Chapter Six: Can I Have My Coffee

Third Person's POV

But his mother’s sentiments did not work on him. He just smirked and kept shaking his head. “I… I can’t do that. I don’t know anything about… stupid relationships,” he explained. “I only cared about my business, and how I could prosper it. Women do not interest me.”

Marissa took no offense. What Diego and her have in common is that they are more practical than being flown by emotional aspects. They have ambitions to chase; a very complicated love.

“I thought you were going to do anything for me?” Mrs. Montero said using her disappointed tone. “Would you let me die without granting my final death wish?”

“Mom, it is just that…” Diego muttered and played his lower lip. "It is too much. I do not even know if I could love anyone."

"Then does that mean that you do not love me?"

"Of course, I love you so much!"

"You can also do that for another woman of your life!" Madame Margarita said and held the hand of his hand. "Don't you get excited that there is a woman out there who aside from being your beautiful wife and a wonderful mother of your children, would also love you extraordinarily, accept your flaws, and is willing to be with you at your best and worst times? You don't want to miss that."

Marissa arched her eyebrow at the encouraging words the chairman's wife said while she was reading the book she was holding. Diego could not care less and found her mother's advice not helping the situation at all. Again, they just have practical minds; not a fantastical imagination in the world of love.

"Okay..." Diego said and lowered his head, nodding in approval. "Fine..."

After Mrs. Montero left the office with a victorious smile on her lips, Marissa was the one who closed the door, fixed the disorganized things inside the office, and kept away the used teacups on the coffee table. When she was done, she looked at Diego who was lying on the couch in the drawing area, his eyes closed and both hands were on his stomach. His position was like a dead person inside a coffin at a funeral. The difference was just that he was alive.

Marissa thought of making an espresso for her boss to relax from what he had merely known for a day. The only thing that was making a sound inside the office was the coffee machine. She was also silent to give his boss a good time to think. After she was done, she then walked towards the coffee table and placed the mug of espresso she had. It made a light sound, making Diego open his eyes. They stared at each other while she was still straightening up on her stand.

"Sir, I made you a coffee," she announced like it was the proudest thing she's ever made in her entire life.

But Diego only sighed and avoided his gaze so he could stand up from the sofa. Marissa watched his back going to the huge transparent windows in his office that have a huge view of the city. He stopped when he was already in front of his desk and leaned both of his palms on it. His shoulders fell and sighed heavily, like he's got all of the world's problems.

“Sir?” Marissa called with a cup of coffee in his hand. 

“Uhhh, I made you a cup of coffee.”

“Should I get married?” he mumbled instead of answering his secretary's question, vulnerable in his state.

Marissa kept her silence because she thought she had no position to interfere with the life of her boss. She just closed her mouth and listened to him. For the nth time, he sighed again and bowed his head in dismay.

“I never had a true youth where fun exists. I find it distracting and dumb,” he shared and snorted sarcastically. “That may be the reason why I don’t have friends and disregarded the idea of having relationships because I am too focused on the pressure my father was giving me in inheriting his company and becoming the best version he wants me to be…”

She watched her boss shift his weight and for the first time in her life, she saw him vulnerable and confused, his gaze on the floor and his shoulders lowering. It was like she was looking at a kid who was lost in the bad world.

“But now, I realize he does not deserve to be a hero at all. I regret to be looking up to him, because all these years, he was not that great like I expected him to be,” he said and shut his eyes tightly. “That is why I will follow my mother’s wish, but I will never do it for him.”

“It is for your mother, sir,” she said, supporting what he was thinking. “If that would be her dying wish, and if you love her very much, I, in your position, would do it.”

That was the limitation Marissa set to say to him. Well, it is part of her job to do the second motion of what the boss plans to do. She never got the chance to contradict his opinion, no matter how bad it was sometimes. They might be close to each other at work, but they were never really close in another personal aspect.

Suddenly, just the mention of Diego's mother, made her think about her grandmother who is in the house. She would also do everything just for her family, even if her life is at a cost. Her parents are already gone and the only family she has is her grandmother who took care of her since she was still a child. Her grandmother is her life.

Diego’s eyes lifted at her and smiled a little. He nodded slowly like he decided for himself already. Because of his reaction, she felt light in her heart and mind that he was now gone from his bad mood and suspense, unlike a while ago as if he would punch her face in any given minute. Deep inside, Marissa could see that Diego was sweet and kind-hearted. He just learned to be conceited due to his complicated and dull life’s events.

“It’s for my mother,” he agreed and looked at the coffee she was holding. “Can I have my coffee?”

She smiled. “Of course, sir.”