Chapter II:Victoria, The First Born

Veronica's POV

I immediately wipe my tears that unconsciously fell on my cheeks when the door of my office open.

"Miss" My secretary called and face me smiling widely. She got stopped and stare at my face for a minute that's why I force myself to smile genuinely. I glance at my laptop to avoid her gazes and try fo focus typing there.

"Are you okay?"Lena asked while walking towards them, the worry registered in her voice. I close the laptop got nervous that she might see what I'm typing.

It's the keyboard's fault!

" Of course, I'm okay," I said trying my best not to stutter and take a glance at her to convince her that everything is alright. She sat on the front chair of my table, where the visitor's seat and peek at me seriously. She let out a heavy sigh after that, I just noticed that she's looking in the frame that was misplaced on the table.

"I know you're not okay, Veronica. You're always remembering her when it's your birthday and it did not happen once nor twice" She stated and hold my hands on the table while staring.

"Do you miss her?" She smoothly asked while smiling at me. I look away and glance at the frame.

"I always miss her, Lena" I whisper while my voice remains calm. Her hold tighten that made me look at her again.

"I'm sure, she misses you also. Come here" She uttered that made me smiled. Is it true? Do you miss me? I glance at the window where I can see the clouds. Are you happy there?

"What?" I asked and Lena gestures me to stand up. I did what she did exactly when she hugged me, I don't know what it was in her hug but I'm pretty sure that it's different.

"She's happy now and content. Do you know what she wants for you?" She whispers between her hug. I shook my head even I'm a bit confused about what she asked.

"Be happy" She answered which made me let go of my hug. I look away

"If she didn't leave me, Lena. I will be happy" I murmured, hurting now. When I glance at her there's a pain that passed by in her eyes but she changes it immediately when she saw me glancing at her.

I sat on my swivel chair and breathes heavily while glancing at the frame.

"You can leave now, Lena. I still have works to do" I seriously commanded because I don't want to cry in front of her.

That's bullish*t. Why she left if she wants to be happy, huh? That's not make sense.

But I know in my heart, She never has a choice but to leave me. Probably, she got tired of living in hell, living with us.

I bit my lip and face up Lena that currently looking now on the floor.

"Do you want to say something, Lena?" I asked my secretary. The voice is different now, it seems so formal and serious. She glances at her wristwatch before turned her gaze on me.

"The meeting will about to start in minutes, Miss" Lena answered. I nodded slowly and glance at the clock. She opens the door to leave and smiled at me. I don't want to talk about her but what Lena's said, just made me miss her more.

I stand up to retouched my face before the meeting will start. I'm wearing a red off-shoulder jumpsuit partnered with my black heels on. I put a red shade lipstick on my lip. I did my final retouch before I glance at my reflection in the mirror.

As they say, I look so glamorous and a mature woman at the age of nineteen but what can I do? My family made me this. They let me know how the cruel world works at a young age. In teenage, I'm sure there are a lot of teens enjoying their life going to bar hopping, hang out with friends or have a date with someone, go to the places they want and everything that they want, buying their favorite brands using their parents' money. And I can say that it's normal. I bet I'm just not that lucky to have a life like them but still, I'm grateful for what I got. I don't need my parents' money to do everything that I want because I have my money from my hard work. I may not even always go bar hopping to hang out with friends or to someone, I have my friends who can understand my busy schedules and I'm grateful for that.

I may be matured but still, I know how to enjoy. Of course, I know my limitations when it comes to working but then, I just love working in our company that's why I almost live here inside.

I got to stop thinking when someone knocked on the door of the restroom.

"Miss, The meeting will start now" Lena uttered that's why I instantly get a tissue so I can wipe the leftover makeup in my hand. I glance at the door. "I will be there in minutes" I yelled so she can hear me. I heard her footsteps that's why I focus on what I'm doing and get my first before I open the door.

"Let's go" I suddenly uttered when Lena glance at me. She's holding her Ipad when she glances at me and nodded. I walk first, while my chin is up screaming authority when I walk on the hallway and I felt Lena following me behind.

