Chapter 7 Her Profession

"Good evening, this is Valeria Cirillo. Just breaking news, a man who confessed to the murder of a minor girl in Arimathea surrendered this Monday. The victim was found dead and naked by the river, the girl we keep in the name of 'Marie' who allegedly came from her classmate's house to study. The suspect is said to be addicted to drugs so he committed the crime, rape and homicide charges are being prepared against him and that is what Rafaella Yufilra will focus on."

After Valeria said those words with posture and good tone of voice she immediately left the stage and lowered her microphone. At that moment, what she reported was being televised, and a reporter she mentioned covered this case even more widely. Valeria's smile was unspeakable now since she accomplished her part, barely an hour earlier when her job at a place she went for documentaries was almost over and then currently is her schedule for daily night news, which she is one of the primary anchors at that network. A lot of opportunities are coming into her life right now, and she really enjoys that thing.

She has been in her job for more than seven years, and she did not think that she would quickly gain the popularity and attention of the people just because of her skill and ingenuity in delivering the news. In fact, she even heard a variety of words being said behind her back by other well -known news anchors and television personalities, that only so she became famous and had projects where she was the main broadcaster it is simply because of the popularity that the president's son, Atlas, who was her boyfriend for over five years, had as well. Valeria also could not help but get hurt every time she heard those rumors reaching her, she knew that was not true, she loved Atlas because she believes that is how she felt about the man and not because she wanted him to be a way for her to shine or either for her name to be identified in the industry she entered.

Also one of the reasons why the extent of her smile is because of how excited she is to see her grandmother, Mildred. She wanted to pick it up at their home, to go straight to the restaurant where they were eating. This is also their bonding all the time, and Valeria always takes the time just to make it happen, because even if her grandmother did not admits to her that it makes her sulk every time she is busy and does not go home, she still feels it. She also did not want to have a happy time before she realized that she would have done that thing before.

Valeria immediately approached her personal assistant, who was always with her whenever she was at work. It is usually assigned to take care of him and the important things she needs help with. Immediately Ella, her assistant handed her, her water pouch which she always used whenever she was thirsty. Valeria immediately showed her gratitude after receiving the item, because Ella also helped her a lot, especially when she was hungry in the middle of work and less than a second later, she immediately obeyed her orders.

While she was drinking water, Pylla Velasquez, a news anchor and in her same age, suddenly approached her. Pylla is also a famous and admired reporter around the country, due to her capability and talent when it comes to her field.

Valeria immediately rested deeply when she saw her.

"You have never really changed, because you are still excellent at presenting." The woman mentioned, which is why Valeria stopped drinking water. Pylla seems to be in a good mood and she does not tell some words that are sometimes really hurtful, Pylla is the one she suspects is spreading the news that Valeria is only famous and known in her field because her boyfriend is the president's son. Pylla used to like Atlas, even before Atlas and Valeria had a relationship, so maybe this is one of the reasons why she hates Valeria.

"Thank you, Py-"

Valeria had not finished what she wanted to say when Pylla suddenly spoke while she was still with her arms crossed and her eyebrows raised, the woman's arrogance and pride could be seen as she looked at Valeria. Her envy of the woman can also be seen by the way she looks at Valeria, and whatever the reason is the woman seems to already know.

"But take note that you are not as good as I am. We know why you stepped into a popular network and became a main anchor, let's not fool around, Valeria. Many opportunities come to you because you chose to cling to the president's son, you are not that good and intelligent, you are just a great flirt." Pyllla mentioned in her weak but strong voice, she even approached Valeria so that the woman could clearly hear every word that came out of her mouth. Up until that moment Pylla's secret hatred for Valeria could still be noticed and felt through the flesh of her words.

When Ella, Valeria's personal assistant, noticed that Valeria seemed uneasy because of Pylla's words, Ella immediately intervened in their conversation, for her, her role to Valeria was not only limited to being a personal assistant, which is where she helps the woman with her work behind the camera, but she also has a responsibility to protect it from people who want to embarrass her and destroy her image.

