Six

If someone had told Gabe he would be here, working in one of the biggest Corp in the world, then he would have never believed. He'd totally deny it.

You could say it was a dream that he never got have come true. He'd never heard of it- maybe he did once- but he can't remember knowing anything about the SxE company and now, he was clad that he went to buy canned milk that day.

It was a blessed day for him indeed, he got half his paycheck to get his life stable and a week off to get through the paperwork. The work he was assigned to now will take more of his time, it'd take at least 14 or more hours of his life, if he wants to be successful.

It is an opportunity of a life time and he won't use it to joke. He'd make sure he do what it is required from him, by that way he will have a reputation to hold.

Gabriel was a bit sad when he heard Antonia was not in the same department as him, she got assigned to the managing committee. At least, he'd be able to see her almost everyday.

Today, just like every other day he was sipping the Ukraine tea Claire had for him. She is not from Ukraine but she had to learn their culture from Gabriel and he had fun teaching her.

Getting married to Claire also was not easy, At times he hated himself for leaving home for here but it was worth it. He found his happiness here.

Antonia had asked him on a date, a double date with his wife while she brings her crush with her but Jay woke up sick like almost every day. He couldn't leave his wife alone and to think of it, work starts the next day. He will stressed.

He'd purchased an old but good working laptop from the computer land, it will do the work for him for the meantime before he will get a new one maybe.

Going through the paperworks, he'd see they had a week meant for fun; inclusive of bring your kids to work day. He knew Dan will be drilled to know where his father is working now.

Even Gabriel doesn't want to admit it but he had to, Dan is just like his late father. Nothing scares him or make him back down when he sets his mind on it. Unlike Gabe, with a second thought, he would abandon whatever he had planned.

And no office romance. Who actually does that? He might be married but he'd never imagine himself having an office romance with someone at work. It will hunt him forever.

A shadow emerged from the room, revealing Claire, she had gone to put the kids to bed since it was already eight in the afternoon and Dan has an early summer class the next day.

"What are you up to baby?" She asked, unfolding his legs and sitting between them.

"Just going through the rules and regulations, then the paperworks. I have to submit it first thing tomorrow morning." He informed, nuzzling his nose in her neck.

Her scent, what always drives him to the edge of losing his sanity over her. Claire always smell of rose and lavender, and whenever he try's to use her soap, he'd turn up with red rashes. Putting two and two together, they realized he was allergic to lavender.

"Uhmm...."She moaned sinking more into him. It was heaven she'd always wish for. "What do you think about me also getting a job?" She turned to face him.

He quirked his brows. "What of Jay? Who will look after him?" He questioned.

He'd love her to work too but then who would they leave the sick Jay to? It is not like every one can handle him, he is a handful sometimes. "I have spoken to Nana and she agreed to look after him." She spoke with determination laced in her voice.

"I can't stop you from working love, I am just worried about the kids. That's all but your Nana wishes to keep an eye on Jay, then you are good to go." He smiled, perking her lips.

Claire Perkins now known as Claire James, had a passion for working as a receptionist. It was always her dreams, she started living that dream until she got married and got kids, it won't be easily for her really.

She quits to keep her eyes on her family, still her mind wasn't getting her the relief. Now that Gabe has gotten a job to keep himself busy, she'd always love to get one to get her relief.

Without informing him, Claire signed up for a job Contract at the old company she had worked before. It wasn't easy getting the job back, but with the little connection her Nana had, she was able to get her job back.

"The application letter came in today." His eyes snapped, she bit the inner skin in her mouth. "You did what?" He snapped.

"What happened to 'we don't hide anything from each other anymore?'" He quoted her own sayings.

She'd always say that whenever she feels like he was up to something. She has trust issues, she thought she was over it but it came back all of sudden and she feels no safe.

"It was all of a sudden, I swear. I didn't do it intentionally." She admitted.

"I never said you did intentionally, I was asking what happened to our saying, your saying? I know you had have everything planned out for a while now to get the application letter already."

The fake smile she was putting out on her face dropped. "If I had said I was going to wait for you to approve my working, then I would have not gotten back my job. You don't own me Gabe, I have the right to do whatever I want to do. You just don't know what I had to do to get my job back, the effort I put in doing that." She gritted out.

