PLAN FOR THE PARTY

[EROS' POV]

I just realized when I saw the date today from my laptop. It's our anniversary today when we first met and when he first came to our house.

Did he still know that? Did he remember it? Or did he remember it and celebrated us? Will he contact me? Wait, did he even know my number?

"Mr. Beckett, Mr. Beckett."

I woke up from my thoughts when one of the board directors called my name.

"Y-yeah." I say as I sit straight and continues, "We can have a party because of our succession in Los Angeles but if the schedule is busy, then it's okay not to have one."

They're looking at each other.

"Of course, we will have a party. Our CEO, COO, and CFO came back after these years and with the success of our partnership in Los Angeles, we have to have this party."

"Yes, we want you to be the center of attention, the Chairman would agree to that."

"You deserved all the credit."

"And of course, it is a party where we can present our success in other branches around the world."

"I agree."

"We all agree."

"What do you think of this idea, Mr. Beckett?"

I smile at them.

After these years, they are still the lively board of directors. I'm lucky to have these guys.

"I agree with that except, I'm not the only one who should get all the attention, all of us should have, you know why? Because we worked hard for this. We deserved this."

I said to them.

"I think I'm going to cry." One of them says.

They all clapped their hands and I just smile at them and I say, "Griffin, you have the authority to plan for the party, make it simple but deserving. You know what I mean."

"Yes, Mr. Beckett."

I'm still smiling at them while they're having fun, even though some of them are oldies but they're doing their job well.

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[ELLIS' POV]

"Everyone, I would like to thank you all for being part of this wonderful business. We are growing bigger and bigger every day and I'm grateful for all the help that I'm getting from all of you."

They all clapped their hands.

"Tomorrow is a big day. We did our best today and it's time for us to rest and get some beauty sleep. Because tomorrow we will celebrate our 5th branch at Rosè Bakery!"

"Whoo!"

"I'm excited!"

"I can't wait!"

They all cheered.

They are so excited as much as I'm feeling right now. I can't wait to see it.

As night growing near, they all headed home.

I closed the lights of the shop and locked the door. I looked at it once again and I walk by the sidewalk to the parking lot and get my car and headed home.

-----

As I open the door to my condominium, I remove my bag and throw myself on the sofa.

"So tired..." I mumbled.

I turn on the television to see if there's even good news today.

"All these years, the famous bachelor and the CEO of Pinetree Corporation has finally arrived here in the Philippines!" A woman announces.

Pinetree Corporation? Does she mean the famous applications that we're using right now?

I sit straight and watch the news as she announces it live.

"This morning, we had witnessed the famous trio that came out from the private plane. This time, we were about to interview the CEO of the said corporation. There are so many people around this time, we waited for hours just to see him closer."

"Is he that famous?" I asked and continues, "I think he's famous because of the apps, it had downloaded over billions of it."

"Here he comes!" The woman said as she's holding the microphone.

Ring! Ring!

What now?

Ring! Ring!

I see it on my screen and it's Castor.

I sigh, I stood up and went to the balcony.

"Hello?"

"Baby, I'm already here at the resort I'm making sure that I contact you well."

"It's fine if you're busy," I answered.

"It's not fair to you, of course. I don't want my baby to be upset."

I didn't answer.

As always, his stories go on and on until he became sleepy and left his phone on.

I hang up and look at the night sky.

"Am I too late?" I say as I look at my phone.

11:55pm.

"I still have 5 minutes left," I added.

I got back inside and brought out the small cake that I have from the bakery and I also have a candlestick, so I could finish it with a blow.

I seated and light up the candle in a cake.

The room is dark and quiet but lighting up the candle is somehow making it lively and bright for me.

"Happy Anniversary," I whisper.

I blow the candle and taste the cake as I always do on every anniversary that we celebrated.

I felt a tear came on my cheek.

I looked away and see the night sky, twinkling and all these years, stars are not that bright before but now, it is brighter as ever.

-----

[EROS' POV]

"Happy Anniversary."

I whisper as I stare at the night sky on my balcony. Wherever you are, Ellis, I hope you're doing well.

"Eros..." He says as he hugs me from the back.

"It's late, not going?" I asked.

He pouts, "I can stay here until morning."

"You still have things to do."

"But I can finish that in an hour."

I held his face, "I'm fine if you're worried, Eryx. I can sleep better now compared to last time."

"Are you sure? What about your insomnia?"

"I already take the medicine and I feel a little sleepy now."

"Eros, are you sure?"

I nodded.

"Okay, just let me take you to bed."

