CHAP 1

MARIAM'S POV

I AM CURRENTLY staring at surrounding. My mind is full of negative things which are in control of my whole being.

"Sister, I'm starving," my sister said tearfully.

"Eat this bread for a while," I said about the bread that my boss gave me at my work.

I earn very little from my job. I earn only four thousand a month but I put up with it because I need to support my two sisters.

"Divide that bread into two first before you eat, Fern," I said while holding back tears in front of her.

Sathielfern and Francheska are kind and understanding children. They are not the kind of children who are picky when it comes to food because we grew up in our father's belief that 'we grew up poor and we will grow up poor'.

At first I didn't believe in our father because I knew life was like a wheel; sometimes you are at the bottom and sometimes you are at the top. But as I grew up I realized that my father was right, I would grow up poor because I came from a difficult life.

"Chesca, we have food. Wake up!" my sister woke Chesca up to eat.

My youngest sister stretched and gently rubbed her eyes then got up from lying down.

"Do we have food, Sister Fern?" she asked, smiling widely.

Fern only nodded in response to her and he applauded with joy. I don't want to see what I'm seeing right now. What if our mother is alive? Is this still going to happen to us? Will we get into this situation where we are hungry and we live in a small house?

"Ate! Come on! Let's eat. We'll share with you the bread that you brought," my younger sister said with a smile.

I just smiled back at my two siblings and nodded, "I've eaten at my job, Chesca," I lied.

The three of us stopped talking when suddenly there was a knock on our door. I immediately stood up and opened the door causing Aling Fe to open up to me.

"Why?" I asked when I opened the door.

"Are you looking for a job, hija?" Aling Fe smiling that caused me to frown.

"I-I don't want to apply at the bar," I said, causing her to laugh.

Most of the people I know invites me to apply on the bar that they are working with that's why I immediately rejected when Aling Fe asked me.

"My gosh, Mariam! I'm not asking you to apply on the bar! I'm asking you to apply on the company that I work with because our company is looking for a janitress," she laughed.

I stopped for a moment to think of many things when she offered me the job. I will no longer  think about the payment of our house, water and electric bills!

"H-how much will I be paid?" my immediate opening question was the reason for her to explain to me the regulations on how I will be paid

THE next morning I woke up early to get ready for work. I was interviewed immediately after I entered their company and I am very grateful because they immediately hired me as a janitress.

"Are you new here? This is the first time that I saw your face. You're beautiful, girl!" the short -haired woman approached me.

"Ah, yes. I just got hired," I said with a forced smile because I was really shy.

"I'm Rebecca and this is Andrea," Rebecca said with a smile about herself and her curly -haired and chubby friend.

"Hi! What's your name, girl?" Andrea asked.

"Mariam," I said while smiling.

I'm not used to the attention that Andrea and Rebecca give me. Despite that, I try my best to remove the shame from my body because of the thought that used to being alone and not being distracted.

"You're beautiful, girl!" Rebecca said.

I can't help but blush because of what Rebecca just said. Many people say that I'm beautiful but I don't feel like it.

"T-thank you," I nodded.

"How's ...--" the man who owned the baritone voice couldn't continue what he was supposed to say when I saw who the man who owned that voice was.

"Y-yrac ?!" I'm so shocked!

How? What is he doing here ?! Everyone in the province thinks he has his own company and house here in Manila but why is he wearing a uniform like mine?!

"M-mariam?" he stammered.

"I-I thought ...." I haven't continued what I was supposed to say when he suddenly pulled me away from Rebecca and Andrea.

"What is your problem?!" I asked him asked that made him release his grip on my wrist.

"You didn't see anything!" he mumbled.

My forehead furrowed before I speak again, "You don't know me and you haven't seen me working as a janitor here," he said.

"Don't worry. I'm not going back to our province. Besides, what's so embarrassing about our work? Why do you have to lie to the people in our province?" I asked him annoyingly.

What I said was right! Why does he have to lie that he is rich among the people in our province when the truth is not? I see nothing wrong with the work we do.

"It's none of your business!" he said then took his eyes off me.

I took a deep breath and was about to leave Yrac but he suddenly spoke causing me to turn my gaze at him.

"H-how are you?" he asked.

"I'm okay," I replied a few times.

This is the first time we have talked as friend because when we broke up we haven't talked again.

"You? H-how are you?" I asked him again.

"I'm good," he said.

I still feel the aloofness between us that's why I forced myself to act normal in his presence but I didn't win.

"I'm l-leaving,"  I said.

"Mariam," he said thar made me turn to him.

"Hmm?" I uttered.

"I hope we can be friends," hee said.

I frowned at him before speaking again, "We're friends, aren't we?" I asked while smiling.

We have never been strangers to each other. Maybe there's still an aloofness between the two of us but for me, he's still a friend.

"Y-yeah," he said shaking his head while smiling.

