CHAPTER TEN | SELF-CENTERED MAN

Martin couldn't stop laughing after hearing Dickie's story about Aidan's assistant's description of him.

The Angry Bird.

Aidan searched about that animal Ms. Jimenez mentioned earlier, and he started frowning from then until now. Martin and Dickie's laughter didn't help today. He was only getting increasingly depressed, as if he wanted to eliminate them so that his world would be at peace.

Maybe he'll get rid of Martin because he needs Dickie. He was his driver, after all.

"Dickie, aren't you going to drive Ms. Jimenez home?" he asked the driver.

"Whoa, wait? Did I hear it right? You let an assistant use Dickie as her chauffeur?" Martin asked in disbelief. "All I thought was you assigned a different driver for her,"

He breathed heavily, and Dickie seemed to notice that he didn't want to explain to his cousin, so he spoke to answer his question.

Dickie said, "she said she's going to buy some things for the house, so she'll just co-commute now."

"Answer me, Aidan! Why are you doing this to someone who called you like an Angry Bird?"

"It's none of your business. Get lost... oh no, we're leaving. Get the car ready, Dickie." Aidan resigned quickly because his cousin didn't know the true meaning of resignation when everyone else was tired of explaining themselves.

"That's interesting. So interesting, Aidan. It's like I don't know you anymore." Martin said, leaving him alone together with Dickie.

They're still laughing while on their way out of his office. While he just frowned and put his things away. At home, he will continue the remaining work that has not yet been completed due to Martin's interruption.

When the things were gathered, he immediately carried the stuff, including the laptop. At the main entrance, he came out and caught up with Mr. Gonzales talking to Ms. Jimenez. There was another woman, and Aidan's two eyes could see how Mr. Gonzales pushed Ms. Jimenez. That push made his assistant stumble on the concrete floor.

Interference is not in Aidan's vocabulary, especially if it has nothing to do with business. But Ms. Jimenez was his business; no, it was essential to the company he had. And he couldn't stand there watching a woman being harassed by a peasant. Yes, peasants. That's what he thinks Eric Gonzales was right now.

Aidan was about to walk near them but stopped suddenly when he saw Ms. Jimenez rising and dusting herself. He watched the girl defend herself without needing help from others.

"I almost forgot that she's one-of-a-kind," he said, pulling out his cell phone and dialing Martin's number. He waited for a few rings, and the cousin answered. "I want to know Mr. Gonzales's whereabouts, Martin. Can I use your private investigator?"

"What do you want to know about him?"

"Everything."

***

The next day, Aidan caught up with Ms. Jimenez and his mother. It was a surprise visit but not a surprise because Aidan knows how much his mom always loved to be barged in.

"Good morning, sir!" Ms. Jimenez greeted him energetically as if nothing had happened her last night. "Here is your coffee, newspaper, sudoku, and shortlist. Breakfast is also served just like the way you wanted it."

"You've got the best assistant, Aidan. And if I wouldn't drop by here, I wouldn't see my son forever." Aidan's mom was about to hug him, but before that happened, he stopped the lady. "Okay, I know, you're in your company, and you don't want to show your soft side here. But I'm impressed that you're toning down the tiger in you, son. Mrs. Jimenez discussed with me the project you're working on with her to increase our employee satisfaction rate."

He immediately looked at his assistant after hearing what his mother said. Aidan can't believe she told his mom about their Project Compassion and that the name was her idea.

"Can you leave us, Mom?" he asked his mother.

"Okay. But I have to remind you about our family dinner later. You can't say you're not going, Aidan." He nodded, and that was the signal for the mother to leave.

When she came out, he immediately turned to his assistant, standing a few feet away from him. "Who told you to relay our project to mother?"

"I see nothing wrong with that since she's part of the board -"

"She's not and has no position in the company."

