My brain was too consumed with my troubled thoughts that I didn’t even pay attention to where I was going. When I realized it, my feet had somehow taken me to the park next to the office building. It has been years since I’ve been to this park. In fact, now that I think about it, I probably never came back to this part intentionally after that day that I met Ace. I looked down at the same bench that I had been sitting on that fateful day that we first met.
While feeling slightly confused as to how I ended up here, I sat down on the bench. It seemed liked I’ve made so much progress in life since the last time that I sat down here with blisters on my feet from wearing shoes of the wrong size. Back then, I didn’t have anything except for the love and support from my mother. I was hungry for life and desperate to get a job. From then till now, I got a job, I got a boyfriend, and I got to work on many projects that felt like a dream come true for me. My financial situation improved a little and my mother didn’t have to work as hard as before.
However, now that I was back here, I realized that I’ve lost, or I was about to lose, the many things that I’ve gained. Maybe after running in circles, I’ve returned to the same place as I was a few years ago. My boyfriend dumped me, and our relationship wasn’t even real or sincere to begin with. I still had a job but who knew if I would still have one after the company exposes my relation to the recent confidential information leakage.
It would suck to lose my dream job now. I didn’t have a lot of money saved up either. If I got fired, I guess finding another job in this industry would virtually be impossible. My mother would be so shocked, and I would feel so ashamed to tell her. I didn’t even tell her about the mini scandal that happened between Kyle and me because I didn’t want to worry her.
Leaning back against the back of the bench, I tipped my head back and looked straight up at the sky. I’m so troubled right now, so how come you’re still so clear and blue?
If I leave this company, I probably won’t get to see Ace anymore either…and I haven’t even returned his money to him.
Honestly, I had no idea how long I sat there while I wrestled with my thoughts on that bench in the park. It was early in the afternoon on a weekday, and no one walked by at all. That just made me feel like I was alone in the world more than ever before. By the time that my phone vibrated in my hands, I had already made up my mind on what I wanted and needed to do about this unfortunate situation that I had found myself in.
“Yes?” I said once the line connected.
I knew without looking at the phone screen that the call was from Ace and that his meeting with the team must be over. Immediately, I got up from the bench and began my walk to the exit of the park.
“Where are you right now?” Ace asked and I could feel the worry in his tone.
For him to be worried about me even after what I had done just made me feel even more guilty than before and my chest started to feel tight. I bit on my lower lip to keep my tears back.
“I’m close to the office. I’ll be back in a few minutes. Should I meet you in your office?” I asked while trying to sound normal.
“Yes,” Ace replied curtly.
Before I could say anything else the line disconnected. I stopped in my tracks and looked up at the small little birds flying by, the tree branches swaying in the wind, and the clear and cloudless blue sky. The world is going to keep on turning regardless of what happens to me and maybe that was the way that it was supposed to be.
…
Did I feel this nervous and scared the first time that I came to Ace’s office?
I stood in front of the door to Ace’s office as I tried my best to gather my courage to face what was waiting for me beyond this door. Ace’s lack of reaction made it hard for me to gauge his feelings; however, my best guess was that he was extremely angry. I mean, what else could it be?
“Sorry that I’m late…” I apologized softly when I entered his office.
I had a feeling that I would be apologizing countless of times before this session between us came to an end. Ace was seated behind his desk, and I was reminded once again that he was in fact the CEO of this large company. Without the need for him to tell me what to do, I took the seat opposite from his desk.
“Let’s cut to the chase. Tell me exactly what happened, and don’t you dare lie to me,” Ace said as his hazel brown eyes stared intently at me from across the table.
Although I had chosen my words already for how I was going to confess this whole thing to him, when the time came, panic started to take over and a huge lump formed in my throat. My tongue was tied, and my mind became blank. For a moment, I struggled to find the words as my mind attempted to recall the words that I had prepared. Ace stared at me in silence as he waited for me to get it out.
“The truth is…I believe that I am the source of the leak. I didn’t do it intentionally!” I burst out saying.
Ace didn’t seem surprised at my words and his eyes urged me to go on without him making any kind of comment.
--To be continued…
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