Owning the Secretary's Baby

It's already 4 o'clock in the afternoon when Xymon climbed into his car and started his engine. It was the day he pinned on the calendar. August 13. The day he would go down on his one knee and asked Janela about a simple question but every girl's dream. While on the road, he kept on sliding his hands inside his pockets, groping for that little box. He smiled again when he felt its slight rough texture.

She would love this surprise, he thought dreamily while hands were still on the steering.

They were in a 3 year-old relationship and still felt the spark for each other. He had already decided plans for them and this time, he'd make it sure that no one could ever oppose him-not even his own mother. He didn't want to bring Janela down, never in his wildest dreams he would let that happen.

After 45 minutes on the road, he's already here. The hibiscuses were dancing with the wind while springing itself back and forth beside their gateway. Xymon made his lips thin as a line before turning the engine off. With a deep breath, he opened the door and climbed himself out from the vehicle.

Today, he would just start his plan and after that, once she'd yes everything would be in bliss. He won't let this pass, not ever.

"You always thought like that, Mom."

That was the first phrase he heard from Janela when Xymon stood on the gateway, branching his attention from the two ladies who were talking on the yard to the hibiscuses resting on the cement.

"Why? He's rich!" her mom taunted.

"So what if he's rich?" Janela replied. "I am not going after his money, after all. What do you expect?"

"Janela, rich people always think about money, not your feelings nor love!"

The phrase made Xymon looked at them straight, flabbergasted with what he just heard.

Janela groaned loudly. "Mom, we had talked about this so many times already!" she complained with tired shoulders and brows lining upward in a frown.

"Yes and I don't like him. I don't trust rich people ever again. He even looked like he's a member of the two-faced peopl-" the mother, Sam, stopped her babbling abruptly when she saw Xymon standing behind her daughter.

Janela frowned her forehead before turning her attention to the direction where her mother was staring at-and there, she saw Xymon. "Oh! H-hi!"

That was the time Xymon felt like his facial expression were heavy so he immediately softened it with a smile. "Hi."

"Did you arrived just now or you were waiting. . ." Janela turned slightly pale because of the embarrassment she felt the moment she realized how the conversation had came through.

"I just arrived," he answered casually and looked at the mother in a swift glance. "Good afternoon, Mrs. Higgins. It has a good breeze, eh?"

"Yes," Sam answered and tapped Janela's shoulder before turning herself away from them. Xymon looked at Janela who recently sighed before turning her glance back at him.

"Let's go?" he invited her softly and all he received was a slow nod. She looked weak because of the argument. She really don't like those kind of stuffs in a conversation but her mother was so hardheaded for bringing that topic back on her.

When they're already inside the car minutes after and Xymon was driving silently, Janela cleared her throat as she sank herself on her seat.

"I am sorry. ."

Xymon felt like his ears moved when he heard her voice. He paid her a one-second glance before focusing on his drive again. "For?" he asked nonchalantly.

"I know you heard what my mom said earlier," Janela uttered. "I felt bad for it. She's always been like that."

"I. . ." Xymon smiled awkwardly before glancing back at her. "I understand."

"Maybe you do," she answered as she looked out from the window. "But my mother will never and I can't even change her mind."

"Probably it's her trauma that's why she don't like rich people," Xymon said. "But well, I'm not rich. It's not my money. It's my parent's company, not mine."

A short silence came upon them. Xymon noticed her fidgeting with her fingers. He sighed; and has the urged to calm her down but he couldn't since they're still on the road. He was trying too hard to make the drive safe, but the fidgeting made him panic. It could be her anxiety again. The moment he was about to say something, she spoke up.

"Did you. . ." she stammered. "Did you accept the responsibility? I mean, about the Glamuri Luxe?"

Xymon had thought about it for a moment. He told himself a while ago that he made good for his plans and won't let anyone oppose him. But the thought of the family's company-he didn't want to think about it this time.

"I'm sorry for asking, it's a family matter after all," she said all of a sudden. "Never mind my question."

"No," he answered in a steady voice. "I told you already about that. As long as you're here, I'll go with my personal plans. Even though I'm the only one who has the potential for handling the Glamuri Luxe."

"But-"

"And besides, my twin brother is there to accompany my mother. I wanted a peaceful life, the company is a mess for me. I will go for something that makes me happy and it's you."

