"MISS Jimenez?"

Sierra called out in shock after a few minutes of sitting in the waiting lounge where she was. She could almost sleep because she had just come from the hospital where her mother got admitted for a few hours. She immediately stood up and approached the woman who called her. Sierra took a deep breath and let out a sweet smile.

"Are you ready for your interview?" the woman asked her.

"Yes,"

"Good luck, and I think you'll get hired today because they badly need an assistant."

"Uhm, what department needs an assistant? I see no department in the company's job posting."

"The CEO's office. That's the only office that always needs an assistant." The woman she was talking to opened the conference room door. "Good luck again," she said to Sierra.

She just smiled and entered the conference room. There she saw a woman Sierra knew was not far behind her age. The lady was tall, dressed in formal black office attire, and had blonde hair. A great smile etched her beautiful face upon seeing Sierra. She will pass as the nation's girl crush if she decides to switch career paths.

"You must be Miss Jimenez." The lady extended a hand to Sierra, whom she immediately accepted. "I am Bernadette Ruiz, director of Fritzgibbons Corporation's HR Department. Have a seat, please. Will it be okay with you if we wait for my boss to arrive before we start?"

"Yes, no worries."

Sierra slowly sat down and placed the bag on the side of the chair she was sitting on. She put a folder containing her other requirements was placed on the table. Sierra circled her eyes around, and she couldn't help but be amazed. Everything in the room - especially the view caught her attention.

Based on Sierra's information, Fritzgibbons Corporation was a leading corporation in the country and South East Asia. It handles more than ten subsidiary companies, such as those in the line of infrastructure, hotel and restaurant chains, resorts, and casinos. Based in Metro Davao, there is a branch that the CEO himself also owns. There is also a branch in Metro Cebu. Sierra can say that the company where she was significant and stable in financial aspects.

The offered salary for the assistant position at Fritzgibbons Corporation was dazzling, which is why Sierra applied. The written salary on the website is eighty thousand pesos monthly plus bonuses on top of it. She needs more money to support her mother's medical needs and the expenses of Zeke - her six-year-old son.

"Miss Jimenez, I have a few questions about yesterday's written essay we asked you to answer. It isn't part of the interview, but I am obliged to ask." Sierra nodded in response. "You said in your essay that you need this job to provide for your son's growing needs and mother's medical expenses, right?"

"Uhm, yes, I have a six-year-old son and a health-impaired mother."

"How will you go handle everything when we choose to hire you? Being an assistant to our CEO is a tough and demanding job, Miss Jimenez. It means no weekends, day-off, and vacation leaves. The CEO loves to travel intercity to check his business personally."

It's evident from the salary alone, but I'm still game, she wanted to say those words, but Sierra thought of better words. Sierra knows that she has to impress the woman in front of her.

"Being a single mother for six years taught me something that anyone couldn't learn in school. I learned to be selfless and think about their needs first over mine. Zero leaves, day-off, and vacations weren't new to me. My son understands that I need to strive harder for his growing needs. I'm still his mother at the end of the day, even if I'm always not around. He knows I'm doing it for his own sake, and it's cliché. But I am cliché.

Sierra smiled sincerely after answering the question of Ms. Bernadette's.

"I came to Friztgibbons Corporation to learn from the best and ascend well to a corporate ladder," Sierra added, then smiled sweetly again.

"Wow, that's endearing, Miss Jimenez. Although, emotions are meant to be set aside here."

"Anywhere I go, ma'am, it's always a must. Work is work, and the most important thing is to listen first. Assurance will follow to ascending in this kind of field."

Sierra's mother bequeathed her not to be weak, especially where she was. In Manila, you will be greeted with a good morning every day, and you're in charge of how to spend it and end it in a good way.

"You started without me?" A question of a baritone voice aroused them. Both Sierra and Miss Bernadette glanced at the man who came inside.

"Nope. I'd only asked a curious question to her," Miss Bernadette explained. "Let me introduce him to you, Miss Jimenez, so we can start now. This is Aidan Fritzgibbons, the owner and CEO of Fritzgibbons Corporation, and he is my boss."

Sierra seemed stunned when she saw the man who entered their conference room. Sierra believed that she had seen him before.

"Hi! I'm Sierra, but you can call me yours," she giggles as she offers her hands to the enigmatic and lonely guy sitting beside her. Sierra tried to pull her seductive look to get the guy's attention. She was drunk, and so were her friends, who were left in their seats. "Why are you so lonely here?"

