5

Monday morning and I was not in a good mood. I had a slight hangover from last night. I stopped at Starbucks on my way to the office and had an iced espresso drink to keep me awake.

Dammit! I have to get over Gretchen. This could not go on. I would destroy myself, my life and the career that I worked hard to put up.

I parked my Ferrari in the basement parking area of the building and took a final sip of my drink before throwing it at the trash bin. Then, I went inside the elevator leading to my office.

"Good morning, Mr. Russo."

I stopped as I heard a different voice. I turned to see a short-haired petite woman with fair skin sitting at Miss Brooks table. She looked like a Filipina.

"I'm Mrs. Flordeliza Abamonga, sir, from the Human Resource Department. I'm the reliever of Miss Brooks. She can't report today."

I could not remember Miss Brooks being absent in the office before. Either she was on time or a few minutes early. She even extended working long hours if asked to do so.

"What happened to her?"

"She said she's not feeling well."

"Why? She has a fever or something?"

"I don't know sir. She just said that she can't report today."

Dammit. I would be having an important meeting with a German supplier this afternoon. I needed Miss Brooks to be with me to take notes. I wondered if her reliever.... Mrs. Ada-mango... whatever her name is, could catch up later.

__

Two days later, Miss Brooks still did not report in my office. I was getting impatient already. I was not used of Mrs. Ali-mongo... whatever her name was. Aside from finding it too hard to remember her name, she was very small, like a child. She could disappear from my sight instantly.

I was used having Miss Brooks around. She was very fast and efficient. I did not have to repeat my instructions to her. She knew what to do in just a gesture of my hand, a few words or even without my instructions. She managed the office transactions very smoothly.

"Mrs. Ala..."

"Abamonga, sir."

I exhaled heavily. "Did you call Miss Brooks?"

"Yes, sir. She said she can't report today. Her heart is still bleeding. She feels like she's dying inside."

My eyes snapped open. What? Bleeding? Dying?

"What happened to her? I did not know she has a serious heart disease." I was alarmed of Miss Brooks' condition.

"She's heartbroken. Her boyfriend for two years broke up with her last Sunday night."

"She had a boyfriend?" I asked.

"Yup."

That was a surprise. It was hard to believe that the efficient Miss Brooks had a love life. She looked so rigid, conservative and career-oriented.

"She thought he was going to propose to her that night, and yet, he dropped the break-up bomb on her," Mrs. Alo-mingo... whatever her name was, continued. She shook her head, looking so seriously dramatic. She was feeding me with too much information and I was there, listening to her eagerly. "And you know what? That stupid ex-boyfriend posted a picture of him and his new girlfriend on Instagram last night. What a jerk! He lied to Lisa, saying that he needed to focus on his career. It turned out that he's in a relationship with his fellow field reporter for months already. Tsk, tsk, poor Lisa."

"Who's Lisa?"

Mrs. Ali-mango... whatever her name was, rolled her eyes. "You don't know Lisa? It's Miss Brooks name."

I cleared my throat and heaved a long sigh. "Of course, I know her name. I'm just... making sure that we're talking about the same Lisa," I lied. Actually, I just found out that Miss Brooks first name was Lisa. I realized I did not know anything about her, aside from the efficient, smart Miss Brooks.

"Usually, girls get over from a heartbreak after three weeks. Sometimes, it can go up to six months."

Three weeks? Six months? No way. She has to come back to the office tomorrow!

I need her to make the contract for the Japanese deal!

"Will you get Lis—Miss Brooks' personal file now?"

"What for?" she asked.

My lips twisted as I looked at her with sharp firm eyes, indicating that it was an order. She needed not to ask.

She looked embarrassed and said. "Okay, sir. I'll get it from the HR Department."

__

Later, I was scanning Miss Brooks' personal file. Actually, my purpose was to get her address, so I could go to her and talked to her personally. She wasted her time crying and wallowing in self-pity for some useless guy. Feeling sorry for herself wouldn't get her anywhere. I needed her in the office, now. I could not function well without her here anymore. And I could not wait for three weeks or six months for her to recover!

I read her CV and surprised that she was only twenty-three years old. I thought she was in her thirties. She looked so matured in her manner of dressing and conservative hairstyle, always in a tight bun. Why does she keep on doing that? Isn't it painful to her scalp?

I read further and found out more about her.

Her name is Lisa. She's a Pisces... hmm, compatible with my Zodiac sign, Scorpio. No wonder we got along well as boss and assistant. It said that she has dark brown hair and hazel eyes. Her weight was 54 kg and she's 5'8" ft tall. She could pass off as a model. I turned to the next page and saw her picture. I lifted it near my face, staring at it for almost a minute. This is her?

I could hardly believe it. She looked very different with her hair down.

She's actually very pretty.