Madam, The Missis

"Everest call Noah quickly and pass him to me!" she shouts loud enough for her voice to sound throughout the whole background noise of the installers and the heavy wind.

Belen and Everest are on A Star Mall's rooftop with the installers who are working to put up the banners for the beginning of the Summer season.

"I never would've thought she'd care so much about this…usually when our theater's installers arrive we just let them do their job but to think, she'd care so much as to be here. And Noah is downstairs outside trying to figure out how the installers are doing behind A Star…she runs a pretty tight leash around here."

Belen begins to wonder, "mmm, today is the beginning of Summer vacation, graduation week passed. Today is probably A Star's most packed season, maybe even busier than Christmas…" when she shouts to one of the installers, "what are you doing?! It has to go left!! Don't you understand your job?!"

Everest passes her the phone, "Noah! How are things going at your end? What?! Ugh! This is exactly what I was expecting! Another mistake, I strictly ordered the Chanu perfume to be displayed along with the pictorials from South Korea! I-I have to go, try to teach them how to do their job please Noah!" she hangs up abruptly, feeling frustrated at the fact that the installers brought the wrong set of banners. Finally, Belen sighs, rubbing the temples on her forehead, "why now…why today of all days…!"

Everest simply shakes his head, feeling sorry for the installers who have to deal with her temper but stays quiet or instead tries not to bring any attention to himself. When she asks, "Do you have a copy of the files on your tablet?"

"what?"

"The order I put in of the banners so I can show these idiots how to do their job!"

"Ah, yes, yes! Here!" Everest quickly pulls out his tablet handing it over to Belen when she walks over to the installers.

As she left him he finally sighs feeling relieved, but just then he feels something amiss when he looks up at the gloomy sky, "it's the first day of summer yet, why is the weather the opposite of what it's supposed to be? Isn't it dangerous to be out here? In this windy weather?" he shakes his head, "Nah, what could happen?"

Just as Belen was coming back to give Everest his tablet again, the poles begin to rattle by the loud gush of wind as the installer's tools fly away, but just as they did Everest's eyes widen in shock moving fast on his feet to cover Belen.

Luckily nothing seriously hurt him until Belen reacts quickly, noticing a metal pole about to land on Everest's head when she pulls him into a warm embrace. He confusedly stares at her eyes when he slightly feels the pole hit his leg. She finally releases him from her embrace when she quickly yells at the installers with wrath. At the same time, Everest is shockingly paralyzed, "w-what just happened?" he stares at her, arguing with the installers when his ears ring hearing her say, "You could've caused permanent damage to my employee!"

His body finally moves when he thinks, "I never thought it'd feel…great to hear that word come out of her mouth. 'MY' employee."

She gets near Everest, "are you alright? Does your back hurt? Did you get hurt anywhere?"

Her worried expression somehow shocks Everest to his very core, "I never thought I'd see such a gentle, genuine expression on that cold face of hers. It makes me want her attention even more." But he shakes it off with a smile, "I'm fine; it wasn't their fault."

She sighs, "good, let's go inside, I'll have Noah deal with them later" she glares at them from a distance.

Though as they are walking downstairs, silence follows with only their steps. When Belen turns around with a soft expression, "Thank you…for what you did back there. I'm fine, but if your hurt, it'd be best if you tell me now rather than later. Are you sure you're not hurt anywhere?"

He smiles, "nope! Don't worry Be- I mean Madam President, I'm okay. If something hurts, I'll make sure to let you know."

She nods, "since it's dangerous to be outside, it'd be best to leave things to Noah. But for now, we'll see how the banners are inside."

Everest's impressed by her awareness, "Noah isn't the only one she treats like this, it can be anyone…I think I can see why her employees like her other than the money."

***

Noah meets them halfway, "Are you alright, Belen?! I heard there was an accident!" his concerned expression is enough to make her feel safe when she nods, "It was nothing, Everest did his best to protect me. Ask him. Not me."

But Noah side-eyes Everest, "I see, thank goodness. Then I'll be on my way, their setting up the correct banners inside right now if you want to check."

She nods, "okay, go on. I'll be with Everest."

***

As Belen and Everest left the rooftop the installers begin to gossip.

"I guess it's true about the Madam and her fiancé, right?"

