As instructed by Miss Michelle, I went to the Office early. I couldn't say goodbye to Sunny because she was still asleep when I left. When I arrived at the office everyone was busy. That's why mang Bert picked me up alone, that's because my other co-workers came in first.
"Good morning sister, brother!" I greeted the three guards guarding the entrance of the office.
"Good morning Miss Sydney!" They also warmly greeted me back. Because I was in a hurry so I didn’t talk to them too much.
I went straight to Miss Michelle's office to put my things away. I caught her already inside and was obviously troubled by whatever she was handling.
"Thanks God you're here!" She first opened when I entered.
"Good morning Miss Michelle!" I greeted her.
"Morning. I would like to ask your opinion here?" I approached to see what she was referring to.
"Which party hats do you think will match in the theme? How about this?" I don't know if I'm going to laugh or what, I thought that's what's bothering her. It's just a design of party hats. Tsk.
"How many will we welcome? Are they all boys?" I asked a series of questions.
"They're two boys ... Uh huh! I know. Just go down to the basement ... go to Mang Bert because you're going somewhere." She said without even taking my opinion. I thought she needs my opinion then all of a sudden another conversation right away?
"Okay." I smiled and follow what she said. I was surprised when mang Bert walked down the road to the mall. My curiosity doubled when he parked his car on the groundfloor of the mall.
"Mang Bert, why are we here?" I asked confused.
"You're going on a shopping, aren't you?"
Me, going on a shopping? It's working hours my gosh!
"Pardon? No, Mang Bert! Miss Michelle said we're going somewhere. She didn't tell me to go shopping. Seriously?" I can not believe. I thought Miss Michelle needs me to prepare for their welcome party with Engineer Claveria.
"That's what Ma'am Michelle told me. She said you'll go shopping for what you're going to wear for the party this afternoon. Let's just go back to the office at 1:00 PM." Long explanation by Mang Bert. I was shaken. I'm confused by what's happening. As in, really? Seriously, I can’t believe it! I was not surprised mang Bert gave me the money. That seems to be from Miss Michelle.
"I never asked what the theme of the party was." I was disappointed with the promise.
"Is there a problem, Miss Sydney?" Mang Bert asked just following me. He always looks like my bodyguard.
"What is it ..." I scratched my head.
"What?"
"I don't know the theme of the party. So I don't know what kind of dress to buy..." I admit shyly.
"You already have something to wear, we're just going to Miss Michelle's friend's boutique." He said. I was confused again. Why do I even have to wear it and she has to provide?
"Do all the employees here treated like this? I mean ... look, it's kinda so much for a new employee like me." Mang Bert just laughed at me, nor did he answer my question. I just shrugged. Maybe mang Bert is annoyed with me because of my many questions and complaints so I just keep quiet. I don't know if it's true that we're missing because we've been going back and forth to find Rosa's Boutique that she says we'll pick up what I'm going to wear for the party. Isn't that cool? I've only been at work for two days but there's still a party right away.
"Miss Sydney you might be hungry. Let's eat first?"
"No, I'm not yet hungry. Let's just find Miss Michelle's friend's boutique so we can go back to the office." I said. Mang Bert looked at his watch and when he saw what time it was, he agreed with what I said.
"A-are you sure I'm going to wear this?" I asked the boutique owner in surprise. She says that I should wear that black off-shoulder dress.
"Yes. Michelle chose it for you." She added that it further confused the course of my mind. It was just a normal and simple 'welcome party' for the CEO of Paradise Corp ... but why do I have to wear it?
"I'm sorry, I'm not wearing this. I'm fine here in the office uniform." I refuse.
"Are you sure? Oh Sydney, put this on. All right, get dressed quickly and then I'll fix you."
"Huh?" Although confused, I just followed Danica. She is the owner of the boutique and a friend of Miss Michelle. After I put on the black off-shoulder dress I immediately left the fitting room. Danica put makeup on me next, it was a simple makeup. I just let my long hair down so that somehow my skin on my back and even my shoulders would not be exposed.
"Wow miss Sydney, you're really beautiful! So I won't wonder why— I'm sorry, Ma'am Michelle is just calling me." I just laughed at mang Bert who looked so impressed with me. Nothing has changed in my appearance. The only difference now is that I'm wearing an expensive dress, that's all.
"Miss Sydney, we need to go back to the office."
"All right." After I thanked and said goodbye to Danica, mang Bert and I immediately set sail.
When we arrived at Paradise Corporation I immediately took the elevator to the 6th floor where the party would be held. Meanwhile, mang Bert did not go upstairs because Miss Michelle was still ordering him to do something.
