COUPLE 1 - Chapter 5: My new boss is very stressed

I showed up at the company at eight in the morning. I was very well received by Mrs. Mariana, who introduced me to everyone and everyone was kind. The boss wasn't there, he was traveling and would be back at the end of the week. The office was beautiful, very modern, all decorated in white, stainless steel and green details, very professional and welcoming at the same time. It was elegant and I liked it a lot. I was particularly happy that I had chosen to wear a black suit, with a dark green satin blouse underneath and black heels. I should be elegant every day now, after all, I was going to work directly with the president of the company.

In the middle of the morning I received a message from Mel saying that she had managed to make an appointment with the director of the daycare center near our apartment for lunchtime. I explained the situation to Mrs. Mariana and asked if it would be possible to let me go at that time, but that I would be back in time.

- So you have a son. How old is he? - she asked me with a smile.

- He's two years old. He's a very smart little boy. It wasn't planned, but it's the reason for my life!

- What's his name?

- Pedro.

- Pedro. A strong name. You're not married, I know that, but what about your son's father? Are you still together? - My heart sank, how do I explain to her that I don't know who the father is? But I don't lie, so let's face the truth. I told her that Pedro's father was a man I met at a party and never saw again. She looked at me seriously, there was no judgment in her eyes. Then she said:

- You have my respect, Catarina. It's not easy being a single mother, and it's very difficult to tell truths like this that you know will arouse the judgment of others. Thank you for your trust and honesty. Go and sort out the daycare for your son. We'll continue in the afternoon, no need to rush.

I thanked her and said goodbye, going to meet Mel and Pedro. My admiration and respect for Mrs. Mariana only grew. She is a woman of about fifty-five, with very light blonde hair and almost transparent blue eyes. She is a beautiful and elegant woman, but above all she is very welcoming. We got along very well. During the rest of the morning she filled me with information about the job and I wrote everything down. At lunchtime I left the building and Mel was already waiting for me at the door with Pedro. I got in the car and we went to have lunch before going to the daycare. Mel and I loved the daycare and Pedro was already fitting in, running around with his new friends. He is a very outgoing boy. That made me very happy! My son was happy! We gave up looking at other daycares, because this one was great and was very close to home, three blocks away. We signed up and sorted out all the details. The director suggested that we leave Pedro until the end of the day, since he was having fun and would start to adapt. Mel was supposed to pick him up at the end of the day. Mel dropped me off at the office again and told me she was going home to prepare for the job interview that would be in the middle of the afternoon. I went back to my office and arrived before Mrs. Mariana. I sat at the table and went over everything she had already told me. The phone on the table rang and I didn't know what to do, but that would be my desk, so I answered it in the most professional voice possible:

- Mellendez Group, CEO, good afternoon, how can I help you?

I heard a deathly silence on the other end followed by a long sigh. Someone shouted on the other end, somewhat impatiently and in a strong, hoarse voice:

- Put Mariana through.

I was startled, but I controlled myself and answered:

- Excuse me, sir, but Mrs. Mariana hasn't returned from lunch yet. Can I help you or would you like to leave a message?

- Who is this? - said the other end even more impatiently. - My name is Catarina, I'm Mr. Mellendez's new assistant.

- But I don't know you. – It seemed like he was getting more impatient every time he spoke.

- It's just that today is my first day, sir. Would you like to leave a message?

- Tell Mariana to call me as soon as she sets foot in the office.

- Perfectly, sir. And what's your name?

- It seems I'm your boss! – he said harshly and hung up the phone.

Wow, what a stressed man! That wasn't in the job description. My throat immediately tightened, my boss and I had already made a bad impression? I was in deep trouble! I started to think I wouldn't last in this job. A little while later, Mrs. Mariana arrived and I gave her the message with a worried look on my face. She looked at me with a smile, as if she understood my fear, and asked:

- Was he calm?

I looked at her and couldn't help myself:

- He was about to have a nervous breakdown. His jugular was definitely jumping out of his neck.

She burst out laughing and then said:

- You two are going to get along great! You're going to tame the beast, I'm sure.

I wasn't so sure. Maybe I shouldn't even unpack my bags, this man would swallow me alive!