"She's such a pain! But I can't argue that she pays better than others."

"I almost felt like looking away when she hugged him!"

"aye! Stop daydreaming and start cleaning before the weather turns worse."

But Noah asks, "what exactly happened?" his cold tone sends a chill down their spine as the installers gulp nervously while answering his question.

***

Meanwhile, downstairs within A Star, Belen and Everest are staring up at the banners that are almost done. Fortunately, she nods approving of the banners when Everest asks, "Excuse me, Madam, there is something I'm curious about."

"Go on."

"Do your employee's uniforms also change? As the seasons do?"

"no!"

"why not? Wouldn't it be for the best if the uniforms changed to make the employees more appealing to the eye of the customers?"

"Are you saying the uniforms they have on now are plain?" she asks arrogantly making Everest regret his curiosity.

"e-eh? N-no! n-not at all! It's just my opinion, but wouldn't it be best to have customers fill out a survey about small matters like these? To upgrade A Star?"

She clicks her tongue, making Everest shudder, "I hate that word the most…upgrade?! If what you speak of are small matters, then why should I spend my customer's time with having them fill out a survey?"

Taken aback Everest nervously stutters, "I-I didn't mean it that way it's just"

Again she locks her arms into a cross shaking her head in disdain, "put yourself in the customer's shoes, would you spend 5-10 minutes filling out a survey when all you want to do is shop?"

"If there was a price at stake, maybe?"

She scoffs, rolling her eyes, "A Star does not accommodate to a person, it's famous for its diversity. Anyways Noah and I always change things according to analysis. If you look at our website, it's constantly changing. There is never a season that remains the same."

"O-Oh…"

Suddenly they both hear a loud clacking of metal, causing them to look up, "LOOK OUT!!"

Everest's body reacts quickly, pulling Belen to take cover underneath the bridge walkway of the second floor. Though as he did, he couldn't control his strength, surprising Belen to trip on her feet, causing her to trip along with Everest. In that instant, a metal wrench clacks with the marbled floor, creating a crack when Belen locks eyes with Everest when they overhear a clicking, snap, shot!

They both turn to the sound of a camera's beep, noticing a photographer standing by. When she stands as if nothing happened when the photographer gets closer to them, "Forgive me, Madam, I couldn't resist such a rare opportunity, I'm sure you'll thank me later."

But Belen chuckles with a nerve almost ready to pop, "Stephan! What do you think you're doing taking pictures of people other than the mall?!"

Stephan, a thirty-year-old freelance photographer with curly hair cheekily smiles, "What are you talking about people?! I'm taking a rare picture of you flirting with your fiancé in broad daylight! Woohoo!!"

Belen can't help her embarrassed smile from shinning when she turns to see Everest standing up; she asks, "are you hurt?"

Everest shakes his head asking, "who is this man?"

"ah! Hey Stephan! Come meet him!"

Immediately Stephan walks near them as Belen introduces, "Everest, this man here is A Star's very own photographer! He is in charge of the beautiful pictures you see on A Star website. Stephan works for me, well, when the seasons change. From then on, he somehow manages to disappear!" she pinches his cheeks playfully.

"Nice to meet you! I'm Stephan Lan, a freelance pro-photographer! I've been meaning to meet the famous fiancé that'll take my dear Madam's hand in marriage!"

He laughs, making Belen shake her head, when Everest awkwardly smiles, "a-ah! It's nice to meet you! I'm Everest Fox. It's a pleasure."

Stephan nudges Belen, "hey! Why is he so stiff? Are all men this stiff? Or do you turn them like that?"

Belen pushes him away with a cold glare, "stop that blabbering mouth of yours before I decide to cut your pay in half!"

Like a scared dog, Stephan zips his mouth, when Belen asks, "delete that picture you took of us, I don't want any more unnecessary attention than what I already have."

Stephan responds robotically, "got it, my Queen!"

She walks away upstairs to scold the installers leaving Everest behind with Stephan. But Everest can't help but feel awkward when he decides to follow her but is stopped by Stephan, "hey! Aren't you curious to see how the picture turned out?"

"Sorry, sir, I'm not…" At that moment, Stephan shows Everest the picture of Belen, and he staring at each other with such a gentle gaze.

Stephan notices his reaction making him smirk, "give me your card."

