7

Jennifer.
As we drove, I gazed out the window, lost in thought. Mr. Tomas sat in silence, not initiating any conversation. I had never worked as a secretary before, so I was unsure of what was expected of me. What kind of job was this?
Eventually, we arrived at a grand hotel to meet other company owners. Mr. Tomas stepped out of the car, and I followed suit. Mr. Carl, who seemed to be the orchestrator of the day, guided us through the hotel. He appeared to know everything, though he wasn’t in charge; he simply took care of logistics and seemed deeply loyal. I found myself curious about their relationship. Why did Mr. Carl treat Mr. Tomas with such deference? What bound them together? Was it merely about money? Mr. Carl was wealthy too, though not on the same level as Mr. Tomas.
Entering the hotel, we encountered numerous men in formal attire waiting for Mr. Tomas. They were not the other company owners but rather employees under his command. He greeted them with an air of arrogance, simply instructing, “Follow me.” We made our way to a conference room featuring a large round table and several chairs. Some employees took seats next to Mr. Tomas and Mr. Carl, while others stood behind them, clearly not granted permission to sit.
Men from another company lingered, waiting for Mr. Tomas. As they shook hands and took their seats, an older man with white hair smiled and said, “Hello, Mr. Tomas! Long time no see.”
“Apologies for the delay with the contract, but something came up,” Mr. Tomas replied, his tone curt.
“It’s alright, Mr. Tomas. Have you had a chance to read the contracts?” the old man, James, inquired.
“Actually, James, I haven’t looked at them yet. Please hand me the contract,” Mr. Tomas instructed.
After scanning the documents for a few moments, Mr. Tomas’s expression shifted from casual to tense. He rolled his eyes and slammed the contract onto the table, shocking me.
“What’s going on?” Mr. Carl asked, concern etched on his face.
“Look at the contract, Carl, and you’ll see! These men are wasting my time!” Mr. Tomas shouted, frustration evident.
Mr. Carl took the contract, and his reaction mirrored Mr. Tomas’s. He, too, stood up, visibly angry.
“Let’s go!” Mr. Carl ordered the employees.
Confused, I turned to Mr. Tomas. “Um, Mr. Tomas! What’s happening?”
Mr. James tried to calm him, urging him to explain his anger. However, Mr. Tomas ignored him and stormed out of the conference room. I lingered for a moment, seeking clarity on the situation. “Mr. James, may I take a few minutes to understand what’s happening with Mr. Tomas?” I asked. He agreed to wait for my response.
Thanking Mr. James, I hurried out of the conference room to find Mr. Tomas and Mr. Carl before they left the hotel. I called out to them, and they halted, turning to face me.
“I need an explanation, sirs! Why are you acting this way?” I demanded of Mr. Tomas.
He narrowed his eyes at me. “What?”
“I am not just a maid, as you previously stated. I’m your private secretary, and I can’t let you behave like this. It will ruin your reputation, and no other company will trust you for future partnerships. I’m a journalist, and I understand the consequences. So please, tell me your reason for rejecting the deal,” I urged, attempting to reason with him.
Mr. Tomas crossed his arms, regarding me with skepticism. “I don’t care, Miss Jennifer,” he replied dismissively. But I sensed there was more beneath the surface; he wasn’t merely a foolish businessman, and my instincts told me something had compelled him to cancel the deal.
“Don’t be stubborn and act like a child! Being obstinate won’t help you. Please give me an explanation. It’s my job to ensure your work is handled honestly and effectively. Let me do my job,” I pressed.
“Okay, come with me,” Mr. Tomas finally conceded, his tone softer. He instructed the others, including Mr. Carl, to wait for him in the lobby.
We made our way to the pool, where Mr. Tomas halted and regarded me with a mix of anxiety and frustration. I ignored his gaze, determined to focus on my mission of uncovering the truth.
“Do you want to know what’s wrong with the contract, Miss Jennifer?” he asked.
“Yes, sir, please,” I replied, nodding confidently.
He let out a long sigh and began counting on his fingers. “First, he wants me to retire and fire most of my employees after the partnership. Second, he wants to change the name of the new company and remove my family name. Third, I discovered that he is married to my ex-fiancee, and he intends to transfer all his companies to her name. I refuse to let that happen,” Mr. Tomas explained.
I shook my head in disagreement. “Actually, no, Mr. Tomas. You’ve told me what bothers you about the contract, but you haven’t provided a reason. I need to understand why.”
He turned away from me, walking along the poolside. “What reason, Miss Jennifer?”
“Let me ask you this: Why don’t you hire new experienced employees? What’s your reason?” I pressed.
Suddenly, he spun around, shouting, “What the hell are you talking about? How will they live? How will they feed their families? They’ve worked hard for me for years! I can’t just toss them into the unknown!”
Confused, I narrowed my eyes. “Even if keeping them would cause you to lose?” I was intrigued. His words filled me with pride; this man truly cared about others.
“Yes! I don’t care about money! I care about them!” Mr. Tomas asserted.
I was taken aback. It was clear now-I had misjudged him. I remembered Mr. Carl’s caution against forming hasty opinions about Mr. Tomas.
Wait, hold on! Am I falling for this man too quickly? I shook my head. Focus, Jennifer. You’re here for work.
Nervously, I cleared my throat. “Okay, Mr. Tomas…”
I continued with my second question. “Why do you care so much about your family name? You could use your own name. He asked you to put ‘Mr. Tomas’ name, not his. What’s your reason?”
He groaned. “To hell with my name! I care about my dad and my family, and I will never change that! My dad started all of this. I worked hard to honor his legacy, and I want his name to be everywhere!” Mr. Tomas explained passionately.
I thought to myself, wow, what a remarkable man.
Feeling a mix of shock and relief, I sighed. Even if these reasons didn’t convince the new partners, it was evident that Mr. Tomas had a strong conviction. “Okay, Mr. Tomas, here’s the third and final question. Why don’t you collaborate with your ex-fiancee? Are you still in love with her?”
He laughed, as if I had made a joke.
“Love? She’s 30 years old and married to James, a much older man! Don’t you get it, Jennifer?” Mr. Tomas raised an eyebrow, challenging me to comprehend.
I rolled my eyes and looked deeply into his. “What do you mean, Mr. Tomas?” I prodded.
He chuckled softly and stepped closer, reducing the space between us. “Let me tell you a short story about her,” he began.
“Okay, I’m listening,” I replied, intrigued.
“After my parents’ death, I was lonely and completely focused on my work. Then a beautiful woman entered my life. She challenged me, and I fell deeply in love with her. She convinced me that she needed me, and I protected her. She never asked for anything, and when I offered her gifts, she always rejected them…” He paused, but I couldn’t resist interrupting.
“So, you fell in love with her because of that?” I asked, empathy washing over me. This man, despite his bravado, carried deep wounds. It was clear he was not as heartless as he portrayed.