It was already 12:47 PM, just minutes before 1 o'clock, and Diana stood near her office window, staring out through it with her eyes fixed on the gate below. The faint sound and echos of faint voices coming from the other offices was all she could hear. Her hands resting anxiously against the windowsill as she remained focused on the gate. After some moments, she walked away from the window, pacing up and down with the only sound heard was that of her heels hitting softly on the marbled floor.
The anticipation was now obviously unbearable for her, not knowing how long she had stood up and how long she had sat down. She had checked her wristwatch for almost an eternity now, but Alex wasn't coming.
Now, it's 2:30 PM after Diana checked her wristwatch once again. Obviously to her, he wasn't coming.
Just the thought of that, her shoulders slumped, letting out a deep sigh.
She might have misjudged him. Maybe Alex was not as desperate for a life-changing opportunity as she had assumed. Or perhaps, he might have even lost her business card in one of the waste bin trash cans last night.
She then muttered under her breath, her hand holding up her head.
"Wait. Could it be that he's not interested at all? But I hadn't told him anything about what the job offer was all about. Well, maybe...who knows, he might think I have some other motive? I don't know."
Just then, a quick but gentle knock on her office door interrupted her thoughts, drawing her attention to the sound.
She straightened herself up immediately, maintaining her usual composure.
"Come in."
The door was pushed open, and one of her female staff members walked in, holding a clipboard in her arms.
"Ma'am, do you have an appointment scheduled for today?"
She asked very politely, staring at her to know her reply.
Diana shook her head, barely thinking before she replied.
"Not really."
"I don't think so. Why did you ask?"
The lady shook her head.
"Just wanted to confirm something."
"There is this man outside there claiming that he had a business appointment with you today."
Diana's brows raised slightly. She was not expecting any business appointments from anyone today.
She then sighed and waved her hand dismissively at the staff.
"I don't think so. Tell him to leave, or you send him to my personal assistant. I'm not seeing anyone today."
The staff member nodded and turned to leave, but just then... something flashed into Diana's mind.
Could it be him?
She called out to the staff immediately.
"Wait."
The lady turned back, facing Diana.
"What did the man say his name was?"
Diana asked, hoping to get the answer she was expecting. This time, she couldn't hide the sudden urgency in her voice.
The lady battled with her memory, trying to remember the name the man said to her. After a brief silence, she murmured.
"If I'm not mistaking, I think he said his name is Alex."
Just then, Diana inhaled deeply, letting out a relieved sigh.
"Please, bring him in."
The lady nodded quietly and left, closing the door behind her as she walked past it.
"He came."
"Gosh, I was overthinking myself all along."
Diana muttered, relaxing herself against the chair. The only thing now in her mind is how she's to explain to him her business offer.
Just moments later, the office door creaked open again, as the lady stepped in alongside Alex.
Alex stood by the door entrance. From his appearance, he had made a serious effort to look presentable, changing his tattered and dirty clothes for something slightly neater, but the obvious signs of poverty were still hovering over him like a shadow. His shoes were of old-fashioned design and scuffed, his shirt quite a bit oversized for him, and in his hand, he held tightly his luxurious worn-out polythene bag.
The staff member who had escorted him in was busy staring at him with skepticism as she watched him from head to toe.
"Ma'am, is he the one you were looking for? Because this man here..."
She paused, scanning Alex's appearance and posture with a disdainful look.
"This man here looks...poor-stricken. Like poverty is written..."
"That's enough, young lady," Diana cut her off.
With a sharp and warning gaze, she said sternly.
"You can now leave."
The lady stood frozen, as she realized her mistake.
"I'm sorry, ma'am," she murmured before she quietly walked out of the room, closing the door behind her.
After the lady left, silence took over the room as Alex stood near the door awkwardly. His eyes roamed the office as if he was completely in another different world. His eyes lingering around every corner of the room, the polished leather furniture, the bookshelf filled with neatly arranged books, the gold-flamed painting hanging on the wall behind Diana's desk. He swallowed deeply, gripping his polythene bag tightly, showing how discomforted he was.
