Chapter 5

POV: Monte

He couldn't stay calm during the meeting. He's worried about Ericka with Almira. His ex's girlfriend is a notorious bully, and Ericka is the type of girl who doesn't fight back even when someone stepped on her. He can't focus on their meeting.

"Sir San Miguel, are you okay?" Mr. Amado asked.

"Yeah... I mean yes... yes, I'm alright!" he adjusted his seating.

"Do you want to reschedule this meeting?"

His face suddenly brightened.

"Really, uncle?" he sought confirmation.

"I know you, Monte. I can tell if something's bothering you. I saw Almira earlier. That's why I thought you might want to reschedule our meeting."

"Thank you, uncle. I'll make it up next time, I just couldn't stay calm. I'll go."

"Go ahead, son."

He hurriedly left the conference room and practically sprinted to the elevator. It took forever. He kept pressing the up button.

Finally, it opened, but it was crowded.

"It's sir..." people whispered in the elevator.

The three men inside exited.

"Sir, please go ahead..."

"Thank you..." he hurriedly stepped in. The elevator ascended, seemingly taking an eternity. It took several minutes due to people getting off.

When the elevator doors finally opened, he hurriedly walked towards his office door.

"Sir, I heard Miss Madrigal shouting," Marie reported.

"Can I use your computer?" he asked.

"Yes, sir," the woman stood up.

"Get me some coffee, thanks," Marie knew it meant leaving Monte alone. He entered the office's CCTV code. Only he and Ericka could access it.

He saw the two on Ericka's table. She was just sitting there. Meanwhile, Almira was furious.

"I told him I was sick," Almira's words reached him.

"And?" Ericka replied.

It seems a lot has really changed with Ericka. When did she learn to fight back? He wondered to himself.

"Maybe you insisted on staying at their house like before? Don't you feel like you're part of the family?" Almira still refused to back down.

"Yes, I really did that," Ericka admitted.

"There you go. It's coming straight from your mouth that you seducing Monte!"

"FYI, Almira, I never said I would seduce him. I just said I planned to return to their house. It's nice to live there, everything's free. How about you? Can you live there?"

She laughed at Ericka's remark; she had learned to tease people. She knew where to hit Almira. Before the two could escalate, she turned off the camera and went into her office. She clearly saw Ericka push Almira, causing her to fall.

"Almira!" he quickly approached her. "Ericka, what did you do?"

"Nothing," she innocently replied.

"Baby," Almira acted distressed, "she pushed me, I was just asking her something."

"What's that?" he helped Almira stand up.

"I was just checking on her. I was asking about her salary because I found out she's staying in," Almira replied with a pleading tone.

"Huh... really, Almira?" Ericka chuckled. "We know who the liar is here, and I know it's not me."

"Then who, me?" Almira pointed to herself.

"You said it," Ericka shrugged.

"Baby, you should kick that woman out. She told me she's trying to seduce you," the woman complained.

"Do I look seductive to you, Almira?" she asked. "Well, I haven't even made an effort yet. What if I do? You might die of jealousy."

He chuckled at her statement. She has indeed learned well, no longer needing to defend her. She knows where to hit people, skilled at teasing. Now he realized that time can mold a person's character.

Marie suddenly knocked, holding coffee.

"Sir, your coffee. And here's your iced coffee, ma'am," she handed the drinks to Ericka.

"Thank you, Miss Marie," the secretary closed the door. "Here's your coffee, sir," she placed his coffee on the table.

"What about my iced coffee?" Almira asked.

"None," Ericka replied. "Sir, I'll step out for a moment. Sir Amado is still there."

The woman didn't wait for his response. In her years of working for them, he felt the lightness of his job. Since she knows almost everything, his signature is often the only thing he does. When there are issues in their departments, she quickly thinks of solutions. Even in their past problems with Almira, she sometimes finds a way to fix things. If she forgets Montana's birthday, there's a ready gift because she knows his sister will sulk. In short, she knows all about him and their company.

"Hey," Almira snapped, "you didn't even defend me against that woman when you saw her push me."

"I know you were the first one to annoy her," he replied.

"So, are you taking her side again?"

"I'm not taking sides, and what are you doing here?" he changed the topic.

"Monte, please," the woman held onto his neck, "I don't know what's happening to you. Since Montana died, it's like you've distanced yourself from me. It's like you blame me for losing her."

"Not really," he subtly removed her hand and went to the sofa, sitting down, "I just remember my sister, and besides, we've broken up, right?"

"You're the one who broke up with me; I didn't agree," she sat beside him, "I miss you so much, baby. Let's start over. Let's build our dreams like before."

"Almira, until I don't know the truth about what happened to Montana, I won't be okay. You were the last person with her, and I don't know how she fell."

"I already told you, didn't I?" she replied, "she thought there was a glass wall, leaned on it, and fell. She was my best friend, so if it hurts you, it hurts me too."

He fell silent and looked at the glass wall. It had a reflection, so it was impossible for his sister not to know that there was no mirror on the wall. She wasn't drunk; her body had no alcohol content. The phone in the office suddenly rang. Ericka wasn't there to answer it. He stood up, pressed the ringing line from the ground floor.

"Yes?" he asked.

"Sir, it's Ericka. Señor is here. Will you come down, or should he come up to the penthouse?"

His grandfather was early; he wondered why.

"Up to the penthouse. Cancel my meeting with Mr. Diaz," he replied.

"Right away, sir." The call ended.

He wondered why his grandfather was early when their lunch was scheduled. He pressed line 2.

"Marie, what did you and Ericka arrange for lunch with my grandfather?"

Ma'am ordered food, it will arrive within 30 minutes.

"Okay, thank you," he ended the call.

"Is grandpa coming here?" Almira asked as she approached him.

"Yes, why?" he furrowed his brow.

"I called him. I told him you have good news."

"What good news?"

"We're getting married!" she proudly announced.

He just ran his hand through his hair. This woman always knows how to complicate things. He needed to think of a good reason for his grandfather. First, he didn't want him to get hurt, and second, he didn't want to get married. Especially not to this woman