Jessica

The Date.

CHAPTER TEN

MARK.

As soon as Mark leaves, Beatrice takes her phone to place a call.

"Lana? Uhmm, you are free right? I- I thi- think I need a friend right now." Sobbing softly under her breath.

Beatrice muffles finally letting the word get out.

"It's Mark isn't it?" Lana says as sighs, seated in front of her work desk.

"Okay, you know what? What about eh- we go out on a lunch date." Lana suggests as she knows her friend might be in tears.

"Yeah, sure I will leave her by ten, that's in an hour's time." Beatrice replies under her breath

"Okay, just make sure you are okay?" Lana adds.

"Okay, bye." Beatrice says short and simple.

"Oh, I ought to slap some senses into that boy's head, I wonder what he did now." Lana says as she realises Beatrice is already hung up.

"Sir?" James calls after his Boss who just comes out from Beatrice's room, the guest room that is.

"Yeah?" Mark replies as he sighs, his face looks heavy, he knows Beatrice more than anyone, he also knows when she is faking.

"We should eat breakfast before we get to work sir? As soon as the meeting starts- you will barely have any time to eat, the meetings are all important and you can't miss one." James replies as he and Mark walk out the door.

His white Cadillac Escalade slowly rides up to where he stands with Mark.

"James? Let's drive to the bakery first, then we can grab some breakfast- you know what just order pizza." Mark says as he scrolls through his phone, this uncalled hangover seems to be something, it's making him quite hungry.

"You know what, change that to donuts and chicken, you know that thing I like eating, yeah order that." Mark says as he steps down the stairs, entering his car, James enters with him.

"Sir, do I brief you about what the meeting is about." James asks Mark who has his hands on his head.

"What are you thinking about?" Mark asks James as he closes the little book he has opened as he enters the car.

Sighing he says "I think- I hurt Beatrice with what I did, I know I shouldn't have kissed her but then, the fact that i- I went to tell her it was a mistake that hurt her pretty badly, do you think i should have waited till later today, right?" Mark asks as he is clueless and worried.

James rolls his eyes to his boss, knowing how clueless Mark can be, he did try to stop him or didn't he?

"Okay, As you know I am not a good expert on- on this kind of thing, especially in a relationship and most especially in an undefined push and pull relationship like yours.

So if you feel you have hurt her, I mean obviously you have, why are you so clueless about it?" Palming his face, James can seem to understand his clueless boss.

Mark sighs

"Okay most times in situations like this, I have seen it in some books and I have read it too, I will suggest you ask her to dinner and talk about her about what happened but if you ask me, I really don't know what you both want to talk about so- that's the best I idea I can give you." James says as he adjusts his glasses.

"Okay, yeah- I think you are right, she does love date nights and since this would be about us, sure why not? Okay get a reservation at Njays Restaurants. A table for two, I will pick three outfits for her, you will let her choose, even the heels too and yes, make sure my lambo is fine and ready, by 6pm I would pick her up myself, cancel any meeting from six pm." Mark says as he tries to calm down.

"Okay sir, I will do just that and if I may ask what would you say to her? ma'am Beatrice I mean?" James asks as he knows what Mark can do.

"Oh relax, well uhm I would just talk to her and tell her I didn't mean to say it was a mistake, kissing is also a means of- of greeting and we were talking about her slow romance kind of book, so that was what I meant and nothing else, is that better?" Mark asks James. "Well, Sir Mark. wouldn't that make things worse? I understand you are trying to make things work out but then, how works she take it. Personally the gesture is super nice, the thought is so so good and trust me, any lady would love that, but then if you uh- if you do all that just to break her heart again, I don't know, so unless you want to make it up to her, I would suggest you find a way rather than just eating with her." James explains extensively, looking confused, Mark raises his eyebrows and asks.

"How? how on earth do you know all this? do you have a girlfriend? or something?" Mark asks James in a teasing way.

"Of course not Sir Mark, I jus happened to read some novel online, it is a romance novel by a writer, the title is Jessica and it is really intriguing, the author is Tess. So I get to understand the ladies. There's not more I promise." James tries to make it very clear.

"Okay fine, I will think of what we can talk about." Mark says as he puts his airpod on.

