DELPHINE

As I walked out from the bathroom, I heard Mr. Gonzalo’s voice from the main lounge.

He was talking to his wife. “Just this one thing I asked Alfred to do—he messed it up,” he said, his tone heavy with disappointment. “I would’ve gone to the company myself to welcome our partners, but the doctor asked me to go on bed rest.”

My heart skipped.

Alfred had left the house so early—how come he hadn’t gotten to the company yet?

I quickly dialed his number. Once. Twice. No answer.

Something didn’t feel right. Maybe he was stuck in traffic… or maybe his car broke down?

I started pacing. For the few days I had spent in the house, I had seen how bad Mr. Gonzalo’s temper could get. I couldn’t bear to see Alfred fail—not especially on something this important. Then it hit me—an idea.

I had watched Alfred rehearse his welcome speech the night before, and I remembered most of it. I had even served as his audience, so I had practically crammed it. Maybe… maybe I could go to the company and deliver the speech for him.

Without thinking twice, I reached for the complimentary card I had seen in the wardrobe, quickly dressed in a corporate gown, styled my hair in a bun, and packed my essentials into a small bag. I looked at myself in the mirror. I looked the part. I could pass as one of the Gonzalos.

Quietly, I slipped out of the house without telling anyone—if I told Mr. Gonzalo, he would definitely stop me.

I boarded a motorcycle to beat the traffic, and when I arrived, I paid the rider and stood in front of the tall, shining company building, breathing in deeply. I had to do this.

As I walked in, two well-dressed women were coming out. They were visibly upset.

“I’ve been here for over an hour,” one of them grumbled. “Not even a cup of coffee. Are these the kind of people we’re supposed to do business with?”

The other added, “This says a lot about their level of seriousness.”

I quickly stepped in front of them. “Good afternoon, ladies. I’m so sorry for the delay,” I said politely, offering a warm smile. “I’m Delphine Gonzalo.”

They paused, clearly surprised.

“I got caught in traffic, and I deeply apologize for keeping you waiting. Please, let me make it up to you.”

They looked at each other, still annoyed, but not as much as before.

“We were already leaving,” one of them said.

“I completely understand,” I replied quickly. “But if you would give me just a few minutes, I promise to make it worth your time.”

Something in my voice must have convinced them, because they nodded slowly and followed me inside.

As we walked in, my heart pounded. I just hoped I could remember everything Alfred had rehearsed… and not mess it up.

As we walked into the tall, glassy building, the two women I had met outside stayed ahead of me. I didn’t even know where the boardroom was, so I followed closely behind, praying they would somehow know where to go. One of them suddenly turned to me and said, “Lead the way.”

I smiled quickly. “Sure.”

But inside, I was panicking. Lead the way to where? Weren’t they from the board room?

Just then, the elevator stopped with a soft ding and the doors slid open. Right in front of us was a large sign that read “BOARD ROOM” in bold capital letters. I almost sighed out loud in relief. Thank Goodness!

I led the way in confidently. As soon as I stepped into the room, my eyes met a large group of well-dressed men and women seated around a long conference table, a huge screen on the wall, and an eerie silence hanging in the air.

They were all waiting to be addressed.

My heart skipped. But I reminded myself why I came—to save Alfred. I walked up to the podium, lifted my chin slightly, and took a breath.

“Good morning, ladies and gentlemen,” I began, trying to keep my voice steady. “My name is Delphine Gonzalo. Please accept my sincere apologies for the delay. I was caught in terrible traffic this morning, and I’m deeply sorry for keeping you all waiting.”

Some of them murmured, clearly displeased. I raised my hand gently and continued.

“I want to personally welcome you to the Gonzalo Group of Companies. It’s an honor to have you here. You’re not just potential partners—you’re visionaries, just like us. And partnering with Gonzalo Group means stepping into a world of innovation, integrity, and lasting impact.”

As I spoke, I glanced toward the door—and that’s when I saw him.

Alfred.

He was standing there, slightly breathless, eyes wide, completely stunned to see me on the podium. I could almost hear his thoughts: ”How was she able to do this?”

I smiled to myself and kept going.

“With your partnership, we can build bridges across industries, provide sustainable solutions, and break new grounds in business. Our team is committed, our vision is clear, and our values remain unshaken. Trust me—you won’t regret coming on board.”

The room went silent.. The murmurs stopped. I had them.

“Please, exercise a little patience—refreshments will be served shortly. Thank you once again for coming.”

I stepped down from the podium and the sound of claps filled the room. It was surreal.

I walked straight to where Alfred stood. His mouth parted slightly in disbelief.

“How did you do that?” he asked, still stunned. “That was amazing. You just saved me. How did you…”

I smiled and gently cut him off. “I’ll tell you everything when we get home.”

Honestly, I didn’t know how Mr. Gonzalo would react when he found out. But for now, I had bought Alfred some time. I had protected his image.

We stood quietly for a moment as caterers came in with trays of drinks and snacks, serving the guests. Then Alfred’s phone rang.

He looked down at the screen, sighed, and picked up.

I could hear the voice from where I stood. Loud. Angry.

”You idiot! You were given just a little task and you couldn’t handle it! You’re a waste!”

Then the line went dead.

Alfred pocketed his phone slowly, his eyes cast downward.

“Dad?” I asked gently.

He nodded.