Altair sat leisurely in a quiet corner of a bustling café in Makati, enjoying the aromatic scent of freshly brewed coffee. The Friday afternoon sun painted the café in a warm, inviting hue. Before he could lose himself in the tranquility, the café door swung open, drawing his attention.
 
Miracle, looking every bit the power woman, stepped in with confident strides. She was clad in a tailored black blazer with a white silk blouse peeking out. The blazer cinched at her waist, accentuating her form, and her pants were cut just above the ankle, revealing sleek black heels. Her long, dark hair flowed freely, contrasting with the pale pearl earrings that dangled delicately from her ears. She exuded an air of sophistication, every inch the formidable woman he remembered.
 
Beside her was another familiar figure, though transformed. Margarette-Lia San Monica, or Marga, was a vision in a white summer dress that delicately draped over her slender frame. A pastel blue belt highlighted her waist, and she wore beige espadrille wedges that added grace to her every step. A dainty gold necklace adorned her neck, and her dark hair was pulled up in a soft chignon. Her entire look radiated elegance and poise.
 
"Is that you, Altair?" Miracle called out playfully.
 
The ruse was clear to Altair; he knew Miracle too well. "Miracle? Oh! It's good to see you! It has been awhile," he greeted, feigning surprise.
 
Miracle approached, her grin mischievous. "Right? By the way, meet my best friend, Margarette-Lia San Monica," she introduced.
 
Altair, always the charmer, played along. "Oh yeah, Marga! How could I ever forget?"
 
Margarette, with a soft blush, replied, "I thought you'd forgotten me, Alty. It's been ages. How have you been?"
 
Internally, Altair marveled at her transformation. "She seems so mature now," he mused silently.
 
The conversation shifted as Miracle said, "Marga wanted to know if you're accepting new clients."
 
The banter was interrupted as Margarette, tilting her head slightly, asked, "But Altair, you're on hiatus currently, aren't you?"
 
With a casual shrug, Altair replied, "At the moment, yes. But for you, Marga, I might make an exception. Do you want to be on my list? I wouldn't mind taking you on as a client."
 
Margarette's eyes narrowed slightly, her lips pursing in thought. Altair was unaware that she had done her homework about his so-called 'side quests'. "Are you sure? Or is this just so Mira can help you with something?" she asked, her voice tinged with suspicion.
 
As Altair hesitated, searching for a response, Miracle shot him a devilish grin. She seemed to be enjoying his slight discomfort.
 
"There's that," Altair admitted with a slight chuckle, "but I genuinely wanted to be your certified financial planner and analyst. If you're not interested, I understand." He began pulling out his phone, about to dial a number.
 
"Hello, Melody? I may have a slot in my client roster."
 
But before he could continue, a hand snatched his phone away. He looked up in surprise to see a visibly upset Margarette. "Enough with the games, Alty," she snapped.
 
Miracle watched the exchange with a sly smile, clearly enjoying the drama. "Looks like someone's touched a nerve."
 
Margarette took a deep breath, trying to compose herself. "Look, Alty, if you're going to be my financial planner, there's one condition."
 
Altair raised an eyebrow, intrigued. "Go on."
 
Margarette looked contemplative. "Let’s make a deal. If I become your client, I get to visit you. Deal?"
 
Miracle leaned in, whispering loud enough for Altair to hear, "She’s got you cornered, Alty."
 
Altair laughed, "Alright, Marga, deal. But only if it’s a business visit."
 
Margarette grinned triumphantly. "Deal. Let’s finalize things soon."
 
As they prepared to leave, Miracle leaned in close, her lips brushing Altair's ear. "Watch out, Altair," she whispered seductively. "You’re playing with fire now."
 
Altair smirked. "Aren't I always, with you around?"
 
Miracle laughed, her eyes twinkling. "You have no idea."
 
With a playful wink, the two women left, leaving Altair with his thoughts and the remnants of his coffee.
With one last laugh, Miracle said, "Keep on your toes, Altair. You never know when we might pop in next."
The soft afterglow of Miracle's fragrance still wafted around Altair's corner table, a delicate reminder of the intricate dance they had just performed. He was engrossed in his musings when his phone buzzed with a new message, interrupting his reverie.
He glanced at the screen. It was from Cassy.
"Hey Altair, fancy catching a movie later? Maybe in the lounge?"
Altair felt a tug at the corners of his mouth. It was different from the guarded amusement he shared with Miracle. This was genuine, effortless, and warm. Cassy always had that effect on him. Quickly, his fingers moved over the phone's screen as he replied.
"Sounds perfect, Cassy. Have a film in mind, or shall we go for a random pick?"
Almost instinctively, the tension that had wrapped around him began to dissipate. With Cassy, there were no underlying motives, no layered games, just simple, straightforward camaraderie. Altair cherished these moments, these brief respites from the complexities of his life.