Sierra saw him blink dimly at her. "I am meant to be alone always." The lone guy said to her. His soothing voice gives her unexplained chills down her spine.

"Me too..." she said meaningfully. "That guy just tricked me. He made my hopes high and robbed me of money!" Sierra's expression broke when she heard the man laugh. She knew it was because of her rant that it was also her fault. Sierra couldn't believe that her long-time boyfriend - now ex - was sleeping with her best friend. "You look more handsome when smiling, mister. Keep it that way, hmm?"

"What are you doing later?"

Sierra brushed her messy hair that blocked her eyes. "Nothing -"

"Come with me, then..."

"Miss Jimenez, are you okay? Miss?" Questions that woke her up and brought Sierra back to reality. It all came from Miss Bernadette, but she focused more on the man next to her.

It can't be happening.

Suddenly, Sierra's mind traveled down memory lane, and she saw the guy beside her in one bed! Six years ago, he was the only reason for a slight change in her life. And she's bound to work with her child's birth father!

"Are you sure she's ready to work for me? I won't entertain someone stuck in a loony bin again, Badette." Sierra heard Mr. Fritzgibbons say to Miss Bernadette. "So you see, miss, I am not fond of wasting my time on some staring game."

There she finally came to her senses. She needs a job. Sierra needs the large salary of the Fritzgibbons Corporation so that she, her son, and her mother can live. Sierra slowly stood up and held out her hand to the tyrant young businessman.

"I am Sierra Rose Jimenez, ready to work with you, Mr. Fritzgibbons."

***

SIERRA had two kinds of news when she got home after her interview. A piece of good and bad news. The first news is that she has a job, finally! The second and more important thing is that she will work under the man who impregnated her.

Sierra didn't know what to feel.

Will she be happy because, finally, after a few months, she has a job again? Be sad because the guy she met six years ago and impregnated her wasn't just an ordinary man.

"Mommy!" said the sweet scream that halted all her thoughts.

Sierra looked at the person who called her after getting off the bus. A sweet smile etched on her face upon seeing her only son waving his two hands up high to her. Zeke always does that, which relieves her tiredness and dread. She looked left and right before crossing and approaching her son, who immediately hugged her.

"How are you, my little man?" she asked her son in a voice of affection. She kissed both of his cheeks. If you look closely, Sierra looks precisely like its father. Zeke got her new boss' eyes, nose, thin lips, and slightly curly hair. It got her chestnut brown hair color.

"I am good. Mama Dahlia fetched me at the daycare today, and Mama Tin fed me," Zeke said to her. She can count on her friends, so her schedule in her new company is not a problem. "Did you get a job today, Mommy?"

"Of course! You know that you have a talented and charming mother, right?" Zeke giggled and hugged her tight. "How was Grandma? Did she already take her medicine?"

"Yes, Mom."

She nodded and asked her son to walk into their house. Zeke continues to talk about what he did at the daycare since she dropped him off earlier.

"You're already there, sweetie. How was your interview?" She held her mom's hand and kissed her cheek before answering.

"It's fine, and I got the job! They also give me a bonus on top of my supposed salary." There was a faint smile on her mother's lips. "I will arrange the requirements tomorrow and sign the contract in the afternoon. I will ask Dahlia and Kirsten to look after you two while I'm out."

Sierra's mom admires her greatly because she raised Zeke without asking anyone for help. Sierra worked day and night to make money for their needs. She has tried all jobs, from being a sales lady to her recent job as a call center agent.

Zenith was an excellent company with a good salary. But ever since the management changed and Sierra got the promotion suddenly, everything changed. The stress of the false accusations burned her out. It's not healthy for her, and he doesn't want the issue to grow, which could tarnish her name.

"I know that you will be accepted right away, sweetie. You are good and smart that your son inherited," she said, caressing her hand.

Sierra believes that her son's intelligence came from Zeke's father. It was apparent how he spoke earlier while talking to her. Sierra wasn't sure if she had outsmarted him during the interview. Being sassy, ​​Sierra aced the interview with the boss himself. She could keep up with what he could see of the man's butt.

The guy was very different from what she had met before at the bar.

"Now, I have a job; you won't miss taking medicine anymore."

"You made a lot of sacrifices."

"Don't think about that. I will return all your sacrifices to me." Sierra's mother took her hand and kissed it. Sierra hugs her mom in return. Now that she has a job, she can afford everything.

And Sierra vowed to keep the job no matter what happens, even if it's challenging to work for her child's birth father.

By hook or by crook, Sierra Rose!