Sato thought of getting drinks for them as it looked like it would be a long talk.
As soon as the couple sat, Manager Hoshi immediately greeted Ashley in her position.
"So, it seems that congratulations are in order. Mrs. President Jones – welcome to the THJ Marine Division! Don’t hesitate to come to us if we can help," he said, followed by Celia.
"Thank you! Actually, I got worried when I discovered that the two of you were on vacation when I started. Hahaha! Good thing President Koji was here to guide me," Ashley replied, which caused Tanaga’s eyebrows to rise.
Celia noticed it and quickly changed the topic.
"By the way, it has been a year and still nothing?" Celia asked, looking at Ashley.
Ashley got what she was hinting at, so she looked at Tanaga to know if he agreed to tell the two that they already have a baby – well... babies.
Tanaga nodded while he caressed Ashley’s back. She took her phone out of her pocket.
"Actually, we have. Here is their picture – look," Ashley said proudly.
Celia quickly took Ashley’s phone and pressed the play button. In a few moments, Celia saw the twins of Tanaga and Ashley. "Oh my god! Is this true? Oh, they’re so cute! Truly identical. Hahaha!" Celia sang loudly and happily.
Fumika and Sato just entered the room holding drinks and cookies. "What! Whoa! What did I just hear that they’re identical? AAAHHH! Let me take a look please!"
Fumika’s nervousness and shyness also faded because Tanaga was there. She quickly walked towards them and took a look.
"Ma’am, they’re so cute! Can we pay a visit this weekend? Please?" Fumika asked, followed by Sato whose hands were in praying position.
Tanaga’s eyebrow rose up again on what Fumika just said. He was also planning to visit and spend time with his sons, but if someone would go before him, he wouldn’t accept it. But he didn’t object and let Ashley answer. "Hmm I’ll see if you can. But I will let you know before Friday, okay?" Tanaga was relieved by Ashley’s answer.
"Ma’am, Sir Jones... I wish we could also, when it was available to come there," Celia wished, holding her breath while waiting on one of the two to answer.
"Hahaha, sure! When everything is settled. I’ll let you guys know. Okay?" she replied happily. "Okay! We still have work to do. Let’s go back to what we were doing, and we’ll just talk about this before Friday comes," she added and stood up, signing to go back to work.
Celia and Manager Hoshi also stood up after Ashley. "Okay! Like what I said, if you’re having trouble which we can help with, please do not hesitate to approach us," Manager Hoshi reminded Ashley.
"Yes, ma’am! We know that Sir Jones is already here, but if you want anything from our department, you can rely on us," Celia added.
Ashley just smiled and thanked the two. Then she went back to her desk to continue where she had left off. Tanaga was just quiet, observing his surroundings.
When everyone left, leaving Ashley and Tanaga alone, he stood up and walked towards Ashley. "If what you’re doing is not so important, do you want to roam around the departments so that you can see their operations?" Tanaga asked coldly.
At first, she wanted to reject it, but she thought that it would be better if many people were around them. She turned off her laptop and stood up. "Sure, why not? I just spoke to the head departments yesterday. This would be better to get to know them and what they’re doing."
===
It was already the afternoon when the two finished looking at all the departments. While they were walking back to Ashley’s office, Tanaga was thinking on how to invite her for a meal.
That’s why Tanaga was walking too slow. Ashley, who was behind him, didn’t want to walk beside him. She was shocked when she bumped into Tanaga’s back, causing him to suddenly stop and turn around.
"Oh, Saint Marie!" She then stepped back.
Because of her sudden step back, she fell on the floor. Luckily, Tanaga was fast, and spontaneously held her waist before pulling her closer to him.
"Sorry! It was an accident. Are you okay?" Tanaga asked while he was still holding his wife’s waist, her face buried in his chest.
Ashley just nodded and almost didn’t hear his voice. "I guess I’m just hungry. It’s already twelve," Ashley uttered while slowly escaping from Tanaga’s embrace.
Yet Tanaga tightened his embrace rather than loosening it. "Hmm, what shampoo are you using? Why does it smell so good?" Tanaga whispered while smelling her hair.
Because of how softly Tanaga spoke to Ashley, she forgot what happened to her husband and raised her head. "You should know it because you’re the one who chose it," Ashley remarked, staring at her husband’s mesmerizing eyes.
Because of how soft her face was and eyes full of love, Tanaga couldn’t stop himself.
’Don’t look at me like that.’
He was waiting for Ashley to stop him. When she didn’t stop him or avoid his face, Tanaga kissed her.
Tanaga was already kissing Ashley when they suddenly heard a loud banshee-like scream. "Oh my God!!" It was Sato. He then turned his back and went back to the office.
Because of his scream, the sweet moment to-be of the two didn’t happen. Tanaga’s face crumpled because of that. Ashley’s face reddened and was embarrassed because Sato caught them in the act. She pushed Tanaga and fixed herself before planning to go to the break room to reheat her food.
"Wait! Where are you going?" Tanaga curiously asked when Ashley walked in a different direction.
Ashley suddenly stopped because she remembered her food was for just one person. What about Tanaga? Ashley didn’t know what she would do; she didn’t also know how to act in front of her husband who was just standing and waiting for her answer.
"If you were thinking about what I was going to eat this afternoon, I asked to reserve a table for us. Maybe Sato was trying to remember that. Is that fine with you?