He helps me to get to my bed.

"Sleep tight okay?" He says.

"Hmm... 'kay," I mumbled as I closed my eyes.

-----

[ELLIS' POV]

Today is a big day for my 5th branch!

I can't wait!

"Ellis!" I already heard the voice that coming from the other side of the road.

"Ellis! My best friend!"

I knew it!

I waved at her and she runs toward me to give me big hug and she says, "I've missed you so much, you fool. It's been a hell of a week!"

"We just saw each other last week and you missed me already? Is this a sign of attraction again?"

She punches me and we both laugh.

"Anyway, I have good news for you." She says.

She hands me a paper.

"What is this?"

"It's a good strategy if your bakery gets famous, it could earn more, you know what I mean."

"Okay, I'm listening," I answered.

"Let's talk inside." She says and we went inside the bakery shop.

"There's going to be a party at Pinetree Corporation, the one that I'm working for, and they're recruiting food and beverage staffs, also a buffet and desserts. Do you think you can provide some for the party?"

"But I'm a bakery shop, I'm not a buffet or restaurant that could sell hundreds of pastries for a formal party."

"That's a good point. But, you can make it if you want to. You can provide just one dessert that you're best at, I can provide for how many pax that you'll be needing."

"I don't know, Dione. I want to make my bakery famous but, I don't know if I'm confident to make it THAT famous."

"I've tasted all your pastries here, it came from my tongue that these pastries you sell here are incredibly delicious. Also, you already have your 5th branch! Because it's becoming bigger and because it is bigger, it's becoming more famous. And to become more famous, this is a great opportunity for you because there are famous people at the party and they're filthy rich, they could want your bread."

I smile as she explains, "Dione, thank you for saying those good words. I'm grateful, I am..."

"And?"

"And, I think you sold me hard."

"HELL YEAH!" She shouted and all my employees and other customers looked at us.

We are here at my first shop, there are a lot of customers now at this time. I just say sorry to them and I laugh as she's smiling from her eyes to her wide teeth.

"Now, all you have to do is fill up the form."

"Okay," I say and she gives me a pen and I write down the information needed.

"You know, our CEO already arrived yesterday and it was my first time to see him in person. Because it's my 2 years in that corporation and he left, I think 3 years ago? And you know what? I'm never getting out of there, for sure."

I smile as she tells me stories.

"He is so handsome in person, and also the kindest. Sweet and responsible. He has good built..."

"Really? I know you loved those stuff."

"Yes! I loved those. I think I'm in love with him already." She chuckles, "But it's impossible to be near him, like do casual talks."

"Why? Is he some kind of royalty?"

"Of course he's a CEO! And mind you, his secretary is kind of strict and protective of him, and also our COO."

"COO?"

"Yup, our Chief Operating Officer, the second highest to our CEO. I always see him near him like glue. They're like, best friends..."

"I think it's normal for them to be close if they're best friends," I answered as I'm still writing the form.

"Yeah, there are times when I think of them as gays." She whispers.

"Gays?" I chuckled.

"Shh, you quiet."

"What do you think of that?"

"Well, they're close, and I think the COO likes our CEO. But our CEO doesn't feel the same way about him."

"Dione, what kind of fiction are you writing?"

"I'm serious, Ellis. The way the COO looks at him, it's like... more than friends. But the way I look at our CEO, he's handsome as hell but he has sad eyes."

"Don't get too attached with your CEO, you might be broken if you found out that he's gay."

"It's fine for me! I will ship him with whoever I want, I think I will ship him to you instead."

I chuckle, "Here, it's done."

"Thank you so much! I will call you directly about the party, okay?"

"Okay, I will try my best," I answered.

"Shit. I'm already late!" She says and stood up, "I have to go, bye Ellis! Will miss you already!"

"Bye." I smile as I see her off.

I sigh.

How did we become friends?

Yeah, I think I remember it.

It was summer in college when I'm about to graduate, she confesses her feelings for me which I accepted. We dated for 2 months and we broke up. We broke up because that is the time when I've realized that I'm into men.

She accepted it and moved on.

She still becomes my friend and hang-out often, she shares her stories and experience with me, we're good as friends.

Okay, back to 'the time when I've realized I'm into men.' I know to myself that I loved someone else, it's a man. And after he left, I studied hard and met new friends, got experience on some things, and I want to try to like a girl for a change but the thing is, I still want men. No, I only want him.

And that's what happened.

I went inside the shop and got back to my office to work on new pastries to sell and to celebrate the laters opening.

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