Mending Her Broken Heart

Chapter 1

Chapter 1: Vacation

From the white folder placed in front of me, my eyes changed its darted prey to the woman who entered the meeting room. She took everyone's attention. Some even greeted her, with high respect and in a polite way.

But she ended up greeting me instead.

She's late again. When will she learn that being late in every meeting is never okay?

As a response to her greeting, I just nodded and let her sit near me.

Nothing is going to change if I'll tell her to avoid being late everytime a meeting is held. She's still gonna dodge my words and she's still gonna show up late on the next meeting.

It's been a year since she became the vice chairwoman. But I still find her presence bothering me. She still makes me feel a little bit awkward whenever she's around. And I don't know what's the exact reason why.

Maybe it's because of what happened 2 years ago.

But nah, I don't want to remember that all over again. It might ruin my whole day. I'm just gonna leave it buried underneath all the happy memories that I have.

"Sir, there's nothing left to decuss anymore. Everything is doing fine just like last week. The sales are still getting higher and higher as celebrities continued buying and promoting our clothing brand without any single dollar spent."

I nodded. Maybe it's time to tell them what I've been thinking about since the moment I woke up earlier.

My parents didn't let me have a good sleep last night. Both mother and father had pushed my buttons and insisted that I should take a vacation. I got to admit, my head is still aching until now. It's a mixture of hangover and mad thinking about vacation.

But I also thought, why not? Right?

Since my clothing brand is still doing very fine — honestly, everyday — I think it's time for me to cool off a little bit and relax.

Wouldn't that be great?

A short vacation wouldn't harm my clothing brand. Right?

Yeah, right.

It wouldn't harm my clothing brand but it will surely harm Harvey.

The wealthiest man in Chicago will be the saddest human being in the world if he'll find out that I'm gonna be on vacation any moment now.

But what can I do? My mother acts like her heart is aching everytime I say that I won't take a vacation and I do not believe in love anymore. Everytime she does that, it makes me a hundred percent worried that fast. I mean, she's my mother. Who wouldn't be worried about their mother looking like enduring a literal heartache?

"I'm telling you, Schyler. Once you become 33 years old, and you're still single and not finding the right woman for you, I will do everything just to bring your clothing brand down. Now you see it, soon, you won't. No woman means bye-bye company."

I shook my head.

No. I'm not going to lose my company. Mother is just playing with me. Fine. I'll be on vacation. But she can't force me to find a woman that I'll marry. I will continue to wait for the right woman to arrive. It's all in God's hands.

I trust him with that.

I trust him with everything.

"Is there any other concerns?"

I throwed a random question to every person that my eyes can see. Every director that I was with in the meeting room was just chilling and looking like very okay with everything. Even my secretary.

Seconds passed and no one answered me but their eyes looking back at mine.

So, I guess,

Another day for my clothing brand being in a state of 'no major problem at all.' I know that they're waiting for me to announce that the meeting is finally over so that they'll hurriedly exit the meeting room and have their own lunch. Of course it has something to do with Clara's mouth-watering foods. After every meeting, it became my hobby to treat them lunch. It's always from my favorite restaurant and it's always my favorite meal. What I want is what they'll have too. Fair, if I may say.

But luck's not with them today. The meeting is not over yet. I need to tell them that I'm going to be on vacation. Everyone's not going to believe it. I know.

But I have to. If they'll ask why, I'll just simply say that mother wants me to.

I'm a certified mama's boy. Can I be more obvious?

"Uhm," I cleared my throat and I took everyone's attention. Specially those who started on putting their attention to their phones. Why does this feels so weird? "Uh, I have an announcement to make." Pairs of eyes were all looking at me. Their attentions and easygoing moods were all in me. Patiently waiting and just trying to understand every detail before the words that I'm about to say were heard.

"Announcement? Are you getting married?"

I immediately turned to look at Ms. Vice Chairwoman who was only sitting by my right side. Both of her eyebrows were raised and her eyes were questioningly looking in mine. But I didn't bother to answer her because her question was followed by small laughters by the others. And those small laughters were enough to take my attention away from her.

"Come on, Ms. Johan. Mr. Schyler Dael? Getting married? Are you serious? He doesn't even have a girlfriend."

Some of the people that I'm with in the meeting room had their selves laughing and shaking their head a little. Even me. It made me laugh a little. Why would Ms. Francisca Johan think that I'm getting married?

Oh, well.

"Enough with that before I feel pity for myself," I laughed and shook my head. "It's just, I'm gonna be on vacation. Nothing important. It sounds important earlier because I called it an announcement. But it's not really a big deal."

I sighed before giving each of them a bleak look. Some had their eyes looking at me questioningly. And some also had their lips parted.

I chuckled. What's with that reaction?

"Sir? Are you sure about this?"

"You never took a break nor a vacation, sir. What changed your mind today that didn't before?"

"It sounds good, Mr. Dael. You should take a break. I bet I can't count the headaches you endured up until now. You deserve to have a vacation, sir. Cool off some steam."

"If you're going to be on vacation, who's going to take over your position, sir?"

That took my attention.

Why didn't I thought about that? I mean, I can leave this problem alone but I think it is better if I have someone I trust to take over my position.

I have someone in mind but I know that that jerk is too lazy to take over my position for a couple of weeks.

So, I'm just gonna leave this problem alone then.

"No one's going to take over my position. But if our clothing brand will have a major problem, let me know immediately so I can plan to be back before anything else."

Everyone in the room nodded.

Some had questions so I answered them before I ended the meeting. It was pass 12:30. As the meeting ended, everyone immediately stood and left the meeting room. They had their lunch as I made my way to my office.

