8 A Friend

It's finally July, summer was here, but I was still seventeen years old – my birthday was in October. And FYI, I don't celebrate any holidays and birthdays, only anniversaries. I planned on working for a while and expand my business more. Recently, I'd grown to like it. Before, it was so stressful and tiring, mostly when I was still in high school. However, as I'd gotten more loyal employees, work began to be a tad bit lighter. Though my identity was yet to be known, very few managed to know 'the boss's' name (the fake one I created and liked). My employees remained in the dark. I thought they would be suspicious or frustrated, but seeing their ignorance and satisfaction proved otherwise. You know what they say, 'ignorance is bliss!'

How did I manage to keep my identity a secret from other companies when I had to communicate and reach out? I let my brother-in-law do that for me, or my assistant secretary, who, of course, personally didn't know me yet. I heard it was a 'she' that was only a few months older than I was. Weird. I think her name was Alexie Sheldon. I heard she was doing a fantastic job that my brother trusted her. It was enough to accept her as my secretary. She was currently working f-time while she was studying part-time at Fraser Valley University as a freshman.

I thought, 'huh, she was going to a university that I wanted to go in... How cool was that?'

I approached her at work as one of the employees. I never said I would introduce myself as the boss. Besides, I just needed a fake name for the CEO so that it could cover me up (well, only a few knows it; none of my employees knows), and that I could freely sp-observe and order my employees. To my surprise, she was very easy to talk to, and we became close friends. She was an amusing person too.

We worked for almost half a year. Then randomly, I asked Alexie what she would do if she found out the president was the same age and gender as her; I was quite shocked by her reply.

"I really don't care about my boss's age or gender. As long as my boss is a kind person and keeps making the right decisions for this company, I'm happy. I love this job – beyond your imagination. Why? Because they accepted me for who I am and my capabilities. They didn't care about my past or my sexuality."

It amused me how she went on saying many compliments as if it came from the bottom of her heart, but I was more shocked by her last sentence. 'Her past or her sexuality' didn't even cross my mind when I was with her. I guess she got that right. I knew that – I'd researched her about past, sexuality, and studies – I knew everything about my employees. I seemed to forget because I didn't care. I'd come to realized and thought to myself, 'Looks like found catch!'

Yup! I found my partner-in-crime! Wow, that took me a long time to find her. And I panned on keeping her.

She's not a thing, but you know what I meant!

After what she told me, I asked, "Hey, Alexie, would you be my best friend if I offer you to become the president in my company?"

I laughed when her eyes widened. "Excuse me?" she said, dumbfounded of what I just asked and offered. As I was about to refute, she laughed and continued, "Stop joking!" She paused, pondered for a bit, then frowned. "I thought we already were. Sure, I'll be your best friend. What made you think we weren't after all we've been through? But there's no way... I mean- what,"

"You heard me correct, Ms. Sheldon," I smirked, then pulled my license 'ID.' My smirk widened when Alexie's mouth turned into an 'o' shape, then her hand covered her mouth and the other placed on her chest.

Alexie gave a long pause that made a painful silence to me. I wondered if I made the right choice, I asked if it was too early for Alexie, and I marveled if Alexie would refuse.

Alexie gave a long pause, which was a painful silence to me. I wondered if I made the right choice, I asked if it was too early for Alexie, and I marvelled if Alexie would refuse.

"You serious right now?" Alexie suddenly said, making me jump. "Sorry for scaring you," she grimaced.

"Haven't you known me enough to believe it?"

"Believe it? After lying about your identity? I don't know about that..." she teased. "Sorry, uhh... I'm still on the verge of putting all this information into my brain." She paused again, then squealed, "Of course! I'd be honored!"

"Thank you for coming into my life and lifting tons of weight in my stead." I smiled mischievously, causing Alexie to flinch. "Prepare yourself for next year; things will become hectic in the company when I'm gone. Oh, and don't worry about problems you can't solve-I'll handle it, well it's you we're talking about so I doubt nothing can pass you easily!."

"May I ask where you're going?" she hesitated.

"To Fraser Valley University, as a student," I told her.

"Really?!" Alexie said, almost too happy than me. I found that weird at that time; then, I realized that she was glad that I was going to the same school as her and she was happy because I was going to university and experience life.

"Why do you sound happier than me?" I cringed. "I was hoping you'd be annoyed or something for leaving work to you."

"Yes, I am angry. But I so happy for you!" Alexie tightly pulled me into a hug.

"Your support is futile," I said. "I'm only attending there to get more opinions and advice from young-adults. Another reason is that I'm going to rest my ass off until I graduate – meaning, I already know all the shits there."

"Can't argue with that," she shrugged, agreeing with me. "Still, I can't believe you're my boss and that you're going to my school," she squealed again. I rolled my eyes and tried not to smile, but I failed.

.

.

.

Shit, shit, shit! Fuck! Two more weeks before I attend University. Work couldn't have been more stressful. Why did problems have to come to the company before I had to go away for a vacation? Why did Satan have to make me suffer? 'A devil doesn't rest,' as the world wouldn't stop spinning... damn it.

I was not fucking religious anymore, and I still had fucking feelings for my first love! Sigh, I guess my vacation had to wait.

"Wait, hold on for a fucking minute," Alexie said as we head to the cafeteria. "Why on earth are you still undercover? And what the fucking hell did you do in order to skip a grade in University?"

Seriously, you're asking me that now? I shook my head, "After telling you this information a whole year ago, you just have to ask that question now?"

"I was still pending! That scared the shit out of me, and yeah, I'm asking you that now." She reasoned.

"Alright fine, I bribed them. I know the students there won't care much either. They would probably think that I transferred into something similar and blah blah." I went on. "As for the undercover thing, I've grown used to it, and I find it amusing to watch and eavesdrop on my employees."

"Don't you think it's about time to tell them?" Alexie suggested. I couldn't do it. Just the thought of them knowing about a (not so) nineteen-year-old running the famous 'Tech' company that was currently the top business company worldwide with a 100story building as the leading corporation, made me uneasy. And presently had a thousand and still building and expanding business in every country and city... eyes would befall on me, that alone would make me want to vomit. I hated being the center of attention.

"People talk, and they will gossip about me! Both positive and negative! Others will take advantage of me, and many would treat me differently! I don't want any fame yet. I'm not ready; my age is not ready; my gender is not ready! Guys will flirt and ask to marry them – gross. They will fucking kidnap me!" I could say more, but I didn't want to exhaust myself than I already was.

"Oh! Oh... now that I think about it. They do," Alexie said in a low tone, then she slightly laughed, "And they do! I had enough of men drooling and flirting with that I have to wear this shirt, 'I'm gay' every fuckin' day."

This time, I laughed.