Chapter 2 my manager

Chapter 2

"Eullah, why are you just standing there? Serve this to the Governor. You know how much he hates being kept waiting!" I swiftly grabbed the order I had handed to Fiona earlier and walked over to Governor Vergara's table. I carefully placed his order on the table and gave him an awkward smile, embarrassed.

"Here's your o-order, Governor. I'm sorry I didn't recognize you right away," I apologized, and he simply nodded, gesturing to the chair across from him as if to say I should sit and join him. Or was I just assuming?

When he noticed I wasn't moving, he waved his hand in front of my face to get my attention. I looked at him, confused.

"Sit down," he gestured again to the chair in front of him.

I pointed to myself in confusion, and he nodded. "Oh, Governor, as much as I'd like to chat with you, I'm really busy. As you can see, more customers are coming in. Maybe next time. My manager might get mad at me," I explained, declining.

"So, you think I'll accept that excuse? I guess your manager didn't inform you that I don't take 'no' for an answer," he emphasized the word "no."

I gulped.

I glanced at my manager, who was coincidentally looking at me. She widened her eyes and signaled for me to agree to whatever the Governor wanted.

Since I didn't want to lose my job, I followed both my manager's and the Governor's wishes. I slowly sat down in the chair the Governor had offered earlier, giving him an awkward smile when our eyes met.

What kind of Governor is this? Is he even really a Governor? And why did he ask me to sit here? Just to watch him eat?

Feeling increasingly uncomfortable under the Governor's gaze, I began to look around the café. I noticed people staring at us, which only added to my embarrassment and discomfort.

I finally breathed a sigh of relief when the Governor finished his meal, which I had waited over an hour for. He eats like a woman, I swear.

"Here's my card. The PIN is 040504." I quickly nodded, about to step away when I realized he had just told me the PIN for his black card.

As far as I know, you're not supposed to share that, right?

"Excuse me, Governor, I thi-" I started, but he cut me off.

"I know, but I also know I can trust you, right?" Still confused, I just nodded and walked away, not wanting to prolong the conversation since I had work waiting for me in the kitchen.

After paying for his order, I returned to the Governor's table to return his black card, but he was already gone.

I quickly ran out of the café, hoping to catch up with the Governor and return his black card, but it was too late. His car was already out of sight.

"Wow! Who in their right mind leaves their black card with someone they don't know and even tells them the PIN? He's lucky I'm not tempted by large sums of money, or Governor Vergara would be in trouble," I muttered to myself, shaking my head as I looked at the black card in my hand.

I went back inside the café and headed straight to my manager's office, intending to leave the black card with her in case the Governor returned. However, I was surprised when she refused to accept it, saying that since he left it with me, I was responsible for returning it.

"So you gave me an extra responsibility with this card, Governor Vergara, huh?" I muttered irritably under my breath.

Frustrated, I went to my locker after leaving the manager's office. I placed the black card in my bag and double-locked my locker to ensure it couldn't be opened. While I trusted my colleagues, it's still better to be safe than sorry-losing this card could cost me more than just my dignity.

AMBROSS POV

I left the café with a sweet smile on my face, whistling as I walked to the parking lot, twirling the keychain with my car key in my hand. I intentionally left my credit card with Eullah so I'd have a reason to come back.

As I got into my car, the smile on my face only grew wider as I recalled Eullah's reaction when I told her the PIN for my credit card.

It's her birthday. April 5, 2004.

When I saw in the side mirror that Eullah was leaving the café, I quickly started the car engine and drove off. She tried to catch up to me, but I deliberately sped away.

"Not now, baby. Not now."

Meanwhile, I quickly searched for Mariz, the café manager's number, and called her.

"Hello, Governor?" Mariz greeted on the other end.

"Mariz, if Ms. Deviente tries to leave my credit card with you, I don't want you to accept it. Are we clear?" She was about to respond, but I cut her off.

"Just don't accept it. You got it?" After she confirmed my request, I ended the call and then called my secretary.

"Luna, how was it? Did you do what I asked?" I immediately asked when she answered.

"Yes, Governor. The bouquet was already delivered to Ms. Eullah Deviente's apartment." I nodded as if she were standing right in front of me.

"Good. By the way, I won't be able to make it there today; I want to rest, so you can go home early as well." My secretary quickly agreed, so I ended the call and focused on driving home to my condo.

When I got home from the café, I expected to find yet another bouquet of sunflowers outside my door. For almost a month now, this has been the routine, and it's always the same person leaving them, though I still haven't figured out who it is. I wanted to find out who was leaving them, but my schedule has been so hectic that I haven't had the time.

As I entered the apartment with the sunflower bouquet and my other belongings, I heard my phone ring. I quickly answered it, wedging it between my shoulder and ear without checking the caller ID.

"Hello? Who is this?" I asked while locking my apartment door.

" My mother's voice, strained from crying, came through the line. I immediately put down my things on the single sofa and checked the caller ID to confirm it was indeed my mother.

"Oh, Mamang, why are you calling? Don't tell me you're trying to-" I couldn't finish my sentence as she interrupted me.

"Eullah, we're at the hospital right now with your father. He suddenly collapsed after dinner. I don't know what happened, but the doctor said there's a tumor growing in your father's brain, and he needs surgery right away. I don't know where I'm going to get the money," my mother said, her voice trembling. I felt my knees go weak as tears started streaming down my face.

"A-are you still there,?" my mother asked, her voice pulling me out of my thoughts. I quickly wiped away my tears and forced a smile, even though she couldn't see it. I gathered my strength to hide the pain I was feeling before responding.

"Don't worry, Mamang. I'll find a way to get the money. Just take care of Papang, okay? Watch over him well. Tomorrow, I'll start looking for the money so we can have the surgery done as soon as possible. How much do we need for the operation?" My mother's voice was briefly absent from the other end.

"The doctor said we should prepare one million pesos for your father's surgery. They said the tumor in his brain is growing larger, so he needs to be operated on immediately, or it might get worse and be fatal," my mother explained, her voice filled with despair. I felt completely drained, my knees trembling, and I couldn't hold back the tears anymore.

Where will I get a million pesos? I haven't even saved up half of that amount in my piggy bank. Why does it have to be us? Why does it have to be my father? He's a good man.

"I'll handle it, Mamang," I replied, trying to keep my voice steady, but I couldn't stop it from trembling. I was too weak to hold it together.

After the call ended, I went to my room and tried to close my eyes to sleep, but I couldn't. I kept worrying about my father, who was in the hospital. I also kept thinking about where I would find the money for his surgery because I knew that even if I worked nonstop for a month, it still wouldn't be enough.

What am I going to do? I can't just let my father die-he and Mamang are all I have. They're the reason I have a family now, and I can't lose either of them. I wouldn't survive it.

To Be Continued...