Piper’s POV

The spoon I was holding fell to the floor. Mom, who was fixing my clothes, rushed over to the nurse. She touched both of her arms, shaking her body as she asked to confirm the truth of the news, “Is it true what you said? It might not be my grandkids. Take us there right now.”

With a pained look on her face, and trembling hands and knees, she said, “I’m sorry, ma’am. But this news is true. Come with me to the baby’s room.”

I sat in silence and couldn’t say anything else. I felt like something was stabbing me and I felt pain and sadness in my heart. My mind tried to recall when two nurses showed me, my twins, right in front of me. There was nothing wrong with them. So, what happened?

Suddenly, I stood up without realizing that the stitches in my vagina were still fresh and wet. I winced in pain until my eyes filled with tears. “Mom.”

The nurse and mom rushed me to the bed and asked me to lie down for a while until the pain went away.

However, the pain in my vagina was nothing compared to the pain in my heart from losing the child I had just given birth to. My life during this time was indeed a lot different from the life I lived when I was still living in the mansion and received a living allowance from my grandma every month, and I worked at the Smith Company as my grandma’s assistant so I never felt deprived.

But, after we were kicked out of the mansion, my life changed by one hundred and eighty degrees and I had to struggle hard to make ends meet for the two of us even though we were lucky enough not to have to pay for expensive apartment rent. However, the heavy burden of life didn’t mean that I didn’t want my baby twins. I could raise them even without a husband, and that meant I had to work extra hard. But why did one of them have to leave me forever? What was the meaning of all this?

“Miss, what exactly happened to one of my grandchildren? Which one of my grandchildren died?” mom asked as she touched the nurse’s hand. I just lay quietly on the bed, lamenting my fate.

If possible, I wanted one of my baby twins back alive, even though I knew it was impossible. Why did she leave me before I could hug her? Why did life treat me so cruelly?

“The doctor is examining her. And regarding the second question, it was your granddaughter who died. I’m so sorry,” the nurse replied.

Mom stood next to me. “Piper, are you feeling better? If not, let me go to the baby’s room and find out about this.”

“Help me up, mom. Let’s go to the baby’s room. I want to see my baby,” I replied.

Then, the nurse and mom helped me up. After that, we went straight to the baby room at the end of the hall. I saw several nurses coming in and out of the baby room while carrying something. Their faces looked panicked.

“Ouch,” I grimaced again in pain as I tried to walk faster.

“Take it slow or before you get there, you might not walk anymore if you push yourself. Hold my hand tighter, we’ll be there soon,” mom said.

With much struggle, we finally reached the baby room. “Mom, I’m going inside now.”

I pushed the door of the baby room and I frantically walked past several nurses, ignoring their presence. I just wanted to see my babies right away. There were cribs with my name on it. With trembling hands, I held and read each name on the sign hanging in front of the cribs.

I finally found them. God’s gift to me. My first baby was wearing a blue blanket, while the other was wearing a pink one.

With my face wet with tears, I saw with my own eyes that one of my two babies was not moving. Her face was pale. She was wearing a pink blanket.

No! Why did it have to be my baby? Why did I have to feel this loss?

My hands covered my face as I fell to the floor. I mourned the loss of my little angel. I hadn’t even kissed her yet, and she was already gone before us.

I faintly heard my mom and a few other people approaching. They knelt in front of me, then mom hugged me as she cried so hard that I could feel her body trembling.

After a while, she stopped crying and said, “Piper, the doctor said your daughter died from lack of oxygen. The hospital promised to investigate this case. We will get through this together. Now stand up and it’s time for you to breastfeed. Your son needs you.”

Mom was right. I couldn’t continue to drown my sorrows because I had to fight and take care of my baby boy. He needs me. But I will never forget you, my daughter. I have reserved a special place for you in my heart that anything will never replace.

Three days later, my two best friends, Lisa and Max, came to visit me at the hospital. They helped mom take care of my discharge. After everything was done, the five of us headed to the Valdirra City public cemetery. Max had reserved a plot of land that would be the grave of my baby girl, who hadn’t even been named yet, as well as a small coffin. I finally named her Daisy Smith, while her baby brother was named Jensen Smith.

The taxi I took with my mom stopped right in front of the cemetery doors. Mom carried the sleeping Jensen, while I carried Daisy’s stiff body.

