When I Was Your Woman

Party at Knight's Bar

After Racchi talked with the client over the phone, she checks all their accounts when Carrie approach her. "Ms. Racchi, it's my birthday today so you are not allowed to say no to me". "What is it now Carrie? I'm busy. I have lots of things to do and I will do overtime today" Racchi asks Carrie while continue checking and analyzing their almost 2,000 charge accounts. Most of it are hospitals, insurances and HMO's. There are also companies with different nature of businesses-constructions, banks, BPOs, schools, malls, manpower agencies, lending and among others. Racchi looks so tired in her state now. She wears her eyeglasses which she seldom use just to cover her eyebags due to lack of sleep for a couple of nights.Their uniform is a black A-line skirt one inch below the knee and a white long-sleeved with collar paired with black trousers. Her 4 inch-black shoes made her look as tall as the other woman around-naturally, she only stands 5 feet tall. Despite her disoriented looks and aura, her simple beauty still stands out. Her thick brows, long eyelashes, pouty lips and long bridged nose seem carved in her face perfectly. The more you look at her, the more you will see her real beauty. And the more you stare at her, the more you will be captivated. Her body is lean and most of her workmates-subordinates or superior - say that the sexiest part of her body is her collarbone. It has a mole on the left side of it which makes it become sexier. Her complexion is not fair nor tanned. Her straight black hair is on ponytail which made her looks like Ariana Grande.

"But Ms. Racchi, it's still 2:00 in the afternoon. You still can finish all of that before we go out." Carrie insisted.

"Carrie, you know I'm not into those kinds of activities. I will just feel bored there or you will get bored with me. So, Im good here." Racchi explained. That's when Shellice- Racchi's another staff in accounting- join them. "Ms. Racchi, we won't be there for so long. Just an hour or two because we have work tomorrow. I will help you with whatever you are doing now so it will be done before 5:00". "And, if you worry about what you'll gonna wear, I have lots of extra dress in my locker. You can choose later" added Shellice.

"No, thanks. I have extra clothes in my locker." Then Carrie gasp. "Woaaah.. Then that means yes? Ohhhh.. I so love you my manager" and hugs Racchi.

Then Shellice comes to Racchi's table. "Give me what I should do." "Okay, check all the collections encoded if it coincides in our system. Check also if all are being credited in our account. Check from September 1st until yesterday, 23rd." Racchi instructed Shellice.

After a few minutes, Racchi asks "Who else will come to the party?" "Just the 10 of us in accounting" Carrie answered while busy encoding today's collections. "Okay. I won't take so long there. I still have to call my sister to know how is her daughter after being confined to hospital".

"No problem with that, Ms. Racchi. As long as you will go with us even for an hour or less, it means a lot to us. We know you are busy, but you have to unwind sometimes " said Nadia - the most bubbly and energetic woman in her team.

"So true Ms. Racchi. If there are times that you wanted to hang-out, just tell me. I'll accompany you. We'll do party, party..hahahah" said Ellie, the youngest and the most outgoing staff she has.

"Thanks but I'd rather stay at home alone and sleep or read comics or news than going out at clubs or pubs or wherever it is. Now, go back to work so everything will be done or else I'll change my mind and I won't go with you."

Racchi. Despite her being the manager of the department, she did not let her subordinates made them feel inferior. Their voices are heard and their suggestions are being considered. She trains them to voice out whatever ideas they have for the good of their department. She empowers them by letting them do reports in front of the whole team during their weekly meetings which is scheduled every Monday morning. She teaches them all types of work in their area so they will all be knowledgeable and can do the work if in case the assigned one is on-leave or absent.

No one knows in their department nor in their company what she had been through. Because the moment when Xander told her that he will leave, she took a 10-days vacation leave for she thinks she can't work well with a heavy heart. So, when she was abducted and had miscarriage, it was as if she was just in her province.

It is 4:55 in the afternoon when Shellice tell Racchi that she is done with what was being told her to do."Oh yes, I'm done now Ms. Racchi."

"Okay, that's great. Give me the documents. I will still be using it tomorrow." So, Shellice handed the documents to Racchi.

"Where are we going to? What's the name of the place? Racchi asks while she is busy arranging her stuffs.

"At Knight's Bar." Carrie and Sarah chorused.

Upon hearing the name of the place, her heart beats faster. It is the bar owned by Xander's close friend-Simon Knight. A place where Xander met someone and did not show up at their own date. The place where she hasn't been even once because she can't afford to imagine what Xander and the woman he met had done. Will she continue to go with the girls? Will she let her past keeps on controlling her? Did she ever promise that he will forget everything, every people and every places that will remind her of Xander?And did she told herself to consider Xander as dead? So why would she make it affect her?

"Ms. Racchi, are you okay? What is that confuse look in your face? Don't you like the venue? Charity asks Racchi - the oldest of all the accounting staff, even older than her of about 3 years.

"Yes. I'm fine. I.. I just remembered something about the report that..that I will be submitting to our boss tomorrow. An idea... just....just popped on my mind" Racchi lied. In her mind, she is sure now that she will go with them and won't let the past stop nor control her life in the present nor in the future. She won't let the darkest moment of her life six years ago will make her life even darker now. She won't let memories of Xander ruin her sanity.