Chapter 7-Unlucky Day

FAYE

Since I saw Rome and the girl engaging in suspicious activities earlier, I lost all motivation to work in the office.

I used to be the jealous type, getting angry and even involving their belongings—I realized I had no right to be jealous.

Since then, all I’ve been doing is cleaning Rome’s office, even though he didn’t ask me to. I just don’t like sitting around when I’m angry.

She was so flirtatious, almost like she was about to undress right in front of him, it’s infuriating.

I keep wondering if Rome has had a long-term girlfriend besides me.

Rome is wealthy, and it’s impossible for him not to find someone on his level. Like that girl earlier.

But that’s not right! She’s just fair-skinned! She may have a big boobs and knows how to dress, but we still look better together. I hope he realizes that.

Rome is not in the company right now. He and his friend, Xino, left for a while. I didn’t know he would still talk to me after what I did to his best friend. It seems like he’s not angry at me, even though he knows about my past with Rome.

I covered my mouth when I accidentally bumped into the vase on his table. I quickly picked it up, but blood was scattered all over the floor from the shattered pieces cutting my skin.

“Ouch!”

I paused for a moment as a painful memory flooded my mind.

“You are so stupid! That was my first love’s gift! You just broke it!” Benjamin grabbed the broken pieces and threw them at my face.

I screamed in pain as I saw myself in the glass wall, my face covered in blood, especially around my eye.

“Come here!” He yanked me by pulling my hair. He violently threw me onto the sofa.

I recoiled as he grabbed his belt, wrapped around his waist.

“I hate that kind of behavior in a woman. You’re so far from my love’s personality! I never dreamed of having a foolish companion like you!”

I screamed in agony as he struck me with his belt, the metal buckle hitting my thigh, leaving a wound.

“Stop! It hurts!” I pleaded with a broken voice, shielding my hand that had been hit as well.

He only stopped when he noticed I couldn’t breathe from crying, screaming, and the pain he was inflicting. He wrapped his belt around his waist again and left me lying on the sofa.

I sat up, unable to suppress the shivers that ran through me as I remembered that. He used to hit me almost every day with his favorite black belt, so I can’t blame myself for having anxiety attacks when I see a belt.

I pushed that thought aside and cleaned up the mess I made. I hope Rome doesn’t notice what I did, or he might make me pay for it. I don’t have any money yet.

Thankfully, Xino treated me to a satisfying meal, and he was so kind that he gave me all the leftovers. When I got home, my sister was happy to have a proper dinner.

“Sis, this is the first time I’ve tasted such delicious food,” he said, savoring the taste of the beef lengua.

“I can’t promise, but if I can afford to buy this kind of food, I’ll get it for you. Just bear with it, okay? I won’t let myself lose my job,” I said, and suddenly, Rome came to mind.

Even though he’s my boss, it’s fine as long as I can be with him. Not only that, I’ll earn money for my brother and mother.

Whatever he asks me to do, I’ll do it, as long as he forgives me for what I’ve done. That’s all I hope for, and if it happens, it will feel like a weight has been lifted from my heart.

I know I’m not suitable for him anymore. He’s wealthy, handsome, intelligent, and most importantly, there are more women chasing after him now.

While I, here, drowning in debt, struggling in life, and looking like an old woman.

Maybe this is my karma for hurting him, but everything I did had a reason. I want to explain it to him when he’s ready to listen, and hopefully, there’s still a chance for our love to return to how it used to be.

I picked up my cellphone and opened my social media account. I’m not online often, but I just wanted to check Rome’s account. I searched for him in the search bar, and his profile suddenly appeared.

I smiled when I saw that his account was verified and he had so many followers.

I clicked on his profile while biting my lip. He already had a tattoo on his side. He looks so hot, and his hair isn’t as long anymore, it suits him perfectly.

He was just boxing here and I accidentally found myself staring at his prominent abs. I swallowed hard and quickly realized that I had zoomed in on the photo, so I immediately exited when Francis entered the room.

Damn! It would be embarrassing if Francis caught me ogling at that.

But earlier, I saw in the comments that many girls wanted to be with him based on what I read. Their accounts were verified and they seemed to be actresses and models.

“Have you eaten, sis?” Francis asked as he sat beside me.

“Yes. Can you make me some coffee?” I ordered. He nodded and stood up to go to our kitchen, so I glanced at Rome’s photo again. I took more pictures of him and set them as my wallpaper.

He was leaning on the balcony rail, his fingers intertwined and wearing shades, but he wasn’t looking at the camera.

“He’s so handsome!” I squealed while kissing his photo repeatedly.

