Chapter 1
Bonnibel sipped her wine slowly as she eyes each one of their guests who were either busy talking to each other or just there, existing in the world.
The ballroom was large and half of it was filled with people in suits and expensive dresses. Bonnibel made sure to wear her most comfortable dress (a slip-on dress, off-shoulder, and silver heels). Her uncle Gumbald approached her, giving her that smile that sometimes tips her off.
"Princess'n," he called her—Bonnibel thought that he looked smug with the white and pink striped suit that he was wearing. "Why are you here in the corner not socializing?" he asked, enveloping her in a hug, "It is important to establish connections," he pulled back, still smiling.
Bonnibel shrugged impotently, "I'm a bit tired from my last day of internship at the lab," she reasoned. This was half of the truth. She was tired, yes, but parties like these just drain the core out of her.
"Right, I suppose that this is your last day?" he inquired, as if he was making sure. Bonnibel shrugged again. It was unlady-like but she doesn't care. She's not bound for business unlike him and his son.
"Yup," she bobbed her head, sipping the last of her wine in the process. Hoping that her uncle would stop pestering her about her life choices. "Well, have you thought where you'll be doing your business internship?"
She tried so hard to not roll her eyes.
Her uncle and his family had been talking about her internships for the past months way before she started. She was a science major minoring in business, meaning she had to take two internships. 10 months for her science while 6 months in her business. She'd seen nothing wrong at how time consuming it would be but that was the path that she chose. Her parents also wanted her to have at least a diploma in business so that she can handle their company in the near future.
Her uncle was the city mayor and is investing in some businesses; she let him hold the core branch of their company while she drowned herself in scientific studies. She promised her parents to let her pursue her dreams to contribute stuff in the name of science first before handling their business. They agreed on it in which she felt proud for but these days the business has been well but it has come to her attention that her uncle was power-hungry. He'd been asking her to intern at Nightosphere Group of Companies so that she could establish a connection there. Since, Hunson, the CEO, is keen on hardworking individuals and this could be their shot at getting known by the technology mogul.
She also heard that Hunson and her uncle had frequent meetings. She decided not to pry on it. It was for the better.
The pink haired beauty smiled politely at her uncle, "No worries about that," she answered, "I already sent my resume to the lab where I was working hoping that they'd accept me as their business associate."
Her uncle's face contorted. She couldn't tell what impression he was making but his face became dull. "I see," he smiled again. Creepy. Bonnibel distanced herself a little, "If that's the case then can you at least meet Mr. Hunson Abadeer? We were lucky that he's attending. I wanted him to meet my family."
Bonnibel wanted to decline. She knew she disappointed her uncle but it didn't matter to her. Even though he and her father were twins, she could sometimes see her father in him. She sighed inaudibly. "Very well then," she agreed. At least he wouldn't bother her anymore regarding the internship.
She followed her uncle outside the ballroom and inside the study room of his. Her cousin, Lucas and his mother, Lolita were already outside waiting for them.
"Is he inside?" he asked them, her aunt Lolly nodded, "Yes, he just got in." Her uncle nodded and Lucas opened the door where they saw a man staring out of the window, his back facing the door.
"Mr. Adadeer," his uncle called. Mr. Abadeer turned to see them and smiled like a Cleshire grin.
Hunson was tall, dark haired man whose pale complexion could be the same of her dress. He was in one of their private chambers (the party was held in their manor) he was alone. A cup of drink in his hand. Gumbald immediately walked towards him and offered him a handshake. It was all dreary as if the alcohol that Bonnibel was taking is finally taking up its effect on her.
"This is my niece, Bonnibel," her uncle introduced her. Hunson offered his hand at her and when she shook it—everything went black.
-x-x-x-
Bonnibel doesn't know how she ended up working as an intern in Nightosphere Group. She woke up the next morning with a copy of contract on her bedside that she legibly signed stating that she will be an intern and will be working in the Accounting Department as a co-assistant to a particular Miss Lady Hwang.
She was sure of it that she doesn't want to work there but it just happened. All of the sudden she wanted to work and signed the contract that was being offered to her by the CEO himself.
She arrived at the 50th floor. Greeted by a white walled room, two tables were placed side by side with at least a distance of 5 meters from each other and another door leading to another office.
The other table doesn't have any things on it except for a CPU, computer, and couple of boxes on the side. The table that was a couple of meters away from the empty table have things on it. Same as the empty one but a couple of more personal stuff like family pictures, etc.
"Oh," a blonde Asian emerged from a room (she hasn't seen that) but she thought that it was the comfort room. Smiling at her, "You must be Bonnibel?" she asked.
The pink haired beauty nodded, "I am, and you are Ms. Lady Hwang?" the woman beamed, ushering her to the empty seat.