"But your mom-"

"She has nothing to do with us."

Janela went silent after that, thinking that their mothers are the major hindrances of their relationship. It's been years and the mothers are still acting like that. How strong they might be for having a 3 year-old relationship while there are people who were against them.

Xymon looked at her for a moment and sighed. "Hey," he called out softly.

Janela glanced and raised her brows slightly. "Don't think too much about that, hmm? We'd be good, trust me."

Janela smiled meekly and nodded thrice before sinking herself down on her seat again. Xymon kept on looking at her and reached for her hands. Janela gazed back at him, wearing her questioning eyes.

Xymon grinned when he saw the cute expression on her face. "I love-"

"Xymon, LOOK OUT!" Janela screamed as she lifted her back and pointed somewhere upfront. Xymon immediately turned his attention on the road as he heard some screeching and roaring of a big truck in front of their car.

But it was too late.

The last thing both of them could remember was the time their heads bumped somewhere in the car, glass breaking, shaking and darkness came upon their senses after that. . .

* * * * *

People managed to cover up the driveway to see what's going on. A delivery truck had a collision with a black car. Someone had called the ambulance and authorities already for the emergency. Xymon opened his eyes slowly as he looked straight to his lover although his eyes were still slightly darkened. "Ja. . ." he tried to call her but his mouth was really dry. Her eyes were closed and blood was running down her nose and mouth. He tried to reach her shoulder but he couldn't because everything in his body ached too much.

What just happened? He asked himself silently. Did he just messed everything up?

"Ja-" He tried once again. "Jane-Janela."

He heard the ambulance coming. The sirens were getting louder until it stopped. He has the urge to cry but his assumptions weren't confirmed yet. He called her again. "Love, please-please wake up," he said under his breath. But Janela never opened her eyes again.

She never did.

* * * * *

2 days later, Xymon stared on the white tiled wall of the hospital. He's not thinking about anything else other than Janela. Just yesterday, his friend Marco broke the news to him. Janela's already gone. She had left him the day he was going to ask her for marriage. They told him she was dead on arrival and no one could ever save her from the inevitability of death.

Xymon was too weak to punch himself, he just stared at the far wall while cursing himself silently. He kept on accusing himself for Janela's death. He would never forgive himself for being reckless. He would never make himself silent in peace.

He bit his lower lip hard as he tried not to cry alone. After many years, it's his first time to cry alone. He never cried without Janela being by his side. She always been here. Always right by his side.

But he lost her. He killed her. He definitely killed her with his own stupidity. The grief in his heart turned into anger but he tried not to show it. Janela wouldn't like the attitude. She might be disappointed if she'll see him screaming inside his hospital suite. His hands curled into fist as the white door was opened by someone. It was Rodrick, Janela's younger brother.

"Xymon?"

He just stared at her younger brother and watched him walk towards his bed. "Hello, Rodrick," he finally said but he sounded weak. He hated the way he said it.

Rodrick stared at his eyes first before extending his hand which was holding something. "I saw this on my sister's box," he uttered as he gave Xymon a dslr camera. "There's a sticker paper with it."

Xymon gazed down at the camera for seconds of silence before nodding slowly without looking up at the teenager in front of him.

Rodrick cleared his throat. "I'll be. . . I'll be going now." And without waiting for Xymon to answer, the young boy left the room.

Xymon looked down at the gadget and read the sticker note. He recognized the handwritten, it was Janela's.

It read: "Happy 4th anniversary! Please check my videos here, my love!"

That was the time he realized their anniversary was fast approaching. It's half a month from now. Bad thing that he would celebrate it all by himself.

In a moment, he decided to open the camera and watched the videos inside.

Janela's round face flashed through the screen with her bunny smile. "Hi, love! So yeah, this is my first video in this camera. Just watch me if you're missing me. Sometimes we're having busy days so on our 4th year, you won't miss me much on our busy days because of these videos. Hope you like it!"

He kept on watching the videos. Some of it was her cooking lessons, petting her cats and eating her meals alone. She kept on talking and talking as she used to. The videos sent a smile on his face that was slowly fading after he realized that she was already gone.

Without him noticing, his tears fell. The videos made him miss her so much and to think that he wouldn't be able to touch her again. She's already gone away from his arms. He took hours watching the videos until the last video was playing.

