Chapter 9

Phoebe put the coffee-pot on and kicked off her shoes. Paige and Piper has gone to P3 and had asked Phoebe to come along. Phoebe smiles and told them maybe later. She has just got back from Carrie's house and she was cold and miserable.

After a long, lazy soak in the bath Phoebe eyed the contents of the fridge. As usual, there was enough food in the fridge to feed an army, as she was reaching for the lasagna, the door bell rang. She look mournfully at the lasagna and ran towards the door, thinking it must be Paige who has left her keys at home again.

"Phoebe? It's me."

"Cole!," she croaked, instinctively pulling her wrapover sarong-style skirt across her knees, which was ridiculous because he couldn't see her. "What do you want?"

"I want to come in Phoebe, It's important"

She sighed and opened the door for him and stood back, surprised at the armful of packages he was holding. "What's all this?"

"Take-away and wine and a briefcase." He followed her through and dumped the packages on the kitchen table.

"Why are you bringing take-ways here?," she asked puzzled. "Don't you have any other things to do than bother me?"

He ignored her sarcasm and clipped open his briefcase and took out some papers. "These are the contracts and suggestions. Take a look"

She took the papers and dumped it at another side of the table.

"Oookay, why don't we eat first then?"

"Is this from the Thai restaurant downtown?"

He looked up. "Yes, why? No good?"

"It looks and smells wonderful. I've never tried them. I will in future"

Their eyes met across the table and both looked away. She coughed. "So, where do you want to eat? At the table or on the floor?"

"On the table, please," he replied. She clattered around in the cupboards for plates and glasses and set the table and put foil dishes of Thai food on a table mat in the centre so they could help themselves.

"So, are you going to tell me the real reason why you are here?," she asks as she pour them each a glass of wine. She sipped the wine as she watched him fork prawns in ginger from one of the cartons. He plopped several onto her plate.

"Well?," she prompted.

"We're on our date Phoebe," Cole said, plopping prawns onto his own plate now.

"Well, since we're on our date right now, tell me, out of curiosity, are you dating anyone special... such as... Maggie?," she asks innocently.

He smiles. "Are you.. jealous?"

She flush. "Of course not. Why should I be jealous of her? I just wanted to ask about her that's all"

He snort. "Phoebe, both of us know that you don't give a damn about her"

"Well, that's true," Phoebe agreed.

An hour later they had polished off the prawns, fragrant rice, chicken satay, pork in papaya and lime sauce and most of the wine. Still sitting at the table, he poured them a last glass of wine and smiled across the debris of the take-away. "Just like old times," he said.

"I would have thought you could have come up with something more original than that," she breathed. "Besides, I don't remember any of it"

He lifted a brow.

"I prefer to forget bad memories," she shrugged.

"Listen Phoebe," Cole began seriously, "I need to discuss something about our past.."

Phoebe swore loudly and got up. Cole got up with her. "Listen, don't you want to-"

"Look Cole, I invited you in because you brought dinner, so, obviously, we're done eating, you can leave..," Phoebe stride quickly to the door but Cole grabs her arm and pulls her to face him.

"Phoebe, do you know why I wasn't there at the prom with you?"

She twists her arm out of his grip. "Didn't I just told you I would like to forget about the past?". She opens the door. "I think it's time you leave Cole"

He looks at her for a second and then turns to leave the house. She slams the door behind him and walks toward the kitchen to clean up the mess (before Piper sees it). But she just stood there and stare at the plates, wondering whether she has done the right thing..


Phoebe grit her teeth and walk towards T&M as she recalls back in her office.

"Kate, darling, have you negotiate the contract with Turner?," Henry Denton pokes his head into her office.

"No, I haven't Henry, I thought I told you the contract wasn't necessary anymore"

"Oh no, darling. I just negotiate the terms with Turner and it was agreed that you would go to his office tomorrow and have the deal ready"

She gulps. "Maybe it would be better if I send someone in my place..."

"Oh no," Henry wave his hand. "I want you to handle this account personally.."

