Catching up with the girls

Aggressively flipping through the files in his home office, which was as spacious as a studio apartment, he maintained meticulous organization, giving off an elite office vibe from the '90s. He paced around, holding the files, his pen tapping against his head in frustration.

Hurriedly, he reached for his phone and dialed a number, but there was no response.

….....

"Girl, life after university has been nothing but a hectic whirlwind. I hardly have time for myself, and there's been zero fun in the outside world. Thank God we decided to have this mini girls' date. I was dying of loneliness," one lady remarked. She had her hair in a bun, and light makeup, and wore a white design T-shirt with jeans, making them six girls in total.

"I second you, Clara," Paloma said, sipping her juice.

"Oh, here comes Miss Welmi, the most boastful of all," a chubby lady in her best dress remarked. They all turned their attention to Welmi as she got down from a fancy G Wagon, sporting the latest Camine design two-piece outfit. She walked majestically with her hair in a high bun and a pair of Lovea sunglasses.

"Hey, girls," she said, placing her thousand-dollar bag on the table, immediately grabbing everyone's attention. "The price of this bag is more than what everyone earns at this table."

"Your voice changes almost every time we meet, Welmi," Shalom remarked, glancing at the other girls.

"Well, you don't expect me to be speaking the same with all those luxurious lifestyles I've been having," Welmi replied in a ladylike manner as she took her seat.

"Eww, can't we order something more perfect?" she added with disdain in her voice as she looked over the food and drinks on the table.

"You can order whatever you want," Clara said.

"Say less," she said and walked to the counter.

"Why do you people keep inviting her to our dates? I can't stand her attitude, ughhh," Jenny said, rolling her eyes.

"She's been part of our friend group since high school days. There's nothing we can do about that. She just needs to change her ways," Ruth said.

"And don't you think it's getting worse day by day?" Jenny said.

"Absolutely," Paloma added.

A little chit-chat ensued as they caught up on each other's lives, from their careers to their love lives.

"Looks like I am the one with the better job and life among all of us here," Welmi said, brushing her hair away from her face.

"I work with one of the best companies here in California, hands down, no debate," she added while smiling.

Mara looked at her quietly, annoyance written all over her face.

"My company will soon partner with the most successful businessman of our time, Mr. Max Warren III. Do you guys even know who he is? I don't think so," she boasted.

"He's someone you can't even get close to. I don't think any of you here will ever meet him," she said confidently.

Paloma cleared her throat. "You didn't ask what Mara is doing," she said with a grin.

"There's no need. I'm pretty sure she's just figuring out what to do with her life, probably at home trying to eat a whole pack of potato chips," Welmi said, chuckling.

"You're absolutely right, Welmi. I don't even know my left and right in this life," Mara said with a low tone, taking a forkful of fruit salad into her mouth.

Paloma gently nudged Mara with her arm

"I am sorry to disappoint you, but Mara now works with the company your company is willing to work with," Paloma announced.

Everyone looked happy. "Wow, Mara, congratulations!" they exclaimed, but Welmi frowned. She giggled nervously. "There is no way…"

"I understand she has a dream to work with his company, but to work for him, there is no way… Are you kidding me?" Welmi said.

"I guess I am living your dream," Mara said calmly.

"Don't make me choke on my drink. You can just say you have a dream to work with him; that one is understandable. I don't think anyone believes you here, maybe except your dearest Paloma," Welmi said with another teasing laugh.

"I was with him just last week for a business trip in Dubai. How about that?" Mara replied.

"Girl, just stop it. Enough of all that talk. You don't even have a passport, last time I checked. And how could you afford to go to Dubai? You know what, let's just change the topic," Welmi said, clearly skeptical.

"What do you call this?" Mara said, pulling out a picture of herself standing in front of the tallest building in Dubai and even showing her a picture of Max.

"Wow," Jenny said, holding her phone as she stared at the picture. "I knew you were right all this while. Someone just doesn't want to accept that someone else is equally making it in life like her or even more than her."

