Gracias

Grace watched the news on the TV with dull eyes. She wouldn't actually call it a news because it was more like a gossip channel and they never failed to have something bad to say about her every time. 

"... at this rate, I think it is impossible for her to become the CEO of ANC corporation. She gives the company a bad name and image every time." One of the hosts, a redheaded woman, said.

"Last week, she almost hit a stray dog crossing the streets. She also fired two employees unjustly."

"And she did not hold out the door for an elderly woman who was behind her at a boutique. Who does that?" The co-host gasped dramatically. 

The screen was divided into two with a video clip of her getting out of a boutique after shopping. There was a middle-aged woman behind her when she was leaving, and yes, she hadn't held out the door for the woman because she hadn't been aware someone was behind her. Well, even if she was aware, she probably would have done the same thing so she'll let it pass.

"No wonder she is still single at 26. With that attitude of hers, no one is going to marry her." 

"Talking about weddings... Michael Stoner is set to wed! Yay!" 

Micheal turned off the TV and turned to look at her with an amused expression. 

"They've gone soft on me. Crazy bitches." Grace snorted. 

"People are talking about it online. They believe you are not fit to be the CEO. You really shouldn't let them be. The more you ignore it, the more disrespectful they get." 

She laughed dryly. "You should know that's all my stupid brother's doing. If he wasn't backing them, you think anyone in their right mind would have the guts to say my name even on a passing?

Michael went to stand behind her and slowly began to massage her shoulders. 

"Don't just go online and try to read the comments, okay?" He said softly. 

She melted under his touch and closed her eyes, savouring the moment. She knew that as soon as he got married, things between them was going to change and he was going to be more distant. Her heart broke at that thought. 

"You know... your dad called me last night,"

"Hmm?" 

"He didn't even try to hide the fact that he was sad I was getting married." He laughed. 

"Sad? Why?" She opened her eyes to look at him. Her green eyes, meeting his hazel ones. 

"Well, he had been hoping I'd be his son-in-law someday and was quite disappointed to hear I was getting married." 

"Is he crazy? Why would he even think that? Eww!" She shut her eyes and decided it was best to only focus on the massage and not on her emotions. 

"Hey! I'm a catch you know. I should be saying 'eww' to you." He joked. "But what he said made me remember the promise we both made to each other when we were 10."

Her heart skipped. 

"Remember? We promised we were going to marry each other if we were still single at 27." 

"What? Who did? Have you been smoking lately?" She opened her eyes and shrugged his hands away from her shoulders. 

"You don't remember?" 

"I don't remember ever making such promise at 10. What did I even know about marriage then?" 

He looked hurt.

She looked away. 

"You'll come to the friendly dinner tomorrow right?" 

She was glad he dropped that topic.

"I am busy with work." She picked up the document she had been reading earlier and began to flip through the pages. 

"Gracias, you have to be there."

"Firstly, I have told you to stop calling me that. And secondly, I cannot be there. Sorry."

"Grace..."

He drew her chair and placed both hands on the handles, bending to meet her height. 

She became uncomfortable with their proximity and tried to keep her eyes on the documents but he also took that from her. 

"You are my best friend. If you aren't coming, I'll cancel the whole dinner." 

"You won't do that!" 

"Dare me." He challenged. 

"Don't be stupid, Michael. A lot of people have been invited for this. You cannot just cancel it because of me." She said, meeting his eyes.

"I can." He replied defiantly. 

They both ensued in a challenging stare for a moment before she swore and look away. 

"Fine! I'll be there. Whatever."

He released her chair and smiled smugly. 

"And I know you won't like this... but your brother is going to be there." 

"YOU INVITED HIM?!" 

"Calm down!" He raised his hands like a criminal surrendering to the police.

"Trust me, I dislike that dude as much as you do. But I could not just NOT invite him. Your entire family is going to be there. And you know the best thing about it all?" He asked. 

"What?" She asked hesitantly. 

"I will also be there." He winked at her. 

"God! I'm so annoyed right now!" She hissed. "I just want to vent out my anger on that boy. I dislike him so much! I can promise you he is going to do his best to rile me up tomorrow." 

"You're going to burst from anger at this rate." Michael said with concern while watching her.

"I think I know the best way to relieve you of this anger now." He said with a mischievous smile. 

"Don't give me any stupid ideas." She glared at him.

"Nope. But..." He drawled. "I realized there's an interview going on in your department. Maybe you can go take it out on the newbies?" He suggested with a wink. 

"That's the brilliant idea you have?" She asked with a look of displeasure on her face. 

"You don't like it?"

The look on her face suddenly morphed into a big smile. "I love it! You always know the right ways to cheer me up." 

She said while getting up from her seat.

"That's why we are best friend's right?" He asked with a grin.

Of course. They were best friends. That's all they were ever going to be. 

The frustration began to hit her hard.

Poor applicants. They didn't know what was coming for them.