Chapter 3 The Recommendation

Xymon came inside the club as the lights in red, blue and green waver through the whole place. He closed his eyes instantly when the light ran through his left eye. The whole ambience was jam packed. There are plenty of people on the dancefloor; some of them are jumping on the beat, some are screaming and some of them are having close contacts with strangers. He kept moving through the waves of tipsy bodies while looking for their table. His friend Jorge owned the club that's why they have an exact place to stay on.

He saw them sitting already. As usual, he was late. Since he was the only friend who has a busy schedule.

Truth be told, he didn't have any plans to come but Marco was coming after months of being absent.

"Here you are," Jorge uttered as Xymon took his own seat. "As expected, you're late but we didn't expect that it will be forty minutes. That's too long, bro."

"Glad that he never transformed into a snail, hmm," Cyian said that made Xymon stared at him. Cyian didn't seem to notice the gaze due to the running light around. But Franco saw that already that's why he snapped a finger at Cyian and invited him to the dancefloor to interact with the girls. Cyian didn't refute and stood up on his feet. As he walked into the crowd with Franco, Xymon followed him with his eyes.

"Yow!" Marco called out. "Don't sharpen your eyes, dude. We're here to chill out, don't be triggered with words."

The sharp look went upon Marco. Jorge just laughed and elbowed his friend. "Don't interfere. Let Xymon do what he wants."

"You're tolerating that kind of attitude here, Jorge?" Marco snapped.

"Why not? It's my club anyways," the owner answered and flipped his suit away before he clicked his tongue and wink at Marco jokingly. "Let him. Because of your absence, you don't know what his real attitude is so be used to him."

Marco frowned. "What do you mean? Is the Gentle Xymon, Caring Xymon and Loving Xymon is now gone? Is that what you mean?"

"You're too animated." Jorge roared in laughter.

"Stop," Xymon snapped in a hard tone that made the two friends looked at his direction instantly.

Jorge scoffed at Marco. "See."

Marco stared at Xymon and scratched his right brow. "What hell happened to you?" he asked in a tone as if he didn't know what's happening to Xymon's life. That's the part he really hated the most.

Xymon just rolled his eyes and took a glass Jorge had filled with champagne a while ago. He drank it on one shot and stayed silent. He watched Marco glanced at Jorge dramatically.

"Why is he acting like that? He used to be a jolly kid on the teenage years, didn't he?" Marco asked as he sank himself on his own sit.

"You said it as if something traumatized him," Jorge uttered and chuckled in sarcasm.

"Ain't he?" Paulo asked.

That was the moment, Xymon looked at the right corner of the club. Because of the dim and dancing lights, he didn't noticed Paulo from that direction. He didn't like Paulo because of his silence but this man was really interesting on Xymon's point of view.

He wanted to know him, but still glad he didn't.

"I thought he left?" Marco asked Jorge as he pointed Paulo with his thumb. "I didn't notice him there for heaven's sake!"

"I really love it if Paulo came into my party," Jorge said out of nowhere as he drank the last content of his glass. "He put everybody on their own place and he could do that to anyone here at my club. Soon you will see how he could make you stay on your position and never talk again. Try him."

Paulo's scoff was loud as he grinned sideways. "You loved to sugarcoat your words, huh?" he even muttered and drank from his own glass before standing up on his feet and looked down at Xymon. "It's too late to say this but I'm sorry for loss. Please have my deepest condolences, lover boy."

Xymon hated that. The sarcasm on his voice and the way he turned his back away from him. As if Paulo was telling him that it was really 'his loss'. Xymon hid his fist away from the table as he sank himself on his chair, moving his knees forward as he shifted.

That's why he didn't want to join their parties and gatherings because Paulo's going to show up if he's there. Paulo loved to watch Xymon's actions and he didn't like it at all. He need to watch his moves and all or else, Paulo would laugh at him. Especially at the thought that Paulo has a past with Janela.

"Yo, bro!"

Xymon shot his eyesight back to his friends who stayed on the table. He decided to raise his position again and put his back against the chair. This time Xymon could sit comfortably.

"Never mind what he said, Xymon. Chill out." Jorge put some champagne on Xymon's glass and passed it to him. "If you'll get mad at him, Janela won't like it you know."

"You still haven't moved on yet?" Marco asked genuinely clueless.

"What do you think?" Jorge snapped. "Of course, he still can't move on. No one could ever move forward that fast you know?"

Marco quirked his brow up. "But it's already been three years?" he replied.

"I moved on," Xymon answered all of a sudden as he took the glass from the table. "Cut your discussion about me because I'm breathing on a seat next to you both. It's hard to take the thought that you've been talking about me and my damned past."

"Lies. Lies. Lies," Jorge said as he shook his head and raised his hands up as if he was worshipping something. "When will you admit that you still can't move on from Janela, huh?"

"I," Xymon uttered through his teeth, "already moved on. Do you understand?"

Jorge saw the glare on Xymon's eyes that made him nod. "Yeah, I see. I get it."

