CHAPTER 7 – THE NEW CEO

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And now, it's the second and final day of the Medical Mission, so more people flocked to the area. With their increasing number, more hospitals volunteered to help from various parts of the country. Because of this, some were assigned to go door-to-door, while others were tasked to venture into the remotest corners of the area so that everyone could be assured of assistance.

The nurses and doctors promptly conducted free consultations and relief efforts for the people there. The St. Rose Hospital and Samaniego Medical Hospital also collaborated, and the Chief Executive of St. Rose Hospital, Dr. Benjamin De Guzman, the father of Dr. Blaire De Guzman, announced that they would have a small celebration for the success of their operation.

Meanwhile, it was evident that the two doctors, Dr. Blaire and Dr. Miguel, were visibly unsettled. They kept glancing around anxiously, their eyes scanning the crowd repeatedly. It was clear they were looking for someone, and the reason for their restlessness was the noticeable absence of the woman they both longed for. Their concern grew with each passing moment, as neither of them could focus on their duties fully, distracted by the thought of her absence.

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GABRIELLA MONICA JIMENEZ POV

Rylie on the phone…

"Seriously, girl? It's our last day and you're really not coming in?"

"Yes, girl. I have a headache and got drenched in the rain last night. You know how easily I get sick, especially when I'm exhausted. So just let Dr. Blaire know for me. But I've already sent a message to him. So go ahead, girl. I know that you guys are so busy right now. Take care my best friend, bye. I need to rest now. Bye!"

Call Ended...

I sighed and settled back into bed. The truth is, I was just avoiding Miguel. After what happened between us, the thought of seeing him again made me uneasy. I'd rather risk a scolding from Madam Olivia than face the discomfort of being around him. If staying in bed all day gave me peace of mind, it was worth it.

When suddenly, Mama came upstairs, and she was surprised to find me lying in bed, cuddling my children.

"Oh, you're still here, Monica? Don't you have work today? Isn't it the last day of the Medical Mission?" Mama asked while sweeping the floor.

"Yes, Ma. But I'm not feeling well. Riley and I got caught in the rain last night," I replied, getting up to help her.

It was already 8:30 in the morning, so Mama was curious why the kids hadn't come downstairs yet. Usually, they'd be up by 7 or 8 AM for breakfast. That's why she came up to check on them.

After we finished tidying up, we went downstairs for breakfast.

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Meanwhile...

LORENZO MIGUEL SAMANIEGO POV

Everyone was busy doing their own thing since the number of people had doubled today. Even early in the morning, there was already a crowd, so I had no time to leave my post. I wanted to check if Monica had come in. I was really worried that what happened last night might have traumatized her.

Honestly, I couldn't sleep because of it. My conscience was eating at me for what I did to her. I regretted not just inviting her for coffee or out somewhere, hoping to smooth things over. But I let my frustration get the better of me after what I learned that day.

After a few hours, I couldn't take it anymore and asked my assistant to check if Monica was there.

In just a few minutes, he was back.

"Boss, negative. She's not here. Absent, said she wasn't feeling well," Jeric whispered to me.

I was shocked by his report, and I couldn't focus on my work. So, I decided to swap places with Jeric to think things over...

I spent nearly an hour sitting in our tent, thinking of ways to make things right with Monica. I was sure I had contributed to why she didn't come in and was feeling unwell. When I stepped out of the tent, I immediately looked for the person I thought could help me.

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"Uhm, hi Nurse Riley," I said, extending my hand. He shook it, even though I expected that He would ignore me. Because I was sure he knew what had happened between Monica and me, as I saw them leave together.

"Uhm, Nurse Ryle Christian, if it's okay with you and you have the time, could you please come with me to my tent, number 1? There's something I need to discuss with you."

He seemed hesitant at first, but eventually, he agreed. I thanked him immediately and then left.

As soon as I walked away, the other nurses went wild, teasing Nurse Ryle Christian.

"Oh my god, did he really just ask you to come to the tent with him? What kind of magic did you use on him, Nurse Rylie?!"

