'Dinner With the Boyfriend'

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We moved towards the door just in time to see Tamara and Michael in a battle of their lips.

"It's too early don't you think so?" Mom smirked.

I snickered at the manner in which they broke away from each other. I noticed the colour that crept up Tamara's cheeks her making her look like a ripe tomato. Michael maintained his composure like nothing had happened.

I remembered years ago when Tamara suggested we steal some of mom's freshly baked muffins. It turns out our plans went sour, mom walked right in when Tamara dug her fingers into the pan. Tamara went red like a tomato while I maintained a stoic expression like I had done nothing. We got grounded yeah, but I blamed Tamara for giving us out.

"Mom, meet Michael my boyfriend, Michael meet my mom." Tamara introduced and shut the main door that was still open.

Michael took mom's hand in a handshake. His face became distorted as mom squeezed his fingers in her usual manner. Obviously, he hadn't expected a firm handshake from her.

Michael turned to me and smiled, displaying his beautiful teeth. Let me admit, he had a very heartwarming smile and he's really cute, I just hoped that I'd like his personality too.

"This is Florence, my smaller sister." Tamara poked me with her elbow and I gave her a look of irritation which she paid no attention to.

"Smaller sister? really now?" I grumbled. My mom stamped her feet impatiently in response. By the look she wore on her face, I knew she wasn't pleased with our argument.

"Stop bickering you two! Come with me Michael, you can call me Amanda." She pulled him to the dining table where we had already laid out the tantalizing vegetarian-friendly dish, Chickpea curry with basmati rice

I pulled a chair out and the others did the same. Tamara sat next to Michael on one side of the table while I sat on the other side next to mom.

Michael whispered something in Tam's ear and she smiled. He gave her a peck on her cheek and pinched her other cheek lightly. When they finally realized that they weren't the only people seated at the table, they both turned to us and apologized.

"Can we eat please?" I whined and my stomach let out a loud rumble, agreeing with my statement.

"See, even Mr. stomach agrees." I patted my stomach and everyone laughed heartily.

We commenced eating after mom had blessed the food.

"Michael, permit me to ask, what do you do for a living?" Mom asked after a few minutes of depositing her food in her stomach. I and Tamara exchanged frustrated glances. We knew this was coming.

"Photography." he replied while staring intensely at his plate. He picked an onion and examined it. He moved it to the side of his plate like it was some kind of monster.

I raised a brow at him and Tamara noticed my confusion.

"Mike here doesn't like anything oniony. " She patted his back affectionately. He grinned in consent and quickly glanced at me.

"Florence doesn't too." my mom chirped in and I let out a nervous laugh which made her glance at me.

My sister slurped a long slice of onion noisily to infuriate me. I glared at her and she winked after raising another slice with her fork. I glowered at her in genuine annoyance as she tucked it into her mouth.

"My daughter said you met her at a fundraiser." Mom continued. Tamara cleaned the corner of her lips with a napkin.

"Yes I did, I bumped into her actually and she did what any female would do, she yelled at me and hit me with her purse." He turned to Tamara with a smirk but she only shook her head.

Dinner went quite well, Michael let us in on his hobbies, family, and his job as a professional photographer. He mentioned that he had his own company dedicated to photography and stuff like that. I was quite impressed and so was my mom.

He left shortly with Tamara saying he had promised to take her out on a date. Leaving me alone with mom in the kitchen dealing with the dirty, empty plates.

"I like Michael- " My mom handed a plate to me "He's a charming young man." She continued and wiped away the drops falling from her fingers.

"I agree with you."

I carefully arranged the plate in the plate rack located next to the sink.

Inwardly, I rejoiced that Tamara had found someone who would treat her with respect, I earnestly hoped Michael wouldn't hurt her. Although I felt a teeny bit jealous, I got rid of it knowing that exercising patience pays.

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Walking into Nicholas Corporation, I met my worst nightmare heading in my direction with Justin, they were engaged in a serious discussion and I wondered what they were talking about. Justin left her company after waving at her.

