On the lounge chair sat a middle-aged woman in glamorous clothes. She was well maintained, her skin was tender and white, her eyebrows were thin and curved, her makeup was a little heavy, probably in order to hide some tiny lines on her face. Her eyes were sharp and fierce.

Rheena Carlos looked at Augustus and sneered, “You’re late..!”

“There was traffic on the road,” Augustus said while sitting on the sofa.

Rheena looked at him sharply and then pointed at the nanny to serve him tea and cakes.

Augustus took a piece of cake and started eating. Since he was a kid, he has loved eating cakes, especially chocolate ones. He ate with his hands and made his face dirty like a small kid.

His mother’s sharp eyes soften instantly by looking at the way he is devouring the cake. She took out the tissue and wiped his face neatly.

“You’re still acting like a child, Augustus.” She sighed while smiling at him.

“I love cakes, Mom.” He said grumpily.

She sat back on her chair and asked, “So, what’s going on? Why did you suddenly decide to upgrade the Colosseum Hotel?”

Augustus sat straight and said in a business tone, “Well, the location of that hotel is good for tourism, besides I am thinking of changing its name to “The Grand Hotel Of Carlos”. I have already contacted the designer teams for the sketches of the new model and also contacted the construction team to start the work as soon as possible.”

“But that building is not enough for this project. You need more space to make it Grand.” Rheena Carlos said from her point of view.

“I know, I am already in talks with other builders. They have agreed to sell their buildings to me. After that, I am thinking of joining all three buildings in one, a pedestrian walking space that connected three of them together and also made an underground parking area. I am also building up my office there. From now on, I will work from “The Grand Hotel Of Carlos.” So what do you say, Mom? Any advice?”

He told her his plan confidently.

“Huh... Advice.?? Since when did you decide to plan the project without my approval.?” She asked bitterly, raising an eyebrow.

It’s been 10 years since Augustus joined the hotel business. In those last years, he had never planned anything before asking her approval and now he is sitting here with a fully planned project for his new office. It’s a bit unrealistic for her to believe.

Just when she was waiting for him to explain Lester knocked and put a file on the table. Then turned around, greeted her, and left without saying a word.

Augustus calmly said, “Mom, these are the documents of approval to sign. I have already made it. If you want to read it and change something please let me know. I want this project to start as soon as possible.”

“Why are you so eager.?” She couldn’t help but ask him.

“I am 32 Mom. Give me some freedom to make my own decision.” Augustus said annoyingly.

“Giovanna wants to meet you.”  Rheena Carlos said changing the topic.

“Any special reason?” Augustus asked sarcastically.

“Your fiancé doesn’t need to find reasons to meet you.” She replied straightly.

“Well, I am very busy on this project right now. Until we start work I don’t think I will be able to spend some time with her.” Augustus said this intentionally so his mom couldn’t avoid signing the approval papers today.

After thinking for a while, Rheena thought this project is indeed well planned by him and it’s his first own project so why not let him give it a chance.

“Ok then, I will sign it right now and you will go to dinner with her tonight.” She offered him.

“Done.!” Augustus agreed happily.

After that Rheena Carlos signed the documents without reading them and Augustus took the file. He bid goodbye to his mother and left.

...

In The Car

Lester asked, “Where are we heading, boss?”

Augustus thought for a moment and then replied, “Let’s go home and ahh.. invite Giovanna to have dinner with me at my place.”

Lester nodded. “Okay, Boss.” Both sat in silence until they reached their destination.

...

The next day, As per ritual Lisa and Augustus came to the park. Lisa jogged while Augustus followed her and watched her.

Just as Lisa entered the hotel, Anna greeted her and told her, “Ma’am Lisa, President has arranged a board meeting today. As you are New General Manager you’re invited to attend it.”

Lisa nodded and asked the time of the meeting.

“ eleven o'clock,” Anna replied.

Lisa looked at the watch on her wrist, there is still one hour left in the meeting.

...

