One Big Shot

I was in a hurry since I have a friend of mine whom I need to meet- up at a coffee shop. I am already dressed-up and ready to go. I just wear my decent dress since I need to look neat and presentable After that, I fix my messy desk and got the important things I need for the meet-up. If I got this one, it will be my first big project as a fulltime interior designer. That's why it is very much important. I should not fail. I will not fail.

 So, I am Abby. I am starting freelance designer. I build my own small interior company wherein I can work at my own pace and handle the clients alone.I work really hard for this eventhough my parents are against my decision to be a freelancer. They want me to take over the company but I refuse. I don't want to be into something I am not good and passionate about. I would like to do something that I want that can be also my source of income. So, I thank my friend, because they support me and now he refer me to the biggest client whom I think be my life-changer. I don't want to lose this chance ever.

After all the rituals and anything, I leave my condo and waited at the lobby outside the condo for my grab booking. After a few minutes it came and I enter the car then we go to my destination. The meet-up will be at 4pm and it is just already 2:45 pm but still I need to go there early because who knows the traffic here in Manila is unpredictable so might as well be early. I don't want to be late cause I need to have a good impression to the client to win them.

While we are in the car, the driver told me there is another booking nearby so he has to attend to it, and I just nod. I won't mind. I just focused on my tablet and try to internalize and review the things that I need to do later. I am kinda nervous because this client is a one time big shot. As Benedict, my friend told me, the client whom I will present my work is an attorney and he wants someone to design the look of the law firm and also his condo. So yeah, I really need to prepare so I want to show some of my design and ideas about it. I knew it will be open for revision since I will now be able to meet the client for the first time and I know he will adjust the design according to him but once I got this deal I am a one lucky woman. So this one is really important.

I was disturbed when someone enter on the car seat and I fixed my things since it was all messed up in the chair. I forgot what manong driver told awhile ago. I was so focused about my presentation. A man in a suit entered with a headset sit beside me. I don't mind the guy and just focus on my things. 

I try to fix my things cause I am such a messy one and I look for the hard copy of my design and something is missing. I kinda panicked since it is important and then I saw it under the seat on the position of the guy. 

I want to get it under the seat but its kinda awkward since the guy is there and if I just go under without asking permission it might give a dirty look and I dont want that to happen. 

I will just talk to the guy who is now busy on his phone looking at hhmmm pinterest.

I gaze at him and still he is busy with his phone not recognizing me looking at him.

"Hi!" I don't know how to start to talk to him. I'm bad at talking to ummm guy. I think.

He did not heard me since he has headset.

"Hi!" I said it again. No response.

I was about to touch him on his shoulder to caught his attention then I heard him speak.

"What?" He told without looking at me. Maybe he saw my gaze at the window. He removed his headset on the left ear and try to listen to what I am saying.

"Ummm, Can you please get the paper under your seat? It's mine."

"Why don't you get it? It is not mine it is yours." He told me again without even looking at me. He is really something huh!? How gentleman!

I rolled my eyes and try to hold my emotions. He is not worth it. I had a heavy sigh. He really didn't think that I would not ask him to do so if I could do it. It is just so awkward to get it under his seat. He didn't even get that idea. By the looks, I thought he is a well-educated man but I guess he is not.

Oh, well I sighed again and try to go near closer to him, go under his seat and try to reach the paper but as soon before I reach it, the man already got it on his hands and put it on his lap. I was left their doing an unpleasant view and feels like I'm doing the WAP thing and as I raise my head I saw manong driver looking at the rear view cluelessly. OMG! He is getting the dirty idea. I get up immediately and distance myself to that guy. 

I look at him and lend my hands.

"Give it to me." I asked him

He then look at me and look at the paper.

"It's nice. But why would I?"

I raise an eyebrow on him.

"Well, cause it's mine."

"How can you say it is yours? It doesn't have any name or what."

This guy is getting into my nerves. How childish.

"Do I need to prove it. Can you just please give it to me and will all be fine. I would not disturb you anymore."

"I will give to you but you will answer my questions?"

Am I at school? Why will he ask questions. But to stop this all for a sudden I will let this childish do his thing.

I nod then I lend my hand and he gave the paper to me. I put it on my envelope to secure and face him waiting for the questions.

"Oh, so your from UP." He told me while looking at my envelope.  

I nodded. I graduated at UP Diliman.

"So you are an activist?"