Phoebe took the elevator up and when it opens again, the first thing she sees, is Maggie Watson sitting on the sofa, apparently not looking very happy at the moment when she was told to wait, as Mr. Turner was in a meeting.

As she looks at Maggie after all these years, she felt the fury rushing in her head and she nearly lost control there. She took a couple of deep breaths. You're here to finalize the agreement. Work now, revenge later. She walk towards Sarah. "Hi, I have an appointment with Cole this morning?"

"Oh," Sarah narrowed her eyes at Phoebe. "I'll buzz Cole after his meeting"

"Could you please hurry, I'm in a rush here," Phoebe said with an irritated voice. She turn around and met Maggie's curious eyes. She quickly turn around and pretended to be interested at a potted plant. Don't talk to me, don't talk to me..

"Hi".

Phoebe silently groans. She turn around with a force smile. "Yes"

"I'm Maggie Watson. You are...?"

"Oh, I'm just here to see Cole, and then I will leave," Phoebe smile at her, and rudely turn her back to Maggie. Maggie, feeling insulted, tap harder on Phoebe's shoulder. Phoebe gave a loud sighed and turn around. "Can I help you with something?"

Maggie laughs uncertainly. "You obviously didn't hear my name correctly, I'm Maggie Watson."

Phoebe pretends ignorant. "Emm, is that suppose to mean something to me?"

Maggie stops laughing. "You haven't heard of the Watson enterprise? You must be crazy"

Phoebe pretends to think. "Watson.. Watson.. oh, I think I do know the company". She smiles at Maggie. After a minute, she turn towards the potted plant again.

Maggie's face turn beep red. "Don't treat me like I'm some ordinary person! I'm Maggie Watson, owner of Watson enterprise, daughter actually, anyway, and you're treating me as if I were some bum on the street! Who the hell are you?!"

"Pho-, I mean Kate!," Cole interrupted. "You're nice and early, please come in. Sorry for the wait". He turns to usher Phoebe in and then notices Maggie standing there. "Oh, Maggie, you're here too. Is there something you want?"

Maggie's mouth gaped open. "Kate.. Lynn.. you're Kate Lynn?"

Phoebe looks at her unpleasantly. "Yes I am..?"

Maggie immediately starts to giggle weirdly. And ran towards Phoebe to shake her hand. "Oh, I'm so glad to meet you! I have waited a very very long time to meet up with you!". She playfully pinches Cole in the cheek. "Cole here has been such a naughty boy, by not introducing us!"

"Oh, both of you have not met before?," Cole lifted a brow. If only Maggie knows who Kate is. She will flip!

"It's okay Cole, I do know who she is. She's.. as she said before, owner of Watson enterprise.. and I was accuse of treating her like a bum on the street," Phoebe said. "Isn't that right?" She nodded at Maggie.

Maggie gave another weird giggle. "Oh don't be silly, I was just playing around with you! I'm a great kidder!". She laughs loudly. Cole cringed. "Anyway, we should go out for lunch sometime? What do you say, Kate? I'm very sure we're going to be fast friends!"

Phoebe gave a frown. "Hmm, I don't think so. You see, unlike you, I do have a lot of work to do, and you're interrupting my business appointment with Mr. Turner. Good day, Maggie Watson". She turns around with her head high and started walking into Cole's office leaving Maggie behind with an open mouth.

After Phoebe has gone in, Maggie's mouth turn into a sneer. "That high and mighty bitch. I would have cut her into little pieces if she isn't the PR for Foxes enterprise." She sniff. "If only she would be-friend me again.. oh god, I shouldn't have made a rude remark to her just now.."

Cole was trying to sneak into his office but Maggie quickly stop him. "Please Cole, tell Kate that I'm really a good person, that I'm not exactly very bitchy.. please Cole.. get me an appointment lunch date with her! Please Cole!"

Cole shook of his hand. "Emm.. she's not exactly in a good mood now, so I don't think I will take the risk and ask her today. Maybe next time!". And practically ran back into his office leaving Maggie to sulk outside.