Lena opened the door of the conference room. When I step inside, they all kept quiet and I even can hear their heavy breathes. I sat on my seat and glance directly at the employees of Talleria's group of company.

"Where's your head Engineer?" I asked coldly when I notice that their head wasn't there. After what happened, they're not going to show up here?

Damn it.

"She's busy, Ms. M-Molina so she can't be able to join in the meeting" One of the engineer's stutterings murmured while glancing at me nervously while the others were avoiding my gaze.

"No, I want you to call her right now and ask her to go here and explain to me what happened in the hotel in Palawan" I finally murmured and lean on my swivel chair while watching her shaking anf dialing on her phone. After a couple of minutes, no one dared to talk because of the atmosphere. Enginner Ven glance at me, the nervousness written on her face when she put down her phone.

"She's not answering, Ms. Molina" Engineer Ven almost whisper and didn't look at me anymore. I'm tapping my fingers on the table to calm myself and called My secretary.

"Yes, Miss" Lena instantly went near to me. I let out a heavy sigh before I let go of my stares at the engineers in front of me. Trying hard to beat me down.

"Find the contact of the head engineer from TGC and ask her to join here the meeting" I stopped and glanced at the engineers that currently looking at the floor. Lena followed what did I say and I wait for how many minutes before the door opens. I didn't look at it because I bet it's the head engineer, I remain to tap my fingers on the table because I almost lost my patience waiting.

I have many works to do and they're wasting my time!

"Good afternoon, Ms. Molina" Engineer Harrison greeted when she sat in her seat, She's the head Engineer. She looks so formal when she takes a glimpse at me.

"What happened to the hotel in Palawan?" I asked, trying to direct her to the point because I wanted a direct answer. She avoids my gazes and glances at the engineers beside her before she turned her gazes on me.

"I apologize for what happened, Ms. Molina but I am so sure that before I leave, I make sure that the materials that I chose are the best choice. The materials are one of the best that we're using during construction" Engineer Harrison explained but it didn't satisfy me. So how that happened? My jaw move aggressively 

"So, why it happened? Are you aware of what happened, Engineer Harrison?" I asked calmly and she fakes a cough before glancing at me.

"How the hotel broke that easily, Engineer Harisson?Best materials, huh?"I sarcastically asked again and crossed my two arms in my chest. She didn't answer me and remained quiet that made me irritated. I calm myself and glance at the board.

"Some workers in Palawan got injured because of what happened. They're now in the hospital, Miss" My secretary uttered that made me sigh.

I'm not dumb, I know someone sabotaging me. We discussed little things to clarify some things before I decided to finished the meeting because I still have appointments to go to.

"Meeting broke off" I announced before I stand up to leave the conference room. They give me the way when I passed by. 

"Lena, I want you to contact our attorney and ask him when he will be available because I will discuss something" I commanded while we're walking in the hallway heading to my office. I remain looking on the way when I remember something. I stop and glance at my secretary.

"What time is my meeting later?" I asked and she glances at her Ipad to check something.

"7 pm at Cdm's restaurant, Miss" She answered and I nodded. So I still have time to visit the house. She opened the door for me and I directly sit on my swivel chair to close my eyes. I just open it when Lena called me again.

"Attorney Brent said that he's available tomorrow in the afternoon, Miss" Lena murmured before she leaves my office. I glimpse at my wristwatch before I open my laptop to check something

"Oh heck," I whisper at myself when I accidentally delete a soft copy of the documents that Lena submitted to me.

"Lena" I called and she answered in the intercom. I'm looking at my laptop thinking why the heck I accidentally deleted that.

"Do you have a hard copy of uh..the details of the budget, calendar, and the other documents in the new project?" I asked and she took a minute before she answered.

"I already emailed it to you, Miss" Lena uttered

"How about the hard copy? Do you have? Can you bring that documents here to my office?" I murmured and lean on my swivel chair. I also need the hard copy of that so it's more convenient for me.

