An older-looking man dressed in an all-black Emporio Armani two-button slim suit paired with his sleek black pointed-toe leather shoes walked into the huge office building that looked to be built in only glass.
He climbed up the stairs that lead to the reception area and the glass door automatically opened, he got in and looked around the reception. It’s quite different from the last time he was here.
The cream and light-brown-colored reception table is located on the left side of the main entrance. The chair surrounds a portable glass table that has some magazines stacked neatly on top. There is a brown rug underneath the table, giving it a classy look.
He walked up to the receptionist and noticed the lady in a black suit jacket with a white turtleneck, behind the table, doesn't look familiar. She looked to be in her late twenties or early thirties, she had minimal makeup on her face and her brown hair is up in a tight bun, which gave her a strict look.
She was on the phone when he got to the desk and gestured that he waited which he did. When she was done with the phone call, she turned to him and gave him a smile.
"Sorry about that sir, how may I help you?" she asked politely.
"Oh, it's okay, I seek Donald Lorenzo, is he in?" he asked.
"Err… yes sir, do you have an appointment with him?"
"No, I don't, but can you put a call through and let him know Kingsley Bernard is here?" he asked and she nods.
"Um… okay sir, please hold on," she said and pressed the intercom. "Hello sir, someone is here to see you… no, he doesn't have an appointment… he says his name is Mr. Kingsley Bernard… oh… okay, I'll do that… okay sir" she put down the phone and turned to Kingsley. "You may go in now sir"
"Thank you," he said and made his way to the elevator.
He thought about his reason for visiting his long-time friend and said to himself ‘No going back’. This wasn’t the way he had planned their meeting after a long time but fate made it this way. It has definitely been a while since he saw him but he was sure that his friend will help him no matter what.
When he arrived on the floor, he saw an empty office space which was some feet away from the main brown door. He thought maybe that was his PA or secretary so he walked forward and made his way inside the office.
As he stepped inside the office, the black-haired man behind the table raised his head to look at him, his lips broke into a smile as he stopped what he was writing. This gave him some kind of hope for their meeting.
“Hermano,” Donald who had casual clothing on, said when he stood to his feet to come to greet Kingsley, his long-time friend. The two men shared a hug which lasted for a few seconds before they lean back. “How have you been?” he asked when they went to sit on the sofa to talk.
“I’ve been good, how about you? Looking healthy like you should” Kingsley comments and Donald laughs.
“Thanks to my wife for consistently making me eat those healthy meals she prepares” Donald smiles. “You look good too, Moana is doing a great job in keeping you intact” he punched his arm playfully.
“Oh please, I should be the one telling you that. You are the one who always kept Patricia on her toes, right from when you knew you were getting married to her” Kingsley reminded him “I am glad that she was able to tame the stubbornness in you”
“I heard you,” Donald said with a smile.
Kingsley looked around the nicely decorated office and admired how beautiful and classy it looked with the brown-colored porcelain tiled floor. He looked at Donald’s table and chair which had two other chairs facing it, and a bookshelf with books neatly arranged on the first three rows.
The fourth row has a French three-piece antique marble and bronze clock set, a gramophone, and a Meissen porcelain centerpiece with a stand. The wall of the office is decorated with a stick panel wood-wall cladding partition. On the wall is a painting of a girl sitting on an artist's chair while she paints the beach.
“Nice theme you got here” Kingsley comments.
Donald looks around with a grin “Patricia picked the theme of my office, I love it”
“Kudos to her then”
“Yes, will tell her. Care for something to drink?” Donald offered as he turns to get them something from the mini fridge right beside him.
"Orange juice will do,"
“You too aren’t taking what you are used to taking?” Donald chuckles “The power our wives have on us” he comments.
“I know right? Mine is partly medical-based but things are better, I just mustn’t take something that would put my health at risk” he explained.
“Fair” Donald handed him a cup with the juice carton which he opened. “I am tempted to drink directly from the carton but I can’t,” Donald said as he stares at the opened juice carton.
“Me too, Moana would be so mad to see me do that” Kingsley laughed.
“Patricia also, it always seems like they have some magical eyes following us everywhere so that we behave and not embarrass them with our ‘childish behavior’ as they like to call it”
“They are just watching after us” Kingsley shrugged.
"They sure do, I have a nicely diced fruit pack that my baby packed for me" Donald stood and went to get it from the fridge. "I told her it wasn’t necessary but you know women, they worry a lot? She said I must finish them or she'll get mad at me"
"You should listen to her, mine won't have been this worse if I listened to all of Moana’s warnings," Kingsley said taking the pack from him "Is there a fork?"
"There should be a toothpick there," Donald said "Hmm… I will try to eat more fruit now and stop the sugary substance intake… I will work on it"
"You should try harder," Kingsley encouraged.
"How is the queen that makes my brother's heart beat fast doing?" Donald asked wriggling his brow "It has been so long since I saw you all, your daughter was still little then"
"Yes, Moana is doing fine, she is the only one that makes me want to live, the love of my life, and my princess Audriana has grown to be a beautiful young woman" he took a sip from his cup "How about Patricia? The only woman that could tame the aggressive man you are?" Kingsley grinned when he asked.
Donald grinned too but you could see love written all over his face.
"My Patricia is doing great, I’m throwing her an anniversary party since our 30th anniversary is coming soon. She doesn’t know about the preparations yet but I want to make it memorable for her” Donald grinned “Just like she said of our wedding night” he looked up dreamily.
“I don’t want details please” Kingsley cleared his throat.
“It’s between us, don’t worry”
“Thank you” Kingsley knows his friend really well and would want to be spared of the details “How’s Dimitri?” he asked changing the topic.
“He’s doing well,”
“I can see that, he is doing a great job in managing your businesses well”
Donald smiled "Yeah he got the business mind from me, he is doing great though, and improving" he replied.
"I’m sure that his older brother is proud of him,” Kingsley said to Donald who sighed as he finished his juice.
“I’m sure he is” Donald answered then cleared his throat and faced Kingsley “Tell me, how’s business?”