Everest confusedly hands him his card when Stephan takes a look at it nodding, "Okay! I'll make sure to send it to you!" he winks, walking away, but Everest stutters, "wait, that's not what I!…" he sighs, "what-what happened?"

Everest looks up when a smile unknowingly forms on his face seeing Belen and disappears within a second as soon as Noah appears.

"I don't know why, but it's fun talking to her. She's not as formal as the first day we met, and here comes her knight. Just the sight of him pisses me off!"

Though at the same time, Noah and Belen meet on the second floor as she informs him of what happened, making him worry again, "but are you alright?!"

"Argh! Enough about me! It's those stupid installers! Now we have to call the repairer to replace the tile that got cracked! Seriously this isn't my day!" she stresses to Noah.

But he tries to calm her down, "I got it! I got it! Don't worry! I'll deal with them. I'll call them, it's fine. The mall does not open until noon today, remember? It's 10 am right now. There is still enough time."

She sighs, feeling a throbbing pain on her head, making her squint her eyes, "ugh, mmm…" she rubs her temples.

Noah gently holds her arm and presses his hand against her forehead, "you're warm…why don't you stay at the office? I'll let you know if anything happens."

She furiously slaps his hand away, "No! Today has to be perfect!! I want those idiots gone!"

Everest, along with the heads of the department, gather to stare at Belen and Noah going back and forth when the heads of the department's sigh, "the Madam is a true perfectionist!"

"This time around is probably the worst of all past years, huh Miss Rona!"

"Madam President is uncontrollable. I don't think even Noah can calm her flame at this rate."

"tsk tsk! But I still don't feel bad for the dog-killer."

"Shh! Someone might hear you!"

"You want to get yourself fired?!"

"Remember, the Madam has sensitive ears!"

Suddenly they notice Everest approach Belen like a moth to a flame when he quietly interrupts them, "Excuse me, Madam."

But Noah shouts, "don't you see were in the middle of a!"

Belen coldly turns, "Yes?"

"I was wondering if I can go to the hospital."

Noah scoffs while Belen worriedly grazes his arm with a concerned expression, "did you get hurt? where?"

Noah gets irritated by his presence saying, "Like I was saying, Belen, I can"

She completely ignores him, giving all her attention to Everest, "I figured! Why don't I drive you to the hospital!"

"a-ah, I can go on my own, you seem busy right now, so."

"come on. We're going to the hospital! I need to make sure you're not hurt!" she gently grabs his hand pulling him to the direction of the elevator when she turns back to Noah, "I leave everything to you."

Noah bitterly smiles, "Yes, Madam."

Though as soon as they disappeared, Noah's complexion darkens.

***

"Madam, you don't have to take me. I'm fine going alone."

Belen ignores his plea, "I'll wait for you, or do I have to get down with you?"

"No! I'm embarrassed as it is to have gotten hurt. I need to save my pride."

She smirks, "Pride? If you're hurt, just say so. What does pride have to do with anything? What if, because of your pride, you end up losing your life?"

"Why are you bringing up death all of a sudden? It's a little extreme!"

Belen chuckles, "Next time, don't put your pride on the line over your health. We're here, call me once you're out."

As he got off, he asks, "where will you be waiting?"

"hmm? Does it matter? Call me once you finish," she replies indifferently.

***

After an hour, Everest walks out of the doctor's office, making his way to get prescribed medicine. When he bumps into a middle-aged woman, he simply says, "sorry."

Though he curiously turns around to notice, "Belen?"

When he asks a nurse, "excuse me, but that women that passed by me earlier, do you know her?"

"I'm sorry, sir, we cannot reveal private information."

Just as he finished paying, he feels his phone vibrate, "Hello? Yes, Madam, I'll be outside in 2 minutes!"

He hurriedly thanks the nurses and rushes outside, waiting for Belen when he thinks, "did I not see correctly?"

***

After returning to A Star Mall, Belen went through a final inspection until the last minute to remind the employees to be ready for anything. When finally the doors to A Star Mall open, a flood of youth enters the mall like a herd of sheep going from store to store while at the same time admiring the banners.

Though everything is in place and the customers are satisfied, the only thing bothering Belen at this point while in her office is "the weather…" she says, annoyed while at the same time clicking her tongue.

