Taming Mr. CEO

“We will call you after days,” the old woman with four eyes said before leaving me alone to the interview room.

I breathe out before tugging my phone out of the bag. When I saw the picture displayed on its lock screen, I smiled.

“For you, Mommy will do everything,” I said and went outside the room. I headed through the elevator and pushed the down button. Another sigh passes my mouth. I felt weary, hungry at the same time but when I looked at my pocket, two bills that is enough for my fare were all left. There is no excess for my food or at least for a bottle of water.

When the elevator opened, I hurriedly stepped outside and went through the entrance. There is a taxi that I can ride but I choose to walk instead. The next company is not that too far but not too near as well. If I ride for a taxi, my money might be short.

Despite the sunny weather making me sweat, I walked under the blazing ball of fire. Even though I have an umbrella, it wasn’t enough to lessen the heat. The blouse I am wearing is already wet. Thanks to my daughter that she pack extra blouse for me. When I’ve reached the next company, I will change my clothes first before applying for a job.

In the middle of walking, I felt my phone vibrate so I stopped for a while and took it out of my bag. I adjusted the brightness as the light made it hard for me to recognize who’s on the phone.

“Yes, Helena?” I asked upon answering my friend’s call, Helena.

“Alice come home now!” she replied, panic is creeping in her voice that made my heart skip a beat.

“What happened?”

“Aisle is in the hospital,” she announced that made me lose my balance. Thank goodness that someone caught me in his arms and put me steady again.

I didn’t waste time, I hurriedly run and look for a taxi. When I got one, I came back to the phone and asked Helena about the hospital’s location.

“MMG Medical Hospital, Sir… please be in a hurry. My child needs me!” The driver didn’t speak instead, he sped up.

On our way to the hospital, fear eats me. My hands are shaking as well as my lips. I am sweating bullets not because of the heat, rather, because of nervousness. I can’t help but blame and keep on scolding myself while I am on my way.

If I just stated on her side… if I just didn’t leave her…

“Alice!” Helena shouted so I instantly run towards her and hug her tightly.

“What happened to my baby? What happened to Aisle? Where is she? Helena, answer me!” I cried in panic.

Helena held me tight on my shoulders and guided me to the nearest seat. “Calm down, Alice… Aisle is safe now. The doctor saved her from danger,” she announced which helps me to calm down but still, fear is on me.

“What happened to her?” I asked, more calm than earlier.

Helena looked at me with her saddened eyes. “I took her in the park because she said she want to stroll around, to play and buy some ice cream. So, I bring her to the park. When she saw the ice cream vendor, she hurriedly ran and I can’t able to stop her until she slipped and hit her head into the rocks. I’m so sorry, Alice… I felt sorry for what happened to her. I didn’t mean… it was my fault. I should have not brought her there…” Helena sobbed on her palms. Her shoulder are shaking as she cried so I drew near her and rubbed her back.

“Hush… it is not your fault, Helena… it’s not your fault,” I comforted her. “This is my fault. I am her mother yet I wasn’t there for her–”

“Alice?!” Helena cut me off. She was locking her eyes at me as if I said something bad. “Don’t say that… this isn’t your fault too. Don’t blame yourself for not being on Aisle’s side. We both know, even Aisle know why you can’t stay on her side. You are looking for a job and Aisle understands that you are doing this for her.”

“But I should be there–”

“Hush! Stop it, Alice… don’t think like that. Anyway, I called my Auntie earlier,” Helena notified.

I furrowed. “Then?” I asked.

She smiled at me before dropping her surprise which bring me into tears again. No words come out of my mouth for a couple of seconds. I was still shocked upon knowing what she have done for me.

“No words that can describe my feeling right now, Helena. You truly a blessing…” I sniffed.

“Come on, what our friendship is for?”

“Yeah… what our friendship is for,” I agreed while I am wiping out my tears.

When I saw the doctor come out from the room where my daughter is-based on Helena- I quickly stood up and approached her. “How was my daughter, Doc? Is she okay now?” I fired away my questions.

