"We can have more time during our company outing. It's over the weekend so that you may bring Miss Yen as well," Virgil replied, and thankfully, Zed didn't insist.
Kim and I ate in silence while Zed and Virgil got engrossed in their discussion. From what I heard, Zed would be facilitating a team-building seminar for his company employees. Mr. Virgil wasn't dumb, after all, because the imprudent and dumb man had planned a way to empower his workers by treating them to a three-day getaway at the beach.
When Kim put down his cutleries on his plate, Mr. Virgil shifted his attention to him.
"Kim, can we move our discussion to some time this week? I ran out of time, and I still have to catch up for a board meeting in thirty minutes."
I took a deep breath and exhaled it slowly, relieved at the thought that this crazy moment with this man was soon going to end. He must have realized his folly because he only said a few words to us, then left. After he disappeared from my sight, Kim wiped his mouth and looked at me.
"Miss Yen, I guess Mr. Ramos will take you back to the office, so I'll go ahead."
Miss Yen...I couldn't almost hold back myself from rolling my eyes out.
But I'm glad that he didn't make it hard for me. And I wondered how long he would keep his patience.
I nodded and watched him as he also stood up and tapped Zed's shoulders before he turned and left. Trying to avoid Zed's suspicion, I picked up my glass and sipped the cold pinkish-purple fluid in a few gulps, my mind wandering on how I could prevent Mr. Virgil from spilling the beans to Zed.
I would have wanted to ask Zed more about their friendship, but I got afraid that he would start asking about the weird things Mr. Virgil insisted on. I was glad he left, although his sudden leave took me by surprise.
"Will it be a huge crowd?" I asked Zed when silence settled between us.
"Just 50. Virgil will divide his employees into batches."
"So that means your weekends are tied to his company?"
Zed held my gaze for a moment, searching for objection in my expression. "Will it be alright?"
"Of course."
"Then that will be a good getaway for us also."
He smiled, then pulled me closer to him, planting a kiss on top of my head. I wondered how he took Mr. Virgil's revelation. Until then, I could only pray that he wouldn't make it a big deal and begin investigating the case.
We lingered for another hour before Zed drove me back to the office. The car that Kim bought for me caught my eyes right away. So, it meant that Kim had already returned.
Zed must have seen my expression as I gazed at the car. He also followed my eyes, and his lips broke into a smile.
"That's my dream car. I wish we could have it before the baby arrives."
"No need. It's ours."
Zed suddenly stepped on the brakes, throwing us both forward. If it weren't for the seatbelt, we would have crashed our heads into the windshield.
"What's wrong?" I asked, angry at his sudden move.
"Dear, BMW7 Series? That speaks millions!"
"Kim chose it for my car plan. Salary deduction," I answered like it was an ordinary thing, driving Zed crazier. His smile now reached both of his ears.
"How big is your salary that he offers that to you?"
I heaved out a sigh before answering. This situation has started to make me crazy. I explained everything to him, including Kim's charitable intention toward his friend.
"Don't worry, dear. I'll accept more projects and focus more on our coffee shops. So that when you don't feel like working anymore, I could still pay it. Anyway, that is also my dream car for both of us."
Zed's reply moved me emotionally again. How did I deserve a man of patience, understanding, and open-mindedness?
I went up to the office very late already. And since I felt sticky all over, I took a quick shower. This was the advantage of having a huge office that felt like home. Hours rolled by unnoticed. I only looked up when I heard a gentle knock on the door.
I walked to the door and opened it. Kim's frown greeted my eyes.
"No plan of going home?" he asked, entering my office and banging the door shut.
I raised my arm and checked the time. "It's already eight?"
"What do you think?"
I went back to my desk and picked out my phone from the bag. There were already 11 missed calls from Zed and 20 from Kim. I smiled in amusement, realizing that I had turned my phone into silent mode. I scrolled Zed's messages right away and apologized for not noticing them.
Zed's reply came instantly, telling me to eat the food he prepared. He said he was already in the hotel and the middle of his lecture.
"I'll go home in a moment," I said, glancing at Kim. He was already towering above me.
"Why did you take so long? Did you get a room and had sex?" A malicious glint flickered in his eyes. Zed and I indeed took long. I was merely making up for the sin I just did.
"My goodness, Kim! Zed can live without that." I rolled my eyes in anger. If we did, so what?
"Tell it then to the marines," he smirked.
"It's true. Zed strongly believes it's harmful to the baby."
"Then, let him go on with that belief."
Kim immediately cupped my face and captured my lips. I didn't have time to answer him. And since my mind would always go back to our last fulfilling encounter, my body would always respond eagerly to his moves.
I yelped when Kim lifted me off the floor and placed me on the sofa. He then pushed the backrest forward and pulled it back, turning the couch into an instant bed. Turning back to me, he didn't waste time. And in a few seconds, my dress already fell on the floor.
"Kim, we did it during lunchtime," I began to complain as he spread my legs apart.
"It's not enough to compensate for those five years of staying celibate."
"Kim-" I groaned and stopped complaining; it's useless anyway. His lips were already on my button, licking away all my strength to resist…
A few minutes later, I drove the new car home with Kim by my side. I dropped him off at the house he bought secretly. Ever since I knew my role in Kim's life, he didn't go home to Maezy anymore.
Before I entered our gate a few minutes later, I saw a woman walking by the roadside. Her clothes seemed familiar. I looked closer, and to my shock, she was the same woman who appeared at the beach.