Think a title :Rose
Saturday had finally arrived, and I found myself at Joseph's house, a little earlier than usual. We had set this day as the finalization of the contract. It was kind of a last-minute call last night when he told me to bring a lawyer with myself today. I understand his hurry, I'm not much of a slowly-slowly person either. The sooner I can work to build my parent’s legacy, the better and for that, this is a significant step in solidifying our partnership. Today, we would sign the contract in the presence of our respective lawyers, ensuring that everything was in order.
We all sat in the anti-cozy and very intimidating study room aka the office of this man, sipping on my first morning coffee, Joseph turned to me with a warm smile. "Rose, how is your wound doing? Is it healing well?" the lawyers almost looked at me weird.
I nodded, a hint of pride in my voice. "It's almost healed now. Thanks to your superhero son’s band-aid and a little bit of time, it's fading away."
The room grew momentarily silent as Joseph's lawyer cleared his throat, breaking the stillness that had settled over us. His words were efficient, cutting straight to the point. "Let's discuss the terms quickly. I know you are both in a hurry."
My lawyer nodded in agreement, sharing the sentiment. We were eager to finalize the contract and move forward with our plans. The terms had already been extensively discussed between our legal representatives, and this final draft served as a formality to ensure that everything fell into place. As soon as the papers had our signatures on them, the two suited men swiftly gathered their belongings and left, leaving Joseph and me alone in the study.
 
A small sense of relief washed over me as I watched the lawyers exit the room. The weight of the formalities lifted, allowing us to shift our focus to more lighthearted matters. Joseph, with his characteristic ease, reclined in his chair, crossing one leg over the other, and turned his attention to me.
"Do you have any plans for the night?" he asked, a mischievous glint in his eyes.
I chuckled, the thought of my mundane evening ahead already on my mind. "If munching on a bag of chips and watching a rerun of Annabelle counts as a plan, then I'm your girl."
Joseph raised an eyebrow, feigning surprise. "Sounds like a plan for losers. No offense."
I grinned, taking a sip of the coffee that was, unfortunately, the complete opposite of my preferred taste. "None taken. I've embraced my inner loser."
Leaning forward, Joseph's voice brimmed with excitement. "How about you ditch the chips and come out with me tonight? Let's hit a party together."
I arched an eyebrow, a mixture of surprise and curiosity playing on my face. "You don't possibly want me to be the nanny for Mark, right?"
Joseph chuckled, shaking his head. "No, Rose. I thought that since we are partners now, it's only fitting to acquaint you with some of my business associates when they are not in a professional setting so you can know them on a personal level. Plus, it'll be a chance for us to let loose and celebrate our new venture."
A spark of intrigue ignited within me as I considered his proposal. The prospect of a night out, rubbing shoulders with influential individuals in Joseph's network, enticed me. I set my coffee cup aside, ready to embrace a different kind of evening.
"Oh! Yeah, sure. Why not? The chips can definitely wait."
A satisfied smile tugged at the corners of Joseph's lips as he leaned back in his chair. "Good to hear that. Get ready, Rose. We're going to have a night to remember."
We engaged in light banter, discussing the day's plans and sharing tidbits of our lives. But soon enough, Joseph's curiosity got the better of him, and he asked about the process of my resignation which he knew would’ve been nothing but interesting.
I took a deep breath, contemplating how much I should reveal. But our newfound closeness encouraged me to be honest. "Joseph, the truth is, I didn't want to work in an environment where superiors expected sexual favors in exchange for recognition as a capable employee."
Joseph's eyes widened in shock, his voice barely a whisper. "You experienced that? your company is supposed to be one of the best in town."
I nodded, my voice filled with determination. "Yes, I did. And I decided that it was time to put a stop to it. I wanted to make sure that Pierre, or anyone else, would never think they could get away with such behavior again."
Curiosity gleamed in Joseph's eyes as he leaned forward. "What did you do, Rose?"
A playful smile danced on my lips as I leaned in, ready to share my tale. "Well, I may have unleashed the power of gossip. I discreetly spread the news to those who love a good piece of juicy information."
Joseph's eyebrows shot up in surprise. "You mean..."
I interrupted him, unable to contain my excitement. "Yes! Starting from Jill, the queen of gossip in our office, to the security personnels to the cheerful chef of the little bakery outside the office. And guess who's one of their regular customers?” his eyebrows danced, “Mrs. Pierre herself."
Joseph burst into laughter, his amusement contagious. "Rose, you truly are a force to be reckoned with. The power of social media, huh?"
I nodded, joining in his laughter. "Oh, you have no idea. By the end of the day, the entire office was buzzing with the news. It spread like wildfire, and I made sure the rumors reached every nook and cranny."
I continued sharing stories and jokes, revelling in the humor of the situation. With each passing moment as I recounted the events with animated gestures and exaggerated expressions, Joseph couldn't help but chuckle, his laughter filling the room. The absurdity of the situation and the irony of Mrs. Pierre being unaware of the gossip circulating in her favorite bakery made it all the more amusing.
After finalizing the contract and engaging in lively conversation, it was time for me to fulfil my role as Mark's trainer. We headed to the living room, where I guided him through a gentle stretching routine, mindful of his healing wound. As we moved together, the atmosphere was filled with a sense of warmth and comfort.
"Alright, Mark, let's start with some gentle stretching today," I said, a playful smile on my face.
Mark beamed up at me, his eyes sparkling with enthusiasm. "I'm ready, Rose! Let's do this!"
We began with some light arm stretches, raising them overhead and then slowly bringing them down. Mark followed my lead with unwavering determination, mirroring my movements with adorable precision.
I couldn't help but chuckle at his eagerness. "You're doing great, Mark! Remember to breathe and take it easy. We don't want to push too hard just yet."
Mark nodded, his concentration evident. "I'll do my best, Rose!"
As we transitioned into leg stretches, Mark's flexibility surprised me. He was naturally nimble, effortlessly reaching for his toes and then extending his legs into a graceful split. It was clear that he was enjoying himself, his bright laughter filling the room.