Xymon was still in his silent crying and wished that no one's going to visit him today. She was eating her favorite dish and watching a movie.

"Gosh!" she snapped. "The movie is so cute, my love. The man proposed! Oh my gosh! Look!" She turned the camera on her laptop and recorded what happened on the movie. "See! The woman was wearing the ring already! She said yes, oh my!"

In a minute, his heart stopped beating. He just stared at the screen for minutes while Janela was still babbling with her genuine smile. The idea of her being happy about engagements and marriages made him feel like he was being stabbed many times. He was about to do that for her- but the destiny didn't let him. It took away his chances. It was bearable. The pain was bearable for him but Janela had said something that made him break into million pieces right after he listened to it.

"It would be so nice, love," Janela said from the recorded video. "To see you waiting for me at the altar. I hope we get to marry each other soon! I so love you!"

In different situation, Xymon might be grinning down while hearing those precious words. He might be feeling the butterflies in his stomach. But with the thought of her death. . .

It would never be the same.

3 years later. .

--

"Get your hands off me!"

Camille opened her eyes instantly and stared at the white ceiling as she continued listening the screaming of her younger sister, Stacy.

"Baby, please. ."

"Don't you ever come back or else I'll be slapping your cheeks off!"

Camille pulled herself up into a sitting position and frowned her forehead. Who was that? What's happening?

Afraid that her son might hear the arguments, she got on her feet and ran to her son's room. She opened her door and saw Stacy and Jordan on her doorway.

"What's happening?" Camille asked, dumbfounded. It's still six in the morning and this couple were already screaming at each other. "Don't you know that my son's still sleeping? What happened to you both?"

As expected, Stacy raised her powerful pointer at her boyfriend. "This moron's cheating on me! Perhaps he thought I couldn't catch him cheating," Stacy said and faced Jordan as she crossed her arms altogether. "You dumb, you're too reckless for leaving your phone for the bathroom. My advice for you next time, don't you ever leave your phone anywhere!" With intensity, Stacy raised her hand to slap Jordan across the face. The power was too much that leave a big mark of her hand on Jordan's face. Camille just stood on the door, still processing with what she just witnessed.

"But there's no next time anyway," Stacy said and narrowed her eyes. "You'd be good but leave this house now! Two-faced SOB!"

Dave stared at her for a moment before picking up his things and left without looking back at them. Stacy took a deep breath and ran her fingers through her hair before turning herself back to her room.

Camille took a step forward. "Stacy-"

"Don't ask questions," she cut her sister's line off. "I don't want to explain anymore. Forget about it." Then she suddenly slammed the whole door. Camille heard the clicking of the lock on the door knob.

She felt bad for what had happened to her sister but that's good since she learned it early. It was better than being clueless about the cheating. She deserves way better.

Camille sighed and decided to check her son on the other room. As she opened the door, David was already chuckling. Camille smiled as she watched her only son playing with the tablet Stacy had bought for him on the New Year's eve. David was watching some cartoons that made him giggle. She came inside and closed the door and the clicking sound of the knob made the three year old kid look back.

"Mommy!"

Camille grinned. "Hello, baby!" she said as she kneeled down to hug her son. "Where's Mama Granny?"

"She buy milk," David answered. "For me."

"I see. How's your sleep?"

"Is okay, mommy."

Camille made her lips a thin line and cleared her throat. "Have you heard any screaming?" she asked carefully.

The child frowned his own forehead at his mom before asking. "What that?"

Camille showed a slow smile before combing David's hair with her fingers. "Nothing, baby. Don't mind what Mommy said, 'kay?"

David didn't answer, instead he gazed down on his tablet again to watch the other cartoon videos. Camille just sat and observed her son as the flashbacks from the past started playing in her head.

Wendyll, David's biological father, left her years ago without knowing that she's pregnant for their only child. The reason was also cheating. Wendyll did the thing but he still accused Camille for it. He had gaslighted the whole story that made Camille feel the guilt until now. It has something to do with the night she had on her two-day tour on the next city. Wendyll had learned that she hooked herself up with someone else on the night of her tour which he made as the main reason of the wreckage of their relationship.

He kept on pointing out that it was her own fault, not his. But on reality, Camille really know he's been cheating on her.

