Chapter 4: Is it Fate?

I woke up in the middle of my sleep and realized it’s a minute before my clock alarms.  This only means that I will go to the office.

“I was going to wake you up but I saw that you were awake already.  You must be excited to go to work,” my mother said.

I don’t feel like putting a happy face when I see those few people in the office except of course for Bobby who is definitely the only one that can make me want to step foot in this place like now. 

I gave him a wonderful smile when he greeted me.

“I was about to call you but you’re here now,” he said.

I couldn’t believe he’s waiting for me.  

“Let’s go inside,” he said while leading me to the conference room.

I couldn’t remember being invited to a meeting today. My curiosity was answered when I saw this figure I never expected here.

“Hello, Audrey,” Quim greeted me. 

Quim looks different in his corporate attire.  Although Bobby still looks better than him, I must admit that he carries his outfit well. 

“We received a short notice meeting from our biggest client so he had to come here today,” Bobby explained.

Quim looked to Bobby. “Did you really need to explain my existence here today?” he asked.

“She might be surprised that you came here today and in suit,” Bobby joked.  

“Oh, this one is the last set that Leila assembled for me,” Quim said.

I couldn’t believe that Leila’s job included that.  I’m glad that she left him for good.

“Audrey, do you know how to mix and match clothing pieces? Quim asked me.

“No.  I don’t. Should I?” I gave a straight answer in a serious tone. 

The truth is, I enjoyed doing that for my father and brother-in-law but there’s no way I will let this man ask me to do more things other than those presented to me by human resources.

“Alright.  Anyway, I need some report related to our meeting this morning.  Please talk to Bobby for all the details,” he said to me.

“Wait. Are you leaving now? I thought you’d have lunch with us,” Bobby asked.

“Let’s do it some other time. You need time to work on the report I requested,” Quim said.

I realized I acted rude towards my own boss who also happens to be the CEO of the company.  I could feel that Bobby felt a little off too.

“I guess you know him well,” I said to Bobby during our coffee break.

Bobby agreed.  “He’s a good person. He actually wanted to treat you to lunch today as his way of thanking you for what you did for him yesterday,” he told me.

Now, I feel even more guilty about my attitude towards Quim.

“Is he someone who yells at his people when he doesn’t like their output?” I tried getting some ugly truth about Quim that could lessen my guilt.

“Well, I yell too.  Anyone who feels pressured does that no matter how cool they are. Try not to take it personally,” Bobby said.

“What do you think about the draft I submitted?” I asked.

“To be honest, it will need more tweaking.  Quim doesn’t want to spend time figuring out how to make sense of everything that’s included in the report,” he said.

“I’ll send you the revised draft,” I said.

“No need for that now.  I already submitted the report.  I’ll let you do it next time when there’s enough time to teach you,” he told me.

I realized that I have nothing to offer right now yet I am so precise on what I am only supposed to do.  I know I have to make up to them.

“Quim said it’s best that you join our client meeting tomorrow morning so you will have better understanding of our request for data,” Bobby said.

“I’d love to,” I said. 

“By the way, what’s the situation in your area? Covid cases are increasing,” he asked.

“I haven’t heard of any news of about the outbreak in our area.  Hopefully, it is contained,” I said. 

“Let’s just be careful,” he said.

The following day, news about the virus gets scarier but I don’t think it will reach me one way or another. Like Bobby said, I just need to be careful. 

My father drove me to the office to ensure I won't be late for the meeting but once I got there, I was told to go home because the entire building will be closed for immediate sanitation.

“Where are you?” Bobby asked on the phone.

“I’m already here in front of our building but they won’t let anyone in,” I told him.

“Yeah. The building administrator called for a special meeting this morning and I’m on my way there.  You can go home now.  All our activities have been stopped,” he said.

“How about the client meeting?” I asked.

“Quim will meet them in his house instead,” he said.

I know Jorge will deliver packages to Quim this morning.  I can ride with him going there.   

The village’s security is stricter today.  They checked our temperature before letting us in.

Jorge immediately left for the office after dropping the packages leaving me in the big house, I wonder what is good about living in one big, quiet space like this.

“What are you doing here?” Quim asked.  He is back to his usual casual wardrobe but he looks fresh from the shower. 

“Good morning.  Bobby told me that the meeting would be here instead,” I answered.

“Yeah but I thought everyone in the office was asked to go home,” he said.

