"I just left the other day. Now, here again. Hey, boss, will I be doing my job here? Do you also have an establishment here?"

"None, you're simply paid for two weeks for nothing, so just enjoy."

"Is that right, to be paid to enjoy?"

"Yes and stop complaining. I'm the one having a vacation. I'm supposed to come here alone but I became your boss yesterday night. So I have no choice but to bring you along. Let's make it this way. I'll make things easier for you then you'll make things easier for me. Got it?."

"OK, boss, as you wish."

"And stop calling me 'Boss'. Just simply call me Clarence."

"OK, Boss Clarence."

"I said Clarence and no boss attached. Get it?"

"OK, bo . . . oops, Clarence."

". . ."

"Clarence, that's fine?"

Clarence sighed thinking on until when he would have to put up with this guy. He glanced at Ronald with an 'I don't know what to do with you' face.

"Haha, sorry, sorry, Clarence. Don't get angry? But to be honest with you, I prefer the 'Boss' attachment to your name. It sounds like the master and his sidekick but with strong friends.h.i.+p in between, like Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson. Sounds like detectives but just for foodies. Calling you 'Boss' will make us look mysterious. Ohh, I love it."

"Fine, fine, have it your way."

"That's the spirit, Boss. BTW, where are we heading? To which hotel?"

"BTW? FYI, I really can't talk normally with you."

To argue with this sort of guy was not worth it, Clarence concluded.

"Haha, see?... loosen those tense muscles, Boss."

"Bring me to Beauty's house and we'll find a place near to stay."

"Oh, there? We can ask Grandpa to stay there. The room I slept was big enough for the two of us."

"Do you snore at night? If you do, you'll stay somewhere."

"Well . . . A little, boss." Ronald felt a little ashamed and worried with the way Clarence looked at him. A scary smug was on the latter's face.

"Oh, I'll stay at Beauty's and you'll stay in a beautiful resort. You know, AC room, with a luxurious bed and a swimming pool. With s.e.xy girls all around. How about that? That's really a good idea." Clarence made it sound like no room for negotiations.

"Please, please, boss. I don't mind sleeping on Grandpa's little hut outside their house than in a hotel."

"What's that suppose to mean? The hotel is better than in a small hut with mosquitoes at night."

"Ha? There are no mosquitoes there and with fresh air, mother nature's AC. Believe me. Also, the food in that house is the best than in hotels. Grandma is a real cook then add Beauty to the equation, oh, the better."

"Are you into Beauty?" Clarence's face was starting to get hard and grim hearing the last sentence.

"Haha, Boss, don't get easily angry. Not good for your health. If you ask about Beauty I'm here for you to tell. If you ask about any feelings I have for her, I think just . . . a friend. To ask her to become my girlfriend is a ways off."

At this moment, Ronald already realized Clarence intentions towards Beauty, so he had to back off. The truth was he also like Beauty but more on admiration. Somehow, after receiving a good salary for his new job, he felt he might pursue her, but that would be a big NO with Clarence. But there was a big UNLESS, it was all dependent on Beauty's choice.

. . . . .

"h.e.l.lo, anybody home?" Ronald shouted outside the gate.

"Ha? Who's there? Uhhhh." Grandpa was stretching his body after he got up from his bamboo bed.

"It's you again? Base on what I remember you just left two days ago. Why are you here again? Another job of your boss?" Grand Daddy was looking at the two persons in front of him with a little apprehension.

"Grandpa, you're really good at guessing. I'm really here for my boss, but a new boss. Here, let me introduce him to you."

"What happened to your other job?" the elder asked.

"I'll tell you later about it. For now . . . "

Ronald introduced Clarence as his true ident.i.ty, the son of Clyde Peres. Mentioning Clyde made Grand Daddy happy. He had a good talk with Clyde and Claire when they were there. Claire was also hinting at her son to Beauty, so this might be the boy she was talking about. He looked at Clarence from head to toe then nodded. For what the nod meant, they guessed it might be of approval but only he can tell. Somehow, that nod made Clarence's chest lighter, giving him hope.

The elder brought them into the house.

"Amelia, we have guests. Please add two more plates for breakfast," he spoke at the kitchen door. "Come in, please feel at home, Clarence."

"How about me, Grandpa?" Ronald felt dejected at not being mentioned.

"Oh, you? You've been here so why a stranger? Go to the kitchen and help Grandma. You love that place the most." The old man just excused him right away but respectful with Clarence. Ronald flew like a bird to the kitchen after being told to go.

"I can also help in the kitchen, Grandpa. I'm a cook myself." Clarence offered himself to begin his plan, leaving a good first impression to the future in-laws.

"Oh, surely as the son of the owner of a food conglomerate. I believe you but as of now, you're our guest of honor. Come, please sit. Your father and mother were a delightful couple. I had a good conversation with them."

"Really, that's good. Nice to hear that you had a good time with them." Clarence was all smiles with a lot of geniality.

"By the way, what's your purpose of being here? For a vacation or something else?" As usual, Grand Daddy was always direct to the point kind of man.

"Grandpa, I actually came to ask your granddaughter for some ideas. My mom and dad tasked me to collaborate with her and we'll pay. They said she was really good when it comes to food presentation. He even showed me her works. Well, I wish I can stay here and observe her work. If that won't inconvenience you. If not good for you, we can stay in a hotel nearby. We can also share notes for I'm studying now in a culinary school. I heard Beauty wants to take culinary."

Grandpa felt funny to hear Clarence artful reply, but he thought of playing along. Also, to see if Clarence was being coerced by his mom to court Beauty. Seeing Clarence's outlook, he had a good impression of him but if he was just being compelled then he would just teach him a lesson. If he's simply here for exchanging notes then that wouldn't be a problem.

While the elder was silent, Clarence was really trying to show his best side. He brought out some gifts he prepared; hopeful that what he readied would be to their liking.

Unexpectedly, Beauty chose to come out of her room this time. Their eyes met. They stared at each other. . . the young man's heart was beating fast. . . the girl was recalling something . . . then Beauty spoke.

"Have we met before? Your face seems familiar."

Oh, boy, seeing the new Beauty in person, Clarence's heart was running havoc with two reasons: excitement and fear to be recognized then rejected.