Randell received a warm welcome from Nanay Remmy and her housemaids as he came back and about to start with his new job as Martina's errand boy or a gopher.
“Did you have enough sleep, son?” Nanay Remmy asked, because she noticed that Randell looked like he stayed awake until dawn.
“Honestly, I don't have any. Because of arranging things that I brought here. I even brought my cat with me,” Randell seriously admitted.
“Are cats allowed here? Madam?” he timidly asked.
“Cats? Does it mean that you are planning to add one cat here? And your poor stray cat isn't enough for you?”
Everybody gushed when they saw Martina with a straight face, the usual face that they see everyday. “Cats or any kind of animals are prohibited inside this house.”
“If that's the case, I won't be able to work with you. I couldn't imagine leaving my cat in that tenement, nobody could take care of her like I do,” Randell sighs.
Martina shook her head twice. “Seems like you're always never running out of excuses. It's your first day working but you are showing your insubordination with your superior.”
“But I can't bear losing a family, she's my only family,” Randell protested.
Martina felt a sudden pain in her heart because of the word family. She has Nanay Remmy as her family but Randell, unfortunately, has nothing aside from a stray cat. Maybe that cat already has a special part in his life and Martina shouldn't have to meddle with it. Instead of displaying her sympathy, Martina kept her unbecoming attitude. “But you can bear losing a job?”
Randell sighed and shook his head. “Why do I always have to choose between family and career? I am pursuing a job because of my family in the first place, it's the thing that a privileged employer like you would never understand. Because honestly, we are working for our family and not to help your business to grow.”
“You're really a man of talks and you're always starting an argument which I'm not interested in because arguments are nonsense to me,” Martina stressed and she threw a serious look towards Randell. She noticed that he looked better wearing a light colored polo shirt. He looks undeniably handsome and neat.
“Arguments are better because it gives us a chance to hear both sides and also a chance to change everyone's mindset,” Randell explained. “Ms. Martina, I'm ready for work, by the way.”
Martina rolled her eyes. “Okay then.”
Nanay Remmy clapped and cheered for Randell. “Good luck to you, son.”
****
“Before we start working, I would like to inform you about the rules of working with me or just simple do's and don'ts,” Martina said, handling a white folder and immediately giving it to Randell.
“First, I don't like late people. Being late because it disrespects people's time. So don't be late,” Martina reminded.
Randell nodded twice. “I understand.”
“Also, I don't like talking while we're working. I can't even focus on my tasks while I'm hearing noises. Even music is not allowed.”
“That's boring. I mean, working at the office without sounds aside from telephone ringing is weird. Seems like I'm working at the morgue. Wait, even morgues are playing upbeat songs in order to keep employees awake while embalming corpses,” Randell stressed.
“Can you even concentrate with sounds playing while you're working? That's the hardest thing to do,” Martina questioned while raising her brows.
Randell chuckled. “That's easy. I assured you that listening to music prevents yourself from being sleepy. It's a substitute for coffee.”
“Whatever. You can still listen to music while you're on headphones. But just keep your focus while working.” Martina pursed her lips. She was defeated by Randell's never ending criticisms this time.
Few hours later, Martina already gave Randell tasks to do outside the office. She wants him to buy a rare stamp at the mall and she knows that this stamp has been phased out. She wanted to challenge Randell and made him quit the job.
While Martina is still alone at her office, she had her time to check her phone and expectedly, there are some unwanted messages.
“Why are you ignoring me? Are you busy? I miss our times together, usually our intimate things. Are you able to see me this weekend?”—that's the first text she read from an unknown number.
“If you don't come, I'm going to harm your grandma.”—Another text which made Martina scared. That means, the sender knows that her grandma came back. She stood up and went outside.
She easily found Nanay Remmy in the garden while taking care of Randell's cat.
“Martina? Are you hungry? Why are you rushing like that?” Nanay Remmy looks surprised.
Martina didn't speak, she just hugged her grandma. “Is someone bothering you while you're not here?”
“Absolutely, no one dares to harm me when I'm in the tenement. People there are generous and kind,” Nanay Remmy answered. “Wait, why are you asking me those things? Does Sean bother you again? I'm gonna call the police and double our security personnel.”
Martina beamed a smile. “Thank God. Just call me or our housemaids just in case you're in trouble. Okay?”
“I have no problem with that. I've been doing that since then. And I'm gonna call Randell too.” Nanay Remmy showed a meaningful smile on her lips.
“Why are you trying to involve Randell with this matter?” Martina asked.
“Because I know that he's trustworthy. Okay? I'm going to take a rest in my room because I feel sleepy. Just look at Randell's cute cat. She's a girl and her name is Molly,” Nanay Remmy proudly introduced a cheerful cat.
Martina hissed. “Okay lola. Just take your time.”
She let her grandma go outside and she finally took her time to look at the cat named Molly. “You look ugly with those big eyes and dirty white fur,” she commented while trying to prevent the cat from getting close to her. “I wonder why Randell took care of an ugly cat like you.”
She took her time to analyze the cat's behaviour around her. She realized that it's not as harmless as she thought. She was able to touch it without any reaction. And it seems like the cat gets fond of her easily.
Martina smiled while the cat was purring. “I finally got an idea why Randell took care of you. Your eyes are like a magnet and it seems like you're trying to make me close to you with that innocent approach.”
“You are acting like your owner too.”