The next day, I helped my brother prepare for his class. Mama was left behind, as long as she had eaten before we left. I also entrusted her to our neighbors.

The tricycle dropped me off in front of Wilson Incorporation, Rome’s company.

If we were still married, would I be one of the managers here?

“Beautiful lady, that will be 80 pesos,” the driver said. I raised my eyebrows at the expensive fare. I couldn’t find a jeepney earlier.

I rummaged through my old shoulder bag, searching for 80 pesos.

My eyes widened as I remembered that I had used up all of it when I went home to pay off our debts.

“Sir… I don’t have any money,” I nervously said. His expression changed and he gave me a dirty look.

“I work hard for my family, you know? Don’t try to fool me,” he said angrily and started the tricycle. “I don’t let scammers get away with it.”

I felt like crying because I didn’t have a single peso in my bag. “Sir, I really don’t have any…” I bit my lower lip.

“What?!” he turned off the tricycle’s engine and stood up to approach me. “This is your fare!” he extended his palm. “You knew you didn’t have any money, yet you still rode the tricycle! You traveled such a long distance!”

I turned my head to the back when I saw a black and shiny car parked in the parking lot. The car sparkled as it was hit by the sunlight. He parked the car perfectly without even using the brakes, as long as he positioned it correctly.

There was also something written on the stone: PRESIDENT, and to my surprise, it was Rome’s name. Wow! He’s also a president? How cute, he has his own parking space.

I couldn’t help but be amazed in my mind.

But now is not the time to fantasize about Rome. It’s embarrassing, but I’m desperate. I really don’t have any money.

I ran towards Rome. “S-Sir,” I called out. He turned around and his expression changed when he saw me.

“Don’t come near me, even in public. It’s disgusting and embarrassing to be with you,” he coldly replied to my call. “You’re ruining my day early in the morning. Can you not talk to me for now? I’m in a good mood, and you ruined it!” he snapped again.

I lowered my head in shame. “S-Sir, I’m sorry, but…”

“What do you need? You’re wasting your time as an employee. Every minute you spend moving around in my company, you should be paid!” he snapped again. “And you’re wasting my time. I have a lot of things to do today!”

“Hey! What’s taking so long!?” I flinched when I heard the tricycle driver.

I took a deep breath to gather my courage. “Can I borrow 100 pesos from you? I really don’t have any money. It’s embarrassing to ask the tricycle driver,” I shyly said, biting my finger.

I just wanted to disappear into the ground because of what I did. He turned to look at the driver waiting for my payment. He grinned as if he was amused by my situation, having no money at all.

“You poor thing. Are you really that desperate? Why don’t you ask for money from your mistress then? Let him use you and pay you since you’re such a slut, right? How much money did he slap you with? Go and find your husband, I’m not the one you should be bothering because you have no place in my life,” he said sharply. “Didn’t you used to boast about being rich?”

I regret approaching him because he sees me crying in front of him now. Not because I can’t pay, but because of what he said. I felt offended and insulted.

I am not a paid woman like the prostitutes in clubs, I am not flirtatious, I do not let others use me. My chest tightens from holding back my tears.

“Tch.” He walked towards my back. I wiped away my tears before facing them. “Here, two thousand pesos. It’s all yours, never come back here.” Rome forcefully pressed the money to the driver’s chest.

Two thousand… the change is wasted.

“And also don’t scream in front of my property. Do you know that’s one of my pet peeves?” Rome added irritably.

Oh no! The driver got involved too. I’m sorry!

“Oh? Your pet?” the driver asked confusedly. I approached the two of them.

“Tsk, no! Nevermind!” Rome snapped.

“Uh, sir, what he means is, it’s one of his pet peeves,” I calmly explained. Rome suddenly gave me a dirty look.

“Is that so? Sorry. I’ll leave now,” the driver bid goodbye and quickly rode off on his tricycle.

“Feeling smart, huh? Feeling good in the eyes of the people. You’re the one, Faye Reagon, who loves deceiving others.” I bowed my head instead of responding to him. “What else are you staring at? If I knew my morning would be ruined, I shouldn’t have come here,” he said irritably and bumped into me before walking towards the company entrance.

I stood up from my fall and hurried inside. I didn’t think about what he did anymore because he did save me from the driver. As soon as I entered, Rome’s scent immediately greeted me. His perfume was really strong, lingering in his path.

In the hallway I passed through, there were fair-skinned and sexy women lined up towards the interview room.

I saw upstairs that it was written, “Secretary position applicants’ interview room.”

I felt nervous after reading that. Is Rome going to fire me? Why didn’t he interview me here before?

I hope he doesn’t fire me. Oh my, this is a big opportunity for me and my family.