CHAPTER SIX | DELICABLE VIEW
TEN minutes before four o'clock in the morning, Sierra reached the house of Mr. Fritzgibbons. She was sleepy because, based on her usual schedule, four o'clock was the time she should be awake. She's barely asleep after finishing up her boss' shortlist, and then she's here again, ready to go to work with her ever-demanding boss. She was already feeling bad and forced herself to act so the illness would not continue.
Sierra couldn't afford to be sick, not now because her job, mom, and Zeke were on the line.
Sierra doesn't feel comfortable entering a house she doesn't know much about. She had no choice but to enter her boss's penthouse as instructed in the text. Even in text messages, his behavior is still terrible, and he doesn't even know how to say thank you.
When you're born rich, it's hard to get down even a little.
Sierra silently wished and hoped her son wouldn't be like his father. He looks like his son, so she asks not to include his behavior.
She immediately keyed in her boss' pass-code combination and opened the door. She almost marveled at the neatness of Mr. Fritzgibbons' house. It's clean, and every display, including the ones hanging on the wall, is equal. Everything is also color coordinated, so Sierra realizes that her boss has OCD. She thought it was just a trip and that everything was equal inside his office.
She was even more amazed and almost lost herself at the painting he saw. It was a portrait of a noblewoman, probably painted back in the 50s. The lines and strokes used by the artist gave life to the painting. The eyes are alive, as well as the woman's curly hair. Sierra loves pictures, and if she has the chance, she will return to her passion in her free time.
"I didn't pay you to stand there and stare at my painting, Ms. Jimenez," Mr. Fritzgibbons said, surprising Sierra and waking her up. When Sierra turned around, she was greeted by a better view. Precisely a delectable view in Sierra's thoughts. Her boss possesses a greek god's body and is like those in Mexican drama series in boxer shorts. She couldn't believe this was the man she had given herself to. She once touched every part of his body before. She still remembers that to this day. "Like the view?"
"Yes..." There was no response of his own. Sierra suddenly came to her senses when she saw an arched eyebrow., questioning her unbelievable answer. "I mean no, sir. Good morning!"
Not sure yet, but Sierra seems to have seen the corner of Mr. Fritzgibbons' lips go up. It must be a hallucination brought by her sleeplessness.
"Do you know how to cook?" she heard a question that she answered with a gentle nod. "The kitchen is there, and you know what to do now."
What the heck?! she shouted in her mind. I didn't sign up for this, she said again.
She couldn't object anymore because the man suddenly disappeared. She didn't do anything other than put her bag down to the side and make her way to the kitchen. The boss's payment to her is worth it because even if it's not the assistant's job, she's gladly doing it still.
"And one more thing, be ready, Ms. Jimenez. We will visit La Union to check one of our hotels there."
What?! she shouted in her mind again, then just followed her boss as he started to walk away from her.
Why didn't he say in the text that they were going somewhere today? Sierra raised her hand and slowly lowered it with a deep breath. Sierra must collect herself together to survive and break the devil's two legs.
Or maybe she could spit on his food while she's cooking?
SIERRA followed her boss up to the very top of the Fritzgibbons Corporation. After breakfast, she wasn't sure if that was the right call for what they did. It was like Sierra's last supper earlier because she was with Satan's throne successor. She also wondered how, while walking, she had done wrong and why she was being punished like this.
When they reached the top, a strong wind hugged Sierra's body. It was from the helicopter that was waiting for them. She watched Mr. Fritzgibbons walk approach the aircraft from where she stood. Fortunately, her hair was in a ponytail, and she didn't have to pull it out.
"What are you doing there, Ms. Jimenez?" Mr. Fritzgibbons yelled at him. "Let's go now," he said and got into the helicopter.
She couldn't do anything but come over there, and Dickie helped her get on. She saw they were with someone else inside who was now talking to the boss.
"Hi! You must be Bernadette's best -"
"He's already married."
