Cagayan de Oro; the city of golden friendship; prides itself to be one of the highly urbanized cities in the Philippines. As the regional center and business hub of Northern Mindanao; the city provides prospective investors with easy access into various regions, business growth, the wonderful sites plus the warm hospitality of its people. Not only that. This progressive city is also the home of Legacy Hotel, one of the most visited luxury hotels in the country.
Legacy Hotel; the jewel of the city; is known for its elegance, well trained staff, superb view, and their luxurious but affordable rooms. Many tourists and VIPs have travelled far to avail in their services.
The hotel never has a lean season but Michael Chu; the stand-in COO of the hotel; was feeling the pressure. He had spent the last nine months planning a wedding.
Not just any wedding, mind you.
It is the wedding of Doctor Iris Chu and Professor James Mercado. Everything has to come to par or he would never hear the end of it from his family. More importantly his aunts would never stop reprimanding him if something should go wrong.
Seeing that the cake was being wheeled in by some of the younger and newer staff; Michael had to hold his breath until it was safely inside. They were soon followed by a stream of waiters who carried large trays of food. He watched as sixty of his serving crew made their way into the ballroom to make some last minute inspections and adjustment on their assigned tables.
Everything was going smoothly. Michael hummed happily, slowly making his way around the ballroom for some last minute inspections.
He wasn't particularly worried of things going wrong. His Aunt Lily is notoriously meticulous. She had made certain that everything was ready before she left him to finish with the preparation.
Flowers look good. He thought mentally checking everything off his list. The cake is spectacular. Tables are..... looking perfect.
Michael stares at the long table that was half full. Buffet table is almost set. Shifting a critical eye on the staff who would be serving, he took notes on their uniforms before dismissing them. Everything is going smoothly.
Michael was on his way out of the ballroom in search of the manager. He had some last minute instructions to leave before he runs off to look for the photographer. He found his manager talking to his Aunt Violet. Well, it was more like his aunt was yelling at the man.
What was he suppose to do with her? The woman was running them ragged. Doesn't she realize how intimidating she looks? Or how nervous the staff feels whenever they see her?
Michael sighs, recalling how she woke him up at three in the morning just to question him on certain things for the church. She even wanted to change everything at the last minute because she felt everything was all wrong for the occasion.
Michael sighs again as he was walks over to his aunt. He was beginning to wish that he had gone to check on the bride instead of Lily. That way he would be spared from Violet's constant harping.
"Aunt Violet." He greets pleasantly, forcing himself to smile despite his immediate desire to run for the other direction as the manager had done. "Is something wrong?"
"Didn't I tell you to change the table napkins?" She had started in, "The color looks horrible. Not to mention that the napkin clip looks tacky."
"Well, Aunt Iris had personally picked the color and she wanted it just so." Michael answers, praying for salvation.
"Did the band arrive yet?" Violet asks, "The reception will start in an hour. Shouldn't they be here by now? What if they cancel at the last minute?"
YOU ARE READING
The Arrangement
General FictionArranged marriages were a thing of the past....or, at least that was what Lily Chu had thought before she found out about her current predicament. Born from a wealthy family, people would have thought that Lily would be more sociable and used to bei...
