Chapter 4

“Sis! Welcome to the company!” Romeo practically tackled me in a hug. “Finally, after that long, stressful process, you made it!”

It was a relief that Romeo was the one showing me around the department. If it weren’t for him, I would’ve felt completely lost. I wasn’t even used to working yet.

“I hope you enjoy your stay here… the way I enjoy all the handsome guys walking around!” He giggled like a teenager.

“With… Mr.Gibson?” I raised an eyebrow, half-joking.

He lightly slapped my arm. “Gaga! No way. He’s out of our league, girl! Those rich, gorgeous types don’t have time for ordinary folks like us.”

I bit my lip. He was right. Why did I even say that? We’re from completely different worlds. Even if my family had a business before, there was a gap between us. Still huge. It’s like… he’s at the presidential level, and I’m just the barangay SK chairperson.

“Oh, by the way, ” Romeo gestured proudly like a game show host. “This is your desk.”

I smiled as I looked at the neat little workspace. It almost looked like a prize I’d won.

“And this girl beside you, who isn’t that pretty, this is Rose.”

“Excuse me?” Rose stood up, adjusting her glasses with a glare in Romeo’s direction. “First of all, are you even pretty?”

“Compared to you? Yes.” Romeo stuck out his tongue proudly.

I tried to hide my laughter as Rose turned to me, eyes sparkling. Despite her small frame and heels, she still had to tilt her chin up to look at me. “Welcome to purgatory!” she greeted, extending a hand.

“Purgatory?” I repeated, confused.

Her jaw dropped dramatically. “Haven’t you met Mr. Jazperary RayGibson yet?” She crossed her arms and flopped back into her seat like a defeated contestant.

Romeo gently pushed me toward my chair. “She already met him, Rose. Stop gossiping! Get back to work before I get called upstairs again and pee my pants from stress!”

Rose laughed as she returned to her computer, and Romeo settled into his desk just a few spaces away from mine. There was an empty desk between us, giving us room to exchange looks without anyone noticing.

I sighed, glancing around the busy office. Everyone else seemed so focused and professional. Honestly? Who would notice me? I’m just… average. Thin body, thanks to no one cooking for me lately. Pale face, hair so stressed it's falling out like confetti. I’m a walking, talking version of exhaustion.

An hour passed. Lunch was getting close, but I still hadn’t done anything productive, just familiarizing myself with the computer. I took a deep breath and tried to look busy.

“You’re doing great, sweetie,” Rose teased with a wink.

I chuckled weakly. “Is it really this slow for everyone on their first day?”

She shook her head. “On my first day, I thought my brain was going to explode from all the tasks. But maybe the higher-ups are just swamped today… so no one’s had time to train you yet.”

Thirty minutes before lunch. My stomach growled so loudly I thought everyone heard it. We had a short break earlier, but I didn’t eat. No appetite these past few days… and now I regret it. My stomach twisted with hunger and nerves.

“Audreyian Marie Watson?”

The sound of my full name made me stiffen in my chair.

I straightened my seat. “Yes?”

A man in formal attire approached, holding a towering stack of documents, so high they almost covered his face.

“Sir Adrian, is that for us?” Rose asked casually beside me.

I blinked, still clueless. Wait… this was another boss?

Sir Adrian didn’t answer her. Instead, he slammed the mountain of papers onto my desk. My stomach rumbled from hunger, but that was the least of my problems now.

“You’ve been sitting here a while… didn’t even bother to ask if there’s work for you?” His voice was sharp, eyes narrowing at me. “First day, and that’s how you show your manners? A little girl.”

I felt the color drain from my face. I glanced at Rose for help, but even she looked confused.

“No one approached me…” I tried to explain, my voice weak. “I’m new… sorry, sir. It won’t happen again.”

“Being new is never an excuse,” he snapped, his tone even colder now. “Proofread all that. Fix the typos, grammar, and everything. And finish it today, maybe then you’ll make up for this little display of ignorance.”

He glanced at his watch, then turned on his heel and stormed off to his office without another word.

I sank into my chair, cheeks burning. Romeo rushed over, eyes wide with concern. Around us, I could feel the stares, the quiet whispers. Great. First day, and I’m already the center of gossip.

“What the hell was that?!” Romeo hissed. “Why is Papshie cursing people out here? Who peed in his coffee?”

Rose frowned, arms crossed. “Seriously, is he like that? Maybe someone scolded him upstairs and now he’s unloading on newbies.”

I didn’t bother answering. I buried my face in the stack of papers and started reading. No soft copies. I had to check every word, line by line, and retype them all. I clenched my jaw. No way was I messing this up again.

Lunch came. Everyone got up, Romeo, Rose, and the whole department buzzed with people heading out to eat.

They invited me, but I shook my head. No way. I wasn’t risking more scolding. My stomach twisted with hunger and stress, but I ignored it. I’d eat later. I just pressed my palm to my stomach, took a deep breath, and kept reading.

“Why aren’t you taking your lunch break?”

I jumped at the familiar voice behind me, not because it startled me, but because I knew exactly who it belonged to.

