Chapter 3: Healing

Claire looked at her wrist watch and it was nearly 3 p.m. She gathered the documents she was given by David so as to scan them. She went to the other corner of the room where the machine was. Greg already taught her how to use it. "Excuse me." the voice was so hypnotic and it caused her to turn almost immediately to see who owned it.

Jamie Miller

Claire had heard her voice already from interviews but somehow in person it seemed different, good kinda different. She was staring at Claire as she was to her. It wasn't just her voice that was hypnotic but her appearance seemed to pull Claire into her.

Her brown hair was pulled up, leaving some bangs on two sides of her face. She had brown piercing eyes that looked so mysterious, her nose was so slender and her heart shaped lips that seemed to be inviting.

She was wearing a stylish pleated black skirt, paired with white long sleeve top and strappy heels. Before Claire could assess her more, she cleared her throat. 

"Excuse me," she repeated.

"U-Uhh, y-yes, Ma'am." she moved to the side and gave her way to the copy machine. 

"Ma'am?" she laughed a little, Claire didn't know if it was a good thing or bad. 

"I-I'm sorry, Ms Miller. She couldn't help but stutter.

She made two steps towards the copy machine, leveling with her. 

"You must be the new intern." She leaned to get the printed documents and looked at Claire again. Claire nodded at her, not knowing how to address her or if she should introduce herself properly. Her heart was beating so fast and loud and if Jamie were to close the distance before her, Claire was sure she would heart it.

Claire wondered why she was feeling nervous.

Because she's your boss, it's normal to feel nervous around your boss. She thought to herself. 

Jamie walked past Claire heading towards the door but before she left, she turned to her. "Please send the IT to my office, I can't seem to use my printer."She didn't even wait for Claire to answer and she just left. Not even a thank you.

Rude!

Claire went out of the copy room and went to Jane's table. "Jane, who from IT should I call to check on Ms. Miller's printer?" Claire asked her.

"Just call the reception down stairs and ask them to call IT. Here, use my landline phone, just dial 0." Jane instructed her.

Claire dialed 0 and told one of the reception guys to to send the IT guy. 

"Thanks Jane." Jane nodded and didn't even look at her. 

Claire went back into the copy room and finished her work. She was headed to her table when the IT guy came. 

That was fast. She thought.

When the guy opened Ms. Miller's door, her table was facing Claire's seat where she could see her sitting, their eyes met again before her door closed. Claire couldn't seem to shake the nervousness she felt when she was near her. The way they stared at her, there was really something in her eyes that she couldn't quite put a finger on. Was it sadness that hid behind her mysterious eyes?

Claire thought why she would be so sad while she was rich, and all the men in the world were probably pining on her, she literally had everything.

For the rest of the day, Ms. Miller didn't leave the room, although from time to time some of the staff would go to her office and she would look under her lashes every time her door opened. She never looked at her again. 

Before Claire left after a long day of work, Tony from the HR gave her, her Intern ID which she needed to use for clocking in and out of the building. As she stood up from her seat, David came over to ask her if she wanted to hang out with them some of the staff planned on eating Japanese food across the building as it was newly opened.

Claire politely declined as she had plans with her Dad. He wanted to see her and hear about her first day of work. "Next time, David, I promise." Claire told him. Before she left, she took another glance at Ms. Miller's door.

--

"Hello, Dad!" Claire kissed her Dad on the cheek as she greeted him. 

They were in their favorite restaurant near her apartment. 

"Hey, sweetie! You look beautiful. "He looked at Claire very proudly. 

Claire smiled at him before she hugged him. 

"So, how was your day, honey?" He pulled a chair for Claire to sit before he sat.

"Hmm, interesting. I got to meet the daughter of the owner of the company on my first day. My colleagues are nice, so far so good." Claire said as she signaled for the waiter to come.

"How are the boys? Anyone showed interest?"

"Dad, you know that's not my priority right now."

Her dad laughed a little.

"Claire, you're 22 years old..."

"Dad, I know how old I am, I'm not in a hurry to have a boyfriend, let it go, please?" she begged.

Claire didn't know what was the big deal about being single at 22. She had other priorities than having a man beside her, big deal. 

Was that really the reason? she thought.

She shook the thought away but her dad noticed it. "So there is someone, hmm. I'm okay, I'm fine with that, and I'm gonna stop now." her father was smiling while both his hands were on the air.

Claire shook her head and laughed at him. 

They mostly talked about her first day at work and she could see how proud her father was and she silently wished that her mom would feel the same about her. Her dad didn't like it when she talked about her mom. She thought her dad still cared about her but she hurt him too much. She treated him like crap even though he was the one caring for her for the entire marriage. 

So Claire understood her father, she knew his pain as it was the same for her. 

"I was planning to visit her on weekends, just to see how she is." Claire told him. He kept a long silence before he responded.

"Is your Aunt Mary not texting you of how she is? Why do you still need to go there?" Her father bitterly said.

Claire's aunt was staying with her mom. Her aunt needed the house for her family and her mom needed someone to take care of her so they kind of traded responsibilities.

Claire reached for her Dad's hand on the table.

"Weren't you the one who always reminded me that whatever and however she treated me, she was always gonna be my mother? That i need to be the bigger person between the both of us? And I need to be kind and keep my feet on the ground at all times?"

He looked at Claire with sadness in his eyes and it caused Claire to tear up a little.

"Oh, dad."

"Shhhh, I'm fine and I'm sorry, I shouldn't have said that, I just, I'm happy for you, I'm happy that you are happy with your new job and I don't want her to ruin it for you... You know, she's gonna say things to you when you go there, right? And I don't want you..."

"Dad..." I cut him off.

"I'm a big girl. I think I can handle her."

"Are you sure?" he asked with a concerned look.

"Yes, Dad. I'm sure."

He put his other hand on top of Claire's and he looked at her lovingly. 

"I don't know what I did in my past life to deserve a daughter like you."

Claire's heart melted hearing those words from him, and she stood from her chair and gave him the warmest hug.