The CEO's Temporary Assistant

Phantom Flamingo

Olivia climbed down her EC120 Colibri helicopter, which she fondly called Phantom Flamingo. It had been a long ride from the city, but the experience had been surprisingly exhilarating for her in a good way. She loved flying her metallic baby around and showing it off to her rich friends. Her obsession had led her to take an exclusive and expensive flying lesson a few years back, one that she had never regretted in the end.

The CEO scanned the area, her Gucci eyeglasses resting on her nose bridge, and her fingers felt a little stiff. "Everything was green," she commented with a sigh. "Grandma gave me such a hard time."

"It's your grandmother's special request, Miss Fabien. These people might really be important to her. You wouldn't want to make her sad, would you?" Franko reminded her.

"Of course. What do you think of me? Let's just go and look for Mrs. Cortez so we can finish our business here and fly back to Manila."

Franko suddenly felt uncomfortable with his superior's response. "Are you sure about that, Miss Fabien? Aren't you tired already?"

"Why? Do you suppose I'll spend a night in this cheap countryside?"

"I know you wouldn't, but it's still a long ride. Spending a night in the province is not as bad as you think it is."

"I can manage, Franko," she replied, rolling her eyes. "Don't worry. I'll take us back to Manila safely."

Wearing her high-priced Nike shoes, she trotted across the lawn as the helicopter finally stopped moving. "What the f**k is this?" she exclaimed as an unusual flying item caught her attention. She reached out for the item and chuckled a little. "Who could ever wear this cheap undergarment, Franko?" Olivia said haughtily as she playfully twirled the pink undergarment around her fingers.

Franko grunted before pointing out an approaching person. "Must be that young lady coming here."

Grinning, Olivia squared her shoulders and eagerly waited for the girl to approach their direction. "Her lips were moving. Could you make out what she was saying?"

"She looks mad," he replied, squinting his eyes to see the girl's face clearly.

Olivia watched as the girl's skirt swayed ferociously from side to side. The CEO had a keen eye for beautiful things, and this girl, despite the smudge on her top and the messy bun on her head, had natural beauty.

"I didn't know a typical provincial girl could seduce me without trying. Well, let's see what she's angry about," Olivia jokingly said, taking a step to meet the girl halfway.

"Miss Olivia, look around you," Franko suggested.

Olivia contemplated for a while. She didn't want to feel horrible, but it seemed like it. "You don't think it's the clothes, do you?"

The girl was now a few feet away from her. And just as the CEO thought she would surprise the provincial girl with her bright smile and million-dollar wink, Olivia was taken aback when the girl's hand flew directly to her cheek!

***

Elise could still feel herself enraged with anger as she prepared cold beverages for her aunt's unexpected visitors. From where she stood, she could hear the conversation from the living room, and the young girl felt even angrier with the visitors' presence, especially that woman who had landed her helicopter on their lawn. Now she had to pick up the laundry one by one because of the inconvenience that this lady had brought upon her.

"I am deeply sorry for my niece's mean behavior, Miss Fabien. She doesn't recognize you," Elise's aunt apologized.

Elise saw the woman sitting uncomfortably on their chair while the man who had accompanied her was talking with her Uncle Jose outside. Why was her aunt apologizing? Such a question was drilling holes inside her brain. Clearly, it was the visitor's fault in the first place.

"Definitely, that brat of yours needs to be taught a lesson, Mrs. Cortez," Olivia remarked rudely.

Elise trembled with anger upon hearing the disrespect. She then emerged from the kitchen, bringing a tray of fresh lemonade. "You should be the one being taught manners, Miss. It's clear that nobody has taught you GMRC—Good Manners and Right Conduct!"

"First of all, young lady, I know what GMRC is, and yes, I was taught about it."

"If so, why are you so arrogant!"

"So, I'm the arrogant one? You dared slap me on my cheek, and you're calling me arrogant?"

"You've landed your helicopter right where my laundry is! You have no idea how hard it was for me to finish washing all those clothes, and now I have to wash them again because of your stupid vehicle!"

"Stop calling Phantom Flamingo stupid, woman," Olivia gasped in disbelief.

"Ladies, please, stop it already," interjected Aunt Milda, bringing a moment of silence between the two parties. "Both of you are in the wrong. You have to apologize to each other, and then we will proceed to the main reason why you are here, Miss Fabien."

"I will never apologize to you!" Elise said between gritted teeth.

"Oh, really?" Olivia replied with a smirk. She then dangled the pink panty that obviously belonged to Elise, and the provincial girl rushed to snatch it away. But Olivia was way taller and quicker than she was.

"You will never get this back if you don't apologize."

With a heavy heart, Elise stomped back to the kitchen, leaving the CEO and her Aunt Milda alone again in the living room. She couldn't imagine the level of immaturity this lady possessed despite the domineering aura that she wore on her sleeves. And she looked much older than her.

"I'm sorry again, Miss Fabien," she overheard her aunt saying. She usually wasn't like this around people, but the incident with her laundry had obviously made her mad.

"Anyway, why have you come to our humble abode here in the province?"

Elise watched them closely from the kitchen and almost punched the wall when Olivia didn't even acknowledge her aunt's explanation. "Such arrogance and disrespect!" She whispered to herself.

"Trust me, Aunt Milda. I didn't want to be here, but my grandmother requested me to personally transport you from the province to the city. She really wants to see you."

Aunt Milda started crying this time. "Oh, poor Mrs. Guada Fabien. She still hasn't forgotten about me."

"Of course, Auntie. You're still her favorite," replied the CEO with a slight smile on her face. "But the Doña is sick, and she wants you to be her caretaker. She says it's finally time for you to go back to the mansion. Six months. That's the only time left for my grandmother. It would make her happy if you'd be there with her, bringing your family with you, of course."

Elise immediately noticed the sudden crack in the lady's voice with her explanation.

"If that's so, then we will go with you."

"Go where?" Elise finally blurted out upon hearing her aunt's decision, coming again from the kitchen.

"My dear, Mrs. Fabien has finally announced that it's now the right time for us to go back to the mansion."

"Us?"

"Yes," Olivia replied, rolling her eyes. "You and your Uncle will come with us."

Uncle Jose appeared, along with the bodyguard. "I suppose I will have to be left behind for a little while, my dears. I still have the farm to attend to."

"But, Uncle Jose, we can't leave you here all alone!" Elise pleaded. She was genuinely worried for the old man. There had never been a time of separation between him and Aunt Milda. Without their presence, anything could possibly go wrong for an old man like him. With his age, six months seemed like such a long time. "I-I'll stay here with you."

"I'm afraid we can't do that, Elise, but I promise you, I will follow you there."

"B-but, Uncle Jose..."

"So, are you done with your drama yet?" inserted Olivia with nonchalance in her voice. Elise was utterly speechless with the kind of attitude that this lady had been displaying.

"You can't possibly say that."

"I just did. Anyway, we'll wait for you outside as you pack your things. We're leaving in an hour."

"Already?"

But the CEO had already made her way outside. Uncle Jose chuckled a little as he lovingly helped his wife get up from her chair. "Come on, you two. We still have to pack your things, as requested by the señorita."

Elise couldn't believe all the things that had happened to her today and all that were yet to come with this Olivia Fabien.