I sat at the backseat with Leo while I rained kisses on him.
"How was the interview, Leo? And why did you take so long?"
"The interview was hectic and in fact, I didn't go for an interview but rather work."
" What happened?"
" The one who was to interview me gave me a whole five years of the company's financial statements to work on in a day. Could you believe that?" I lamented.
" Does that mean you have the job already?"
"I don't think so."
"Hmph...am sorry about that. It's all my fault."
" How's it your fault?" I asked.
" I've heard that the CEO is quite grumpy and never satisfied with the work his employees do so he ends up frustrating them and they get tired and quit.
It has also been rumored that after his dad handed over the company to him, he found out that the accountants and auditors in the company conspired and squandered a huge sum of money. He sacked them when he got to know. Since then, he hasn't employed any accountant or auditor." Raymond expounded extensively.
" So you mean there hasn't been any accountants for the past five years?"
" Yeah, that was what I heard."
How would the company survive without those two? There must be more to this.
"Who are they? I mean the Anosova's." I questioned.
"One of the richest in America and this is not the only bank, their bank stretches worldwide."
" Hmm." I signed and chewed on my lips.
" Look I'm sorry okay? I'll get you another job. I shouldn't have applied to this company."
" It's okay Raymond. I'll manage this work."
" Are you sure?".
" Yes, I will." I replied and continued playing with my boy.
" Has he eaten anything yet?"
"Yeah, I made him a bottle and he has already had his bath. We were missing you so we have to come all the way here."
" Thanks, Ray."
" Anytime."
~DAVE~
I'd woken up at dawn to finish up my work when I saw a shadow in my room.
I thought it was the strange lady I caught a week ago but it was Mary.
"Mary? What are you doing here?" I demanded and she startled.
" Nothing, I just came to check up on you." She answered nervously and avoided my eyes.
Mary only does this when she's hiding something from me.
"What is it, Mary?" I sat her down and spoke calmly. "You know you can talk to me so tell me what is wrong."
"I just missed her." She whispered.
I got confused. " Who do you miss?"
"Leona."
I got more confused. I haven't heard that name before and none of her daughter's bored that name. Not like I know any except for Natalie who's late.
"You don't know her but she has been close, very close." She spoke again.
I sighed and waited for her to continue. I couldn't understand a bit of what she was saying. Everything felt like a parable to my ears.
"She's the lady who has been sneaking into your room. I caught her once and we became friends for a few days until she never showed up again. I missed her a lot so I thought of coming in to check if she'd come to sleep but failed to come to see me."
Ohh..so it's my secret architect.
I can't believe Mary knew along and kept such a thing from me even though I have come to inquire about the person who has been sneaking into my room from her.
"I'm sorry to have kept you in the dark Dave. But I made her a promise that was why."
A promise you just broke.
" Don't worry Mary. I also saw her once but she disappeared as quickly as he appeared. That was a week ago." I said when I remembered the day she supposedly came to bid me goodbye.
Was it me though?
She struggled to flee from me again but since I've been wishing to see the strange person, I fixed a camera in my room earlier.
And that was how I got to know who she was.
It was my Hermosa all along. I can't believe she came to return the favor I did for her almost two years ago.
But how did she know that I was the one that rescued her?
Only God knows how long I've prayed to see her again.
And when she finally came, she disappeared.
This is so unfair.
I missed her.
But there was one thing missing and that was her hair.
I guess she didn't hear me when I told her not to cut it.
I didn't recognize her at first until I replayed the video over and over again.
She was beautiful and I couldn't forget such a pretty face so quickly.
I wish she'd kept that hair. I really want to see how far it has reached.
"She must've come to see me," Mary whispered.
I glanced at her and even though I didn't want to blame her for her disappearance, I couldn't help getting a bit angry for the fact that she kept it from me as the days rolled by.
....
I needed an accountant urgently so when my secretary called that there's a lady waiting to be interviewed, I dressed up and left for the office.
Unfortunately my mood was sour when I heard the knock on the door so when the person knocked and didn't wait for my permission to enter, I had no choice but to act bitchy.
She got me angrier when I asked her a question and didn't answer so my intention was to send her out of my office but then I lifted my gaze and I was beyond flabbergasted.
WTF?
It's the same lady.
My Hermosa!
My talented architect and my..my...
My roomie.
What could be better than this?
Just this morning I thought I lost her but here she was. Here to be interviewed.
I'm highly favored and honored.
My eyes zoomed on her outfit and to be frank, she was looking gorgeous and it's just that her skirt hid a lot from me.