The smile on her face faltered when she nearly bumped into me. I was practically late again and desperately wished she'd allow me get to my office without any drama.

"You're late." She spelled out, smiling wickedly.

And I dislike you too.

My lips remained sealed as I buried my cellphone in my bag.

"It's surprising that Philip hasn't kicked you out yet."

Still no answer from me.

Tamara's endless chattering last night after the dinner really wore me out, exchanging words with this lady whose stores of crude words were inexhaustible, would only further drain my energy.

"Florence, you're late." Mr Ross appeared beside us, making Stacy smile victoriously.

He shifted his gaze from me to Stacy who smiled anxiously, his presence wiped the faintest trace of arrogance from her.

"Stacy, aren't you supposed to be busy with the memorandum I gave you earlier?" He demanded sternly. She squirmed and hurried away, causing a large wave of pleasure to move through my body.

"You have a whole lot of explaining to do."

I rolled my eyes and followed him to his office, he waited for me to step in before shutting the door noiselessly.

"Why are you late again?" I lifted my brow at his last two words.

"Don't think I wasn't aware of the first time you came to work late." I sighed and shifted uneasily as we were still standing.

"I'm sorry, I slept in."

The sides of his lips turned down.

"That's no excuse, as a matter of fact, I don't care about you, all that's my concern is you being in this office by seven every morning, I do not tolerate tardiness."

The harsh words about not caring about me kinda pricked but I merely nodded and he looked at me strangely. If he was expecting a response from me, he wouldn't get any.

"Go to your table." He ordered and I sighed. I thought my temporarily staying in his office ended with the presentation. I guess not.

"You're staying here permanently." He added, reading my thoughts.

I inwardly groaned and made my way to my table positioned at a corner not too far from his.

This table's much more closer to his than I remember.

I slipped my pen out of my bag and pulled out a jotter too. I stared at Philip was was typing in his laptop. I stared at his perfectly combed hair, his perfect-fit ash-coloured designer suit and matching shoes and tie. He paused in his typing and reached for his phone.

"Hello mom." he began with a smile. He waited for his mom to reply.

I've never seen him smile, most of the time he's frowning, barking instructions at his workers including me. I came to the conclusion that him smiling because of his mom, meant that he loved her so much.

Was he even capable of loving?

"You don't need to come over, I'll see you after work hours." he paused for awhile waiting for her response, he twirled his fountain pen in the air with his fingers.

"I'm actually planning on travelling to Hawaii." He continued and let out a low chuckle.

"Bye mom, I'll see you later." he placed the phone down and caught me staring at him. My cheeks burned as I looked away in embarrassment.

A buzz from my phone caught my attention.

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Hola

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Hey Tam, what's up.

A message bubble came up.

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I miss you.

I rolled my eyes and sent my response.

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I just left you a few hours ago

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Whatever you mean by that, I miss you. How's your cute boss?

I scoffed,

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Cute? What makes you think he is?

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Sisterly intuition, I guess.

"Run with these to Alice." Philip's
voice interrupted my fingers tapping my phone's screen. Placing my phone on the table, I pushed my chair backwards and stood up straight. I straightened out the creases formed of the lower part of my gown and ambled towards him.

I moved to Alice's cubicle with the file he gave me.

"Hey Florence," she called out excitedly when she saw me.

"Hey." Not in the mood for much talk, I abruptly handed the file to her and she grabbed it and glanced at its contents.

"Thanks." She placed the file beside her computer and faced me.

"You're spending lunch time with us right?"

"Yes." I replied and she nodded and went back to what she was doing.

Thanks for sticking to my book!

I know there are some unavoidable mistakes, I'll correct them as soon as they are discovered.

Dedicated to AngelTheAuthor320
EmoryVerda
nikki20038
JessGirl93
felicityjones26
SabelVecinal7
mikevinzdavid
Candice_Is_Crazy

*They have really good books that you would like, I think*

Lots of love and kisses,
Tris.