CHAPTER 02

CHAPTER 02

THE MAN WHO BREAKS MY HEART

"Did you say that?" I heard Lanie, a staff manager, ask. We were eating at a well-known fast food chain, just across the building where we work.

It was lunchtime so we decided to eat here. We alternate the places we like to hang out, because there are many restaurants and well-known fast food chains around this area. It's not just the people in our building who eat here, but many others too.

Tomorrow, I don't know where they're planning to eat. I just go along with them. Sometimes I stay in the building and eat at my office table, depending on what I have for lunch.

There was one time I ate at the office and I had fried tilapia for lunch with pinakbet and a little bit of salted shrimp sauce. A visitor came and complained about a bad smell. I sprayed air freshener after that, but there are just some people with sensitive noses who find things smelly even if they're not.

"So, that means Mr. Abad will be replaced as CEO and the replacement will be his close friend's child or godchild, right? Because, you know, he's going to get treatment abroad for his kidney cancer," said Analiza.

"Yep, bachelor playboy before, bad boy now!" Loren said, laughing. "But I don't know who it is yet! That's all the gossip I gathered for today's interview, you guys." she added.

"What do you think, Aubree Lynn?" I turned my attention to Lanie.

"Me?" I asked, as if I didn't know what the topic was.

"Yes, because you know, you're with Mr. Abad, he's a kind person and to his employees. You'll surely be the new CEO's secretary, unless he says you're fired because he doesn't like your work or you, you know… I mean. They say our new boss is like a tiger." she whispered, because other people at the table might hear. We might get fired out of nowhere just because we're talking about the new boss of this company.

I shrugged. I didn't know if I'd last in this job, considering I just got hired as a secretary and this is happening. I'll have to look for another job maybe, but where?

I Sigh

"Well, I'll do everything to make my work good, but if I fail him in the job he gave me, I'll beg him to give me a second chance because, you know, I really need the money, my salary. What do you think?" I said sadly and asked them.

They know I have children, not just one, but two. That's all they know, so that's why I don't want to look for another job, especially since the pay here is good.

I know there are other companies with higher pay, but where will I find them? Am I qualified? I don't think so.

Never mind, as long as my performance here is good, I'll stay in this new company. I hope so.

"Miss Corpez! I have a business meeting, at what time?" Mr. Abad asked me.

"Yes, sir? Let me check first, uhmm yes, at three o'clock in the afternoon Mr. Abad with Mr. and Mrs. Solomon." I answered.

"And after that, nothing else?"

"No, sir!"

"Good to hear that, thank you Miss Corpuz. You may go now." I was about to turn my back on him, but, "Wait! Miss Corpuz. I have something to tell you," I went back to where Mr. Abad's office table was.

"Yes, sir!"

"One of these days, I have to leave this company, right?" I nodded. "The person replacing me is the same age as you, in his 20s. I'm not trying to badmouth him, but I'll tell you, he's the kind of person who has a short temper, kind of rude, I hope you can handle it. Don't worry, because I saw your performance, I won't let you get kicked out of this company, just do your job very well Miss Corpuz, so that we don't have any problems with that," he said. I smiled because of what he said.

I hope he's like him, because then everyone will get along. Kind to the employees, sometimes even treats us. If the new boss is bad, maybe he'll change if he moves to this building.

Mr. Abad didn't tell me the full details about the new boss, even his name he didn't want to tell, tsk. He wants us to guess about him, is he a genius, is he an actor and super famous, even his name he doesn't want us to know. Like duh…

"Thank you, sir!" I answered and immediately went back to my office table, smiling because of sir's words that he will find a way so I won't lose my job.

Before I went home that afternoon, I finished everything I needed to finish for the day, from filing some documents, answering phone calls for Mr. Abad. Some appointments that need to be recorded and written down, and so on.

Beyond Empire building is the name of this company. And in the more than a month I've worked as Mr. Abad's secretary, I've done my job well so far.

And next month we'll have a new boss, gosh, will I be able to do the job for my new boss? What if, the moment I put down the files or documents he needs to sign, he lifts his head and stares at me angrily, then throws the papers, then stands up and points at me, then tells me you're fired! Get out of my office! Gosh! What if that's what my boss will be like, it's okay if that's all he does, what if he throws me too, what will happen to me?

Oh my, why is my brain so negative sometimes. Shouldn't I pray properly, Lynn, that you won't be expelled from this company right away.

"Hey! What are you thinking?!" I was startled when Lanie hit my office table.

"That's right!" said Analiza.

