Chapter 9 WHAT HAVE I GOTTEN MYSELF INTO

Vera's POV:

As I exited the bus, Bob assisted me in carrying the stroller. He leans forward and waves at Marisa. "Have a good day."

She screamed out in sobs, prompting me to freeze for a moment. "Why are you crying?" I unbuckle her belt and grab her.

Bob raised his arm and smelled his armpit. "I apologize. "Do I stink?"

I rock Marisa over my shoulder before reaching for the milk bottle in the back, hoping she's just hungry. Marisa sucks against the tip right away, and I sigh, "She's probably just hungry." She refused to drink Lisa's milk this morning."

Bob exhales and nods before wiping his brow with his sleeve. "Have a good day at work," he remarked as he jumped into the bus. I smile and close the door as I wave to Bob. The bus soon vanishes around the bend, along with the other soul-sucking corporate workers.

I exhale and set Marisa down, fasten her up, and walk her into the company. Marisa sits there, her eyes still teary, her cheeks sucking on the bottle. The bottle falls, and I sigh, glancing at it briefly before ducking down to pick it up. Suddenly a man just rudely kicked it out if the way, I wanted to scream at the man who had kicked it out of the way, but he had vanished through the double door.

"Does it kill people to have some common courtesy?" I duck down again, but a hand grabs the bottle before I can.

"Sometimes, it does kill them." When I look up, I see Gianni holding the bottle.

He gives it to me. "Thank you." I smile as I slide the bottle back into the bag. "So-" boss, "how are you?" I twirl my fingers along with the stroller and smile tensely.

Gianni chuckled, his arms crossed across his chest. "Relax, Vera, I'm not going to eat you-" I let out a sigh, "well, not in front of all these witnesses anyways."

I tighten up and lean back slightly before busting out laughing. "You got jokes." I'm not sure if this is the perfect time to lightly slap his arm, but I'm terrified he'll cut it off and hit me with it for inappropriately touching him.

Gianni smiles. "Sure...Jokes."

The laughter eventually slows down, and remember, I was the only one laughing. I stood there, my eyes darting back and forth, knowing Gianni wouldn't say anything else. "Ummm, pardon me-" boss "I need to go drop off Marisa and clock in." I took a step back slowly.

Gianni stoops and rubs Marisa's non-existent bush of hair. "Hey there, sweetheart, looking as handsome as ever."

His sentence makes me frown. Marisa is pretty! Why are you calling her handsome? Gianni repositions himself. "Well, see you in the office, Miss Brown."

I nod and walk towards the daycare center. Gianni was still staring at me as I returned my gaze, forcing the sweat to evaporate faster. I tossed my buttocks in the air, hidden behind a shrub, to make sure I didn't sit on anything this morning. "Maybe, he thinks you have a nice ass." Liar.

I return to the lobby, shaking my head, to find Gianni's seat empty. I dash to the front desk in order to see Cheryl. "Woah there, co-worker." She seemed to have gotten the memo that I've been employed. "I just noticed you walk around the corner. "What brings you back?"

"Well, I was actually running away from Gianni because breathing the same air as him makes me anxious." Cheryl shook her head, but I couldn't stop myself from blabbing, "It's just that he signs my paychecks, which I desperately need, and this job!" I desperately need it. It's not like Gianni isn't nice. He appears to be nice except for the unusual nicknames he gives his coworkers."

"Well, it's nice to know that you think I'm nice but also not so nice." I froze when I heard that voice. A body slowly emerges from behind the desk, holding a folder and smiling. "What's going on, Miss Brown-" no longer Vivian, "why do you look like you've seen a ghost?"

Cheryl groans and presses her fingers to her brow before slapping Gianni's arm. "Gianni, stop being nasty to her. She's already tense."

"How dare you hit your boss!" he scratches his arm. Furthermore, I didn't even tamper with - oddio, wait...are you crying?"

A tear trailed down my cheek as I rested my hand on it. "Oh my gosh, I'm crying."

Cheryl struck Gianni once more. "Look at what you did! "You made her cry!" She turns to face me and takes out a tissue. "Calm down, darling. You'll be OK."

I grab it and rub it at the edge of my eyes to prevent the makeup from smudging. When I sense a stinging sensation, I understand it's because one of my lashes has gotten into my eyes. "Oh, no problem. My eyelashes-"

"Gianni, why are you standing there?" Cheryl cut me off. Assist Vera with locating the daycare center! She's obviously lost!"

"Cher, aren't you afraid I'm going to fire you?"

She scowls. "Good luck finding another gal who will keep all those crazy ex and fangirls away."

"You're my favorite receptionist," Gianni says with a grin. "Are you aware of that?"

"Leave. Leave," Cheryl said as she waved us away. "I have work to do."

Gianni approaches me. "Let us not disturb the best receptionist in the world." He winks at Cheryl, who rolls her eyes. "Come on."

I follow Gianni as quietly as a mouse. People would frequently face him and bow in respect, which he would return.

"If you were lost earlier-" he taps the elevator button -- "why didn't you tell me?"

I licked the back of my tongue. "Well...I...umm."

Gianni exhales a sigh of relief, "All because I'm in a higher position with more power, much more attractive, and makes more money than you doesn't mean I'm not like you common folks."

"What?" I ask, turning my head. Did he refer to me as common?

