Chapter 10: Payday

I’m up early in the morning inspired by my happy experience working with Quim yesterday.  I still have that inspiration and energy today so I plan on working even before the sun rises.

I can’t believe I’m this excited to work and I can’t wait to show my draft to Quim and hear his comments about it. 

I stopped working after a couple of hours to prepare for our breakfast.  I am even excited about my side job being his cook. 

I cooked some quick breakfast and lunch for us and made sure I left the house even before he goes to the kitchen to get his food.  I prefer that he doesn’t see me during the day. I’m afraid it’s the jinx that will end these happy and peaceful moments at work.

My first message in the office communicator comes from Bobby.

“I was surprised to see you online already. Why did you start early?  Is he making you busy?” he asked on our video call.

“I’m working on the last of the two companies that he wanted me to research on.  I wish he’d give me more,” I said.

“Wow! What changed?  But whatever it is, I’m glad you are pumped up to work,” he said.

“Bobby, I have to go now,” I told him. 

“Oh sure.  Just ping me if you need anything.  I’ll be waiting,” he said.

I still like Bobby but today, for some reason, I’m not interested talking or even flirting with him. I am starting to get better in my job.

Quim responded before lunch time and I couldn’t be more excited to hear some nice comments from him about my work.

“I think you’ve mastered doing it.  I have no other questions,” he said in the office communicator.

I don’t know but I felt a little disappointed knowing his comment via communicator only.  I loved it when he commented me over the phone yesterday.

“He hasn’t asked me to do anything and it’s already the middle of the afternoon,” I told Bobby who is still consistently checking on me.

“He hasn’t talked to me too.  Maybe there’s no work to be done yet,” he said.

“What do you mean?” I asked.

“Well, everything is in full stop these days because of the pandemic.  Our company isn’t an exception,” he said.

“We could lose our job?” I asked. 

“Oh, don’t think of that.  I’m sorry I made you panic.  We're not closing but we are definitely slowing down,” he said.

The rest of the afternoon has been quiet once again.  I checked Quim’s status on the communicator and it’s set to “do not disturb” status. He’s probably in a meeting without Bobby.

I went to the house to cook our dinner. His office door is closed but I’m not sure if it’s locked.  I will try to bring him food after I cook because I am beginning to worry if he’s eaten or not like on the day he passed out because he skipped meals.

He used to appear from anywhere while I was cooking but this time he’s not yet here and I’m almost done cooking.

“Am I missing him? Oh no, no. I’m just not used to not seeing his presence. That’s the way to put it. Am I making sense?” I started talking to myself out loud.

I seem to be at war with myself for thinking that I’m missing someone just because I got praises and approval from him.

“That’ ridiculous,” I said to myself while trying to shake off the thought.

“What’s ridiculous?” Quim asked. 

I startled because there he was again and he caught me talking out loud to myself in his kitchen.

“Oh, you know me.  I always talk to myself,” I answered in a loud voice trying to cover my embarrassment.

“Someone’s in your house?” the lady on the video call asked. 

“Quim,” I gestured to him that someone’s waiting for him on the video call. He was surprised when he realized that he’s not hung up yet.

“It’s just my cook.  She’s cooking dinner right now,” he told the lady on the call.

“Your cook? I thought you said you’re alone in the house and you don’t allow others except for Leila to stay in the compound,” the lady said.

“It’s pandemic.  She couldn’t leave,” Quim said.

“But you told me you were alone," the lady repeated herself.

"She just arrived," he said.

"Just arrived?  Today?  Don't get me wrong but the pandemic cases are rising, make sure she is quarantined first before she goes anywhere inside the house," the lady said.

"Oh no, I think she's here earlier than today," he still tried to cover up.

"Let me see talk to her,” the lady asked.

I don’t know what to do. I’m asking myself if I did something wrong that would upset Quim again.

“Joaquim, now.  Show her to me,” the lady commanded.

I could read Quim’s lips saying he’s sorry.  He placed the phone towards my direction. 

“Good evening, Ma’am,” I told the lady who seems to be the older female version of Quim.

“Hi there. What’s your name, young lady?” she asked me.

I told her my name.

“Something tells me you are not a cook,” she told me.

“That’s enough, Mom,” Quim told his mother.

“It’s nice to meet you, Audrey.  Are you cooking now?” she asked me.

“Yes, Ma’am. I’m cooking for dinner,” I answered.

“What’s for dinner?” she asked.  She’s uncontrollable.

“Only those that are in the pantry, Ma’am,” I said.

“Ah, stop calling me ‘ma’am’.  Just call me ‘auntie’,” she said.

Quim covered his face with his other hand.  No matter how smart and successful he has become, he still can’t win over his mother.

“Alright, we are going to eat now.  Bye, Mom.  Talk to you soon!” Quim said before turning off his phone.

“Well, that’s crazy. We’ve been talking almost the entire afternoon and I thought she hang up already,” he said.

I realized that’s the reason why he was on “do-not-disturb” status almost the whole afternoon. 

“That’s your mother?” I asked casually. It actually surprised me that I was able to pull the off.

“Yes, she is.  And I’m really sorry,” he said.

“What are you sorry for?” I asked.

“I told her you were the cook.  Of course, there’s nothing wrong with being one but it’s not what you are,” he explained.

“Well, I’ve been cooking for us since I came here last week so that’s correct,” I said.  “Besides, I told my niece you were the driver, remember?” I asked.

“Ah yes but I never drove for you even once,” he said.

“Oh, you’ve been driving me crazy,” I said from out of the blue. My natural playful and carefree self just came out naturally.

“What?” he asked although I knew he heard it clearly.

“I mean, I’m not always sure how to move around….sorry, sorry, it’s just my stupid, tactless self.  Please don’t mind me. Please forget that I said that,” I said to him.

Quim smiled at me and it’s something that’s not easy to forget because he hardly does it.

“I understood what you were trying to say,” he said.

“You did? I’m going to need some crash course on manners, I guess,” I said.

“Stay right here, I’ll get something from my office,” he told me.

He came back a few minutes after.  He handed me a white envelope.

“That’s your salary. Your first, I believe,” he said.

I got the biggest surprise of my life.  It’s my first ever salary!

“But I worked only a few days here,” I said after I quickly realized that it’s still early to receive my salary.

“We paid everyone in advance to help them during these times, you included,” he said.

“I’m so thankful.  It’s a milestone. But may I ask you something?” I said.

He looked at me.

“I’ve been following the news and I learned that a lot of companies already closed due to this situation.  I wonder what our company status is,” I bravely asked. 

I’m not sure if that’s okay to ask but I’m the closest to the boss right now and I have to opportunity to do it.

“We still have funds to last at least until the first quarter of next year.  That’s why we don’t stop working.  Even I talk to clients,” he said.

Suddenly, I can tell that I now have some admiration for Quim.  Bobby’s right, he’s a busy man with so many things running on his head.

“Are you satisfied with my answer,” he asked.

“Oh, of course.  It’s my first job and I still have no idea how things work and then this crisis came. I’m still very grateful though,” I said.

“So, there,” he said pointing to the envelope containing my very first salary. 

“Do you know what they say about ‘first blood’?” I asked referring to the first salary.

“That you have to treat your friends with your first salary?  Count me out.  Keep your money,” he said.

“Well, if chips and softdrinks from your own fridge are fine….” I started to say.

“I’ll go for that,” he said abruptly.

“Really? Really?” I said repeatedly.

He smiled longer this time and it’s refreshing to see him this way.  It’s like seeing a miracle unfolding before my eyes.

“Let’s eat at the pool then,” he invited me.

“Oh gosh, so this is what payday feels,” I said to myself.