Chapter 2: Boss

"Good morning momma! Good luck on your first day!" I immediately drew a smile on my lips because of the sweetness of Sunny's greetings to me. 

"Good morning too, baby." I gave her a tight hug and lots of kisses on her face. 

"It's too early baby, why do you wake up so early?" It's only six in the morning, she still has one and a half hours to sleep because her class is 7:30 in the morning. 

"Of course momma, so I can say goodbye to you." She said smiling. 

"Aww." I squeezed her cheek, as I often do whenever I get excited about her. 

"Okay, as long as when momma leaves, you can sleep again, okay?" 

"I'll just take a look momma..." After our conversation, I talked to Grace next to let her know what time Sunny goes in and out of school. 

"Grace, since you don't know Sunny's school yet, all you have to do is ride a tricycle first. At Angel's Academy, tell the driver of the tricycle you're riding." I reminded her. 

"She's in at 7:30. When you take her to school so you don't get bored and do what you want to do, you can leave her there and then just come back to her at 10:00 AM." I added. 

"All right, Ma'am, noted." She said. 

"Thank you Grace. You'll take care of my daughter first, won't you? Be careful." 

"Yes, Ma'am. No problem. Be careful too, and Good luck on your first day!" 

"Thank you." I answered. 

After I left everything to Grace I picked up the bag I was going to take inside. I am wearing a corporate attire provided by the company I will be joining. 

A color black skirt above the knee and matching its longsleeve. Since I'm not used to wearing shorts, I thought of wearing stockings so as not to expose my natural skin as much. I also tied my long hair so that it would not be a mess on my face, and so that my face would be clear. Lastly, I wear black shoes that are one inch tall. 

"Goodbye baby! Momma is going to work."  I said goodbye to her. 

"Take care momma, I love you!" She gave me a kiss on my left and right cheeks. 

"I love you too baby!" When I came out of the house, a big black van was parked outside. Maybe it's the company's free ride. It’s fun because almost everything is free. Imagine, even the transportation they still provide. The owner of Paradise Corporation looks rich. 

When I got inside the van it was almost full. They also have their own world so it doesn't matter that they don't care to anyone who enter. Maybe they have been employees of the company for a long time, so they all seem to be close. Anyway, I'm just a beginner here. 

We also traveled more than half an hour before we finally reached the company. As soon as the van stopped, they went down first, as if the scene earlier was picking me up as if I didn't exist. They are too serious. It's like they're just gesturing and then nodding then, it's okay they understand each other. 

"Good morning miss, are you new?" The driver asked me. It's good that he noticed me. 

"Ah, yes. I'm Sydney Agustin." I introduce myself to him, after I finally get down. 

"It's just Kuya Bert," he said after shaking hands with me. 

"All right kuya Bert, thank you for picking me up. I'm going in!" He just greeted me so I hurried to enter the office. 

"Good morning everyone!" I greeted the two men and a female guard guarding the entrance of the company.

"Good morning..." the three of them wondered so I frowned. 

"Why?" I asked. 

"Because we've been working here for a long time, just now one of the company's employees greeted us..." the female guard said in disbelief. 

"Ah is that so? It doesn't matter, from now on you'll get used to it because I greet you every day!" I was happy to say that the three of them enjoyed it. 

"Are you new here miss?" 

"Yes. Honestly, it's my first day today." I said happily. 

"Is that so? All right, good luck. Come in, you might get scolded." 

"In this way Miss Agustin." An employee who interviewed me when I applied here. I smiled at him but he didn’t smile back. He accompanied me to a separate room, based on how it looked on the outside, this office room was even bigger. 

"Come on. Your Boss is waiting for you." He said. I nodded at him. I took a deep breath first before I decided to open the door lock. 

"Good morning!" A familiar voice keeps me in my position at the office door. Because of this scene I feel like I am slowly going back to the past. For a moment I felt myself. I felt how I was, my heart ... when I didn’t feel anything I smiled high and greeted her back. 

"Good morning—" 

"Michelle Villafuerte Claveria..." She really emphasized her last name. It looks like she really wanted me to look like my Ex-Boyfriend married her. So, I don’t care—who cares? Just me, I am now satisfied with whatever I have. I am happy with my life, with my daughter. 

"Just call me Miss Michelle." She smiled at me so I smiled at her back. 

"That was your temporary table for now," She said pertaining to the separate table in the left corner of her office room. She smiled again. I walked and went to the place she pointed out to me. Based on the tone of her voice now what she is showing is true. Her voice was smiling and calm, unlike when we first met in Andrew’s apartment. 

"Uhm, Sydney?" I immediately turned my attention to her. She just looked at me directly as if she wanted to say something. 

"Yes?"

"Uh, nothing. Nevermind, go ahead, just do the ones on your table." I don't know if she's plasticizing me or what, she seems to be very kind. 

"Okay." As she ordered I looked at the papers on my table one by one. Even though I hadn't finished all that, she spoke again. 

"Uhm, I just want to ask if are you bothered? I mean, we both know that our first encounter wasn't good—six years ago? Hope you're okay working with me? I mean from the people in your past?" I stood up straight and wholeheartedly answered what she said. 

