Chapter 3

WHEN THEY ARRIVE at Sago Restaurant. A famous Restaurant in our town. It has been featured on TV because of the delicious foods that they served here. Charles opened the door for Athalia. She was amazed by what she saw. She never thought she would be able to go to such an expensive restaurant. She looked at the car parked not far from them. She frowned. Do they have only one destination? Is that possible Luke?

"Let's go. What are you looking at?" Athalia looked at Charles. They started walking into the Restaurant's entrance.

"Ah, that's nothing. I'm just looking at the whole parking area of ​​the restaurant. It's too wide." She reason. She can't tell him that someone is following them.

"Good evening." The two female employees of the restaurant greeted them when they entered. You will feel welcome in the Restaurant as soon as you enter here.

They guided them to an empty table with two chairs. Charles pulled up the chair for her. She sat down. He went to the seat opposite her. He handed me the menu provided by a male employee. She roamed her gaze in the whole Restaurant.

So beautiful. Very spacious, very beautiful, and very bright. Two men with violins approached them and began to play the violin. Charles had already handed the menu to the waiter and he pointed out the dishes to order.

 "Did you like the place?"

He asked Athalia. You can see the joy on his face. He's happy because he was with her. But why she can't feel that happiness that he feels? But, she wants to be with someone else tonight. Hayyss. She shouldn't think that. She should be focusing on him not whoever that occupying her thought.

 "Thank you." those are the words that came out of her mouth.

And their order arrived and they started eating. While eating, they talked about things about themselves.

They were on their way home at those moment. It's already seven o'clock in the evening. They were on their way home and she wanted to close her eyes for a couple of minutes. She leaned her head back in the chair and closed her eyes.

ATHALIA WOKE up because Charles shaking her shoulder. She immediately opened her eyes and saw that they were in front of the house. Charles immediately opened the door for her. She went out and Charles closed the door. He is tall. His height was not far from Luke's height.

"We're already here. I'm sorry I fell asleep."

 Athalia apologizes to him. He was handsome and gentleman but why she can't learn to like him? After all, they will only meet for a few days. It takes time before she liked him.

"It's nothing, you better come in."

"Thanks for letting me to go in such a Restaurant. I also went to a famous Restaurant. Would you like to enter first?" Athalia invited him.

"No need, Athalia. You came in so you could rest, I'm sorry you got tired from the trip instead of going home and resting." he apologized.

"It's okay, I enjoyed your company. All right, you go first. I'll come in but you should go first."

He said goodbye. When she could no longer see his car, she was ready to open the gate when someone speak next to her.

"It looks like you and Charles are getting better. I thought when I came home I would be able to make the years I haven't been with you but I was wrong because someone else is occupying your attention." Luke spoke. She turned around to him.

 "Luke, what are you doing here? How did you know we were together? You mean you're the one following us earlier?" She asked him.

"Yes. I followed you because I want to make sure you're safe. I don't trust that man."

 Luke approached her. What will he do to her? She leaned against the gate railing. He placed his hands on the gate and stared her in the eyes.

 "Luke, what are you going to do?"

"I missed you Athalia, I want to pull the year just to come back here to the Philippines to be with and see you. If you only knew how much I miss you."

He stared at her lips. He stared at her for a couple of minutes until he slowly close his lips to hers. And their lips have applied. This is how the first kiss felt. It was as if she were swinging on a cloud. His lips were so soft. She slowly opened her mouth and let him subduct my lips.

He slowly inserted his tongue inside her mouth and licked her tongue. Then, his lips dropped to her neck and kissed it. She was alarmed. They are on the road and there's a possibility that someone can see them. With all her might she pushed him away. Suddenly, the warmth she felt disappeared as he parted his lips from her.

"Maybe someone will see us, Luke. We're on the side of the road." She told him. He sighed.

"Go inside. It's getting late. Good night."  he said.

He walked to the car and maneuver it with agility. She stared at his car until it disappeared from her sight. She had already went inside the house. She found her mother folding their clothes.

"Where are you from? Who drove you home?" her mother asked her.

"Charles and I came from Sago Restaurant Mom. Charles also brought me here."

"Athalia, if someone wants to woo you, maybe he should go here at home first. Not where he wants to take you. You don't know him very well yet. " her mother advised her.

She sat in the chair next to her mother. At the table, she was folding clothes. Athalia understands her mother. She cares about her because she's the only one she has. Athalia hugged her mother.

"I'm sorry, Mom. I didn't say goodbye. Next time I'll ask permission and I'll send him here a house."  She apologized.

"That's okay. Just don't do it again. Go upstairs so you can change and rest. I'll finish what I'm doing and I'll go to the room so that I can rest also."

She kissed her mother on the cheek and then she went upstairs. After she got dressed, she went to bed and lay on it. She touched the lips that Luke kissed. That was her first kiss. So, that's how it feels when you kiss by someone you like. She just closed her eyes instead of thinking anything. Because of the exhaustion, she immediately fell asleep.

She woke up at about seven in the morning. When she came down, the food was already on the table. Thanks to her mother who always prepares food for her.

"Good morning Mom. I'm sorry I woke up late. Maybe I'm tired."

"That's okay, daughter. I'm happy that I'm fulfilling my role as your mother, you're my daughter and I'm happy that I'm doing this for you." her mother replied. She approached her mother and hugged her.

"Thank you, mom. Thank you so much for everything you've done for me."

 "Let's eat because the food will be cold." they laughed as they ate breakfast.

She commutes going to the office. Charles texted Athalia that he could not accompany her because he had an emergency meeting with his clients.  When she arrived at the office, her co-office greeted her immediately.

 "Good Morning too." Athalia greets them back. She sat down at the table and saw a bouquet of flowers that was placed on the table.

"Wonderful. Your lover is different." Sis Melissa spoke as she entered.

She smiled at her. She smelled the flower. It smells good. It has a letter that was folded on the flower. She will read it later. Sis Melissa put down a folder.

"Read that. That's a letter from our CEO, Mr. Michael Lereño. It looks like you have a meeting with him."

 She dropped the folder on her desk and left. You have your own office especially when you are in a high position.

She opened the folder. The letter states, 

"Miss Ramos. I'm inviting you to a meeting of a Business Partner of mine. And I have good news for you. Because he chose you to be his Secretary. Three days a week. We'll talk about your schedule. And there's another good news for you. Let's talk about it at the meeting. The meeting is at 4 pm. I'll pick you up at 3:30 pm. "

 She'll be a Secretary?  To whom?