Tom and Betty

Chapter 3 The Condition

The next day became a great hustle for me. I didn’t know being a personal secretary included making… as in cooking his food. I got a call early in the morning requesting me to cook something for him. Thanks to my foster mom, I somehow know how to cook.

“What’s for breakfast?” He asked, opening the lunch box I got for him.

“Fried rice, tortillas, and avocado salad” I stood firmly in front of him as he smelled the food and his face slightly lit up in amusement.

“Where're the tortillas?” He asked, scrambling into the lunchbox, hoping for some tortilla wrap lying there.

“Sunnyside eggs are called tortillas in my country, Mr. Dawson. It’s far too different from tortillas here in your place.” I smiled, leaving him dumbfounded and his mouth wide agape.

“O-okay. You’re of Spanish descent, I almost forgot.”

I smiled for the second time and left his room silently as he devoured the meal. I got it for him. I stopped dead in my tracks when I forgot something.

Coffee.

Yes, coffee. I hurriedly went back to the pantry and made my boss a strong one as he instructed. His vitamins, according to him. I don’t understand these people. I merely can’t drink coffee several times a day. The problem for those who are experiencing stomach acidity. Ugh, the smell of coffee now makes me feel sick.

I huffed back to his office and found him stacking the lunch box neatly. He looked so adorable with his mouth full, still munching while stacking the boxes. His sight landed on me while I stared at him with amusement.

“What?” he asked, while I shook at the thought that was keeping me frozen. I was as stunned as to how this young chairman was still able to enjoy his breakfast despite being the central lifeline of this huge company.

“Nothing. You eat like a normal person. Amazing.”

I mumbled, placing the coffee gently in front of him and securing the lunch box on both of my arms.

“I’m still a human being, Ms. Hernandez. Stop barking with your comments…”

He stared at me like he was about to throw more remarks but was interrupted when his phone rang. It was the cue for me to leave and shut the door silently. I heard muffled stern voices like he was angry at something. Who could it be calling him early in the morning just to make him angry?

The day went by so fast with me mostly doing clerical stuff, filing his records, including computing his age. And the most shocking part is he is just four years older than me. I saw how much money he makes annually and monthly from his savings and investments. There’s a lot to take in and hide from the outside world. I feel like I am carrying the most important information in the whole world and, by any chance, I could get killed because of this.

I was interrupted by a knock on my table. Mr. Dawson crossed his arms over his chest, looking at me under his eyelashes. “I am not going to pay your overtime, Ms. Hernandez. You can go home now.” He sternly commanded, turning his way back to his table.

“Do you want me to make your breakfast tomorrow?” I innocently asked and silently prayed he would say ‘no’.

“Okay. Rice for breakfast isn’t bad at all.” He answered, still fumbling in his drawer, looking for something.

“Great,” I muttered in a silent voice whilst smiling like it’s the most enjoyable task of all. I blamed myself for not shutting my mouth when I needed to.

“I’ll get going now. See you tomorrow, Mr. Dawson.” I sighed and adjusted the strap of my bag on my shoulder and turned to leave.

“Wait. Let Rob drive you home.” He instructed and threw a piece of paper over his desk.

“Bring this to my wife, Jennifer. Just hand it over and don’t utter a word. Just give it to her, please. She already knows what’s inside. Here’s the address.”

He added and handed me a piece of paper with scribbled writing.

“Just hand it over, no talking, do you understand me, Ms. Hernandez?”

“Yes, sir,” I answered, putting the document in my bag and turning to leave for real.

We arrived at one of the exclusive villas near Bev. Hills. City lights, skyscrapers, and busy streets greeted us.

How can they afford to live in a luxurious place? It’s like I have to work for one year to pay for one month's rent here. I shiver at the thought of it.

I rang the bell a couple more times before someone opened the door for me. An old woman appeared with a smile on her face.

“Hi, good evening. I am looking for Ms. Jennifer. I would just like to give this to her.”

“I’m sorry darling, she doesn’t want to accept any visitors right now.”

Without waiting for me to explain, the door shuts right on my face.

The next day, Mr. Dawson was staring at me with hopeful eyes but turned stormy the moment I shook my head.

“Don’t worry. Let’s try another time.”

I feel bad for myself for helping him get divorced from his wife. It’s like I am an accomplice for a family to be ruined.

The rest of the day, Mr. Dawson isn’t saying anything. I don’t know if he is upset with the unsigned divorce paper or just plainly not in the mood to talk. He ate his lunch silently, signed the document silently, and bid goodbye silently.