"Hey, Nurse Rylie, did he touch you? Can I smell your hand?"

"Oh my, Rylie. I wish I were you. The luckiest man in the world!!"

"Wait, did you just say "man"?"

Their laughter continued until I returned to our tent.

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GABRIELLA MONICA JIMENEZ POV

I checked the time, and it was already 5:00 pm as we prepared for our dinner. I started washing our ingredients while Mama was taking a bath.

Since our kitchen and bathroom were close, Mama and I could still chat. She still seemed worried about me, but I assured her that I was feeling better.

"But what if your boss gives you a memo for being absent?" Mama worriedly asked.

"I don't think so, Ma. Besides, this is the first time I've been absent in years of working for them," I replied as I chopped vegetables.

Suddenly, I heard a loud noise, causing me to pause, feel anxious.

"Ma? Are you okay? What are you doing?" I asked, concerned.

It took Mama a few seconds to respond. "I'm fine. I just dropped the soap. Nothing happened to me, dear. I'm okay," she reassured me. Her voice sounded genuine, so I continued with my task.

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After cooking, I took care of the kids, giving them a quick bath since we would be going to bed after dinner.

Then suddenly, Lucy called me from the bathroom.

"Ma'am Monica? Dr. Blaire and Riley are downstairs looking for you," Ate Lucy said, and my eyes widened in surprise at what I heard.

Did I hear correctly? Dr. Blaire and Riley?? Oh my, what's going on?? And why are they together?

Lucy took over bathing the children while I quickly freshened up before heading downstairs.

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As I descended the stairs, I pretended to have a headache.

"Hello, Dr. Blaire and Riley. How are you? Sorry, I had a migraine attack," I said, feigning pain, holding my head. I hoped Dr. Blaire would believe me.

Suddenly, Mom appeared. "Oh, it's good that you came down, dear. Dr. Blaire and Riley have been here for a while, checking on you because they were worried. But I told them you're okay, and see, you even managed to cook this vegetable dish. They're enjoying it, and your boss loves it," Mom said with a smile.

I felt like disappearing on the spot. Here I was, putting on an act, only to find out that Mom had spilled the beans.

Riley blushed, trying to hold back her laughter.

"Wow, Monica, you're really good at cooking. This is delicious. Auntie, can I have some for takeout? I'll bring it with me because this might be the most delicious vegetable dish I've ever tasted in my entire life," Dr. Blaire said and then handed me his ziplock container.

"Oh my god, Dr. Blaire, I can't picture someone like you, as wealthy as you are, carrying a ziplock container and bringing home leftovers," Riley chuckled, struggling to hold back his laughter.

Then suddenly, Dr. Blaire tapped Riley. "This is only for Monica, Nurse Riley. And besides, I really love the taste of this delicious dish. I can't resist it," he said, glancing over at me.

Oh my god, there goes that creepy look again.

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As Mama wrapped Dr. Blaire's meal, they also revealed the relief goods they brought since Mama couldn't make it to the last day of the Medical Mission.

"Here, we got you a sack of rice, groceries, a rechargeable fan, flashlights, a power bank, and other goodies," Dr. Blaire said, presenting the items.

Feeling overwhelmed, I couldn't help but be embarrassed by their generosity, considering both Mom and I missed the last day of the Medical Mission.

"R-really, Dr. Blaire? All of these? It's a lot. Oh my god, this is embarrassing," I stammered as they brought the goods into the house.

Mama was equally surprised and kept thanking Dr. Blaire.

"Thank you for the gifts, Doc. You brought them all the way here. It's so embarrassing," Mama apologized, handing Dr. Blaire her wrapped food.

"No worries, Mama Emma. Anything for Monica and her loved ones. I'll do everything I can to help," Dr. Blaire said with a smile, and Riley and I exchanged glances.

Sigh, I really felt so embarrassed, unsure of how to reciprocate Dr. Blaire's kindness.

--

And the minutes passed. Dr. Blaire revealed the real reason for their visit. I was truly taken aback when he mentioned inviting us to a victory party at their Luxury Hotel.

