"Take care of him," said Mr. Hawthorne, who had told Preston to come to the hospital that night right before he left.
"Here is your new car key. For the time being, you will be his personal assistant.""Yes, sir." Preston received the key to a new sedan."I'll go first," said Mr. Hawthorne before getting into his car and driving away from the hospital.Meanwhile, I was still sitting limply, holding a cold water bottle in both hands. I felt uneasy, and I was determined to wait until my mother's treatment was finished. One hour and two hours passed very quickly. My back started to hurt, and my head felt heavy. I leaned my head and body against the existing wall and unknowingly fell asleep."Mr. Theo," said the doctor who tried to wake me up.I flinched before trying to force my eyes open. My consciousness still had to process long enough before I finally saw the doctor standing in front of me, waiting. I also tried to stand up and stretch my body a little."Sorry doctor, I..." My words were cut off, and I was immediately asked to get to the point. "What about my mother's surgery?""I want to apologize," the doctor said, starting his sentence while lowering his head."What happened, doctor?" Instantly, my eyes widened and opened widely enough to look like a meerkat."We didn't manage to save your mother, Mr. Theo." The doctor looked very apologetic."What do you mean, doctor?" Unknowingly, I grabbed the doctor's collar and pulled him up. "Say THAT IS NOT TRUE!" My emotions were rising just in time.The doctor raised his hands, as if giving up. "I'm sorry, Mr. Theo. My team and I have done our best, but God said otherwise.""NO, NO WAY!" I still denied that fact and pushed the doctor away from me. "DOCTOR, COME BACK INSIDE, HEAL MY MOM!" I pushed and ordered him quite roughly.Several hospital workers came and separated us. However, I didn't care; my mind was already filled with bad news. "SAVE MY MOTHER DOCTOR! PLEASE!!" I pulled back his clothes roughly."Sir, please don't make a fuss here." A security guard dragged my body and took me away from the doctor."NO! MY MOM COULD HEAL! THE DOCTOR SAID IT HIMSELF!" I kept showing up and screaming hysterically."Mr. Theo, calm down." Suddenly Preston's figure came toward me; I didn’t know he had been here all this time. "Mr. Theo, we have to let it go." Preston kept everyone away from me.All those eyes looked at me with pity and made me a spectacle for them. Preston led me out of the crowd. Preston led me into the car in the front parking lot of the hospital."Mr. Theo, please wait here. I will make up everything inside." Preston said this without asking for my approval.I just nodded weakly with a blank stare. My head was twitching, not only from lack of sleep but also from the bad news about my mom. I still can't believe it; now I am alone in this world. I no longer have a place to go home or a purpose in life."Mother," I mumbled with sobs.Preston had left me; I don't know what he was doing in there."Mr. Theo, I've taken care of everything, and tomorrow there will be a funeral for Mrs. Olivia." Preston explained as soon as he came back from inside.My eyes kept shedding tears while my mind was completely blank. I didn't respond to Preston at all. I don't have the energy to do anything. I am a child who failed to take care of my parents; my mother had just died."I will take Mr. Theo over to where you're staying for the time being." Preston kept talking.Preston drove the car, speeding through the very quiet night streets. Preston walked me to a hotel on the corner of town that looked very posh. Preston parked his car in the basement, and he helped me out of the car."Let me accompany you, Mr.," said Preston, grabbing me and guarding me from behind.We entered and immediately took the elevator to the 10th floor of this building. The elevator's ding sound rang before the elevator doors opened. We went down and headed for room number 1054, which was on the right side of the elevator. Preston opened the door and was ushered in."Please, Mr. Theo. If anything is needed, you can call me from the room telephone by pressing the number one button." Preston explained briefly."Thank you," I said, trying hard to process it."Then have a good rest, Mr. Theo. Tomorrow, I will pick you up again for your mother's funeral. Good night." Preston walked out of my room and closed the door.I sat on the edge of the bed and cast my gaze around the corner of the room. The room contains dark brown, gray, and white tones. There was a bedroom in the middle; in front of it, there was a sofa to relax on, a bathroom, kitchen, and dining area behind the bedroom, and an outdoor room. This hotel looked so luxurious that maybe the price per night could reach millions of dollars."What should I do after this?" I muttered and stood towards the mirror that revealed the outdoor room.The sparkling city lights