It's got me a bit irritated so I have to tell her how ugly the skirt was and ended up calling her my roomie.
She looked stunned as her jaw dropped cutely.
I was practically drooling in a professional way but managed to mask it.
Damn! She's so pretty and curvy.
She asked who I was and I found myself acting like a stupid teenager.
After our little chat where I was acting like a complete jerk, I got to know something about her.
She doesn't look like the innocent fragile lady I saw lying on a hospital bed.
The lady in front of me looked wild, outspoken, and sophisticated.
The lady in front of me is fearless and can stand up for herself.
She looked strong mentally, physically, and emotionally.
She's not someone that can be fooled or deceived quickly.
Above all, she looked smart!
But when her mood suddenly switched to the innocent lady I saw on the hospital bed, I realized that she didn't actually change that much.
She has just built some concrete walls around herself and try to act strong but deep down, I can sense that she's soft.
For some odd reason, I yearned to know much about her, to know what made her change and what she went through over the years.
.
.
I started thinking of ways I could protect her in the future and it really ridiculous of me but I can't help it.
I feel like protecting her even though I haven't seen her in any danger.
I also got to know how intelligent she is during the interview.
She's a beauty with brains. She's not only a brainiac but exceptionally talented.
Should I say I was quite glad that she wasn't married?
I don't know but I'm just relieved when her name was 'miss' instead of the 'Mrs' I was expecting.
But I can't help thinking about the baby she was carrying.
How I wish for the baby not to survive.
I can't believe I'm having wicked thoughts for no reason.
I gave her the work to do
intentionally because I just want to disqualify her and make her my personal architect.
And I think she'd do better in that field than being an accountant.
No one can complete that task in a day and I know that. I am just trying to scare her off but she's proving stubborn.
And I must confess, she'll make a good accountant because after she left, I went through the work she did and it was the same solution I got when I did year one.
I have run my dad's company for the past five years without an accountant because the previous ones were a bunch of miserable criminals.
I am an accountant myself so I manage it with my CEO duties.
It's very tedious and I just needed the perfect accountant to handover but when I found it, it had to be the wrong person.
After checking on her work, I walked out and got into my car.
I was driving out of the premises when I saw her still standing at the roadside.
I thought of offering her a lift but my plan got ruined when a guy appeared out of nowhere and threw himself on her.
Was that supposed to hurt?
I couldn't watch how cozy they were getting so I left.
It must be her boyfriend or worse, her husband and maybe their baby actually survived.
Oh, God! It actually hurts and I don't know why.
But one thing was certain.
I liked her and its right from day one.
YOLANDO
"It's been two weeks Lando, don't you think it's time to start searching for her?" my best friend who's also my right-hand man asked.
" Let her enjoy a little longer." I answered and drank a glass of whiskey.
" What? Do you know what you're saying?"
"Keep quiet, Ben. I know what I am doing. Leona can't get that far away from me and she knows it. I don't know why she's taking too long to realize her mistake and come back. But soon.. it's just a matter of time and she'll come begging for mercy. My sweet Leona." I uttered and laughed dryly.
" How'd that be possible Lando?"
"Can a shadow ever be separated from a person?" I asked and puffed thick smoke into the air.
" No, it has never occurred."
"That's it. Leona and I can never be separated no matter how hard she tries. Leona and I are like that. I am her shadow and destined to follow her until forever. She might get rid of me for a while but it won't last. I'll keep following her even in the dark where most think a shadow doesn't exist."
" Well, she should make the best out of her freedom while it lasts. Who knows, she might not be so lucky again when she's being pounced on."
Ben remarked and I couldn't help chuckling.
"There's something that is bothering me, Lando. How did she manage to open your safe.?"
That is something I also could not comprehend until now.
"I called that fate! Destiny was also in her favor. Her escape was a miracle. Only one person knew the code to that particular safe. Even I don't, but she managed. I am still baffled." I uttered as a matter of fact.
" You mean you don't know the password as well?"
"I knew it until it was changed by someone I do not know." I breathed.
" Strange. Do you know who could be responsible?"
"Yes, but I am yet to verify who committed the act."
" One of your bimbos?" Ben teased.
" Shut up!" I snapped and chuckled.
I just can't believe Leona was so bold to take such a step knowing fully who I was.
She really got some balls and I give her a million accolades for that.
"I'm coming Leona Grande! I wonder how you forgot so quickly that you're MINE and ONLY MINE!"
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Thanks for READING!
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