When the elevator opened, the other elevator opened too. Many of them went out there, others wearing blacksuit while surrounding the two men. I'm not sure who they are, and I have no intention of finding out yet because I'm sure I'm late. I was slightly stopped in my tracks when two men entered my front door first, leaving six men in black suits outside.
"Hi," I greeted them a little because they were guarding the door, but they didn't touch me, nor did they pay attention to me. 'I'm here, snobber!'
"They're here!" That voice of gay, one of the employees of the company.
I remained standing in the doorway when I saw that my officemates were not dressed. They were still wearing their uniforms, if anything had changed in them it was the party hats they were wearing. I was suddenly embarrassed.
I was still dressed and dressed and they were in uniform. Only then did I return to my senses when I felt the scattered confetti on my skin. Wow, there's more confetti!
"Welcome back Mr. CEO slash Engineer Claveria!" They applauded so I applauded too.
"Here you are Sir!" Gay pulled him so he went to the middle. It was only then that I saw him face to face. The size of what he changed. He looks mature now, compared to when we last met. His face seemed very serious. He smiled sparingly. He was too far away from the former Andrew.
"Also, welcome back Architect Robles!" The man didn't pull anymore, he himself took the initiative to side with Andrew. They seem to be very close based on how they work today.
"—and last but definitely not the least! Welcome to the Paradise Family, Miss Claire Sydney Agustin!" I was stuck where I was standing, one by one my co-workers left in front of me. They're giving me space.
While I did not take my eyes off Andrew. Gradually his smiles faded when he finally saw me. He was dumbfounded for a moment ... and when he looked into my eyes I immediately averted my gaze.
"Girl, come here! Join your Boss quickly!" I just sent Noel, the gay emcee for today’s party, pulling me over. I could hear my heart pounding. I feel like it's screaming to get out of its current position. I inhaled and exhaled before I gave my sweetest smile to everyone...especially to Andrew, my ex-boyfriend.
I calmed myself down especially as I was surrounded by two, an engineer and an architect. I don't know if I'm just assuming too much, but I've been feeling Andrew's stare at me before. Even though I’m not directly facing him, I can feel it.
"Cheers for them!" They made another loud explosion of confetti before the party finally started. The waiters also immediately gave us drinks.
After welcoming us I immediately walked away from the two.
"Where is miss Michelle?" I asked Noel.
"There's an emergency."
"Is that so? All right, thank you." I don't know much about my co -workers yet so I feel out of place. What I did was I just went to a corner and there I slowly drank the red wine from my glass.
"Hi Miss Sydney, architect Gabriel Robles! You can call me Gab," I was surprised at how close he approached and talked to me.
"Hello." I sparingly greet him.
"So, you're new here?" I nodded.
"Nice to meet you. You're so beautiful." I was a little taken aback by his praise so I just laughed at him.
"Sorry," he recovered immediately.
"Hey Robles, would you mind if I'll talk to my secretary privately?" My left eyebrow rose at Andrew’s sudden appearance in the middle of our conversation with Architect Robles.
"Sure! Sure engineer Claveria." When architect Robles left I was just surprised when Andrew suddenly pulled me into a room. Because of the shock so I could not react.
