Falling for My Younger Boss

Family Comes First

"We're walking?" asked Robert incredulously and Amanda couldn't help smiling inwardly at this.

"Of course. I don't own a car, Robert. Would that be a problem? You're not scared of the dark are you, wussy?" Amanda teased him. She used to call him wussy or wuss when they were younger. He was afraid of so many things because his parents had always been overprotective of him and his sister so he didn't experience a lot of things growing up.

"I'm not scared to walk in the dark! It's just that we're both tired and you said you have to get up early in the morning. Plus, Sandra might give me flak if she doesn't find me as soon as possible when she gets here." Robert said defensively.

Amanda thought the way Robert was defending himself was cute so she told him, "Well, I only live a couple of blocks down this way. It's not that far, we'll be there in minutes. And if your agent does arrive soon, you can just tell her to drive little ways farther and she'll be at my house to pick you up."

"Are you sure it's okay to walk this late at night?" Robert was still hesitant and Amanda was laughing inside. "Fine, let's just go. But stop calling me a wuss." He muttered petulantly.  

It was so funny and endearing the way Robert was trying to defend himself that Amanda couldn't help but smile. He is all grown now, maybe he is not that afraid of things anymore, she told herself. "Harrowpoint is a peaceful small town, Robert. I assure you that no harm will come to you while walking a couple of blocks. Now let's just go, wuss." She said and winked at him.

"Whatever let's go." He was all moody and sulky when he stalked off and left her.

"Oh Robert, it's this way actually," Amanda called out to him pointing to the opposite direction he stalked off to.

Robert looked back at her and stomped past her like a kid. Amanda couldn't help herself and laugh out heartily. 

__________

"This is your house? I thought you said you didn't have that much money?" Robert was looking around the living room of Amanda's house.  It wasn't a mansion but it was big with a comfortable sitting space for about fifteen people. The fireplace was lit which gave the room a warm and cozy feeling. There were shelves upon shelves packed with books of different genres, a big flat-screen TV that seemed new, and photos, dozens of photos of the family littered around the room. It was homey, Robert thought to himself.

"Yes, we don't a lot of money but we're not dirt poor, Robert. We used to have enough money to enjoy the finer things in life but things happened in the past and here we are at this point." Amanda told him.

"Well, if you badly need the money, why don't you sell this house? It's really big and I'm sure you'll get a big amount for it." 

She looked at him with a serious expression on her face. "It's not always about the money, Robert. This house, my dad built it. Well, not with his own hands but with the money he saved up for years. I was born in this town and I love this place. It is quiet and the people here are friendly. We get what we need from the stores here or from neighbors who are more than happy to share what they grow in their own gardens. I don't have any bad memories of this place." Except for one when I was younger and you even rescued me from that, she added to herself. 

"All right. But what about leaving this place and working somewhere else where you can earn more? You can even put up your own shop and sell that delicious pie of yours and whatever else you can make. I'm sure they'll be as good as the pie, or maybe even more delicious." He smiled at her and Amanda's heart skipped a beat. 

"It's not that easy, Robert," she told him solemnly. 

"Is it the money? I'd help you out. I'd be more than willing to invest in your shop. That is how much I believe in those amazing pies." He was trying to convince her and she was thankful for that but she was still being stubborn about it. 

"I told you, it is not always about the money, Robert. I really love it here and my family, they need me. My dad is not well. He is an engineer with a stable job when I was growing up but he had an accident and got sick as a result of the accident. At first, we thought we'd be fine but bills started piling up that I had to take a break from college and start working to pay for my dad's medical expenses. And my mom, she's not well too. My twin brother Anthony, we just can't rely on him." she told him.

Robert was silent for a while mulling over Amanda's words then said, "What about you though? Is it always going to be about your family? What about what you want to do and what makes you happy? Aren't you tired? I mean, you have two jobs and that your family needs you. They sound like excuses to me." Robert asked.

"You don't know me, Robert. Or my life, for that matter. You don't know how it is like. I love my family and I'd do anything for them. I don't want them to ever go through hardships, they've had enough before and as a daughter, I've always wanted to give them a better life." 

Amanda felt a tightness in her chest while explaining all these to Robert. He's right, she had been thinking about the things he said, often. She doesn't resent her family but sometimes, she wonders what it's going to be like if she lived for herself and accomplished the plans she had set for herself. 

"I'm sorry if it seems like I'm meddling but I'm not, really. I don't know why I keep bothering you with all these questions. I told you, I can't shake off this feeling that I know you from somewhere, and to be completely honest, I feel so at ease with you that I feel like I have to protect you." Robert was looking at her intently while explaining. 