"A party? At a hotel?" I nearly stumbled in shock. The thought of rubbing elbows with the big shots from St. Rose Hospital and other volunteers at a victory party made me apprehensive. And the idea of joining them, well, I couldn't shake off the worry about what people might say.

"No, Monica, it's just a small gathering. You can bring your family along. We'll simply enjoy the evening together. You have nothing to worry about; as long as you're with me, everything will be fine, I promise," Dr. Blaire reassured.

My gaze darted to my Mom, who seemed equally hesitant. But then, Dr. Blaire knelt down and pleaded with us.

"Please, Monica, Mama Emma. This is the only chance I have to take both of you out for dinner. Monica, I promise, if you come with me tonight, it'll be the last time I'll ask. I understand your concerns about what people might say, but please, trust me, this will be the final time I'll ask you to join me. And I'm saying this in front of Mama Emma."

Could it be that the vegetable dish he ate triggered this sudden insistence? I was at a loss for what to do. Then, unexpectedly, Mom agreed with Dr. Blaire.

"Okay, fine, Dr. Blaire, we'll go with you," she said, smiling with a hint of tears in her eyes.

Dr. Blaire went ecstatic, enveloping both Mom and me in a hug.

"Yes! Finally! Thank you so much, Mama Emma," he said, his eyes moist with gratitude.

"W-wait, Dr. Blaire? Can I join the group hug? I'm part of Monica's family too," Riley persisted.

Oh my god, it's like we've been swept up in Dr. Blaire's favor.

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A few hours later...

LORENZO MIGUEL SAMANIEGO POV

It's 8:00 pm and here we are at the D.G Grand Hotel. We're already seated at our table, and to be honest, the place is impressive. You wouldn't think there's a hotel like this in the province. Its design could rival those of 5-star hotels in Manila. This hotel is truly high-class, and I can't say anything bad about it.

Meanwhile, as the clock is ticking, this party would seem like not just a simple victory party as I heard from the doctors right here at our table, that there will be an important announcement later. They also had no clue what the announcement would be because the owner of St. Rose Hospital wanted it to be a surprise.

However, that surprise didn't really concern me much. The truth is, I've been feeling hungry for quite some time now. In fact, it's the first time in my entire existence that my stomach has grumbled like this. Growing up, I've never experienced hunger, given our privileged status. So, I have to give credit to the party organizer for making me feel it now. After a short while, the host of the party announced that we could finally start eating.

"I apologize for the delay, everyone. Tonight is a very special occasion, and the dishes prepared by Mr. and Mrs. De Guzman are equally special. So, let's indulge in the wide array of delicacies offered by our extensive catering. Enjoy your meal, everyone, because, in just a little while, the owner of this establishment will be making an important announcement. Thank you all very much."

With that, Jeric, Dr. Charles, and I wasted no time queuing up at the food table, joining the other guests eager to satisfy their appetites.

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And while we were in line, a familiar face greeted me.

"Hey, Dr. Lorenzo Miguel, you're here? Long time no see," a woman said, smiling and giving me a peck on the cheek.

I struggled to remember who she was, and she just stood there waiting for me to reciprocate the greeting. "Oh, sorry, I forgot. Who are you again?" I said with a smile, and she looked irritated.

"My God, really, Miggy the Piggy?" she said, rolling her eyes at me, and damn! Her words triggered my memory.

"Oh, shit, Dani the Penguin. Really? It's you?" and we hugged.

That girl is Danica Gomez, the younger sister of my close friend Dale, we've been classmates since elementary school, and that's how I met her. She used to be so snarky, which is why we had our own nicknames for each other. She called me Miggy the Piggy because I was kinda chubby when I was younger, and I called her Dani the Penguin because she was short and chubby, and she walked like a penguin.

Back in those days, we truly couldn't stand each other. But as time went by, we realized that we couldn't maintain that enmity forever, especially considering that her brother had become my closest friend. Despite being older, she still behaves like a little sister, with all the mischief she gets up to.

