Chapter 9: Wonder Phone Calls

It’s almost dinner time but I spend it jogging around the poolside.  I don’t want to eat and I need to find a new activity for the sake of my sanity in this compound.

“My gosh, I thought that meeting would never end.  What’s wrong with your boss?” I asked in a low voice.

Bobby can’t stop laughing at my disappointment over that long meeting with Quim.

“You’re so cute,” he said. I thought he flirted when he said that. 

I stopped running. “You’re cuter!” I retaliated.  Office hours are over so I can do or say crazy things like this.

He became quiet for a moment.

“I’m sorry.  Sometimes, I still feel and think like a teenager,” I apologized.

“Don’t be. You’re still in transition from school to work,” he said.

“Yeah, I wish my family thinks that way too.  For them, it’s been long overdue and that I should catch up,” I told him.

“Stay with us and I’m sure you’ll be able to catch up and even shine,” he encouraged me.

“Oh, with that, I’m not sure.  You know my stand, right?” I said.

“Perhaps, it will change once you start working from your own home or from the office again,” he said.

“Speaking of that, when can I possibly go home?” I asked him abruptly because Quim is now walking to the pool area.

“I don’t want to make promises but rest assured that we are following up on that,” he said.

 “Let’s talk again tomorrow, I need to go now,” I said to Bobby.

I don’t want to go back to the guesthouse yet. The pool area gives me breathing space even with Quim near.  He doesn’t seem to mind me so I guess, I can stay for another hour.

I want to ignore him like he does to me but he is still my boss and this is his house and I eat his food so I have to be respectful to him.

“Hi, Quim! Relaxing finally?” I asked. 

He gave me his usual response – a nod but he’s still looking at me as if he wants to say something. 

My phone rings and it’s my niece. I’ve got to answer it. 

“Hey, sweetheart!  How are you?” I greeted my niece.

I put her on video call.

“Wow, is that a swimming pool?” she asked. 

Quim moved to a more shaded area as I am taking the call.

“Are you swimming now?” my niece asked again.  She’s more excited to see the pool than to see me.

“Oh no.  I can’t swim,” I answered.

“Why?” she asked.

Quim sits quietly on the pool chair having some chips.  He still doesn’t mind my niece speaking loudly on the phone.

“I just want to stay here to relax,” I told my niece.

My niece looked to her right before asking me, “who’s with you now?”.

Now I know, it’s my sister’s plan to pry on me.

“Our cook is cooking us dinner in the kitchen,” I said.

“But who’s out there with you now?” she asked.

I closed my eyes because I got caught off guard. She must’ve seen Quim when he moved to the area where he is sitting right now.

“That’s my boss’ driver.  He’s waiting for our dinner as well,” I answered. It’s the best and the quickest answer I could come up with.

“Sweetheart, I’ve to go now.  Dinner’s ready and my boss is waiting for us in the big house,” I said immediately.

So now we are four people here. My lie has grown.

“Why did you end your call so suddenly?” Quim asked me surprisingly.

I couldn’t say anything.  I knew he heard everything including me telling my niece that he’s the driver.

“Ah…I’m really sorry about what I said,” I told him.

He gave a small amount of his very precious smile.

“She’s really talkative and curious and she asks questions from out of the blue but I so love talking to her.  Actually, I love talking to anyone,” I said.

“You should call her back or anyone else you want.  You’re so happy talking to them,” he said as he prepares to leave.

“I’ll you see tomorrow,” I said to him.

“About that, you can work from the guesthouse.  Actually, you’re free to stay anywhere,” he said.

I can’t understand what I’m feeling right now as I watch him walk back to the big house with his head down.  He’s such a lonely guy.  There’s no doubt he needs company whether he admits it or not but I couldn’t even give it to him.

“Quim,” I called him even if I don’t know what to say to him.

He stopped walking but did not turn his head.

I still don’t have anything to say.

“I’ll call you on the phone if I need you to do something.  Get your dinner now. I want to close the house earlier today,” he told me.

