SHOPPING WITH ANDY

After our embarrassing situation earlier today with Andy, I wrapped up the cleaning and came to relax on the couch as always, waiting for the lunch delivery.

Andy has not come out of the study since. When we finally pulled away—after asking if I was alright and I nodded that I was—he excused himself to go change out of his then-wet clothes, leaving me to dry the floor. Only after I was done and out of that room did I see him go in.

It’s now twelve, and I’m already finished with my chores. I find myself thinking about that feeling earlier, when I was on top of him. On top, huh? My mind is becoming so nasty, and I abhor how my body is fascinated by these wildly crazy thoughts.

“Are you sure you didn’t get hurt earlier?” Andy’s voice interrupts my thoughts as he settles onto the next couch.

“Yes. I am alright, sir. I mean—Andy!”

“Okay. Take that stool out of that room immediately. Tidy up only where you can reach. I won’t be there to fetch you next time.”

“Okay. I apologize for what occurred earlier.”

“It’s alright. Here. I got you a phone.” He says, handing me a phone that looks far too valuable for a servant like me.

“For me?” I ask hesitantly.

“Yeah! You can talk to your family and friends anytime.”

“Well, thank you so much.” I walk backward after gladly receiving the phone and sit where I was seated earlier, eyeing the gadget in my hands. It must be very expensive—to the point that I can’t even guess its price. And to top it all, it’s my very first souvenir from someone. How ironic! A heartwarming irony, I must admit.

“Don’t you like it?” he asks, probably noticing that I’m lost in thought.

“I do like it very much. Thank you,” I say solemnly, and he nods. “Ooh, it has a password,” I add.

“I forgot to deactivate that. Let me.” He walks over and sits beside me, quickly deactivating the password. “Here. It’s done.” He hands the phone back to me and continues, “After picking up Angel from school, we’ll go to the mall. You can get a SIM card on the way.”

“Okay. Thank you so much once again!”

“Don’t mention it. Instead of being bored here when Angel is at school, you can call your family and friends and catch up—as long as you prioritize your work.”

“Sure. Nevertheless, my circle is too small. I only have my family—my dad and mom—and my twin siblings, Mina and Mira. As for friends, I only have Rita,” I confess.

“Aren’t you too young to be that reserved? I mean, people your age are out there having fun and exploring the world. Don’t you feel like you’re trailing behind the trend or something?”

“Not exactly. I’m okay this way. I have a lot of obligations to my family right now. I can’t afford to get diverted. Maybe when I accomplish my goal, I’ll have time for myself to ‘explore.’”

“Your parents must be so proud of you,” he says with a small smile. I simply smile back. I know my parents are proud of the decision I made, and I hope it will be worthwhile. I can’t afford to leave them in the lurch—I’m their only hope. The fate of my two sisters lies with me. I want to help them pursue their careers and secure their dreams. I want to help my father pay off the bank loans before they come to mortgage the little we have left. What is there to mortgage anyway? That reminds me—I didn’t even ask how much Andy would be paying me. I should ask so I can start rationing for it.

“Let’s go.”

“Huh!” I exclaim.

“Let’s go pick Angel up and proceed to the mall.”

“Aah… okay.” My qualm will have to dawdle for now.

He grabs the car keys and his phone, locks the house, and we get into his black limo, heading toward Angel’s school.

“I haven’t seen Mark since yesterday evening,” I say.

“I gave him the weekend off. He’ll be back on Sunday evening,” he replies, and I nod. Didn’t I tell you Andy is a terrific boss? Beneath that impassive exterior lies a sweet candy.

I wonder why, with all his rich, luxurious life and bubbly daughter, he refuses to smile at the world. Why, boss?

We drive in silence to Angel’s school, pick her up, and take what I assume is a different route to the mall.

I thought the cute doll would fill the limousine with giggles and childish chit-chat, but no—she falls asleep almost immediately in my arms. Her breathing is shaky, like she’s cried or something. I might be wrong, though.

Pulling up in front of the most glamorous mall I’ve ever seen—not that I’ve been to any before—Andy parks. I don’t know what we’re supposed to do here, and I don’t think I need to ask. I’ll just sit and enjoy the view until I’m told otherwise. People really have a life in the city. Happy children jump around the playgrounds, couples walk hand in hand, and the parking lot is almost filled with expensive, sparkling four-wheeled machines. My!

“Should we wake her up?” Andy’s voice cuts my thoughts short.

