Celina’s POV
Daddy John looked like he had added 10 more years to his age when I saw him in his mansion. Jefferson had talked to him about Noris and even if my husband and I didn’t want him to feel that way, there was no other way but to make him be responsible for his own action. Noris has defamed his own company and even if he was my own brother, I would surely do what Jefferson had to do. The Scotts Group had thousands of employees here and abroad who relied on it, and many of them were the breadwinners of their own family.
Noris is my friend. We met when I was in a coffee shop busy doing my design for an overseas client. There was no available seat for him and I had one on mine, so he asked if I could share it with him,
*** Flashback ***
“Hi,” he said. I looked up at him and found him smiling. He was handsome and I gave him that was very charming. His dimples when he smiled knew was really attractive and I knew that many women in that coffee shop were looking at me with envy. “Is this seat taken?” he asked, since there really was no one sitting there. I shook my head and he sat in front of me while I got back to my work.
“How come this shop is so full today?” he said, maybe trying to have a conversation with me.
“I am here most of the time, so this is normal for me.”
“You’re doing your work here?” he asked, amused, so I smiled at him and said,
“The aircon is high and, of course, I order my food here as well, just to be fair to the owner.”
“Why not work in your office?”
“I’m a freelancer, so I am not working in any particular company.”
“Wow, you managed your own time.”
“I didn’t like the idea of having a boss or supervisor that would command me about everything and would run from responsibility when things went wrong.” I replied,
“Same here. I feel you, you know. Working with those kinds of supervisors is really frustrating and tiresome, the fact that they are very toxic will really drain your energy.” he replied,
“You bet,” I agreed.
*** End of flashback ***
That was the beginning of our friendship. After that, he was always in the same coffee shop where I was. I don’t mind him being there because there were also times that he brought his work as well. He would ask me for some advice, opinions or suggestions about his work and I would gladly help him. During those times, I never saw him look at me like the way other males looked at me. I mean, I didn’t see him liking me at all. That’s why I accepted his friendship and got comfortable around him.
During those times, I never asked him about his family because I had no intention of telling him about mine. It was because there was nothing to say about my adoptive parents and I don’t consider them as family. I didn’t want him to take pity on me, so I never told him about how my adoptive parents treated me. It was safe for me, especially for him not to know anything about me.
When I married Jefferson and left, we were still close, but I tried not to be alone with him. I didn’t want my husband to think that I was flirting with his older brother. I know that whatever I do will reach him. There was a time when Noris asked me if I was avoiding him and I explained to him. I was glad that he just laughed at it and we continued being friends.
We didn’t go out together, but if others invited us, I agreed and had dinner with them. He helped me with many things in the company along with Daria, and, of course, Jefferson was behind his assistant, so I thanked him for that as well. He never actually left me alone in the company and was guiding me through his assistant.
Now this, how did he do such a thing? They were family and he had a part in the company as well. Is it really because of me? Was Jefferson right when he told me that his older brother had a thing for me? I was startled when my phone rang. I never thought that I was already in very deep thoughts about Noris.
“Hello,” I said, it was an unregistered number, but since it was my working contact number, I had to answer it thinking it was a client or prospective client. “Hello,” I repeated when the caller didn’t answer back.
“Hi, is this Celina Nicholson?” it was a woman,
“Yes, who am I talking to?” I replied,
“Oh, I’m sorry. I am Mary Jane Diaz.”
“Hi, Mary Jane, what can I do for you?”
“I heard that you are an architect and was really good. You see, I am going to set up a business and the store will be put up on my own lot. Can you make me a design for the boutique store?”
“I see, but I am for a company now and don’t do freelance anymore. If you want, you can drop by our office so we can discuss the details.” I replied,
“I am busy right now because the lot was still in the purchasing process, but the owner was sure to sell it to me. Can you just tell me what I need to submit so I can send it to you through email?” he asked. That’s how I do with my freelance clients, so there was nothing odd about it.
“OK, send me the area and the location of the lot as well as the details of what you want to have. Do you want to have a spacious parking lot or how many storeys do you want your store to have? Something like that.”
“OK, where am I going to send it?” she asked,
“On the company’s email, if you please.”
“I want you to be the head architect. It came to my knowledge that you are very hands-on. I wanted my store to be finished on time. I hope I am not making unnecessary requests.”
“No, it’s fine. Once you send the details, just include that you wanted me to handle the project and everything will be alright.” I told her, “I’m sorry, I am new in the company and I didn’t want others to think that I am accepting jobs under the table.”
“I understand,” she replied, and ended the call after I said thank you.
I have a new client, so I guess I will only have to keep myself busy with work for the time being. Jefferson can handle the company by himself and I’m sure that he is going to ask for help if he ever has a hard time solving it. Well, he had already found who was behind it, but executing his plan would be hard for him. I just hope that Noris will stop already so Daddy John will be at ease and can enjoy his retirement wholeheartedly.