"Yes, welcome to the party," she laughed, helping her set her things. (She was only carrying a box full of her personal stuff) "It seems that the boss hasn't arrived. She greatly appreciates punctuality in most things, keep it up!"
Bonnibel nodded in understanding. Happy that her co-worker is a nice person. "So, may I know the outlines of my job as your assistant?"
Lady leaned on her table casually, wrinkling her white and blue striped dress, "We're not that busy since it's still the start of the month. Miss Marceline usually arrives on time and she brings her own coffee so no need to buy one for her. Your job would just revolve around helping me get through stuff like double-checking the quarterly reports, sorting her schedule, sometimes, I follow her outside the office to some events and stuff. And oh, there are times that she requests that her workload be delivered to her home and I do that most of the time." She bubbly explained, "Miss Marceline is cool and laid-back but she's very short-tempered especially with the monthly visits with her dad so you should be starting to extend your patience because there are tendencies that she'll get mad at every little thing."
Bonnibel scratched her cheek at how problematic it sounded but made no protest as Lady continued, "Overall, no need to worry about stuff. She's just intimidating but she's nice. You'll just have to endure that thick shell of hers before she softens up. I'm also here for you." Lady's hand landed on Bonnibel's shoulder, "You are my assistant anyways, I'll try not to burden you, alright?"
The pink haired beauty beamed, "Thank you so much, Ms. Hwang!" the blonde immediately pulled back, making an X sign with her fingers, "No, just call me Lady."
"Alright then, thank you, again, Lady. I'll promise to be a good assistant to you."
Lady walked towards her own table and crossed her leg over the other, opening a folder which Bonnibel knew that contained her file. "I've read yours and I was flabbergasted how great you were in terms of academes, I am pretty sure that Ms. Marceline would be impressed."
Bonnibel blushed, "It's not that much but I try my best," she said shyly as she made a way to her seat when the elevator opened revealing a dark haired woman clad in a white button up, first few buttons were unbuttoned, a grey coat was draped on her shoulders hanging loosely, grey slacks, and black boat shoes. She stopped in the middle of the two tables. Lady immediately sat up and Bonnibel stood straight at the woman before her.
Her pale emerald eyes landed at her briefly before landing on Lady's, "Email me my sched for today," she said briefly before looking at Bonnibel who swore that her heart skipped a beat at the sudden nervousness. "You," she called, "Follow me into my office, now." She strutted towards the brown door and ducked inside.
Lady then without sparing a second booted her computer up and said. "Go, she values obedience than punctuality!"
-z-z-z-
Marceline's coat was draped on the sofa in her office. The intern followed her into her room which revealed a two glass windows giving her the perfect view of the neighbouring skyscrapers, the bridge that connects Ooo and Candy Heights, and the busy Market booming with people of all ages, in the middle was a black leather L-shaped sofa with a rectangular table in the middle, and in front was an another couch which was shorter than the L-shaped couch.
Perched up on the other side of the wall were paintings from the renaissance era with a grandfather clock on the side. She looked at the main table where her boss' things were, a mahogany table, a couple of bookstands behind her and what caught her attention was an axe-shaped bass perched up on the middle of the wall.
Marceline cleared her throat and Bonnibel jumped a little in shock.
"You must be Bonnibel Bubblegum," she was still standing, holding a white folder in hand, "My dad was indeed correct," she mumbled as she flipped another page, "You're amazing," she sat on her leather seat and laid her emerald orbs on Bonnibel's cerulean eyes.
"If you don't mind me asking, how did you met my father?" the raven haired woman's voice was husky yet smooth. If it were the ocean she would've drowned already.
Bonnibel flinched at the air of mystery surrounding her boss. She was intimidating, alright- but there's this something in her that she couldn't point out. "My uncle invited him to one of our parties and we were introduced." She curtly replied and her boss relaxed on her seat, "I see." She nodded her head in understanding.
"Have Ms. Lady told you of the workload and such?"
Bonnibel blinked. "She did. Not everything yet but she told me most of the superficial things," her boss' eyes landed on her briefly before settling her emerald orbs back on her papers. "Right, because after this day, you will be taking most of her workloads."
"I beg your pardon?" she asked. She was surprised. How can an intern like her is expected to work like a regular working employee?
"Lady will be on maternity leave. I know that you aren't expecting this to happen especially when you're still an intern but you will be paid the same like Lady and you will be accredited to whatever effort that you put in to this."
Bonnibel frowned, "I'm sorry, but it would be unfair on my part." Her boss' eyebrows were raised, "I'm sorry," Marceline retorted, imitating her tone, "but I was told by my father that this was a part of your contract," she paused as she retrieved another file, skimmed some parts and gave it to Bonnibel who stepped forward to receive the paper.
ix) I, Bonnibel Bubblegum, will be working full-time and is sworn to pledge my loyalty to Nightosphere Group of Companies-
She didn't finish reading it all as she gave the paper back to her boss who was looking at her in an unreadable expression.
