C6 Today Might Not Be The Day

~Krizza~

Rays of early morning sunlight coming from the paned windows made their way past through the white, sheer curtains and shone directly upon my face.

I woke up before my alarm rang . And it became a daily routine for me. Because my motivation drives me to wake up early, and conquer each and every day. Today is extra.

After a few minutes more of lying in bed, I decided to start my day already.

I take my time, but not so much, just enough to enjoy my morning routine.

Past eight in the morning, I decided to get going.

As I hit the road, a traffic jam greets me. Creeping along with bumper-to-bumper traffic is not how I like to spend my morning, especially now that I have a meeting in an hour or two.

More than an hour passed, and I’m still stuck in traffic, not even gone halfway through the whole journey to my client’s office.

‘What a total waste of time.’ I said to myself.

When I reached a crossing, I changed my course, so instead of driving straight, I turned right. Hopefully, I cut through the traffic and make myself reach my destination, not beyond ten in the morning.

I decided to text Alex that I was on my way already. I was just getting through traffic.

Luckily, I changed my route. Another thirty minutes on the road was spent quite productive. Because right now, I am already near my destination.

Then I call Alex.

He immediately picks up his phone.

“Hi, Alex! I am already few meters away from your building. But I’ll be coming from the other side of the road. I just wanna ask, is there a U-turn slot ahead of my lane?” I asked him the moment he answered my call. Because there might be authorities ahead that might apprehend me if I take a forbidden U-turn.

“Hi, Kriz. Good morning! Yes, there should be a U-Turn slot just after our building, you can take that. Then drive straight until you reach the entrance for basement parking. You can park on the first level, the security guard will guide you. Just let him know you have an appointment with me. They already knew you’re coming.” He muttered.

“Great. Thanks! See you in a bit then.” I told him.

“Yeah. See you!” He said, then, end the call.

True to what Alex said, there’s a U-turn slot just after their building. I took it, then drove straight to their driveway until I reached the basement parking entrance, just like how Alex instructed me. The security guard stopped me.

I open my window to talk to him.

“Good morning!” I greeted the guard. And smile from ear to ear.

“Good morning Ma’am! Welcome to San Diego International. How may I assist you?” The polite security guard asked me. He is smiling widely. I was amazed because not all the security guards are as polite as this one.

“I’m here to see Mr. Alexander Jimenez. The name is Krizza Robles.” I answered him, returning the gesture politely.

“Nice to meet you Ma’am, Mr. Jimenez is expecting you. Can I just have an ID?” the very polite security guard uttered.

“Sure.—Here,” I answered the guard and gave him my driver’s license.

He handed me two visitor passes in exchange for my license. The big one is for my car, and the small one is for me when I get inside the building.

“You can park at the First level, slot number nine. The entrance to the building should be in front of your parking space. And when you get to the lobby, Marco is there to welcome you and escort you to Mr. Jimenez’s office. Have a great day ahead, Ms. Robles!” the security guard stated. I gave him my sweetest smile and thanked him.

I rev the car, then drive my way down to the basement parking area. It’s not so hard to see the allotted slot for me. And the entrance to the building as well. So, I park my car.

Then, I took one swift glance at the rearview mirror to check my face, sprayed a little perfume, got out of the car and got the blazer that I hanged at the back seat, and wore it.

My eyes involuntarily scan the parking area. It is spacious enough to fit up to twenty or more cars. I looked behind me and saw a lineup of six black luxury SUVs. On the right side of my car, parked two more of the same SUVs, with the same color.

‘Are they enthusiasts of this car or something?’ I thought to myself, but quickly shook it off. Then proceed to the matter at hand.

I locked my car and walked my way to the entrance. But before I could reach the entrance door, I bumped into a woman who seemed to be in a hurry. I apologized for colliding with her, but she ignored me. She just nodded her head and left. Likewise, I did the same and kept walking.

Inside the entrance is another security team. But these guards were different from the ones at the parking entrance. They are three, wearing a black-uniformed suit. Their body looks like they were built to smash somebody’s face. And honestly, they look more of a bodyguard than a security guard.

I approached them first.

“Good morning! I have an appointment with Mr. Jimenez!” I greeted them and said my purpose.

“Good morning Ma’am!” The security greets me. And eyed me quickly. So, I smiled at him sweetly.

“Please wear your visitor’s pass when inside the building at all times. You may take the escalator to get to the lobby area. Marco is waiting for you—this way, please,” he added and instructed me, with a hand pointing to the escalator.

“Yeah, right, sorry about that. I’ll wear it now. Thank you!” I told them, then wear the v pass, and saunter my way to the escalator and ride on it.

When I reached the ground floor, a flamboyant man greeted me. My guess is, he is in his late twenties, looking very stylish, in his plaid maroon silk neckerchief, that is neatly tucked in, in his pink polo, two buttons left open, matched with maroon slacks that is surprisingly creaseless. His polished hazelnut leather shoes were so shiny that you could almost see yourself in them.

“Good morning! You must be Ms. Robles, I’m Marco, Mr. Jimenez’s Assistant.” The flamboyant man exclaimed.

He has an adorable, extra clean face, almost hairless. His Harry Potter eyeglasses that sit perfectly on his small but pointed nose did not help conceal his trimmed eyebrows. His eyes are blue. I’m not sure if those are real or just a contact lens. His lips are redder than that of a normal man if being compared.

“Good morning too! Pleased to meet you, Marco!” I said.

