Will I be able to protect you now more than ever?
—"Fernando Cruz, where are you? I've been wanting to see you all morning and nothing, you don't answer my messages either ... What happened?"
—Victory! Victory! Victory!!...
—Yes, tell me what happened.
—What. what happened?... where is your head? They are calling the entire marketing department to a meeting. What are you not listening to?
—Ah! Of course I do, come on... "meeting?! What meeting? Because Fernando didn't tell me anything about it? Damn! I don't understand anything."
Victoria goes with her friend to the meeting of the leaders of the Marketing work area, arriving at the meeting room they take a seat and a few seconds later a voice is heard.
—Hi, good afternoon team, I introduce myself. I am the new Manager of this area of work "Marketing" of this prestigious national company, and let me tell you that with me and with your support it will not be for long, because we will be an international company.
I already have everything ready to start this great leap for the company and for us, I just need to have a meeting with the international expansion manager, to start with the work, and this will not be a long wait, because I have a meeting this week scheduled with him, so that we can start as soon as possible.
The work for these 3 months will be more exhausting, since we will begin with the expansion in Spain and its positioning will last approximately 3 months. But don't be discouraged because there will be some very nice bonuses for the effort. I only request; patience, love, respect and loyalty.
So I have gathered you today to give you the rest of the day off, everyone. so that you can rest and recharge. Because between the next two days we will meet again, to start working with all our strength. It all depends on the meeting i have with the expansion manager.
Ah, something else, as you all know there was never an assistant manager. the only thing there is 5 directors under the manager, is where I want to start making the change. From now on, Mrs. Victoria Cárdenas will be our assistant manager and Verónica Salazar will take on Victoria's position as director.
Victoria's eyes widened as if they wanted to get out of her face from such news that she had heard, she couldn't believe it, but the new manager continue talking and no one can interrupt it, since that is forbidden. A meeting with the manager is not to discuss an issue or opinion, it is to abide by them.
—And well, I think that this is all for to day and when leaving this meeting they can retire to their homes to rest or do whatever they like best. Well except someone. Mrs. Victoria I'll meet you in my office in 10 minutes.
The manager leaves the room and as soon as he leaves the room, everyone starts talking about what they heard, except for Veronica, she was very happy for the news.
—wow... wow... wow... Victoria tell me you heard what I heard... tell me... tell me...
—of course I heard it...
—I can't believe that you are the assistant manager and I am a director. I have been promoted!! I can't believe it!! Pinch me because I can't believe it...
—Ok...
—Auch...!! But, What are you doing? that hurts.
—You told me to pinch you and I just did it ...
—yes but it wasn't true, it was just an expression.
—Well, next time express yourself better ... well I'll leave you, i have to go to the new manager's office.
—Ok ... luck ... break your leg!
Victoria walks away. With his back turned, he says goodbye to Veronica as he walks to the manager's office.
—"A new manager? Why? What happened to Fernando? He was the manager, so that's why I haven't seen him all morning, but why hasn't he told me or why hasn't he answered my messages yet? Ray! I do not understand anything. but well, I'll understand later."
Victoria arrives at the door of the manager's office and knocks to be let in.
—Pass it's open.
Victoria enters a little confused by everything that happened. Shee see the figure of a man about 45 years old; in a slightly bluish shiny suit, a reddish tie with blue polka dots. In his white shirt, he looked very empowered sitting in his chair. He had a beard all over his jaw, dark hair and light eyes that make him look very cute.
—Excuse me, permission.
—Don't worry Victoria, she comes by and takes a seat while I tell my secretary to bring us a cup of coffee. Miss Elizabeth, please bring two cups of coffee to my office.
—tha... thank you.
—"but how handsome this man is... sure I couldn't see him before since he was a bit dark in the meeting room." —thinks Victoria.
—Excuse me... I bring the two cups of coffee.
—Thank Elizabeth, leave them here and closes the door when she leaves please. Please, accept me a cup of coffee. —Addressing Victoria very chivalrous.
—Tha..thanks. Excuse the daring, you told me that you want to talk to me, right?
—Correct.
—And if it's not too much trouble, you could tell me what topic you want to deal with with me.
Victoria laces her fingers between her legs, due to her nervousness.
—Don't worry Victoria no is nothing bad and Sorry to address you so informally.