"We-" he points to me, then to him, "are-" he levels two hands in the air, "the same."

"Except you're more attractive, wealthier, and much more powerful than me?"

He pats my back. "You're going to fit in just fine here." Gianni gave a nod. When the elevator door opened, he stepped out. "Coming equivalent co-worker?"

I hurriedly agree and follow after him, pushing the stroller. "Mr. Galilei," they would welcome him cordially before dismissing them with a nod.

"Umm, Mr.Galilei," I replied quietly, hearing the creaking of the wheels in the still corridor.

"Gianni."

"Pardon?"

"You may call me Gianni."

I scratch my head, unsure whether I should accept his proposal. "I think I'll stick to Mr.Gal-"

"I'm the man who takes part in signing your weekly paycheck."

"Understood, Gianni."

He nods and smiles broadly at me. I keep following him, sneaking a glimpse here and there. "Can I ask you something, Gianni?"

"Yes?"

"Why did you guys give me this internship?"

He rubbed his jawline with his hand before puckering his lip. "You left an impression on us."

"That's all?"

He says with a smile, "Everything about you is quite ordinary from your physical appearance to your skills." "However, we like the baby."

I come to a halt and turn to face him. "You...hire me because you like Marisa?"

He smiles and says, "Cute baby."

"You thought Marisa was a boy."

"A cute baby is a cute baby!"

I take a breath and exhale before hearing some screaming. The daycare came into view as we turned a corner. "Here we are-" "Agatha will help you with all the paperwork in enrolling cute little Marisa," Gianni added, as a woman approached us. He pinches Marisa's cheek, which causes her to giggle.

Gianni tucks his hands behind his back. "I'll see you around."

I smile and say, "Thank you for showing me the way Gianni."

Gianni's grin, "We also like your speech," he added as he exited the brown door.

I stood there, unable to control my joy as Agatha led me to the daycare center. I waited for Agatha to finish punching everything in after completing out some paperwork with Marisa in my arms. "May I know why Marisa's last name is different?"

I inhale through my nose, "Marisa is my fourth adopted brother's daughter, who suicides after his wife passed away with cancer."

"Or you can just tell me it's her father's surname," Agatha chuckled.

"We don't exactly look the same," I said, running my tongue across my cheek, "so I was concerned."

"I'll assume the baby is adopted."

"It's okay if Marisa isn't my child?"

"This is a multi-million dollar company," she tucks a hair back. The last thing anyone wants to think about is caring for a baby who isn't related to the employee." She started to write, "I'll put Marisa down as your daughter, so you don't need to bring additional paperwork to why Marisa is underneath your custody."

I gave Marisa over after Agatha had finished. "Be good for your fake mommy okay?" I said to her.

"I strongly advise you not to go around saying that," Agatha said.

I nod. "Oh, milk and dia-"

"I believe you skipped over the additional paperwork." We supply diapers, milk, and other necessities."

"I love this place already," I remarked as I kissed Marisa on the cheek. "Goodbye, Marisa. Thank you so much, Agatha."

I dashed towards my floor, thankful that I had opted to arrive at work early. I enter the elevator wearing a full blown smile. My right leg shakes when I squeeze one hand on top of the other. "Calm down, Vera. Chill. You'll be OK on your first day. They employed you for a specific reason. "Relax. Relax."

I took one step at a time after the elevator ding, my armpits sweating like a torrent. My smile widened as I approached the allocated area, seeing the workers behind the double glass door - typing in the temporary number they gave me because I didn't have a pass - the light turned green. I inhaled deeply before reaching for the silver handle and pulling it open.

"You call yourself a designer!" that dulcet tone, "Even my fucking cat can paw down something better than this!"

I halted at the door, my gaze fixed on the sight in front of me. Becca tossed the folder across the room, scattering the paper all over the pattern tiles.

"Get out!"

"Ms.Bak-"

"Get out of my office!"

The employee ran out right away.

Her gaze was fixed on me. "Violet!"

Wait... is she calling me?

"Get me a triple, venti, half sweet, non-fat, caramel macchiato," she commanded.

Do I resemble a barista?

After a few blinks, she returns her gaze to her papers. Someone is tugging on my shirt. "What are you up to?" What are you doing standing there? "Go get some coffee for Mrs. Baker."

"I'm sorry, but I'm the new intern, and I don-"

"You're the new intern?" She exclaims, I nod.

"Oh, may God bless you."

"Vinh! "Where is damn my coffee?"

"I'm going to make this quick," the girl replied as she pushed her glasses up. "Your desk is right in front of Ms. Baker's office." Everything you need is on the desk, from a laptop to pens. There is also a phone for business use. The copy machine is down the hall, and you must enter with a pass." While I was still stunned by the scenario, she dashed into a room. "I don't have time right now to make you a pass, so here's one from the previous intern." I'll make you an official one if you stay here for more than a week."

"Umm, okay?"

"Ms. Baker's favorite coffee shop is in the lobby, and the phone number is on speed dial one." Call ahead of time and introduce yourself as Ms. Baker's intern. Always bring a cup of water with you. Also, even if your designation is intern, you should introduce yourself as her assistant."

"Wait...What?"

"Valentina! "I'm starting to get thirsty!" Becca yelled.

"Godspeed," she said as she walked away.

What have I gotten myself into, oh lord?