"Terry, I would just like you to inform the head officer that I already sent my proposal to him via email. And in the meantime, I would like you to arrange a meet up with the one who picked my lost company phone."
Terry nodded upon hearing Raymart's brief instructions. "Alright, sir. You also mentioned earlier that the stranger picked your phone at Navotas. But you affirmed that you never got into that place."
"Yeah. Totally. I can assume that she's an opportunist woman. She really thinks that he can fool a wise man like me," Raymart confidently said. "And I also traced the location of her phone and it says that she was located in the Quezon City area only."
"She seemed really sketchy. What would be our next move aside from unmasking that opportunist pickpocketer?"
"I would just hide somewhere while you're talking to her. Is it understandable?" Raymart asked.
"Alright. By the way, I immediately received a reply from her. She asked me if it would be convenient to meet her somewhere in Cubao," Terry revealed.
"Just agree to whatever she wants. Let her think that we're really falling for her trap," Raymart mouthed with a confident smile.
***
While waiting for Raymart's secretary, Marigold tried to remain cool. It was such a relief for her that Raymart didn't insist on being the one to meet her.
She was also relieved when Raymart's secretary, Terry, agreed to meet her at her preferred location, a coffee shop at a nearby mall in Cubao.
"I really hope Raymart never finds out that I'm just the one who got his phone, but it was really his fault for barging into my house last week; he should still be grateful that I'm willing to return his phone," she said quietly to herself, trying to convince herself that she had done the right thing.
When she met Terry, she regained her composure. Marigold recognized her because she recounted what she was wearing at the time.
"Hello, are you Mr. Javiera's secretary?" Marigold said pleasantly.
"Yes, dear," Terry replied, smiling. Marigold had no idea she was being secretly photographed by Terry's concealed camera, which syncs instantly to her phone and she could quickly send it to her boss.
"Here. The phone has no harm while it is still in my hands, and I didn't even look at other files because I'm not interested in the first place," Marigold stated.
"That's great, sweetie; you also can't see what's inside that phone because it has pass codes," Terry explained, sounding slightly cynical as she faced Marigold.
"Here, just examine the phone to make sure I'm not lying," Marigold pleaded as she handed Terry the phone.
Marigold handed the phone to the lady secretary, who shook her head. "Dear, I neglected to inform you that I also don't know the pass code, so I won't bother verifying it. Instead, I'll just hand it to my boss when I return to the office."
"Okay, I understand. Just tell him that it was not my aim not to return his phone sooner than it was, and I also don't want him to think that I wanted to withhold the phone from him," Marigold answered truly.
"Don't worry, sweetheart; my boss is nice and logical; he understands the problem quite well, so you don't have to worry any longer."
"All right. Thank you for understanding. By the way, he told me that he would pay me seven thousand pesos if I returned the phone. Now that I finally returned it, I have the right to ask for my payment too, right?" Marigold finally mustered the courage to inquire about Raymart's promise to pay her for her efforts in returning his phone.
"Of course, I'll never forget it, and it was also his reminder to give you the money," Terry explained.Then, she gave Marigold the exact amount that she's talking about.
"Thank you for this. Since we are finally done. Am I allowed to go out now? I have to apply for a job later," Marigold said.
"Okay. But I would also suggest you try your luck on our company. I think you're also an office girl. For sure, you can pass the interview from our grumpy boss. I think you're also clever," Terry remarked.
"Thanks for the compliment but I think I still don't have much confidence. I came from a small company and it seems like your company is a top notch," Marigold answered.
"But there's nothing to lose dear, at least you try," Terry persuaded her.
"I will think about it. Thank you." Marigold flaunted a smile before they parted ways. She giggled more while counting the payment she received from Terry.
"Mr. Javiera is indeed generous. He's probably the 'grumpy boss' that his secretary was talking about,' she whispered to herself before leaving the coffee shop. Little did she know, there was a pair of eyes that were still looking at her.