Looking at his phone, he partially hoped to see Mia's ID displayed on the screen, fearing to know if it was the cryptic message again, but what he saw was Sabrina's message.
Why was she messaging him?
Big Sis: If you love your peace of mind, don't pick up her call. I repeat, do not pick up her call.
He looked at the message trying to decipher what she meant.
His sister was never the one to make things clear from the get-go and he wondered how she would be able to run the company once it was handed over to her.
"Are we good, Rey?" Andrew, who saw Rey's face give an unpleasant squeeze, asked, his face going lower just to have a better look at him.
"Yeah, we are. Just my sister being my sister."
"Oh! All right, I will be out arranging the files you need to sign." Andrew pointed towards the exit.
"Sure, but I have a date by 8; get a beautician sent to the house." He mentioned in the passing, not taking note of the light that shone ever so brightly in Andrew's eyes at the mention of a date.
His fingers were about to press the dial button to enquire from Sabrina the meaning of her text when Andrews gripped him, forcing his face towards himself.
"You have finally found the one!?" Andrew's lashes kept blinking like he was about to fly with them, the smile on his face wide, Reynaldo thought it would divide his face into two if care wasn't taken.
"It's complicated." Rey shrugged his enthusiastic friend off.
"My brain isn't that narrow." He sat down again, ready to hear what Rey had to say.
"Just go do it, man." Rey drove him away.
"But who is my sister-in-law?" Andrew persisted.
The mention of sister-in-law chilled Reynaldo's heart; he could only wish.
"It's not that serious."
"But you'll be presenting her to the family! Don't tell me you plan on deceiving them?"
"It's a contract that will last for a while."
"Man!" Andrew stood up, hit his head with his right hand, and sneered, a girly attitude that Reynaldo was used to.
"Why go into a contract when we have other girls around who would love you for you!?" He asked, half squatting, his two hands spread towards him to drive home his point.
'Here we go…' Rey breathed, ready to receive an earful of rant from his secretary and friend.
"There's Mia for heaven's sake!" He had his hands on his hips, his leg tapping the floor like he couldn't believe Reynaldo.
"She is the perfect match for you!" Andrews was exasperated.
"You think so?" Rey's voice failed to hide the excitement and hope in them.
"Yes… I do." Andrew drawled studying his friend skeptically.
"What's with the excitement in your voice?" He drew closer to Rey's face that if Reynaldo didn't know him as a friend, he would have thought Andrew wanted to steal a kiss from him.
"Are you? ARE YOU GUYS IN THIS CONTRACT THINGY TOGETHER!?" He yelled.
"Bingo!" Reynaldo responded flatly.
Andrews looked stunned, then confused like he couldn't figure out why it had to happen like that. Then he became angry. Reynaldo watched all of his facial expressions and knew it was time to drive him away.
"Now Andrew, if you don't mind, I would love to make a call."
"How long has this been on without my knowledge?" He asked, stepping closer to Rey but Reynaldo pushed him away before pressing the dial button without completely looking.
"I have a call to take." He mouthed pointing towards his phone.
Andrew gave him one last stare before marching out and closing the door with a bit of bang behind him.
"Hey, Sis?" Rey said into the phone.
"Rey Darling. How are you doing? It's perfect timing, Dear; I was just about to call you!" Came his mother's over-passionate voice.
Reynaldo had to pause for a bit to look back at the screen to see her name there.
Shit!
"Hey mum? I am great, how are you?"
"You don't sound great, your voice is a little flat. Fancy telling me what's going on?" Her concerned voice made his headache bigger, she was always quick to notice something wrong.
"Just work and stuff." He replied, his thumb and index finger on each of his eyes.
"You don't have to do everything yourself, I can talk to your dad to get your sister over to assist you." She offered and then there was a little shuffle.
"You better buckle up to avoid my presence! If I step foot in that company…" His sister shouted into the phone.
Voila! Free and instant headache! Rey winced.
Another shuffle, but he could still hear her voice in the background.
"…If a strand of my hair touches the floor of that company, I swear it is mine!" His phone vibrated afterwards but he didn't care to check what it was.
"As I was saying, you don't have to do everything alone."
"I have a secretary and a whole group of executives, Mum."
"I know you do. That aside, I have good news for you." His mum's happiness made him think back to Sabrina's warning message. His heart thudded.
What good news did she have that Sabrina would have to warn him about picking up her call? He just figured it out.
"Good news?" He echoed.
"Yes, Dear."
"What is it about?"
"You'd have to come over after work to hear all about it." She crooked and Reynaldo felt uneasy about it. He had almost wanted to tell her that he had a date but thought against it.
"I feel so bad disappointing you, but I can't come over after work, Mum."
"Why?" She sure sounded extremely disappointed.
"I'd be tired, plus I have an online meeting to attend with the CEOs of other software companies." He lied through his teeth and heard Sabrina whistle in the background, a secret sign they both knew and interpreted as 'good job!'
"Oh! Okay. How about meeting up for dinner tomorrow?" He hesitated.
"Don't you dare say no to me Reynaldo!"
"Alright Mum, location?" He gave in.
"Where else?"
"Ooh!" "Before you hang up, I'll give you a clue." The excitement was back to her voice.
"All ears Mum." He replied, not in the mood to join her in sharing her excitement.
"Guess who's back?" She gave a gentle laugh and the line was dead.