"Huh? You've been there since when?" I asked in surprise, why didn't I notice they were in front of me.

"Yeah, we've been standing here since leap year. What are you thinking about, you're spacing out?" Analiza asked while handing me the files from other departments, I'll give them to Mr. Abad later.

"Nothing."

"Hmm! Nothing, for sure there is. Let me guess. About our new boss, right?" she said. I pretended to be surprised by what she said.

"Aww, is fortune-telling in Quiapo your sidekick? Why are you right?"

"Oh, see! I'm really good, I'm just guessing. I don't know if it's true, but if it is, then let's talk about it later at the bar, 9 am sharp or after work so we can go home early. Let's go? Don't say no, witch, because you've rejected us so many times." said Lanie.

"But I don't drink, aww! Why is there a headbutt?" I asked Lanie.

" You don't really drink? What do you call water and juice? Food? Dessert? Solid? I'll send you back to grade 2," she teased.

I pouted even though I was laughing, "I mean alcohol."

"Well! What's the purpose of water and juice? Darling , if you don't want to drink wine, then let's go where you can just drink, just come with us. So at least someone can call a taxi for us when we're exhausted from drinking, okay with our plan A? Aww! Ouch— are you taking revenge on me?" she said because I headbutted Lanie too.

"You're just going to make me a Yaya, but okay, I'll give in to you because we don't have work tomorrow because it's Saturday." Because of what I said, their smiles were wide, reaching their ears, because of what they heard from me.

"Yasss!!! You can also pay for the drinks— run girl, Lanie!" I was about to headbutt her, but they hurried out of my office table.

I just shook my head, they're crazy.

Since my annoying friends were gone, I hurried to finish my work because I wanted to have a clean table before I went home and I wouldn't have to worry about any papers because I finished filing them, so that tomorrow I can focus on something else.

I felt my phone vibrate in my bag, so I took it out and checked who was calling. I smiled when I saw that it was my mom calling.

"Hello ma—"

"Mama! My mama, I love you!" said the voice on the other line. Then it suddenly ended. Freya probably thought I was still busy or had a lot to do, so she ended the call. Because it's already afternoon, they usually call to say they're home.

Because they're at that age, they're already studying kindergarten. They wanted to, so I let them. I don't want to pressure them, but if they want to and it's not bad, I'm there and my parents are there to support them.

I know that no parent is perfect, they also do things that are not good for their children, especially how to discipline their childrien. But I know in my heart that I'm raising them well because I see them how they grow up to be kind and God-fearing. I'm really proud of them. Super.

I called home to tell the kids that mama's not busy anymore, "Hi mama!" it feels good to hear my children's voices, I'm tired from typing and writing documents, but it suddenly went away when I heard the kids. "No more work, mama?" they asked in a sweet voice.

"There's still—"

"Oh, no call Freya first?" they asked sadly, aww my angel.

"You can now!" I suddenly moved my phone away from my ear because Freya suddenly screamed to call Maynard.

I put it on video call so I could see them. "Hi mama! How are you, there?" Maynard asked cheerfully. Freya sat next to him on the sofa while mama was busy folding dry clothes while watching tv.

I talked to the kids while I finished filing, and because no one called for Mr. Abad's meeting appointments, I felt relieved.

"Is it okay with you babies if I go out with my friends?" I told them because my friends invited me out, actually it's Lanie's birthday today, so she wants to go to the bar to celebrate. I drink alcohol, but only a little because I'm weak with those things, that's why I had twins because of a mistake involving alcohol.

"Yes, mama, just spend time with your friends first and then tomorrow me and my twin will play with you, right?" Freya said kindly, so my smile widened, not because they allowed me, but because they understand me. Thank you Lord God for giving me wonderful gifts. Thank you, Lord.

I said goodbye to them because the kids still have to study and I'm really excited to finish my work because of the energy my children gave me.

I finished my work for today early.

"Let's go!" Loren was more excited to get to the bar than the birthday girl.

"Just a reminder, you guys, we're just going to dance, drink and eat there, okay, you might bring your bebetime to the house later." I said, some of them are still single or have boyfriends.

"You're not sure!" they said together. I looked at them sharply while we were in the taxi on our way to the bar they're talking about here in Ortigas.

"Just try it and I'll leave you alone so I can go home."

"This is… you can't joke, you want me to find you an oppa or an afam?" Lanie said, raising an eyebrow.

Because we were sitting next to each other in the back of the taxi and Annaliza was in the front. I pinched Lanie's side lightly because she was saying all sorts of things.

"I'm happy with my kids, why would I look for someone else?"