“What are you doing here George?” Marcelo questioned, his voice and expression bored of the familiar stranger that walked in.
Marcelo took a sit on his office chair while Theressa was flushed in embarrassment.
The first time they had met was when she lost her job and had poured out her anger on him and now he had walked in on her, her zipper to her suit trouser.
She cleared her throat adjusting her clothes as bowed her head in shame trying to walk past George.
“Cry baby” He exclaimed fingers pointing at her as his eyes was widened in surprise.
“Wow” he’s gaze went straight to Marcelo to which Theressa found suspicious.
“So you work here? With my brother?” He questioned. To Theressa she felt he already had his answers but still asked because he needed clarity.
Theressa nodded in agreement and she heard Marcelo sigh behind her at the same time George had began to clap, so loud, his tongue poking his inner cheek, eyes holding realization.
Theressa was confused, so confused she stood looking between George and Marcelo while Marcelo massaged his temple in disappointment.
“Did I do something wrong, am I not open to telling anyone who my boss is” Theressa thought.
“So you took her from me and took her to yoy wings? So much to call yourself my brother” Marcelo hissed settling himself on one of the couch.
Brother… they are brothers?
What’s happening? I was taken from him, how? Theressa’s thought was a whirlwind of questions.
The look from Martyn clearly stated Theressa should leave but George and herself wanted others so as George called her to sit she quickly obliged. An excuse to find out what she doesn’t seem to understand.
“Please excuse my bad manners, I forgot to introduce myself” George began. Theressa knew his name the minute Marcelo called out but she wanted more from this guy. Most especially how she was taken from him.
“I am George Tolomeo, Marcelo’s brother, older to be specific and you …were once mine” He flirted.
Theressa cringed. Aside from the road side meeting she had no clue about his existence but all of a sudden she was his?
Theressa turned to Marcelo for explanation but was ignored Marcelo had busied himself with his computer device.
“Say what you’re here for and leave George” Marcelo stated, clearly tired of putting up with his brother.
Theressa knew it would very wrong to do and might get punished for what she was about to do but she did either ways.
“And how was I taken?” She questioned.
Marcelo must dislike nosiness but it wasn’t in the contract to not ask any question.
George let out a small laughter. “You really have so much potential, my loss then”
Theressa managed to keep her cool despite she was loosing her patience.
“I’m also the CEO of IO company. I’m so embarrassed now. I failed an employee, I failed you” He’s seemed serious and sorry. His facial features were in no way similar to Marcelo. He looked soft, his eyes downcast as his tone became gentle.
Marcelo groaned.
It was a shocking news to Theressa, his former boss is the brother to his new boss.
“It’s fine now,” Theressa assured him. She had always heard news about how nice and kind their CEO was, but seeing him now explained it all.
He’s the total opposite of his brother while Marcelo looked tough, handsome and always angry George looked cute, he had the skin of a baby, so milky he wasn’t as muscular as Marcelo but he was a big guy.
“Brother, how tricky can you be?” George chuckled.
“Theressa leave” Marcelo ordered. His jaw had tightened as his eyes glared atTheressa down wanting to rebel but something within her itched her not and so she stood to leave.
“Don’t mind my brother, if he acts mean to you” George stated as Theressa got to her feet.
“Enough George” Marcelo warned and his older brother couldn’t push the angry bird’s temper anymore.
Theressa walked out of the office trying to comprehend George’s statement.
Even as she tried on concentrating on the task at hand, Marcelo kept lingering on her mind.
Her head replaying everything that happened between themselves. A sense of nostalgia as the memories flood back, the fights, the intimacy, the trust. Each memory carried a bittersweet warmth that spread across her chest as she recalled the touches, his whispers, his scent that was still lingering on her.
And then it hit her, the last time she felt this way, the last time she craved for her to be seen as a woman, to be more than a boss and a secretary. This was the same feeling she had for Justin, a different person, different position but the same feeling.
“No it can’t be” Theressa shook her head in disagreement.
“I can not have-” Her inaudible chats with herself was interrupted as a sudden call came through, her phone viberating on the wooden desk.
Seeing the caller ID, her heart skipped a beat. Doctor Lauritta was calling. But why?
She quickly picked the phone, hoping nothing has gone wrong with her mother.
“I hope your day is going well Miss Taylor?” Doctor Lauritta asked while Theressa craved to skip all these familiarities.
“Is my mother okay?” Theressa question, her tone a hint of urgency and fear,
“You have to calm down Miss Taylor. Yes, we need to go ahead with the surgery today or else…” The doctor stopped hoping Theressa had gotten the message.
“Okay, I will be on my way” Theressa informed jerking up from her chair as she got to inform her boss. But before she could knock, the door was swung by Marcelo.
“Are you okay?” Marcelo questioned , noticing the change in Theressa’s expression.
Theressa had to caml herself down as she brought out the words from her mouth.
“My mum…she’s about to get a surgery”
“Oh my- you should be with her” George came forward reaching out to Theressa.
“Come on I’ll take you there” George offered, already starting to head to the elevator. Theressa turned back to Marcelo, It looked at first he was about to say something else other than; “You can leave”.
But Theressa didn’t push it, not when her mother was on the verge of life and death.
Theressa left with George hoping she doesn’t lose her mother. her only existing family.
The reason why she’s still chose to struggle in such a harsh world.