Chapter 23: Misunderstanding
Inside the restroom cubicle, Sab is applying clumsily a light make-up to improve her complexion.
Her eyes were a little sore due to crying. Most of her officemates already treating her indifferently. Walking out with swollen eyes could lead to another misunderstanding.
She doesn't really care about the opinion of others. But rumors involving the company's boss especially if the boss is the CEO is too much for her to handle.
Thinking of him again, her face got sour. She was relieved at first when he left last night but when he did not come back after a few hours, she got worried then felt disappointed when he did not return at all.
She tosses and turns the whole night. The room becomes extremely quiet and the bed seems bigger than its usual size without him.
Though they usually do their own thing at home, she felt empty for not seeing him around.
Ana smiled at her as soon as she entered the room. Bing then stood up and gave her a cup of hot cappuccino.
She gave an awkward smile and looked at them puzzled as if she's looking at crazy people. What's wrong with these girls?
"Don't look at us that way. We didn't do anything to you. In addition, we heard that our CEO first love has returned and will be working closely with him.
We should know best what will happen next, so we all have to move on." Bing said this with bitterness in her tone. She even gives her chest a beating to show that she's truly hurting inside and acted weak as she leans on her shoulder.
Ana ran closer to them and cried without tears as well and she was squeezed in between the two ladies grieving. She just stood there and waited for them to calm down. Though she maintained a blank face, Sab felt a sharp pain upon hearing about Tom's first love.
Ana was the first one to recover. She fixed her clothes as if nothing happened and smiled again. "I have a date later. He'll bring 2 of his friends so you two must join, okay?" It will be after work so there should be no problem."
"Yes, yes, yes no problem," Bing answered excitedly and even gave an okay sign then the two walkaways happily without getting Sab's response.
The corner of her lips twitched. As expected, they are not interested to reconcile with her. So immature, do they really see her as a pushover?
She has no interest in tagging along. However, thinking that Tom might be busy with his first love and might not come home again, her heartfelt being squeezed to the point that she finds difficult to breathe, she is reconsidering her decision.
Ana and Bing were rejoicing thinking they have succeeded in dragging Sab on their plans.
They were heartbroken when they learned that the rumored first love of their CEO has returned from the USA for good, as a real fan of Tom, they are happy for him and have easily accepted their defeat.
According to what they heard, the CEO's first love is extremely beautiful and also belongs to a wealthy family. Aside from that, she is one of the rising fashion designers in the USA.
That's why it was easy for them to retreat.
But this was not the case with Sab. They all raised their brows, insulted and slandered her.
They cannot believe and accept that their boss will be interested in someone like her unless she had done something inappropriate.
They may not be daughters from influential families, but they cannot be considered mediocre. Their parents did everything to give them a better life.
On the contrary, Sab is from an unknown and poor family. Even her personality and physical appearance are not that great.
Nonetheless, she is being treated way better not only by their boss but also by their male colleagues.
The reason they invited her is so that they can rub salt to her open fresh wounds. She deserves it for being a vixen. If they are being mean to her, she just deserves it.
Tom who currently having breakfast with his mother and Linda received a text from Alvin.
He read some reports and reminders for his meeting for the day including the business party he needs to attend later which involves foreign investors.
"Look at that ungrateful son of mine. He rarely gets home, but he still thinks about work and had not even greeted me a good morning," complaint by Old Madam Del Monte.
"If only I have a daughter-in-law for sure I will live better than today," Old Madam had said this emphasizing the "daughter-in-law" as she looks at Linda's beautiful face with a smile and turns his gaze to Tom who seems to hear nothing.
Linda's faces blushed. She knows well what the Old Madam meant by her words.
When Tom ignores her mother's cries, she slapped his arm and looked at him with a warning.
Tom looked at her in a few seconds, still ignoring the other woman in the table.
His mind focuses on Alvin's message. "Your little secretary will be on a blind date later. If you don't come to the office soon, she may be snatched by an unknown black wolf." His message even contains emoticons with a huge smile as if teasing him.
