Chapter 3 - Farewell

*Craig Wyatt Einar's POV*

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"Josie, why do you have to leave me? Are you tired of my face? Am I growing so ugly? I would shave this beard right away if you want. Why do you have to resign? You can still renew even if how many hundred times. Just why?" I asked the woman in frustration as I can't accept this. I don't understand why she would leave without warning me that it would be this sudden.

And, the glorious human that I treat like my second mother, mentor, nanny, and counselor just laughed at me. She is so mean for doing this. So damn freaking mean.

"It's on my resignation letter, son. You haven't read it?" She answered apologetically and asked me as she crossed her legs while sitting on the adjacent couch to my left. And, my eyebrows just met in distress.

"I wouldn't read it. I want you to tell me. Are you sick of me being a big baby? Or am I that cold and strict towards the other employees here? I can change that. Just stay. And, also, we could discuss your wage. What is wrong with me? I could change that. Or... I would just change the way I---" I protested and asked her anything that could be wrong with me being in this position of this company, but she cut me off as her right hand tapped my left knee gently.

"Craig, there is nothing you need to change about you. Nothing is wrong with you. You do you, but there is just something that I need to take care of on the other side of this country. New York. To my daughter. She's about to give birth to three babies. Twins and another one baby. And... She needs my help badly as her mother. You know that she is gonna be a single mom, and it is gonna be hard for her. I'm all she has. And, I want you to understand and consider, son." She answered with her very convincing voice that she always uses whenever there is something that she wants me to approve, and it's effective as heck. I just don't know if what power does this woman possesses but she's the only one that I can be myself be. The old outrageous and cheerful Craig.

"Well... But... I... Uhh, umm..." I began but I can't compose anything, and I just sighed in defeat.

"Fine. But, it's gonna be so hard for me to find someone that could replace you in the space in my heart and this office, Josie. It's hard to find someone like you." I told her with my cutest pitiful puppy dog face that is surely effective in begging her for something.

Then, a brilliant idea suddenly popped up in my intelligent mind. Hmm, let's see if it will work.

"Don't worry, son. I know someone that---" She replied but I cut her off with my suggestion.

"Or! Or... What about we will find your daughter three nannies for the three babies and even her personal maid? I will be the one to compensate them. That's a bright idea, isn't it, Josie? That's it! And, you don't need to worry about her that much. And, you can stay here and renew the contract. What do you say?" I let out enthusiastically, and she chuckled while she just looks at me amusingly.

"That is so nice of you, son, but..." She replied, and I frowned when she mentioned the but. That's her impression. There's always a but in everything.

"But, a mother's care for her daughter is different. I bet that you know that. And... Maybe, if the babies will grow up, then, maybe I would apply back for this position. Well, you already have grown up like a real man. You have become better now. Like, how the way you face other people in here, your employees, the investors, and your business partners. It's amazing to witness you grow into the person that you are now. Just remember that I am proud of you, and your father, also. I know that he sees you amazingly, too, to where he is now. I know that he guides you with whatever you do. Plus... You are getting married five months from now. Maybe I could attend if I will be invited." She explained with her cheerful voice, and I just run my left fingers on my jet black hair. I know that I can't win.

"Yeah. Maybe I really should just approve it. But, hey, of course, you are invited to my wedding, Josie. Why not? First table. You should be here during that special day of my life. And, maybe if the babies can make it here, bring them all." I replied as I accepted my fate of being left out by people that are so important to me. 

But at least she won't leave me permanently like my father. The most remarkable man that I have ever met. He is the reason that I am sitting in this position. And, I should be the one who should inherit all his hard work and not my cousin, Ethan Hudson. I am an Einar, so I bear the name, and grandpa should see my worth to replace my father. I'll do everything to show him that I deserve this title. But, I am about to lose someone that also guided me in my journey of being the Chief Executive Officer of this company for three years already. Josephine Gideon-Dallas. An amazing woman. The best employee until now since I am still a protege in this building. It is just so sad to think that she will be so far away from here.

"Thank you so much, Craig. And, don't worry, I have someone in mind that could replace me with this job. She is my niece, so... Maybe you could see me in her. She's amazing and a hard-working, obedient, resourceful, optimistic, and cheerful woman. I bet that she will do just the same as I did or maybe even better. She has lots of working experiences since she was still in high school and... She just graduated from her college with high honor. And... I know she would grab this job for experience. You could just fire her if you won't like her. But, she's good. The best that I have in mind, actually." She uttered as she tries to convince me and make me feel fine with her absence in here. 

And, maybe it's about time to stand on my own and meet some other people being my assistant. I just hope that I can see this niece of hers like the way she does and not like how I see the previous secretaries that I just fired yesterday for their first week in here. I guess there would be a lot of adjustments to make for these new people.

"Okay... Umm, so... Who is this woman? Does she has... Will she apply here?  Can I see her resume? Or even just a picture? Wait... when will you go, by the way? Is it really so sudden, Josie? Can we at least have a farewell party here? We should. Just tell your daughter to hold her babies in for a little while. Please?" I asked the woman a series of questions, and I begged her to make her leave not too soon. We need to hold a big party for her. That's a must and she cannot say no.

"Well, that would be this Friday night is my flight. So, you still have three days to plan for that party, son. Because I am so sure that I can not get out of here without that happening. And, also, I would inform my niece to make a resume, and I will give you the hard copy, tomorrow. But, maybe she could email it to you, tonight." She answered, and I nodded my head in response.

And, I took out my phone to make a call to my new secretaries to organize the program for Josie's farewell party. I hope that they know how to make one or else they will be fired on their first day.

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And, after I instructed the woman on the other line, I turned my attention back to my signing off PA. I'm gonna miss her so badly. Her, and her words of wisdom and positivity. No one could replace her and no one is better than her. She is just simply the best.

"Alright, so... Umm, this niece of yours, who is it, Josie? Do you have a picture? Does she have social media accounts? And, I trust you that she can really do the job well. I'll try to adjust." I asked her curiously, and she chuckled as she brought out her phone from her purse on the couch beside her.

"Well, she really is qualified for the position. She could make your coffee just like what you like from the coffee shop. She was a cafe coffee maker for two years. And, she can do lots of things. She'll put it in her resume. Mhmm, and she's smart, no, wise. Yeah! And, here is her picture." She replied while she scanned for pictures in her phone, and she handed it to me to show me the woman's face. My new PA to be.

Then, as I have seen it clearly, my eyebrows met in wonder.

Where the hell did I see this face before? She looks familiar. Brown straight long hair, hmm, green eyes, nice pretty smile. Familiar. Very. And, I'm hella sure that she's not one of my exes since high school.

"What is wrong, Craig? Do you know her? Have you met before?" Josie asked me curiously as I kept studying the person's features, while I try to recall real hard.

"Umm, nothing... I just... She looks familiar. I think I have seen her before. How old is she?" I replied and asked her curiously that made her giggle before she spoke.

"Well, her name is Mia Taylen Gideon. She's three years younger than you. Twenty-five. Not yet married. And, maybe you really have seen her before. Because... She has worked in cafes and restaurants around here, the diner fronting the Pryce Winsley Academy, and the---" She answered, and I cut her off as I remember now. Damn! It's her. It's really her. I cannot be mistaken.

"Diner! Yeah, she's a diner waitress. I remember. Hmm, Mia Gideon. She's hired." I let out while smirking, and I accepted her application even before she can make one. 

I just cannot believe that our paths will cross again.