"Wow, long time no see, Dani. You look like a supermodel now. Wait, so you're still a flight attendant?"

"Yeah, what else? If only I could pass as a pilot so I could replace my brother," she joked.

They both work for their family's company, with Dale as a pilot and Dani as a flight attendant. I asked her why she was at the same hotel, thinking they might be on vacation with their family, but I was surprised by her response.

"To marry someone. I mean, Mom told me she's going to introduce me to a guy to marry," she said, leaving me stunned. However, with the line moving forward to get our food, I refrained from delving into further details. Instead, I simply congratulated her on her impending marriage and proceeded to grab some food.

"Wow, that's awesome. So, congrats in advance," I said, offering a smile as I shook her hand.

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GABRIELLA MONICA JIMENEZ POV

We're almost at the hotel, and my palms are starting to feel cold. I was nervous because I felt so embarrassed. Honestly, I even pleaded with Dr. Blaire before we left, as I really didn't feel comfortable attending this party. But Dr. Blaire was insistent, so I had no choice but to gather my courage and face the challenge. 

When we arrived, Mama Emma and Faith were in awe when we reached the hotel. Their eyes widened in amazement as they took in the luxurious surroundings. It reminded me of the first time Riley and I came here, as our reactions were almost identical to theirs upon seeing this grand hotel.

"Wow, this place is so fancy. It's my first time entering such a huge house," Faith said clinging tightly to Riley's arm, afraid she might break something inside the hotel.

"Faith, this isn't a house; it's a hotel. That's what you call a place like this," Rylie responded.

Meanwhile, I was closely assisting Mama because I knew she wasn't used to places like this, especially with almost everyone staring at us especially when we made it inside the Event Room.

"This is so embarrassing, Monica. I didn't know this was where we were going. I'm not comfortable with what I'm wearing, and people might just laugh at me. What if we just go home?" Mama said worriedly.

As the room was beautifully decorated, with elegant tables and stunning floral arrangements. Crystal chandeliers hung from the ceiling, casting a soft, warm light over the crowd. The air was filled with the sound of a live band playing gentle melodies, adding to the sophisticated atmosphere. As we walked further in, I noticed that many guests were dressed in formal attire, making me feel even more out of place.

But I needed to stay strong for Mama because we were already here. All I could think about was getting through the night. Besides, I didn't want to give Dr. Blaire any reason to criticize us.

"No Mama, don't worry. You look beautiful. We're here now, so let's make the best of it," I reassured her, squeezing her hand gently.

I took a deep breath and straightened my gown, trying to muster up the confidence to face the night ahead.

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LORENZO MIGUEL SAMANIEGO POV

"Good evening to everyone, nurses, and doctors from different hospitals across the country. Let's give ourselves a round of applause for the success of our mission. A mission to provide, and bring joy, and relief to our fellow citizens. We are sincerely grateful to all of you."

And everyone applauded.

"Please remain standing because we have an important announcement for the nurses and doctors and all employees of St. Rose Hospital."

And everybody was up on their feet. Everyone was curious about the important announcement that De Guzmans were going to make.

Meanwhile, I thought I couldn't miss this kind of moment, so I instructed my assistant to cover the event with our video camera to have a souvenir when we returned to Manila.

"Everybody, please welcome the new CEO of St. Rose Medical Hospital. The only son of Mr. and Mrs. Olivia and Dr. Benjamin De Guzman... Please welcome the new Chief Executive, Dr. Blaire De Guzman." The crowd erupted in applause with a standing ovation. I knew it! This kind of event was not new to me. I was standing and clapping for the new CEO.

But wait, holy crap! Is this really what I'm seeing? "M-Monica??" And I stopped clapping when I saw her with Dr. Blaire. WTF?!

Dr. Charles and I exchanged glances, both of us in disbelief at what we saw. But we immediately became alarmed when we saw Olivia stand up with a sharp look directed at Dr. Blaire and Monica.

No way! I had a bad feeling about what might happen next. I need to address this as soon as possible.

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