The trauma from the past came back to her senses because of what she just witnessed awhile ago. It triggered her, leaving her more guilt and agony.

"Mommy, the phone's ringing!"

Camille blinked many times as she looked at David who was pointing the telephone on the top of the cabinet. She stood up, walked towards the phone, and answered it. "Hello? Who's this?"

"Hello, this is the hiring manager of Glamuri Luxe."

"Oh, hello. How can-"

"May I speak to Miss Camille Laurier, please."

Suddenly, a wave of excitement went through her whole being. She bit her lower lip as she took a deep breath through her nose. "Camille Laurier speaking."

"I would like to invite you to come tomorrow for an interview, Miss Laurier," the manager said. "Your application has been approved and the CEO wanted to speak to you. Please come tomorrow at 9 in the morning, bring your other documents. I will drop a list on your email inbox now."

Camille felt like she wanted to scream her throat out and jumped like a kid who got her first star on the school. "Of course, of course! I'll be coming tomorrow, Ma'am. Thank you for calling me. Have a good day ahead. ."

Without waiting for an answer, she dropped the call and screamed. "HOLY MOLLY!"

David looked at her mother and smiled as he watched her dance in merriment. "Mommy happy."

"Yes, darling," Camille said as she sat on the floor with him. "I'll be having my interview tomorrow for the job. I hope I'll get the work, baby!" She laughed.

The little boy chuckled with her. "Good luck, mommy."

She smiled at her son. "You really learned a lot from Stacy, huh? Thank you baby. Mommy will try her best tomorrow so you'll have your own toys. Is that good for you?"

David raised his left brow. "Toys?"

She nodded. "Yes, darling."

"Ow-kay!"

Camille kissed David's cheek and stared at him for a moment before her eyes went misty. She's excited to give everything her son wanted. Very soon, he'll get anything he deserve.

* * * * *

"We're here, lady."

Camille looked out from the window of the taxi cab and saw the big logo of the company Glamuri Luxe. She bit her lower lip as she gazed back at the driver of the taxi. She picked her purse hurriedly and gave the fare to the driver before climbing out from the cab. She stood on the sidewalk, looking up at the logo again.

"Glamuri Luxe," she read it. "The power of beauty we hold."

She eyed the main entrance straight and saw the employees through the glass window, being busy with their work. She took a deep breath as she thought that soon, she'll be one of them. She took steps inside and went to a desk. It's already a quarter to 9, she's too early yet it's better to be early than to be late.

She checked her outfit. Navy blue shirt, black blazer and pencil skirt with her black flats as her today's shoes. When she gazed back at the woman on the desk, she was already looking at her.

"How can I help you?" she asked.

"Uh," she uttered and for a moment, she lost her train of thought. She cleared her throat and scratched the side of her jaw slight. "My name's Camille Laurier and I have an interview appointment with the CEO. The hiring manager just called me yesterday regarding that."

"Just a minute, Madame."

The woman left the desk for a moment, holding a paper. Camille tapped her shoes on the white tiled floor while waiting for the lady. She looked around and saw the female employees rush back and forth. She took a deep breath as she felt suffocation from the atmosphere in the building. It felt like everyone will be mad if she'll make something stupid. The ambience felt tight and she was now in worry.

"Mr. Veilmont's still on his meeting," the woman said that made Camille look back at her.

Camille hummed quietly as she came closer to the desk. She even raised her two brows at the lady.

"But you can wait on the 3rd floor, I will call Miss Ollah to manage you upstairs. She's your hiring manager, I may take it?"

Slowly, Camille nodded at her. "Thank you, miss."

"My pleasure," the woman answered and smiled. "Good luck."

Camille turned her back away from the desk and proceeded to the elevator. She punched the button and waited for the cab. The moment the elevator bell's ting, the panels glided and creaked apart.

"Excuse me! Excuse me!"

Before Camille could enter the cab, a woman with many papers on the hand came rushing to get into the elevator. Camille took a step back away from her way and let the woman come inside first. "Thank you Oh my gosh, thank you."

Camille showed a smile at her and nodded. "No worries," she said as she took a step into the elevator.

Camille punched the number three and stood straight. On her peripheral vision, she saw the woman struggling with the papers and has the urge to push her own floor number.

