The Untold Chronicle: Fire and Rain

Chapter 8

"Had you heard the news?"

"What news?"

"Mr. Demeco was fired. "

"Holy, why?"

"He was caught in giving false information in the articles."

I took a deep breath as I left my office and went directly to the pantry. The news had spread so quickly. Yes, I showed the voice recorder to the CEO, and Mr. Demeco got fired immediately. He’s currently at his office packing his things. Because of what I did, I saved our company’s profile.

"Oh my god, is it true? Did you report him? " Zoelle approached me at the pantry.

I picked up some lemon juice before I faced her. My brows knotted as I saw her hands were on her mouth like I did something bad. Did I? She should be thankful because if that guy hadn’t gotten caught, the company may have suffered its downfall.

"Yeah, he convinced me to do his dirty work and I obviously refused, so I reported him. I’m just saving everyone’s job, so stop acting like I made a mistake." I rolled my eyes at her.

"When did I say that? You really did a great job! I thought I would lose my job, " she shouted before she ran onto me to give me a hug.

"Okay, okay. That’s enough. Let’s go back. " When I invited her, she clung to her arms around mine, like she always does when we’re together.

She accompanied me back to the 8th floor and right after the door opened, Mr. Demeco was there. So it won’t get worse, I just gave him a glance before pulling Zoelle out of the elevator. We were about to pass when he grabbed my arm. I heard my co-workers gasp, but I gave them a look that said I could handle this, so they stepped back.

This guy is making a scene. I won’t give him my respect, which I have always given him for years because he’s already out of this company.

"I’ll be waiting for you outside," he smirked.

"Everyone is looking at you. Don't ever make a scene, Mr. Demeco, "I smirked back, which made him tighten his grip on me.

My co-workers started to shout their negative comments at Mr. Demeco and told him to remove his dirty hands from mine. He aggressively removed his grip on mine and went to the elevator. I even saw him smirking before the door closed. I shook my head. I’m not even stunned.

"Is he giving you threats?" Zoelle asked me as I reached her place.

 I immediately shook my head and simply smiled at her. As long as I can handle it by myself, there’s no need to worry, and I also don’t want her to get involved.

I looked at my co-workers’ and motioned them to go back to work and they hesitantly obeyed. I went back to my office and sat on my chair. I groaned in frustration. You’re in a fight again, Theia. I sat properly and was about to continue doing my article when I saw a frame on my table, my family picture.

I smiled as I picked it up. I touched the photo and started to reminisce about my past. It was me in the middle while Mama and Papa were beside me. That picture was caught on my ninth birthday back in the province. We were so happy that time, they even threw a simple party for me.

Unfortunately, my mother died when I turned 10 years old because of lung cancer. Using cigarettes has been her lifestyle. She’s not a bad person, she just can’t stop using cigarettes in her life. We were so broken at that time and didn’t know how to adjust without mom by our side because she usually did all the chores and even cooked us meals.

Years later, we had adjusted and accepted the fact that my dad would be the only one I could live with until I grew up. I am already 25 years old, and he’s been beside me for 15 years since my mom left, and he made sure that I grew up as a good kid. We celebrated my achievements in school until I moved to Manila for college.

I’ve been living here in Manila for 7 years and sometimes Papa comes here, or I will visit him in the province. I can say that it was very difficult for me to adjust because my way of life in Mindoro was different from here in Manila and some of those things I could not apply here in the city.

My auntie offered some help. She’ll give me one of her rooms in her apartment, where I am staying right now, but Auntie was there to guide me here in the city. My father paid my expenses here until I graduated from college. I took up a Bachelor of Journalism and Mass Communication. I really wanted to be a reporter, but that profession changed, so I decided to be a journalist instead.

I was too introverted in college, so I didn’t make many friends, but I still enjoyed my classmates' company, not until I graduated and got my first job at the company where I was working. Here, I met Zoelle. We’ve been friends for 3 years now, and she also guided me with the work even though we were both beginners at the time. She stayed with me until now.

My father was a farmer in our province, and I told him that he should retire because I can now provide for his needs because I'm working. We also have many pets back in the province, like pigs, chickens, 2 dogs, and he even adopted a dove.