"I understand your concerns Miss Michelle, but you have nothing to worry about. I'm not the type of person who brings to work my personal issues in life. I know how to work professionally...so if you're worried that it might be affected my job, you're wrong." She cringed because of what I said. When she recovered, she smiled at me again. 

"I'm sorry. Don't worry, I'm not really your Boss. I mean, your job with me is only temporary, for now while Engineer Claveria hasn't returned to the office yet, you're with me first...you are my secretary first." After she said that she said that she's not really my boss. I was like, seriously? Wait, isn't she my Boss? Engineer Claveria? Don't tell me, I'm working with my Ex? What the hell!

—

"Sydney I want you to send these papers to Claveria residence. I want you to personally hand it over to Chairman Alfred Claveria." I don’t know what I might be reacting to what Miss Michelle is ordering me to do. I didn't know that it was my duty to deliver important documents to the house of my superiors. 

"Okay." I said politely before I handed over the papers enclosed in a white envelope. 

"Don't worry, Mang Bert will take you personally. He is the personal driver of the Claveria family." She added frowning at me. 

"Okay." I bowed before her in respect for my temporary departure from her office. When I came out of Miss Michelle's office I immediately walked down the hallway to go to the elevator. Fortunately, the elevator just opened so I didn't have to wait even a few minutes. When it opened I was on the ground floor of the building right away, in the parking lot where Mang Bert was. 

"Miss Sydney is on board!" He was already ready downstairs, obviously he was just waiting for me. Maybe Miss Michelle had already called him to take me to the Claveria's mansion. 

"Mang Bert, is it really like that in their office that when there are important papers that need to be signed, they have to be delivered to their house?" I ask. 

"It wasn't then, only now is that kind of setup because the Chairman can no longer enter the office." He explained that I just nodded.

While Mang Bert and I were on the way I couldn’t help but feel nervous. I can’t understand myself why I feel this way. 

"Ma'am Sydney here we are." I blinked. With so much thinking, I didn't even realize that we had arrived. We are opposite the big gate. Mang Bert blew his horn three times outside the gate before the two guards opened it. I was amazed at the sheer size of their mansion. I wanted to describe the whole mansion of the Claverias but I suddenly remembered that, that was not my intention here. I came here for the paperwork that Chairman Alfred had to sign. I don't know what the content is but I'm sure it's important ... because maybe Miss Michelle won't let me come here at noon if it's not important, right? 

"Let's go inside Miss Sydney..." said Mang Bert as I finally got out of the van. He was ahead of my walk as if he was already accustomed to it. I remember what Miss Michelle said earlier that Mang Bert was the family driver of the Claveria family. But surprisingly, he was also the driver of the free transportation of Paradise Corporation employees. 

"Good afternoon Chairman," I shyly greeted the man in his early 60's. He is in a wheelchair and has no one in the living room.

"Good afternoon." His voice was serious. Trembling, I handed her the white envelope that Miss Michelle had handed to her. 

"Dad who's there?" I immediately turned around as I realized who the man was walking in our direction. 

"Drew son, come on? Let's eat." We were just in the living room so I didn't see much of the woman who called Andrew, because she didn't stay where his Dad and I were. I’m sure his mom called him to their dining area. 

"Please tell your Boss, Andrew will take these papers to the office tomorrow." I nodded. 

"...also, tell her that—" 

"Hon let's eat. Enough with that business matter, it's already twelve!" Chairman laughed at his wife's sweet cry so he apologized to me. 

"Oh, it's okay." I was nervous to answer. 

"...uhm, we're leaving." I will say goodbye to the Chairman. 

"Wait a minute, since you're here why don't you eat lunch with us?" I immediately refused his offer. 

"Not anymore Chairman, it's embarrassing!" I was nervous so my tone of voice almost increased. 

"Is that so? A-all right and you look like you're in a hurry." He said. I sighed as a relieved. 

I immediately turned around and made my way out. When I got out the door I started to get a lot of air. I feel like I ran out of air earlier. I saw him. I saw him! 

Fortunately he didn't see me, God! It looks crazy! 

Isn't he your Boss? He'll see and see you too!

I suddenly slapped my forehead at the thought. 

"Miss Sydney...are you okay?" I blinked. 

"Y-yeah, I'm okay. Let's go?" I stutter. When I got inside the van, my brain started flying again. 

"Accept it Sydney ... if you've really moved on from that crook you shouldn't be affected! Stand by what you told Miss Michelle to work professionally!"

"That's not what I'm worried about! What if he finds out that we have a child...and...he takes her from me? I can't! I don't want to, I won't let him!" 

"Why don't just resign from your job." 

"It's not possible, what about Sunny's future? Maybe when I suddenly resign they will suspect me, it's not possible!" 

"Miss Sydney, are you really okay?" I looked at Mang Bert, I could feel him looking at me through the front mirror of the car. 

"Y-yes, I'm okay." 

"But you've been crying before..." I touched my cheek. It's so wet. I hurriedly rummaged through the shoulder bag I was carrying to get my handkerchief. When I saw a handkerchief, I immediately wiped the tears running down my cheek. I'm scared. I was afraid they would take my daughter away from me. No, I won't allow it!