SAM POV
"As Mr. Gomez returned from escorting Mr. Buenaventura, he turned to me with a polite smile. 'So, do you want to start today as my secretary or tomorrow?'"
My heart dropped as I thought about it. Today or tomorrow? It didn't matter. Either way, I'd have to deal with it. Just the idea of being near Mr. Buenaventura made me shiver. Why did it have to be him, out of everyone, who might be Mr. Gomez's partner?
I had been hoping for a stroke of luck today, a day where I could find work without any unexpected surprises. But fate had a different plan for me. It had to be him, Mr. Buenaventura, the potential business partner of Mr. Gomez, who would now be part of this company. The mere idea of facing him here, in the same office, sent shivers down my spine.
I tried to ignore the growing sense of unease. After all, Mr. Buenaventura was just a business partner, right? He wouldn't be here in the office, would he? Maybe he'd have his own office, far from mine. But then again, today felt like everything was going wrong, so who knows what might happen?
As I thought about these things, Mr. Gomez looked at me, waiting for my answer. I knew I couldn't wait any longer, so I gathered the courage to reply to him.
As Mr. Gomez waited for my answer, I found it hard to keep calm. "Um, well, starting tomorrow would be okay," I said, forcing a smile that felt more like a creep.
As I watched the elderly man, Alex's father, exit the office, I couldn't shake the uneasy feeling. His presence brought back a flood of memories, ones I'm trying to push away. Memories of that night, a time of sadness, guilt, and pain.
"Okay then. I'll leave my son both of you for now because I still have an investor to meet," he had said, his voice hinting at urgency. He glanced at his son, Kent, and then at me, his secretary, as if entrusting us to each other. "Take care of my secretary, Alex. Goodbye."
"Sure, dad. You take care," Kent replied, his tone full of warmth and reassurance.
As the door closed behind him, Kent turned to me, his expression curious yet searching. "What?" I asked, trying to appear unfazed despite the turmoil brewing within me.
"Why did you suddenly zone out when you saw that guy earlier? Did you two have a relationship before?" he asked, frowning in suspicion.
I felt a lump in my throat as I tried to find the right words to answer his question. The truth was too complicated, too painful to easily explain. But I couldn't let Kent see the inner struggle I was facing. Not now, not ever.
"No way! I just saw that guy earlier, and now you're trying to say we had a relationship?" I shot back, my voice tinged with defensiveness. I tried to act casual, hoping Kent wouldn't see through my guard.
But no matter how hard I tried, I could feel the clear signs of panic seeping into my voice, exposing the calm front I was struggling to maintain. My heart thumped heavily in my chest, almost drowning out the sound of my own voice.
Alex studied me closely, his gaze cutting through the mask I had carefully built. "Are you sure? You seemed really shaken when you saw him," he said, his voice softening with concern.
I chuckled, hoping to divert his suspicions. "Relax, Alex. You're overthinking it. He's just an old acquaintance, I suppose, nothing more," I answered, putting on a smile that felt as artificial as the plastic flowers on the desk.
But as I spoke, I realized they were anything but true. He meant far more than just an old friend. He was the one I've been trying to avoid, a reminder of a foolish and impulsive choice in my life.
"I may not admit it to myself, but that guy really resembles the one who took my virginity," I thought to myself, my heart pounding erratically against my chest. "His stature, the warmth of his body, and his voice are all so familiar to me. All I need to do is avoid him once I confirm if he's really the one I had a one night stand with that night."
But as I tried to put aside the memories, I was brought back to reality by the sound of Kent's voice calling my name. "Ellaine, are you still there? Hello?"
I blinked, shifting my focus to Kent, who was looking at me with a mix of amusement and worry. "Yeah, I'm here! What's up?" I answered, trying to keep myself composed.
"Alright, you said it. Let's go, I'll drop you off at home. You still live in the same place, right?" Kent offered, his voice hinting at a bit of uncertainty.
I nodded quickly, grateful for the change of subject. "I'm at my grandma's house now. I'm just on vacation," I clarified, hoping to avoid any more questions about my personal life.
But Kent didn't seem convinced. He looked doubtful and asked, "Vacation? Really? Since when does someone on vacation look for a job?"
I felt annoyed by his word, getting increasingly frustrated. "Stop it, Kent! Just drive me home," I said sharply, running out of patience.
I felt annoyed as Kent just laughed, seeming to find my frustration amusing. "Okay, okay. You really get worked up when you have nothing to reason yourself," he said, motioning towards the door in a dramatic manner.
I rolled my eyes, holding back from telling him off. "Are you joking? Maybe you should try being a clown. It suits you," I replied, the sarcasm evident in my tone.
He laughed, amused. "Perhaps I'll think about it," he joked, giving a playful bow before walking away. "But for now, let's take you home."
As we left the office, I felt thankful for Kent's company. Despite our teasing, he had always supported me and listened to me. I realized how lucky I was to have him as a friend. Even though we just see each other, he's always there when I need help. That's how thankful I am.
As we headed to the car, I felt relieved. The day had been full of surprises and emotional ups and downs, but I knew I had someone who would always be there for me. Driving home, I thought about the news I would tell my grandparents that I have a job now.