REINER – MOVING FORWARD

**Three days later**

I was lazing around in my room when my phone started ringing. Just like everyone who’s anxiously

waiting for the result of their interview through a call, I jumped up and grabbed my phone. I prayed for

the best before connecting the line.

“Hello. Is this Miss Natalia speaking?” a woman’s voice asked formally.

“Yes, it is,” I replied as I continued praying for the best.

“Congratulations. I am calling to make an official job offer for your position as one of our managers’

secretaries. I just wanted to share with you the good news. We will send you an official job offer and

contract for you to review by email,” the woman said politely.

“Thank you. Thank you very much! I will look forward to your email,” I replied enthusiastically.

“Please contact us if you have any question regarding the offer. If you decide to accept the job, please

schedule a time to drop by the office to sign your job contract,” the woman instructed.

“I can be there tomorrow. What time should I be there?” I asked, unable to hide my excitement.

There was a moment of pause on the phone and I was sure that the woman must have been slightly

shocked at how fast I had made my decision to take the job. It wasn’t like I had other options and I

wanted to start my new job as soon as possible.

“Would 3PM in the afternoon work for you?” the woman asked after a pause.

“Yes. I’ll be there. Thank you so much,” I replied happily.

After exchanging polite goodbyes, the line disconnected. I opened my mouth and squealed in delight

as I started jumping up and down. I couldn’t wait to share the good news with Queen. Perhaps this

would be a good opportunity to tell her of my plan to move out as well. I didn’t want to impose on her

too much than was absolutely necessary.

I wondered if Queen was in the mansion as I headed out of my room to go looking for her. Usually, if I

ask any of the maids, they would be able to tell me where Queen was. I have already figured out where

Queen’s favorite hangout spots in the mansion and the garden were as well. Queen was really into

gardening and kept a large rose garden that she tended to herself. I found it quite amazing the last time

that she took me there for a short sightseeing tour.

“I think Queen is in her rose garden. She mentioned that she was going to water them,” a maid told me

after I asked her where Queen was.

I knew it!

“Thank you!” I quickly thanked the maid before heading off in the direction of Queen’s rose garden.

Just like the maid had mentioned, I succeeded in finding Queen in her rose garden. She had a hat on

to shield her face away from the sun and she seemed very busy as she watered her precious rose

garden. The various colors of the roses in her garden were truly beautiful. Various shades of pink, red

and yellow made her garden look very appealing and colorful.

“Oh, Natalia. You came looking for me?” Queen asked when she spotted me.

“Yes. Am I disturbing you?” I asked before smiling at her.

“Not at all. I’m just about done. I actually like it when someone drops by my garden because I can show This belongs to : ©.

off my beautiful flowers, you know…” Queen said with a pleasant laugh.

“They’re really pretty and they smell so…rosy…” I replied as I looked around at the flowers that were in

bloom.

“You’re right about that!” Queen said with a laugh.

I laughed along with her as I bent down to sniff a pink rose. The sweet and slightly musky smell of the

rose filled my senses and it made me smile happily.

“Why were you looking for me? You need help with anything?” Queen asked.

“The thing is…I got the secretary job that I interviewed for!” I announced proudly.

“Wow! Big congratulations! We should throw a party,” Queen cried out in excitement as she clapped

her hands together loudly.

“I don’t think a party is necessary but thank you. Thank you so much for helping me,” I thanked her

earnestly.

“Don’t mention it. We should throw a party or at least have a nice dinner together,” Queen suggested

brightly.

Mentioning dinner only made me recall that first and very disastrous dinner that I shared with Reiner

and his parents. A repeat of that wasn’t something that I wanted or needed. I also didn’t think that

Reiner and I are on such friendly terms for us to be sharing dinner. I hoped that Queen’s idea of dinner

didn’t include the boys, but I couldn’t voice it.

“What about we drop by Jamie’s bar instead? It can be my treat,” I suggested as the idea popped into

my head.

This way I could keep both Reiner and King out of the picture. Treating Queen to something at the bar

would be perfect. Since taking me there, Queen hadn’t dropped by again.

“That works too. Tonight? I happen to be free,” she proposed energetically.

“Oh sure. I’m not working there tonight so it’ll be good to go along with you as customers for a change,”

I agreed.

“Perfect. I’ll see you later tonight. Let’s dress up pretty!” Queen said before winking seductively at me.

I had to say that she’s still decently hot given her age and I found myself smiling back widely at her.

Sometimes, her cheerfulness would remind me of my own mother. I felt a twinge of sadness squeeze

at my heart and dismissed that thought.

Night arrived soon enough although not quite soon enough for my overly excited heart. After

suggesting that we dress up pretty for the celebration, Queen insisted that I borrow her dress. As

expected, Queen’s walk-in closet was massive and the pieces that she had would put a superstar to

shame. There were so much to choose from that I felt baffled by the options available.

--To be continued…