"She's your mom, sir,"

"That doesn't give you the right to tell what's happening inside our company to my relatives. So that you know, I separate business and my relationship with my family." He walked to his working table. "And besides, I haven't approved the Compassion Project yet. You have no right to brag it behind my back, Ms. Jimenez. Please know your limitations as my assistant."

Not because she's showing him excellent work but because Aidan will let her get ahead of him. He is still the boss of this company, and the girl is only his employee. In short, Aidan was paying for her to work, not to have a chit-chat with her mother.

"Mrs. Selma was right about you being the cold, self-centered man ever."

"What did you say?"

"You heard it already, sir. I won't repeat it anymore."

She turned and walked out of his office. Ms. Jimenez didn't even look back as if he had done something wrong. Instead of apologizing to him because it was insubordination, Ms. Jimenez chose to walk away. Aidan knows he is a self-centered person, and his assistant doesn't need to remind him of that. He's fed up with all his assistants receiving, and Aidan believes that he needs to break her one leg.

A light bulb lit on the side of his head. Aidan seems to know how to punish his assistant...

***

From: sierrarosejimenez@fritzgibbonscorp.com

To: aidanfritzgibbons@fritzgibbonscorp.com

Subject: Today's Errands Accomplishment Report

Dear Mr. Fritz Gibbons,

I hope you find this email update satisfying. I already picked up and delivered your coats, the laundromat, and your cufflinks. I'm also done cleaning your penthouse as per instructed. Do you need anything more from me?

Best,

Sierra Rose Jimenez

Assistant to the CEO of Fritzgibbons Corporation

***

Aidan ran his hand down his chin after reading Ms. Jimenez's email to him. She was on her feet again because of him. He thought that was the punishment for her after she gossiped to his mother about the project that he had not yet approved. He doesn't want to do Project Compassion because he will be open to everyone. Aidan doesn't want it to happen because reporters flocked outside his company the last time he did the same thing.

He needs to set a boundary so he will not be abused and falsely accused again.

"Are you ready to go home, Aidan?" a question that stirred his deep thoughts.

"Did you already take Ms. Jimenez home?" He asked the driver back.

"Martin and Badette accompanied her home. Those two live in Alabang, don't they?" Dickie stared at him intently. "Your assistant is tired again, Aidan."

"She deserved that punishment, Dickie. She thinks so highly of herself."

"You might go too far with the punishment and get sick again. Remember that she has a son who depends on her."

"Thank you for reminding me that, Dickie. I found some interesting stuff about her and Mr. Gonzales."

"Did you investigate your employees?"

"Why can't I? I have the right to dig into their lives since I wanted to ensure that I hired the right people." Dickie breathed heavily after hearing his explanation. Aidan believed he didn't do anything wrong and had the right to do what he'd done. "They knew each other since college, which Ms. Jimenez hid from us."

"It's her personal life. Even if you don't want to talk about everything related to your life. You don't want to entertain any interview, and you are timid to the media when they gather there outside the company."

He didn't answer after Dickie spoke. The older man is like a father to him and has been with him since he was a child. He only listens, and sometimes Dickie is his go-to person, telling him some problems that can be easily solved.

"Don't do things to others that you don't feel comfortable dealing with. That thing isn't important either, Aidan, so leave them alone." Dickie gave him long advice. Aidan thought it was sensible advice he received from the man who was like a father to him.

But what bothered Aidan the most was the treatment Ms. Jimenez received from Mr. Gonzales last night. The two have a misunderstanding. He wants to know if it will affect the company he owns. Whatever issues they have, Aidan must put an end to them before it ruins the world he built. The world that made him the most self-centered man living on Earth.

Now that Aidan has a piece of information about their past relationship, he can proceed now to what matters the most. Aidan has to weigh whether he can trust Ms. Jimenez or not.

Aidan believes he has no friends in the business world. All were enemies pretending to be his friends. And the only question in Aidan's mind right now was, was Ms. Jimenez an ally or one of his hidden enemies acting like a friend to him?