Meeting Mr. Mogul(72)

As the day dragged on, I felt comfortable on my new desk as I worked on a  layout on one of the magazine's page. I also took note the empty  cubicle beside me, which rose my curiosity about my neighbor and why he  or she isn't present. Around noon, everyone got up from his or her desk  to get something to eat. I quickly saved my work before heading out to  get something for myself. But before I could get up on my chair, the  phone on my desk rang. I didn't think twice on answering and picked up.

"Hello?" I asked and place it on my ear.

"Andy, can you come to my office?" Ally's voice asked on the end of the phone.

"Sure," I replied softly. I was about to ask her what she needed me for  when the phone line ended. I put the phone away from my ears and eyed it  in confusion before placing it back.

Without knowing what to expect, I put my computer to sleep and stood up  from my desk. I made my way to Ally's office feeling a little nervous.  When I got to the front door of her office, I heard someone else's voice  in the other side. I knocked on it out of courtesy before entering.   





 

My eyes first ran on the girl sitting across from Ally. And then her eyes met mine, a sense of disbelief plastered on her face.

"This is Andy. Andy this is Nerissa, one of the company's photographers," Ally gestured at the girl across from her.

"So, you used to work at Maxwell Enterprises … " Nerissa said causally in interest.

"Ah …  yes … " I replied with uncertainty and glanced toward Ally in question. Did she tell her something about William and me?

"So, you know William Maxwell?" Nerissa asked, grabbing back my attention.

"Ah …  yeah … " I replied again in the same tone, not sure where this is going.

Then to explain the situation, Ally spoke. "Nerissa needed someone to  help her with a photo shoot. I read from your résumé that you had  studied photography …  plus you know the model well … "

"I have a shoot for another spread with William Maxwell for next month's  issue, and my co-photographer is sick today. I wanted Ally to come with  me but she said she is busy …  And then, she told me about you," Nerissa  explain when I stayed quiet.

"Right," I mumbled with a nod. I couldn't help but be furious for a  second towards Ally. She did it because it is the truth. At least she  told her that I used to work for him and nothing more.

"What do you need from me?" I asked more softly, though my voice sounded a little bit off.

"So, you'll do it?" Nerissa asked in enthusiasm and ignored my question.

"Yeah, sure. It would be nice to see my old boss again," I replied with  sarcasm and rolled my eyes at the inescapable possibility.

Ally looked at me with an apologetic smile and grinned from ear to ear.  She didn't know what had happened to William and me after my outburst in  front of my apartment. I couldn't get angry at her innocent yet obvious  way of setting me up to meet him again.

I thought I would at least get a few more weeks here before seeing him  again. But maybe, fate already got tired at my stubbornness. After not  seeing him for a few days, I'm starting to really think about what I  felt about him. Sometimes distance was the only solution for someone to  see the importance on something.

When we reached the location for the shoot, I felt nostalgic to see the  building in front of me. I started to get nervous after we parked the  car.

"Why are we at the Maxwell's main office building? Would had it been  better to do it somewhere, like a hotel or something?" I asked

"Well, Mr. Maxwell is a busy man. It took as awhile to even get his  approval to do this shoot," Nerissa replied as we waited for some of the  crew to get all the kit from the back of the car.

When all things were set, we walked together towards the lobby. I felt  shy as I entered the building. I glanced at the reception desk where  Danny stood before we approached her. I stayed at the back of the group  and let Nerissa do all the talking. As the group moved on towards the  elevator, after pinning the visitor I.D. pass on their clothes, I walked  up to Danny with a nervous smile.

"Andy …  Is that you? What are you doing here?" she asked in shock as her face slowly turned up in to a smile.

"I'm here with those guys. I work at a magazine company now," I replied  gesturing at the crew who was standing outside, waiting for the  elevator.

"Does he know you're here?" she asked in a whispered, leaning toward me.

"No. And, don't tell anyone I'm here."

She gave me a stiff nod but opened her mouth to say something. She was  cut short when my crew entered the elevator, giving me the excuse to go.  I gave her a brief wave as goodbye before entering the lift. On the way  up, Nerissa asked me if I knew the receptionist. I only gave her a  small smile in reply.

When we reached William's office floor, my heartbeat increased its pace.  I allowed the crew to go ahead of me as I walked behind the group. I  let Nerissa talk to Maggie, who was working on her desk.

"Excuse me, we're from Face Magazine. We are here for the photo shoot," Nerissa said in greeting and grabbed Maggie attention.

Maggie glanced around the group, making me look away from her and turned  around on my back. "Mr. Maxwell will be with you. Please wait a  moment."   





 

I turned towards the group who were placing heavy kits beside my old  desk that was empty. I moved with the group and hid behind them. I  didn't know how I'm going to greet Maggie since I'm adamant at being  invisible now.

"Mr. Maxwell is ready for you now." Maggie suddenly announced, making my  heart rate raised like I was a kid again, and the nurse had called me  in to get my flu shot.

I looked up towards Maggie's table again as everyone got their stuff and  entered William's office. For a second, Maggie was distracted by the  crew's heavy equipment that was placed inside black bags. Then finally  her eyes glazed in my direction. It took her another second to realize  who I was.

"Andy …  You're here … " she stated breathlessly as she stood up from her desk and walked towards me.

"Hi, Maggie. I'm sorry. I don't know how to say hi after not seeing you for a while," I admitted shyly as I hugged her back.

"Don't be shy, dear. And please don't be a stranger. It's not like we aren't friends," she scolded me like a mother.

"Sorry," I felt bad at my actions and gave her another hug as an apology.

"Does William know you are here?" Maggie asked after letting me go.

"Partly …  I'm here with them," I reply with uncertainty and gestured at the crew, which had already entered the room.

"So, he doesn't know you are here."

"No, he doesn't."

She gave me a small, secret smile and patted me one last time before  telling me to go in. "Don't give him a heart attack like me. He has been  jumpy since you left," she stated before she headed back to her desk  with a grin.

I looked her one last time for entering the office. Since I was the last  to enter the room, I had the privilege on closing the door behind me. I  didn't know that the crew had already started setting up the area they  are going to shoot, which was at William's desk. William had to stand on  the side to wait.

And when I entered, everyone turned to see who it was. The first thing I  saw was his shocked face before it turned into anger. What the hell?

"You lied to me," he stated after he regained his expression.

"Nice seeing you, too." I greeted, ignoring his tone.

"You said you were going home. What are you doing here?"

I made a quick scan on the room and watched as everyone's eyes were on  William and me. I couldn't believe he was being dramatic about this  reunion     .

"I am going back. I just didn't tell you when," I replied gravely, not allowing him to scare me with his tone.

"Damn it, Andy. I flew to your hometown yesterday and only to find out  you didn't actually go back. And then, I had to ask around where you  were. Terry wouldn't even tell me. I tried looking for you but you just  disappeared … " he trailed off with a raged breath, like he wasn't  breathing as he talked.

"Well now you know how it felt when you toy with people's feelings … " I mumbled and glared at him deadly.

"Are you still angry about me on that? I already said that I'm sorry.  How many times do I have to say sorry to you for you to forgive me? I'm  sorry, okay. I'm sorry."

"I'm sorry, too … " I said softly as I watched his defeated expression.

Was this the assurance I wanted to hear from him? I didn't know he would  get affected and reacted by flying to my hometown to get me back. I  wasn't aware that he had been there in the first place.

"What does it take for you to forgive me, Andy? Please tell me because I don't know anymore," he sighed in exhaustion.

"You've done enough, William," I said and studied his face. "For a guy  who is so high and mighty, you can't think that you can have everything.  Sometimes you have to work to get what you want."