She smiled that somehow put me at ease. “There is nothing to worry about, your daughter is now stable. She just needs to stay here at least for a couple of days or three for further monitoring. Aside from that, all things are fine. I got to go… please, excuse me.” I smiled at her and immediately looked above while thanking Him.

“See? Aisle is a strong girl like you. Let’s come in to see our daughter.” I was the one who opened the door and as soon as I stepped inside, my eyes landed on my daughter. Laying on a white hospital bed, sleeping while there is a bandage wrapped around her injured head.

I drew near her and sat beside her bed as I reached for her little hand-caging it to mine. “I really can’t take it if there is something that has happened to her, Helena… I will never forgive myself,” I cried again.

“Enough, Alice… don’t worry too much. You heard the doctor. She just needs days to recover from her injury. Let’s thank God for securing her safety, Alice.”

“She is the only person I have, Helena. You know that I lost my parents years ago. Even the man who promised the whole world for me already left me and marry another woman. Aisle is the only one I have now in my life.”

“Uh, what about me?” Helena pouted.

That made me chuckle and slipped a smile. “Silly. Of course, I also have you and I love you.”Content (C) Nôv/elDra/ma.Org.

“Good to hear that.” She laughed. “By the way, I got to go for a while. I’ll buy the two of you food to eat and take clothes. I’ll also call my Auntie regarding the job offer. I will be back before night… bye-bye!” I simply nodded and once Helena is nowhere in my sight, I locked my eyes again to my daughter who’s still unconscious.

I combed her hair, removing some strands of it out of her beautiful face. Her face always reminds me of that night. The night that I once considered as a mistake but now, a blessing because of having her.

Having an Aisle wasn’t a plan, not my intention. I have her unexpectedly because of one night’s stand after I drowned myself from the influence of alcohol. During my first month of pregnancy, I almost killed her as I am not that totally ready but because of Helena, who helped me to open my eyes, I, later on, decided to keep her. And guess… I didn’t regret it.

Aisle grew up a beautiful four years old little girl. She’s talented, can do both dancing and singing. She’s also jolly and loves to talk. Since the day I laid my eyes on her, she became the source of my happiness.

Despite not having her father, Aisle didn’t ask me about him. If she ever does, I don’t know what will be my answer for I runaway that morning upon realizing what I have done. I don’t even bother to know his name, all I can remember is his face which she shared with our child.

From eyes to lips. The shape of their face to their jet black hair. Nose and the shape of their lips. They were the same which sometimes I get jealous of.

I mean… where is the justice?!

I bare her in my womb for nine months and yet, there was no trace of me on her looks. Well, her attitude is somehow reflected in mine. But who could say that Aisle’s attitude reflects her father’s attitude too?

“Mommy…” My lips stretched for a wide smile when I saw Aisle, slowly opening her eyes.

I hold her hand tight. “I am here baby… Mommy is here,” I said.

“Mommy, my head is aching …” she weakly complained which made me sad for her.

“My poor baby.” A single tear rolled down from my eyes. “Don’t worry… Mommy will blow the pain away.” I slightly lifted my butt out of the chair and leveled my lips on her injured head. I then blew it just like what I had said. After blowing five times, I looked her down and saw her smiling. Showing her front dent teeth which added to her cuteness.

“Oh, my baby is now smiling.” I tickled her and she giggled instantly. The whole room then filled with her waves of laughter as I continue to tickle her. At that point, I breathe out of my relief. Her smiles and laughter are my strength… the source of my happiness. When I saw her smile, I smile too. Every time she laughed, I laughed too.

***

“Your Mama Helena will be the one to take care of you for a while, huh, baby?” I tied up Aisle’s hair into piggy tails.

She looked at me through the mirror. “Where are you going, Mommy?” she asked, pouting her lips.

“Mommy will go first on my job interview. You want a new barbie doll, right?” She nodded. “Then Mommy will make money first that’s why I have to leave you to your Mama Helena–”

“Aisle baby!” Helena suddenly stepped inside, cutting off my words. I looked at her then darted into her hands with several paper bags on them. When she opened it for Aisle, I shook my head instantly.