Max opened the coffin, which had been decorated with flowers, a white cloth, and a doll. I laid Daisy on the white cloth and covered her body with a thick blanket. Then the undertaker closed the coffin and lowered the coffin slowly into the ground.

Mom and Lisa hugged me from behind. We cried together. After it was all over, we walked back to the car.

“Daisy, don’t worry. Mommy will visit you often. I love you.”

Six years later,

“Mom, wake up or you’ll be late for work,” Jensen said from behind the door.

“Yeah,” I replied as I turned off the alarm that kept ringing.

I opened my eyes slowly, trying to adjust my vision to the morning sunlight coming through the crack in the window.

I hurriedly got up and sat on the edge of the bed while checking my emails and messages on my phone.

“What a shitty Monday,” I muttered, as Monday was the busiest day at the office where I worked with the myriad of work that my manager delegated to each of his men.

“Mom,” Jensen exclaimed from behind the door.

“Yeah, I’ll be out in a few minutes,” I replied.

Long story short, after finishing breakfast, Jensen hurried to get on the school bus, while I had to get to the office before it was too late.

“Mom, I’m leaving now,” I called from the apartment entrance.

“Yes, have a nice day,” she said from the kitchen.

“You too.”

Luckily, I got a taxi on a busy morning. In less than twenty minutes, I arrived at the office and was in the queue to punch in.

And just as I walked into my office, put down my bag, and was about to sit down on the chair, Marta, the manager’s assistant, knocked on my door.

“Come in,” I answered.

“Piper, Mr. Brown has requested that all employees gather in the meeting room. It’s important,” Marta said.

Piper’s POV

“What’s going on? It’s not like he usually gathers us in the morning?” I asked curiously. Honestly, I felt a little uneasy, like something was up.

“I don’t know. But, given the state of the company these past few months, I think I know what he’s trying to say. I hope what I’m thinking doesn’t happen. Let’s hurry over there,” Marta replied.

“Ok.” I took my cell phone and put it in my pants pocket, then walked out of my room together with Marta.

As we walked to the meeting room, we passed the staff room. Their rooms were empty. That meant they had all gathered there. To be honest, my heart was beating faster than usual. Hopefully, it wasn’t bad news.

Now Marta and I were standing in front of the meeting room door. Marta pushed the door inward and there were rows of employees sitting on chairs arranged horizontally. Marta pulled my hand to hurry and sit on two empty chairs close to the entrance. Mr. Brown seemed to observe us from the front. He was silent as he looked at all of us one by one and occasionally exhaled a long breath.

“Well, you’ve all gathered here. I have something to tell you. Although I’m reluctant to say it, I can’t do anything about it because the decision is not in my hands. Are you ready to hear it?” Mr. Brown asked, his eyebrows raised as if he was deep in thought. There seemed to be some sort of inner turmoil within him.

“Yes, Mr.”

“Ok, with great regret the company is forced to announce that this week is your last week working because the management has closed the company until someone will buy and pay for the company’s considerable losses and debts. You can look for another job starting today and you can finish your work that has been delayed for this week. Your salary and all benefits for the month will still be paid to you. So, there is nothing to worry about. Questions?” Mr. Brown asked.

We were all shocked and saddened by the news we heard this morning because we have been working at this company for over five years and it felt hard to leave something that has become integrated into us.

In addition, Marta and I were confused, and it quite muddled our minds because of where we had to look for another job amid the country’s poor economic conditions. Long before we experienced this, I had often heard rumors about companies closing down and laying off thousands of employees.

Let alone, companies, even small businesses, were being affected by the economic instability in our country.

Marta touched my hand while looking into my eyes. From the look in her eyes, I knew she felt the same confusion as me. Especially since we were the backbone of the family and a single mother.

“Do you have any ideas?” I asked Marta. She shook her head.

I had expected that. Since the first day I started working at this company, Marta had depended on me a lot. She was an introvert, and I was her only friend in the office and the only source of information and ideas she sometimes needed.

I didn’t blame her or thought she was not trying. I understood her situation as a single mother with one daughter and she was also an only child with a sickly mother. She was juggling two jobs every day that even I probably wouldn’t be able to handle.

“How about this, Piper?” she asked.

