"CAN I TRUST YOU, MS. JIMENEZ? Considering that I tested and kept testing you, which I know may haunt your dream and ruin your good night's sleep."
It's good to think of adding Mr. Fritzgibbons. Sierra felt that he would not admit it. He tripped her over and over even though the confession was not direct. To him, it was a test, but for Sierra, it's like he's playing a game, and she's his prey.
Prey vs. predator game.
"Can I ask you the same thing, sir? I know you suspected me of insubordination, and right now, I feel that you're thinking I'm spying on you."
Sierra was kind of wise prey. She will not let herself be eaten by a predator like Mr. Fritzgibbons.
"You're a mind reader, aren't you?" Sierra shook her head and then smiled. Her doubts about Sir Martin's sudden dig disappeared for a moment. She hasn't moved on yet, and it's vague, but she can't think about it. "Anyway, let's stop talking about personal because we have a lot of work to do. Starting today, every project we have are top secret until I announce it myself to the press. Do you understand?"
"Yes, sir," she said, then continued to work.
She just moved because Mr. Fritzgibbons own the office. That living room area became her place until it was time for her to go home. She did so much that she hardly noticed the time. Sierra can't even remember if they ate because after they talked with her boss, he locked himself inside a private office.
Dickie drove her home as part of the older man's routine. There is no need to send the boss because the young man has no intention of going home to his penthouse. Sierra mind her own business and go home. When the car stopped, and she got out, Zeke immediately met her and hugged her tightly.
"How are you, young man?" she asked his son, gently combing her hand through his hair.
"I'm good, but the daycare teacher wants to see you tomorrow." Sierra saw her son's face turn sad. "I'm sorry, Mom."
"What's wrong?" she asked, but he didn't answer. That bothers Sierra and adds to her above-the-head problem. No matter how hard she tried, Zeke didn't speak anymore. He just asked her to come inside to rest. She tucked her son in bed and kissed him good night. When she came out, she found the mother arranging Zeke's things. "What happened to Zeke's stuff?"
Her mother took a deep breath before speaking. "He didn't even tell Dahlia and Kirsten. He kept saying sorry, and then he suddenly became quiet,"
Even if Sierra didn't ask, she knew very well what her son was going through. She once experienced being bullied at school. Her son doesn't even go to school yet. It was just a daycare she used to work for, but she also left when she found a higher-paying company. Kirsten and Dahlia were still there, but she couldn't put all the blame on them. They are also busy with other children, so it is unlikely to see if someone is scolding their child.
"I'll try to say goodbye so I can talk to the daycare center owner tomorrow."
"It's even better for us to know. We can't blame Kirsten and Dahlia because those two care for someone else." She nodded at what her mother said. Sierra understands everything and thinks Zeke doesn't want to bother her, but she still tries to talk to her. "Son, how many years have passed? Aren't you ready to tell who Zeke's father is?"
She shook her head one after another. She didn't want to think or even talk about it. Not in her humble home. She needs to focus more on her son and what is happening to him.
That should be her focus—just her son for now.
***
SIERRA'S maternal capability was tested again when she talked with the daycare center's owner. She took a half-day at work to speak to them, and they're claiming her son needs a father figure. That's what they said in response to his punching a classmate who said he didn't have a father because it was not like her son. Sierra hated those people who were trying to be a shrink to them. There was a reason why she couldn't introduce her son to his birth father.
She also did not fail to be a parent to her son. It was only recently dug up because of a daycare project related to the family tree. Her son failed to complete his drawing and didn't ask her for help. That's all, and she knew it was bullying because they weren't born yesterday.
She had been in her son's shoes when she couldn't describe who her father was. Until now, she still had no idea who it was, and when they were in the same situation as her mother, she understood everything. Like her mother, she focused more on her son than others could understand. For them, a complete family can make a good son or daughter, they're all wrong, and she can prove it.
"Sir, these are the errands you had me make yesterday, and that's completely top-secret research." She said at length, then placed the folder in front of her boss. "Can I read some comments about the postponed project compassion?"
"Go on. I'm listening," he replied to her.
"Everything was hate comments, and they questioned your authority." He groaned loudly. "I have a suggestion, but it's up to you if you want to do it." Her boss did not speak, and she thought that was permission for her to talk again. "We can revamp the project compassion and change from the one your mother stole."
Sierra believes they can still do that. Because her boss's mother is not connected to the company and to reduce the frustration of other employees, she needs to think of a replacement.
"How is this suggestion you have different from the first one?"
"You will give them a two-day team-building slash vacation in one of your resorts."
"Consider it done,"
"With you, Mr. Fritzgibbons."
"You're joking?" She shook her head in response, and his eyes darkened, but he didn't budge. "What's your plan, miss Jimenez?"
"Build your image, and make you grow closer to your employee. Not too close, of course; we have to create limitations that no one can cross. Even I cannot do that,"
"Have you read about what an intern did to me before?" She nodded. She knew very well and read about it in her boss's profile. "I don't want to repeat the history itself, miss Jimenez, so whatever you're planning, make sure there are no lapses."
It's a difficult job, but she can do anything as long as everyone gets along, which is another difficult thing to do. She needed someone else's help, but that someone suddenly became a stranger to her. She will try to talk to him again and fix whatever the answer was between the two of them yesterday. Even though he questioned her being a mother to her son, she is still more reliable, and Sir Martin knows his cousin better.
Well-known.
***
"THEY will keep on questioning your maternal capability, Sierra."
She did not expect Sir Martin's visit to their house with Ms. Bernadette. She saw that the young woman struggled with what her husband said. Even she was embarrassed because his comment was too biased. She said what happened at the daycare and Zeke's response, but that's not why they're here. She asked for their presence for the project she's been thinking about, and it's about the team building thing she mentioned to her boss.
"I didn't ask you to lecture and question my maternal capability. I have many questions left unanswered earlier, and I think that's enough," he raised his hand, approached his son, and asked him to play video games. "Play friendly video games, okay?"
"Yes, Mom!"
She smiled and watched them enter her son's room. "Martin is unbearable, just like Aidan, but if you want to talk to someone more serious, you'll go for our boss." miss Bernadette's suggestion, which she accepted. "About the team building, we never did this kind of thing before. Especially in the programs included in your email. Martin will participate, but Aidan, I doubt."
"My son has an aloof attitude at first, but when he enjoys it, Zeke blends in easily. He didn't inherit that from me because I am always a leader in team building. I am competitive physically and one of the boys they call mine."
"No offense meant, but your son is more like Aidan. I see the young Aidan on Zeke, except that he grew up in an unhealthy home environment. You did an excellent job of raising your son alone, Sierra. I can't help myself but admire you. I don't understand Martin why he told you yesterday about the custody,"
She waved her hands. She didn't have that anymore, and she didn't even call them to talk about her son. She asked them for work and the plan she needed to devise to make Aidan Fritzgibbons a little open to them. To express himself and to prove that he's different from his entire family. She will do it because they are both on the same side, but he doesn't know if Mr. Fritzgibbons is.
"I hope my boss won't think of me as his enemy, Ms. Bernadette."
"Do you want to help him because he's your child's father?"
"No, I want to help him because I am a friend, and one mistake won't define me as a person."
Ms. Bernadette smiled and heard what she said. That's what she wanted to prove, even before the boss looked at her like an enemy.
Look that she needs to change.