The girls got ready, and Martin told them to wait in the limousine. Then Martin, Lory, and Bruce got inside the car. They soon reached a very fine hotel. It looked expensive and impressive.
"The hotel looks beautiful," Ariana said.
"Yeah," Sandra agreed.
Martin knocked on the car window. "What are you waiting for?"
The girls got out of the limousine. Martin entered the hotel, greeted by some men.
"Hey," Ariana said to one of the men.
"Hi, Miss Rea," the man replied. He looked about thirty, with thick black hair.
"You know me?" she asked, wondering how he recognized her.
"Of course," he nodded.
Ariana entered the hotel and stood beside Martin at the reception.
"Did you sleep well, babe?" Martin whispered.
"Huh?" Ariana rolled her eyes.
"I asked if you slept well," he repeated.
But you said babe too... she thought.
"Of course not," she answered.
"Why?" He gave her a confused look.
"Because of you."
"And can I know what I did?"
"Don't you remember?"
"I don't remember anything special. I mean, I just kissed you, maybe?" He teased.
"Is it that simple?"
"Why? Weren't you satisfied with it?"
"Of course not."
"But you were."
"I said I wasn't."
"But it was a perfect kiss. I felt like it was the first time I kissed you."
She gave him a silly smile.
"What? Well, we'll see next time." He left her standing there.
Next time? Damn you, Martin. Do you think I'll let you?!
"Everything's fine, boss!" Lory shouted.
"So, let's go. We don't have time," Martin said.
"Let's go, Ariana, and see our rooms," Victoria said.
Ariana nodded. The guide showed them their rooms. Ariana's room was cool and pretty, with a big bed, a spacious bathroom, a large balcony, a table with a chair, a huge TV, and other amenities.
"Do you like it?" the hotel guide asked.
"Yes, I do. Thanks," Ariana said.
"You're welcome." The guide left her room.
Ariana went to the balcony to breathe the fresh air.
"Awesome," she smiled to herself.
She turned on her phone's WiFi and connected to the hotel's network. She chatted with Vena and some other friends.
Then she received a call from Martin. She answered.
"Hello?"
"Ariana, get dressed quickly. We have a meeting with some French people," Martin said.
"French? That's great."
"And don't worry, there will be translators."
"Nah, maybe you'll need them, but I won't, because I speak French."
"Oh, really? Then get ready quickly." He ended the call.
Oh my God, I wanted to take a shower, she thought.
Ariana opened her luggage and picked an outfit. She put on almost simple makeup and went down by the elevator to see them waiting. She spotted Martin standing there, laughing with a woman.
"I'm sorry I'm late," Ariana said to Lory, Bruce, Victoria, and Sandra. But she didn't take her eyes off Martin and the woman.
"No problem," Bruce said.
"Who's that woman over there?" Ariana asked.
"She's Castela. You'll see her a lot these days. She connects us with our customers," Bruce explained.
"Aha." Ariana was burning inside.
Why will I see this bitch a lot? She's laughing like a scared mouse caught by a cat, Ariana thought.
"Okay, come with us," Martin said to Castela.
Come with us? Where the hell? Ariana wondered.
"I want to introduce Castela to you," Martin said.
"She is a very important woman for us. She connects us with our customers in California."
I already knew that! Ariana thought.
"Don't say that, Martin. It's an honor for me to work with you," Castela said.
Martin smirked at her, then looked at Ariana accidentally. He saw pain in her eyes. He knew she was jealous. He smiled to himself.
"You look gorgeous." Martin walked closer to Ariana.
She gave him a silly look and stepped away.
Martin shrugged and walked to his limousine.
"Ah, Lory, I want you to bring me a car," Martin said before getting into the limousine.
"Sure."
Castela got into the limousine with Ariana, Sandra, and Victoria.
"If you don't have space, you can come, Castela," Martin said.
"We have space, don't worry," Sandra said before Castela could reply.
"That's fine."
After the two limousines reached the meeting place, they entered the building and found the French people waiting.
"Salut," Martin said.
"Salut," one of their group replied. They looked well-prepared and professional. Their group had five people—two women and three men.
"Êtes-vous un nouveau?" the girl asked Ariana.
The translator quickly translated, "She is asking if you are new."
"Oui, je suis nouveau. Mais je peux travailler comme si je suis le plus ancien," Ariana said.
"She said yes, she is new but can work like the oldest one," the translator translated to Lory, Bruce, Sandra, Castela, and Victoria.
Martin was amazed by her fast French.
"Donc, vous parlez français?" the man asked.
"So, you speak French?" the translator repeated.
"Aha, je fais," Ariana replied.
"Veuillez que vos conditions rapidement, car nous avons beaucoup de réunions aujourd'hui," Ariana said.
"Miss Ariana is telling him to state their conditions quickly as she has many meetings today," the translator said.
"C'est un honneur de travailler avec la Manil... Et je veux ajouter que cette nouvelle Ariana est très intelligente," the man added.
"He says it's an honor to work with the Manil. And he wants to add that the new Ariana is very smart," the translator explained.
"Merci beaucoup," Ariana thanked him.
"Alors, quelles sont vos conditions? Je veux que tout soit clair," Martin said.
"Sir Martin asked about their conditions, he wants everything clear," the translator said.
"Les conditions ordinaires, pas de nouvelles," the man said.
"He said the usual conditions and no new ones," the translator said.
"Please tell him our conditions will change if they move back or delay," Victoria said.
"Elle vous dit que leurs conditions changeront si vous proposez un retour ou un retard," the translator told the French group.
"Nous convenons," the French man said.
"We agree," he translated.
"Bien," Martin said, ending the meeting. He stood up and left the room. The French group started to leave.
"Oh my God, you did a great job," Victoria said to Ariana.
"You did too," Ariana replied.
"I didn't know you spoke French. I thought Martin was the only one."
"I didn't know either that Martin knew French."
"No, Martin's horrible at French. He knows like five languages," Victoria said.
"Five?"
"Yes, or maybe more. I'm not sure."
"That's weird."
⸻
– Please don't forget to vote and comment.
Leave your suggestions, please.
Thank you, guys, for reading!