“We’ll think about it at home in peace,” I replied.

After that, we were busy with our work until it was time to go home. Marta and I took the same bus to our apartment, which was quite a distance away. After saying goodbye and getting off the bus, I rushed into the apartment building and took the elevator to the floor where my apartment unit was located.

In my confused and idea-less state, I just wanted to withdraw from the world and stay in silence, trying to think clearly while looking for opportunities.

I opened the door and greeted mom and Jensen as usual. “I’m home.”

Jensen’s head was visible from behind the kitchen door. “Mom, dinner will be ready in a minute.”

“I’m going to take a nap. You guys eat first,” I replied.

“Are you ok, mom?” Jensen asked.

“Yes. I’m just a little tired. Don’t worry.” I went into the bedroom and lay on my stomach. It felt very comfortable even though my head hurt a little.

Suddenly, an idea came to my mind. Maybe I could ask Lisa for help since Lisa’s family is a wealthy family that has many connections with big companies. There’s no harm in trying. Who knows, she might help.

I hurriedly sent her a message, after which I slept for a while, just to relieve the pain in my head. Before I knew it, I had been asleep for over an hour. When I opened my eyes, I felt a blanket covering my body. Maybe mom or Jensen came into the room and covered my body even though I was still in my work clothes.

Before getting out of bed, I grabbed my cell phone and read the reply message from Lisa. And instantly I jumped for joy. I felt like shouting and telling Jensen and mom that there was an opportunity for me at one of Lisa’s friend’s companies. But I hadn’t told them anything yet. I figured I’d better tell them after I got through the interview with the company’s boss.

Before going to take a shower, I received another message from Lisa.

“Huh, interview at his mansion tomorrow morning. But? It’s okay, as long as I get the job as soon as possible,” I muttered. So I hurriedly texted Max and asked him to accompany me to the boss’s house tomorrow morning.

Finally, a bad day doesn’t always end with a bad ending. At least I could sleep well tonight.

The next morning, I was ready and waiting in the apartment lobby. It wasn’t long before Max’s car arrived and we drove to the address Lisa had given me.

“Piper, were all the employees who applied for jobs with Adams Company asked to come to the mansion?” Max asked, surprised.

“I don’t know. Lisa said that Mr. Jay asked me to come to see him at his mansion. I didn’t ask the reason,” I replied.

“Oh okay. Let’s just say that he asked everyone who applied for the job to come to his mansion. It seems a little strange to me.”

“How so?” I asked curiously.

“It’s okay. There’s no need to think about it. The important thing is that you get the job,” Max replied.

“Thanks, Max.”

Thirty minutes later, our car arrived at the mansion. Max parked the car right there in front of the entrance of a large and tall mansion. Two maids waited for me at the entrance.

“Welcome, Miss. Please come with us. Sir Jay is waiting for you.” A maid invited me to come with her to the workroom.

Piper’s POV

“Ok, thank you,” I replied as I walked after the maid into the mansion. Max walked beside me.

Just as our feet stepped into the living room, Max’s eyes widened and his lips released a compliment. “Wow. Amazing.”

This mansion quite impressed me. Judging from the area and interior design, the inside of this mansion is almost similar to grandma’s mansion, only different in the exterior design.

The maid took us to another room in the mansion. My eyes stared straight ahead while observing my surroundings at a glance. However, it differed from Max. He nudged my hand a few times as he whispered, “Piper.”

I turned and looked at him and answered his call with a whisper as well. “What’s wrong?”

“This mansion is even nicer than your grandmother’s and Lisa’s. I’m sorry if I’m comparing. But, my purpose is not to compare. I just want to tell you that this man is very rich. And if you can work for him, it’s a fortune for you.”

“We’ll see. I’m also hoping to get this job,” I replied with a sigh. I had been praying since last night that I would make it through this job interview and get a job and a salary equal to or higher than my previous salary so that my family’s standard of living would be better, but also so that I could continue to pay Jensen’s expensive tuition.

The maid took us to a workroom next to the back porch. She opened the door and let us in.

“Wait here for a moment. Sir Jay will come down and see you soon. What would you like to drink?” she said.

“Umm, just mineral water,” I replied. However, Max suddenly nudged my hand a second time, and he said, “Two red wines, please.”

“Do you want the mineral water too?” she asked again.

