15 years after.
"Gab, where are the comparative reports for 2016-2019?" "Gab, give me the sales analysis for the VIP products." Gab, the customer review analysis for last year, I needed it on my table, right now."
"Yes! Coming." She quickly responded. "The comparative reports from 2016-2019. I've already highlighted some important details on it, Madam T." "Okay."
"Here are the sale analysis for our VIP products with comparison and trends for the past 2 years. And, Ma'am Lou, the customer review report." "Thanks, Gab. You're really the best."
(It's okay Gab. You can do it. Fighting!) Gab tells herself.
"Hey! Gab?"
"Yes?" Gab answered as she continue her paper works.
"You know what I have news for you—good news and bad news. What do you want to hear first?" Pat excitedly asked Gab.
Pat is a good friend of Gab in the M's Collection as soon as Gab started her working career in the company as an executive staff. Though at first, she applied for a position as a junior fashion designer, she landed as an assistant since the company has no job opening for a designer position and thus, their standard requirement is for someone with a 3-5 years' experience in the fashion industry. Because Gab really wanted to work with this company, so she took the executive assistant job. At first, the job was tough for her because she was not only the assistant of their manager, Madam T but an assistant to all—a multitask assistant. She needs to learn everything that's why during her free time, she frequently goes to the company's library to study everything she needs to know. And thanks to her perseverance, character and patience, now she is the most effective and efficient executive assistant though sometimes, she works beyond work and time. But since she love what she's doing, she never get tired of it.
"Huh?" "What is it now?" "Tell me quickly because I have a lot of things to do." Gab said.
"Well the good news is Madam T will be taking a short break." Pat uttered.
"What?" Gab wondered. "But, why? "Where will she go?"
"She will be transferred to the Perez's Textile Inc." Pat added. "But you know what? What feels so intriguing is the real reason has to be kept secret. The HR Department only announce that she'll be transferred to another company but the real reason is that she will be demoted because of our lowest performance for the last year. The main company has their eyes on us." She continued. "So, scary. I had goose bumps."
"What?" "And why is that a good news?" Gab wondered.
"Well, it's a good news for you because finally the one who always boss you around and let you worked overtime and let you do things not related to work is finally gone. And for us, it's also a good thing. You know how intimidating she was. Yes, she's the boss. But, she don't know how to get along with us. She's very strict. That's why she's an old maid." Pat explained.
"Hey!" "Shhss… lower your voice Pat. If she will hear you, you'll be a dead meat." Gab expressed. "And, the bad news?"
"The bad news is we will have a new manager. According to a very reliable source, he's one of the heir of the Perez's Group of Companies. The youngest of the siblings. The bachelor. The arrogant Lucas Ezequiel Perez. After studying a business course abroad and finishing a Master's degree in the Harvard University, he finally decided to take over their family business. And, he'll be assign in our company." Pat narrated.
When Gab hears that name, momentarily her heart suddenly skip a beat.
She immediately responded. "And, what makes that a bad news?"
"It's a bad news, well not for us because he's so handsome." Pat tickles as she continues to explain. "It's a bad news for you my friend because you will be his executive assistant and he's famous for his bossy attitude. High tempered person, big-headed and over proud personality. His a lot worse than our present boss. Even when he was still young, he's known for being arrogant, cruel, unfriendly, and unsociable. And one more thing, he's a perfectionist. When he was 12 years old, no one can stay with his attitude even his hired friend left him."
Gab smiles unexpectedly because she knew the whole story of Luke's grumpy attitude and for the record, he got a friend—and not a hired or paid friend, but a real one and she's that friend.
"Bye, everyone." "See you tomorrow." "Bye, Gab." "Are you not going home? It's already 6 pm." Pat asked.
"Later, I'll just finish this up." Gab answered.
"Okay." "Don't overworked yourself, okay? Finish it right away. You need to have a beauty sleep because tomorrow you'll have a new handsome boss." Pat laughingly added.
"Bye." Gab pushes her away.
Gab suddenly stop. She realize the whole situation. She was stunned with idea of meeting Luke after 15 years. She was excited and feels sad as well because, 15 years ago, they don't have a nice farewell to each other—they don't have a happy goodbye, a good closure.
"Gab wakes up." Chad uttered. "You'll be late for work. It's already 7 am in the morning."
"What?" Gab shouted as she rush to the bathroom. "Why did you just wake me up now?"
"You're clock is ringing for an hour now." Chad added. "I'll just give you a ride so that you won't get caught in the traffic, okay? And, I'll pack you some snacks and lunch. Be sure to eat it at work, okay?"
Gab and Chad is now living in the same house. After Gab's grandfather died, she decided to apply for a college scholarship in the city and luckily, she got one so as with Chad. Since, they don't have a house near in the university, Chad's parents sold their piece of land in the countryside to buy a small house enough for the six of them with Gab of course. They decided to transfer together with the two because they love them so much. His parents started a small restaurant since his mother was really a good cook, well, not just a good one but truly the best, even Gab is a witness to his mother's talent. Fortunately, they bought a house enough for them at an affordable price since the owner was a good friend of Chad's grandmother and was also in a hurry to go abroad to be with his family.
"Gab I'm sorry. I can't give you a ride today. There' an emergency in the hospital. Bye." Chad yelled as he hurriedly run outside.
Despite of the fact that Chad wasn't born with a golden spoon yet this doesn't stop him from achieving his dream to be a doctor. Ever since they were kinds with Gab, he was sure what he wants to be in the future. With all the perseverance, patience, hardworking and diligence he has poured out, now he is already on his 4th year residency in a prestigious hospital.
