"Why not ?"she argued."You know so well how it is important to close this deal, and we can't throw any chance we have.
"To hell with the project."Quen snapped at her in anger that she was startled.
She narrowed her eyes and played with her fingers.the act she involuntary did when she was scared.Quen saw it and bit his lip while rubbing his forehead to ease his anger.
"I'm sorry,"he rose and stood aside, embarrassed by his reaction."it's just...it's just I can't exchange you for anything." Angela couldn't believe her ears.
What does he mean by that. She couldn't help thinking, but that wasn't enough to suppress how wronged she felt. a silent moment passed before Angela decided to break it.
"I'm sorry. I just thought I had to do something, didn't know it would anger you. That was so stupid of me. " She picked up her bag and rose from her seat, preparing to go.
"I'd better leave."She turned to go but was stopped by Quen's hold on her arm.
She turned back surprised and stared at him. Quen stared at her confused face before he realized that he had held her arm. He quickly released her.
"Look, I didn't mean to snap at you. It's just I ....you see..,your dad ,what would I tell him if something bad happened to you? "
She continued to stare at him. Actually she wasn't leaving because she was angry, only because she thought she was stupid to show weakness to him but now she was trying to like her choice. Let's play this one game with you Mr cocky. She smiled in her thought.
"My dad too. He would kill me if something happened to you, " he added, afraid that she was still angry.
"But you hurt me," she said, acting hurt and innocent.
"And I'm sorry for that, and I'll do anything to gain your forgiveness."
"Anything ?" She raised a brow with a smirk on her lips.
"Anything," he assured in his usually serious tone.
Okay. She smiled." I only want to please my dad, and only this project can help, so if you could at least let me meet...." His serious tone cut her in.
"That won't happen. end of discussion"
"But.."she protested, but an aside voice calling her name stopped her.
"Oh my God, Diana,"she exclaimed when she saw the girl who called behind them.
"Long time no see,how are you doing?" Diana asked as they hugged.
"Happy to be alive, what about you? Still beautiful like before, " she grinned as they faced each other holding hands.
Diana laughed. "Same to you, still flattering me. Anyways, we lost touch after high school. "
"Unfortunately, but I'm really happy to see you again."
Quen, who was getting bored of the girls' chit-chat, couldn't help coughing.
Diana glanced aside, and her gaze met Quen.
"Woo! Boyfriend? Big catch, you know, " she winked. Unknowingly, Angela rolled eyes.
"Not my boyfriend, just a business partner." She necessary explained.
"So he is on market?" She teased with a smirk. Quen excitedly searched Angela's reaction on her face but got only a shrug from her to his disappoitement.
Diana smiled at the hurt expression in Quen's eyes. " You guys look good together, though."
Angela mumbled no way before she turned to Quen. Luckily, no one
Heard her.
"Quen, this is Diana, my high school friend."
"Hi, Quen Okefe." He said, shaking hands with her.
"Diana Del Angel," she said with a smile .
"Mexicana," Angela added, and the two girls laughed. " You used to add it while presenting yourself.
" You have a great mind, dear." Diana couldn't keep her compliment.
"Wait," Quen, who has been carefully analyzing her name, suddenly said. The two girls turned to him a pleasant smile still on their lips.
"You are Mr Garry's daughter?" He asked, surprised by his own sudden reasoning.
"Yes, why?" Diana couldn't help asking.
" You mean Mr Garry is Uncle Angelo ?" Angela was more surprised at the degree of her stupid than the fact that they are one person. She should have discovered it when Quen told her he was a Mexican. But at the second thought, it's all Quen's fault he didn't mention his last name.
"You should have told me in the beginning," she scoffed, giving Quen a killing glance, which he only shrugged at.
"Guys, I don't know what you are talking about," Diana finally asked in confusion. Angela suddenly smiled and dragged Diana aside and explained the situation.
" Okay. I can help you, but I don't know if it will work. " Quen only heard this when Diana glanced at him.
They continued their secret conversation. Honestly, it took them five minutes, but to Quen, it was like a whole day.
"Mr Okefe, it was nice to meet you," Diana said when they returned and extended a hand to shake. Quen smiled and shook her hand, but instead of releasing his hand, Diana went closer and whispered to him.
"My friend is naive and naughty, so don't give up so soon." she winked at him and stepped aside.
Quen couldn't help grinning, looked at Angela and ignored the confusion look on her face, then turned to Diana.
"It was nice meeting you too, Miss Del Angel," he finally said.
Diana smiled, hugged her friend, and said final goodbyes.
" Remember to keep in touch," she said as she walked away.
After Diana left, Quen turned and faced Angela. He stood straight and folded his arms over his chest. " Now tell me, what's going on?" He asked in his serious tone.
"Let's go first," she said and marched out. Quen frowned and followed her.
They reached the parking lot and entered the car. " Now tell me," he asked right after they relaxed in the car.
Angela took a water bottle and started playing with it. I am so eager to annoy him.
"Angela, please, I need to know what's going on." She ignored him and drank her water.
" You know what, Quen , I just realized that today you have used my first name than usual, and I'm wondering why." Quen gave her a sharp gaze.