“I don’t think so. The poor kid might be very tired.”

“Okay then. I’m afraid I’ll have to leave you with her. Here.” He hands me the car keys after lowering the windows slightly to let in some fresh air. “In case she wakes up before I come back, you can step outside and breathe some fresh air.”

“Okay,” I mumble, taking the keys.

“Let me adjust the seat for you.” He leans in—dangerously close to my not-so-innocent mind. This closeness stirs mixed emotions in me again. What are you doing to me, Andy? I never felt this way—not even for that pathetic boyfriend I thought I loved, only for him to betray me with my only cousin. Why do I react like this to a man I’ve known for barely two weeks? Am I ordinary? Is this even normal?

“Is that okay?” he asks. The heat suffocating me from his proximity steals my voice, so I only nod, praying he finishes quickly. When he steps out of the car, I finally release the breath I didn’t know I was holding. Ooh, my! I lean back and pull Angel closer to my chest so she can rest well. She’s still fast asleep.

After a few minutes, Angel eventually wakes up, and we step out of the car so she can get some fresh air.

“You’ve slept a lot, kiddo. What made you so tired? Did you play a lot?” I ask.

“No, Auntie Ania. I didn’t even play today. I got into a fight, and then the teacher caned me,” she explains sadly.

Huh? The little disciplined kiddo I take care of isn’t capable of starting fights. This isn’t like her.

Crouching in front of her, I take her small hands in mine.

“Why did you get into a fight, princess?”

“It’s those kids again. They taunted me about not having a mother. I got furious and slapped one of them. Then we started fighting. The teacher came, and they said I started it.”

“Didn’t the teacher ask you why?”

“She did, but I kept quiet. I didn’t want to say anything in front of the whole class. What if everyone started taunting me too?”

Ooh, poor kid. This is deeply heartbreaking.

“We need to tell Daddy about this, princess. He’s the only one who can sort it out.”

“Daddy will get mad at me. He says kids who cause trouble are bad.”

“But Daddy will understand if you explain it to him.” She shakes her head. “You still don’t want to tell Daddy?” She shakes her head again. “Ooh, sweetie! Do you want me to talk to your teacher?”

“Yes.”

“Okay. Cheer up now, alright? I’ll talk to your teacher on Monday, but here’s the deal—after that, I’ll have to tell your daddy everything too. We can’t hide things from him.”

“Yes, Auntie Ania. Deal!”

“Come here, you smart kid!” I hug her tightly, hoping Andy won’t skin me alive for this. If there’s one thing I know about him, it’s that he doesn’t joke when it comes to his daughter—and he’s very insecure about her.

As we pull apart, I meet two deadly eyes glaring at me. If looks could kill, I’d be dead by now.

“Who the hell are you?” the woman demands, scrutinizing me from head to toe with pure mockery. As much as I hate being rude, I can’t help it this time.

“And you want to know who I am because you are…?” I ask, holding Angel close.

“Such audacity from a cheap, worthless bitch! No need to answer—you can’t be anything more than Andy’s maid.”

Andy? So they know each other? Who is she—his ex? Girlfriend? Ex-wife?

Whoever the hell she is, she has no right to talk to me like that.

“First, you have no right to speak to me that way. Second, I am his maid—so what? Do you have a problem with that?”

“Oh please! What problem would I have with trash like you? Be careful with his kid. You might contaminate her with God-knows-what diseases and—”

“What’s going on here?”

Whoa.

Andy’s roar cuts her off. She pales instantly. Andy, on the other hand, looks like an enraged devil.

“Janie!” he snaps, clutching several heavy shopping bags. “What the hell are you doing here?”

“Andy—”

“Even outside the office, I’m still your boss. Address me properly!”

“I’m sorry, sir,” she mutters, head bowed. Between us, she looks more like the maid now, and I can’t hide my smirk. “I just saw your car and decided to say hi, sir Adrian.”

“Was anything I heard earlier remotely close to a hello? What right do you have to disrespect someone like that?”

“I’m sorry, sir. I just saw how she was holding your daughter… and the way she’s dressed…”

“Get out of my sight! And Janie—leave your resignation letter with my PA on Monday morning. I’ve condoned enough of your nonsense. You’re fired!”

Wait—what? Fired? Just like that?

I pull Angel closer, trembling as though I’m the one being dismissed.

Janie opens her mouth to beg, but one glare from Andy seals it shut. She walks away without daring to look back.

Huh. Serves you right, bitch.