Slowly, I turned my head, and there he was. Mr.Gibson. And beside him, his assistant, Mira, watching me just as closely.

He raised an eyebrow when I didn’t answer right away. “Did the company rules change without me knowing, Mira? Can employees skip lunch now?”

“No, Sir,” Mira replied simply. “Audrey, you should take your lunch break. You can finish your task after eating.”

I swallowed hard, feeling my nerves tangle all over again. My eyes met Mr.Gibson’s, sharp, unreadable, as if he could see right through me.

"I'm sorry," I said softly, my voice barely steady as my stomach growled loud enough for them to hear. I bit my lip, embarrassed. "I just… I need to finish this today. I can text my friends to buy me food. I’ll eat during my ten-minute break, promise."

Mr.Gibson’s eyes darkened. "You want to be fired on your first day?" His voice was calm, but it cut through me sharper than a knife.

Even his assistant, Mira, looked tense beside him.

I shook my head quickly. "Excuse me, Sir," I said, bowing my head like my life depended on it.

"Go take your forty-minute break now, or I’ll fire you, Ms. Watson." His tone made it clear, this wasn’t a request.

I grabbed my bag, my hands trembling. I couldn’t understand. Aren’t bosses supposed to like hardworking employees? Why did it feel like I had just committed another crime? First, they scold me for not working… now, for working too hard? I wanted to disappear.

I avoided their eyes as I rushed to the elevator, texting Romeo and shaking fingers. My stomach still churned, my anxiety joining the chaos inside me.

When I finally found them, I didn’t hold back, I ordered everything I could think of. Pasta, rice, salad, dessert, the works. My acid reflux was screaming, my head was pounding, but at least food couldn’t yell at me.

I wanted to cry on my plate, but I held it together. I wasn’t close enough to Rose yet to embarrass myself like that.

“And then he looked at me dead in the eye and said…” I deepened my voice, copying Mr.Gibson’s cold tone, “‘Do you want to be fired on your first day?’ Just like that!” I shoved a forkful of pasta into my mouth.

I slumped onto the table, chewing aggressively. “One boss wants me to finish all the work. The other one threatens to fire me for working. Where am I supposed to stand?! I feel like my brain’s about to explode.”

Romeo chuckled softly, patting my arm. “Welcome to corporate life, sis. We’ve all been there. Just breathe, eat, survive.”

“My chest is already exploding, Romeo,” I said, still chewing. “I’m trying my best not to mess up, but they still find something! How is that even possible?!”

Rose leaned over, fixing her makeup. “The bosses just bullied you today, Audrey. That’s normal here.” She gave me a sympathetic smile. “But honestly? Boss-to-boss talk usually stays up there. It rarely trickles down to us. Only sometimes, unlucky days like today.”

I sipped warm water, hoping it would calm both my stomach and my soul. I twirled more pasta onto my fork, sighing. “I don’t even have thick skin, but it feels like I need steel armor to survive here.” I groaned dramatically. “I swear… I want to give up already.”

“Hey, bro! crazy you, just think about the high salary. You need money, don’t you?” Romeo tried to lighten the mood.

I groaned, stabbing my fork into the potato salad. “I’m already drowning in my life problems. Do I need my bosses adding to it?” My voice cracked a little. “I don’t even know if I’ll last a week here…”

I mimicked Mr.Gibson’s voice under my breath. “‘Ms. Watson this… Ms. Watson that…’ Like I can’t breathe in peace!” I sighed dramatically.

But when I looked at Romeo and Rose… they weren’t laughing. They were frozen, stiff like statues, eyes wide, lips sealed.

“What’s wrong with you two?” I asked, frowning. “Why aren’t you saying anything?”

They still didn’t move. My irritation slowly turned into confusion… then fear. I poked my bread roll, and took a sip of water, but neither of them reacted.

“What are you looking at? Is there some handsome guy behind me or something?” I joked, trying to shake off the awkwardness.

Then curiosity got the best of me. I turned around.

And nearly choked on the air.

Standing there, in his usual black suit, was the one person I prayed wouldn’t witness my little meltdown,  Jazper Ray Gibson himself. His assistant stood silently behind him, but all I could focus on was the dangerous, unreadable look on his face.

“Good afternoon, ladies…” His deep voice cut through the air like a knife. “…and gents,” he added, shooting Romeo a sharp glare.

Romeo and Rose stiffened even more, greeting him with nervous, robotic smiles. “Mr.Gibson,” they both echoed in unison, like students caught cheating on an exam.

Me? I couldn’t speak. I couldn’t breathe. It felt like my lungs had forgotten their job.

His eyes zeroed in on me,  cold, unreadable, and laced with authority.

“You…” His voice dropped lower, almost like a warning.

I gulped hard, my legs shaking under the table. I tried to open my mouth, but no words came out.

“Don’t talk,” he said flatly, eyes narrowing. “Not when your mouth is full, Ms. Watson.”

I froze, my heart pounding so hard I was sure the whole cafeteria could hear it.

Was I fired? Dead? Or… was this just the beginning of my nightmare?