Chapter 45| No Choice

"It is so refreshing to see you here in my office. The day I became a shareholder in your company, you never visited me, Sir Clark," he uttered then chuckled again.

I felt embarrassed and angry at the same time. I was now applying to this old man's coffee shop.

"Actually, I received an email from your mom saying don't bother to accept you if you ever seek a job at our business firm."

I gulped and clenched my fist. No wonder how he got that email. My mother knows him well too.

Mr. Montenegro stared at me deeply then after, he sighed. He put his both hands on the top of his office table and intertwined them.

"Are you aware that finding a job in this country is tough for you?" he asked.

I cleared my throat and sat up straight.

"Yes. I'm aware," I answered and it earned a smirk from him.

"Your mom is so powerful. It's a wrong move to disobey her. Choosing a prostitute woman instead of your mother," he commented that making me grit my teeth.

"You don't know anything, Mr. Montenegro. If you don't have anything good to say, I better leave," I stood up from my seat and walked away in his direction. I was about to open the door but stopped when he called my name.

"Are you sure you will leave?" he asked. I breathed deeply while gripping tightly the doorknob. I don't know if I am going to open it or not.

"What if I told you that I am going to hire you?" he asked, which made me look in his direction again.

He smirked when he got my attention. As if he won.

"I know you badly need money for your prostitu—"

"Stop!"

He stopped talking but laughed at me after. It looked like I'm a big joke and looked like a beggar in his sight.

"You're hired. But not here..."

My face frowned while staring deeply at his face.

"You're hired as a labor in my construction firm," he finished with a playful smile on his face.

I clenched my jaw while beating him to death in my glare. He was intentionally hitting my ego. He was offering me a tough job. He wanted to take revenge by doing this.

"So, what's now?" he asked and rested his back on his chair.

"Are you going to accept it? Seeking a job is tough for you. Always remember that."

I shut my eyes firmly and took a deep breath. I remembered Angela.

Even if I have a personal issue with Mr. Montenegro and looked like he was playing me on his hand, I nodded at him in agreement.

A wide smile crept on his lips. I finally left him in his office in defeat.

****

"You have been quiet since we left the coffee shop. Do you have a problem, Clark?” Bel asked in a worried voice. We were now going home, holding a paper bag with rice and chicken as our lunch.

I quietly shook my head. I didn't bother to look at her. I still remembered what happened inside Mr. Montenegro's office.

I heard Bel sigh when she got no answer from me. She tapped my shoulder which made me look in her direction.

"Forget those things... Just celebrate that we now have a job that can fulfill our daily needs," she comforted me which made my heart lighten somehow.

She's right. The important thing is the main goal. We now have a job. That's important.

A small smile crept on my lips while looking at her. She was now looking straight on the road while walking.

I asked myself before how come Angela's got a best friend like her. At first, I didn't like her but now... I understand now why Angela is the best friend of this woman. Bel always looks on the positive side of life even in the middle of the negative situations.

"I'm happy that she has you," I whispered, which makes Bel look in my direction.

"Pardon?”

I just chuckled and shook my head.

"Nothing," I answered, then walked quickly.

"Clark!" she shouted then I started to run away from her while chuckling.

****

Almost one month has passed since I started working in the construction firm of Mr. Montenegro. I lifted hollow blocks and I mixed cement but still, my salary isn't enough for us. Angela's medicine was expensive. I also took her to the psychologist to treat her trauma. So, I made a big decision to take two jobs in Mr. Montenegro's business. A construction worker in the morning and a waiter in his coffee shop at night.

All the sacrifices are worth it because we can visibly see the improvement in Angela's condition. She can now talk and freely have a conversation with us most especially with her siblings. She had always had panic attacks before the therapy but now, she has already overcome them in a short period of time. The doctor said our unconditional love and support helps her to heal her broken soul fast.

"Sleep," I whispered while staring at her lovingly. I am in her room, she's lying on the bed next to her siblings who were now asleep.

Angela nodded to me and smiled.

"I love you..." she uttered which made my heart melt. I took a deep breath and held her right hand. I kissed her hand and squeezed it lightly.

"I love you the most..."

After saying those words, she slowly closed her eyes and drifted into sleep.

I carefully let go of her hand and stood up. The medicine affected her quickly. I left her room and hurriedly got my bag.

I am going to work.

"Clark..."

I turned around just to see Bel standing behind me. I clung the bag to my right shoulder and looked at her.

"What is it, Bel?" I asked.

"Make it quick. I am running out of time,” I added after glancing at my wristwatch.

"Have you already told Angela about your work?"

I quickly looked back at her again. I glanced at the room door where Angela was sleeping safe and sound.

"Bel... We already talked about that."

I approached her direction and stared deeply into her eyes.

"She should not know about my two jobs. I don't want her to feel guilty. Okay?" I added and held her on both shoulders.

Angela didn't know my two jobs. She also didn't know that my mom cut the relationship with me as her son. All Angela knew was I was still working at my company. I always wore a business suit in the morning when she was awake but when I was at Montenegro's construction firm, I quickly changed my clothes into a laborer worker uniform.

"Clark..." she whispered. Worrying was evident on her face.

"She noticed you lost weight, Clark. She even asked me to go to your office just to give you the food she cooked for lunch. I almost used all kinds of excuses in one month, Clark. I know she’s doubting me. I know sooner or later she will find out about your situation. Much better to say it first rather than find out for herself. She's not that mentally fully recovered—"

"That's why we keep this thing as a secret, Bel," I interrupted. I leaned closer to her face and looked into her eyes intently.

"Do you want Angela to feel guilty?" I asked.

She was quite hesitant to answer but in the end, she lowered her gaze and shook her head.

I sighed while looking at her. I let go of her shoulder.

"I'm sorry, Bel," I whispered before I turned my back and left the house.