CHAPTER SIX

Juliet's queen-sized bed was softer than the one I had shared with Richard.

It was so comfortable that I felt like a princess as I woke up, the morning sun already flooding the room through the curtains.

I squinted and stretched, savoring the peacefulness.

Rising from the bed, I staggered out of the room and was greeted by the refreshing aroma wafting from the kitchen.

Juliet, already dressed in her work outfit, had prepared bread, eggs, and coffee. "Perfect timing. I was just about to come call you," she said with a bright smile as she arranged the bread slices on a plate.

"Good morning, Jules" I murmured softly as I joined her at the table.

She said the prayers, and I was surprised by the depth of her devotion, her words heartfelt and sincere.

We began to eat, and as she sipped her coffee, Juliet looked at me thoughtfully. "I already spoke to my sister about you, and she wants you to start tomorrow. They've been looking for a homeroom teacher for the third grade. Your job will be to monitor the students' progress and ensure they're not slacking or missing classes."

"She didn't assign me any subjects to teach?"

"No, she's fully staffed right now."

I nodded, taking another sip of coffee to help swallow the mouthful of bread.

Juliet studied me with concern. "Are you sure you want to start right away? Maybe you should rest a bit until you feel stronger."

"Thank you for the recommendation, Juliet. The homeroom teacher role is exactly what I needed."

Juliet nodded and smiled warmly. "If you need anything, don't hesitate to reach out."

I returned her smile.

That was exactly what I needed to hear at that moment.

                                 ***

The building was a towering skyscraper, its exterior painted a sky blue that caught the light just right.

It wasn't what I had pictured.

I knew Anabel had married a rich man, but I never imagined her school would exude such luxury.

After a brief exchange with the security guards, I was directed to the fifteenth floor—Anabel's office.

The office exuded opulence from every corner.

The walls were a rich, deep shade of walnut, perfectly complementing the polished marble floors that gleamed under the soft, recessed lighting.

A grand mahogany desk, intricately carved and glossy, sat as the room's centerpiece, flanked by plush leather chairs that invited you to sink into them.

Behind the desk, floor-to-ceiling windows offered a breathtaking view of the city skyline, with thick, velvet drapes in a deep sapphire hue pulled back to let in the natural light.

The shelves were lined with artful décor—crystal vases, bronze sculptures, and a few rare, leather-bound books.

A massive, abstract painting in warm tones hung on the wall, adding a touch of modernity to the otherwise classic ambiance.

The scent of fresh flowers, arranged tastefully in a crystal vase on a side table, mingled with the subtle aroma of polished wood, creating an atmosphere that was both sophisticated and inviting.

Anabel greeted me with open arms, her excitement evident.

She hugged me warmly, her smile tender. "I heard everything you went through," she said softly. "No marriage is perfect, but we must always guard against the toxic ones. I'm so grateful you managed to come through it all.".

Her embrace was so comforting that I wished I could just melt into it and disappear for a moment.

After the pleasantries, she guided me to the classroom where I'd be teaching.

As I entered, the students stared at me with a mix of curiosity and wariness, making me suddenly self-conscious.

Anabel left me to get acquainted with them, and I found myself sitting at the class monitor's desk, eager to learn their names.

There were twenty-two students, though two were absent for reasons unknown.

As they introduced themselves one by one, I could only manage to remember nine names, but I knew I'd learn them all in time.

The door opened again, and the mathematics teacher walked in.

He was tall, dark, and handsome, with a bright, engaging demeanor.

His eyes lit up when he saw me. "Are you Mrs. Catarina Craig?" he asked, and I couldn't help but frown slightly at being referred to by Richard's surname.

"It's Miss Catarina Johnson now," I corrected him.

"My apologies," he stammered, "perhaps Anabel made a mistake with your name."

I was surprised he spoke so informally about his boss, but I shrugged it off. "Maybe she just forgot," I replied, brushing it aside.

He extended his hand for a handshake, holding on just a bit too long, making it clear he was a bit of a flirt.

I grimaced inwardly, watching as he took over the class.

As I stepped out of the classroom, I spotted a familiar figure approaching.

I leaned back, squinting to get a better look, and to my shock, I realized it was my boss at Bower Bound organization, my former work place.

He was holding the hand of a young girl.

He seemed just as surprised to see me as I was to see him."Miss Craig? What... what are you doing here?" he asked, clearly flustered.

"I'm the new homeroom teacher for class three," I replied, trying to sound confident.

He let out a sigh of relief. "Finally, Anabel found someone. Swanta's performance was starting to drop and we couldn't figure out why."

I realized the girl with him must be the Swanta.

"I hope I don't disappoint you, sir," I said with a smile.

He chuckled. "Not the Catarina I know. The Catarina I know can handle anything."

I laughed, suddenly feeling nostalgic for my time at the office.

The girl gave me a shy smile before entering the classroom.

There was a brief, awkward silence between us. I broke it with a light comment. "I don't think anyone at Bowerbound knows you have such a beautiful daughter."

He chuckled again. "She's not my daughter; she's my niece. My younger sister's daughter. We all live together like one big family."

I nodded, slightly puzzled as to why he was sharing so much.

Then he surprised me further. "So, you're living with Juliet now?"

I blinked in surprise. "How did you know?"

He smiled knowingly. "No one told me. I just guessed. Anabel is Juliet's sister, and I left you two together the other day."

I nodded, understanding now. "You guessed right, sir. If not for you and Juliet, I wouldn't have been able to pick up the pieces. I owe you both so much."

He gave me a warm smile. "Anytime, Mrs. Craig."

I frowned again at the use of Richard's surname."It's Miss Catarina Johnson now," I reminded him gently.

He looked genuinely apologetic. "I'm sorry, I should have remembered that."

It felt strange, having the CEO of Bowerbound apologizing to me over something so trivial.

I didn't know how to respond.

"I hope this won't be our last meeting. Take care of yourself," he said, giving my shoulder a light pat before walking away.

I watched him leave, still processing the odd coincidence of ending up as my boss's niece's homeroom teacher.