She wanted to tell him that he's right, they knew each other when they were younger. That they were really good friends and cared about each other, but he doesn't even remember this town. How can he even remember her or how they used to be? Maybe she was wrong, maybe he never cared about her even just as a friend. And that's why she can't tell him about the past, she's afraid she'll look pathetic to him. The fatty he protected and encouraged so many years ago to go for her dreams. 

"There's no need to apologize, Robert. I don't know, maybe you're right, but I love my family very much. I just want what's best for them." Amanda smiled meekly at him.

"And what's best for you doesn't matter? You know, if you change your mind, my offer stands. I will invest in your shop if you decide to put up your own. Or if you want to try your luck outside of this town, here's my number." Robert took out a card from his wallet and gave it to her. "You can call me anytime. I'll hire you to work with me. I mean it." He smiled that lopsided smile she loves so much.

Thank you was all she could say. She had to get out of there. She knows that the longer she stays downstairs, the sadder she'll be when he leaves again tomorrow. There's no escaping her situation and she knows it. She loves her family too much to even think of herself. 

"I really need to rest now. I've got an early day tomorrow. Don't worry, my family won't mind if they see a stranger here. They may be needy and all that but they are good people." She smiled at him and went upstairs to her room.

__________

That night, Amanda couldn't sleep. She replayed her conversation with Robert over and over in her mind and she knows he was right. This wasn't what she had planned for herself. She took Literature in college only because she didn't have enough money to apply for Le Cordon Bleu, a prestigious culinary school in Paris, to become a pastry chef. She was supposed to graduate from college, get a job, and save up for her tuition there but she had to put all her dreams aside to help her family. 

Sometimes, she wonders what it'll be like if her dad didn't get sick, or if her mom could only accept their situation and stop spending too much as if they still had a lot of money, or if Anthony could only get a decent job and help her out. But Amanda has long accepted that this is her life now and she'll just suck it all up or her family will suffer.

__________

Robert woke up a bit disoriented. Where was he? He could smell freshly baked bread, greasy bacon fat, and freshly brewed coffee. He looked around and remembered about meeting Amanda last night. He replayed their conversation last night in his head. What was wrong with him? Why did he tell her things about himself? He was usually aloof when it came to strangers. And why did he care so much about whatever happens to her? She's right, he doesn't really know her. Why was it so important that he help her? 

"Oh good, you're awake. You must be Mandy's friend from college? She left for the bakery about two hours ago and left a note saying you're her friend and to just let you sleep in because you were tired the whole day yesterday. Why don't you sleep some more? Or if you're hungry, there are fresh bread, bacon, and eggs on the table, you can help yourself to some. Mandy made breakfast before she left." Amanda's mom smiled sweetly at him. 

"Thank you, Mrs. Coyle. I need to check my messages first. I'll join you in a bit." He smiled back at her. 

"Call me Karen, dear." Amanda's mom said.

"I'll join you in a bit, Karen. Do you mind if I use the bathroom after I check my messages?"

"Not at all, dear. Do what you have to do and then come out and have breakfast with us."

"Thank you." Robert went through his messages when Karen left him and saw that Sandra had found someone to pick up his car this morning. She's also on her way here to pick him up and "drag your stubborn back to LA to do the shoot." She never gives up, he muttered to himself.

Robert didn't like to do this ad. It was the same concept over and over again; rich guy, expensive car, beautiful woman, it was all too boring for him. But Sandra said it was an easy job for him because he is rich and has expensive cars and beautiful people around him. It was a walk in the park, she'd always say. But Robert didn't want to be just the rich guy anymore. That was why he didn't work for his family's company in the first place. He called Sandra to tell her where she can find the diner where his car is parked and agreed to meet her there but Sandra was adamant that she personally pick him up just in case there were any paparazzi nearby so he told her where he was.

__________

"Thank you for breakfast, Karen. If ever I'm in town again, I'll visit." He smiled at Karen, hugged her, and left. 

Sandra arched an eyebrow upon hearing Robert's promise. "What was that you'll visit them again? Are you serious about that? You'll come back to this small hick of a town?" Sandra was fuming mad.

"This happens to be a peaceful town and the people here are really nice. Don't talk about them like that. You don't know them." Robert said pointedly.

"Are you defending that old couple back there? Did you get a look at that lady when she saw my car? I could see dollar signs in her eyes! And the way she placed her arms over your shoulders after, disgusting!" 

Robert was getting angrier the more insults Sandra kept hurling at Amanda's family. "If it weren't for that couple and their daughter, I'd be sleeping in my car, Sandra. And if something happens to me because of that? You'd lose your precious talent. Think about that."

That shut Sandra up. "Whatever. Just get in the car and let's go."

__________

I wish I asked where the bakery Amanda's working at is. I wish I could at least have said thank you and goodbye. Robert was thinking these things to himself while on the plane back to LA. He'll make time to go back to Harrowpoint eventually. He also wishes Amanda would change her mind and give him a call.