I managed to arrive at my apartment cold and wet when the rain poured just in time to get off the bus.

“Ah, freaking Monday. I’m hungry.”

Tossing my bag around, I headed to the kitchen and rammed my fridge for something to eat. I settled down with my leftover pizza from last night and poured myself a wine. Feeling fancy, right? It’ the least that I can do to make myself better. I definitely need to sleep tonight.

With my heels lying around, my bra is on the couch with my feet dangling over the sofa. Life can be good if we only see the good in it. In my case, I don’t see it, but I make it, instead.

It was the same for the next four days. I went to Ms. Jennifer’s house every day to ask for her signature but to no avail. Until I decided to sneak out of the building during office hours and go directly to her house. I managed to ask Mr. Dawson’s driver to take me there, as he was all busy typing his way on his laptop with eyebrows scrunched together. I am tired of him being this way. All he said was, ‘Okay.’, ‘Yes.’ and ‘No.’ How can he be so persistent about getting the divorce papers signed?

I arrived at Dawson Mansion early in the afternoon. I could feel my phone buzz, but I decided to ignore it.

“Hi, it’s me again. Please, let me just talk to Ms. Jennifer.”

“Who’s that?!” a distant voice interrupted us, making me hold my breath silently praying she would let me in.

A few seconds of silence enveloped us and all I heard was the rustling of the fabric moving around.

“Okay. Let her in.”

The old woman smiled at me and offered me to get in and guided me to the living room. Luxury and glamour shoot the entire area. Chandeliers, an elegant sofa, a fireplace, and a flight of staircase welcomed me, making my mouth open in amusement.

What caught my attention was the large photo hung on the wall. A wedding photo of my boss and the most beautiful woman I have ever seen. This must have been their house before, well before they both decided to get a divorce.

“Wow. She’s so beautiful.” I mumbled, taking in all the pictures on the wall before I was interrupted by a voice.

“Happy picture. But don’t be fooled. Happy faces are the most liar of all expressions.”

A woman descends the stairs wearing a silk nightgown. Hair so curly almost covers her bare face, eyes so bright it’s like you are staring at a full moon, it’s so enticing, freckles scattered on her face, cheekbones so prominent and lips full as she smiled at me.

“Jennifer. Jennifer Dawson. You must be his secretary, right?”

She offered me to sit on their plush sofa burying my meaty ass while she settled opposite to where I sat.

“Thomas is so persistent. I was hoping Tom would come and beg me to sign the papers.” She chuckled, lighting an expensive cigarette. Woodsy and tangy smoke encircled the living area. So, this is what riches smells like.

“Has he told you the whole story? I bet he does. Fun fact, this is the first time he sent his secretary to do his errand.”

I smiled and shook my head, trying to convince myself I was just doing my job. “Personal errands are my job, Mrs. Dawson.”

“Trust me. I know him better than you do. From what I know, he barely trusts other people to meddle with his business. Especially when it involves me.”

I think we were both in the same age, but elegance emerged from her. The way she sits, talks, and how her eyes roll backwards, you can tell she grew up with a golden spoon in her mouth. Whilst I am in my old business skirt and pink chiffon blouse, I feel so small compared to this woman. Wait, why am I comparing myself to her?

“I found this odd and interesting.”

“Well, anyway, darling, let me tell you this. Do not marry a businessman. Well, in my case, I only married him ‘cause I know he can give me a good life and expand my family business. My mistake is, I loved him. But he only loves money.

“I thought I was pregnant. I don’t want to raise a child without a father, you know. Not until last month, I figured out the baby’s heart was not normal. I must give up the baby. But as much as I would like to raise the baby, it is how I loathe him for being so selfish. So cowardly. I loved him, you know. But after what happened, after my baby… I suddenly got a change of heart. We were never really meant for each other, I guess. Just in case you’re wondering what happened.”

She proceeds to light another cigarette and crossed her legs before telling me the whole story. A long stretch of silence enveloped us before she stood up and stared at the window puffing out an expensive cigarette.

“Everything fell apart when we both knew we had already achieved our goals. When we don’t need each other anymore. It seems like everything works that way. When you feel like you are already done sponging off from them, you instantly lose all the love you have for them.”

She smiled at me, snatching the paper from my hands, and scribbled her signature on the lower part of the document.

