With just one call from him, my day instantly becomes complete. Is that how it feels when we love someone? Even though I don’t have any certainty about Samer’s feelings for me, I’m still willing to risk my heart. I’m ready to love him fully!
“Hope everyone has a boyfriend,” Rhea teased me after I lowered the volume.
“That’s Samer,” I told her.
I knew I could trust Rhea with details about our relationship. Besides, Samer didn’t mention anything about keeping it a secret from anyone. We’re both single, anyway!
“Samer Khalifa?” Rhea asked to confirm, and I nodded. “Really? Is it true?” she added.
“Yes, it’s true,” I told her.
“So, you’ll be rich?” Rhea asked again.
“I’m already well-off, you just don’t know it,” I replied.
I may not be as rich as Samer, but what’s important is I have my own money. It’s safely stored in the bank and earns a modest interest every quarter.
“I hope I had that too,” Rhea said.
“If you want to get rich, you should save to invest. Didn’t I mention that before? You’re too spendthrift,” I criticized her spending habits. “Anyway, did you call the LGU in Stonewick?”
“The person in charge isn’t available yet, but don’t worry, I’ll try again. Before the end of the day, we should have feedback on whether they can accommodate what you want,” Rhea replied.
“Just make sure to tell them it’s urgent,” I instructed her. “Have you sent the pictures of the hotel’s interior?”
“Yeah. Wait a moment, and I’ll forward them to your email,” Rhea said.
“Thank you,” I said, and while waiting for the pictures, I reviewed the payroll that Rhea prepared while I was away. I don’t want any employees receiving incorrect salaries.
After reviewing the payroll and finding no errors, I looked into the records of the newly hired employees, especially those who have been with Khalifa for three months. The probationary period in Khalifa is only three months, and after that, I decide whether to make an employee’s status permanent.
“What’s this?” Rhea asked after I placed a list of employees on her desk.
“I want to talk to them after lunch,” I replied.
“Okay,” Rhea said and immediately contacted each employee on the list.
I returned to my computer and reviewed the 201 files of the employees in Khalifa. Every year, they have a program for early retirement. Early retirement may sound scary, but in Khalifa, it’s good news.
The program allows an employee with twenty years of service to retire. Some employees are qualified for early retirement even if they’re only forty-five years old.
Khalifa offers a generous package, which can be used for starting a business. Samer’s vow is to not keep his employees as mere employees forever, so everyone in Khalifa has a chance to truly succeed in life. So far, we haven’t heard from anyone who availed early retirement and ended up struggling.
After printing another list of qualified employees for early retirement, I didn’t give it to Rhea. I decided to talk to them myself. There are only a few qualified employees, and I can handle them.
Or so I thought!
After emailing everyone on the list, my hands immediately got numb. I had taken a few days of rest, so my fingers were not used to typing. I leaned back in my chair and looked at the supersized picture of Samer on the wall.
I’ve been with Khalifa for many years, but I still don’t understand why he needs such a large portrait inside the office. A small one would have been enough.
As I gazed at the picture, I noticed something. As usual, my beloved looks handsome and has a sweet smile, but I wondered why he was holding a camera when he’s not into photography. While staring at the painting, something caught my eye.
“Rhea!” I shouted, startling her.
“Why, Miss?” she asked, but the phone suddenly rang, so I straightened up from my seat.
“Hello?” I said and momentarily forgot that I wasn’t at home but still in the office.
“Baby…” Samer spoke on the other line.
“Sam, what’s up? Do you need something?” I asked him.
“I want to see you,” he said.
“Hmm, okay,” I agreed.
After hanging up the phone, I immediately excused myself to Rhea, telling her I’ll be out for a moment. The 12th floor is close, just one elevator ride away from the 7th floor.
As I walked down the 12th-floor corridor, I didn’t expect to see Kate and the kids. They came from the Khalifa family suite, and I wondered why Kate left late. I smiled at the kids and even at Kate, though I didn’t want to. I sighed after pretending with Samer’s ex.
Anyway…
I still managed to smile at Samer when I entered his office.
“Why? Where’s the nurse?” I asked him when I didn’t see the woman.
“I’m feeling better, so Kate sent her home,” he replied.
WHAT? I was the one who hired her, but Kate was the one who dismissed her? Whoa, the power of an ex is really something!
“You should have told me,” I complained as I sat on the couch.
“That’s why I called you here,” Samer justified.
“Yeah! You called me, but it’s over now. The nurse is gone, and you let Kate do whatever she wants!” I raised my voice. I couldn’t hold back!
“Kate didn’t have any bad intentions. She was just being kind earlier,” Samer said.
“Samer, come on. Do you know how I felt just now? I got jealous of Kate because even though you’re not together anymore, you still listen to her. Until when are we going to be like this?” I asked him because I didn’t like feeling like a third wheel in our relationship.
“What do you mean?” Samer asked, but he suddenly got up from lying down.
“We already agreed on Kate and our arrangement with the kids, but you need to make me feel that she’s still important in your heart?” I confronted him. “I’m going back to the office,” I said, standing up to leave.
“Sit down!” he ordered me.
I got slightly scared when his voice rose. “Do you have anything else to say?”
“I thought we already understood each other about Kate and the arrangement with the kids,” Samer said.
I shook my head because we never talked about that. “It’s just Samer’s ribs that got injured, but why is your memory affected too?” I said to him. “We never talked about Kate being allowed to come here anytime,” I added.
“To pick up the kids,” Samer explained.
“Just to pick them up? But why did she sleep here last night?” I asked him.
“So tell me, Jamie. What do you want me to do?”