WHEN I left in front of Yrac I felt my  heart beat fast that caused me to stop walking then I stood  on the side of the wall.

Why am I feeling this way? Shouldn't I have nothing to do with him?

"You're assigned to clean the penthousen, Mariam! You're so lucky! Good luck, girl!" Rebecca said while smiling widely.

My forehead furrowed and I didn't bother to speak anymore. I entered the elevator and when it opened on the top-floor I immediately went out.

I looked for the doorbell but I couldn't find it which caused me to knock but I didn't hear nay response.

I do not know what to do! How can I get inside this penthouse?!

I tried to turn the doorknob and to my great surprise it was open when I turned it!

"Good mornning! I'm here to clean your penthouse!" I shouted while I was still outside the door but no one answered.

I shrugged and entered together with my trolley. When I entered, I couldn't help but marvel at the beauty and size of this penthouse! All the furnitures look so expensive and very fragrant!

"Looks like it doesn't need to be cleaned," I whispered.

What I said was right! It's very clean and very fragrant inside! Not even a speck of dust can be seen.

I averted my eyes again and was about  to walk again in but someone suddenly spoke on my back that made me looked behind me.

"What on earth are you doing here?" the man asked who owned the baritone voice.

"Ahhh ... I-I'm going to clean your penthouse??" I stammered.

"Don't you know how to use the intercom and wait for my approval before you enter?" he asked again but you could hear the hint of annoyance in the tone of his speech.

"O-oh! I-I'm sorry. I didn't know there was an intercom outside," I said while nodding.

"Look at me directly in my eyes when I'm talking to you," he authoritatively said.

I was nervous but I still forced myself to look into his sharp eyes.

"I-I'm sorry, Sir," I apologized as I looked into his black eyes.

"Alright! Now, clean this," he said then dropped what I think was an expensive glass on his marble floor causing the liquid inside the expensive glass to spill.

I frowned at him and angrily bent down to pick up the crystals scattered on his floor.

Many people are not down-to-earth specially when they're rich. I know it's my job but doesn't he have any conscience? What if I get cut? What if he accidentally hit me when he dropped his glasses ?! Tsk!

"Do you have a problem?" he asked and when I lifted my head I saw that it was grinning causing my blood to boil even more.

"Nothing," I sarcastically uttered.

"I'm not deaf. I know that your tone is sarcastic," he said while rubbing his chin.

I took a deep breath and annoyingly looked at 'him.

"Are you done? You can leave me so I can clean up what you scattered," I said.

I heard him laughed but I could feel the tinge of annoyance in his laugh, "How dare you ?!" he angrily questioned.

"If only you could, leave me here first," I begged again.

I didn't have time to argue with him because I knew I wouldn't win. Who am I to win? I'm just nothing but a poor person compared to him who is rich powerful.

"Who are you to say that to me?! You're nothing but a shameless and gold digger girl!" he angrily uttered.

His jaw tightened but I knew he was trying to keep from hurting me.

"If you have a problem,  just please talk to the head of our department. I'm done cleaning up your mess. That's all and thank you," I said smiling then I took my trolley and started when taking the elevator.

"How's cleaning the penthouse, girl?!" Rebecca asked with a trembling and wide smile when I arrived at our department.

"He's very arrogant," I said angrily.

"Ha? What do you mean?" Andrea asked.

"I was referring to the arrogant man who checked in there!" nakangusong turan ko.

I could see the widening of their eyes that caused me to frown. Why do they react like this when they should be comforting me because of what the person who checked in to that penthouse did?!

"My gosh, Mariam! The man that you're referring to is Mr. Almojera!! Their family is the owner of this company! Aside from that, their family is known not only here in the Philippines, but also in other countries. What are you doing?!" Andrea said while shaking my shoulder.

I may be shocked but I still chose to act normal, "What do you want me to do now?" I asked.

"Gosh! Isn't it still clear to you?!" Andrea irritatedly asked.

"I know! You don't have to repeat it! Tsk!" I said then leaned my head against the wall.

"In that case, go up to the penthouse and apologize to him!"  Rebecca commanded me.

"And why would I apologize to him?"  I annoyingly asked.

"Because I'm the owner of this company?" The three of us turned to the person who spoke behind me and there I saw Mr. Almojera angrily staring at me with Aling Fe who is the head of our department.

"Please be patient with Mariam, Sir Almojera. We haven't briefed her yet. We put her on duty right away because we don't have enough people," Aling Fe said but I heard a fear in the tone of his speech.

Sir Almojera frowned before speaking again, "Why are we lack of people in your department?" he puckered at his question.

"Ahm .. They're scared because  of you, Sir!" Aling Fe honestly said.

Sir Almojera took a deep breath before speaking again, "If that's the case then look for an employee on your department as soon as you can. I'll go now," Sir Almojera said then quickly left in front of us.

TO BE CONTINUED