At 10:55 Lisa entered the meeting hall and was surprised to see too many people in there. Everybody was talking just as she entered. Everyone looked at her in unison. She got nervous after all she doesn’t know anyone here. She was a stranger and an inexperienced employee. She smiled and lowered her head nervously.

Just then a handsome man approached her stretching his strong arm to her. “Hi, Cristian Silas.” He said with a bright and charming smile.

Lisa looked up at him, the man was wearing a navy blue shirt with matching pants and a tie. His sleeves have rolled up and she can see his vein popping out on his arms. Lisa shook her hand with him. “Lisa Mathew”

While shaking his hand the door of the hall suddenly wide opened by Lester and Augustus walked in accompanied by a woman who was holding some thick files.

Lisa looked at Augustus and then the woman behind. Augustus looked at her, then the man beside her, and then Finally their locked hands. Lisa felt nervous and retreated her hand immediately.

Everyone stood and greeted him. “Good Morning President.”

He greeted back, “Good Morning everyone.” He went to the center of the table and said “Everybody, have a seat.”

Then he sat on his chair and everyone followed.

Lisa was looking where to sit just then Cristian gestured her to sit beside him. She felt warm by his gesture and sat beside him.

Just then, she looked at the man in the center. He was wearing a black suit today and so was she, what a coincidence.!

Today, he was wearing gold-rimmed glasses and he looked very serious and focused. Just as she was studying him he looked up and met her gaze. She felt panicked and lowered her head but her face became instantly red by being caught.

Augustus cleared his throat and said, “Ladies and Gentlemen. The reason for today's meeting is to inform you all about new plans for this hotel. We are upgrading this hotel and my friend Miss Bella Mario is going to design this hotel.” He gestured at his right hand and a cute, tiny woman with red hair stood from the chair greeting everyone politely.

Then Augustus said, “And I want you all to meet our New General Manager, Miss Lisa Mathew.” He pointed at her. She nodded at everyone politely.

“This project is going to be called “The Grand Hotel Of Carlos ``. I hope everyone here works hard and makes it grand for real. Now, we should discuss it briefly..”

For the whole two hours, they all were busy discussing ideas. Cristian kept turning around to look at Lisa whenever he suggested something. Lisa feels he’s trying to make her comfortable as she is new to all of this.

It was lunch hour already when the meeting finished. Everyone was heading out. Lisa also took this opportunity and tried to sneak out. However, when she was heading towards the door. A voice called out her name.

She turned around and saw Lester approaching her. “Miss Lisa. There is something the Boss needs to talk about.”

Lisa nodded and stood at the corner waiting for people to go out. Lester stands beside her, maintaining his distance and keeping his hands folded behind. He kept saying in his mind “No Physical Touch, No Physical Touch.”

Augustus was busy in discussion with Bella. The way they both were talking, they looked very close and Bella kept touching his shoulder and squeezing his palms sometimes. He didn’t mind at all.

By seeing this cheerful sight of them, Lisa felt a bit uncomfortable.

Lester saw her being uncomfortable. To cheer her up he said in a low voice, “Nice suit, Miss Lisa.”

Lisa looked down at herself and replied shyly, “Thanks, Lester. By the way, we both are wearing the same color. Looks like we are going to hunt someone.”

“Hunt someone?” Lester asked confusingly.

Lisa said in a manly voice, “James Bond” making her hand in a gun and pointing at Lester.

Lester was stunned by her action and then both laughed loudly. At that moment, the voice of something breaking came.

Bang..!

Both turned and looked at the glass on the ground shattered into pieces and looked up at Augustus.

“Oops..! It slipped.” Augustus said innocently.

At that moment, Lisa hurriedly walked over to him. The creaking sound of her sandals stepping onto the glass pieces could be heard in the hall.

“Are you fine.?” Lisa asked while approaching him.

Augustus thought of something and yelled in pain. “Ouch.. my hand hurts.”

Lisa took his hand immediately and checked if there was any cut. Then she asked in concern. “There is no cut. Did your veins get stretched? Where does it hurt? Tell me?” She rubbed his hand.

Augustus pointed at his fingers indicating the pain. Lisa gently massaged his hand to lose the veins.