[EROS' POV]
"How's preparing for the party going?"
I asked Griffin who is standing beside me.
It's one of those times when I don't have things to do and that is why I'm here in the office.
But, I want to do something and it's itching me to do random things.
"Almost everything's complete, Mr. Beckett."
"That early?" I surprisingly said and continues, "It's different when I'm abroad and when I'm here. Filipinos are hardworking and they do things accordingly."
"Griffin, what do you think of this?" I added.
"In my opinion, you are correct, Mr. Beckett, that is why you could use this opportunity to get some rest."
I chuckle, "But I didn't do anything yet."
"You already did, Mr. Beckett."
I looked at those pile of papers in front of me that was done already by yours truly, but my whole body is itching me to do something more.
"Griffin, could you casually talk to me? You know we're friends, right? We still are, right?"
"We're still in the company, Mr. Beckett."
I snort and didn't reply.
Griffin became my friend after college, we accidentally met when I met the Chairman.
He was the same age as me and we do casual talks but the Chairman gave Griffin to me as my secretary and that started everything.
He wears glasses and has a neat good-looking face, he wears formal clothes and wears gloves.
"You know, you could remove the gloves. You looked like a butler." I say to him.
"I always wear this when I served the Chairman, Mr. Beckett." He answered.
"But I'm not the Chairman," I say to him.
I stood up and gets closer to him.
"Give me your hands."
"Mr. Beckett, I-"
"I order you to give me your hands, Griffin."
He gave them to me and I smile, "Good and we will remove these from now on."
I removed the gloves and revealing soft female-like hands.
"Woah! Your hands! It's beautiful." I said as I touch it, it's smooth and there's no sign of any veins or any signs of rough edges.
Is he even a human? I laugh inside.
"M-Mr. B-Beckett." He mumbles.
"I just saw this now, maybe because you always hide them," I say to him.
"B-because, they will think of me as a woman if they see these hands."
"Is that the reason? Well, not only women have these, but also men. Men that have these smooth hands are an asset to me. I liked this way better than the gloves." I smile at him and he instantly became quiet.
"Griffin? Griffin, are you okay? Why are you red? Is something's wrong? Did I say something that might offend you?"
I touch his neck and to his face.
"N-no, M-Mr. Beckett." He softly says.
Is he shy? There's no need to be shy about their asset. Sometimes, it's better to be humble but in his case, he doesn't know.
I smile, "You're cute when you're shy."
He became all red.
"Griffin?"
Ring! Ring!
The ring of his phone interrupted us.
"It's a call about the party, Mr. Beckett."
"O-okay," I say.
"I excuse myself." He says and went outside.
As he went outside, Eryx came inside.
"What happened to Griffin? He's all red."
He asked as soon as he closes the door.
"He's shy, I think."
"Shy about what?"
"Griffin has soft and smooth hands, he doesn't know that," I answered as I sit on my chair.
"You said that to him?"
I nodded and I open my laptop if there's any email that came.
My chair turns in front of him and he holds it.
"Eros Beckett, I know he's handsome but, you're more handsome, don't make him like you, okay?"
"He's straight, Eryx."
"You don't know that."
"But you know?" I say to him, challenging him if he knows something.
"So, you can't smell him."
"Why? Does he have any odor? I don't smell anything from him."
"No, silly." He laughs, "He likes men."
"What? That's ridiculous. Why do you always include all the men here in the company?"
"Because... I smell them."
I laugh, "Don't smell them."
"I have to. So, I'm aware who's my rival to you." He says it proudly.
"Eryx, not everyone likes me, okay? Besides, they might have their affairs."
I turn my chair in front of my laptop and start typing.
"I'm still into you, Eros. The only thing that I have to do is show them you're mine."
"Eryx."
"Fineee, I'll stop." He smirks.
"By the way, did you finish what I gave to you?"
"All done." He hands me his papers.
"Okay, it's time for me to be busy," I said.
-----
"Griffin, I think I'm out of ice cream at the penthouse," I say to him as we're inside of the car.
"As you said it yesterday, Mr. Beckett. Would you like me to buy you some?"
"It's okay, I can buy it myself."
