Picking up my purse, I take one last look at myself in the full-length mirror and head down for breakfast where I'm sure the rest of the family has already arrived. Me and my family live together in our family home that my grandfather had bought as his first big investment after the business started getting big. Sure, it has been remodeled but the feelings haven't change. Especially for dad, he has always insisted that all of us stay together, at least until we decide to start our own families.
It wasn't solely from an emotional perspective; it was also much easier in regards of safety. It doesn't mean we are bound to this house but none of us had any complaints. Tristan does have his own condo which he sometimes prefers over staying here. Even I plan on buying my own house someday, it is always nice to have a place of your own.
I step into the dining area and greet everyone, "Good morning."
Dad nods from his newspaper, while Tristan and mom give me smiles. I take my seat next to my brother and watch the staff bring in breakfast to the table.
The food is served and we start eating in silence. A while later dad interrupts the sounds of spoons and plates clanking against each other, "We have an upcoming event coming later this month. It is a charity event and we'll be having a lot of important people present there. Gianna, now that you officially work for the company, you must start attending these as well."
I nod eagerly, "Sure, Dad."
It's not like this gives me any credibility but coming from dad seems like an achievement. Sure, I have attended these things in my teenage years but later on I didn't feel apt enough to be there. And as I said dad has always been keen on privacy.
"Tristan, we have to be active in engaging the investors from up north. I don't want anyone else to be their priority." He jaw clenches, "You know who I'm talking about."
Tristan nods sternly, "Yes dad. I'll take care of it."
Mom and I exchange a brief glance and continue on with our breakfast. Even we know who he is talking about, the Romano's. Although, they are our biggest rivals, oddly their name is never uttered inside these walls. For years, I have been witnessing this competition and never once heard dad say the word.
The hate the two families quite popular in the market as well. This rivalry seems to be beyond the competition, not once have any of us have gotten the zest of it though. All I know is that the Romano's must be really fucked to have dad hate them. He is a competitive person but has always had mutual respect towards others in the industry.
We finish breakfast, and head to work. Me, Tristan and dad take our own cars while dad drives mom. She owns a small restaurant two blocks from the head office. She has always loved cooking and after Tristan was a year old, she finally took a step and opened it.
It picked on pretty fast and dad proposed to expand it as well but mom denied. She was adamant on owning one restaurant and keeping things as authentic as possible, all her recipes, her methods, her techniques to be unique and rare. Although, she doesn't regularly work there anymore she does go in for check ins.
On reaching the office, I greet the people I pass and walk into my cabin. Taking my seat, I open my mail, where I find one send by Tristan where he has assigned me some jobs to be done for the next weeks. Dad has advised me to work under Tristan for a few weeks before I officially take up the position of assistant marketing head.
I immerse myself into work for the next few hours until Tristan knocks on my door and asks me to join for lunch. I almost say I'm not hungry but remember dad's words from yesterday and decide to join him. We have lunch at the canteen with few of our employees and find myself warming up to them. Tristan however seems to be very comfortable with them and I can tell they love to have him as boss.
I continue working for another two hours and decide to take a break. Leaning back on the chair, I take my phone and scroll through social media. My finger stops scrolling at a post of one of my acquaintances from college. A picture of her with three of her friends at the beach, sunbathing stares back at me. Must be nice to have company on your holiday. And there was me at my family's beach house in Hawaii, spending my days alone in the sun.
It's not like people wouldn't have come if I had invited them but do I really want to spend time with people who I can barely call classmates. During high school, I did take my supposed friends to our lake house where we spent two luxurious days, spending a lot of money; mine. However, they somehow forgot to invite me to a lot of their plans, well fair cause I wasn't the one spending money there, right?
I shut down my phone and hold my head in my hands. Turning my head slightly towards the digital clock on my desk, I read the time and it's four in the evening. Guess it's time for a refreshment. I pick my purse and my phone to have my coffee of the day.
Getting in my car, my mind involuntarily drifts to a certain man that has occupied my thoughts since I've laid eyes on him. He said he visits 'Rendezvous' every day, what are the chances that we'll actually see each other again? Why am I all flustered at the thought of that happening? I'm acting like a teenager who has a crush on her senior. I need to control my damn emotions.
I drive towards the café and walk towards the door after parking. Just I'm getting the door my phone starts ringing, I step inside looking at the caller ID. Lilah.
I smile at my sister's name and pick up the call. "Okay, I know it's not the right time, both of us are busy but Kiara just said her first full sentence! I'm sending you the video."
"Oh my god! That's so cool!" I say holding my hand to my heart.
"Yeah, anyway I'll call you later. Got to go, bye!" She hangs up as I reach the counter.
I wait for the lady in front of me to finish ordering while I play the video my sister sends me of my niece. My eyes well up a little as she adorably says, "I want to eat cream!"
Lilah and Kiara live in LA and I barely get to see them. Lilah never visits because she feels like there's nothing left for her here since dad disowned her, not totally but decided to cut all ties. Well, that's a story for another time.
I smile at the barista from yesterday as my turn comes. She smiles back and takes my order. Just when I'm paying, Jenny, the owner walks over to the counter.
She notices me and grins, "Hi! You visiting again? I'll take that as a good sign!"
"Yeah, absolutely. I really enjoyed my time here and I was eager to come back." I bite lip and continue, "Also, I don't know if I've said it enough but I'm really sorry for yesterday."
She frowns, "Oh, it was nothing. It happens all the time, don't stress over it." A soft smile takes over her face as she gestures behind me, "Go have your seat. We'll get your order."
My eyebrows scrunch in confusion as I look behind to where she pointed. My eyes widen and my heart starts racing when I spot Jace at the same table from yesterday, gazing out the curtain wall, whilst talking on the phone. His suit jacket is draped over the back of his seat and the sleeves of his shirt are rolled up to his elbows. I track the delicate veins on the back of his hand disappearing inside the sleeve of his white button down.
I take a few steps towards the table but stop myself just about a meter away. I suddenly feel conscious and hesitate going over to talk to him. What if I'm disturbing him? He probably doesn't even remember me. I was just about to go and disturb someone based on assumptions. I'm literally so embarrassing.
I shake my head and decide to go sit on some other table. Before I can make any further movement, Jace hangs up his call and notices me. My eyes lock with him and I stand still like a deer caught in headlights.
"Hi, Gianna, it's you again." He says his face completely unreadable.
Oh god, he probably thinks I'm a clingy ass girl fawning over him. Well, the latter half is not false. But he probably despises me now. I really need to get away from this man.
"Well, are you just going stand there or are you taking your seat?" He says, with a confident smirk on his face that fastens my already rapid heartbeat.
Oh shit! Guess I can't.