“We have a meeting,” I said.

“I just had a call with the client.  We’ll resume all meetings as soon as this covid issue is over,” he said.

“I’ll inform Bobby then,” I told him.

“I already messaged him.  How did you go here anyway? Did you bring your car?” he asked.

“I rode with Jorge,” I said.

I can see the frustration in Quim’s eyes.  

“Bobby should have told you not to come here,” he said.

I don’t know how to defend Bobby. He didn’t know I came here.  

“I’m calling my father now,” I told Quim.

My world shattered when Mom picked up the phone telling me that as senior citizens, they can't leave the house until further notice.  My sister cannot leave the house as well because someone in her office showed symptoms of the virus and now she has to isolate.

“Have you contacted your father?” he asked.

I startled a bit but I try to keep calm.  I don’t want to share information about my family’s situation as it may concern him more.  I am sure that he fears contacting the virus and since I came from outside, I pose concern to his safety.

I almost cried when Bobby called but he is as frustrated as Quim is when he learned I went here.

“5PM curfew will be implemented today.  You must book a car now,” he said.

“I think that’s doable. 5PM is still seven hours away,” I said.

“Don’t be so sure.  Right now, they don't allow ride sharing,” he said. 

The challenges in getting a ride become impossible to beat, I thought I’d passed out if I heard another one.

“Coffee?” Quim asked. 

I startled once again but I guess I still need some coffee.

“There are noodles and canned goods in the pantry.  Help yourself,” he said then went back to his working area.

I am not hungry but I am anxious.  My family’s health is being monitored and I still cannot book a car to take me out of here.

As the sun begins to set, so does my hope.  And to seal my fate, the village’s security goes patrolling around the village saying no one will be allowed to leave until they transport a confirmed patient to a nearby hospital safely.

“I want to leave now,” I told Bobby on the phone.

“I really want to send Jorge to pick you up but you know the situation, right?” he said.

“I don't want to spend the night here,” I told him.

“How’s Joaquim treating you?” he asked.

“He offered me food but I still feel everything’s wrong,” I said.

“Listen, he’s not a bad person.  I’ll talk to him about your imminent stay there,” he said.

“Just let me handle it a little further then I will call you,” I said to him.  I don’t want to burden him further.

“Stay here tonight.  I don’t think we have a choice,” Quim said. He startled me for the third time.

“I’ll continue trying to book,” I said.

Quim smirked.  He surely knows it’s non-sense.

“You can stay at Leila’s old room.  I’ll show you,” he said.

I am really exhausted mentally and emotionally to refuse.

“Shall we?” he asked. I realized he’s outside the door, which confuses me because he said I could use Leila’s old room. 

“To your room?” he asked again so I followed him outside the house.

He led me to a place the size of a typical one-story house within the compound. It’s the guest house where Leila stayed when she was still living with him.

My eyes got brighter the moment we went inside.  It’s a nice, cozy place to stay and it has complete amenities.  

“You know where the food and drinks are.  Toiletries are available in the bathroom. For your other needs, I’m afraid I can’t help you anymore,” he said. 

By “other needs”, I thought he was referring to spare clothes and underwear but I am girl scout and I have some pieces stored neatly in my bag for emergency. 

"Wifi is available. Password is under the modem.  You can be online overnight so your family can be assured that you’re safe here,” he kept orienting me.

“Thank you. I want to assure you I haven't contacted the virus and I will leave as soon as I can,” I said.

“I will lock my house at 9PM so you better get everything there before I close for the night,” he told me.

Finally, after a long and frustrating day, I can rest in a comfortable place.  I wear one of those clean robes in the closet while I dry my newly washed clothes. I settle for a cup of hot noodle and coffee. 

“I’m glad you’re settled,” Bobby asked in a video call.  He looks tired but still charming.

“Quim is nice to let me use this guest house,” I said.

“I have to sleep now.  I expect a long day tomorrow,” he said.  I sensed that he didn’t want to prolong our conversation.  It’s understandable and it’s enough that he checked on me.

As I close my windows for safety, I noticed the window from the big house with lights on.  It’s probably Quim’s bedroom and he’s still working despite the circumstances. 

A few seconds after I turned off the light, I received a text message from him telling that the house is now closed.

I began to wonder how he manages to be alone in his big house but I’m too tired to think further.  I’ll just settle for now because no matter how cozy this place is, I should leave it asap.