First Official Meeting (1)

Birds were chirping in harmony, making one's ear sing along with the bird. The sound of flowing water from the rainfall not far away was able to soothe one's heart. Whether in the morning or at night, the serene air makes someone like Vincent feel at home living there.

Since his deal with his parents, Vincent has traveled out of town to take shots with his most beloved camera to his heart's content.

The primary purpose was to add to the gallery's collection and forget about the deal for a while.

He chose a minimalize villa in the mountains with a pool on the ground floor along with a gazebo in the backyard. There were various kinds of plants and trees lining the backyard. He could even ripe some fruits from the garden.

Vincent could have stayed there for a few more days. He even could live here for months!

Unfortunately... he hasn't come home in eight days, and his mother keeps calling him almost every day.

Vincent sighed in resignation. He was no longer a child, but his mother was always overly worried about him. He didn't know what else to do to reduce his mother's worries.

Who could he blame? He was almost died when he was still fourteen and cause a heart attack on his parents. Therefore, he could understand why his mother was over-worried about him.

"Mr. Regnz? The taxi you ordered is ready."

"Thank you," he replied politely to the villa caretaker.

Vincent immediately took his backpack and left for the airport. The plane departed at noon and took two hours to arrive at New York City.

Of course, he stopped by the gallery first before returning home. He knew that once his mother saw his face, she would not let him go again before the day changed.

From the airport, he walked a short walk to the nearest bus stop. While waiting for the bus to arrive, his cell phone rings.

"Hi tigress... oh, are you back too?... Alright, see you in three hours at the usual place." Right when he put his cellphone back in, the bus he was waiting for arrived.

Forty-five minutes later, Vincent got off at the bus stop near his gallery.

Vincent walked again for ten minutes before finally arriving at the entrance to his gallery.

The doors and walls on the side of the gallery building were made of glass. Outsiders could see what was inside and vice versa.

Therefore, it was no wonder he could see a girl was walking to the exit door while he was about to enter it.

When they passed, his steps stopped, and turned around to see the girl. On the other hand, the girl did not stop and keep walking without sparing him a glance.

Unconsciously, Vincent's eyes followed the girl's back until it disappeared from his sight.

How strange.

Why did he feel like he had met that girl before? But where? He couldn't remember.

Vincent shrugged his shoulders indifferently and decided not to think about it.

"Yo, Frank! Miss me?"

A shiver ran through his spine when he heard an affectionate tone from his employer. "Do you want me to answer honestly?"

"No."

"I miss you so much to the point I can't rid you from my mind."

Vincent laughed at that. "Aw... how cute. Do you want me to ask you out?"

Fortunately, there weren't many visitors near them; otherwise, they would be considered an odd couple. They even would be thinking if the couple a real gay!

"Speaking of homesickness, someone craved to meet you."

"I know."

"It's not me."

"Who said it was you?"

"Then?"

"My mom, right?"

"Ah, right. Your mom terrorized me every day, every hour, and I couldn't focus on my work. I was too afraid to turn on my phone. You owed me a big one this time."

Vincent grinned happily, knowing he had taken the right move by coming to his gallery first.

"But I didn't mean your mother. I'm talking about a fan of yours. She's pretty cute... no... she's very charming and sweet. I bet you will like this one."

"Then, you must watch out for the impending ant invasion."

Frank chuckled, "You know that's not what I mean."

Vincent just nodded his head while cleaning the camera with a gentle move as if he treats a woman's skin with great care.

"At least, try to meet her once. She really wants to meet you."

"Why don't you go see her instead?"

"I'm already content to see her every day. She always comes here hoping to meet her idol, the legendary V."

"Come every day? You mean to come here?"

Frank nodded his head very slowly with a knowing smile.

"Looks like you like her. You can hit on her, and I will give you my blessing." Vincent continued indifferently without stopping his care on his camera.

Frank was quite speechless, hearing his employer's... his best friend's nonchalant tone, and shook his head in resignation.

A few minutes later, Vincent's phone in his jacket pocket rang, singing a popular song.

"Yes? You've already arrived?" Vincent looked at his watch before answering again, "Isn't it still an hour? It's not my fault then... Alright, alright, I'm going now."

"Who?" Frank asked suspiciously.

"Who else if not the tigress. I'll go first."

Frank took a deep breath. Vincent has been his boss as well as his best friend since college. He knew very well who Vincent was.

His best friend was the most anti when it comes to a woman. Only Vanessa and his mother could make the man feel at ease.

Apart from the two of them, Vincent would avoid any woman he met.

Well, not really. In this world, only one woman could approach Vincent without a hitch.

Felicia Bernz, aka the tigress.

***

Vincent walked casually towards the bus stop while looking around. If there were an object of interest, he would catch it with his camera.

It was then that he saw a girl sitting on a chair looking ahead with a blank gaze.

Wasn't that the same girl when she passed him in the gallery?

Vincent moved closer to the stop without taking his eyes off the girl.

The closer he walked, the more convinced he felt. He firmly believed he had met that girl before.

It's just that he couldn't remember who or where he met her.

For sure, the girl was not one of the prospective wives his mother introduced to him. This girl had a different vibe from those spoiled brats.

Therefore, he was intrigued and curious about the petite brown-reddish haired girl.