DARE TO BE HIS FIANCÉ

"Good morning, Anne." Despite Mrs. Santiago being tired last night, she still managed to greet Anne as she arrived at the grilled bar restaurant. Anne greeted her employer, Mrs. Grace Santiago, a 65-year-old widow, with a warm smile. "Good morning, Mrs. Santiago. Did you sleep well last night?" Anne's concern for Mrs. Santiago's well-being was evident, as she knew her employer often suffered from severe headaches and struggled to get a good night's sleep. “What was that?” Mrs. Grace asked, noticing the small brown bag on her table. “A medicine from my province. I often see you struggling for a good sleep, and we use that in our province to have a better sleep,” Anne explained, expressing her care and concern for Mrs. Santiago. Mrs. Grace reciprocated by making her feel that she can be her mother, not just her employer. Mrs. Santiago owned a small grilled bar restaurant in the heart of Manila, where Anne's family often dined. Anne's work as a cashier required her to be on duty from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday to Friday. Due to understaffing at the restaurant, Anne often found herself taking on additional responsibilities, including serving, preparing drinks, and cleaning up after closing. Despite the demanding workload, Anne was grateful for the fair compensation provided by Mrs. Santiago, which enabled her family to afford daily meals and cover their expenses. “All of the medicine you recommended to me, Anne, has actually helped me. Thank you,” Mrs. Santiago said gratefully. “No problem, you are always welcome,” Anne replied, bowing her head as a sign of respect. “But please seek a doctor sometime.” After exchanging pleasantries, Mrs. Santiago informed Anne that the pain reliever she had taken had finally alleviated her discomfort. Anne inquired about the doctor's assessment, relieved to hear that it was just a migraine and nothing serious. She had urged Mrs. Santiago to seek medical attention multiple times, knowing her employer's aversion to hospitals, clinics, and doctors. It was clear that Mrs. Santiago had a deep-seated fear of medical facilities and procedures, likely stemming from a traumatic experience in her childhood. As their conversation continued, Mrs. Santiago shared the joyful news of George's wife having a successful delivery the previous night after years of trying. George, the head chef at the restaurant, would be unable to report for work that day, prompting Mrs. Santiago to ask Anne to fill in for him. Despite the additional workload, Anne accepted the request, knowing that it would require her to juggle multiple responsibilities simultaneously. Anne was a hardworking and dedicated employee at the local grilled bar restaurant owned by Mrs. Santiago. She had been working there for three years now, ever since she graduated from high school. Anne was a kind and gentle soul, always willing to lend a helping hand and with a smile on her face. It was a typical morning at the restaurant, with Anne getting ready to open up for the day. Mrs. Santiago had given her the responsibility of opening the restaurant on her own, as the other employees, Suzanne and Kurt, were running late. Anne didn't mind, she was confident in her abilities and knew she could handle the responsibility. She was dressed in her favorite vintage dress, a brown floral piece that belonged to her grandmother. Anne loved wearing it often and it made her feel connected to her grandmother, who had passed away a few years ago. As she was fixing her dress, Mrs. Santiago walked in and handed Anne the keys to open the restaurant. “Okay, no problem about that, Mrs. Santiago. I can manage,” Anne assured her and got to work. She turned on the grills, set up the bar counter, and made sure everything was in order. It was already eight o'clock, and time for the restaurant to open. Anne wondered why Suzanne and Kurt hadn't arrived yet. Just then, she heard a noise coming from the kitchen. Curious, Anne went to check it out and was shocked to see Suzanne and Kurt arguing loudly. They had forgotten to lock the door, and Anne couldn't believe what she was seeing. She quickly turned away, not wanting to intrude on their private moment. But before she could leave, Kurt noticed her and immediately became aggressive. “You retard! Don't tell Mrs. Santiago about this or I'm going to make your life miserable,” he threatened Anne, getting in her face. Anne held her ground, refusing to back down. “I won't, I promise. Let me go, please,” Anne pleaded, trying to free herself from Kurt's intimidating presence. Finally, he let go of her and warned her to keep quiet. Anne rubbed her arm, her flesh turning red from the force of Kurt's grip. “Now, go, ugly monkey. You're not wanted here,” Suzanne sneered, pushing Anne out of the kitchen. Anne was used to their hurtful words and she knew better than to retaliate. She just avoided getting into any conflicts with them, knowing she needed her job and her family relied on her income. Besides, Mrs. Santiago was a good employer and Anne didn't want to cause any trouble. “Anne, I'll be in the kitchen. Just call me if you need help,” Mrs. Santiago's voice brought Anne back to reality. She quickly wiped away her tears and put on an apron, getting ready for the first customer. “Sure, Mrs. Santiago,” Anne replied, putting on a brave face. She went behind the bar counter and turned on the electronic cash register, as well as the grills. Her mind was still reeling from what had just happened, but she tried to push it aside and focus on her work. As the day went on, Suzanne and Kurt continued to bully and mistreat Anne, calling her names and making her do all the hard work. But Anne didn't let it affect her, she knew she was better than them and she had the support of Mrs. Santiago. However, things took a turn for the worse when Mrs. Santiago suddenly fell ill and had to be hospitalized. Without her, the restaurant had to be closed temporarily, leaving Anne without a job. With no other options, Anne decided to confront Suzanne and Kurt and demand her job back. But little did she know that this confrontation would lead to a series of events that would change her life forever. Anne discovered that Suzanne and Kurt had been stealing from the restaurant and framing her for it. They had been taking advantage of Mrs. Santiago's trust and kindness, and had planned to shut down the restaurant and run away with the money. Anne was devastated, but she didn't let it break her. She gathered enough evidence to prove her innocence and went to the police. Suzanne and Kurt were arrested for their crimes, and Anne was hailed as a hero for saving the restaurant. Mrs. Santiago was grateful to Anne and offered her a partnership in the restaurant. Anne gladly accepted and with her hard work and determination, the restaurant became more successful than ever before. Suzanne and Kurt's betrayal only made Anne stronger, and she proved that kindness and honesty will always prevail in the end. “I'm so sorry I was too late to notice that there was too much trouble.” Mrs. Santiago apologized. “No worries. I'm fine. Besides, I know they are now aware about what they did.”