“You can now breathe and sleep peacefully. He can be menacing when he doesn’t get what he wants. I will return this house and all his assets. I don’t need anything coming from him, in the first place. I was okay before I met him.”

Her words struck my heart. A one-sided love. Been there, and I know how it felt. It was never a good experience. The constant what-ifs are torture, making us question our worth. But my experience is not as half as painful as my boss’ and now his ex-wife's relationship. Now I can see the real situation. Jennifer wasn’t bad after all, it was her love for the guy who made her this way. Mr. Dawson, what have you done?

“I’m sorry for what happened to your relationship. I don’t know the whole story, but I know how it feels to be caught up in a relationship like that.”

I never said anything after that. After I bid goodbye and good luck to her, I turned to leave without stealing a glance at her. She has been through a lot making the woman she is right now. A brave, strong woman. She must’ve had to love Mr. Dawson so much. A bittersweet story. So tragic.

I remember how my foster parents once told me that never settle on someone you are not sure to spend yourself with. But their story is living proof that if you are sure of someone, if the other person isn’t sure about you, expect the boat to sink. Just put your hands out and let the universe work for your life. Don’t stress yourself about something you can’t control.

So, I took a deep breath and smiled my way back to the car that was parked in the garage waiting for my return. Ready to call this a night, and probably drink myself to sleep tonight. I heard too much, and I am starting to regret agreeing to this position. So, heartbreaking.

After a few hours of driving through dark wooded roads, we finally reached the city and it was already eleven in the evening. I panicked when we took a different route, and I was about to snap at the driver when he looked at me through the rear-view mirror and told me we were heading to my new apartment.

“Of course,” I scoffed, and probably jittery about this sudden turn of my life. From a killer account, a broken marriage, and now a new apartment. Too much to take in. We stopped in front of an apartment complex located just a few blocks from the company building. The location is known for being the only apartment in the business center that only rich people can afford.

“Are you sure this is the place?” I asked the driver, and he gradually nodded at me. His eyes are smiling and I can’t stop smiling either. Not because of what my new apartment looks like, but this man is so full of energy and positive good vibes.

“Would you like to go and look around, Ms. Hernandez?”

Before I could answer him, my phone rang, and Mr. Dawson’s name popped up and I answered the call in just one second.

“I assume you are already at your new place. You can look inside, Ms. Hernandez.”

“Isn’t it too much, sir? I am okay with my old apartment and… well, yeah, the place looks great but… no, I can’t accept it.”

I just started working with him and I guess the most sensible thing to do is not to accept any material things coming from your boss. It’s against the rules. And I don’t want to spark any commotion from the company. Oh, my goodness. Is he…?

“Ms. Hernandez… you can be a storyteller because of having wild imaginations. It’s part of the contract, remember? You signed up for it.”

I froze in my spot as it seemed like a cold bucket of water was dumped all over me.

“Did I just say that out loud?”

“Yeah. Anyway, I already asked my men to move your things there.”

Sh*t another water bucket. I was left speechless, and I couldn’t move an inch from how things escalated.

“Wait... What?”

“J-just settle inside, okay? See you tomorrow, Ms. Hernandez. And thank you for your help. And one more thing, you have to explain to me why you left the office during office hours.”

“Uhh w—wait...”

Then he hung up the phone, leaving me speechless once again.

“Okay then,” I mumbled and heaved a sigh.

My feet moved on their own as I unlocked the place. It’s a studio unit for a solo person. A small entryway greeted me with two cabinets at the side where my shoes were settled. A tempting queen-sized bed was settled at the far end of the room. A small room on the left leads to the kitchen and another room for the bathroom. All my clothes, toiletries, makeup, and kitchen utensils were already in their place. And I am super thankful for how organized everything was.

“Psh. Even my underwear is folded neatly. Good job.” I mumbled, opening every drawer I could find.

But what caught my attention was the off-white furry carpet that covered the floor to the balcony. Yes, it has a balcony. Did I forget to tell you this room is on the 10th floor of the apartment complex? 10th floor for crying out loud. I stared outside at the skyscrapers lighting their way up to the sky, stars scattered above, the busy streets of Manhattan, and a silent patter of raindrops on my feet. I feel so overwhelmed and amused at how beautiful the place is.

But what truly amazed me was how I ended up lying in my bed still in my work clothes and shoes. And I am impossibly late for my usual wake-up call. I only have 25 mins. to prepare. I am going to skip breakfast once again. That made me feel sad, and well, yeah… hungry.