LOST CHANCES

"Alright people, this is Raquel, and she's supposed to help us out with documentation. She's been sent from the higher-ups, so you give whatever she needs to her. Siel, you work directly with her, and you give her the moon if she asks for it! Understand?"

"Yes, Roderick."

"Hi! You're Siel, right? And you must be Diwa, from operations? How's it going here with you two? I hope you can help me out since I'm still a newbie at this."

"Oh no worries at all," Di replied while holding out her hand to the secretly familiar ‘new hire’. "We would really welcome some help here... especially, Siel."

Raquel shook hands with Di then shook the secretary's hand as well, "Gosh, do they overwork you here? Look if you need any kind of help, just tell me, OK?"

"That's really nice of you Raquel. Welcome to the IT service and sales division by the way," Siel said with a tired smile.

Even with the presence of the new girl, the poor single mom still ended up with the bulk of the work Roderick required. She liked Raquel and all, but she was afraid that the newcomer was inexperienced with the contracts and end up making things worse for her.

The best that she could do was ask her to recopy the contracts and other documents for her. And even then, Raquel always took longer than how she would usually do it.

If the girl wasn't so nice, I'd actually think Raquel is after my job. Damn it, Siel, stop thinking like that. She's so good to you and helpful, plus everyone likes her... and you're thinking like that? How could you?!

That was low, even for her. It must be because she really needed a job, and the threat of losing it to anyone, even someone as caring as Raquel, especially this Christmas time has pushed her to thinking that way.

Scary...

It took a lot of effort to keep her fears to herself. But she knew it was eating her up inside.

And she realized too that she was near breaking point...

* * *

"Everything you need is in order, Mr. V. Here are the hard copies, and this USB drive has all the soft copies. I even sent you encrypted versions to your personal email."

"Thank you, Raquel. You will get a bonus for all your extra work, that's a promise."

"Oh, that would be wonderful Mr. V. Although I kinda wanna give a little bit of help to Siel, if you don't mind."

"Yes, I mind R. If there is anyone who should be helping her out, it's me."

"Awwww, but can I at least buy her a cake so she can give it to her kids."

"Alright, only AFTER I've given my own gifts Raquel."

"Well, I wish you the best of luck then. I still want to give them that cake, so you better make this good, Mr. V!"

Vince's eyebrow went up at R's demanding tone while Roth was guffawing in his head. He pressed a button on his intercom...

"Yes, sir?"

"Myron, I think you need to give a little more attention to your wife. Please, go on a date, and stay up late because I'm giving you an extra day off tomorrow."

Roth was still laughing at Raquel's shocked face while her smiling husband escorted her out of V's office suite.

* * *

The next day came and went, and the next, and the next, and when she noticed to her horror that it was already the tenth...

And it was already 5PM!

Oh no, my babies' angels! I've forgotten all about them...

She had rushed the whole day to make it in time but was so busy that she didn't even notice how quickly time had passed.

Once again, I'm the last one to leave the office. And I've failed my babies... again!

To be honest, Siel was glad for once that no one was with her as she exited her workplace and entered the basement parking that night. At least, nobody would see the tears rolling down her face, or the pieces of paper in her hand that were getting crumpled into a tight ball due to her frustration, sadness, and helplessness…

For that whole week, she tried to find time to place the angels on that tree. She wanted to hang them herself, so even when Di had offered or Raquel, she turned them down.

In the end, you still didn't make it, Siel…

Since the year was ending, many of the companies they supplied services to wanted to sign renovations and extensions of service contracts before the holidays. That would ensure that their servers would be covered while they were on vacation.

Normally, this was the job of her boss, but since he demanded that she do it herself, she had been so busy that she hardly had time to go to the ladies' room. And now, she's so tired, guilty, and frustrated over losing the chance to give her kids a happy holiday.

Siel allowed her mind to go blank as she got into her car. She then sat behind the wheel, stared out for a long moment...

Then finally let out all the pent-up emotions, letting herself get crushed by its powerful waves!

She knew she couldn't let all of this out at home, but yes, she realized that she couldn't hold it in any longer. Her heart shattered, and her body shook with emotional pain as she grabbed the wheel, pressed her forehead against her hands, and just cried in anguish.

After half an hour of loudly sobbing, she finally tried to gasp for air to control her emotional outburst...

Meanwhile, she hardly noticed a shadowy figure who was watching her from afar.

It was actually someone who was casually walking towards his newly delivered blue Tesla Roadster, so it was parked in a regular parking slot at the Silvercrest basement levels. When he recognized her and heard her crying, he felt his heart breaking...

"Roth... shouldn't we..."

No, V, you're still a stranger to her despite your swift meeting at her office. We stick to the plan.

Temporarily frozen in place, Vince's enhanced eyesight allowed him to see her opening her car window, flinging a few pieces of paper outside then trying to compose herself. After about five minutes, she started her car and drove out of her basement parking slot and was soon out have left the building.

Finally managing to step out into the light, V slowly walked over to the white crumpled objects that Siel dropped, almost sure that the reason for her grief was within those wads of paper.

As he spread open the wrinkled angels, Vincent checked the drawings in red and green crayons. They were cute and colorful creations illustrating simple toddler toys and a puppy... Gifts that he would be quite happy to get for her.

But what called his attention the most was one crayon sketch of a freckled-face brown-haired woman with that now-familiar smile. It was labeled, "Happy Mommy" and it was in feminine handwriting too.

That drawing's smile was so contagious; he couldn't avoid grinning himself...

And it was a naughty one.

Folding both paper angels into his wallet, as if that action could get him closer to his mate, he turned around and got into his new car. He drove away with a head full of happy thoughts, still smiling like a Cheshire cat.

"Roth, I'm thinking of changing the plan..."

My thoughts exactly. Just a little bit, though, to fit the festive heartfelt holidays.