"I couldn't believe you had to miss the meeting just to meet another woman after you broke up with Clarize."
Raymart turned in his swivel chair as soon as he heard Howie's voice inside his office. His CEO and superior showed up unexpectedly.
"I don't understand what you're saying, Howie," Raymart said flatly.
"Calling me just by my name is unethical according to our working standards," Howie clarified, his face devoid of a smile.
"Honestly, I'm so confused right now. Suddenly, you're being formal with me and now demanding that I address you as superior because of your superiority. I'm older than you, you just hold a title because you inherited this company, but that doesn't give you the right to act domineering; I could even outsmart you," Raymart admitted with a smirk.
"I'm sorry I have to ask you to act formal because I'm already informing you that you're one of the chosen candidates to go to a higher position; from a typical business consultant, you already had a chance to become a manager of our advertising department," Howie explained, adding, "besides, I'm the CEO, so I have the right to be domineering. We have to act professional during working hours."
"But I have to explain my side as well; I didn't miss a meeting the last time," Raymart insisted, frowning.
"Really? Where were you the last time we couldn't reach you on your phone? The meeting was at 2 p.m., and you were also absent at that time," Howie said. Raymart regained consciousness at that point, realizing that he had been truly absent at the time. He stayed at Marigold's house on that supposed date, and he forgot that there was an urgent meeting scheduled for that day.
"Really?" you ask, "but—"
"Don't explain any further, Raymart. I also understood that we'd been hopping at the bar after that and you were really drunk at the time, which is why you couldn't get your ass up from the bed. Just be careful with your job performance, because it might affect your chances of getting the promotion you've been waiting for," Howie explained calmly.
"But I really have a problem. I lost my company phone, which has a lot of important data on it. I probably lost it when I got drunk, and it's a company asset, so I have to replace it with a new phone." Raymart sighed in disappointment.
"You now have to report that your phone was stolen, and anyway, I have to go," Howie said, leaving Raymart alone in his office.
He had completely forgotten that he had misplaced his phone. Fortunately, his personal phone remained with him, and he now attempted to call the number registered on his company phone. The phone was still ringing, much to his surprise.
***
Marigold frowned as she heard repeated ringtones within her room. She is familiar with the sound of her own phone, so she was certain that it was not ringing. She even looked for the location where she heard the noise.
And she was perplexed to see a new phone that clearly wasn't hers.
"It's impossible for Jack to have left this phone because he never slept with me in this room; obviously, this one doesn't belong to him because I bet he could never afford such an expensive phone because he's always been financially dependent on me; he didn't even settle his debt before leaving me," she hissed as she scanned the phone with her eyes.
She opened the screen, but she can't access the phone's entire storage because it has a passcode. Then she had an epiphany about the possible owner of the phone she was holding.
"Based on the wallpaper with the SLI logo, Raymart definitely owned this one. He probably planned to leave his phone to track me. Oh my god, this might have a surveillance camera on the lenses. He might have monitored me while I'm undressing in my room to change clothes." She was overwhelmed and terrified by her own assumptions.
The phone rang again, and this time she didn't have to worry about the code because the number had appeared on the screen with a very familiar name.
"SLI - Javiera," she read, her heart still pounding. She had no idea why she still felt butterflies in her stomach when she read his lovely surname.
"No way, I shouldn't have to answer his call; if he wants this returned to him, he must first pay me," she said, still staring at the phone's screen. On the other hand, she felt she couldn't pull that kind of ruse because it's a form of extortion.
So she just groaned when she answered his call.
"Hello?" She tried not to make her trembling voice overheard on the other end of the line.
"I'm sorry I had to call this phone; I am the owner, and I beg you to return my phone, madam," Raymart said, his voice enticing everyone's ears. He was speaking in a calm and professional manner.
Marigold trembled as she realized Raymart had probably never recognized her voice or even realized he had left his phone at the house of the woman he likes to harass. If her assumptions are correct, it is now her turn to exact revenge on him.
Marigold was now attempting to make her voice unrecognizable. She altered her normal modulation, making her voice sound deeper.
"I'm sorry. I got your phone somewhere in Navotas. I haven't opened it, and I have no intention of not returning it to you," she explained in a modulated voice.
"I understand, and I know you have good intentions, because if you really didn't want to return my phone, you probably turned it off, so I won't be able to reach you; I'm willing to pay for your fare expenses, and I'll just pay you once I meet you to return my phone."
Marigold grunted twice and shook her head. She double-checked that her voice sounded unrecognizable before speaking up.
"How much are you going to pay me?" she inquired.
"I'm willing to pay you 7,000 pesos if you're willing to return my phone."
"Seven thousand? Sounds like a good deal," she said, trying not to burst out laughing. Raymart was extremely generous in offering such a large sum.
"However, I'm afraid I won't be able to meet you because I have a job," she explained.
"Don't worry, I'm in the same situation as you; just text me the location and time that is most convenient for you, and I'll have my secretary meet you at your preferred time."
"All right, sir, I'm going to text you, and if you don't mind, I'm going to give you my phone number," Marigold suggested. The number she was about to give is her backup phone number, which Raymart is unaware of.
"Alright, I'll write it down," Raymart replied with a chuckle.