"Why is it of all the days Mr Clouds that you want to poured out all your pain?" Gab said as she looked in the sky as it rains heavily. "Oh... oh… oh… the bus." "Wait for me." She yelled.
Upon reaching the bus stop, a rushing car passes by swiftly that splashed water on her. Gab was so angry and pissed off. "Ahhh!" Gab uttered angrily. "What the hell was that?"
"Gab? What happen to you?" Pat worriedly asked.
"Are you that excited to have a new boss that you soaked yourself to much in the shower just to impress him with your some sort of cleanliness? Billie asked, one of their co-worker.
"Get out of her." Pat pushes Billie away.
"Well, don't mind her. She just wanted to bully anyone today because her boyfriend, oh sorry, I mean ex-boyfriend ended their relationship last night and she was so devastated." Pat said as she helps Gab.
"Really?" Gab smilingly uttered.
"Go to the comfort room first and fix yourself. Any moment from now, our new boss will arrived and he will not be happy to see you—his executive assistant to look like that." Pat added.
"Okay." Gab responded. "Thank you."
"Ah!" Gab said as she fix herself. "What an unlucky day for me? YKZ 12678." She remembers the plate no. "You better not mess up with me. Or else, you will have an even piece for yourself."
Meanwhile, Luke arrived in the company. People stared at him. Well dressed. Smart look. Who would have thought that he's the young boy he was before? But this time around, he never gets intimidated with other people because after 15 years, he knew he's worth. He establish first his career on the States when he was assigned to manage one of their satellite branches abroad and he done excellently. But despite his achievements, something is missing on him. His smile. His eyes seem longing for someone—for love.
"This is your office, Sir. I've already changed its interior partially since it was of short notice but it will be finish by this week." Mr Lim explained. He will be Luke's executive assistant since Luke will not just be managing M's Collection but he is also one of the board of director of the Perez's Group of Companies for Administration and Management replacing his sister who took over the CEO position after his father decided to take a break.
"And by the way, Sir. You will have your another executive assistant while you will be working here at M's Collection. Her task will be focused on the perspective of this company only since my job will be focused entirely on your role in the PGC as a director. But, she will be reporting to me respectively for consolidation of reports. She will be like more of a personal assistant." Mr Lim explained. "Wait, I'll call her immediately Sir, so that we can furnished everything in order to avoid overlapping of tasks."
Gab was still on the comfort room when her phone beeps.
"Yes?" She answered. "Yes, Sir. Yes, I'm coming."
"Sir, this is Gab Gonzales. She will be your executive assistant here at M's Collection."
"Hi, Sir." Gab uttered while extending her hands.
However, Luke just stared at her and looked from head to foot. No single words. No single expression.
During the meeting, Mr Lim instructed for her responsibility as an executive assistant for Luke.
"Gab? Can you hand over the report on latest fashion trends?" Pat requested.
However, Gab didn't respond. She stare blankly on her computer and suddenly smile. She was still stunned with their first meet up with Luke after 15 years. She was just interrupted when Pat abruptly throws some folder on her table.
"Gab?" Pat said.
"Yes." Gab responded.
"Are you okay? Are you sick?" Pat uttered as she touches Gab's forehead. "You're not sick."
"I'm okay." She confirmed. "What do you need?"
"Wait. You were like that since you went out in the office of our new boss. Tell me. What have you done there? And you're smile is all over your face. Hmmm?" Pat curiously asked.
"What? Gab voiced out. "None. Nothing happen. We just had a small meeting since I will not really be his only assistant. I will be just assisting him regarding the matters on M's Collection. He will have another assistant Mr Lim."
"The one who accompany him a while ago?" Pat confusingly asked. "And, then?"
"And then I will be reporting first to Mr Lim for the consolidation of reports." Gab explained.
"Huh? What? Now, it looks confusing." Pat seems confused.
"By the way, what are you asking for a while ago?" Gab asked.
"Ah! Yes the report on the latest fashion trends. I needed it right now since I need to make a final draft for our summer collection this year." Pat clarified.
Meanwhile, Gab was not the only one who got stunned with their first meet up. Luke on the other side was seem astonished that make him to take a gaze on Gab while she was working. No one knows what his thoughts are but with the way he acts, his like planning something.
In the house, Gab was still in awe and couldn't take a sleep. She was smiling then suddenly laughs. She remember all the memories they shared together with Luke. But what stops her in smiling is the thought that they don't parted in a good way. She don't know how to approach him. She felt she lost the perfect words to say. All she can do for now is to perform her job since she barely needed money to help Chad with his studies and to give financial support to the foundation closest to her heart, Granny's Home.
Ever since her grandfather died, she helped the foundation even if she can only offers her service to them at the beginning. Every Sunday, after church together with Chad, they help the nuns and volunteers in the center. The foundation was very close to Gab because it's the least she can do to ease her regret in failing to take care for her own grandfather. To ease her guilt, she devote her life in serving the grandparents who were abandoned and left behind by their family. The owner of the foundation was also the one who offers Gab and Chad a scholarship in college. But today, a lot has change, the foundation was about to be evicted in their land because the prodigal son of the owner has sold it to a very rich businessman. And since the owner who donated the land was now dead and they don't have any legal documents to support the act of donation, they were very worried and troubled. That's why Gab endures her work status in the company because she applied for an instalment program to avail a building to accommodate the foundation.