2 CEO, Husband and Father - In That Order

Donald Enriquez - President and CEO. He read the nameplate on his desk. He had always been proud of that. He had built his company from scratch. Donald had been working as a Supervisor in a retail outlet for about five years when he decided to quit his job and start his own business. He had always been fascinated of selling — and he was also good at it. He remembered when he sold his very first chocolate bar when he was still in second grade. And many more chocolate bars after that, he became known in his school as the "The Greatest Salesman". Most kids would find that awkward, offensive even. But not him, he loved it. A title attached to his name. He didn't care if it opened doors to teasing. He owned the nickname and he was determined to use it.

During high school, Donald pretty much blended with the walls. He wasn't popular. He wasn't a jock, he wasn't a genius. He didn't go out on dates like his friends. He skipped prom and Homecoming dance because he had work. He was just like everybody else who were trying to get good grades that were good enough to get a scholarship. He was determined to pursue a college degree and he won't let his grades stop him.

After high school, he took an exam at a State University and got a full scholarship. He never thought he would get that scholarship because his grades were just a hairline higher than the minimum grade required. But he aced his scholarship interview. He was accepted to his university of choice and he didn't have to pay for a single centavo. Life, he thought, is starting to get better.

It was during college when he met Loraine. She was taking a different course from Donald. Loraine was a shy student. She would normally sit alone in the cafeteria or spend time in the library. But she was smart. She spoke eloquently. She would get good grades. And above all that, she was beautiful. Unfortunately, people didn't see any of those. To others, she was just another face in the crowd, another nobody who didn't belong anywhere. And sadly, Loraine thought that, too.

Donald and Loraine had one class together. Donald was late on the first day of class. When he entered the room, the only seat available was the one beside Loraine. So he slipped onto that seat and tried his best to look like he listened attentively to the professor who has given him the disapproving look as soon as he entered the class late. And then he realized he had left his pen at the dorm.

"Excuse me, Miss," he whispered. "I seem to have forgotten my pen. Would you happen to have a spare pen with you?"

"Yes, but it's in red ink," she whispered back.

"Any color will be fine as long as it's writing," he smiled as he held out his hand, waiting for the pen. Loraine handed it to him. And that was the beginning of their friendship. A friendship that quickly turned into romance.

They started hanging out. They ate in the cafeteria together. They studied in the library together. They did their projects together. They soon found themselves being attracted to each other. It wasn't long after that when Donald asked Loraine out for a date — officially.

They were happy as a couple. They both finished college and decided they should be together forever. They got engaged and then about a year after their college graduation, they tied the knot.

It wasn't an extravagant wedding. Most of the guests were close friends and their immediate family. The wedding was simple but you could very much see and feel the love that day. It was heaven on earth. The perfect marriage. The perfect pair.

There was something missing, though. Loraine had opened the idea to Donald of having a baby.

"Maybe we should save up first before we have a baby," Donald muttered. He thought a baby would be in the way of the careers they are starting.

"But I think this IS the perfect time, while we are still young, still strong," Loraine argued.

"I'll tell you what… Why don't we just let things happen? Okay? Let's not try to NOT have a baby but let's NOT also try having one. How's that?" Donald hoped that would put an end to the discussion.

"Alright, then," Loraine muttered. She didn't want to argue with her husband anymore.

Two years passed.

Loraine was getting ready for work one day when she felt nauseous. She suddenly felt the room spinning. She held onto the table but she passed out. She woke up in an emergency room. Donald was talking to the doctor, his back towards her.

"Donald, what happened?" She asked him but he didn't hear him. He continued to talk to the doctor.

"Donald," she called him again.

This time Donald heard her. He turned around. The doctor and Donald walked towards her and stood beside her bed.

"The good news is — there's nothing wrong with you," said the doctor as he held her record attached to a steel clipboard.

"And the bad news?", asked Loraine.

"Actually, there is no bad news," the doctor smiled as he said the word. "There is only a BETTER news." His face beamed.

"Well, don't keep me in suspense. What is it?" Loraine looked at the doctor, then to Donald, then back to the doctor.

This time, Donald answered her. "You're 4 weeks pregnant, Loraine."

"I'm sorry, what?" She couldn't believe what she heard.

"You are 4 weeks pregnant," the doctor repeated for Donald. "That is why you feel nauseous."

"But why did I faint?"

"It's not unusual for pregnant women to feel faint from nausea when they are pregnant. Some women are less sensitive than others that's why they can take it. Some are well… Less fortunate. They feel faint when they experience morning sickness. To be honest, and also to help set up your expectations, some women don't just get morning sickness — they get ALL DAY sickness. But you don't need to worry. You will feel this way for the next two or three months. After that, you'll be feeling stronger again, back to normal — except that you are gaining weight." The doctor smiled. "I want to run some tests on you to make sure you are okay to go home. And then I will be referring you to an Ob-Gyne to make sure you are well taken care of during your pregnancy." He then hands the record to the nurse, who was standing by the door, listening to them. "I'll order the tests now so you can be on your way. And then I want you to rest until you see your Ob-Gyne." Then he left the room, whispering to the nurse the tests that need to be done.

"I can't believe we are having a baby!" Loraine hugged Donald.

"I know right," Donald said, trying very hard to look and sound excited. But Loraine felt the mood.

"What's wrong? Don't you want this baby? It's what we wanted, right?"

"It's not that I don't want the baby, Loraine. Of course I want the baby. How can you even say that! It's just…"

"It's just what?"

"It's just that… I don't think it's the right time."

"Again? And when is the right time, Donald?" Loraine was starting to feel her face getting hot and the tears started to well on the corners of her eyes.

"When we have enough money to raise children, Loraine."

Loraine's face softened. "You don't need to have lots of money to raise kids, Donald. You need to have lots of TIME."

Donald didn't reply. He didn't want to upset Loraine, especially with her condition now, being pregnant.

Loraine hugged him tight, this time, longer.

"I promise you, having this baby will be the best thing that will ever happen to us."

Donald didn't hear Loraine's reassuring words anymore. He was already thinking of a million other things. Being a father, at this point in his career, is the last thing on his mind.

"A penny for your thoughts, Dad." Donald Enriquez was startled, he didn't even hear his daughter knock on the door.

"Mandy, my dear, you startled me!"

"What were you daydreaming about, Dad?" Mandy smiled. She is not about to let her dad off the hook.

"I wasn't daydreaming, honey. I was merely… reflecting." He got up from his chair and then gave Mandy a big hug and a kiss on her forehead.

"I should fire my secretary for not letting me know that the most important person in my life is here to see me," he joked.

"Really, Dad? Jenny has been putting up with you for more than twenty-five years. You wouldn't be able to function without her," Mandy joked back.

Donald laughed. He knew Mandy was right. Jenny had been one of his pioneer employees, his first hired personnel to be exact. Jenny's hard work had been the reason why he offered her the position as his secretary. Jenny is very keen to details, and she knows how he wants things done.

"Don't let her hear that or she might ask for a raise." They both laughed.

"So how are you, Dad?" Mandy asked casually, hoping it would open the topic of why her dad asked to see her.

"I'm good, Mandy. I'm doing good for an old man," Donald smiled. He knew his daughter was trying to get him to tell her why she was called in his office.