"Very well then, I will try my best to be of service." She stated, swearing that she will have a run-through with the contract and talk to her cousin (who is a lawyer) about it. For now, she will have to let things be.
"Also," her boss looked bored, Bonnibel noted. "I haven't spoken to Lady yet about her leave. I will leave it up to your jurisdiction if you'll tell her or not." She paused, eyeing her the last time. "You may go."
-z-z-z-
A lot of things were running inside Bonnibel's mind, a lot of questions had yet to be asked but if she would ask them then Lady would have to know about her leave in which would be a risky thing to do. She furrowed her eyebrows, "Is this a test?" she mumbled to herself as she placed her corkboard on the wall on her left and glanced at Lady who was busy typing on her computer.
"Should I do something?" she asked her. Lady bobbed her head, "I was waiting for you to be done, I'll send you the files and you'll sort them out based on the instructions given. Also, the last file will be Ms. Marceline's schedule for the whole week."
Bonnibel grinned, Ah, finally some work! She opened her computer and immediately received a file containing three documents. She did what she was told and the morning flew so quickly.
Within the span of 6 hours, she'd learn from Lady (they had lunch) that she was a Korean immigrant. She and Marceline met when they were in high school but never had a single interaction, she was quite shocked when Marceline took her in office and decided to hire her. She's been working ever since for 3 years under her care. Marceline was different back in high school, she used to be a rebel and Lady was not expecting that Marceline would be in the corporate world. Bonnibel kept that in thought.
She also said that Marceline eats only inside the office, stuffing herself with a cup of ramen every now and then. "How unhealthy," Bonnibel remarked in which Lady just shrugged, "I decided to bring her homemade lunch one time. She was thankful but asked me to never bring it again or else I'll be fired." She has a temper based on what Lady had told her and asked her nicely to just follow whatever that she said. She was also told that Marceline isn't impulsive, "she's gonna tell you the things that she wants to be done beforehand."
She doesn't date but there are rumours circulating around the building that she's engaged. Lady never heard of Marceline dating which Bonnibel found weird since she wouldn't deny the fact that she find her attractive. She just shrugged that info off, it's not her business to pry on her boss' lovelife.
Bonnibel was on her table finishing the last columns in her excel when Marceline emerged from her office. She stopped in front of them, "Are you guys done for tonight?" she asked. Lady blinked, taking her eyeglasses off and glanced at Bonnibel, waiting for her to answer. It didn't take long for her to respond.
"I'm done, just double-checking," she spoke, looking at the blonde who beamed at her. "I guess we're finished for today, we'll just have to pack our things."
Marceline clicked her tongue, bobbing her head in the process. "I'll wait for you guys then, since we have a new employee," she eyed Bonnibel, "It's just right of me to treat you guys to dinner to commemorate our new member," smiling kindly at Bonnibel who ducked her head low in embarrassment. The blonde lady giggled, "We'd be honoured to," Bonnibel doesn't know how it sounded like but to her it was suggestive. She can feel Marceline shifting from where she was standing before saying, "I'll be in my office." With that she walked the same path where she came out and back to her office.
The lights in her office were still out but she didn't mind that when Lady called Bonnibel. "Let's start packing, I'm starving!"
-z-z-z-
They were in a Korean Chicken and Beer restaurant which was just next to their building. Lady was the one who recommended it since she was craving and Marceline decided to go for it.
Two plates containing different flavors of chicken were delivered to their table together with three glasses of beer.
"Oh goodie," Marceline remarked as she grinned. "I didn't know that we'd be drinking," she took a piece of chicken and smiled when she tasted it, "This is nice,"
Lady was about to drink her fill of beer when Bonnibel put her to a stop, "Ah, Lady," she called out her co-worker who was already playing with the rims of her glass, "You shouldn't be drinking that."
The blonde blinked, "Why?" eyeing Bonnibel weirdly now, "How—did you?" her eyebrows were furrowed. She clearly hasn't told her about her pregnancy. Bonnibel fidgeted in her seat, she was about to tell her that she knew when she glanced one time when she was reading a message from Jake to be careful because she's pregnant and all but the raven haired woman who was seated across from them beat her to it. "Miss Lady," Marceline called for her attention. "I'm giving you your maternal leave starting tomorrow."
Bonnibel immediately craned her neck towards Marceline who relaxed on her seat, eating another piece of chicken, "Jake emailed me the other day asking for an advanced leave. He said that you were burdened to ask for it. I still couldn't agree to it since I can't work alone even though he offered to replace you," Marceline snorted and Lady giggled, "I'm sorry if I was just able to agree to it until today. But now that we have Ms. Bonnibel to fill in for you, I guess it's safe to say that you can go and rest."