“Helena… you know I don’t want too many sweets for Aisle,” I said, glaring but she just pouted at me while blinking her eyes like a kid. “Fine! But not too much. Baby, don’t eat too many candies, okay?”

Aisle nodded at me. I held my bag as well as my folders containing my application papers and then I turned to Helena again. “Helena, take care of Aisle, huh? I got to go… it’s already seven. I might be late.” I then drew near Aisle and caged her in my arms.

“Mommy needs a good luck hug from her princess. You behave, baby.” Before I completely left the room, I once turned into Helena. “Don’t forget the don’t and don’ts,” I reminded, eyeing at her like a warning.

She just saluted at me which made me chuckle before leaving them. As I walked outside, I felt my hands sweating. Maybe because of nervousness. I am nervous knowing that the company I am going to apply with is a multinational company. Where corporate people work. For sure there are lots of big-time people in that company. Elite one. While me? Uh, never mind. I am just Alice Del Angelo… nothing more, nothing less. I didn’t graduate college so applying to that said company is a big opportunity yet a very challenging one for me.

“You can do this, Alice!” I cheered myself, boosting my confidence before I hop in the taxi.

It took me almost an hour before I arrived at the high-rise building. As I stepped out of the taxi, I am looking up at the high building in front of me. The nervousness I am feeling earlier just doubled. I can feel how my heart pounded against my chest, hard and wild. And when I stepped inside the building, I am sweating even though it was air-conditioned.

“Good morning, Miss. May I know on which floor the job interview for executive secretary is?” The woman in charge just click something on the monitor before facing me.

“On 15th floor, Miss. Are you one of the applicants?” she asked so I nodded. “Well, then… good luck!” she added which I answered with my thankful smile before walking through the elevator.

“In what floor, Ma’am?” the elevator girl inquired.

“15th floor,” I replied, curtly.

She pressed the button for me while I am waiting for the door to open. My grip on the folder tightened because of tension. I felt pressured a bit. I just passed this job interview or else, I can’t pay for my daughter’s hospital bills. Even though Helena was the one who took the charges, I still had to pay her back. She said that I don’t need to but I promised her that once I got a job, I will pay her. Helena agreed at the end of our conversation last time so here I am now, hoping that I will pass the interview.

I heard the ting sound which indicates that I already reached the floor. The elevator soon opened and the cold temperatures coming from the floor made me hug myself while continuously rubbing both of my arms using my hands.

“Good luck with your interview, Ma’am.” Said by elevator girl before closing the elevator and leaving me in the clear hallway, alone.

I roamed my eyes and see nothing but a clear hallway, paintings hanging on the wall. And the huge frame displayed with the name of the company on it. I walked around and as I walked, the elegance of the whole floor is all I can see. The black and white interior color blending were clean enough, feeding my eyes with satisfaction.

“Excuse me, Miss?” With my widened eyes, I twirled around only to see the owner of the voice who spoke behind me. An old woman, with bun hair and in business attire is staring at me before slipping her flat smile.

“Are you here for the interview?” I nodded, not able to reply back. “You’re heading the wrong way. Follow me and I’ll bring you to the conference room where the CEO is waiting for the applicants.”

“The CEO himself will be the one who will be going to interview me?” I asked, biting my lips inside.

The woman simply glances at me while she’s in front of me. “Are you nervous?” she asked so I said yes. “There’s nothing to worry about, young lady. The CEO won’t bite and such a nice person,” she added, sort of calming me down which help me to do so.

We continue to walk until she stopped in front of a closed door. She looked at me, smiling at me before she opened the door for me. It gives me unexplainable tension, my hands become cold. An old man, sitting on a swivel chair eyed me.

“G–good morning, Sir…” I greeted with my lips slightly quivering. He greeted me back before we headed to the interview and after almost an hour, I came out from the conference room. Wearing a bright smile, almost shouting in happiness.

“You did it, Alice! You did it!” I boomed in delight while I am riding the elevator. The elevator girl can’t help but join me in my celebration. She even congratulated me before I left the company.