TWO PEAS IN A POD
She walked into her office and Reid was already in a meeting with her team.
Initially, she didn’t know what to make of that since there was no reaction within her that she could exhibit.
Whether to be angry or to just join in the meeting since Reid was as well her partner.
But then, she felt like if they were to work together successfully as partners, he needs to award her that same respect accordingly to at least inform her about the meeting beforehand.
Since when her previous manager had done her badly she had become a little sensitive about anything concerning the restaurant.
Even though he seems to now be the major owner while she remains the co-owner, she still remains the founder and would love to be in charge to an extent.
Reid doesn’t see a problem with that as he is as well ready to report anything on the basis to her while she does the same.
“That will be all for today,” he said to the team, discarding them and they gave a slight bow to her on their way out.
She walked gently towards Reid who was already on his feet.
“Good morning,” he said with a smile.
“Morning,” she replied laconically but still trying to act as natural as possible.
“Is anything the matter, Maria,” Reid asked out a genuine concern evident on his face.
“I wasn’t informed about the meeting. Could I know the reason for that?” she asked courtly not a single string of annoyance was portrayed in her tone.
“I must have missed that part last night. I was so engrossed in your story about the brunch with Genevieve. My apologies,” he replied with a smile which Maria returned.
“I guess that could be overlooked. I just love to be carried along with everything going on. I’m glad you’re getting along pretty well with the team, by the way,” she acknowledged.
“I haven’t done anything much in getting closer to them. I have little to no knowledge about the basis of a restaurant. I am trying to evade that,” he replied.
“What has been the improvement? I don’t want to be lagging,” she said as she walked to her seat and took a sip of her coffee.
“We haven’t made any conclusions yet. I thought of introducing more international meals into our menu,”
“What were your suggestions?” Maria asked.
“Like I said, we haven’t concluded yet,” he replied and Maria nodded, taking another sip of the coffee.
“That seems to be your favourite,” Reid remarked and she smiled.
“Athina got me so addicted to it,”
“Talking of Athina. Have you gone over to pick up your car?”
“Shoot! I forgot about that totally,” she replied with a chuckle and Reid smiled broadly as he rubbed on his lower lip. An act that seems to Reid to be nonchalant but took charge of a part within Maria.
“Why did he just do that?” she thought and her mind flashed back to the previous night at the dinner table.
“Was Reid trying to send some love signals to her?” she thought again but she tried to wave it off as a pure act of overthinking.
She had never looked at Reid in that way. Her eyes were caught on Kyros, his lawyer who she thinks is more attractive than he is.
“We could go over together if you don’t mind,” Reid’s voice came out husky than he had planned.
“You don’t have to bother boss,” she replied jokingly. Reid was going to counter her and disagree when his phone rang and he excused himself out of the office.
She looked at his exiting back before directing her full attention to her computer.
She searched for a few Hispanic dishes as well as more Italian dishes that she could introduce to the restaurant when her phone rang.
She hesitantly withdrew her eyes from the screen as she looked over to her side where her phone was ringing in her bag.
Her smile broadens when she saw the caller.
It was Kyros.
“Hey, Maria,” Kyros said at the other end of the call with a smile laced in his tone. That, she could feel.
“Hey, Kyros,” she replied with just the same energy.
“I’m nearby the restaurant but I seem a little hungry. Would you grant me the honour of filling me up?” he asked sarcastically and she laughed.
“What else would be my duty if I default in doing that?” she replied courtly but still with a tad of humour.
“Right, then. I should be there in the next few minutes,” he concluded before ending the call.
She was trying to conclude everything she needed to do when Reid came in.
“I’m afraid, I will be off work today. My lawyer calls for my immediate appearance,” he said and Maria glared at him like he had wronged her by his statement.
“Your lawyer?” she asked.
“Yes. Is there a problem with that?”
“No. No,” she quickly replied.
She was a little confused. Kyros had just called her to be at the restaurant soon but she sees no need to let that information known to him.
“Alright, then,” he said before finally exiting the office.
As he stepped out of the restaurant, he ran into Kyros who appeared to be hurrying into the restaurant.
“Hey, man,” he called and Kyros was a bit surprised.
“We were meant to meet, I guess. Was it that urgent that you had to come over?” he asked and a worried look was plastered on Kyros’ face.
“Uhmm… Yeah, yeah,” he fumbled for words as he deep his hands into his side pockets.
“That makes it easier. Here I am, let’s go,” the two men drove their cars and with a second glance at the restaurant by Kyros, they drove off. He knew that Maria would definitely be waiting for him.
He wasn’t certain if he should make his intentions towards Maria known to his client, Reid but he still did not want to neglect what he feels for Maria.
Maria looked at her phone, contemplating whether to call Kyros or not but she decided against it and was willing to wait for his arrival at the restaurant.
An hour had passed and not a call was gotten from Kyros. She had called him severally but none of her calls was picked. She was a bit upset as the whole thing felt like she was stood up by her groom at the altar.
She checked the time and it was almost noon.
The restaurant was a bit crowded today and that alone was enough to soften her heart.
She decided to hang out with Athina and not waste the day. She dialled her number and she picked on the third ring.
“You would pay for waking me and my baby,” Athina said into the phone.
“Oops. How can I do that?” Maria asked jokingly.
“Lasagna. I’ve been craving that since God knows when but Colton wouldn’t make that for me neither will he agree for us to eat out,”
“Not after she had eaten it for the third time today. Imagine she combining that with cereals spread on it?” Colton spoke in the background and she could bet that he facepalmed.
Maria laughed at the two as that had raised a topic for another argument.
“He doesn’t love me. He just said that now,” Athina said.
“You know he does,” Maria replied amidst a chuckle.
“She doesn’t want that anymore. Suddenly, she wants me to rush out now to get her doughnuts. Maria, you don’t wanna know what I’m passing through,”
“Oh, Colton,” Maria mumbled.
“He started this in the first place. I would have been fine if he didn’t get me pregnant,” Athina said and I couldn’t help but burst out in hysterical laughter.
“I wish I could carry the baby for her, Maria. So she could do the errands,” Colton murmured into the phone before rushing out to get the doughnuts.
“You should take it easy on him,”
“You have no idea how I feel myself,”
“I know the next words you’re about to say,”
“I end up with back pain and feeling nausea most of the day and don’t get me started on how heavy this baby is and how cautious I must be till she’s delivered after nine months,” Maria spoke along with her as those were her usual words every time anyone tried to question her about the pregnancy.
“Alright, alright,” Maria said, rolling her eyes.
“I’m coming over, anyway. My car misses me and I miss that cute little thing too,”
“You’re obsessed,”
“With my car? Yes. I am, babes,”
“You know how good I could drive before I got pregnant,”
“Not again. Bye,” she said before ending the call.
She packed her things and told one of her workers that she would be stepping out for a while.
As she was about to walk out, Kyros walked in just in time.
His cologne filled her nostrils and in his hands was a bouquet.
“Hello, Maria,” he said with a broad smile.