"Are you really not coming with us, Astra?" Hazel asked me as he watched me fix my things. Our last class for the day just finished so she and our other blockmates are planning to go to a place to eat and slack off like the usual.
Normally, I would go with them, but today, unfortunately, I can't since I have to do accordingly to what my parents want and that is to join them in the meeting they will be having with the man that gave me the worst nightmare I have had yet which actually occured to me while I was awake.
"No, not today, Haze. I have somewhere to be," I said to her and sadly smiled. I saw her pout before she slowly nodded. I carried my bag and looked at the rest of my blockmates as I prepare to walk out. "I will get going, guys, have fun!" I happily said to them as I waved my hand.
Some of them smiled and waved their hands back at me while some also had their lips curved upside down. "Take care! And don't you dare miss my party tommorow night!" Janica threatened me so I laughed playfully and nodded before I left the classroom and walked my way until I got inside our car.
My driver opened the door for me when we arrived at Travez Group, where the meeting is being held. This is not the first time that I have been here so I somehow knew my way around. One of Xyan's secretaries also assisted me until a door which as soon as I got inside, all the eyes were fixated on me.
I smiled and my eyes quickly roamed around to look for my parents. I found my Dad and my Mom who was seated beside him on his right. He cleared his throat as smiled apologetically to everyone.
"I am sorry for the interruption. I hope you do not mind my daughter, Astraiella. I thought her presence would be fitting for her future reigning," my Dad formally said for the information of everyone.
The people nodded and gave me warm smiles. "We do want to know the views of the heiress of Valencia Hotels, do we not?" a man said with a sly smile plastered on his face will his eyes were directed onto me.
My Dad gestured for me to be seated on his left so I did. My eyes found their way to unintentionally meet the eyes of Xyan, who was seated on the middle.
His eyes were pierced into mine and it was as if they were telling me things I would never understand. He aggressively shifted his sight from me to the woman in front who seemed to be interrupted by my sudden entrance. "You may continue," he coldly told the woman.
I saw how the woman panicked before she cleared her throat. Is she naturally this easily rattled or is she just afraid of the boss?
"A-As I was saying.. the designs we are presenting are ensured by our architects to be similar to the previous architectural builds of your hotels but better. We do not want to refer too much from your previous hotels that were built by other architectural firms. Aside from that, we also did it accordingly to what Mrs. Valencia wanted, attracting those of the high class in every corner."
I saw how my mother smiled in satisfaction. It's as if she does not want to question anything anymore. I opened the folder handed to me and scanned through the designs that were presented by the team. It does look like our previous hotels but the upgrade is visible. It is more modernized and screams of class.
The hotel is in no doubt a five-star one. It is not friendly for all social standings or people who want to experience the comfort of lodging but going accordingly to their budget.
"Everything is perfect! This is exactly what I wanted! I wanted to have the natural impression of our previous hotels but also make this new one different and better," my Mom happily said.
"I agree with my wife. We wanted to attract the guests with the new amenities our new hotel will have. These are indeed of pleasantry," my Dad convincingly said as he gestured at the folder with the designs inside.
"We are pleased to hear your positive comments, Mr. and Mrs. Valencia. But we would also like to know what Ms. Valencia, thinks about the designs," the woman on Xyan's left said. Everyone's attention were diverted onto me, as if they are thirsty for what I will say.
I quickly gazed at my Dad who looked like he was trying to control me by the way he stared at me. I cleared my throat and let my fingers accompany my eyes as I once again scanned through the designs.
"I admire how you were able to come up with these," I started, "By one look, it's as if you will already know that this is a Valencia Hotel. But what catches my attention more is how it seems to only call the bright names, though, it is what our hotels are about," I said and smiled sweetly at the woman beside Xyan and the rest who attended on their company's behalf.
I looked at the location of where this hotel will be built and saw that it will be in Cebu City, which is in the Central Visayas region. "Considering the location, it is suited to assume that we will attract tourists, is it not? So the assurance in the amenities is a must, though, I am pleased with what you have presented, but I think it is just the same with what our other hotels have here in Luzon. It is possible that our supposed guests are not just there for lodging, but also for relaxation," I said.
"What are you trying to say, Astra?" my Mom asked gently. I looked at her before smiling.
"I'm saying that instead of making more use of the view for the restaurant, we should expand the pool and make the view more accessible for the guests from there. We should also improve the spa and have more space for the restaurant outside," I suggestively said.
"That is a great idea, dear," my Mom said and smiled at me happily. "We shall make that happen, then," she said and looked at the representatives for the architectural firm of Travez Group and at the CEO, Xyan.
"We shall add that, Mrs. Travez," the woman whom I am assuming to be the head architect said to my Mom before she looked at me and smiled, "Ms. Travez."
I do not know if the designs were all that this meeting was about or it if were what I was able to catch up to because I was late but the meeting ended not long after.
I was about to follow my parents outside but my Mom gave me a meaningful and secretly gestured at Xyan who was still on the chair he was in earlier. He seemed serious while looking at the folder that has the designs inside. Did he not get a good look earlier?
I sighed before walking towards Xyan. Is he not the one that is supposed to be apologizing? Why is it that I am the one who is approaching him?
When I was already in front of him, I cleared my throat and put both of my hands behind me. My presence was already so obvious but instead of noticing it, his attention remained at the folder. I cleared my throat again. Finally, he looked up, giving me attention.
"Is there anything that was not properly discussed during the meeting, Ms. Valencia?"