"SO, ANY NEWS?" I asked after the waiter went off to prepare our orders. Althea invited me for lunch in Althea's, which is obviously her very own restaurant that she founded with her own money.
She gave me a cute smile before raising her right hand.
"We're getting married!!" She whisper-yelled. And with a bright smile, showed me her engagement ring.
I was so stunned to speak up, the diamond ring glittered in the light.
"Aww, I'm so happy for you!" I mused while gushing at the sight of the ring. "When did he proposed?" I inquired.
"Yesterday, after I told him about my pregnancy..." She answered animatedly.
Two days had passed ever since she told me about her pregnancy and her reluctance on telling Michael. Well, the outcome came out well.
"It's high time that both of you settle down. How long were you've been together? 8 years? What's more to do than to plan your future, right?" I said to her while drinking my piña colada.
The waiter came back with our orders. I smiled at him for gratitude which made him blushed.
Oh...
"E-enjoy your meals m-ma'am..." He stuttered before scurrying away.
I shook my head.
Boys...
"Yeah, I was so shocked when he proposed, like oh my gosh! I really did not expect it from him! I thought he was going to break up with me but he actually proposed!" She exclaimed, voice filled with giddiness.
"You're underestimating your boyfri-- err, I mean fiance Thea. Michael really loves you, rather, he's head-over-heels for you." I stated while eating my carbonara.
She sighed dreamily and spoke, "I think it's me whose really head-over-heels for him, Wynter. I love him so much that I'll think I'll go mad if he ever leaves me. No wait, I'll go mad, period." She asserted while toying her food with the fork.
"You were always crazy Thea." I pointed out. She rolled her eyes at me and I laugh.
"You're such a bitch!" She exclaimed. "What about you Wynter, when are you planning to get married? Do you have a plan or do you want to spend the rest of your life alone?" Her questions made me scrunched my face.
"Oh please..." I spat sourly and stopped eating. "I'm still living my life at the moment so, no."
"You're already 28 Wynter, at this rate you'll end up menopausal and loveless. Your ovaries will gonna hate you." She blanched.
I rolled my eyes at her and answered, "You're like Mommy Lydia, seriously? What's with my age and everyone's pushing me to marry already? I am going to marry if I find the man I want, so stop with this shit already."
"You have so many suitors, you don't want any of them?" Asked Thea.
"Tch, they're all the same type of people. I don't want them."
"Heh, what's your type then?"
"I want a man who'll make me fvcking scream and tremble with desire. A man who can violate me but can also protect me. I want a bad man." I professed.
She craned her head at the side, "Oh well, Michael can make me fvcking scream and tremble with desire, he can also protect me. But a man whose bad? And violates? Oh God, I think it's you who's mad Wynter."
I snorted, she doesn't understand me at all.
I want a man who will make me dance at his palm. A type of man who'll let me do the chasing but who will also treat me like his queen. I need a man who can assault me, do you get me?
I'm so sick of those types of men who will promise you the world. Those self-proclaimed gentlemen who'll offer the moon and stars. Men who are too fussy.
I want a guy who can do rude things to me.
"This way Mister Nagasaki..."
My eyes went to a group of men in corporate suits who just entered the restaurant. But my eyes instantly glued on one particular man.
"A bad man? Do you like criminals? Or a sadist?" Thea was chattering nonstop but I wasn't listening to her. My whole senses were preoccupied at the moment after all.
The man in the black Armani Suit stood out from the rest, he's like a model, no, a God.
They sat at a table in the corner, he was facing me so I could freely look as much as I want and study him.
He was perfectly tanned. His slicked-back hair glistened in the light, makes me think what they look like messed up. My eyes trailed down his angular jaw which is dusted with stubbles.
I wonder what it would feel like against my skin...
I bit my lip at the thought.
Shaking my head, I continued studying his physique.
He has a proud nose but is slightly crooked, meant that he had been in fights before. Ooh, I bet he won every one of them.
My eyes zeroed at his mouth. His lips even from far away were very tempting and those eyes...
Even at this distance, I can be assured that they are captivating.
If he could just look at me then I'll know.
"You're joking, right? Why would you want a bad man? They're "bad" you know? Why won't you look for a man who's good and can give you the world?"
And as if he can hear my silent plea, his eyes suddenly darted at me and met mine.
I stopped breathing.
His eyes were hypnotizing, and so dark. Like they're hiding secrets. Like the abyss, beckoning you to come and jump into them. He was meters away from me yet I could feel my knees turn weak.
Hot damn.