"You looked stunning in that dress," Clara remarked.

"That must be photoshopped. I know how those things work. The picture doesn't even look real. You need to raise your editor's salary because he or she is taking you to places your legs haven't seen yet," Welmi said. "Don't tell me you believe in that, Jenny," she added, leaning closer to her.

A luxury car from out of nowhere stopped on the street where they were having their mini brunch.

A fine gentleman stepped out, and his security team guided him.

People sighed as if their breath were being taken away at the sight of him. With their eyes wide open, some tried rushing towards him, but the guards around him didn't let them come closer.

"Oh, he must be looking for me," Welmi said, standing up with a smile.

"You see how important I am for a whole billionaire to come looking for me," Welmi said in a perfect, annoying tone, folding her arms.

"What is he doing here?" Mara muttered to herself as her gaze focused on the finely dressed gentleman.

"He's coming, he's coming towards here. I'm sure he knows who I am already and wants to give the deal right away," Welmi said hastily to her friends. She fixed her dress and stood in front of the table, waiting for the rich gentleman to come a bit closer.

"Mr. Max Warren III, it's nice to see you," Welmi said, walking towards him and leaning closer to give him a peck on the cheek. However, Max pulled away, staring at her weirdly and his guards held her hands, pulling her away from him.

"It is surely him. He looks like a fine man in person," the girls whispered with excitement.

Max walked closer to Mara.

"How did you know I was here?" she asked. Before she could say another word, Max held her hands and pulled her to follow him.

Welmi pulled away from the guards, "How dare you touch me!" she exclaimed angrily.

"I thought he was here for you," Paloma said, and they all giggled at Welmi.

"What are you doing here, Sir?" Mara asked after Max had let her go at a corner.

"Why didn't you pick up your call when I called you, huh?" Max lashed out.

"I didn't see your call," Mara replied, still looking confused as to why he had come all the way to her.

"And why don't you have my number saved on your phone?" Max asked.

"What do you mean by that?" Mara asked.

"I mean, I don't see the WhatsApp thing… why haven't you saved my number on your phone?" Max clarified.

"What WhatsApp thing?" Mara said

Max leaned closer to her. "Save my number."

"I don't want your number saved on my phone," Mara said firmly.

"Why is that?" Max asked as he leaned closer to her.

Mara gulped nervously. "Because it's my phone, and I can do whatever I want with it," she said quickly.

"Not when you're under me," Max replied.

"I want my number saved now," Max said, his tone fierce and commanding.

"You don't tell me what to do," Mara retorted.

"I have every right over you until your contract is over, remember?" Max reminded her.

"But not on my personal life," Mara said, annoyed.

"I don't have all the time here," he said, tapping his foot impatiently and folding his arms.

"Ugh, I really don't like you," Mara said, pulling her phone out to save his number. "Saved. Happy now?" she asked, clearly irritated.

"Good, I will see you at work on Monday," Max said with a slight grin.

Mara stomped out of his presence angrily and walked away.

With a smile on his face, Max walked back to his car.

"Come again with what you were saying," Mara said with a smirk.

Welmi, feeling intense, replied, "Well, I was trying to prove a point here," stammering over her words and scratching herself uncomfortably.

"I am rather living your dream, which I wish I could wake up from," Mara added, and the other girls began to laugh teasingly, making sure Welmi didn't notice.

"I think you should talk to Mara about the deal your company needs with the Warren's company. She might help you get it," Jenny said playfully. "You need help more than any one of us does," she added.

Welmi, without making eye contact, nodded her head without saying a single word.

"How did you get to work with him?" Clara asked, eager to know more.

"It's a long story that gets on my nerves every time I try to talk about it," Mara replied.

"I have to go," Welmi said as she stood up and stormed out from there without waiting for anyone to say anything.

"That was hilarious," Jenny said as all the girls started laughing. "Thank you for putting her in her place today. I hope she learns from this," she added.