“The pleasure is mine, Ms. Robles. Anyway, we can do the chit-chat on the way to Mr. Jimenez’s office. Shall we?” He told me. And we took off.

Marco walks a little faster than I am, which leaves me a few steps behind him. And as much as I wanted to keep up with him, my not-so-long legs plus the heels I’m wearing did not help me at all.

As we walked, my eyes caught the extravagant view of the whole lobby area.

The front desk counter is made of black soapstone, based on the looks of it combined with a genuine Pink ivory wood, where the initials SDIC are engraved, I look up at the massive chandelier that is more of a stunner than a light provider, because of its magnificent beauty. Then my eyes widened at the sight of the revolving door that I usually see at a hotel or a luxury mall.

Everything seems to be flashy, even up to the smallest decorations you can find here, they all look costly. Oh, and the couches, to comfort the people waiting in the lobby, looks expensive as well. I was amazed. I must say, this is more of a hotel rather than a company lobby area.

My astonishment brought me into oblivion that I never noticed that we had reached the elevator already until I heard a ding. The elevator door opens, and we both ride in it and hoist ourselves up until we get on the floor, where Alex’s office is.

As we got off the elevator, now walking to our destination, Marco suddenly talked.

“Would you mind if I asked if you have a boyfriend?” He asked me, and it caught me off guard.

“No!?” I answered abruptly, but was unsure of my own answer.

“No, you do not mind me asking? Or, no, you do not have a boyfriend? Which one?” He remarked, and gave me a confused look.

“Aahm, both, I guess?” I answered him with a questioning voice.

“Oh, that’s too bad, because you just missed the hottest bachelor in town,” he exclaimed. Now I was the one confused.

“And who was He?” I asked shortly with a frowning face.

“Pretty, it’s the CEO,” Marco exhilarates. I was about to ask further questions when we suddenly came to a halt. That’s when I realized that we had reached our destination already, Alex’s office.

~Alex~

Earlier

I purposely went to the office early. Marco, my assistant, is already here when I arrive. He greeted me and handed me the files Max was talking about the other night. I took it, asked for a cup of black coffee, and went inside my office.

As soon as I got inside my office, I settled myself and read the confidential files. After reading them, I keep it in the safety volt located in a secret area inside my office. No one should get their hand on that files.

Marco knocks on the door, and I let him in. He saunters inside while carrying the coffee I asked for, then puts it on my desk. Afterward, I asked him to rearrange our schedules and match them with the schedules Max left because of his sudden and unplanned business trip to Europe.

Past nine in the morning, I received a text message from Krizza informing me that she was on her way already.

I am currently constructing a reply for Krizza when my office door instantaneously opens, revealing Max.

“What a surprise! Can’t leave without saying goodbye to your friend, eh?” I jested. I never thought he would drop by before he leaves for a business trip.

“Nah, far from it, Attorney Gonzalez asks for a copy of the contracts for our European partners. So we dropped by to get it–Angie is already on it. I, on the other hand, purposely dropped by here to ask if you got the files already?” Max stated, almost whispering.

“Yeah, and I have read it already. Don’t worry, it’s now safe.” I told him.

“Good. Thank you, Alex!” He exclaimed.

“Yeah, sure—tell you what?” I told him instead of saying, ‘You’re Welcome.’

“What?” He asked, confused.

“Try to bruise a woman’s esophagus. You’ll surely thank me for that,” I told him, pun intended. Then I laugh. He didn’t.

Instead, he hit me with the newspaper he got from my desk.

“Hey, that was uncalled for,” I complained, laughing.

“You deserve that. Dick head.” He exclaimed while shaking his head. I can’t believe he did not laugh at my joke. What a douche.

He stayed for a little while, and we had a small talk. Before he decided to leave.

“I’ll go ahead, Angie might be done already.” He said. But before I could answer him, my phone rang. It was Krizza.

“Wait, bro. I’ll just answer this call.” I told him, knowing that the call wouldn’t take long.

“Hi, Alex! I am already few meters away from your building. But I’ll be coming from the other side of the road. I just wanna ask, is there a U-turn slot ahead of my lane?” She asked as I answered her call.

“Hi, Kriz. Good morning! Yes, there should be a U-Turn slot just after our building, you can take that. Then drive straight until you reach the entrance for basement parking. You can park on the first level, the security guard will guide you. Just let him know you have an appointment with me. They already knew you’re coming.” I muttered to her.

“Great. Thanks! See you in a bit then.” She told me.

“Yeah. See you!” I said then, end the call.

I return my attention to Max.

“Ms. Robles will be here shortly. Would you like to wait for her so I can introduce you both to each other? She’s a total catch, bro. Trust me.” I told Max.

“No. Please! I should get going. Maybe next time.” He answered me.

“Dude, come on! She’s already here,” Me, being persistent.

“Today might not be the day of our meeting. Plus, the last thing I wanted was to be held up by a woman before my flight. So please, knock it off,” he said, while walking slowly to the door.

“Held up by a woman? Look who’s talking,” I told him and smiled. He just chuckled and gave me a dirty finger. And then he left.

MEANWHILE

~Angie~

“Sorry.” The woman who just bumped into me said. I can’t chat with her right now. I’m in a hurry. I just nod my head to her and continue walking to the parking area.

I open the left passenger door of one of the SUVs we use as a shuttle to the airport.

“You got them?” Sir Max asked me.

“Yes sir, I got them. Let’s go ahead.” I answered him right away.

“Great. Ron, let’s go,” He instructed his driver. And we left the building and went ahead to the airport.

Attorney Gonzalez is on his way, too.