"Manager Ari, excuse me."
"What is it? Don't tell me she is still there."
"Yes, Manager Ari."
Ari frowned, shifting his gaze to the lunch box that Rey's sister had brought with her then shut his eyes briefly and sighed. 'Seems she is hellbent on becoming a stubborn mule.'
"Tell her to go home or we shall call security."
"I did Manager Ari but she wouldn't budge. She maintains her stance at the lobby downstairs."
"What time is it now?" Ari raised his head to look at the wall clock. "Shouldn't you have gone home by now or are you working overtime?"
Ari's assigned secretary, who was one of Ned's referrals appeared timid, her expression showing concern. "I had to stay behind to wait on your guest Manager Ari."
"Go home. I'll take care of it. Next time, don't stay too long. Just give me a heads up and clock out once your shift ends."
'But you're the one working overtime each day Manager...'
"Is there something else you wish to say?"
"N-Not at all." The girl gave a courtesy bow. "I'll be heading home now Manager."
Ari leaned back on his chair upon her departure, pondering over the pestering from his unwelcome visitor. 'Somehow, I don't feel good about this. Maybe I shouldn't have ignored him all this time despite my doubts. Either way, I've been busy with my startup and I'm gradually acclimating to the oppressive nature of my new venture. Mun seems to think it's a prime time to move on but I'm still not used to Ned's absence.'
"M-Manager Ari..."
"Yes..." Ari jumped up, almost startled off his seat. "I thought you left?"
"I-I just needed to inform you that Yummyyum technologies have contacted us again. Their representative reached us two hours ago but you had been busy. I needed to let you know before I leave. I've equally left their proposal via mail to you as well as a hard copy filed and prepared for tomorrow's meeting at the conference room."
'So meticulous.' "Thank you for your diligence."
"Thank you too." The young woman smiled. 'Wow... Manager Ari is so committed to making this company lift off. He can appear intimidating at first as rumored but it's the opposite, startling like the rest of us. I stay behind just to have more time with him because I like him. Who is that stubborn girl anyway? What is their relationship? Is she some jilted lover? For her to have brought him lunch which he barely touched, something sour must be going on between them.'
"Do you want me to order you to go home?"
"My apologies for being too forward Manager Ari, but you equally need rest too."
"If there is a pressing matter, wouldn't it be better if I'm the one to handle it without procrastinating?"
'He is so blunt...or maybe he doesn't realize he is supposed to delegate some of the responsibilities to his secretary. Perhaps he is just an individual with an imposing nature. At this point, all the new recruits will be fearful of him, or take advantage of his flawless work ethic.'
Ari felt relieved when his secretary left. She appeared to be holding back her words but Ari felt he had no energy left to take in new information and suggestions. Closing his laptop shut, he pushed it aside and took a file with the shortlisted resumes for the new recruits. He'd outsourced a recruitment company to help him recruit new staff but hadn't yet gone through their profiles. Despite the starting off, he still felt the need to do a traditional one-on-one interview with the candidates himself.
'I've been around this business long enough but never once did I feel this drained. My circadian rhythm is messed up too from lack of sleep and proper daylight. I'm overly calm for some reason. Maybe I'm suffering from some silent stress despite feeling enthusiastic about this venture.
Still, why do I feel so indifferent towards it? Is it because my social life has been put to a halt because of work? I miss Mun though...and Ned. He always had a way of cheering me up whenever I felt Melancholic.'
The sudden ring from his cell phone startled Ari. He contemplated on whether to pick up the call but decided against it when he saw the caller ID.
"Are you going to eat that or not?"
"W-What...?" Ari was startled, his body growing instantly cold for he'd assumed he was the only one left in the building.
"My brother took his time making you that."
"Ms. Esy," Ari almost yelled at the sight of Rey's sister but maintained his composure. "I don't recall me inviting you to my office."
"Then I'll wait outside until you leave."
"Why are you still here?" Ari could no longer entertain her stubbornness. "How did security allow you in?"
"I simply mentioned my lunchbox which I'd dropped earlier. One of them escorted me to your office." Walking towards Ari's table to an untouched lunchbox, she picked it up then turned her face towards Ari. "I saw you ignoring my brother's call just now."
Pulling a chair to sit, she added, "You know something Mr. Manager, my brother doesn't cook."
"He sent you here."
"You have refused to see him as you have me. It's fine, you don't have to give me the job. That's not what he is calling you for."
"You should have made an appointment instead of showing up out of the blue like this. This is a working environment, not your house."
"I don't care. I want you to meet up with my brother. I'd expected him to ask from me a big favour but all he seemed to care about is if you'd eaten lunch today."
'She really is as straightforward as her brother.' "Whatever is between your brother and I is of no concern of yours."
"I think it would be best if you didn't underestimate me. I'm an expert gambler and I can read your flat face like an open book. What are you so afraid of?"
"What the..."
"Return his call, Mr Manager."
"Hey..." Ari's jaw dropped at her forwardness. Anyone else would have taken it as disrespect but Mun had prepared him for Rey's sister's personality. "Do you know where you are right now?"
"'He's been working overtime three weeks in a row. He hardly eats nor sleeps. I've noticed he's lost a lot of weight too. Just get this to him that's all I ask today.' My brother's words, not mine. He won't tell me anything else and no matter how much I probe him, he doesn't budge. Mr Manager, I don't dislike the vertical nature of the chain of command and as my elder, I want to respect you but you are making it very difficult."
'What the... Rey said the same thing to my parents. She is definitely hardheaded, throwing a tantrum on behalf of his beloved brother therefore, I'd be talking to a rock if I try reasoning with her.' "Are you two spying on me?"
"My schedule and his overlap so I bump into him on his way from work and where does he drag me to? Here, even though you've made him a target with your security always looking out to get him." Placing the lunchbox back on the table, she added, seeming irritated, "In the morning, he has to be at work by eight but he forces me out with him two hours early to come stalk you. You report to work at seven, isn't it?
Ari seemed amused by her lost temper. It was entertaining to watch that he hardly payed attention to her words, rather, her body language, which oozed frustrations imposed on her by her elder brother.
"You are exhausting to deal with Mr. Manager. If you'd recruited me that day, I would have given you my resignation on the first day and if you do date my brother, I'll be rooting for him to dump you. Either way, my parents will never approve of your relationship so you only have me to vouch for you two therefore, stop making my brother frustrate me."
"I'll give him a call. Does that satisfy you?"
"Now."
Ari smiled. "Fine. I will require some privacy if you don't mind."
"I mind." Rey's sister crossed her arms on her chest in defiance. "Consider this punishment for making me wait for hours at the lobby, starving to death without a single drop of beverage.."
"You really are your brother's sister alright."
"Are you going to eat that?" Rey's sister pointed at the lunchbox, ignoring Ari's sarcasm. "Rey never makes me anything so..."
"You can have it."
"Thank you."