"But I am not convinced still," Marco opposed bravely. "Look at that face while looking at Paulo and those clenching on the jaw as he said about condolences."

Xymon stared at Marco and his friend just ignored it, Marco went on babbling at them. "I have a plan for you so you could move on fast, Xymon."

When he heard it, without even the will, Xymon felt like he was interested with what Marco is going to tell. He was looking at him but this time, it wasn't hard as before. He just looked at Marco with the feeling of investing He suddenly hated the feeling that made him gritting his own teeth. He could hear it on his head and wish that his clenching was not visible to his gorgeous friends.

"I heard that you hired a secretary already," Marco asked as he leaned down on the table, put his elbow on his knees as the chin rested on his own hand. "Didn't you?"

"I haven't chose any applicants yet," he said. "Why?"

"You should pick one now," Marco said and grinned. "It should be a woman and. ." Marco shrugged with a sideward smile. "And you know what I meant."

"A woman?" Jorge repeated with concern as he leaned down as well to overhear the conversation. "I think I have an idea about this shit."

Xymon got the idea but he stayed silent for a while, weighing his own thoughts to make a decision.

Marco has a point but it's a good idea.

He clicked his tongue and rolled his eyes in a manly way as he shook his head. "Don't start explaining, moron," he said when Marco was about to say a word.

Marco chuckled as he nodded. "Alright, alright. Our boy already know what I meant, huh?"

Jorge widened his eyes dramatically at Xymon. "Don't tell me you're going to do that?"

Xymon paid a glance at Jorge and shook his head. "Don't worry 'cause I won't and never do that. . ."

* * * * *

Thursday morning, 8:03 a.m

-

Camille wiped her sweat off her temple using her right shoulder as she continued washing the laundry. She made her lips a thin line and continued what she was doing.

"Good morning! Greetings from the goddess of beauty! Her name's Stacy!"

Camille looked up at her half sister who just came out from the back door of their house. She widened her eyes as Stacy with warning.

"David is still sleeping!" she snapped. "Lower your voice for heaven's sake!"

"Oops," Stacy uttered and covered her mouth her left hand. "Sorry."

Camille looked down at the wet clothes and sighed. "Tell me what time you came home."

"Three." Stacy was looking straight on her painted nails.

"Are you. ." Camille looked up at her again. "Are you out of your mind?"

"Why?" Stacy asked and rolled her eyes. "At least you didn't learn from the news that I was dead. I am still alive, as you can see."

"Yeah but you're alone!"

Stacy shrugged. "Yeah but I am still alive at eight," she muttered. "As of today!"

Camille stifled another sigh and continued her chore. "I will tell mom about your stupidity, you'll see."

"Uh-huh?" Stacy leaned slightly as she made a sarcastic roll on the eyes. "Whateve-"

Her voice trailed off when the telephone rang. Stacy looked back over her shoulder for a second then she glanced at her older sister again. "I'll get it."

Camille nodded. "Thank you."

Stacy walked into the house and took steps towards the cabinet to pick the telephone. "Hello?"

"May I speak to Miss Camille Laurier, please." The lady's voice was cultivated and rich that made Stacy opened her mouth slightly.

"I am sorry but my sister's busy. May I know who is this?"

"Please bring the phone to her, Ma'am," the lady insisted.

"Why? I mean, may I know who is this?"

"It's Miss Ollah, the hiring manager."

"Oh!" Without any hesitations, Stacy ran through while holding the wireless telephone and gave it to Camille.

"Who's this?" Camille asked, dumbfounded with Stacy's surprised faced.

"The hiring manager," Stacy answered, almost got her hands trembling. Immediately, Camille stood up, wiped her wet hands on her shorts and accepted the telephone.

"Hello, this is Camille. . ." Her voice trailed off when she remembered what she did days ago in their building. She got an employee embarrassed that time. Truth be told, it's not only the employee but herself as well.

It wasn't an anxious day since she only talked to Miss Ollah for the interview instead of the busy CEO but still, having bad assumptions to that employee she bumped herself into-she couldn't move on.

"The CEO wants to talk to you, Miss Laurier," Miss Ollah informed her. "I recommended you to him yesterday and he made an appointment for another personal interview about that secretary position tomorrow morning at nine. Please tell me if you can get yourself here tomorrow on time."

"Yes, I will!" Camille answered. "I will be there, thank you for informing me. ."

"My pleasure, thank you." Miss Ollah ended that call. Camille just stared at her younger sister who was waiting for her to say something.

"The hiring manager recommended me for the position!" Camille snapped and started jumping in joy. The idea registered on Stacy's head and finally, she matched her energy with Camille and hopped.

"Congratulations then, sister!" Stacy greeted. "I am happy for you!"

"But I still have to face the CEO for the interview," Camille said.

"Don't worry about it, I know you could get it!" Stacy grinned at her and winked. "Don't doubt yourself! Just looked impressive and you'll have it!"

"Thank you. . ."

Camille was happy with that news even though she still didn't get the position but at least, the hiring manager chose her as a recommendation.

But she hoped that she won't encounter that intimidating employee ever again.