CHAPTER 25

CHICHI

Chichi goes through her workload on her laptop,

seeing that she has covered almost all on her

work plan for that month she knew she can take a break from work for her mental health. All she has to do is call in sick so she can have some days off, and perhaps work from home since all that is left is the approval of proposals and submitting reviews.

Chichi picks up her phone to call the Managing

Director of the company she works in, she knew he would tell her to have as many days off as she likes but she still feel she needs to inform him even though she doesn't like calling his personal line because he has always wanted more than work relationship with her but she isn't just cut out to date people she works with, especially when he turns out to be her boss to avoid issues at the office or beefing from other staff who might be interested in being his Mrs. Truth be told, she hasn't been able to open her heart to anyone after Richard, though she had dated a couple of guys but never loved nor felt a thing for them, she always hate to be the bad guy most times, so rather than keep fooling them or playing around, she ends the situationship with

them with her favorite line "I'm sorry I can't do this anymore, there is nothing wrong with you, It's me, not you. Let me take the alone time to work on myself" which usually ends up with the person on the other end of the phone blowing hot steam while she just hangs up and moves on. Her boss, Mr. Daniel Ortega is a very nice and hardworking man, he isn't the owner of the company but he manages it like it's his. The founder doesn't even have anything to worry about, Mr. Dan cares a lot about his integrity, and he doesn't like any dirt or stain on his name. She wonders what could have gone wrong in his marriage because she learned he is a divorcee and his ex-wife drilled him of his life savings. Well, not all those Angel looking men are actually Angels, most of them are worst than the devil himself, Richard taught her that. The dialer rang and trailed off, Mr. Dan didn't pick up "He must be in a meeting, I will call him back later" as she drops her phone, it rings, it is Mr. Dan returning her call, Chichi picks it up immediately "Hi Chichi" the voice from the phone echoes "Good Morning sir, trust your day is going well?" she exchanges pleasantries with him which he returned and he further brought up general topics that could make her forget about her main reason for calling him in the first place. He knows how to hold a good conversation, only a few guys can do that, she smiled as she listened to him share his view about the last meeting they both attended and why he made some drastic decisions he made that took everyone by surprise. Being carried away by the

hour and the flow of the conversation, he asked if

she didn't mind having lunch with him during their break, then Chichi told him she actually called to inform him that she isn't feeling too well and she isn't at the office that day and won't be coming as well the next day "Oh! I'm so sorry, hope you are getting treatment already?" he apologizes immediately feeling guilty for stressing her with long talks and keeping her so long on the phone when all she wanted to do was to seek a day or two off work. "Not at all, I actually enjoyed the conversation" she admits quickly so he won't have himself blamed all through the day, "You don't need to say that to suit my ego, hope the sickness isn't severe?" he asks out of concern "it is but I will be better in a day or two" he cuts her "Chichi take enough days to rest, don't get yourself killed over a job that would replace you immediately you get off, okay?" Chichi smiles, this is one of the best bosses she has ever had "Thank you sir"

"get well soon" he bid farewell and ends the call.

Chichi drops her phone and looks around Tade's

kitchen, she opens all the plastic buckets for

foodstuff but meets them empty "I wish Tade

keeps her kitchen filled just like she does her

wardrobe", she opens her cabinets and they are

filled with plates and cutleries, with no sign of a grain of rice nor anything that looks like food, she gives up. It's really hard to cook in people's kitchens, having to look for almost everything to use in making breakfast can be frustrating. She opens the refrigerator, and got excited as she saw a big loaf of bread, tomatoes, and some eggs "Oh! Thank Jesus! Bread and egg it is then!"