Resolute Desk Novels & Stories

My mom, Gina Lowry, uses the six million dollars from selling our family hotel to buy my cousin, Harry Sullivan, a villa. The next day, my fiancé of five years, Charles Gomez, dumps me. "Vivian, this is the end for us," Charles says, sitting in the café of a five-star hotel. His tone is so matter-of-fact that it sounds as if he's merely discussing a business deal. The engagement ring in my hand suddenly feels burning hot. I ask, "Why? Our wedding is next month." He stirs his coffee casually and replies, "Your family is known for favoring sons above all else. I looked into it. Your parents sold off the family business and gave all the assets to your cousin, Harry." A chill runs through my whole body as I argue, "That was my parents' decision. It has nothing to do with me!" "Does it really have nothing to do with you?" Charles looks up, his gaze sharp. "You're a daughter of the Sullivan family. In the future, you'll have to keep supporting your useless cousin endlessly. My family won't have any part in such an unreasonable practice. It's simply too embarrassing." In a trembling voice, I plead, "Charles, we've been together for five years. Is what we have less than these worldly considerations?" He lets out a light scoff. "What we have? Vivian, you're 28. How are you still this naive? In our circle, marriage is never just about two people." He stands up and adjusts the cuff of his custom suit. "I hope you find someone more suitable for you." I watch his resolute back as he walks away. Biting my lip hard, I refuse to let the tears fall. My phone chimes as a message from my mom comes in. In the photo, Harry is standing in front of a luxury villa with his arm around the influencer girlfriend he's been dating for three months. He is smiling smugly, like he's at the top of the world. Mom sounds overjoyed in her voice message. "Vivian, look how grand Harry's new home is! Now, he won't have to worry about his marital home when he gets married!" I stare at the photo and laugh through my tears. The moment I leave the family group chat and block all my relatives, my fingertips feel ice-cold. I sneer inwardly, "Since a daughter can never compare to a son in your hearts, then from now on, that precious nephew of yours will be your only family. When he drives you out of the villa bought with your entire savings, I wonder if you'll remember the daughter you abandoned today."

"First day of work new day starts again" wika ni Amethyst. Papunta na sya sa bago niyang papasokang hotel kung saan Siya ay magiging receptionist. Graduate Siya ng Business Administration In Hotel and Management. Average man ang katalinohan ay isa naman siyang napakagandang dalaga, Sexy, matangkad, maputi, matangos ang ilong. Lagi nga siyang inaanyayahang sumali sa mga beauty pageant sa school at sa kanilang baranggay. Siya lang talaga Yung ayaw sumali dahil hassle para sa kanya. Hindi rin niya gusto Yung nag to-two piece sa harap ng maraming tao shy type Siya kumbaga, Wala Siyang ganung confidence sa harap ng maraming mga tao sa kabila ng balingkinitan niyang katawan at making umbok ng bundok sa harapan ay nahihiya Siyang makita ito ng mga kalalakihan. Sa edad niya na 26 years old ay Hindi pa Siya nakapag boyfriend. "Good morning Amy!" Saad ni Louise isa sa katrabaho niya sa Hotel. Naging magkaibigan sila ni Louise sa isang Hotel kung saan sila nag OJT. Magkaiba ang napasukan nilang kolehiyo pero sa iisang hotel sila nag OJT sa sister's brach ng hotel ng pinapasukan nila. Ito ang pinaka malaking Hotel sa Lugar nila ang Forge Hotel. "Kumain kana Loe?" tanong ni Amethyst sa kaibigan. "Oo eh...nag sleep over kasi si Dwayne sa Bahay kagabi at nagsabay na kami kanina papasok sa trabaho kaya nakapagluto Ako ng maaga," si Dwayne ay boyfriend ni Louise.. Oo may boyfriend si Louise samantalang Siya ay di pa nakapag boyfriend kahit kailan. "Ikaw ba Amy Kumain kanaba?" dagdag pa nito. "Yah, Kumain na Ako sa Bahay, alam mo naman ako diba?" balik niya sa tanong niya sa kaibigan. "I know..so pano Tara na!" Aya nito ang ang ibig Sabihin ay pupwesto na sila sa desk information ng Hotel para mag ompisa na Silang mag duty. 9:00am nakasi.

I have always had an almost pathological sense of paranoia. Ever since I was a child, I was convinced that the people around me were out to get me. Back in elementary school, when everyone was lining up for their student ID photos, I flatly refused to have mine taken. I insisted that the district office was going to use my picture for identity theft. The situation escalated so badly that the principal had to personally sit me down and spend half an hour trying to convince me otherwise. Then, there was the fingerprint registration system in middle school. The school required every student to submit their fingerprints to access the campus buildings. I was so terrified that someone would steal my biometric data that I literally rubbed the skin off all ten fingertips to make them unreadable. Even when my fingers were bleeding, I kept shouting that they were trying to steal my identity. I would rather climb over the school fence every day than cooperate. Every relative I had called me crazy. My parents were so fed up that they seriously considered having me admitted to a psychiatric hospital. I did not care. I guarded my privacy with obsessive determination, gritting my teeth and holding my ground all the way up to the eve of the final exams. Then came the day before the exam. That afternoon, our homeroom teacher, Tracy Collins, walked into the classroom carrying a metal lockbox. A warm, motherly smile spread across her face as she set it down on the desk. "Everyone," she said, "to make sure nobody forgets their documents tomorrow, I'd like you to hand over your IDs and exam admission slips for safekeeping tonight." She patted the lockbox reassuringly. "Tomorrow morning, I'll personally return them to each of you outside the testing center. This way, there's absolutely nothing that can go wrong." The class was deeply moved by her thoughtfulness. Some students even looked close to tears as they eagerly pulled out their documents and lined up to hand them over. Everyone except me. My hand clamped down over my pocket so tightly that my knuckles turned white. Cold sweat poured down my back. A sharp alarm bell was ringing in my head. Trying not to attract attention, I fished out a spare flip phone from my bag, ducked beneath my desk, and dialed emergency services. As soon as the call connected, I lowered my voice and spoke into the receiver. "Hello. I'd like to report a crime. My name is Charles. "I believe a teacher at St. Alden High is working with an identity-fraud ring and is planning a large-scale operation tonight involving examination fraud and identity theft."