—Don't worry about it, if you feels more comfortable doing it then you can doing it without any problem.
The manager's gazes were fixed on Victoria, which made her even more nervous.
—Well, I'll be a bit blunt and I'll be to end this talk soon so that you too can rest. Okay?
—Yes, that's fine with me.
—But first I have a question. How many years have you been here in this company?
—with the current year 6 years ...
—In these 6 years that you have provided your services for this company, I have been informed that you have been in constant movement within the country... that is, you have never been more than one year in one place. I know that this work area has to be from here and there depending on the city in which the opening is going to take place, but this is in itself the manager's job and it is this who hires new staff from the same city for the necessary areas . But you always traveled with Fernando to all the openings of the new cities. Is this correct?
Victoria couldn't answer, she had a lump between throat, she was very nervous.
—Yeah that's ri..ght.
—Why did he do it? Knowing that this was not her job, she still did it. Do she have a secret relationship with Fernando?
—No. no sir, we have no relationship, we are just friends and we work very well together and that is why he asked me to go to the new openings.
—Do you have children, Mrs. Victoria?
—Yes. I have 1.
—And wouldn't you have suddenly liked to have two children?
Victoria's face turned pale, she was very nervous hearing this question.
—Excuse me, but this I don't think is of interest your, this is something personal and if I wanted to have another child or not is something that I would like to keep myself and my partner. Also, if I agreed to open the new cities with Mr. Fernando, it was because that way I could earn more money.
With which I could support my son very well and that he does not lack anything and what is more I have a signed contract which supports everything I am saying. The contract was what convinced me completely when Mr. Fernando proposed that I open the new cities.
—I understand. but you don't have a partner or yes?
—Excuse me, Mr. Manager, but that is also personal, if it doesn't have anything else to say about work, I think I'll have to retire.
—No, excuse me. I didn't mean to be rude. What happens is that I wanted to talk about that contract.
—About the contract? what's the problem with that? I hope and nothing because thanks to that my son and I have not lacked anything.
—Don't worry, Mrs. Victoria, my intention is not to harm your son and less to you. or does not remember that I just promoted her.
I believe that when traveling from one place to another, Without having a fixed place, your child has no friends and neither do you, and I think your son has had a bit of a hard time. I say it because my parents also passed traveling from one place to another and believe me it's not pretty.
But that is over, as I am the new manager there are new changes and this is the second change I made, I broke that contract so that you can spend more time with your son and they can relate more to each other and to the world. And don't worry about the extra money because as assistant manager you will now earn more ...
—"What, broke the contract ?! is seriously?" —Victoria wonders very concerned.
—What do you think Mrs. Victoria? Now you will no longer have to travel to other cities and you will earn more than before, and you will spend more time with your child.
—Thank you Mr. Manager, I think it's very good, you don't know how much I appreciate it. This is it, can I retire now?
—Yes, that's all. I'll wait for you tomorrow in her new office.
—Okay. Thank you very much and see you tomorrow, may God pay you for everything.
Victoria tells him as she leaves the office.
—Don't forget to close the door when you leave.
Victoria closes the door and walks away from her, when she has gotten far enough the manager says
—Victoria, Victoria... you don't know what awaits you. Now as assistant manager I will have you very closely watched, they will no longer escape me, I will no longer make the same mistakes as before. You and your son will pay for them all, all the suffering that I had to go through. It's their heads or mine.
Victoria is walking down the hall very scared, she is very nervous as if she has seen a ghost or something worse.
—Fernando what happened to you, why don't you answer the messages? Well I'll call you although we had agreed that no but I will.
—the number you dialed is wrong, please verify your number and redial.
—incorrect?!! But what happens? It has to be a mistake, it has to be a mistake. One more time. Please answer
—the number you dialed is wrong, please verify your number and redial.
—No... no... no... it can't be. Can't be
Victoria is very upset, she is nervous, with tears in her eyes because of everything that is happening.
—And now. what i do? ho... how do I protect you, James my JJ how will I protect you...
(...)
—Yo... you?! How do you know where I live?
—Jack...? Are you?
—And who are you? Do I know you? Why do you know who I am? What's more, that is a part of my middle name and nobody tells me like that.
—I'm Samuel Tinoco ... you don't remember me anymore
—Samu... ?? !!