Chapter 3 First Business Trip with him

This morning they had breakfast at 6.30 am and now they are on their way to the branch office in HarbourFront road, Singapore. Michael is sitting next to Ocean in the cab. He still remembers their conversation last night. It was the first time Michael felt like he can trust a woman again, especially as a friend. Ocean is different with other women that he met. For example, the lady whom he met at the lobby hotel yesterday while waiting for Ocean. He had to admit she was pretty and attractive, but he did not feel something special.

He just realized that pretty face and ideal figure of a woman is not his thing anymore. Yes of course a man will fall with a woman in a first look, but it is not enough for Michael now. He needs somebody that understands him and easy to talk to. Lucky him to have Ocean as his Executive Secretary now. Actually, he could choose a "model figure" kind of woman from all the applicant forms that came to his desk. But after his Zoom interview session with Ocean, he knew he had to choose her. Michael smiled to himself while remembering that he chose to turn off the Video mode at the interview. He realises that his figure can make a woman nervous talking to him. It is not because he is full of himself, however it comes from his own experiences around women. They usually stutter and suddenly looking at him with their jaw drop and mouth open wide when they stare at him. He feels flatter knowing the impacts that he makes for them, but not for his colleague. Especially for someone that will be working with him every day and travelling a lot with him for business, he does not want that woman stutters and keeps staring at him while they are working.

The fact that Ocean can treat him differently with those other women, he feels really good. He has made the right decision this time and he can feel that they can get a long with each other in a short time. Even sometimes he feels that Ocean is kind of trying to avoid him being together with her. She seems to make boundaries and keep things strictly about business. So, Michael always tries to make her comfortable by talking informally outside the office and starting to discuss personal things. This is the first time Michael can get this close to his assistant. Usually, he is the one who put the boundaries.

"We are here, Michael". Ocean's voice brings him back to reality. They are entering the main entrance know and heading to the elevator after checking in with the front security. In the elevator, Michael catches a few glimpses at Ocean. Actually, this woman who is standing beside him is also an attractive one too. People will never guess that she is in her forty's now. Michael ever heard some people at their office said to Ocean that they thought Ocean was just in her 30's. He himself also a bit surprised when they met in person for the first time. The first day they worked together when Ocean undone her face mask, he looked at her for a few minutes thinking how different she was in real life. I guess that Zoom Video mode quality didn't do her justice. He remembers he was smiling for a second at that time. Luckily Ocean didn't notice it, otherwise she could think of him differently. Michael didn't want to develop an awkward situation with his new assistant. Turned out, it was a good decision for them. They are communicating nicely and growing their friendship.

The cart stops at the 5th floor. They are now heading to the appointed meeting room. The room is a bit bigger than their meeting room in Jakarta, however the setting is just the same. The German headquarter office applies the same rules with every branch around the world, including the office interior. We have to use the same office appliances with certain standard. There will be time you can't find the same furniture standard with in some countries. In that case, the branch office can propose their choice and wait for approval from the headquarter. If the furniture is being approved by the headquarter, then they can use it.

Ocean can help to prepare the presentation due to the same tools they use in the meeting room. Before that, Michael introduces her to the Secretary of the Managing Director and to other colleagues in the that floor. He took her round the floor before she went back to the meeting room and Michael stayed at the Managing Director's office. Ocean likes it there. She feels all the people she met are all friendly and they welcome her sincerely. Well, at least that is how I feel, she thinks. I can't tell what really was going on their mind, only pretending to like her because Michael introduced her, or they were sincere to her. Ocean always has this kind of low esteem feeling whenever she is in a new place and around new people. Then she reminds herself that she is there to work and strictly business, not to make new friends and she will only be there just for two days.

The digital clock in the meeting room is now 9 o'clock sharp and they have to begin the meeting. Ocean and Jill, the Managing Director's secretary, already sit in their chair. Each one is sitting beside their bosses' seat. Then Michael and the Managing Director enter the room, followed by a few managers. Today's meeting is regarding Sales and Marketing, so the people that involve in it are they who work at the Sales and Marketing Department. To her surprise, Ocean sees a woman smiling at Michael and winking her eyes to him. Then she asks Ocean to take another chair in the meeting room because she needs to seat next to Michael. Ocean was a bit confused for a while, but when Jill said she can seat next to her instead, she went to Jill's side immediately. Ocean doesn't want to make a bad first impression in this branch office. Jill then whispers to her," Her name is Angela. She is our Marketing Manager. Don't worry, it is not that she doesn't like you. She just wants Michael".