"But Mr. Beckett-"
"Oh, I forgot!" I say to him.
"What is it?"
"I forgot my notebook at the office, the black notebook that I always carry, you know that Griffin, right?"
"Yes, Mr. Beckett, I will get it to you."
"That's good! Orion, can you take us back to the company?" I say to the driver.
As we headed back to the company, Griffin volunteers that he will be the one who will get the notebook, so I stay inside the car.
"Orion, this is a selfish thing that I will do right now, but can you take me to the ice cream shop that I always go to?"
"But, Mr. Beckett, sir Griffin-"
"It's fine, he'll be fine. You can fetch him later then. I'll call him." I say to him.
"Okay, Mr. Beckett."
He drives us to the ice cream shop that I always go to, well, today makes me crave the old ice cream flavor that I want since I was little.
-----
As we arrived at the ice cream shop, it brings me back from the old days.
"I'll be quick," I say to Orion and I went outside of the car.
I went inside and the smell of the shop is still the same, but there are new flavors that are being sold out.
"Good afternoon!" The old lady greets.
I don't know if she still remembers me but, I just walk by and see if the flavor that I want is available.
My eyes widen as I see the packaging of the flavor that I wanted.
"Vanilla." I whisper, "I got you."
I'm choosing the best of the packaging even though it's all the same.
Griffin bought me these the other day when I arrived, so it's the first time to see this shop after 3 years of being away.
"Your usual flavor?"
"Yeah."
"It's chocolate, right? Do you also like vanilla?"
"Um, err, somehow. I'm trying to like it."
The old lady laughs as she's talking to another customer.
"Maybe, I'll get some 15 pieces of these," I whisper as I put it in the basket.
Once I'm done, I walked by and see dozens of chocolate flavors in the next ice cream chiller.
This is the shop that we always go to when we're happy, sad, angry, or just not in a mood and a mood type of mood.
Ellis.
"How's the bakery going, Ellis?"
Once I heard the name, I quickly turn my way to the counter and the old lady is talking to someone.
"The 5th branch is already open, it's near the market that you always go to, Daphne. You should visit. We just finished celebrating it."
His back has built, he's wearing a white T-shirt and black pants. He has fair skin and long black hair.
"Ellis?" I whisper.
"That's great news! But the bakery here is the same, it's near my house, maybe I'll go there instead." The old lady laughs.
The guy laughs too.
That laugh is the same as he laughs.
I moved closer and closer.
I can already see his side face.
My eyes widen.
"Thanks again, Daphne. See you soon." He says and he went out of the store.
He is Ellis.
El.
I went to the counter and I give her my basket as I'm looking at the glass door.
"Wow, there are plenty of good-looking men here around this neighborhood." The old lady says.
I turn to her and say, "Thank you. There are also plenty of beautiful women here like you."
She blushes and looks at me, "Wait. Do I know you from somewhere? You looked familiar."
"Umm... do I?" I slightly laugh.
I think she will recognize me. If she did, she will tell that to Ellis and Ellis will know that I'm alive and well.
And we will meet again.
"Oh my gosh! Don't tell me you're... the famous CEO? What do you call that? P-Pinetree!"
I guessed not.
I smile at her, "Yes, you're right."
She's still looking at me while punching my orders and I would like to ask her something.
"Umm..." I see her nametag and I forgot her name! It's Daphne.
"Y-you're Daphne," I say and she nods.
"I overheard the conversation you had with the other guy..."
"Oh you mean, Ellis?"
I nodded, "And you mentioned a bakery?"
"Oh yes! He owned a bakery. It already has 5 branches. It is named Rosè Bakery. You should visit, there are plenty of delicious pastries! You might meet him. He's a good-looking guy! And also, he's kind and sweet." She said.
I smile at the thought of how she describes him, it's true. All of that is true.
"After his brother left and his mother died, everything fell apart but, he tried so hard that he started to save money and invest some. He even met some new friends that helped him. He's a hardworking guy!"
She gave me the bag for the ice cream.
I paid her cash and said thank you.
I went outside and I could already feel the cold weather that I think it will rain tonight.
I wonder if he still stays at the same house.
Maybe, I could take a walk before the rain falls.
-----