just realized that I haven’t eaten anything yet.”

His secretary chuckled. “No problem. How about a croissant or sandwich? I think the bakery in front of our building still has some of their chicken sandwiches.”

“That is much appreciated.” He took another glance at his watch. Five minutes past eight o’clock. “Do you think that the meeting will be over before lunch?”

“I am confident that the report that we had prepared had answered every possible question that the board might ask later. Now, if we can manage to avoid Mr. Gonzales as well as Mr. Santos from requesting to have a private after-meeting conversation with you, then I guess we can expect the meeting to be finished thirty minutes before lunch.”

The mention of his two senior-partners made his head throb once again. The two old businessmen have been around him since he was a kid, already a member of the board during his grandfather’s time as CEO. They were both kind to him, guiding him and providing him all the things that he needed to know and learn since his day one to the time he succeeded as CEO and up until now. Aside from his grandfather and father, they were truly one of his mentors in the business world. And he’s fortunate to have them as one.

The only unfortunate thing about having them though is that they extend their mentoring not only in the business aspect but also in his private life, particularly his love life. The two kind men would always request an audience with him, mostly after their board meetings. At first, he indulges them, him being a respectful younger to his seniors. But as soon as they started talking about their real agenda, mentioning things like settling down, or securing his future and worst, spreading a bunch of folders containing intel of various women in front of him, Lance steered clear from the two. With Neil’s help, he manages to avoid being cornered by them.

“You already know what to do about them, Neil,” he stated, sighing exaggeratedly. “By the way, let’s have our lunch together after the meeting.”

“Thank you, sir. But I’m afraid that I cannot join you for lunch today,” Neil refuses politely.

“Already had an appointment somewhere?”

“I’m going to meet up with my sister later. Aside from having lunch together, we’re going to discuss our upcoming event.”

“Are you talking about our company’s founding anniversary?”

Neil nodded. “We’re also meeting a close friend of ours. Quelle said that she might order the flowers that she’ll need for the venue.”

“I see. Give my regards to your sister.” Lance once again glances outside his window. “I’ll be at the office in fifteen minutes.”

“Noted, sir. Our staff just texted me that they were almost done at the conference hall. I asked them for help while I got your food here at the bakery.”

“Hmm.” For the first time that day, Lance sighed out of relief. “Thank you, Neil.”

“You’re welcome, sir. Is there anything else that you need me to do?”

Lance was about to say no when he remembers something. “You said that your sister is considering getting flowers to your friend that you’re meeting later right?” he asks. “Do you mind if you can order a bouquet for me?”

He can hear his secretary’s breathing from the other side of the line. “If the bouquet isn’t something big or requires a specific flower, I guess our friend can make one for you and bring it later,” Neil said.

“Nothing fancy, don’t worry,” he assures his secretary. “Although it requires a specific type of flowers, I’m sure that your friend can actually produce one.”

“If that’s the case then I’ll call him as soon as we end our call. What type of flowers do you require for the bouquet, sir?”

Lance allowed a smile of satisfaction to grace his features. “Pink and Striped Carnations.”