Chapter 4
1542 Words
{JACKSON}
"JACKSON! Can you please be serious at least once in your life!"
I stopped spinning in Dad's swivel chair inside his office. He was looking at me seriously like he always been.
"I didn't come here to see you spinning around in my chair!" he added, furrowing his eyebrows.
He placed a thick pile of papers on his desk. "These are our clients for the month of August," he calmly responded now.
"And by the way, what's this news I heard about you having a conference meeting at an ice cream parlor?" he added another question.
It seemed like he wouldn't let me speak. I rested my elbows on Dad's desk and leaned forward towards him.
"Just to make them interested because it's boring to stay and talk inside a conference room with nothing but walls," I explained to him.
He sighed.
"You still act like a child," he said and went straight to the couch. He sat down there and rested his head on the headrest of the couch. He closed his eyes tightly.
I knew he was exhausted from running our company. That's why I took on some of the responsibilities here to lighten his workload, even just a little.
Dad has always been a great father to me. My mom and dad were still in college when they had me. My mom came from a well-off family, while my dad was poor at the time, so their relationship wasn't favored. When it comes to my mom's future husband, my grandparents had high expectations. Plus, my dad was an orphan and had to support himself.
Mom and Dad decided to elope and stopped going to school. And when I turned one year old, my mom's parents found her. They did everything they could to take their daughter away from my poor father. They even tried to force her into their car, but my mom resisted. She couldn't leave Dad and me, her young son.
And that's when a tragic thing happened. Mom was hit by a truck. Luckily, she survived. But when she woke up, she couldn't remember anything. Her parents took her away from us, me and Dad.
But after that incident, a stroke of luck came into Dad's life. Dad started selling different kinds of artworks. He also took commissions for wedding gowns and suit designs. Until one day, he was discovered by a couple who owned a small business. The couple didn't have a son or daughter. And because of Dad's kindness, dedication to his work, and the fact that he was poor and had to raise me at a young age, the childless couple decided to adopt us.
I grew up thinking of them as my grandparents. When I reached the right age, they didn't hide the truth from me. Over the course of more than twenty years, Dad turned the small boutique of the couple into a company that became the most famous and successful in Italy. His second parents were very supportive of every step he took. I can say that my grandfather Jones and grandmother Mariam were already wealthy back then.
IT was early in the morning. I carried a bunch of yellow flowers, my Mom's favorite, and left it in front of the door of her painting workshop. It had a small card saying "Happy Birthday, Mom".
Then I hid behind a post, waiting for her arrival with her colleagues. The sun was already up when she came. I saw her quickly go to the front of her door and pick up the gift of flowers I got for her.
I know she expects it every birthday of her. It's already been 13 years that I give her something like that on her birthday. I'm glad she doesn't throw it away and doesn't think it's from a bad stalker. That's the only way I know to be connected with her.
After looking at Mom's face, I left the place. I know she'll try to find the person who gave it to her around.
I played music inside my car as I drove back to the company. I'm trying not to cry. How many years have I been hoping that she'll remember my Dad and the child she left behind? Every time I see Dad, I feel so sorry for him. And even though Dad has succeeded in life, he never insisted on himself with my Mom. He doesn't want Mom to get hurt again. He's okay with Mom being in a good situation and raising me well.
I heard that my Mom was still being pursued by my grandparents to marry someone. But my Mom has no plans. And that makes me hope for more that in her heart, my Dad is always still there even though she doesn't remember him at all.
{VICTORIA}
I LOOKED at my reflection in the full-length mirror in my room. I was wearing a shiny black jumpshort with glitter on it. I had a large hoop earring on my ear. My hair was naturally curly.
When I went out, Dad and Demi were already ready. Demi was wearing her school uniform with her Hello Kitty backpack on her back.
"We'll drop you off at your workplace first," Dad said to me.
We got into the car. Dad drove me to the largest building here in Italy. As I looked at the tall WGC building, I couldn't help but be amazed. I never imagined that starting today, I would be an employee here.
Dad parked the car in the company's parking area. They didn't accompany me inside because Demi's classes were about to start.
As I walked on the slippery pavement, the heels of my uppercut boots made a clicking sound. After logging in at the lobby area, I headed straight to the company's coffee shop. I didn't have a hard time finding it because one of the guards escorted me there.
When I arrived, everyone looked at me and gave me smiles. I went to the counter to order a Caffé Corretto.
"I guess you're new here?" someone spoke beside me. His voice was manly yet playful.
I faced him and what I saw was a bunch of flowers almost touching my face.
"Flowers for you, beautiful!" he said, waving the flowers in front of me.
I pushed the flowers aside and looked at him sharply. "Stop bothering me!" I said firmly.
"Here's your coffee, Ma'am!" the bartender interrupted us.
Then the bartender turned to the man in front of me. He was about to say something but stopped himself and just looked at him in the eye. What's going on?
"Hi! I'm Jackson," he introduced himself to me, extending his hand.
I just looked at his hand. Despite him being extremely handsome and having a prince charming vibe, I won't let myself fall for someone like him. I won't let any man enter my life and heart again.
Wait, what am I thinking? I'm getting ahead of myself.
I took my coffee and turned away from him. I still had to find my working place on the fifth floor, and I didn't have time to waste on him. And if I stayed in front of him any longer, I might be the one breaking my own promise to myself. With his brown eyes, slightly long and neatly combed hair—No! I shouldn't be describing him and admiring his features.
I headed straight to the elevator. When I reached the fifth floor, I immediately found my workplace because my full name was written on the office door. I was amazed that I already had my own office here, even though I was just a newbie. Their kindness towards their employees warms my heart.
I entered my future office with the a man I didn't know. Yes, the two of us will be sharing it. I will be responsible for designing wedding gowns, while my office mate will be responsible for designing wedding suits. The two of us are the fashion designers of the company's design team. Being a fashion designer is the highest position in our team.
The office room was large. There was only one study table, but it was big enough for two people. It had everything we needed, two swivel chairs, two computers, and so on. There were also two large couches where one person could lie down. The place was indeed very comfortable. I hope that the guy I will be working with here is not like the guy I encountered at the coffee shop who is so full of himself and was so flirty towards me.
"You didn't wait for me," someone spoke behind me. I stood frozen.
I faced him. "What are you doing here?" I asked sharply.
He just shrugged. He went straight to the couch and sat down.
"I just said earlier that my name is Jackson," he replied. And then realization hit me. How could I not have been observant with things that was already in front of my eyes?
JACKSON THORNFIELD! The only son of the owner and CEO of this company. And the one I would be working with every day in this close room. Do I have to quit my job now?
- Writer
