Chapter 1 - It’s Been a While

Success comes to those who chase it. For the passionate or ambitious one, there is hunger to be successful in the chosen field. This is exactly what Pam has been working hard for the past 5 years. At 27 being a Program Manager for an IT multinational company is not bad. She started programming when she graduated. She learned a lot from work and in life for the past years.

Pam was still reading through news online when her phone rang.

"Hello, good morning Ces." She has always been formal when answering office calls. Their office sectary in country is reminding her of the kick-off with new project assigned to her team. Two project managers, Ronna and Jim, are joining her as she takes Program Manager role for this assignment along with Vince the Delivery Head.

"Yes, all good we will be there 15 minutes ahead of time, thanks Ces for reminding." She is so relaxed responding while the taste of brewed coffee still lingers in her taste buds.

It still 8:30 am. Pam has always been efficient in her morning routine. She knows which outfit to wear everyday and got her timing properly managed. She wears little to sometimes no make-up therefore allowing her to be efficient when going to the office.

Preparing to stand, her phone rang once more.

"Pam make sure you get your best OOTD* on!" Ronna exclaimed with her usual excited voice. "Our uber charming Delivery Head will be there. Not to mention some eye-catching executives from the partner side."

"Excuse me, I have no time for some daydreaming. We are here for a project!" she cut on what would be an endless blabber from Donna. This office bestie of hers would always find happiness working with project team with good looking guys. Something she made a promise to herself she will never ever reconsider.

"Aren't you getting yourself ready? We should be there 15 minutes before 10am"

"OMG! Gotta go! I almost forgot the traffic in the metro. Please wear some make up! You need to look beautiful." Pam just rolled her eyes. It has always been like this. As if projects were venue to hunt for a boyfriend.

After returning to her home country, as she decided to be based in Singapore, she knew about the traffic so he chose to rent a unit in a mid class condominium about 10-minute walk to the client's office. She thinks it is inefficient to drive around.

Pam has natural curls in her brown hair that rest mid her back. God has gifted her with a clean brows that doesn't need to be trimmed all the time. Her almond eyes appears to speak a thousand words complimenting her small face. At 5'3" she is considered average in height for Asian lady. She can be considered personable to some extent pretty.

She quickly put on her black ensemble with an inner chiffon white blouse that has black ribbon accenting the neckline. She put on a little powder and blush, finishing off with lip gloss that puts on pinking tint on her thin lips. She got her hair into a bun to make her look little more mature. With her 3 inches black suede pumps with over sized black ribbon accent at the back, she emits confidence and that professional aura.

Pam enjoyed the walk towards Pacific Building in the central business district. Its sure is great to be living near the office or client office in this case. She learned it from a certain someone.

'Why do I feel like someone is staring at me' she murmured to herself. As she entered the Pacific building and heads towards the reception to get registered, she noticed a sweep image of a tall guy in dark blue suit from her peripheral vision. For some reasons she felt a bit of chill.

She shook her head, "anything wrong Ma'am?" the reception took her gesture as something.

"Sorry, nothing. Thank you so much" she walked towards the turnstile and tapped her visitor ID. The elevator was about to close after the last person entered, she thought she saw someone who looked extremely familiar.

Clipping the visitor ID, someone hugged her sideways which took her by surprise. She almost missed clipping the ID on the side pocket of her jacket. She felt piercing look coming from who knows where.

"OMG, you scared me there for second. Morning Vince!" taking 2 steps sideways to see the other persons face and put a little distance.

"Ready for the kick off Miss Cruz?" Vince, the Delivery Head was smiling brightly to Pam. "As always Mr. Jose."

They entered the hallway of the NextGen Technologies together. This was one of the biggest client they closed in the region. They were occupying 5 floors in this building and they are at the executive floor for the project kickoff.

As they entered the conference room, business pleasantries were exchanged. Their team is almost complete when Donna and their CTO arrive.

"Good morning Mr. Vincent Jose and Ms. Pamela Cruz." A middle aged man greeted after looking at the business cards exchange, "I am Mr. John Go the Delivery Head of the technology team. The SVP, also one of the Managing Director of Next Gen will be joining us along with the COO in a while."

"Thank you so much you can Mr. Go. You can call me Pam."

"You can call me Vince." They were used to first name basis as a multinational company.

The door opened with Donna and their CTO entering together the conference room. After the quick business pleasantries. Donna took the seat on the left side of Pam. Their CTO is between Pam and Vince. Donna glanced quickly and smiled at Vince.

"You look 95% fab Pam if only you put on a little more make up." Ronna was talking with her mouth closed grinning at the thought that Pam and Vince came together. Pam just gave her a faint smile opening her laptop to pull out the Power Point material.

Exactly five minutes before 10am," our COO and Technology SVP is arriving soon. We will start in a while." John has announced to get everyone prepared.

Pam was busy running through the file when she heard a greeting from what seems to be an old man's voice while everyone seemed to have stood in respect for the person who entered. She lifted her head and was about to stand when she almost fell back to her seat in shock.

Vince was quick to hold her elbows to keep her from falling," be careful." he smiled continuing "you seemed to have been taken aback with the fine gentlemen who entered the room."

Vince loves to throw these lines that breaks ice during meetings. It's a soft skill but today Pam is not appreciative of this. She is trying hard to control her hands which was trembling a little. She smiled a bit. Four gentlemen entered the room. One is indeed familiar wearing dark fitted blue suit. For one minute she thought of the image the passed her by the lobby. Was it him?

Another endless handshake, Pam's hand was no longer trembling but its was unusually cold. She is never shy from senior executives as she is used to facing them during project presentations but faced with this man who is emitting a strong aura gave her a chill.

"It's been a while," that familiar voice took her hand to shake it, his eyes locked on her while she stares blankly on the man's handsome face and that lips. She cannot hide any inch of her self from those lips. This caused her to blush a little. As she was about to say something, her hand was quickly released. That warm palm now shaking their CTO's hand. God knows how red her face has become.

"We meet again Timothy. Good to see you. Thank you and looking forward to this collaboration." It was good that she did not respond to what seems to be a line intended for their CTO. It was awkward… indeed it's been a while. A long, long, long while.