Meanwhile, Diana had watched him, allowing him some time to feel relaxed. Then, after some brief moment, she spoke out.
"If you're done staring around, you can then come over here and get yourself seated."
Alex nodded, stepping closer to her desk. He then hesitated, glancing at the chair in front of her desk. He pointed at it quietly, with uncertainty in his tone.
"You mean I should sit here?"
Diana nodded, raising her glance at him, wondering the cause of his reluctance.
"Yeah. Any problem?"
He shook his head immediately, waving dismissively.
"No, no, I can't sit there."
"I'm sorry, I can't, madam."
Diana, surprised, asked him.
"Why not? What happened to the chair?"
Alex scratched the back of his head, his feet shifting quietly back from the chair.
"Madam, see... I can't afford this," he muttered.
"You see this 'me'... I don't go for what is bigger than me, please."
"Oh my goodness."
She let out a small sigh, folding her fingers on the desk.
"It's just a chair, Alex."
"To you, maybe," he countered strongly.
"But where I come from, we don't sit on things we can't afford."
Diana removed her gaze for a moment, and then she leaned closer.
"And where you come from, do you also turn down life-changing opportunities just because they look too good to be true?"
Alex tried to respond immediately, but he didn't know what else to say. He quietly closed his mouth, staring at the chair once more.
It took him a long battle of thought, but he eventually exhaled deeply and then settled himself into the seat.
Even though he was now sitting, relaxation was still far away from him, but his polythene bag didn't stay away from him... never.
Diana smiled softly and spoke out.
"Good. Now that we have settled that, let's now talk business."
She then leaned forward, tapping the pen in her hand on her desk, taking a closer look at Alex.
Meanwhile, Alex was barely relaxing in the chair because he was afraid they would break under his touch.
Diana cleared her throat before she began.
"So, Alex, welcome to the Babel group of companies."
He nodded. "Thank you, madam."
"I'm Diana," she corrected him quietly.
"Just address me as Diana."
Alex nodded in agreement without saying any other word.
Diana hesitated, not knowing how to begin.
"Like I told you last night, I have a business proposal for you."
Just then, Alex adjusted his sitting posture, looking more relaxed now but with a curious expression.
"Yeah, that's why I'm here. So what kind of business?"
His voice was calm, though still skeptical.
Diana hesitated once again. How was she going to say this? It wasn't something people are likely to hear these days.
"Well, it might sound complicated but... it's not. But still... slightly complicated."
Alex's gaze was still fixed on her, eager to hear her business proposal.
And Diana continued.
"You see, my parents are coming to the state to visit me, and I need, um... your help to create an impression."
Alex frowned lightly.
"An impression?"
"So, what kind of impression?"
Diana continued, bitting her lips.
"You see, it's just that... my parents have certain expectations, and I need someone to... just play a role for me."
He replied immediately, still confused.
"Play a role?"
"If it's about playing roles here, you got the wrong person. You know very well, I'm not an actor?"
Diana replied immediately.
"Not actor stuff."
Alex, getting irritated, replied immediately.
"If not that, what then?"
"Just say what you mean, Diana. I'm not good with riddles, please."
Diana exhaled, and decided to be direct.
"Fine. I need someone to act as my husband when my parents arrive. Just for three weeks and I will pay him."
Alex blinked his eyes. Then, to make sure he heard Diana correctly, he slowly repeated her words.
"You need someone to act as your husband, right?"
Diana replied.
"Yeah."
His gaze sharpened.
"You mean... that I should pretend to be married to you?"
Diana nodded, keeping her expression normal.
"Yes. Just for three weeks."
Alex continued.
"And you... will act as my wife? But... like we're not married in reality?"
Diana nodded quietly.
"Exactly."