Battling with lost of words, Gabriel detached his body from her and headed to the bedroom to pick a pillow and a heavy blanket to keep him warm. He wasn't in the mood to know the effort she did put in getting her job back. "I will take the couch. Switch off the light on your way." He ordered, his body dropping on the small couch.

He might wake up with a cramped neck or worst. The old settee was a gift he had gotten from his brother, he couldn't get rid of it despite how old and worn out it was.

His mind was clouded with thoughts, thoughts about how tomorrow might turn out to be at out or what made his lovely wife snapped.

Maybe sleeping early might be of help, it will make him calm his mind down and maybe, make him treat the topic maturely, like the adult he is. He'd already set an alarm to wake him early to prepare Dan for his summer class and also get himself ready for work.

The hours passed, sunrise came. The bird of early November chirped, they were used to it already. His alarm rang for the second time that moment making him groan.

He'd never thought time will pass so fast that way, but it was November and also end of the year. In Ukraine, colorful kites would have been flying the sky, the chimney burning always and hot gingerbread distributed.

He was used to the kids playing street balls early in the morning then, it was what woke him up normally. But now he missed everything, it has been three years since he last went over to see his mother.

She will definitely give him an earful for not keeping his promise of visiting them every year, but maybe she'd understand the situation he was in.

But now that he has gotten a job, he will save enough to take his family with him, they need to know their family.

He made his way to the bathroom attached at the end of the hall to get ready for the day. It was six in the morning already, he has only an hour to walk Dan to the community school and then head to work.

It was not like he'd spend more than an hour in the bathroom, he hates the four walls of bathroom. He rolled a towel around his waist and used the other one to clean his wet hair dry.

Making his way to the room, he met Claire already dressed in her office wear. She looks breathtaking, that he could not deny but he needs her to know that what she did was wrong.

"Good morning Gabe." She greeted, moving close to him. He shifted back a little. "Morning." He mumbled grumpily.

She'd sense that he was still angry over yesterday event and she should better work on getting him back. "The kids are ready. I will take Jay with me to Nana while you take Dan to school. I guess that all. Toast on the table." She ended, picking her bag and draping it on her shoulders.

Gabriel murmured a thank to her and moved to get dressed. His cologne had finished, for now he will stick to using spray on, it will do before he gets a new cologne.

He moved back to the living room, meeting Daniel already dressed and eating his breakfast in peace while he went over his assignments.

"Morning boy." Gabriel said, shoving a toast down his throat. "Morning dad, that is is gross." Dan crunched his face, watching his father eat hurriedly, as if he was being chased.

"I know Dan. Now get up, my bus will be here in an hour." He picked the laptop across the table and picked his spare keys.

He licked his dry lips when the early cold of November hits him, it was getting worst day by day and the fog stood ahead of them, making a bit hard for them to see ahead of them.

After dropping Dan at school, he walked to the bus station. It was close from the school and he met some of friendly people he knows of in the town, waiting for the bus too.

"Morning." He'd say to everyone that looks his way, he doesn't even bother to hear them answer because all that was clouded in his mind was to go work and have a peek of how the rest of his stay there will be.

The bus finally arrived, everyone rushed to get on. Gabriel was in a hurry but he couldn't push someone just to get on. He waited till they were done before he entered and swiped his office card as his payment.

The company will take care of their transport fare, that way they won't have to worry about getting to work when they have no penny.

In the bus, Gabriel could feel eyes on him. They whispered underneath their breath, he was used to that already, he'd get called an outcast and what not, and that never got to him -because he never wanted it to- he believed with time, they will also learn to appreciate him the way he deserves to be appreciated.

After three stops, then there was his. A few dropped together with him, he crossed the walkway and headed for the huge building facing him.

He greeted the receptionist, Clara. A Latin lady from the North American, he had been there once and that made them click a little more.

Clara was obsessed with any one that shows interest in her hometown. "Live your life to the fullest before the CEO returns." She whispered passing him his work ID.

He only smiled at her before heading for the elevator. If the CEO is not in, that means more work for them to attend to right? Or maybe it is different there.

Only time will tell.