James smiles.

"You know what, I change my mind, order the pastries and the food, I would eat it in the office, while you brief me of the events of today, including the main meeting for Coza." Mark says, James nods and makes arrangements, Mark is still thinking of Beatrice and what to do.

In twenty minutes, they reach the office. His car goes on to park outside the building, Mark comes down and as usual there are some ladies who are watching. In his suit, Dashing out like a piece of sunray, Mark walks, his hair is perfectly sitted, James isn't looking bad himself.

As they walk side by side before reaching the elevator.

"The food should be upstairs right?" James asks Mark who has his head in the tablet. "Yes sir, it is there already." James replies in a very sharp and clear tone. "Okay as soon as we get to the office, make sure you brief me and I would have my breakfast, you should too, do not forget by 6pm I have a date with Beatrice, we should go flower shopping too, so let her be there by seven, I will be there at most six forty okay?" Mark explains extensively as they ride up the elevator, James types as fast as he could just so he doesn't mean any information and makes sure it doesn't go wrong." Mark says firmly.

"Yes sir, I will send a message to Ma'am Beatrice right now." James says as they come out of the elevator.

"i didn't even greet mum and dad before leaving, sigh I was so worried about Beatrice." Mark says, James smiles as he realises Mark might be in denial. Entering the office, Mark takes out his coat and hangs it, His office is at the tippy top, the Tenth floor to be precise. Half of the office is made with brick, the half that leads to the hallway, the other half is made with Glass, the sunlight is at the minimal but then at night, the moon shines Oh so bright.

His office is big as expected, painted in glossy white. He has his personal work table, and chair but also a pair of couch for some little meetings and sometimes lunch.

"Okay, can I have the briefings for the meeting." Mark says as he sighs. Looking at his breakfast. He dips into the pastry at first, a pair of jelly glazed donuts, chicken Ricasso.

"Yes, the city of Coza is another country but the company we are aiming at for a partnership is Amor Corporation, they are a family generation business, they have been existing since the 1800's." James says as he starts with the briefing of the new meeting.

"The 1800's huh? just like Great great great grandfather David" Mark smiles as he takes a bite of the donut. "But go on please." Mark says as he gulps.

"Right, they are into Fashion, mostly designing of clothes and also Shoe making, they have been consistent for all the generations and recently they had a change in the CEO, their profits havent declined yet. Also, the city of Coza is a very nice city, it has a very huge population of Billionaires sorry, I mean high earning consumers who love fashion, every three months, A fashion show comes up and a bidding ceremony, Amor Corporations funds the event and they earn as much too, they have twenty shareholders and they seem pretty strict but then, they want us." James explains but it seems Mark doesn't understand yet.

"what do you mean they want us?' pausing at the question before taking another bite he asks.

"You see I have some legit information that says Amor Corporation has always wanted to work well and even being a partner with The blue heart division, for ages now but I guess we never gave them a listening ear." James add again as he adjusts his seat and passes the paper to Mark.

Scanning it he smiles and puts it aside.

"Okay, I will read through their file and see how they are, and also What other company wants to apply for a partnership, I heard their are also from Coza." Mark adds as he nods his head.

"Oh that might be a problem as you don't like the company." James says as he does his "this is getting awkward look."

"what? James you have "This is my awkward look." Spill it." Mark says as he cleans his mouth.

"well, you know we can't be choosers but you have a meeting with Frenzo." Roling off his mouth, James already senses that Mark is about to get angry.

"Frenzo? Anthony Frenzo? HELL NO." Mark says as he bangs the table.

"Oh oh" James adds under his breathe.

Anthony Frenzo, Mark and Beatrice all attended the same middle school, Mark wasn't always a strong guy, he was the good guy that everyone loved, but then he got bullied for it, by Anthony and his boys, Beatrice saved him several times, Anthony and Mark never saw eye to eye as Anthiny liked Beatrice at that time, Beatrice always favour Mark over Anthony, Mark always remembers how he got bullied, Luckily for him, Beatrice entered his life, they have been friends since then. Hearing his name again as a future business partner, Mark is unsure on how to feel and what to feel, for sure he should let the past remain in the past, He is a grown man now