Taking Matters in His Own Hands

"Grace, I am expecting Ms. Samantha de Vera today. Probably this morning," Ryan said as he walked pass his assistant's table. Then suddenly, he stopped walking and paused.

And then, he said, "Or Dr. Samantha... Whatever! Just tell the receptionist to guide her to my office when she comes."

Grace smiled. "Will do, Sir."

He then went on to his office. Great! The first part of his plan has been done.

He called Samantha yesterday. He told her that he is thinking of doing something about him and Jenneth. But he did not tell her anything. He said she should come visit their office tomorrow, so that he could discuss everything to her together with Kenneth.

Which is also part of the plan. As much as he can, Ryan will do everything to get Samantha closer to Kenneth. He will do everything to rekindle at least the friendship that they had before. And then, the fondness. Then probably, the love they had for each other.

Samantha came quite early. It's not yet nine in the morning when his secretary Grace took her to his office.

"Sir, Ms. Samantha is here," Grace told him as she widened the door, revealing Samantha at the other end.

"Sam!" Ryan stood up and went to her. He went outside his office, then shared a friendly hug with Samantha.

"What is all this?" Samantha indicated the entire office.

"Fruits of my labor and Kenneth's. Speaking of, let's go to his office."

Before going to Kenneth's office, Ryan stopped to talk to his secretary.

"Grace, please prepare some snacks for Ms. de Vera, and for me and Kenneth." He then looked at Samantha and asked, "Coffee? Tea? What do you like?"

"Whatever you have," Samantha answered.

Ryan looked back at his secretary, seemingly thinking of giving her some more instructions. But his mouth just remained opened with no words coming out. His look was quite funny, Samantha and Grace both giggled.

"Just prepare whatever you can," he just told Grace.

"Okay, Sir," answered the smiling Grace.

So Ryan and Samantha proceeded to Kenneth's office. They met Kenneth's secretary outside.

"Is Kenneth here?" Ryan asked. "By the way, Sam, this is Kenneth's secretary, Grace. As in like my secretary. They are both Grace."

Grace giggled. "You can also call me Ara, Ma'am."

Samantha smiled. "Hi Grace Ana!"

Grace smiled. "Hello, Ma'am. Sir Kenneth is inside."

Finally, Samantha and Ryan went inside Kenneth's office. The latter was obviously surprised when he saw the two enter.

"Surprise!" Ryan exclaimed.

"Sam!" Kenneth stood up from his seat.

Ryan went inside the office, and Samantha followed suit.

"Hi Kenneth," Samantha said.

"H-Hello..." Kenneth is still shocked that he just stared at her for a few seconds. "H-Have a seat."

Ryan and Samantha sat in the chairs in front of Kenneth's table. The latter also sat down at his chair again.

"Uhm… you want anything?" Kenneth asked Samantha.

"It's okay, Ken. I already asked Grace to take care of that... My Grace, that is," Ryan said.

"Don't you get confused? Your secretaries have the same name. They are both Grace," Samantha asked.

"We call my secretary Ara because that really is her first name. Ryan is the only one who calls her Grace," Kenneth answered.

"It's because my mom's name is Grace. I mean, my real mother," Ryan explained.

The two remained quiet. They know how sensitive that topic about Ryan's family is.

"So... you came," Kenneth said to Samantha.

"Actually, our friend here asked me to visit," Samantha said, then she looked at Ryan.

"Well, I've been thinking… about me and Jhing…" Ryan said.

He saw how his two friends' faces lit up. Yeah, maybe this could really work.

"You want her back," Kenneth said, finishing what Ryan meant to say.

He nodded. "And you said you'll help me."

"Of course!" Kenneth said, obviously very glad. "Anything you need, Ry."

Ryan then looked at Samantha.

"I told you, I'm in," she told him.

Ryan felt relieved, and it's not because the two are really helping him. It's because his plan is really working now.

"Oh, thank you! You really are my friends," he said, acting like he really was happy.

"You finally came to your sense, huh?" Kenneth said to Ryan, teasing him.

"I know! Please stop teasing me, will you? It's quite embarrassing already," Ryan said.

"You're embarrassed because of how you feel about Jenneth?" Samantha asked.

"Not like that," Ryan answered. "I'm embarrassed because I messed up before, then here I am now trying to get back to her. What a shameless arse I am, right?"

"It's okay, Bro," Kenneth said to Ryan. "At least you admit that you messed up before."

"But, do you think she will accept me again?" Ryan asked Kenneth. "I really was so stupid."

"Maybe she would," Samantha answered. "Just explain to her your side. Jhing is very kind. She will listen to you, for sure. I just don't know if she will forgive you since I don't have any idea what you did to her back then."

"Let's just not talk about that," Ryan said. "But I think just the thought of us talking is already a turn off for her. For sure she will not talk to me just like that."

"Don't say that. You haven't tried it yet," Kenneth told him. "Who knows? She might agree to talk to you."

"I wish we could be in a place where she could not leave or avoid me that easily," Ryan said. "Like, she doesn't have any choice but to talk to me, or at least listen to me."

"What are you saying?" Samantha asked. "Like put her in an island where only the two of you exist?"

"Well, that's a nice idea," Ryan said.

"Then, I've got the perfect place," Samantha said.

The two men looked at her.

"Let me take care of that. I can also convince Jhing to come," Samantha added.

"There you go," Kenneth said to Ryan. "You need not worry anymore."

"But I thought you'll also help me?" Ryan asked Kenneth.

"Moral support," Kenneth said.

Samantha giggled at the two men's banter.

"Wow! Why did I suddenly feel nervous?" Ryan asked.

Kenneth gave him a tap on his shoulder. "You can do it, Ry. What's important is that you and Jhing get back together. We always have your back."

"That's right," Samantha agreed.

"Thanks, Sam. You really are a true friend. Unlike this one," Ryan said, referring to Kenneth.

"Hey! I'm the one who would cover for you here in the office!" Kenneth said.

"No! That won't do. You also need to be there, Ken. As you said, moral support," Ryan said.

"But how can you be alone with Jhing if I also come?"

"Well... Just be there! You, and also you, Sam." Ryan glanced at Samantha. "I might die of anxiety if I'm there alone with Jenneth."

"Ryan has a point," Samantha said. "I think it's better if we make it seem like I'm treating you out for a vacation, as my high school friends. But Ryan, you're paying me back. Right?"

"You're so stingy for a very wealthy person," Ryan commented.

"Okay, fine! I'll take care of the expenses, just for you to stop saying I'm not doing anything," Kenneth said.

"Really?" Ryan's eyes sparkled.

"Yes. So stop doubting our friendship," Kenneth replied.

Instead of saying anything, Ryan went to Kenneth and gave him a bear hug.

"Hey! Stop the hugging, please." He pushed him away from him.

"I'm just thankful," Ryan said. "Don't worry. After this, I'll make it up to you, whatever the result of this project will be."

"You still owe me lots of storytelling," Samantha said.

"Well, I still need to strategize. That's more important as of the moment," Ryan just said.

Samantha just smiled.

And so, it was settled. They would be having a vacation on a private property, and Jenneth will be with them. Ryan knows it will not be easy, and Samantha might not even convince Jenneth to come especially after knowing he will also be there. But fingers crossed this plan would work.

Hopefully it does work. Ryan promised that he will do everything to make it work, even it if means being with the person whom he knows hates him so much. He will take all the hate, he can take it all. At least it's for his best friend who had stood up with him when no one else did. At least, it is for Kenneth's happiness.