"On what floor?" Camille asked carefully.

The employee looked at her and smiled. "Six please."

"I'll get it," Camille replied and punched the number for her.

"Thank you, Ma'am."

She only gave a downward smile at the busy employee and watched her arranged the huge pile of paper.

"You're new here?" the employee asked. "It's my first time seeing you in the building. By the way, I am Mae."

"My name's Camille," she answered. "And no, I'm not an worker yet. Today is my interview day, actually."

"Oh, good luck then!" Mae answered. "I hope they'll accept you, we really need workers like you here. Some are really snob, I don't like 'em."

Camille didn't know what to react so she just smiled awkwardly and looked down at her shoes. That was the moment, the elevator rang and doors slid open. Camille looked at Mae. "I better get going, nice meeting you."

"Yes, thank you and nice meeting you as well. Good lucks for you!"

Camille came out from the cab and observed the whole hallway. It's not as noisy as the ground floor. There are only few people walking in here and most of them are in suit and tie. Camille tried to look for Miss Ollah on the hallway but she couldn't find her around. She stretched her neck while turning her head from left to right-and on the last turn to the left direction, her cheek bumped into something. Not a post nor a wall.

But a chest!

She looked up hurriedly and saw a man with a hard clenching jaw. He was gazing down at her as if she just made the biggest mistake on her life. Yet the side profile made her remember somebody else in the past. It was someone she couldn't forget.

The man she had hooked up from the night of her tour!

She gasped as her jaw dropped at him. But when she was about to give a smile to him and made him remember her, he suddenly spoke up.

"Get out of my way."

The hardness of his voice made Camille stiffened. There's something odd with him. The gentleness and calmness he has on their one night stand was now obscure. As if his personality was turned upside down.

He looked completely different now.

"I said, get out of my way."

Camille leaped out from his path and watched him walk away. But there's unknown urge of her to question his identity. It was a strong urge and she couldn't help it anymore because of her damned curiosity.

"H-hey!" she called out with an impulse.

The man stopped walking and slowly looked back at her over his shoulder.

"Do you. . . Do you remember me?" she uttered. "I'm the girl-I mean, I remembered we had a one night stand and. . ."

Suddenly, she noticed everyone turned to look at them and she trailed her voice off. The feeling of embarrassment came upon her and all she could do was close her eyes tightly for a second and made her lips into a thin line. But when she heard the heavy footsteps coming on her way, she opened her eyes and looked straight. There, she saw him taking steps forward that made her freeze on her feet.

Oh my goodness, she uttered silently in her head.

He stopped in front of her, quirked one brow up, and asked in a terrifying voice with authority lingering on it.

"What did you just say?" he asked as he lowered his head down to see her fully.

Xymon came inside the club as the lights in red, blue and green waver through the whole place. He closed his eyes instantly when the light ran through his left eye. The whole ambience was jam packed. There are plenty of people on the dancefloor; some of them are jumping on the beat, some are screaming and some of them are having close contacts with strangers. He kept moving through the waves of tipsy bodies while looking for their table. His friend Jorge owned the club that's why they have an exact place to stay on.

He saw them sitting already. As usual, he was late. Since he was the only friend who has a busy schedule.

Truth be told, he didn't have any plans to come but Marco was coming after months of being absent.

"Here you are," Jorge uttered as Xymon took his own seat. "As expected, you're late but we didn't expect that it will be forty minutes. That's too long, bro."

"Glad that he never transformed into a snail, hmm," Cyian said that made Xymon stared at him. Cyian didn't seem to notice the gaze due to the running light around. But Franco saw that already that's why he snapped a finger at Cyian and invited him to the dancefloor to interact with the girls. Cyian didn't refute and stood up on his feet. As he walked into the crowd with Franco, Xymon followed him with his eyes.

"Yow!" Marco called out. "Don't sharpen your eyes, dude. We're here to chill out, don't be triggered with words."

The sharp look went upon Marco. Jorge just laughed and elbowed his friend. "Don't interfere. Let Xymon do what he wants."

"You're tolerating that kind of attitude here, Jorge?" Marco snapped.

"Why not? It's my club anyways," the owner answered and flipped his suit away before he clicked his tongue and wink at Marco jokingly. "Let him. Because of your absence, you don't know what his real attitude is so be used to him."

