"Momma!" I immediately drew a smile on my lips as my daughter greeted me.
"...wow you look stunning with your dress momma!" She praised what I was wearing. She seemed to be a professional while reviewing it. I just laughed at what she did.
"Aww. Thank you baby." I kissed her on her cheeks. I pressed that too.
"Momma, teacher wants us to bring a family picture tomorrow. Baby, mommy, and daddy should be together!" Grace and I looked at what Sunny said. It was as if my throat had dried up because I could not speak.
"Baby Sunny?" Grace calls my daughter's attention.
"Yes, sister?"
"I will take care of what the teacher asks you to do because look, momma is tired." Grace apparently got my reason for keeping quiet, so she made a way to keep Sunny away from asking about her father. I knew we would get to this point, that Sunny would ask who her dad was. But I'm not ready yet. I don't know how to explain our situation to her ... about her father.
"Okay. All right momma, rest. I love you!" Sunny immediately hugged me tightly so I smiled again.
"Thank you, baby. Momma will just get dressed, okay? Then after, we'll try to find a way—"
"Don't worry ma'am, I'll take care of Sunny. I'll take care of that!"
"Thank you, Grace." I smiled at her in gratitude.
While dressing, I couldn't help but think about what had happened before. Why did Andrew act like that? I have a lot of questions, but I don't know the answer or if there is an answer.
I took a shower to refresh my body. Seriously, this day is tiring, not physically but emotionally. Maybe I'll just go to sleep.
The next day, I arrived at the office early. This is my third day as an employee of Paradise Corp. I went straight to my seat, in front of Engineer Claveria's table. I check my wrist watch, it's already 8:00 AM. I wonder if my Boss will still come in?
Earlier when I arrived, I immediately took his schedule of appointments. His schedule is not too busy. They have a board member meeting this afternoon.
When the door opened I immediately stood up. Andrew went in there. He has a different aura now. Maybe miss Michelle was right yesterday...he was just drunk on what he said yesterday.
"Wear this." He dropped a large paper bag on my table.
"W-what is this?" I wondered.
"Your new uniform." He turned to me and went straight to his table then sat down in his swivel chair.
"W-why? I just got my uniform—"
"I'm the Boss here Sydney. I mean, everything I say you will follow. No more questions and buts."
What the fvcking hell! When else did he learn to scream? Just now! Since I had no right to complain so I just followed him. I went to comfort room to exchange.
What's the problem with the uniform I'm wearing? It looks formal but why do I need to change? Has their company uniform changed? I don't know.
When I opened the paper bag, I was surprised by the contents. Three pairs of slacks and a longsleeve?
Really sir Andrew? Why is it so far from your company's uniform? From skirt to slacks? Wow. Just wow!
I was just shaken by this gimmick of my Boss. As he said before, he's the boss so I have no choice but to follow him. Anyway, I prefer this. I am more comfortable in a long dress compared to a skirt that is above the knee. After I swap I also immediately exit the comfort room. It is also just inside his office, it's small compared to the comfort room outside his office room.
When I came out of the CR I caught Andrew deep in thought. He's busy doing his blueprint.
According to some of my officemates, that's why engineer Claveria or Andrew, and architect Robles are here because of the renovation that will be done on the main branch of Paradise Island which is located in El Nido Palawan.
And that's also what they will talk about for the meeting of the board members, together with chairman Alfred this morning at ten o'clock.
Andrew immediately sat up when he saw me come out of the comfort room. He also put aside what he was doing for a while.
"From now on that will be your uniform here." He said that he seemed pleased to see me that was what I was wearing. I did not complain. I didn’t ask either. I just agreed with what he said.
"Okay sir." I sparingly answer.
"Just call me Drew." He said coldly before resuming his blueprint.
"I'm your employee, I want to respect you." I said. He stopped because of what he heard.
"Do you hate me?" I raised an eyebrow at his question.
"Why would I hate you sir?" I asked confused.
"Because of what happened to us six years ago?" I slightly rolled my eyes in annoyance. He is just the same as his wife.
During my first day, miss Michelle always bring the topic way back to the past. Which is, do we really need to go back in time? Besides, it's work. Yes, we had an issue in the past but this is not the right place to repeat it.
And now it seems that Miss Michelle just repeated those questions to me last yesterday, to Andrew's questions today. Seriously? They aggravated me, but why do they still seem to be affected by what happened? They're complicated, my God!
I smiled like I already move on and forget what had happened six years ago. I don’t want to show that I’m still affected.
I promised myself before ... that when this day ever comes—that our paths of people in my past will meet again I will not be affected. But I should even thank them because if it weren’t for them I wouldn’t be able to reach and get the things I have now.
"Fine!" I stopped calling him sir, because that's what he wanted.
"I will drop the word 'sir' but on one condition?" Even though he hadn't heard of my condition, he nodded immediately.
"Just when the two of us. I mean, when there's no one else... I'll call you Drew." He agreed to my condition.
"I'll just answer what you said..." I said while looking at him directly. "I'm not mad at you. I don't hate you either. Whatever happened to us six years ago ... it happened, means it's over, it's gone, it's forgotten."
As I said those words in front of Andrew my heart seemed to be pounding. He did not agree with what came out of my mouth. I kept my gaze into his eyes, and as I stared at him I could see a variety of emotions. I was confused by the emotions he was displaying. Pain, anger, sadness, apprehension, and hatred.
What those emotions are for—I have no idea.
"I already forgive you. So you have nothing to worry about. Also please, this is not the right place to talk about our past Drew. One more thing, I want you to treat me the same way you treat the other employees of your company. I don't want to be unfair, I don't want special treatment." He couldn't seem to believe what I said. He remained silent. Maybe he was enlightened.
I don't want him to think that I might still be affected. I don't want to show how I really feel. I am no longer the former Sydney he knows... this is the new Sydney, version 2.0!