Everest and Noah are both present like statues staring at Belen glare outside the window to the sky.

"It's not officially summer yet, but…I didn't think the weather would turn out to be this horrid."

Noah calmly tries to reassure her, "It's just the beginning, the new products and stores are attracting a lot of attention so far. It shouldn't be long before more arrive."

Belen asks, "Everest, you can go home early for today, and your day off is tomorrow, so make sure to come between this time tomorrow to pick up your check."

"Yes, Madam President, thank you."

For once, Everest does not complain about leaving early because he hurt his back, falling on the marble floor. And from then on, his pain only continued throbbing more than sore muscles.

On the other hand, as Everest left, Noah is finally alone with Belen when she asks, "Did Stephan leave already?"

"Yes, he sent me a text stating that he finished uploading the photographs he took on A Star website."

"Great…perfect," she whispers to herself, "why do I feel uneasy?"

"Madam?"

As distracted as she is, Belen replies calmly, "yes?"

"Do you want a warm cup of tea?"

She blankly nods, "sure…"

Once Noah left the office to make her tea, Belen sighs, trying to relax on her chair by doing her breathing exercises but is unable to stop her trembling hands when Noah comes back placing her tea on the desk.

"Are you nervous?" Noah asks, feeling concerned.

She grins, "yeah…I can't help but want to know if everything is perfect."

"You don't have anything scheduled for today if you'd like I can drive you home."

"NO! I think that'll only make me worry even more."

"then, please rest, Stephan said he wants me to check my email to confirm some of the pictures he took so I can post them on A Star's social media."

***

After a while, Noah's downstairs making his rounds within each department, but he's somehow bothered thinking, "why did Stephan send Everest that picture? Where, no, when did he even take it?" he shakes his head, "they're getting closer that I can't even ask Belen what they talk about, but I want to know."

Meanwhile, Belen is in the control room, staring at each surveillance camera while nervously biting her lips. When she notices a middle-aged woman enter A Star, her eyes turn cold, "zoom into the entrance of the receptionist."

After clearly getting a shot of the woman, she whispers, "why is she here of all days?"

Her voice resounds, "let her in, clear the floor, and another thing…don't tell Noah about this."

"Yes, Madam!" they all reply in unison.

She marches out of the control room with confident steps and sharp cold eyes as her eyebrows furrow in. Belen's presence illuminates as if she's put on an armor, but who is this middle-aged woman that she so quickly let inside and went as far as to clear the floor?

***

The middle-aged woman enters Belen's office without a hint of worry, but full of arrogance. When Belen glares at her, "Mom, what are you doing here?"

Ernestina Perez, a woman in her fifties, born and raised from Veracruz, came to the United States of America with her husband, who is now her ex-husband Edilberto Astares.

She's beautiful and looks a little younger for her age, which she tries to hide all the time. She takes care of herself a lot more than most women her age showing her smooth, creamy skin, little to no wrinkles, and hour-glass curves. Many say Belen resembles her mother the most out of all her sisters. And she inherited her mother's curves, or so her mother states. Belen, on the other hand, despises her mother at great lengths. They both share the same birthday month, along with Iris. Though while Belen's birthday is November 23rd, Ernestina's birthday is three days after, November 26th.

Making them both Sagittarius, the reason her father believes why the two can't get along and instead bud heads.

For Belen, none of this matters, as she reacts hostile to her mother's presence, "what brings you here mom?"

"Hasta Que ya me dejas entrar!"

Belen glares, "Hurry and tell me what you want! I don't have the patience to deal with your third-grade brain right now!"

"Is that how you're going to talk to me? I'm your mother! You're not going to disrespect me!"

Belen scoffs, "How much do you need now? Did your boyfriend rerun out of money?"

"you're not even going to welcome me? Say that you missed me? Ask me how I'm doing?"

"Tell me what you want!!!" Belen shouts furiously as her face turned red.

Ernestina smiles, "you think just because you're so pretty and rich. You can act; however, you want with anyone? Including your mother?"

Belen's patience runs out "Mom, hurry before I call security!"

"oh! But you let me in this time! I guess you still remember what happened four years ago when I made a scene outside because you wouldn't see me!"

"So?"

"I can do the same again, oh what would the public say? To someone who disrespects her mother."