“No need. Just red wine,” Max replied.

“Ok, I’ll be right back,” replied the maid, and she closed the door.

After the door closed, my eyes immediately traveled around the room. Sir Jay’s study is very cozy and extraordinary.

It’s amazing to me because, at the back of his desk, he put a wide and tall bookshelf filled with many books on each shelf. And to me, this room is like heaven because I love reading so much and I can spend all day just reading.

If this wasn’t my future boss’s office, I might have approached the bookshelves and peeked at the neatly arranged books on each shelf.

The large glass in this workroom leads to the swimming pool and mini garden close to the pool, adding to the value of this space in my eyes. With the perfect interior design coupled with the aesthetic outdoor view, this room is truly a paradise.

“Hey, are you going to keep standing there and looking at every corner of this room?” Max asked, who immediately woke me up from my reverie.

“Umm, I’m just impressed with this room. You already know that I love reading and that shelf over there is full of books, so this room is perfect,” I replied.

“I have an idea,” he said.

“What?” I asked curiously, my eyebrows raised.

“What if you marry this guy? Then you’ll have this room for yourself and him. You could make love to him between the books. Doesn’t that sound sexy?” he replied with a sly smile.

Right after Max said that, the door opened and a handsome, tall, blue-eyed man with light brown hair walked into the workroom and closed the door gently. His clothing style was elegant. He wore a dark blue long-sleeved shirt, both sleeves folded up. Then, he paired the shirt with a pair of black trousers and shiny black work shoes. A shiny, expensive-looking watch was attached to his left arm.

“Sorry to keep you waiting,” he said as he walked to his chair.

After he sat down in his chair, he looked at us and said, “Piper Smith. Please take a seat. Lisa has said a few things about you.”

“Ok, sir,” I replied as I walked to the chair in front of him. After sitting in front of him, I waited patiently for the questions he would ask.

As I gazed into his face and eyes, there was honestly a strange stirring inside me. I just felt he looked like a man in the night seven years ago, but maybe it’s just my feeling or I’d been alone for too long. It couldn’t be him. He is a rich man and how could he end up with me, an ordinary girl in the hotel? I was sure it was my feeling. Six years without a date or even a blind date dinner with a man. I only spent my life with Jensen and earning money to make ends meet.

“Excuse me, sir. I’d better wait outside,” Max said as he left Jay’s workroom.

After Max closed the door, Jay asked, “Is he your boyfriend? If so, then he can wait inside here without having to wait outside.”

“Oh, no-no. He’s my best friend. I asked him to drive me here,” I replied while moving my hands left and right, showing that Max and I were not a couple.

“Oh okay. Let’s get on with it. Did Lisa tell you about the job you’ll have if you get hired by me?” he asked as he leaned his back against the back of the chair.

“I did. She said you were looking for a private tutor for your six-year-old daughter. I have a child the same age as yours and I used to teach him from a young age, so I feel capable of becoming a private teacher. This is my well-crafted cover letter. I hope you like it,” I replied. Honestly, my heart was beating quite fast and cold sweat covered my palms.

“Ok, I’ll read it for a while,” he replied as he read the first page of the cover letter I put in the folder.

I tried to calm down while convincing myself that I would pass this interview. Even if I didn’t pass, I would try to find another job even though it might take a while and be draining, but I couldn’t do anything about it.

“Umm, I like this cover letter. In terms of education and experience, you are not suitable to be a private tutor, but you are suitable to be a division head or manager. However, since you said that you also have a child the same age as mine, it makes me believe you can handle my child. Okay, you’re hired and when you can start working?” he asked as he folded his arms across his chest.

“Next week, sir.”

“Ok. Next week, you’ll be working straight away. I’ll tell my daughter about you. By the way, here is the salary amount you will receive every month. Questions?” he asked.

“No, sir. Everything is quite clear,” I replied happily. My lips painted a big smile.

“Okay. I’m sorry I have to end this interview because I have to see someone. Is that okay?” he asked gently, and he stood right in front of me.

He-he was so handsome.

“Y-yes, it’s okay. Thank you for the opportunity. I shall take my leave now,” I replied, a little nervously.

“Okay, see you next week. Oh, I forgot to tell you something important about my daughter,” he said as he got up and walked closer to me.