The CEO's Secret Heir

CHAPTER 4 ------ THE NEW RECEPTIONIST

She woke up feeling cheerful, feeling positive for unknown reasons. It was the day of the interview. She had her bath humming her favorite hip hop song. She had talked to her mum last night and her voice sounded much better and clearer than the previous they talked.

“My little sister seems to be doing a great job, taking care of her” she thought.

They lost their dad when they were 12 due to an accident on the construction site. He was an engineer. And since then, their mum had been their only parent, doing menial jobs and collecting wages just enough to feed them and pay for their tuition fees.

When her sickness started, she still refused to stop working and get treated because Theresa was already in her graduating year in school. The sickness intensified and she suddenly broke down. She was rushed to the hospital and the doctor diagnosed her with a stage 4 chronic kidney disease.

“The only treatment for her case is to get dialysis for her. Which includes filtering waste materials from her blood with our devices since her kidneys are failing and they can't do that anymore, or we can just get a kidney donor for her, but we'll still have to do the dialysis since her blood is already corrupted with waste” the doctor had explained to her while she froze on the seat in the doctors office in disbelief of what her mum is going through.

She was just in her final year, unsure if she was going to graduate, she hadn't paid her tuition for that year. The whole drama made her say yes to a guy she didn't like, but he claimed to.

“I really love you more than words can say and if you agree to marry me, I'll pay for your tuition and your mum's dialysis” he had told her.

Brandon was not her type in any way. He was short, shorter than her, he had yellow hair, a round face and hygiene issues.

“I can overlook his physical appearance, cause we really have no control things like that, but girl, what's with his fingernails? They look unkempt. He can't even take care of himself, how's he supposed to take care of you?” Brienne had said to her out of disgust the first time she him. It was obvious she didn't like him.

“Now he's somewhere in another place enjoying himself with other girls, not even calling me and he claims to love me”. She thought in a carefree manner.

She was already dressed up. She wore a white shirt and black trousers. She did her hair up in a ponytail and looked at the mirror one last time. She took a deep breath and said to herself, “I think I'm ready”.

She reached out for her black bag and left the house, she kept imagining how her new workplace would be like. Being a receptionist is one job she's going to be good at because she smiles a lot. Even at things she shouldn't be smiling at. Despite all that she's been through, she still keeps smiling.

After a few hours, she was back home and her phone rang. It was Brienne. She picked up the call.

“How was it?”, she asked. “Well, guess…” she replied in an excited voice.

“You got it?” she asked with a squealing voice. “Well, I'm not sure yet, but I did well and they told me to wait for their reply”. She responded.

Almost immediately a text dropped into her mail and it read “congratulations, you have just been offered the position of a receptionist in The Banks Hotels and suites, you're to report to the employees block on Monday to resume duty fully”. She screamed, forgetting that she was still on the phone with Brienne.

“What, what, why?” She shouted back, startled by her scream. “I got the job”, she responded with a shaky and teary voice. Brienne squealed in excitement. “Congratulations girllll, I'm so happy for you”. She said smiling. “Let's catch up after my shift tomorrow to celebrate, okay?” She added. “Alright then”. Theresa replied as the happy tears flowed freely down her cheeks.

She was not a crybaby, in fact she's a strong girl who chooses when to cry and when not to, but this was her first successful interview and it made her emotional.

As Theresa hung up the phone, a wave of emotions washed over her. She leaned against the wall, allowing the reality of her new job to sink in. The corners of her mouth turned up in a smile she couldn't suppress. This was a turning point, a chance to change her family's circumstances and support her mother in a way she never thought possible.

She glanced around her small room, filled with posters of her favorite musicians and books she had yet to read. The walls felt like they were closing in, but today they seemed to expand with possibility. She could almost hear her late father's voice encouraging her, reminding her to keep pushing forward no matter how tough things got.

With renewed energy, she began to tidy up her space, putting away clothes and stacking her books neatly. She wanted to create an environment that reflected her newfound optimism. Each item she put away felt like a small victory. She had spent too long dwelling on the negatives; it was time to embrace the positives and look forward. Her phone buzzed again, pulling her from her thoughts.

It was a message from her little sister, asking if she could come over for a movie night. Their aunt had travelled to come see their mum, so her little sis was relieved if her duties for a short while.

Theresa's heart swelled with affection. Despite everything, her sister had managed to stay bright and cheerful.

“Of course! I’ll even buy popcorn,” she typed back, excitement bubbling in her chest. As she prepared for her sister's arrival, she found herself lost in thought about the future.

She envisioned herself behind the reception desk, greeting guests with a warm smile, making them feel welcome. She imagined the satisfaction of earning her own money, of being able to contribute to her family. The thought of helping her mother with the dialysis costs and paying for her own tuition filled her with determination. The doorbell rang, breaking her reverie. She opened the door to see her sister bouncing on her toes, a bundle of energy.

“Guess what? I brought snacks!” she exclaimed, holding up a bag filled with their favorite treats. Theresa laughed, her heart lightening even more. “You’re the best!” she said, embracing her sister tightly.

They settled down on the couch, blankets draped over them, as they picked a movie to watch. As the film played, they laughed and shared stories, their worries momentarily forgotten. With each passing moment, Theresa felt a sense of peace wash over her. Life was still challenging, but she realized she had the strength to face it head-on. She had dreams, a job, and most importantly, a family that stood by her.

As the credits rolled, she turned to her sister and said, “You know, I think things are going to get better for us.” Her sister nodded, eyes gleaming with hope. “Yeah, I believe that too. We’ve got this!” In that moment, surrounded by love and support, Theresa knew that no matter what lay ahead, she would face it with a smile. The future was bright, and she was ready to embrace it.