Chapter 2 Getting to know him

Today is the first time for Ocean to go for a business trip with Michael abroad. She has passed her 3-months-probation and Michael decided she is now eligible to accompany him for outside country meeting. They are going to Singapore this afternoon. It was only a 3-day-trip, so Ocean only brings her duffel bag instead of her usual abroad luggage. Michael asked her this morning when he saw the duffel bag, if it was really sufficient for her for this trip. Ocean answered that the trip was only for three days and two nights, so of course it is sufficient for her.

Michael's next respond fuelled some strange feeling in her heart, maybe jealousy? He said that this is the first time he went abroad with a woman without a luggage, only a duffel bag. Even if it was only for a few days. Well, exactly how many women has he brought abroad with him? Ocean shook her head and reminds herself that it is not her business how many women Michael has ever had nor has until now. He is her boss, that's it, no more. Let alone, he never shows that he is also attracted to her. Who am I kidding here right now? He can even get a celebrity or a model as his woman if he wants to. Or maybe he already had one?

That thought was playing in her mind during the one-hour flight. Well, enough with this curiosity, once we checked-in at the hotel, it will be business as usual. Serious mode on, Sean, she murmurs. Ocean didn't realise Michael was staring at her all the time. "Something wrong, Sean?" he asked. Being shocked by the sudden question from Michael, Sean stutters her words, "Nothing Sir". Michael just nods his head. I must be blushing like a tomato right now, Ocean thinks. They are taking a taxi to their hotel now. Ocean booked two rooms at V Lavender Hotel. It is her favourite hotel in Singapore actually. The rooms are not big, in fact they are considered small qua space. But the location is very strategic for her. The nearest MRT station is just below the hotel. You can easily get out the hotel entrance and turn right to the station. Moreover, round the way to the station, there are multitudes restaurant and café to hangout. She always stays in this hotel every time she makes a trip to Singapore with her friends and family. Two days ago, she learned that Michael usually stayed at the Raffles Hotel whenever he has to go for business trip to Singapore. She saw all the previous itineraries at his business trip file that she handles now. However, since he has to go with Ocean this time, the hotel rate is too expensive for her as executive secretary. It is only suitable for the board of Directors budget. She actually already suggested Michael that she can stay at a budget hotel and Michael can stay as usual at the Raffles hotel. But Michael thought it would not be efficient for them to stay at different hotel while they had to go to the same place for working. Then when Michael asked her for budget hotel recommendation, Ocean directly said V Lavender at Jellicoe Road, Singapore. It is not too expensive nor too cheap. If Michael insisted, they have so stay at the same hotel, I think this is the right place and also my favourite one, she smiled.

The fact that she has to feel a bit anxious now at the check-in counter that the only two rooms available are connecting room. They have to take those rooms if they still want the deluxe type. Unless they are willing to be upgraded to executive rooms, those deluxe connecting-rooms are their only choice. Ocean is looking at Michael's face now. He seems to be fine and not feeling anxious as she is. Hmm, yeah that's right, so what if it is a connecting one, it's not that they are in romantic trip now. It's a business trip and they don't have to come to each other's room to talk about work. They can do it outside the room of course. I am also sure Michael has his own privacy that doesn't need me to be interfering with. "It's ok with you Sir?" she asks for politeness. Michael nods as a gesture of agreement without saying any word. Well, dear rooms here we come. Her palms start sweating a bit.

As they are standing in front of their rooms, Michael stops to ask, "Let's eat outside in an hour?". Oceans nods and adding "Do you need me to bring my laptop too?" Michael thinks for a second and replies, "No. It's enough business for today. But we have to start early in the morning tomorrow and discuss things before we go to the branch office". Ocean nods again and says;" Ok Sir", sorry I mean, Yes, Michael". She corrects her word directly after seeing Michael's eyes rolling to her previous respond. At the plane, Michael reminds her, formality is only at the branch office, outside that, just call him by his name. Ocean just finished unpacking her duffel bag, when suddenly there is a knock on the connecting door. What? Really? Is he really going to come here? Michael's voice forces her to walk to the door. "Sean, can I come in?" Ocean opens the door as a respond. Her eyes are looking at his eyes as if asking what he is doing now. Before she can open her mouth, Michael beats her with a smile.