Many greeted me and thanked me for the free meal. I just smiled and continued walking. I can't wait to eat. For pete's sake! It's Clara's! Worth-dying-for kind of foods. Before I even knew it, I was already addicted to their specialties and such. Damn. Everytime I'd get to eat some of their specialties, I'd get to forget the definition of "healthy diet" too. The reason why I gain weight without me knowing.

I hate gaining weight. But if it is because of Clara's specialties, why not? Right?

I was only a few steps away from my office's entrance when I saw an employee enjoying herself in her cubicle.

She was facing her computer while her hands were busy typing on the keyboard. I also saw a cup of coffee near her keyboard. Her ears were occupied with earbuds. It seems like she's listening to music while working. And it looks like she's enjoying it. She took my attention because she wasn't eating lunch just like everybody else. She's just working. Working and working and working. Isn't she hungry?

I smiled. Maybe she's in the mood to work right now. Maybe she doesn't want to ruin that mood.

I walked into her cubicle and she didn't even noticed. So, I tapped her shoulder.

She immediately took off the earbuds inside her ears and paid all of her attention to me.

"Y-Yes, sir?"

The moment she stood and faced me, I saw how pale she was. I frowned and watched her fix herself a little bit. She might've thought of me noticing that she's pale because I saw her simply biting her lips. It made her lips reddish but she was pale earlier. And being pale can be a result of hunger. So, she's hungry.

"Don't forget to eat lunch. You looked pale earlier and that's bad. You can stop working even for just a couple of minutes. I mean, it's lunch break. You should be stopping what you're doing right now. Your health is more important. Please take care of yourself. Don't stress too much. Just shrug it off and eat."

I chuckled when her eyes widened.

I don't know what I'm saying too.

Damn. Is this normal for those who's just about to take a vacation?

"Of course, sir. I really just need to finish this since Ms. Johan wants this to be done after the lunch break. I didn't had enough time yesterday. So, I ended up dealing with this today."

I nodded. So it's for Ms. Johan after all. The Vice Chairwoman.

"But thank you for telling me that, sir. That's unexpected and heartwarming at the same time."

After dealing with my employee, I immediately went to my office and had lunch.

Deym! Ms. Clara Lucille Imorgen never disappoints! Her restaurant's specialties are incredible and heaven to my tastebuds. I will never get over of eating her foods. Even if mother forbids me.

My day went like just a normal day.

And when I say 'normal day', I meant: paperworks, meeting with some investors, more paperworks, and a presentation from a director.

Time would go on for everybody else, you won't know it. Hours and hours would pass and I wouldn't even bother to wonder how fast it goes.

The last thing I knew, everything was done for today. As I was driving myself home and found myself sitting on a couch facing the television.

It's now 8:00 PM.

I don't know what to do. And I don't want to go to bed this early even though my body feels so stressed.

I leaned my back on the couch that I was sitting on and heavily sighed.

I really do need to take a break.

I simply massaged my forehead as both of my eyes closed. No, I was wrong. I don't need a vacation. I need a long good night sleep. After that, I think I can continue stressing myself again and again.

But what can I do? My mother wants me to be on vacation and be with someone. Or should I say "woman" instead. Even though I know that vacation isn't what I need, I will still go for it because I love my company.

No matter what, I will do everything for my company.

"What happened? You had enough doses of stress today?"

My eyes immediately opened as I hurriedly fixed the way I sat. I saw my Father standing in front of me. He got this smile on his face that tells me I need to stop stressing myself.

"Son, how many times do I have to tell you about not letting yourself absorb too much stress?"

I shrugged my shoulders, "What can I do? Working is my thing."

I laughed when my Father mocked me and also said, "Working is my thing."

"Anyway, where's mother?"

"She's—"

"I'm here! I bought you dinner! From your favorite restaurant."

My eyes widened at my Mother who was walking to me. She has two paper bags held by both of her hands. She pushed herself to sit beside me even though there's only a small space left. She excitedly opened the paper bags as she gave me the boxes that have foods in its inside.

I was already drooling when my nose smelled the medium-sized box. It was a roasted chicken! The other one was a herb-crusted chicken. I hurriedly stood up and brought the boxes to the kitchen. My Mother and my Father followed me as they watched me prepare dinner. It only took me seconds to prepare everything. I was so excited to eat. I told my Mother and Father to join me but they refused because they already ate at the restaurant and just decided to bought some food for me.

"Before, I don't really believe you when you said that Clara's makes the best foods in the world. But now, I think you can count me in as one of the people who loves their specialties."

My Father smirked, "You wouldn't be that impressed if you only knew how to cook well."

"Silence!"

I laughed. Even I was chewing, I had the ability to laugh because of what my Father said.

My Mother does not know how to cook well. She's not good in that field. She only cooks for us every breakfast. Some sunnyside ups, bacons, hotdogs, and a hot brewed coffee. She can cook some simple meals perfectly. But other dishes? Well, leave that to Papa.

"By the way, I heard some rumors."

I drank water before looking at my Mom. "Rumors?"

What rumors? When did she heard it this time?

"Your Mother is really good at hearing. I can't believe it."

My father let out a little laugh before walking to the refrigerator and getting a single in-can beer. I'm going to expect a glare from Mother for that.

"Schyler, I know that you still might be sensitive when it comes to her."

I gulped. Her?

"But she arrived here yesterday. I heard."

I pressed my lips together before readying myself for what my Mother is about to say next.

There's only one person I can think of when it comes to my Mother saying, "Her".

"She's back. And she was looking for you according to your godmother."

"She's back?"

"Yes."

"And she's looking for me?"

My mother nodded with a nervous look on her face.

"Son, are you still hoping for her to be a part of your life again?"

I looked away, "I don't know,"

I really don't...