I raised an eyebrow on him because of his notion about UP students. What a mindset.

"Do I look like one? Look, okay, not all from UP are activist. There are also normal students like us for pete sake. And also there is nothing wrong for being an activist because they are just fighting for right of all. It is not something that one should be ashamed of."

"Chill, I am not picking a fight. I am just asking."

I just nodded and accept his answer. I don't want to be bothered by him.

"Your work is pretty good. Are you an architect?"

I don't want to answer him but I am not cruel than him so as much as possible I answer it because he keeps on nagging at me and asking as if he is interested about designing. Oh well, there is no harm entertaining his questions.

We keep talking about designing and UP. He keeps on asking about things. Well, he didn't ask me personal things so it is safe and I knew for a fact that sometimes it is good to talk with a stranger. It is quite refreshing listening to other perspective. And he is not that annoying tho. I'm having a good company in him. 

We are alarmed when I heard the voice on waze app saying that we are nearing to my destination and this guy I think get it and stopped asking questions so I fixed my bag and envelope for me to leave the car easily.

I arrived at my destination. The guy beside me open the door and went out so I can also went out the car. I smiled a bit at him and thanked him. I also gave the payment to the driver. As I soon as I leave the car, he again speak to me. He really bothers me.

"Can I ask you a question again?"

I nodded cluelessly. Why he will ask questions? Again? 

"Can you tell me your name?" He asked while smiling. Oh, he smile. 

Is he hitting on me? Well, I'm not an easy catch, dude.

"Next time. When destiny would let us meet again. I will tell you my name, So bye for now." I smiled and walk away. 

I can feel the smile on my face. Am I blushing? What a guy! Is this what they call grab lovestory? Oh well, I wonder if I would be able to meet him again. But I love to. I want to know him more.

 Okay, enough of the scene. I need to focus on my presentation today. I almost forgot about it because of that guy.

I arrived 15 minutes before the meeting. I saw my friend, Benedict who reserve our seat and was able to order the food so everything is set. I just went to the comfort room to fix myself and look presentable to the client.

As I return to our seat I saw a guy already sitting on our chair. I guess, that is the client, I can't see his face because he is sitting against my direction. I breathe in and out, shake my hand before I went to our table. I am wearing my all smiles.

I went to our chair and then I saw the client. He stood up when he saw me.

"Hi! Nice to meet you, again. Sorry I'm kinda late." He lend his hand. He has this teasing smile.

My friend, Benedict is confused. 

I don't know what to say but let us keep it professional.

"Hi, Sir." I accept his hand and he is still not release it.

"Now, will you tell me your name?"

"Hi, I am Abby Martinez." I guess destiny is real. Oh well, he is so fast. 

"I'm Luke Guevarra."

He finally release my hand and he started to sit down, I and Benedict also sit down.

"I haven't heard your proposal but I can sense that it is all perfect. Am I right? Can you tell me more about it?" He said while having the teasing smile.

I answer and presented to him the plan with the best way I can, how I practiced it. I am kinda shy but I kept it professional and was able to pull it off. He is kinda amazed by what I've done.

"It is amazing, Ms. Martinez. But to make this one a deal, I have a question and you must answer it correctly?"

I nodded.

"Do you have a boyfriend?"

Benedict and I got shocked by the questions. I did not expect it tho. He is really something.

"None, Sir" I answer him professionally.

"And that's it. We have a deal. You've got it." He said amusingly. I can't sustain my kilig. I think I'm blushing right now. 

"But Sir, I have this work etiquette I can't be in a relationship with my client so wait till your not already my client so you can hit up on me."

"How long will you be able to finish the project?"

"Two to three months, I guess."

"It is quite, long. But we can work things out, right. I can wait!" He smirked at me.

I laughed at him but I can't stop myself from smiling. He is really something. I can't be professional with him. 

"I think I need to leave the scene cause I am not yet needed. Bye to the future lovebirds" he said while teasing the both of us. 

Benedict already exit and leave us at the coffee shop.

Luke looked at me while smiling.

"I guess, we need to work things out now?" He smile and gave me his teasing face.

I handed him the contract and a ballpen.

"Yeah, we need to work things out but let us start with this one."

"Okay fine, professional independent woman." said while mocking at me.

We stayed there for a while and talk about things. 

I really did not know things will be this way. I only aim for a client and I guess I will have umm.... lovelife? Let us see. I guess this is really my one big shot. 

Really big indeed!