Hey. Jacque here. Thanks for reading the last chapter. Now on to the next.
Since we have three main characters here, there will be 3 POV's.
Normal Font for Ray, Bold for Christian, and Italics for Ana.
Chapter 1
"Where are you going, Dad?" Ana asked me as I was about to come out of our apartment door. I wore my yellow plaid shirt and I believed that I look presentable enough for an interview.
"I am going to apply for a job," I told my daughter.
There's that hinge of fear forming in her eyes. She instantly replied, "You're going to apply for a job? But Dad, didn't I tell you that it's alright? I could take care of things. I could pay the bills. You've done enough to support me. You even worked hard to get me through college. Now it's my time to pay you back."
"I am your father, Ana and it's my responsibility to give you all that you need. It is my duty to make you feel secured and maybe even take you out on the fancy restaurant, you know, the luxurious one."
She rolled her eyes and said, "Dad, if this is about what Leila said. It was bullshit. Don't mind her, alright? She's just too spoiled all the time."
I bit my lip and looked down. It's quite disheartening how Leila's father could give her a lot of things when I couldn't even give my daughter a single penny.
"I just . . . want to do something with my life. Just let me," I gave her a sad smile when I said that.
Her expression changed from disagreement to understanding. My daughter took a deep breath before finally giving me a smile, "Okay, Dad, what are you applying for?"
"The CEO of Grey Enterprises Holdings, Inc. needs a PA."
She hugged me and said, "Good luck".
"Oh little bug, you are my lucky charm," I said upon kissing her cheek.
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"Andrea, why can't I reach Stefania's number?"
Screw this shit! Things with the clients are getting hot-headed. I do not want an X-Deal. I want them to pay in this partnership. I don't let my company go finance-less. Now I need Stefania, my PA to contact these people and tell them that it's all rejected. All proposals are rejected. Either they pay me or there will be no partnership. To make things worse, Stefania isn't answering.
"You fired her two days ago, remember?"
I hit my table with my palm. Why did I forget firing her? Damn right, I made the good decision. I caught her having sex with her boyfriend in one of the male restrooms here. That was a serious offense.
"Yeah, I fired her. She deserved it. She violated the contract."
Andrea nodded briefly. She's the Human Resource Manager of GEHI. I know she hates how I fire people since that meant she'd have to find a replacement.
But she quickly informed, "Boss, I have an applicant here. We've had ads and he saw one in the paper. I'll interview him and—"
"No, let me do the interview." I want to take things in my own hands. I have to know my personal assistant firsthand.
"I will send him in," she said before walking out of my office.
In five months, I fired four personal assistants. The first one was named Courage. We called him "Cory". He was very stylish. He wore neon outfits everyday but he was very rude with one of the clients, so I had him laid off.
Following him was Denise. She was a good choice, I told myself. But then she discovered she was pregnant and they've been waiting for the baby for ten years. Without hesitations, she filed a resignation letter.
The next one was Tom. He was obsessed with popcorn. He would eat popcorn every day and every meal. When he won a coupon for a lifetime supply of popcorn, he decided he didn't need a job anymore.
And of course, there was Stefania. I caught her having sex with her boyfriend and was I too busy that I forgot about something like that?
Then, my thoughts were interrupted when an old guy enters my room. He was escorted by Andrea. I eyed him from head to toe and he reminded me of a bee. Yellow plaid? Seriously? I'd recommend he wear corporate some time.
"See you later, Mr. Steele. Good luck," Andrea told him before leaving the room.
"Take a seat," I told the man.
When he did, I quickly asked him to introduce himself.
"Good morning, Sir, I am Raymond Steele. I am already 58 years old and I am jobless so that's why I'm here," he started. I raised my brow at him. I could tell that he wasn't a confident man. He had inferiorities, but there's such a positivity about him. I could tell he was a fighter.
"Nice to meet you."
He smiled, "Nice to meet you too, Sir. Just call me Ray."
"Alright, Ray, why do you think you're qualified for this job?"
"Oh, it's because I know I'm capable. I may not have any college degree, but I assure you that I am more than just a diploma."
"I like that," I smiled. Well, it's the first time somebody made me smile today.
Then he smiled deeply, "I am doing this for my Anastasia. She's my little bug even when she's not little anymore. She's already twenty-two. She's my inspiration. When she grew up, she didn't have all the toys she wanted, and it sucks because I can't even give her anything she needs now so I'm doing this for her."
I was silenced at that. I can't react. Although I'd find this dramatic for an applicant, there was a sincerity in his voice.
He took advantage of the quietness when he said, "All my life I've had dreams that haven't been fulfilled. And though I am fifty eight now and about to be fifty nine in two months, I believe I still have that one chance in life."
"One chance?"
"I believe that in the ninety-nine pains you get in this life, there's that one big gain you get in the end."
I smirked slowly at that. I could relate that with my business. Before GEHI became the world-renowned company it is now, I've faced tons of rejections and discouragements. Even my parents told me it was a bad idea. But this one chance I got was a chance of a lifetime. GEHI was one of the best corporations in the world.
"Alright, Ray, do you know how to use the computer?"
"Eh . . . about that, I don't know how to use one but I'll be glad to take a lesson from my daughter."
"Honest. I like that."
The old man just smiled at me.
"Now, I have few important questions. Is there any chance that you'll be rude to my clients?"
"Of course not!"
"Any pregnant relative who's been waiting for a baby for years?"
"None. It's just me and my daughter."
"Is your daughter pregnant?"
"Sweet heavens! No! She is not! I'd kill the boy if she is!"
"Very well. Are you obsessed with popcorns?"
He looked confused when he answered, "No, I'm not."
"Is there any chance that you'll have sexual intercourse within the vicinities of the office?"
"Oh dear heavens, no!" His voice got high when he said that and I was relaxed. He should be a different compared to the previous ones I've had.
"Good," I plainly answered.
Then, I looked over at him and he was astounded by the picture frames I got on top of my desk. They were pictures of the man my parents wanted me to be. A summa cum laude of Political Science, a graduate of a business course program in Harvard so I could be a better CEO, a recipient of international accolades, and an achiever all throughout my life.
But then, Ray uttered the words I've never heard from my parents before.
"Wow, Sir, if I were your Dad, I would be very proud of you."
That turned me silent. I just looked at him as I crossed my arms. I looked down the table and felt that ache that's been bothering me for years. It was that emptiness since I was a kid.
I quickly shook it off and told Ray, "You're hired. You'll start to report tomorrow. I prefer you wear corporate clothes since you are my personal assistant. Your rate is twenty-five dollars per hour. Please go to Andrea so she'll brief you."
Then, there was that shock in his face. It couldn't register at first,but he literally jumped off his seat and knelt on the ground. "Oh, thank you, Sir. Oh, thank you."
At the age of 58, he acted as though he never received a rate like that in his whole life. I realized I needed to find out more about his life.
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