She looked at Mr. Fritzgibbons after hearing what he said after wearing headphones. Someone also handed her headphones which she immediately put on after the seatbelts.
What was wrong with him? I see nothing wrong with talking to a married guy, she thought.
The man in front of her boss looks and smells nice, just like the man of the hour himself. It's not that he's praising the boss, but it seems like that's what she's been doing since seeing him wearing only boxer shorts.
"Don't mind your boss, Ms. Jimenez. I'm Martin Villanueva, chief executive officer of Acceleron."
Sierra knew that company, and it belonged to Fritzgibbons Corporation. One of the subsidiary companies is also owned by his boss. The company owns Crowne Towers and Midway Pacifica Lodge.
"I'm her boss, not you, Martin," Mr. Fritzgibbons replied before ordering them to be silent.
"Chill, Aidan. It's not like I'm going to pirate her," Mr. Villanueva laughed, but Sierra's mind was not there. She just let the two fight.
She was also not told they would take a helicopter to La Union. Everything was not said to her, including the reason for their going to a distant place today. She couldn't say goodbye to her son because she didn't know everything. In addition to that, he has a fear of flying. It's okay if she climbs a tall building as long as she is far away from the mirror where she can see the view below.
But flying on the spot was beyond Sierra's expectations, especially on her third day at work!
She tried not to show that she was scared even though her stomach felt like it was going to turn over when she felt the thing they were riding on rising into the air. She focused her force on the armrest of her seat and closed her eyes tightly.
"Are you sleeping, Ms. Jimenez?" he asked, but she ignored it at first to calm her nerves.
"No..." she replied weakly after a minute. She forgot to be respectful. But she knows that he is just testing her. Her boss thought she'd easily back down, but hell no.
"Are you afraid of flying?" Sierra heard another question again but not from Mr. Fritzgibbons. It was from Mr. Villanueva, who immediately offered his hand to her. "Hold my hand. It's okay, Ms. Jimenez. It's not like I'm cheating, but still, it depends on people's minds and understandings."
"Why didn't you tell me about this?" Mr. Fritzgibbons asked after reaching for Mr.'s hand. Villanueva.
"You must learn to get to know your employees, Aidan, instead of blaming them. You have to know every strength, fear, and personality," Mr. Villanueva said that she doesn't know if it helps her situation. She wanted to ask him not to speak so they could have a peaceful trip to La Union.
But it didn't happen, and Sierra wished to be invisible for the first time in her life...
A PROBLEM with a client that accused the Crowne Towers' staff of stealing and food poisoning was why they took a helicopter ride from Manila to La Union. The problem was resolved immediately, and when things like this, money has a mouth. But in the case of Crowne Towers versus guests, they won because of a few CCTV footage the company lawyers gathered. Her boss is intelligent, and Mr. Villanueva is very charming to Sierra, but he's off-limits. The girl appreciated him, urging her to hold on to his hand throughout their trip even though her boss was constantly blowing fire.
How can she say that she has a fear of flying if he said no excuses?
Demon Fritzgibbons is strong, Sierra thought.
"Now I know why Bernadette called you her best, Ms. Jimenez," a provocative word came from her side. "That one rarely praises, and earlier I saw how you block Aidan. I think my bet will change from now on,"
Bet?
She didn't know how to talk to him because Sierra felt different now. She was thankful that she got through today's meeting, and they quickly caught that the people they were talking to were lying. She and the lawyers watched the CCTV footage, and she was the one who found the evidence. Thanks to her quick eyes, even when feeling bad.
"We will visit the Midway Pacifica Lodge after here," Mr. Fritzgibbons announced. The shortlist she made earlier while on the trip to the boss's penthouse was broken. It's a waste of effort, including the one hour she set aside for that instead of putting it to sleep.
"Sirs, c-can I take at least fifteen?" She couldn't stop asking the bosses. She was dizzy. But Sierra couldn't wait for their answer, and her surroundings suddenly became dark.