"Okay, okay. I'll just spill it. I can't take that cold gaze of yours, "she bubbled and continued ignoring the smirk on Quen's face.
"Diana said that she will help us, but you have to promise me something first."
" What promise?"
" That you will set down your pride. You know, not everyone can bear you. Luckily, I am. " The pride she spoke with made Quen's lips curve upward.
" Here is what you will do. Diana will text me the restaurant she was supposed to meet Uncle Angelo, and you have to reach there before him and try not to piss him off. "
" I can't promise you that," he said with a sneer. " I can't give him the satisfication of feeling on top."
"What's wrong with it. We are the ones in need. "
" But that doesn't mean we agree with his term." he couldn't himself bowing to anyone, especially an old snob like him. Even the thought of it was frustrating, so he snapped at her.
"Okay, fine. If you won't go, I will and remember rule n°1" she angrily crossed her arms over her chest and faced the front.
An awakward silence passed. Quen glanced at her to only find her face reddened with anger.
"I'll do it," he suddenly agreed. Angela couldn't believe her ears. She wanted to ask what changed his mind but decided to shut up in case he went back to his word.
"Thank you," she couldn't help to say, out of politness, of course. In fact, she found this man unpredictable, not sure if he'll stick to his word.
The whole ride back to l_ group was silent. Angela's eyes filled with confusion he didn't stop in the parking lot but rather at the main entrance. but since Quen was in no good mood, she didn't dare to ask.
"Ain't you coming?"she asked when he showed no sign to hop out.
" No, you go in first." Still, she was confused and has to ask why.
" But it's still 2 hours before lunch," she said while glancing at her wristwatch.
" I'll just pass somewhere. Will inform you after the meeting. " Angela could feel impatience in his tone and decided not to drag the topic.
" Okay . Good luck then, " she said before hopping out of the car and staring as the car drove away.
" What's there to be grumpy about?" she frowned at his disappearing BMW before she slowly marched toward the door.
" Bro, what a surprise!" Danny exclaimed when he opened his apartment door and found Quen.
Quen only gave him a killing gaze and entered. He removed his suit jacket and relaxed himself on the couch.
" What will you have?" Danny asked.
" Anything cold," he answered, leaning his head on the side of the couch.
" I happen to have some beer in the fridge," Danny shouted as he walked into the kitchen.
" Here " he flew one can at Quen and he cought it in air. Sat straight and drunk almost it up.
" What happened?" Danny finally asked his friend.
"Can you believe that I'm going on fucking lunch date with the snob" he half yelled minding the sarcasm.
With the nick name Danny already knew who it is. Sometimes he wonder why the two never get along well but the answer is always comes simple cause they are much alike #arrogant# .
" I thought you two never get along " he said sipping his bear. Feeling bitterness on his tongue.
Till now he doesn't get why people still like the shit. Including him.
" If it wasn't for her ..." He drunk the left.
" Her? Who?, Don't tell me you are stressed by a girl" he mocked him.
" If I don't go, she will go and you know how that jerk is".
" You still talking about her but I don't even know who".
" It's Angela . She is so difficult to deal with".
" So it's your pretty partner" he grinned but Quen's gaze made him dismiss any thought he had of teasing him.
" What will do?, Are you going to swallow you pride and meet him?" He asked instead.
" I got no choice "
" Anything left?" Angela played that Betty say no cause they had spent almost six hours working on her idea of marketing the new brand and she was fucking tired to death.
" No, it's all finished" luckily she said.
They relaxed on the couch leaning there heads on it in tiredness manner.
" Do you think he'll meet him?".
Now that she was no longer busy, her mind went back to Quen and his lunch date. Date? Sounds so good.
" Do you?". Instead of answering Betty took it as an opportunity to find out what Angela think about Quen .
" Well, I can't think " she said sitting straight " you know ,he's difficult to read. There's no other description for him except the word handsome and rich ".
As if she didn't want to admit it she rolled her eyes which made Betty laugh her ass out.
" I don't think it's funny" . Annoyed that she had to compliment him, Angela couldn't find anything funny in what she said.
" Not really funny, just the truth". Trying to suppress her laughter which is clearly in vain she find a need to explain.
" You will get used to it and be able to read him also . I passed the same phase too".
" Maybe or maybe not" Angela only shruged . " Oh that remind me of something" she excitedly shifted position to face Betty.
" How long have you been working here?"
" Five years. Two with chairman and three with Quen ".
" I'd have stayed with chairman if I were you so you won't have to bear with that cocky, potato faced man".
Betty shock her head in disbelieve. One look at Angela now, she knew that Quen has finally meet his match.
" Who could handle that temper of him. In just one month he had fired almost five secretaries.so chairman though that since we were used to each other, it was better if I became his sec".
So he's been a bad company since long. Angela couldn't help commenting in her thoughts.
" Oh " she managed to say."so, now you know him well?" she added though it comes more like a statement than a question.
Betty didn't even try hiding a smile that lit up her face after.
" Well yeah. Let me tell you " she shifted position so she came face to face " that boy ,though he put on hard face she soft inside. You will know if you see him with his nephew".
" Nephew?" Before Betty could answer her question, the door bang open.