Marco frowned. "What do you mean? Is the Gentle Xymon, Caring Xymon and Loving Xymon is now gone? Is that what you mean?"

"You're too animated." Jorge roared in laughter.

"Stop," Xymon snapped in a hard tone that made the two friends looked at his direction instantly.

Jorge scoffed at Marco. "See."

Marco stared at Xymon and scratched his right brow. "What hell happened to you?" he asked in a tone as if he didn't know what's happening to Xymon's life. That's the part he really hated the most.

Xymon just rolled his eyes and took a glass Jorge had filled with champagne a while ago. He drank it on one shot and stayed silent. He watched Marco glanced at Jorge dramatically.

"Why is he acting like that? He used to be a jolly kid on the teenage years, didn't he?" Marco asked as he sank himself on his own sit.

"You said it as if something traumatized him," Jorge uttered and chuckled in sarcasm.

"Ain't he?" Paulo asked.

That was the moment, Xymon looked at the right corner of the club. Because of the dim and dancing lights, he didn't noticed Paulo from that direction. He didn't like Paulo because of his silence but this man was really interesting on Xymon's point of view.

He wanted to know him, but still glad he didn't.

"I thought he left?" Marco asked Jorge as he pointed Paulo with his thumb. "I didn't notice him there for heaven's sake!"

"I really love it if Paulo came into my party," Jorge said out of nowhere as he drank the last content of his glass. "He put everybody on their own place and he could do that to anyone here at my club. Soon you will see how he could make you stay on your position and never talk again. Try him."

Paulo's scoff was loud as he grinned sideways. "You loved to sugarcoat your words, huh?" he even muttered and drank from his own glass before standing up on his feet and looked down at Xymon. "It's too late to say this but I'm sorry for loss. Please have my deepest condolences, lover boy."

Xymon hated that. The sarcasm on his voice and the way he turned his back away from him. As if Paulo was telling him that it was really 'his loss'. Xymon hid his fist away from the table as he sank himself on his chair, moving his knees forward as he shifted.

That's why he didn't want to join their parties and gatherings because Paulo's going to show up if he's there. Paulo loved to watch Xymon's actions and he didn't like it at all. He need to watch his moves and all or else, Paulo would laugh at him. Especially at the thought that Paulo has a past with Janela.

"Yo, bro!"

Xymon shot his eyesight back to his friends who stayed on the table. He decided to raise his position again and put his back against the chair. This time Xymon could sit comfortably.

"Never mind what he said, Xymon. Chill out." Jorge put some champagne on Xymon's glass and passed it to him. "If you'll get mad at him, Janela won't like it you know."

"You still haven't moved on yet?" Marco asked genuinely clueless.

"What do you think?" Jorge snapped. "Of course, he still can't move on. No one could ever move forward that fast you know?"

Marco quirked his brow up. "But it's already been three years?" he replied.

"I moved on," Xymon answered all of a sudden as he took the glass from the table. "Cut your discussion about me because I'm breathing on a seat next to you both. It's hard to take the thought that you've been talking about me and my damned past."

"Lies. Lies. Lies," Jorge said as he shook his head and raised his hands up as if he was worshipping something. "When will you admit that you still can't move on from Janela, huh?"

"I," Xymon uttered through his teeth, "already moved on. Do you understand?"

Jorge saw the glare on Xymon's eyes that made him nod. "Yeah, I see. I get it."

"But I am not convinced still," Marco opposed bravely. "Look at that face while looking at Paulo and those clenching on the jaw as he said about condolences."

Xymon stared at Marco and his friend just ignored it, Marco went on babbling at them. "I have a plan for you so you could move on fast, Xymon."

When he heard it, without even the will, Xymon felt like he was interested with what Marco is going to tell. He was looking at him but this time, it wasn't hard as before. He just looked at Marco with the feeling of investing He suddenly hated the feeling that made him gritting his own teeth. He could hear it on his head and wish that his clenching was not visible to his gorgeous friends.

"I heard that you hired a secretary already," Marco asked as he leaned down on the table, put his elbow on his knees as the chin rested on his own hand. "Didn't you?"

"I haven't chose any applicants yet," he said. "Why?"

