BILLIONAIRE'S SEDUCTION

Chapter Four: Goodbyes

He waited for the two to come back to their hotel. When Agnes and Dominic arrived they immediately looked for a nearby restaurant. They found a restaurant that cooks native food in Baguio. Zachary ordered food that he could eat and fit his appetite. He loves to eat but only common foods. He never tried to eat some exotic foods.

“Sir, Ma’am, we also have some exotic food available. It is not native to Baguio City but we tend to cook because of the customer's demand,” a waiter said while giving the other menu.

Agnes grabbed the menu. Zachary was content with his food so he never mind looking at the menu. As the word itself, is exotic, that will eventually upset his stomach.

“Do you eat frogs, Sir?” Agnes asked.

He shook his head, “don’t ever order that food and eat in front of me, Agnes. Order another food,” he said.

The woman nodded, “how about snakes?”

He sighed. He looked at the waiter, “Our first order is already enough for us. Maybe that exotic food wasn’t for us,” that’s the best words he said while thinking about frogs and snakes being cooked.

“Copy that, Sir. Thank you!” The waiter smiled and he left.

“Next time, don’t ever order some exotic foods in front of me,” he said to Agnes and Dominic. And the two just nodded their heads.

After 15 minutes of waiting their order was served. He only ate what he ordered. While eating. Zachary couldn’t help himself not to look at Agnes and Dominic eating. They fast like competing with each other though it is not disturbing. Maybe it's just the way they eat.

“You can have my food, I’m full,” Zachary said as he tried his strawberry fruit shakes.

They stayed in Baguio for one night and one day. They found some best spots to build their new hotel business and they immediately processed some of the documents. Afterward, they immediately went back home.

Zachary was making his days busy and making his empire huge by building and buying some properties. He didn’t notice on his calendar that tomorrow would be the birthday party of Mr. Montreal’s daughter.

“Can you look for a designer for me, Agnes? Tomorrow will be a big event. There are some investors and businessmen. It is the best moment to sell your business to them,” he said to Agnes.

“Do you want some investors in your company, Sir? You don’t need them, you can run your business independently,” Agnes said while busy taking down notes.

“I don’t know if you learned a lot from being my secretary, Agnes. Sometimes you act normal, sometimes you act dumb.”

“Yeah, I know that, Sir. I just don’t want you to be abused by anybody else. You are my boss, yeah, you were harsh sometimes but it doesn’t matter anymore because you always give us money, you know.”

“Just don’t talk to me, Agnes. Just look for a designer for me.”

“Okay, Sir.”

Zachary went back to signing some needed documents and the payroll of everyone. There are a lot of papers to be signed at the end of the month. He even forgot to take his lunch and Dominic reminded him of that. He just asked the man to buy food for him. While waiting for his lunch, Agnes came into his office.

“I already found a designer, Sir. But first, I want you to know that I tried my very best to look for famous designers but they refused because of the time.”

“And then?” he was confused.

“I found a designer from our place. He is good but,” Agnes stopped and felt nervous.

“Just talk straight, Agnes.”

“The problem is, he only designs for dead bodies because he is working at funeral services but they can cater some customers aside from dead bodies.”

Zachary tried not to talk. He immediately lost his temper because of what Agnes just said. But he also evaluated the situation. It is possible that no designer can accept them because the event will be tomorrow.

“No, just take this paper to the finance department, and don’t show your face again,” he said calmly but Zachary controlled his anger. Agnes gave him a hard time and tested his temper everyday but it did not affect his work for the company. He must be honest that the woman was dumb as always but when it came to work, Agnes was so effective.

Zachary went out early to look for some suit jackets and trousers. He went to a well known brand to buy the things. Luckily, he found a suit that fit him. He just spent 30 minutes in the store and he went to his condo. He still has enough time to go to the gym. He badly needs it to release some cortisols in his body.

In the morning, it was Zachary’s daily routine to go to his company very early. Some of his employees greeted him but he didn't respond. Zachary just being himself. And he didn’t want to get attached with the people, the more you invest time with them, the more it hurts when they leave you.

He entered his office. As always, Agnes was late. He noticed a pink envelope on his table. He grabbed and opened it. Every time no word ds written outside the envelope and he assumed that it was for him. Zachary pulled the paper inside and he read it.

“Dear Sir, I really want to work with you as your secretary but I really can’t take it anymore. Everytime you raise your voice at me, it is traumatizing. I know I am dumb person but I also get hurt. Right now, I decided to resign and find work that I feel so comfortable with. Thank you for being good to me sometimes. This is not a formal resignation letter because I know you will disapprove of my letter. I want to make myself free. You are a good man, I can feel it, please, don’t make your past experiences change you for who you are today. My mother once said, "Never change yourself just because you experienced something bad before.”

After reading the letter. Zachary immediately called Dominic and asked his driver if Agnes was serious about her decision to leave her position as secretary.

“Yes, Sir. I tried to stop and convince her but she never stopped crying inside the cubicle, and her decision was final,” Dominic said on the other phone.

“Do you know where she lives?” he asked.

“I know the place but I don't know her house.”

“Okay, I will wait for you here, let’s find Agnes.”

After talking to Dominic, Zachary felt the guilt. He never heard Agnes complaining about his attitude. All he knew was Agnes was okay with his treatment. But what caught his attention was the advice of the woman.

Zachary just feels so bad while waiting for Dominic to arrive. He really can’t just let go of Agnes. The woman was too unique in her way. Only Agnes deserves the position of being his secretary.

“You can’t just leave that easy, Agnes.” He said inside his mind. His day will not be complete without raising his voice to that woman. The presence of Agnes will make him forget the pain inside his heart. The pain that he always wishes to disappear.

When Dominic arrived, he wasted no time. They then went to Agnes' place. It was two hours away from his company. No wonder why Agnes came late sometimes.

“Are you sure about this place, Dominic?” he asked. While watching from outside. Zachary feels the place is unsafe. There were too many people drinking outside and many of them were already drunk.

“I will try to ask them,” Dominic answered and stopped the car. He opened the window and asked a woman who passed by their car.

“Walang Agnes sa lugar na ito,” the woman answered.

“What did she say?” Zachary asked when the woman was talking Filipino words.

“Agnes is not from here. He might be faking her information,” Dominic said.

“Why the hell did he fake her information?” Zachary asked his curiosity.

“I have no idea, Sir.”

Zachary sighed. They decided to get back at the company because of some work needed to do. He will be attending the party tonight. He needed to finish everything earlier.