His lips curve upward but the veins popups. He just didn't go home for a day and now she's planning to go on a blind date? He'll better straighten things with his little wife as early as now.
Tom stood up with a gloomy face. Both Linda and the Old Madam both got surprised and worried. They thought that he got angry with his mother's complaints.
Old Madam spoke and blocked his way. She traveled faraway and had done everything to give an opportunity for his son and Linda. She cannot allow the time and effort exerted go to waste. Though his son was obviously unhappy, she is more unhappy and angry right now to care.
"Where are you going? I told you not to anything today or just do your work at home if you must. Linda is here, don't you remember? You used to spoil her before and follow her around. You have like her so much before. Am I right?"
Linda's face reddened for being too upfront by the Old Madam. She and Tom were schoolmates and become a campus couple even if she's younger than 4yrs.
When Tom started working at his father's company, everyone envies her for having such a capable man. Technically, there was no formality in their relationships.
It was a mutual understanding between them. Tom picks her up at school. They call each other every day and talked until late at night. They will have a private dinner date weekly if their schedule allows it.
They did everything the usual thing a normal couple will do except being intimate which she didn't mind since she was very young by then and has not really thought anything wrong about it.
However, when she decided to study abroad, he becomes very distant. She's very competitive, very young and wanted to prove something for herself and be a capable woman to stand beside Tom as well.
She did not expect him to cut their ties after leaving abroad. At first, she thought because he was just extremely unhappy with her decision and everything will be back to normal once he calms down.
She stayed back and waited for the man to reach out, but this never happened. When she realized it, it was already long due, and she was already used to the set-up they had and assumed that his feeling is strong enough for him to understand her and wait for her.
But when she learned about him involving other women, her confidence was crashed.
Tom is a gorgeous and very capable man. A lot of women will be interested in him. How stupid was she to let the man away from her eyesight?
When Auntie Jenna looked for her, she was already settling things before returning home. Not sure how Tom will react once she gets back after many years but she'll do everything in case he will be indifferent.
Knowing that her Auntie Jenna is on her side, her confidence grew and predicted that everything will be fine.
Once she returned, he will be mad at first but be happy at the same time and will accept her again later.
Meeting Tom the first time, she realized how far the distance she created. Though she expected a cold treatment, she cannot help but feel disappointed and saddened.
The young boy she likes is totally different from the man in front. He did not even smile.
He stared blankly as if it's the first time meeting her. She was hurt realizing the damaged she brought into their relationship.
She thought that Tom's feelings for her were deep enough that he will not be able to forget her even they get separated for years since they are still young by then.
Though it was explained to her by Auntie Jenna that she was the who set-up and force him in the relationships deep within, she knows that Tom is a very traditional man and will never betray his partner. Agreeing to means, he has not thought about her anymore.
Now that she personally saw the huge difference from before to Tom's now, she can only blame herself.
Nonetheless, she already decided to keep this man for herself and will do anything and everything so they can go back as before.
The man who is rude to others but gentle to her.
The man who's cold to others but hugs her warmly.
The man who loves and admires by many girls but only has an eye for her.
She blinked a few times, a tiny bit of water forming at the corner her eyes. She misses him so much and wanted to run to him and hug him, but Tom only looks at her with a warning that gives a chill on her spine.
It was not what she imagines.
"When is she leaving?" Tom asked impatiently.
The Old Madam looked at his son as if she wanted to beat him if she could. She felt embarrassed since she was the one who invited Linda to return home.
She thought the reason why his son is not interested in any girls was that he is unable to forget Linda.
If this plan doesn't work still, she will then move on and will live in the countryside for the rest of her life.
Having an only son is useless. She was already old, but she still doesn't have a grandchild.
She wants to have one sooner while her and husand are still strong to enjoy and do a lot of things.
But this son of her was totally useless and incapable.
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