“What should I do while waiting for your next order,” I finally had something to ask.

He did not answer and went ahead.

I took it to mean that what I need to do is all up to me.  I’m free to do whatever I want. 

Did I make him feel that I hate staying in his compound or working closely with him? Surely, I never wanted to stay here and he also never wanted anyone else to be here in the first place.  Perhaps, Leila was the only person he wanted to stay here but now, I am here and he has to keep me safe and well fed. Suddenly, I feel I’m guilty and ungrateful.

The pantry still has a lot of stock to carry us through next month.  I still cooked breakfast in the morning before staying in the guesthouse. I spend the rest of the morning reading the company policies while waiting for Quim’s call.  It’s funny that I am his assistant yet he doesn’t share with me anything about his schedule.  Should I be the one to ask?

Bobby sent me a message online saying they would have an hour meeting in the morning and another one in the afternoon but it’s almost the end of day and he hasn’t asked me anything.  It’s so quiet.

My phone finally rang.  I answered it in a heartbeat like it’s the only thing I’d been waiting for the whole day.

“Are you okay?” Quim asked.

“Yeah, why did you ask?” I said.

“Nothing. I sent an email.  Please work on that and send to me the report tomorrow.  I want you to do it the same way you did last time,” he told me.

I checked my email quickly.  He’s asking me to research for one company. “Is that all?” I asked.

“Do you want more?” he asked.

“I can also do some calendaring for you,” I offered.

“That’s easy to do.  I can do it myself,” he said.

“I wish I could be of help to you more.  As your assistant, I want to help manage your schedule,” I said out of boredom.

“Alright, maybe I could send you another company to research in advance,” he said.

“That's great.  I’ll send you the draft for the first company tomorrow,” I said to him.

“If you have questions, please audio call me on my phone,” he said.

“Call you? I can come to your office to check with you,” I said.  I thought it would be to be his convenience if I went to see him to clarify things.  I don’t mind waiting.

“Just call me.  Audio not video,” he said.

This guy is really weird.

“I could have many questions….” I said.

“I don’t mind. If it’s about the report, just call for anything,” he said interrupting me.

He’s the boss and so I’ll do what I’ve been told.

“Hi, Quim.  I’m thinking if adding the name of the previous owner of our client’s last system provider would be necessary or just a detail that could be be omitted.”

“Hi, Quim.  Do you want a comparison of the past two providers versus us?” I can add one box in the corner of the presentation. My professor told us that it’s best to give bullet point comparison so readers will not be bored by the long narrative.”

I enjoyed working this time.  I even went overtime.  Quim agreed to almost everything I suggested and gave inputs on those areas I wasn’t sure of.  I knew there were times when my suggestions were off but the best thing was I didn’t get to see his reaction.

Quim calls and I’m excited to hear what he has to say this time.

“The last two lines on page 2 are not necessary.  Please go over the rest of the presentation and remove anything that mentions or pertains to those two lines,” he said.

“Alright. I’ll do it now,” I said.  I’m becoming comfortable working with him even with the corrections that I have to do.

“You don’t need to do it now.  Submit to me the polished report tomorrow,” he said.

“Will that be all?” I asked.

“It’s almost 8PM,” he said.

“Oh, you’re closing the house for the night,” I said.

“Yeah but you haven’t eaten,” he said that surprised me more than it reminded me that I had been preoccupied the whole day that I forgot to cook dinner.

“I actually have food here but you don’t.  I’ll go there and cook,” I said.

“If you’re not eating the food left in the kitchen since this morning, then I’ll get it.  You go on with the rest of your evening.  I’ll close early again tonight,” he said.

“Thank you, Quim,” I said to him naturally.  I was more sincere this time. 

“Goodnight,” he said that surprised me instantly.

“Did he say goodnight or was I just high on something?” I asked myself because I couldn’t believe he’d reply.

I’m still holding my cellphone even after the call with Quim ended a few minutes ago. 

The phone calls must’ve worked for us today but I’m not so sure if it’ll be the same tomorrow.