I let him do what he wants as long as he can do it alone because it was so hard going back and forth here in Manila and in Mindoro. The good thing is, next week will be my mother’s death anniversary, so I need to go home.

I put the frame beside my laptop and went back to work. I was in the middle of proofreading my article when Zoelle went inside with a cup of coffee in her hand.

"Coffee for our savior." I frowned because of what she said.

"Thank you, done with your work?" I asked as I saved the file on my PC before I turned it off.

I’m now done with my work, and I still have 2 hours before we go home. Zoelle walked to my couch and sat there as she owned it.

"Nope, my laziness is striking me again," she exclaimed as she closed her eyes.

I chuckled and didn’t give her a response. I took the coffee that she gave me and took a sip of it. I was sipping when someone knocked on my door, I was shocked by the presence of Ms. Sheena, the CEO of the company.

"Good afternoon, ma'am," I said as I stood up and bowed, Zoelle did the same.

She sweetly smiled at us before she walked towards the chair in front of my table and sat down. I gave Zoelle a look that said she needed to go out, so I could talk with the CEO. We watched Zoelle leave the place before she looked at me.

"’m so thankful that you didn’t do what he told you. I’m disappointed in him. I gave all of his trust and put him in a position below me. Thank you, Theia. You saved not just your job but our company’s image." She was smiling while telling those stories.

I shyly bowed to her and thanked her. What she had just said touched my heart. I felt like I was a hero for a day. Seconds after she handed me a paper,

"What is this, ma’am?" I asked in confusion.

"Find out for yourself." She just smiled and stood up before she left my office.

I opened the letter as soon as she closed the door and my eyes widened while reading it. Oh my goodness! She’s promoting me?! I heard the door open and Zoelle caught me with this reaction, so she immediately went to my table and read the letter I was holding.

"Goodness’ sake! Is this real?!" She screamed.

"Slap me, Zoelle! Or just pinch me! Anything that can assure me that this is happening, "I told her, and she immediately pulled my hair so aggressively.

"Aww!" I shouted and hit her hands on my hair.

I stood up to keep up with his jump. I couldn’t believe this! Ms. Sheena is inviting me to replace Mr. Demeco and starting tomorrow I’ll be leaving this office.

"I got promoted!" I screamed and hugged Zoelle while we were jumping.

I smiled as I said, "You see this, Mr. Demeco?" I got promoted in my own good ways, not like yours. I was in tears as we left my office. I’ll start to pack my things tomorrow because I invited Zoelle to have dinner at my house.

"Congratulations, Theia!" They greeted me as soon as I went out of the office.

They cheered me for minutes and gave them my smiling face. I bowed at them like I was thanking them.

"Thank you so much! I'll be missing working with all of you, "I smiled at them and they replied back.

"So your office will be on the 10th floor?" Zoelle asked while we were walking to the parking lot.

"Yes, visit me often. I still need to adjust to my co-workers, "I told her.

"Of course, I’ll be visiting you with coffee." She winked at me and we both laughed at her.

We were near her car when I saw a familiar guy. Was it Mr. Demeco? I was right when I got near him. He was laughing devilishly, so I put Zoelle behind me.

"Congratulations! I heard you were promoted. " He smiled a fake smile.

"What do you want?" I asked seriously.

"Nothing, like I said, I just wanted to congratulate you." He laughed once again.

"Thanks, what are you doing here? Can’t find a job? " I fired back.

He gritted his teeth as he clenched his fist. Here he goes again, showing his true colors. I smiled at him innocently before I pulled Zoelle to her car.

"Excuse me, Mr. Demeco," I politely said, and he stepped back.

I entered Zoelle’s car and just gave Mr. Demeco a smirk before Zoelle started to drive. I exhaled so loud, and she also did the same.

"I thought he’d do something. Thank God he didn't," she said.

We ignored him and just focused on my promotion. We bought dinner and invited her over for dinner, and I also promised Auntie a meal. We immediately prepared the food and called my Auntie.

I told her about my promotion, and she told me she was so proud of me. Because of my excitement, I immediately told Papa about it and told him that I’d be visiting him next week.