"You should pick one now," Marco said and grinned. "It should be a woman and. ." Marco shrugged with a sideward smile. "And you know what I meant."

"A woman?" Jorge repeated with concern as he leaned down as well to overhear the conversation. "I think I have an idea about this shit."

Xymon got the idea but he stayed silent for a while, weighing his own thoughts to make a decision.

Marco has a point but it's a good idea.

He clicked his tongue and rolled his eyes in a manly way as he shook his head. "Don't start explaining, moron," he said when Marco was about to say a word.

Marco chuckled as he nodded. "Alright, alright. Our boy already know what I meant, huh?"

Jorge widened his eyes dramatically at Xymon. "Don't tell me you're going to do that?"

Xymon paid a glance at Jorge and shook his head. "Don't worry 'cause I won't and never do that. . ."

* * * * *

Thursday morning, 8:03 a.m

-

Camille wiped her sweat off her temple using her right shoulder as she continued washing the laundry. She made her lips a thin line and continued what she was doing.

"Good morning! Greetings from the goddess of beauty! Her name's Stacy!"

Camille looked up at her half sister who just came out from the back door of their house. She widened her eyes as Stacy with warning.

"David is still sleeping!" she snapped. "Lower your voice for heaven's sake!"

"Oops," Stacy uttered and covered her mouth her left hand. "Sorry."

Camille looked down at the wet clothes and sighed. "Tell me what time you came home."

"Three." Stacy was looking straight on her painted nails.

"Are you. ." Camille looked up at her again. "Are you out of your mind?"

"Why?" Stacy asked and rolled her eyes. "At least you didn't learn from the news that I was dead. I am still alive, as you can see."

"Yeah but you're alone!"

Stacy shrugged. "Yeah but I am still alive at eight," she muttered. "As of today!"

Camille stifled another sigh and continued her chore. "I will tell mom about your stupidity, you'll see."

"Uh-huh?" Stacy leaned slightly as she made a sarcastic roll on the eyes. "Whateve-"

Her voice trailed off when the telephone rang. Stacy looked back over her shoulder for a second then she glanced at her older sister again. "I'll get it."

Camille nodded. "Thank you."

Stacy walked into the house and took steps towards the cabinet to pick the telephone. "Hello?"

"May I speak to Miss Camille Laurier, please." The lady's voice was cultivated and rich that made Stacy opened her mouth slightly.

"I am sorry but my sister's busy. May I know who is this?"

"Please bring the phone to her, Ma'am," the lady insisted.

"Why? I mean, may I know who is this?"

"It's Miss Ollah, the hiring manager."

"Oh!" Without any hesitations, Stacy ran through while holding the wireless telephone and gave it to Camille.

"Who's this?" Camille asked, dumbfounded with Stacy's surprised faced.

"The hiring manager," Stacy answered, almost got her hands trembling. Immediately, Camille stood up, wiped her wet hands on her shorts and accepted the telephone.

"Hello, this is Camille. . ." Her voice trailed off when she remembered what she did days ago in their building. She got an employee embarrassed that time. Truth be told, it's not only the employee but herself as well.

It wasn't an anxious day since she only talked to Miss Ollah for the interview instead of the busy CEO but still, having bad assumptions to that employee she bumped herself into-she couldn't move on.

"The CEO wants to talk to you, Miss Laurier," Miss Ollah informed her. "I recommended you to him yesterday and he made an appointment for another personal interview about that secretary position tomorrow morning at nine. Please tell me if you can get yourself here tomorrow on time."

"Yes, I will!" Camille answered. "I will be there, thank you for informing me. ."

"My pleasure, thank you." Miss Ollah ended that call. Camille just stared at her younger sister who was waiting for her to say something.

"The hiring manager recommended me for the position!" Camille snapped and started jumping in joy. The idea registered on Stacy's head and finally, she matched her energy with Camille and hopped.

"Congratulations then, sister!" Stacy greeted. "I am happy for you!"

"But I still have to face the CEO for the interview," Camille said.

"Don't worry about it, I know you could get it!" Stacy grinned at her and winked. "Don't doubt yourself! Just looked impressive and you'll have it!"

"Thank you. . ."

Camille was happy with that news even though she still didn't get the position but at least, the hiring manager chose her as a recommendation.

But she hoped that she won't encounter that intimidating employee ever again.