The Dreaded Monday Morning

Mandy stood in front of the full-sized mirror inside her bedroom at the mansion. She grew up using this mirror everyday. But today was different. Today she looked different that she almost did not recognize her reflection in the mirror.

She walked to her bed and then sat down on the soft mattress. She looked around the room. Nothing changed since she went away for college. Never in her dreams did she think she would be living in their mansion again.

She remembered her conversation with her father when he visited him that Sunday.

"Mandy, this is non-negotiable. I cannot introduce you as my daughter and then have you live in your apartment. It might not also be safe for you to be there when people find out who you really are," said Donald.

"Dad, what do you mean it's not safe for me? I have lived there for many years and nothing has ever happened to me."

"Well, it's different now," explained Donald, "you are not just some girl named Mandy. You are THE Mandy — heir to the Enriquez Group of Companies. People cannot see you as ordinary. They must see you as somebody who is powerful in business."

"Dad…" Mandy began to protest but Donald cut her off.

"There will be no more discussions about this. You go home to your apartment tonight to pack whatever you need to bring to the mansion. William will go with you to make sure you go to the mansion later. I have instructed Jenny to arrange for someone to help you with your clothes and makeup, especially for tomorrow. You will no longer enter the building as Amanda Garcia — you will be Mandy Enriquez. Claim your rightful place in the company Mandy. Stop fighting this!"

"I would have if that's what I wanted!" Mandy said in her mind.

But what she actually said was, "Okay, Dad."

"Good. Now go home, have some rest, and prepare for the big day tomorrow."

Mandy went home that night to get her stuff from her apartment. William was with her as she closed her apartment's door. She looked at Xander's apartment's door. She thought it would be best to tell him she's moving back to their mansion.

"William?"

"Yes, Miss?" William looked up from the luggages he was staring at. He was wondering why Mandy had brought so much when she could simply buy new things instead of bringing most of her old stuff with her.

"Would you mind waiting for me at the parking lot? I need to talk to someone first."

"Of course, Miss. Just call me if ever you will need to bring more things down."

Mandy nodded. William walked towards the elevator. Mandy watched him and waited until he was in the elevator before she rang Xander's doorbell. She hoped the he was still awake, considering it was already late.

Surprisingly, Xander answered the door after just one ring.

"Mandy? What is it? It's a little late. Is something wrong?" Xander asked as soon as he saw Mandy.

"Uhm, no, not really," Mandy felt stupid for bothering Xander. "I was just… Well I just want you to know that I am moving out temporarily. Or at least I hope it's temporary."

"What? Why?" Xander was clearly surprised. "Did something happen?"

"No, no, nothing happened," Mandy lied. Ever since her dad told her to assume a different identity at work, she had gotten good at lying. "It's just that my dad told me to go back to the mansion while he's not there." At least that part was true.

"I see. Well, at least I will still see you at work. Though I may have to get an appointment to see you."

Mandy laughed.

"You can see me anytime. I'll be sure to tell the secretary that."

Mandy, out of impulse, hugged Xander. Xander was surprised but he closed his eyes and hugged her back.

"I'm gonna miss you, Xander," Mandy said softly.

"I'm gonna miss you, too, Mandy."

Mandy broke away from the hug.

"But we'll still see each other at work, right?"

"Of course," Mandy replied. "I'll see you Monday morning, Mr. Green."

"I'll see you Monday morning, Miss Enriquez."

Now in her room, Mandy started to pace. She was nervous. What would happen to her today? Is she prepared to answer all the questions? She hoped she was.

Mandy saw her stuffed animal across the room. It was on top of a bookshelf. Her mother had given this to her on her seventh birthday. She walked towards the toy, took it from the shelf and hugged it. She smiled. It still made her feel at ease. It still calmed her down.

"Mom, I miss you so much. I wish you were here," said Mandy softly.

There was a knock on the door.

"Come in," said Mandy.

"Miss Mandy, your chauffeur is waiting for you. Anytime you are ready," said William.

"Okay, William. Just give me a minute. Thank you."

"Of course, Miss." William slowly closed the door.