"Yes, Miss. Give me a minute" Lena answered after a minute. I glance at the papers that I need to sign.

I took many hours reading the documents, the strategies, and the other management. I approved some and the other is unapproved when I read their works.

When I noticed that it's 4 pm already, I decided to finish my works and did my retouch before I get my purse

"I will just go somewhere, call me I need here," I said to My Secretary before I walk away. She's talking on the telephone that's why she can't answer me and just nods.

I open my car and smiled bitterly, They didn't even greet me.No one greets me from my family. I let out a deep sigh before I started the engine.

Maybe they are busy or....they didn't care about me

If I'm not going home today, will day remember that it's my birthday today? Obviously not.

"Ma'am!" Our maid happily smiled when she saw my car coming. She opens the gate for me.

"Happy Birthday, Ma'am" She greets me exactly when I open the door of my car. My eyes almost got teary, I'm overwhelmed. I'm so happy that at least one of our family in the house greets me.

Our maid belongs to our family because for me they are the one who takes care of me when my parents are busy.

"Thank you, How are you?" I asked smiling now. She holds my arm while smiling widely.

"I'm fine, Ma'am. I'm so happy that you visited here, I miss you Ma'am" She uttered which made me chuckle. She's one of the reasons why I'm visiting the house.

"I miss you too" I answered and she giggles. She gets my car keys but I shook my head.

"Nah, I will leave after an hour. I still have meetings to attend to, no need to put my car in a garage" I explained and she nodded. She opens the door for me and I felt the sadness again. Where's everyone?

"Where's Mom and Dad?" I asked and glance at our maid.

"They're in U.S., Ma'am. Having a two weeks vacation trip together with Ma'am Nicolette" She answered about our youngest. Nicolette is 10 years old girl that sweet and caring. She's one of the reasons why I'm trying to smile because she might get mad when she saw me not smiling. She wants me to be happy all the time.

I walk into the living room and sat on the couch. The maid gets my coat while I'm looking around. The house is so quiet.

"How about Hensley?" I asked our maid. Hensley is the second third born in our family while Nicolette is the fourth and last born in the family. Probably, Hensley is in her room. She's an introverted person and she's just always in her room.

"She hangs out with her friends, Ma'am" Our maid answered that made me surprised and glimpse at her.

"She has friends?" I asked and she stopped while looking at me. I didn't visit home for almost a month that's why.

It's not that I'm an irresponsible daughter and sister because I'm not visiting them but it's just I got tired. Whenever I always visiting them they're out of nowhere while Hensley never goes out of her room and sometimes I fell asleep on the couch waiting for them to arrive.

"Yes, Ma'am. And she seems happy with them" She added and I automatically nodded. As long as she's happy, then. She's already 16 years old and I'm hoping that she knows what's right. I look around and sigh so I guess, I just waste my time going here.

"Wait, Ma'am. I want to give you something" She stopped me when I'm about to leave because I'm just wasting my time.

"What is it?" I asked but she walks away now to get what she's saying. i sat on the couch again while waiting for her. When she goes back, she's holding a small cute box.

"My gift. It's not that fancy but I made that for you" She uttered and I open the box, it's a baked cake.

"Thank you so much" Because of my happiness in her presents. I hugged her.

"Your welcome, Ma'am" She whispers and I let her go and smiled.

"I'm going to eat this in my office!" I said but I stopped when she smiled and show me something. It's a box of jewelry, I guess and it's the cost of millions.

"Someone wants to give it to you, Ma'am. She wants you to keep that" She uttered smiling. I remain looking at the necklace, confused who bought that.

Who bought that is crazy, tch. Why would she buy a necklace that cost of million?

"She? Who is she?" I asked not accepting the box, just remain to look into it. She hands me the box and looks at me delighted.

"Your sister, Ma'am. It's from the firstborn, from Ma'am Victoria," She said that made me stunned. How?