Chapter 3 - Bouquet of Flowers

I

Edsa was not quite that traffic. Yhera arrived in her office earlier than she expected, however, her secretary as usual was already in the office when she arrived.  Mila was always an early bird and she felt lucky to have her as her secretary.

"Good morning Atty. Yher," Mila was all smiles. Yhera replied with a nod and a good morning too plus a warm smile.

"Hmmm, your smile will be much brighter, once you see what's inside your office"

"What is it Mila?"

"Come and see, Attorney"

Yhera was surprised to see a dozen of white roses artistically arranged into a beautiful bouquet on top of her executive table.

"From whom?"

Mila with a smile handed over to her a card. Yhera's guess was right. The flowers came from Seigfred.

Yhera thanked Mila and tried to focus on her paper works afterwards. Just minutes after starting working, Yhera's phone rang.

"Hi Attorney, good morning, hope you like the flowers," Seigfred's voice was full of life.

"Hello Mr. Yee, yes, thank you for the flowers; but there is no need for you to send me these. Don't worry, I will not sue you for bumping my Montero." Yhera replied with a hint of a joke in her voice, which Seigfred answered with a loud laughter.

It seemed like, things were getting lighter between them, Yhera sighed. This should not be. “Guard your heart Yhera,” the lady lawyer whispered.

II

It was Friday and Yhera's schedule was quite tight. She had client meetings here and there and at night she committed herself to a movie date with her best friend Zarah. They were going to watch the most awaited part three of the Hunger Games, the Mockingjay. She loved that movie. As a matter of fact, she watched the part one and two of the said movie, twice.

After half an hour of agony looking for a parking lot, Yher finally found one. Yhera sighed as she carefully parked her Montero. Zarah was already calling her, saying she got two movie tickets already.

Walking out from the parking space, Yhera's eyes were unintentionally caught by a red jaguar car about to park, four cars away from her Montero. Her heart skipped a beat. She had this gut feeling that she knew the owner of the said red jaguar car. She tried to walk fast but out of curiosity she looked at the red jaguar when two of its doors opened. Her guess was right; Seigfred's tall frame came out from the driver's seat. 

Yhera's heart tumbled when a model-like woman wearing a tight fitting light orange dress, almost four inches above the knee, paired by a not too high dark brown leather boots came out from the passenger side of the car.

"Atty. Yher, what a pleasant surprise to see you here!" Seigfred's voice was vibrant as he directly walked towards her.

"Uhuh, indeed a surprise Mr. Yee," Yher tried to force a smile.

"Seems in a hurry?"

"Ah yes, I need to catch Mockingjay movie Mr. Yee."

"Really? So you are a fun loving lady after all hmmm," Seigfred was obviously teasing her.

The lady in light orange dress, who was already at Seigfred's side, falsely cleared her throat to catch their attention.

"Oh by the way, Atty. Yhera, this is Rhoda, a family friend, Rhoda this is Atty. Yher, " Seigfred courtly introduced them.

Yher's lungs were cleared after hearing who the woman was. She politely offered a handshake, which was reluctantly accepted by Rhoda.

As she hurriedly walked to meet her friend at the Cinema, Atty. Yhera could not help but questioned herself why she needed to know the real status between Seigfred and the woman accompanying him. Why on earth was she able to breathe clearly after knowing that Rhoda was just a friend to Seigfred?

The lady lawyer laughed at herself. Didn't she remember what Jethross had done? Jethross said that he has no girlfriend or whatsoever and that he broke up with his long time girlfriend for quite some time already, when he entered into a relationship with her. Lie, a lie out of so many lies during their relationship. 

"Atty. Yhera, will never ever believe in lies again!" the lady lawyer sworn to herself.

As Yhera and her close friend Zarah were buying their tickets for the movie, the former saw the pair again. This time, Rhoda was sweetly holding on to the right arm of Seigfred while they were walking, passing by the cinema part of the mall.

Sarah became curious as to who caught the attention of her best friend that made her frown deeply.

"Best, who were they? Sarah pouted as she was pointing on to the pair who just passed-by.

"Ahh, an acquaintance", Sarah replied nonchalantly.

After watching the movie, Yhera and Sarah searched for a good restaurant where they can have dinner. They chose a Chinese Restaurant with a private and cozy atmosphere. They were about to finish their meal when a group of three (3) men entered the restaurant. Air in Yhera's lungs almost passed out when she noticed that Seigfred Yee was one of the men. She could feel her hands trembling a bit.

The trio sat almost one table away only from Yhera's and Sarah's table. 

Yhera looked down and tried hiding her face in her long hair. She did not want Seigfred to notice them. Sarah would definitely ask about the man.

However, Yhera's presence was noticed by Seigfred. The young businessman could recognize the woman even in her side view. The man excused himself from his companions and walked towards the table of Yhera and Sarah.

"Atty. Yhera, what a coincidence again," the attractive man exclaimed with a chuckle. 

Yhera has no other recourse but to look at the man in front of them, "Ahhmm, Mr. Yee, nice seeing you again here," she tried smiling.

Sarah was also looking at the towering man.

"Oh, by the way, Mr. Yee, my best friend Sarah here, Best, this is Mr. Yee," Yhera's introduction to the two.

"Nice meeting you Sarah," Seigfred offered a handshake to Sarah, which the latter accepted with a smile after moving out from her chair.

"Good to see both of you here. I wanted to join you ladies but I have a business meeting out there." Seigfred pointed to their table and excused himself thereafter.

When Yhera looks at her friend, she saw two narrowed eyes deeply watching here.

"We will talk about it later, Best, eat, eat , ok?" Yhera tried to tease her best friend. 

"You said so, hmmm... you have to treat me for a Starbucks coffee after this."  Sarah's reply with a wink. 

III

When she arrived home, Atty. Yhera was too exhausted already. Immediately, she showered and laid flat on her bed. She was about half sleep when she heard the ringing of her phone. She ignored it, hoping that it will just stop after a while that she will not answer it. Unfortunately, the one who was calling seemed to have never get tired of calling her phone number.

With voice grunting, Atty. Yhera answered the phone. “Hello. Who is this?”

“It’s me. Have you not saved my number to your mobile phone Atty. Yhera?” a man’s voice answered on the other line.

“Oh I’m sorry Mr. Seigfred, I did not check who's calling me at this hour before I answered my phone. I was sleepy and truly wanted to rest.” Her tone seemed to be irritated.

Mr. Seigfred’s laugh could be heard on the other line, making Atty. Yhera getting pissed-off more.

“Mr. Seigfred Yee, do you have something important to say? If not, can I excuse myself now and put my phone down already?” she asked nonchalantly.

“Atty. Yhera, yes, I have a very important thing to say. I can say that this is important because I never did waste my time saying this to anybody. Goodnight, sweet dreams and see you tomorrow my fierce and pretty lawyer.” Then Seigfred cut-off the line.

Atty. Yhera was shocked while looking at her phone. “That feisty man!” she hissed, wanting to throw her mobile phone.

Seigfred on one hand was naughtily smiling. “Atty. Yhera, you may get pissed-off, angry or whatsoever, but a man like me would never easily back-down.” he murmured looking at his latest, top of the line Apple phone.