Mandy went to the mirror again. She checked herself one last time before she went out her bedroom.

She straightened her skirt.

She touched her soft blouse.

She put on her coat.

She picked up her purse.

She checked her make-up.

She checked her hair.

She checked her shoes.

Everything seemed to be perfect. All except her. She had never been this nervous in all her life.

"You can do this, Mandy," she said to her reflection in the mirror.

She took a deep breath, and let out a long sigh before she went out her bedroom.

. . .

Travel from the Enriquez mansion to the company takes about 40 minutes on average. Mandy watched the cars as they passed. It has been a long time since she sat on the passenger seat, much less travelled with a chauffeur. She contemplated on what she will say to the board this morning. And how will she act when she sees her former co-workers, that is, the Purchasing Department.

"Josh." Mandy realized she hadn't thought about Josh the whole weekend.

"I wonder what he's going to say when he finds out I own EGC?" Mandy whispered to herself.

"I beg your pardon, Miss?" The chauffeur asked.

"Oh, nothing. I was just, uhm, commenting on the clouds," lied Mandy.

The chauffeur smiled.

"Are you new?" Mandy asked. "I don't think I've seen you before."

"I've been President Enriquez's chauffeur for a couple of months now, Miss," answered the chauffeur, his eyes on the road.

"What happened to Billy?" Billy was her father's chauffeur for decades.

"Billy has retired, Miss," he replied. The chauffeur looked at Mandy from the rear view mirror. She was looking out the window.

"I didn't know that," Mandy said sadly. "My dad didn't tell me. I really liked Billy."

The chauffeur cleared his throat.

"Oh, sorry. I didn't mean that I don't like you. I just thought I didn't say goodbye to him. He was also my chauffeur sometimes during my childhood."

"It's okay, Miss. No need to explain anything to me." He smiled.

"I'm sorry. I didn't even ask your name yet." Mandy leaned forward a little to make sure she catches his name.

"My name is Andrew, Miss. Andrew Jake. It is an honor to meet you."

"Hello, Andrew. I hope we will have a good working relationship."

"I will try my best not to disappoint you, Miss," Andrew replied.

"Don't drive too fast, okay, Andrew?"

"Oh, I apologize. Was I driving too fast for you, Miss?" Andrew asked nervously. He quickly shifted down gears.

"No, no. Actually, you're driving quite well. I just don't want to get to work too soon."

"I understand, Miss. I feel the same when it's my first day at work."

Mandy laughed. She was liking her chauffeur already.

"That makes two of us."

Mandy watched the road. They remained silent for a while. She looked at her chauffeur. She wondered if he has a family. His tall figure seemed to fill the car's driver's seat. He also looked buffed. His muscles defined under the sleeves of his black uniform. Mandy wondered how old he was. He looked old enough to be married and have kids.

"Tell me, Andrew, do you have kids?"

The question seemed to touch a nerve. Andrew clenched his jaw.

"I'm sorry. You don't have to answer that if it's too personal," Mandy quickly said.

Andrew was quiet for a few minutes.

"My wife and I lost our baby."

"I'm sorry to hear that," Mandy said. "I can only imagine how devastated you and your wife must have been."

"We were. We lost him seven months into her pregnancy."

"I'm sorry."

"It's been five years, actually. We have tried but we can't seem to get pregnant again."

Mandy didn't say anything. Actually, she didn't know what to say — period.

She was thinking of changing the topic but Andrew spoke.

"We are here, Miss."

"Already!" Mandy was so surprised. It felt like they had just been driving for five minutes.

Mandy looked out her window as the car approached the building entrance. She could see Josephine and some other company officers waiting at the entrance.

"It seems you have a welcoming party, Miss," Andrew smiled.

"Yes, it seems so."

Andrew stopped the car in front of the entrance where the people were waiting for her. He went out of the car and quickly went to Mandy's side to open her door.

Mandy took a deep breath as the car door swung open. Andrew offered his hand to her to help her out of the car.

"Good luck on your first day at work, Miss Mandy." Andrew whispered as Mandy got out. His encouragement lifted Mandy's spirit.