His face was blank and unreadable, but so fvcking handsome. He could easily outlooked all the models of vogue. The epitome of a male adonis in flesh.
For 5 seconds which felt like an eternity, our eyes were connected. He then returned his gaze to the person in front of him, and it made me yearned. Disappointed because it was so short.
Looks like they're having a serious business talk.
"Like my Michael, but sorry for you babe, Michael is one in a million."
"Yeah, one in a million..." I uttered in a daze while still staring at the man like an idiot.
"Right, if I were you, I'm gonna look for my own version of Michael," Thea stated.
"I think I found him already. And he's nowhere near your Michael..." I whispered.
"What?"
I looked at Thea who was also staring at me.
"Huh? Did you say something?"
She rolled her eyes and replied, "Never mind. By the way I'm gonna go first. I have an appointment with my OB."
"Yeah, uh take care. Do you have a chaperone?"
"Yup, Michael's gonna come and we'll go together so I gotta go. Bye..." She said, giving me a kiss on the cheek before leaving.
When I turned my eyes at the man again they were also leaving. It made me want to stand up and approached him, ask his name. Damn, I'm being too dramatic.
I wonder who is he.
"...appointment for tomorrow. And also, Mr. Yukon of Yukon Enterprise called a while ago about your business proposal. He wants to talk to you in person to discuss the contract. And lastly, Mr. Alferez sent this to you."
My body is here in my office physically but my mind was wandering elsewhere.
"Miss Wynter..."
Somewhere where a specific man is involved.
"Miss Wynter..."
A man with dark eyes and a sinfully handsome face.
Oh dear, those eyes...
It was fleeting but the impact could last for a lifetime.
"Miss Wynter!"
"Uh, what?" I asked disoriented. Beth was standing in front of me with questioning eyes. Apparently, she had been blabbering nonstop yet it felt like I didn't hear anything, which is true.
"Mr. Alferez sent this for you." Then she handed me an envelope. I took it from her and opened it.
An invitation letter for the upcoming Charity Ball at the Diamond Hotel.
"Do you know who are the people invited to the ball?" I asked.
"Um I checked the roster, all important people are invited." She answered.
"Are you okay Miss?" Asked Beth after I scanned the contents of the invitation. I gave her a small smile before putting the envelope away..
"Yes, Beth. Thank you for the concern, do I have any important appointments for today?" I asked.
"Yes Miss, you have a meeting with the boards at 3 pm and also, Miss Elle called earlier." She answered.
"Okay, you may now leave," I said.
Aside from Thea, Elle is also my friend. Among the three of us, Elle is the most adventurous one. She has this thing called wanderlust. She can't stay in one place for long and the places she likes to visit are all remote. She even went to the land without rain! And the last time I've heard about her, she disappeared in the Amazon.
I grabbed my phone in my bag and called her. It took a while before she answered.
"Hey weirdo..." I greeted.
"You called?" She answered curtly.
"It was you who first called me you idiot, what's the problem?"
I heard a faint sound of branches breaking before I heard her shout.
"Sh.t! Stupid branch! Stupid tree! Damn it! WYNTER!!" I held my phone away from my ear.
"What the hell Elle? Why are you shouting?!"
"Sorry, I got surprised because a big snake just slithered out of nowhere." She answered. I can also hear her panting.
What?
"Where the hell are you this time?!"
This woman...
"I don't know... Somewhere in south maybe, in a jungle. There are like lots of weird shit in here..." She mussed. Hearing her answer made me more confused.
"South? Where exactly is that? South America? South Korea? South pole? Be specific!"
"And why did you say south pole? Is there a jungle in the south pole? Really!"
I massaged my temples. My head hurts...
"Go home Elle, I'll send a chopper to wherever the hell you are..."
"Aw, don't worry Wynter, I'm fine. I was just searching for a c-- schkjtr-- Smcjahgt--"
My brows furrowed when the line went all static. I don't even understand anything she's saying.
"Hello, Elle?! Hello?!!!"
"Hgfsyu-- sjakgr---" toot.toot.
I stared at my phone and sighed. Damn, maybe there's no signal at that jungle she's in.
I got more stressed out after talking with Elle. I just hope she's fine, I gotta contact someone to look for her later.
I sat down at the swivel chair and my eyes caught the invitation.
Should I go?
I stared at the white parchment, contemplating. Then afterwards I heaved a sigh.
Of course, Wynter McIver would not surpass any parties. I just hope I could also meet him there.
I edited the place where Elle is supposed to because it seems that I offended some people. Really, I didn't mean it guys I wasn't trying to insinuate anything (っ╥╯﹏╰╥c) I'm sorry about that