looked so charming from up here. A city that would be busy again as soon as the sun started to show itself. The city that incised many memories of me and my mother's struggle to surviveWhile I was still digesting and lost in my thoughts, my cell phone rang. I turned and immediately put it on the bed. "Mr. Hawthorne." I read the inscription on the screen of my cell phone.I pressed the green button and said, "Hello, Mr. Hawthorne?""Theo, are you okay?" Such an unreasonable question; of course, I'm not okay at the moment."No." I answered briefly and clearly."I'm sorry for your loss. Tomorrow, I will come to the funeral with you." Mr. Hawthorne made a promise."No need, sir." I took one breath. "I have Preston accompanying me tomorrow; Mr. Hawthorne didn't need to be bothered. Theo has been causing a lot of trouble," I explained."No, not at all." Mr. Hawthorne refused. "Tomorrow I will come. Now rest; if you are sick, your mother will definitely be sad to see her child like that tomorrow at her funeral."I can't say any more after hearing all the words of Mr. Hawthorne. He closed it without saying goodbye after giving a long lecture.07:00 AM."Mr. Theo, wake up. We have to go to Mrs. Olivia's funeral now." Preston woke me up."What time is it?" I asked while trying to open my eyes."7 oclock, Mr. Theo."I woke up and realized that I fell asleep on the couch last night. "Mr. Theo, there are your clothes and breakfast; everything is ready. I will wait up front."Preston stepped toward the exit. "Preston!" I called."Yes, Mr. Theo? There is something missing?""Oh no. Thanks," I said when I noticed Preston was trying to provide for me.Preston smiled, looked down, and replied, "As you should, Mr. Theo."Preston exited and left me to get ready. I still can't believe all this. "Why is he doing all this?"I quickly showered, changed clothes, and decided not to touch my breakfast. My stomach still felt full, and I had no appetite to eat. I came out of the room and was immediately greeted by Preston."Are you ready, Mr. Theo?" Preston checked again before we left the hotel."Yes, I am." I nodded my head confidently."Please," Preston said, motioning for me to go ahead.We took the elevator down to the basement and got into the car. Not to forget, Preston helped me open and close the car door. "Thank you."Preston jumped into the driver's seat, and we headed straight for the cemetery. During the trip, I stared at the city streets, which were already packed with vehicles. I still feel very empty and can't believe that now I'm heading to my mother's funeral. Whereas yesterday I just got a job and am struggling to meet my mother's surgery needs."Mr. Theo wants to stop by to buy something." asked Preston, looking like he was just being polite after seeing me daydreaming."Ah, no, Preston. Let
"Sorry, Mr. Hawthorne, I did cross my limits. How can I bear to hear your son's remarks so impolite?" I said a fact right in front of his eyes."Mr. Theo," said Preston, who was starting to get scared seeing me fight his boss.Mr. Hawthorne held Preston, who wanted to break us up. "Stay where you are, Preston.""Yes, sir." Preston complied.Mr. Hawthorne was still staring at me without saying a word. I don't know what he's thinking. Is Mr. Hawthorne looking for reasons to blame me and punish me for spanking his favorite child? I don't know; maybe yes and maybe no."You're absolutely right; Spencer shouldn't say things like that to you." Mr. Hawthorne agreed with what I said.I was dumbfounded and didn't expect it to turn out like this. Mr. Hawthorne definitely sounded on my side, and there was no swearing or anger in his words. Our eyes met, and I didn't see it in either of his eyes."I am sorry in the name of Spencer." Mr. Hawthorne nodded slightly."Mr. Hawthorne," I said, trailing
"No need, Preston." I answered casually. "I'm not going to find trouble with him.""Please, sir." A shop employee brought a bag containing the clothes that I just bought."Thanks," I said, about to take it, but Preston took it much faster.I was surprised but did not make any comments. I turned around, followed by Preston behind me. I didn't turn my head or even glance at Spencer, who was standing in the same place as before. I'm not in the mood to make a scene in public. However, Spencer didn't seem to think the same way as I did."Hey orphans! What are you doing here?" Spencer half-screamed for me.There were no other visitors besides myself, Preston, Spencer, and his friends. So, it is certain that the call was addressed to me. I kept walking and pretended I didn't hear him."Oh, apart from being an orphan, it turns out to be deaf too." Not satisfied with that, Spencer returned to his cheap words again. "YA!" This time, he actually screamed.I was already on the threshold of the ex