"Miss Pylla, I am sorry to interrupt your conversation but Miss Valeria needs to rest in these moments, because she is so tired today, with all she's done and gone. So please let her be alone first." Ella mentioned still respectfully in those moments, because of what she said Pylla immediately looked at her as if she had committed an offense that could be punished with life imprisonment. However, Ella still stood by what she said by raising her forehead, a sign that she was not afraid of whatever Pylla would say and do to her, who came from a wealthy family with innumerable businesses throughout the world.

"Excuse me? What right do you have to command me? You are not even close to my wealth so do not be vainglorious, woman. You are just a personal assistant of a woman who clings to other people's wealth to get on with life. Maybe the attitude of the person you serve is the same as yours. But then, I will not be surprised because the poor people are really like that, no matter what they do to enrich their lives, they still look like that, like animals that can not breathe when they lose money and fame-"

"I do not want any more trouble, Pylla. I need to leave now, sorry. Come on, Ella!" Valeria immediately said as she grabbed her bag lying on the table, she immediately left in front of Pylla without even uttering a rebuttal to defend herself and her personal assistant. Valeria is the type of person who does not know how to get angry and as much as possible she does not really want to get involved in any issues and trouble, not because her name and image depend on it, in fact, it is her habit for a long time because she does not want to have an enemy, she wants herself to have peace of mind which for her, she can only achieve when she avoids any dilemma.

She could still hear Pylla shouting at her because she had turned her back and ignored her but she preferred not to look back at it. When she finally got away from Pylla's whereabouts, Valeria immediately patted the back of her personal assistant, even though she had not defended it before, it could still be seen on her face that she was very ashamed of Ella, because of Pylla's words to her.

"Sorry, if I have not been able to defend you before, I am just not used to exchanging conversations with women full of hate in the system." Valeria immediately said as she looked at Ella's teary face, that caused Valeria to tap her back even more.

"It's not your fault, honestly, I am really impressed with the length of your patience, madam. I admire you even more because of that habit of yours and I know everything Pylla says about you is untrue, because in fact, I know you better than she does." Ella immediately mentioned and this is why Valeria smiled, the woman had also served her for over three years, and in those years Ella showed Valeria how much she was willing to help the woman in any aspect of her life. Whether it's work or a personal problem.

"There's Mr. Atlas's car, he is probably been waiting for you for a while. Be careful, madam!" Ella said immediately when she noticed Atlas' white car outside the company where Valeria worked. Valeria asked why she would not come home with her so that she would not waste any more money, but Ella did not agree because she said something important was going on. Valeria soon agreed.

Valeria immediately went to the front seat of Atlas' car and when she got into the man's car she saw Pylla leaving the company, she had a bad opinion of Valeria at that moment, but the woman just preferred that ignore it and she finally got into the car.

She immediately kissed Atlas on the cheeks as she sat comfortably next to him, but her somber look did not seem to escape Atlas's eyes.

"Is there a problem?" Atlas immediately asked her, but Valeria just smiled back at him which served as her answer to her boyfriend's question, Valeria could not speak anymore, because she likes to hide her own problems and she does not like to tell Atlas about her current tough dilemmas because for she does not really want him to add to his problem anymore.

"Is that your co-worker?" Atlas asked again because he noticed that when Valeria saw Pylla earlier, the woman seemed stunned and her mood suddenly changed, then by that time Valeria had already answered her;

"Yeah, we just had a little bit of a problem before, so it really affected my mood. But do not worry. I am okay. I love you!" Valeria answered immediately, at the same time she gave Atlas an assuring smile, and she changed the topic so that the matter would not be discussed anymore because she knew Atlas would not stop asking sort of questions onher if she did not say the root and end of her problem.

When Atlas heard Valeria's answer, he immediately believed it, because he already had a lot of trust in his girlfriend so he did not ask any more questions.

He simply held the woman's hand, while starting the engine of his car at the same time uttering the words;

"I love you too."