"Que Quieres!! Solo dime y yo te lo doy!" Belen shouts angrily, trying to control her violent temper.

Her mother, calmly stares at her with amusement, "I want to talk, and then you can give me the money I need."

"Entonces Habla! No Tengo Tiempo!"

Ernestina nods, "I want you to do me a favor."

Belen laughs, "as if! Go to my dad, why come to me?"

"I spoke with your dad already…He can't. but I know you can."

Before she explains, Belen coldly declines, "If my dad can't, then neither do I."

Ernestina arrogantly scolds, "For you, its not a choice! You are going to do what I ask!"

"Mom, just because you constantly hit me when I was a child does not mean I'm scared of you now! I won't do as you say anymore. I never did. You never cared about me, so why should I care about you?"

"Belen! No seas asi! Soy Tu Madre!

"And? Where were you when I was bullied in school? You always cared more about them! than you ever did about me."

"you had your dad! You always preferred your dad over me! What was I supposed to do?"

"I chose my dad because you preferred my sisters over me. Yet again, it's not as if Iris likes you either."

But her mom shouts with tears, "I want you to help me find Mabel!"

Cold silence fills the office, as Belen's aura turns tense, "I don't care about her whereabouts."

"But she's your sister! I always taught you, girls, to look after each other."

Belen sarcastically laughs, "I guess she must've missed the message."

"Please, baby! I want to know where she is and if she's okay!"

"Don't call me that! I'm not your baby! I never was…"

"Please! If you find her, contact me in any way, this is my phone number, and address" she hands Belen a piece of ripped paper, but she discards it in her trash bin next to her desk.

"Get out! I don't want to see you again!"

"Belen…I need money," Ernestina begs.

"How much? How much do you need to never show up ever again?!" she shouts with cold, distant eyes.

Ernestina asks, "I need $500,000."

Belen grins in disbelief while writing out a check, "after all this time, you constantly come for money, not even once to ask how am I doing?"

Her mom comments, "I've already visited his grave," Belen freezes with a dark expression handing her the check, "Please, mom…ca-can't you just leave me alone?"

Ernestina shudders to see Belen's lifeless full of sorrow, cold expression, "I can't, I need money."

As she took the check, she hurriedly walks out of Belen's office, shutting the door closed while walking into the elevator. "Perdoname, baby…Nunca supe que su muerte te causaba tanto dolor." (Forgive me, baby…I never knew his death caused you so much pain.)

***

As Ernestina left Noah curiously asks the receptionists, "did that lady just come out of the elevator that's for employees only?"

"Yes! The Madam President allowed her entry."

Noah asks, "who is she?"

The receptionist surprisingly asks, "Secretary Noah, do you perhaps not know? That lady is Madam President's mother."

Noah's eyes widen when he runs to the elevator contacting the control room as they explain everything to him. But what Noah's worried about Belen, "why did she not tell me? Why did she tell them not to inform me? Belen…why are you keeping everything to yourself? That's why I'm here. I'm your secretary…"

As the elevator opened on the 7th floor, Noah notices security, and the receptionist gone. Assuming, "was it so important she has the entire floor cleared?"

When he knocks, but no answer. Again he hits harder, "Madam? May I enter?"

Silent, no answer, this makes Noah skeptical when he asks the control room, "Has the Madam walked out of her office after the guest left?"

"No, actually, she's been in her office this whole time, right everyone?"

Everyone in the control room nods, making Noah even more scared, "something's not right!"

And again, he knocks when he abruptly opens the door to her office, shocked to see her collapsed on the floor. He dashes to her side picking her up, continually calling out, "Belen! Belen! Wake up! What should I do? I can't call the ambulance. It'll cause chaos…shit! I need to take her home and have the doctor meet us halfway."

He carries Belen like a princess in his arms grunting when he shouts at the men who are in the control room, "The Madam suddenly collapsed, make sure no one knows about this. I need you to lock Madam's office and clear the way to the parking lot. No one must know about this! Understood?!"

"Yes! Sir!"

Noah covers Belen with his coat when he overhears Belen mumble, "miss…miss…is."

Noah asks, "what? Belen! Can you hear me? Miss what?"

She mumbles, "missis…"

He wonders, "who is missis?"