"Why did you bring me here sir?" I calmly asked him after he took me to his office room. I found out that this room was his office because of the name on the table. 'Engineer Michael Andrew Claveria'"I—" He could not go on with what he wanted to say. He just stared into my eyes. His stare was cold...yet lonely and it seems that he's in too much pain while staring at me straightly.Because of the closeness of our bodies so I could smell him freely. Nothing has changed in the perfume he uses, he still smells the same. I could also smell the wine with every breath he took. He's drunk. Did he mean to get drunk? God!He slowly loosened his grip on my arm. He also moved slightly away from me. He also averted his eyes first. Why is he like that? Why does it seem like he's hurts to see me? Is he mad at me? Then why did he hired me? After all I should be angry with him. I should be affected by it now that we have met again
"Momma!" I immediately drew a smile on my lips as my daughter greeted me."...wow you look stunning with your dress momma!" She praised what I was wearing. She seemed to be a professional while reviewing it. I just laughed at what she did."Aww. Thank you baby." I kissed her on her cheeks. I pressed that too."Momma, teacher wants us to bring a family picture tomorrow. Baby, mommy, and daddy should be together!" Grace and I looked at what Sunny said. It was as if my throat had dried up because I could not speak."Baby Sunny?" Grace calls my daughter's attention."Yes, sister?""I will take care of what the teacher asks you to do because look, momma is tired." Grace apparently got my reason for keeping quiet, so she made a way to keep Sunny away from asking about her father. I knew we would get to this point, that Sunny would ask who her dad was. B
"Peace be with you, baby!"Today is Sunday and just after Mass. We are currently walking out of the church, with my daughter, Grace and me."Peace be with you momma. I love you!" I couldn't help but shudder at Sunny's sweetness. I picked her up so we could easily get out of the church. We sat in front so we could hear Father clearly.When we left the church, I immediately rode a tricycle to go to the carnival park."What do you want to eat baby?" I asked her."Anything momma, it's up to you." She answered cheerfully. She just clung to my side while I was busy buying food for us later. We left Grace in the park, where we will be stationed for a mini-picnic.I thought of bringing them, Grace and Sunny, in a picnic, because I will be gone for three months for the renovation of Paradise Island Resort in Palawan will do.Two days ago, Andrew told me that I
It's only four-thirty in the morning but I've already taken a shower and got dressed. Mang Bert will pick me up here at home at four thirty, because our flight to El Nido Palawan was at exactly five o'clock.Sunny was still sleeping soundly in our room next to Grace. Before I got up at three in the morning, I put Grace next to Sunny.I just arranged the things I'm going to bring last night so I'm checking it again carefully today because I might have left something behind.I was carrying a large brown suitcase. The suitcase was full of clothes I would need for work. I also brought my replacement when it was not work hours.After I checked that my equipment was complete and I hadn't forgotten anything, I rearranged it.I approached my sleeping daughter, I gently kissed her forehead and cheek. I didn't want to wake her up because I might suddenly chang
"This is Paradise Hotel, and we're staying there for months." Miss Michelle said as she walks me around."Aunt Helen managed this before ... before the chairman got sick. So when the chairman got sick and couldn't walk, she decided to hand over the management to me." She told a story."At first, I was like; seriously? I am managing this whole island? God! I'm a model not a business woman!" She said laughing as she rolled her eyes."Y-you're a model?" I can't believe that she's a model. Not that I doubt her ... of course she's beautiful. She's more than just a model!"Yeah. But that was just before ... during my teenage. When I turned twenty, there that Aunt Helen started training me in business management." She smiled again. I smiled back. She continued sharing her experience in managing this island while I just continued to listen."This will be our
"Congratulations on our job well done!" Michelle who was overjoyed with the outcome of the renovation."Group hug!" She added, so we hugged in a group. We looks like teenagers who are excited about the school project that we had just finished. It was an awesome feeling!"And because of that, let's celebrate!" That's Gab. I was also surprised when he held my hand then he kissed me furtively on the cheek. I was stunned for a moment. I was also stuck in my stand because I didn’t expect him to do so.The formerly happy and noisy Michelle gradually faded the smiles on her lips. Maybe because she's shocked too? I don't know. But I feel it seems like ... she's hurt."T-thank you for the inspiration." He said shyly. It's embarrassing when I get angry to him. Maybe he was just got carried away because of the excitement he feels, so I just smiled."It's okay... but don't do
It's been almost three days since I discovered that truth between Andrew and Michelle.After all, it wasn't a big deal for me. But I couldn't understand myself why it was so hard to accept. That they cheated on me.Michelle has been trying to talk to me for three days to explain ... so has Andrew but I'm not ready yet. I'm afraid there's more to it than that I'll find out why they did that. I know they have their reasons. But still thinking about the possible reason, I'm having a hard time.That night I just locked myself in the room. I knew it was supposed to be Michelle and I's room but I ignored it. I didn’t want to talk to or see them so I did that.The next morning, when I knew it was time for our flight back to Manila, I just went out there. I didn't greet them or even talk to them.Even Gab was wondering too but he did nothing.When we arrived in Manila, the next mo
"Why are you here?" There is nothing as cold as that voice.I'm here now in Drew's office to pick up the other things I left behind. I thought he's out of the country ... said his new secretary."I just have something left." I raised an eyebrow in response."Sydney let's talk." His tone was angry. I could hardly breathe as he violently closed the door of his office."Why did you resign? Because you don't want to know the truth? You're afraid to face it?" I'm confused by what he's up to now. It seems like I did something wrong without forgiveness."Why Drew? Why did you ask that? Can't I just avoid trouble? I don't want to see you because I'm confused! My life is quiet now and I don't want trouble anymore!""Really Sydney?" He wiped his face. He seems to want to hurt me but he just keeps i