The pink haired beauty smiled at how kind Marceline was. She thought that she was arrogant and strict but she was the complete opposite of what she was expecting her boss would be. The blonde bobbed her head, "Thank you, Ms. Marceline. I owe you."
Marceline tilted her head, "You owe me nothing, Ms. Lady," she sipped on her beer, "Just rest and return after your birth." She then eyed Bonnibel who gulped her beer faster, "Based on your records, I'll be expecting a refined work ethic coming from you, Ms. Bubblegum."
"I'll try not to fail you, Ms. Abadeer."
Marceline smirked, "That's good then,"
-z-z-z-
"Thanks, Marcy for granting my request," a blonde buff man shook Marceline's hand, the raven haired woman just shrugged it off, "No problem," she smiled. Showing off her professional façade as the blonde man, known as Jake, took Lady's hand on his own. "Are you sure that you're not gonna ride with us?" Lady asked, Bonnibel waved both of her hands dismissively, "No, I can always take a taxi from here."
Marceline stood there awkwardly. When Bonnibel denied their offer one last time, Lady cleared her throat. Eyeing Marceline as the raven haired woman tilted her head, "It's just dangerous for you to take a taxi home at a time like this especially when you had a glass or two," Lady's pitch went a little higher and Marceline felt that it was not directed to the pink haired woman who was standing next to her.
"It's okay, really, I can take care of myself, you shouldn't be thinking of me." Bonnibel shook her head as she patted Lady's shoulder. Jake nodded in their way as they started walking away from them. Marceline hugged her coat closer towards her body and sighed. "Let's get you home then,"
Bonnibel's eyes widened, she was ready to turn the offer of her boss' down when Marceline eyed her, glaring at her in the process, "Don't turn this offer down. Miss Lady is right; I can't just let you take a taxi at this rate."
The pink haired woman was about to protest but Marceline walked first towards Nighto's building where the basement parking was. She couldn't say no now, especially when her boss was the one who was offering the ride home.
They walked together in silence with Bonnibel following Marceline, until they stopped to a red Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG Electric Drive; Bonnibel knew what the car is like since her cousin was also a fan of bad boys like these.
Marceline unlocked the door and ducked inside the car which Bonnibel followed suit. She quickly put on the seatbelt and the engine roared. The raven haired woman silently drove the car out of the building and into the drive-way.
"Where do you live?" she asked her, breaking the silence as Bonnibel tried to relax on the seat, "Candytuft Heights," Marceline hummed as a response. It looked like she knew of her upbringing but didn't decide to comment about it which made her glad because it would be uncomfortable if she started treating her like royalty just because of it.
"If it makes you confused as on why I decided to grant Miss Lady's leave in advance—it's because I've known her since high school—her husband, Jake, was a friend of mine. We used to be in a band." She stated, eyes never leaving the road, "If you find it unethical then I couldn't blame you."
Bonnibel shook her head, "I don't find any malice of it at all," she paused to lean back on her seat, she realized that she's been staring at her for too long, "You waited for a replacement before you grant that so I don't see anything wrong. I appreciate the kindness that you're showing your friends, Miss Abadeer."
She glanced at Marceline and noticed how her cheeks warmed, she awkwardly cleared her throat. Bonnibel couldn't help but smile how cute her boss looked.
"May I ask a personal question?" they stopped on a red light and Bonnibel tilted her head, "What is it?"
Marceline leaned back on her seat, looking at her, "How did my father convince you to work for the company? Or is it really in your convenience that you wanted to work for us?" She paused to drive again when the light turned green, "It's just-you are a science prodigy and you've spent your first internship at a lab, it's just reasonable enough for you to work there as an associate or something for your business diploma, so—why us?"
Bonnibel sighed. The car stopped just outside her place but she wouldn't leave before giving her an answer. She doesn't know why her boss was curious on her working there but it's also a mystery to her why she agreed to it. Her mind was set on working at the lab but after that one encounter with the CEO, her mind was now set to work in his company. She also finds it weird. She wished that she could tell Marceline though.
"My uncle told me that it would be good on my record, I also was against it but your father was just so good in speaking me out of it that I said yes. It's an opportunity that I couldn't say no to."
Marceline placed her hand on the console, leaning in to examine the pink head's eyes for something. Bonnibel was too nervous to move even though their faces were only half a meter apart. Her boss' eyebrows were furrowed, as if she was searching for something inside her orbs. They stayed like that for less than a minute as silence fell among them.
Marceline pulled away, scratching the back of her neck. "I see, thank you for answering that question. In return you may ask me one personal question." She smiled, as if nothing happened. Bonnibel's active mind was quick to formulate questions but she couldn't choose one.
"I'll give you until tomorrow. I will be waiting." This time, Marceline smirked and Bonnibel couldn't forget that smirk ever since then.