Love and Crosses: What the Heart Wants

The feeling of waking up on Monday mornings can be very traumatizing.

Riele thought as she got up from bed.

Life has decided to cheat on her over everything.

Her mom is being hospitalized after the incident that happened a few years ago.

All she has now is her younger brother- Harry. A ten-year-old vibrant boy with glowing bronze eyes and shiny black hair that was believed he got from his dad.

Riele never really knew who her father was or what he looked like.

Her mom-Esmeralda had been the one taking care of them.

Anytime Riele brings up the topic of her dad, her mom always dodges the topic and she didn't understand why.

But she didn't mind because Esmeralda made sure her children weren't lacking anything at all.

Riele checked her time, it was just 7:45am which meant she had fifteen minutes to prepare herself for work, or the company bus would leave without her.

She entered the bathroom, did all she needed to, and in the next ten minutes, she was out.

She opened her wardrobe and scanned through all the clothes she had.

"I do need to go shopping," she said as she took out a blue crop top with black-tummy trousers. "When you work in a modeling industry, you've got to show it."

She quickly put her clothes on, brushed her wavy dark brown hair which she packed up in a ponytail, and wore her favorite moon-star-shaped necklace.

Glancing one more time at the mirror, she looked good to go. She brought out her blue canvas and wore it.

She was admiring herself when the company horn beeped.

Picking up her bag and trying to remember if she wasn't forgetting anything, she went out of the house, locked the door, and entered the bus.

"Good morning, Mr. Anderson," she greeted the bus driver who returned her greeting with a smile.

Since she was the first on the bus, she took her seat on the second seat by the right close to the window.

Riele is someone who loves watching the movement of things when the car is moving.

"How is Esmeralda?" Mr. Anderson asked as he started the engine and drove to the next house.

"Same old story," Riele answered trying not to feel the effect on her mother.

"And Harry?"

"He's having a sleepover at his friend's place. He should be back by this time next week," she answered.

The bus stopped at different stations as more company workers entered the bus.

Riele was the kind of person who kept to herself so she didn't talk to most of them, but she has a female bestie who means the world to her.

Checking her phone for any updates, a text came in from Charlotte. Riele opened the message.

Charlotte

Where the heaven are you? Don't tell me you overslept and forgot what day it is.

"Calm your bowels down! I'll be there before you even say the word Abracadabra." Riele pressed the sent icon as she kept her phone aside to enjoy the rest of the ride.

Thirty minutes ride and Riele was almost dozing off even though she slept early yesterday.

"Didn't have much sleep last night?" Allen asked as he tapped her shoulder.

"She was probably having a nightmare of being chased by crocodiles," Madison joked as she waited for Riele to get off the bus.

"Ah ah! Very funny!" Riele said as she got off the bus and waved to the two people she just had a conversation with.

Walking to the company, Riele's countenance fell, but she didn't understand why she was sad all of a sudden.

Entering the elevator which she was thankful was empty, she pressed the number 3 button on the elevator keypad since her office was on the third floor.

Waiting patiently for the elevator to make that clicking sound, the elevator door opened and she came out only for her to find her bestie in the whole world right in front of her with her arms folded across her chest.

"Took you long enough," Charlotte teased.

Riele smiled and hugged her. "Did you miss me that much?"

"Of course, I did. I was almost dying of boredom," Charlotte exagerrated. Riele shook her head as she listened to her friend. "Guess what,"

"You know I suck at that." Riele rolled her eyes at Charlotte. "Did something interesting happen?"

Charlotte dragged her chair closer to Riele who was setting her table.

"Yes."

"Really?"

Charlotte nodded. "Guess who is retiring?" she asked.

Riele stopped what she was doing as she glanced at her friend who seemed happy about the whole thing.

"Blow me away," Riele said, not interested in the story. 

"Mr. Owen."

"What?!"

Mr. Owen is the CEO of the company, but he is a transferee. Talk about a man in his latest fifties who can dress a monkey to look beautiful. This man was gifted. 

"Why is he retiring?" Riele asked.

"He is old?" Charlotte said, but it sounded like she was asking a question while stating the obvious. She pushed her chair back to her desk.

Riele didn't know whether to be sad or happy, but if the man is happy about leaving, then, she should be happy about it too.

"Riele Grants!" A voice called.

"Talk about the devil!" Charlotte whispered loud enough for Riele to hear.

"Miss Grants!" He called again.

"Yes, I'm here," she raised her hand for identification.

"Good thing you are here," Mr. Owen said. Riele looked at Charlotte who was also looking at her. "I need you in my office immediately." As if sensing he Riele wasn't following him, he yelled, "Now!"

That was enough to get Riele moving.

Riele was confused, but she followed Mr. Owen to his office. 

"Please, take your seat," the man gestured as he pointed to a seat in front of him. He sat facing her. "I know you might be wondering why I called you," he started. "I am retiring. I've been having some health issues that I need to take care of and because of that, I need someone who is vibrant to take over the position."

"But, what does that have to do with me?" Riele asked.

She didn't understand how his retirement and the new CEO were her business. 

Mr. Owen moved closer to her, his hands on his chin as he said, "that's where you come in as the personal assistant of the new CEO." He smiled before resting his back on his chair while expecting Riele's happy remark, but Riele's expression shocked him. 

"What?! I don't understand. No one discussed this with me. No vote was carried out. How then did I end up as the personal assistant?"

"We have checked and cross-checked and it's proven that you're the lady for the job. You will be a Personal Assistant to the world's best model. I also heard that he is a member of a boyband in New York City.What's there not to like?" The man asked, crossing his arms across his chest as he stared at the shocked Riele.

"Don't I at least have a say on this?" Mr. Owen shook his head. "Do I have the right to refuse?"

"No. It's been settled"

"This is so not fair. What if I don't like him? Or what if I don't like the idea of working with him?" She bombarded him with questions. "What if my presence irritates him or what if he ends up giving me a sack letter on my first day as his personal assistant?!"

Riele has never felt as anxious as she was today. 

"Your pay will increase, don't you want that?" Mr. Owen asked before passing her a file. Riele became silent. "That's his file. Read through it thoroughly." Riele collected it as she flipped the pages over. 

Mr. Owen stood up and was about to leave when he remembered something. "And one more thing..." Rifle looked up at him before he continue. "...you will be picking him up at the airport. Make sure nothing happens to him."

Before Riele could raise a complaint, the man had already left the office.

Riele sunk to her seat as she went through the file given to her. She will be picking up the new CEO tomorrow around two in the afternoon. "Kim Huxley," she says his name before she closed the file.

Was this the reason she was feeling sad? 

What kind of person is CEO Kim Huxley? She wondered.