The meeting is a bit intense due to increasement target that the headquarter needs the branch to achieve. Ocean already knew this, because she was the one who prepared the presentation with Michael supervising her. Actually, this new target was sent to Michael from his counterpart in Germany and his task is to present it to few branch offices, one of them is this office in Singapore. Ocean never imagined that the people from this office, especially from the Sales and Marketing Department, are all critical people and tend to challenge all the instruction from the presentation. It's like Michael has to have answers for all their questions and remarks. She starts to feel sorry for Michael, but also impress that he can answer all of them gracefully. He also keeps his attitude in a high manner, just as a President Director. My boss, my Director, she thinks proudly. Apparently, she is not the only who feels proud of her boss. Ocean happens to look at Angela's direction and sees that woman is looking at her boss like a proud wife. Hmm.. this is a bit intriguing. Then she remembers what Jill said just now. She just wants Michael? Yes, I believe that was exactly what she said. Ocean then looks at Michael. He is still cool with full concentration with the meeting. He seems don't care if the woman who is sitting beside him is looking at him like she wants to eat him. It is now five minutes before lunch. Michael sends Ocean a skype message asking whether the place has been arranged yet. Ocean replies, Jill already booked a restaurant within a walking distance just a few minutes from the office. Then he lifts his face up to Ocean and smiles to her. Ocean smiles back. She feels a pair of eyes from across her seat are watching them. Angela is pitching her eyes looking at them with curiosity.

The restaurant is a Chinese restaurant with luxurious interior. Jill said she chose this place in order to maintain the social distancing with other guesses. All the employee that joined the meeting already been swab tested before, so they could have their meeting without medical mask just now. However, eating outside the office means they must pay attention with the pandemic health protocol because they won't be the only guess in that restaurant. Social distancing with other people is a must and this restaurant has a big dining room with limitation of guesses. They also have to obey with the pandemic protocol, only receive 50% of guesses from 100% of capacity. When Michael is pulling a seat for Ocean, Angela suddenly appears. "I think she can seat next to Jill again, Michael". Angela's eyes are looking at Ocean waiting for her to respond according to Angela's demand. "Please miss Angela". Ocean smiles and walks to the seat beside Jill. She can't see Michael's reaction, but she also doesn't hear him saying anything as respond. The meal is delicious and being presented like a five-star hotel restaurant. Jill says it is her boss favourite restaurant and he used to eat there with Michael whenever they had a meeting. Ocean can see that Michael likes the food. After a few months working with him, they went a few times to a Restaurant in Jakarta for lunch or dinner. Usually when they have to attend a business meeting outside the office. Ocean learns that Michael is not too picky for his food, but he will eat less if the food doesn't cook the way he liked it. On the other hand, if it is accordingly to his taste, he will eat more and without hesitant add more to his plate if he still wants to eat more. That is what is going on now. Michael eats more and somehow Ocean feels warm in her heart. Seeing Michael eating with passion is somehow making her also happy. Suddenly her eyes turn from Michael to the hand that is passing food to Michael's plate right now. Angela puts a small chicken breast to Michael's plate. To her surprise, Michael doesn't eat it right away, in fact he just stares at the food for a while than he continuous his conversation with the Managing Director.

Angela is a pretty and sexy woman. Ocean can see she is a "man magnet". A few men at their office and some guesses of the restaurant keep glancing at her since they came until now. I can understand if my boss likes her, Ocean thinks. If he is a normal man, he will be attracted to this beautiful and super sexy woman. Angela is wearing a fit-to-body dress that shows all her body curves. She has a small waist-line, her boobs and bottom are surely her proud asset. She seems to know Michael well that she can freely express her feeling openly like that. One more fact that keeps running in Ocean's head is that everybody from this office doesn't feel awkward with Angela's attitude toward Michael. It's like they already got used to it. Let alone, in front of the Managing Director, Angela's boss. Ocean never thought that this meeting will make her wondering a lot with so many questions. But she can't pursue her curiosity now. Not as a newbie in the company. Jill seems to be a good companion to her. Maybe if they can have their moment together, they can have a "from secretary to secretary" conversation later.