"What do you think of today's meeting?" Mr. Hawthorne sat in his chair while I stood with my hands clasped in front of me.Mr. Hawthorne looked happy and proud as he managed to introduce me to all of his coworkers. On the other hand, I also feel happy, confused, scared, worried, and other mixed feelings. I have absolutely no idea if what Mr. Hawthorne said before was right if I were appointed as COO of Haw & Co.My forefinger shook nervously, patting the back of my hand, before answering Mr. Hawthorne's question. "According to Theo, today's meeting was enough to make Theo dumbfounded."Mr. Hawthorne looked at me and listened intently to every word that I said. There was a long pause before I added what I was saying. Mr. Hawthorne seemed to be waiting patiently for me as he folded his arms politely on the table and leaned forward."Mr. Hawthorne looks very fluent in presenting the company's new project proposal, so it can convince the investors.""Are there more you want to say?" asked
"Please, take me to Haven Haw's Lounge Cafe." Victoria got into her silver sedan."Yes, madam." Landon, Victoria's personal assistant answered before closing her mistress's car door.Landon dashed into the driver's seat and immediately shot down the road. It was already time for lunch to arrive. The trip to the cafe is not too crowded so it can arrive within a 30 minutes drive. The cafe that Victoria will visit is a new project from Haw & Co. company and just opened about three months ago. Victoria's car stopped right at the drop off area. Not forgetting to fix her fluffy scarf which forms neatly around her beautiful body. Victoria wore a long, casual brown dress down to the knee with a slit on the side, it made her look so sexy and showed her long legs."I will be here quite a while," Victoria said intending to tell Landon."Yes, madam." Landon lowered his gaze and nodded his head slowly.Victoria walked with seven centimeters high leather-colored heels with ease. Victoria stepped u
I was shown around the Haw & Co. corporate floor. The trainer who took me was named Glenn; he was such a tall man, like a bodyguard for famous artists. Glenn has a distinctive voice that is very pleasing to the ear. Maybe women will like Glenn just by seeing and listening to him introduce himself."This is a laboratory for testing the quality of cosmetic products."The lab was filled with approximately 20 people in medical gowns. The lab looks very sterile and filled with white. I'm sure not just anyone can enter here without the permission of the staff or Mr. Hawthorne.Next, they will enter the production site. Glenn walked towards the room beside him. "Let's try to enter," said Glenn, opening the door of the production room.Don't forget, we use hand sanitizer and a protection seal to prevent bacterial contamination. Glenn closed the door before standing in the middle of the room with me and Preston, who had been accompanying me. I would feel very awkward if Preston didn't come wit
That night, Mr. Hawthorne returned home a little late because of the inevitable traffic jam. Mr. Hawthorne just left his car in front of the house for his assistant to park. Mr. Hawthorne stepped toward the door of the house, loosening his tie, which had been around his neck since morning."Is the dinner ready?" asked Mr. Hawthorne, being greeted by one of his maids who was in charge of taking his coat and shoes to the launderette."Yes, sir. Mrs. Victoria and Spencer are also ready." The maid explained politely and in detail."Alright, please prepare hot water. I'll clean up before dinner." Mr. Hawthorne explained as he walked up the stairs to his room."Yes, sir." The maid went straight into the washroom, telling another assistant to prepare hot water for Mr. Hawthorne.In addition, Mrs. Victoria and Spencer will also be told that they will have dinner together after Mr. Hawthorne finishes his bath. All the servants at Mr. Hawthorne can accommodate 10 to 15 people, not counting the
"Landon, please go and hide. I will contact you after I finish my business here." Mrs. Victoria explained quickly as soon as she got out of her car."Yes, madam." Landon nodded in understanding, closed the car door, and quickly walked away from that place.Mrs. Victoria walked steadily into the building. The security guard and the employees standing guard at the front door immediately pulled over and paid their respects to Mrs. Victoria. "Good morning, Mrs. Hawthorne.""Morning." Mrs. Victoria answered with a friendly smile that she just made.Mrs. Victoria entered in formal attire, with a black suit that looked very beautiful covering her tiny body. The heels that support her body also look very expensive and classy. As the wife of a company owner, of course Mrs. Victoria will look her best, even without those expensive things. Victoria already looks beautiful."Mom," said Spencer, who had also just arrived from the side door of the office."Hi honey." Mrs. Victoria smiled as she saw