"Sorry, I just want to see your room. May I?" He is still smiling.

"Of course, Michael. Please come in". Ocean's heart is beating fast now. Calm down girl, she tries to make peace with her mind. He is only checking out the room that the company's paying for. Not to visit you, certainly. Be professional. Ocean tries to keep distance with Michael, while he is walking around her room. As if there is a high voltage electricity in Michael's body that she has to avoid if she wants to stay alive. "I think it's just the same as your room, right?" She tries to open a conversation to hide her nervousness. "Yeah, I just want to see if we can do some business discussion if we keep this connecting door open. If there is any chance, we can put together some tables at the intersection to make a working space for both of us.". Ah, so that's his reason. Silly me, Ocean smiles. "Is it funny for you?" She doesn't realise that Michael is looking at her the whole time. "No, Michael. I think it is a good idea". She finishes her sentences with one single breath. Damn, he caught me smiling again in inappropriate time. He is talking about business now, Sean. "But I think we can just use one room for discussing business, either yours or mine. It will be faster and more efficient than putting a table at the connecting door area. Don't you think?" Finally, rational thought comes to my senses, Ocean thinks. "Yeah, I think it's better to do it your way. Ok, I have seen enough and we solved the problem. See you in an hour at the hotel lobby". Michael walks to the connecting door to enter his room. Before closing the door, he looks at Ocean and says, "No need to lock this door. Just keep it unlock".

Dinner is...fun. Yeah, it is fun. Ocean never realises that hanging out with the boss will be like hanging out with a close friend. They headed out from the hotel to Orchard Road an hour ago. They took a cab and stopped at a famous Department Store in that street and went to the food court at the 3rd floor. They agreed to eat Chinese cuisine and order the same dessert to be shared. During these ten minutes, they have talked about a lot of things, including work matters too, yes. However, it feels like talking to a friend, like with There. Ocean enjoys a lot this conversation, let alone the man she is talking to right now is "easy on the eyes", she smiled. This time it is not a wrong smile, because responding someone's story with a smile in an appropriate way is not wrong.

Michael is an easy-going person. No wonder he can climb up to the point of his career now. After getting his Degree in Germany, he joined the headquarter office in Germany as a trainee. Since then, his career has been improving until he became a Senior Manager there. He was being offered to start his Director journey overseas and the available spot was in Indonesia. Although he is a President Director now in this country, his rank in German headquarter office is still Senior Manager. After this assignment in Jakarta, he is going to be promoted to be Vice President in German headquarter. Another option, he can take another overseas task, then he can comeback to Germany as President Director of the headquarter office. Ocean ever heard before at the office that Michael actually has a family relative at the headquarter office and it was supposed to be easy for him to enter the board of management there. Instead, he decided to take the 'regular' path to begin his career from the start bottom. It shows that he is a man of integrity. He is also down to earth. Ocean can see that he is not a person who is full of himself. I mean, actually he can, she thinks. He is handsome, success, smart, and easy going. There is no way, I mean no way, he is not attractive to any women in this world. Just a few minutes ago, when he was waiting at the hotel lobby, Ocean saw he was talking to a pretty lady. When she asked him who she was, he said he didn't know her before. He was just being polite to give respond when she approached him. She was introducing herself to Michael when Ocean came to his table, then the lady must have thought that Ocean was his companion, thus she just left them without excusing herself. A few women were also caught catching a glimpse of him when they were entering the Department Store.

Ocean can only imagine how lucky his future wife will be. That is one thing she knows about his personal affair. He is not married yet. No, no wife yet. But a girlfriend or partner...that is another question. She hasn't found the answer yet. She promised to herself that it is going to be a question for another time when they are getting closer as friend. Not as boss and his executive secretary. She believes time will make them as good friends.