SABRINA’S POV
I woke up earlier the next day because I will have a meeting later at the Wilson Hope Corporation and an interview with a TV network. I looked at Hope who was peacefully sleeping beside me before I decided to stand up. I looked at myself in the mirror inside the restroom. Five years had passed and many things changed about me. In my state right now, no one can see any reflection of Sabrina Cruz.
I stared at my reflection for a few more minutes before I decided to start doing my morning routine. Afterwards, I went straight to the kitchen to cook breakfast for me and Hope. We are staying here in my condo that I bought two years ago because my mansion is still in renovation.
“Good morning, mommy.”
A sweet smile automatically painted on my lips when I felt Hope’s embrace on my waist together with her soft and sweet greetings to me. I turned around to face her.
“Good morning, sweetie,” I greeted her back and pinched her cheek using my free hand. She smiled at me widely because of that.
“Stay in the living room first. I will call you once I finish cooking our breakfast,” I instructed her.
“Okay, mommy,” Hope quickly replied then ran away from the kitchen.
After a while, I heard the sound of our television opening. It seemed like she would be watching cartoons, so I faced what I was cooking and continued it. I have to do this fast since I want to avoid being late with my schedule. I was busy setting the table after I cooked when I heard Hope exclaim. I ran as fast as I could to see her.
“Hope, what is wrong?” I concernedly asked with an almost out-of-breath voice.
“You are in the TV Mommy,” Hope innocently said and pointed in the television’s direction.
I looked at where Hope pointed her finger and saw a breaking news. The news was all about me arriving in the country. I approached Hope closer and sat down beside her.
“Baby, seeing me in the news will be normal, okay?” I said.
“Why Mommy? Are you a celebrity?” she innocently asked which made me laugh.
“No… it’s just that, Mommy owns a big company, you know that right?” I remarked. She nodded.
“Here in the Philippines, they also look up to business owners especially if the business he or she owns has a big impact on the economy,” I explained as simply as I could, so she could truly understand.
“Then I want to be a business owner too, Mommy, so I can be a star,” Hope innocently remarked which made me laugh even more.
“Just keep dreaming baby, Mommy will surely help you realize it,” I stated while smiling. She nodded innocently.
I stood up from where I was sitting and gently held her left hand, “but for now, we have to eat since your Auntie Sheryl is waiting for us in the office,” I said. She simply nodded and then stood up. We went together in the kitchen to eat our breakfast.
***
“Good morning!”
Those are the lines echoing inside the building while Hope and I are walking towards my office. All the employees we were meeting in the hallway kept on greeting me and Hope. Hope loves meeting too, and of course, we are greeting them back one by one. That is one of the cultures I want the employees in my company to embrace.
“Hope…” Sheryl happily called Hope when she saw us.
Hope immediately let go of my hand and ran towards Sheryl. On the other hand, Sheryl sat down to welcome hope in her arms.
“I miss you, Auntie Sheryl,” Hope stated while hugging Sheryl tightly.
“I miss you too, Hope,” Sheryl replied then let go of Hope. “Oh, you got taller after two years,” she added while measuring Hope’s height. Hope only laughed at that comment, then looked at me.
“Mommy, Auntie Sheryl said I got bigger,” She informed me.
I smiled while approaching them then said,” But for me, you will always be my baby,” I remarked then pinched Hope’s cheeks.
“Welcome back, Ms. CEO,” Sheryl seriously greeted me, so I hit her arms jokingly.
“Don’t be too formal,” I prohibited her, which made her laugh as she approached me.
“I also miss you, Sabby,” she said while hugging me.
I also hugged her and said, “I thought you only miss Hope,” I jokingly said. I heard Sheryl chuckle, “I miss you too, Sheryl,” I sincerely replied as I let go of her embrace.
“How’s your flight?” She asked.
“Stressful because I almost lost Hope,” I narrated.
“Really?” Sheryl unbelievably remarked then looked at Hope.
“The bad guys took our luggage, so I tried to catch them,” Hope explained herself to Sheryl. “But I know what I did was wrong,” She admitted. Sheryl was about to say something when my secretary approached us.
“Good morning, Ms. Wilson. I am sorry to interrupt you but your live interview will start in a few minutes na po,” she politely informed me.
I nodded at her in response, then faced Hope, “Baby, Mommy will just work okay? Please go with her,” I said and pointed to my secretary.
Hope only nodded and then approached my secretary. I just signaled my secretary, and then she held Hope’s hand and led her to my office. When they left, I faced Sheryl.
“Let’s go,” I said and started walking towards the conference hall.
“Are you ready?” I heard Sheryl ask, so I look back.
“I am more than ready. We crafted this plan for so long,” I emphasized.
“Chill! Your expression changed more quickly than before,” Sheryl jokingly remarked, I smiled at her.
“I am just excited to see them fall on their knees. I will make sure that this will be the beginning of their fall.”
***
The interview went smoothly since the questions were easier. All of it is related to the business I own, so it did not become hard for me to answer their questions.
“Now, Ms. Wilson, apart from being a successful businesswoman, who are you?” the interviewer asked.
“Wow… that’s an unexpected question,” I pretended to be amused even if I already knew this question would come out before this interview. “Well, Sabrina Wilson is a woman who gets what she wants. I work hard for everything I have right now, so I will never back down. I am one of the strong independent women who doesn’t need a man to be successful,” I comprehensively explained.
“With that last phrase, Ms. Wilson, does it mean you are single?” the interviewer asked again with a smile on her face. The people in the hall became silent because of the interviewer’s question. It seemed like they were waiting for my answer.
“Definitely,” I shortly answered.
“Why? Is there no one showing interest or you just don’t want to settle?” she followed up.
“Well, I believe that it’s better to remain single until you find the right man for you than settle for less,” I confidently replied to her.
“Oh… that’s too deep. But anyway, let’s talk about your competitors. Being the most successful business woman are you threatened or relaxed? How does it feel especially since you are here in the Philippines now?” she additionally asked. That’s also the cue that it will be the last question according to the list of questions they sent me before this day.
I sat down properly and faced the camera, “For my competitors, I don’t feel threatened at all. As I’ve said, I work hard for this, so I’ll never back down. So, to you, prepare yourself because I will win this game with flying colors…”
TO BE CONTINUED!