Chapter 1
Dedicated to thefreakyflamingo for being one of my star baby. Keep on inspiring others with your "Herstory" and I'm waiting for another update sweetie.
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It was around seven in the morning when I left Callie's house after I picked her up and drove to work. I was silent almost the whole trip and I didn't bother to make a conversation with her acting as if I am focused on the road. I parked the car as soon as Callie jumped out of the car and joined her in the elevator after a while. There were six employees in the lift when we joined the ride up to the 20th floor which hold the publishing company's office. I settled at the left corner of the elevator resting my back on the cold steel wall and having a grip on the bar handle. I closed my eyes as I rest my head on the wall since I wasn't able to sleep well last night.
I dreamed of my brother and it haunted me when I woke up since I don't have any idea how is he or where is he right now. I felt the heaviness in my heart and I can't deny the fact that I missed him so much.
"I'm getting jealous." Callie made me open my eyes with wonder on her words. I don't know what she's talking about. "Enlighten me please. Don't mumble words Callie." I told her as I lock my gaze on the door of the lift.
"Of you, because you still look amazingly beautiful with all those eye bags. How did you do that?" I didn't respond to her words but can't stop from rolling my eyes on her. I don't know if I'll find her funny but yeah I have all those bags under my eyes due to lack of sleep but who the hell cares, I'm not here for a pageant.
"Care to tell me what's bothering you? Is he handsome?" she added when I didn't say a word to her comments a while ago which made my eyebrows furrowed. "Want me to screw the plan?"
"Never mind. Forget that I'd ask. I won't discuss it again." She knows me well too coz she knows when to be hardheaded with me. She knows when I keep quiet, I need silence. "Good!" and I walk out of the lift and walk to the lobby of the office.
I took my seat on my cubicle while she took the one beside mine. I focus on work as soon as I started to do the work. As trainees, we were asked to proofread manuscripts submitted by aspiring writers who dreamed their work to be published. In my four months her in The Flip, I get to know a lot of aspiring writers who really have the passion in writing. Of course, I get to know the people too who run the company, they don't just settle for the good one or the better ones. They're always looking for the best, may it's an employee or their writers. The Flip had such high standards when it comes to their products and employees and I and Callie both wanted to belong in the company.
Lunch time came and we took it at the same cafe we use do hangout across the building. My mood was a bit lighter now and Callie talked about the plan she had in mind. Once we're done eating, we went back to the office and get our ass back to work.
Around four thirty in the afternoon, all trainees were gathered in the conference room for final meeting with regards to the evaluation requirement. We're twelve all in all who passed the series of interviews when we applied for training here. I can't imagine how we're gonna pass all but Callie and I wants ours to be the best and we will work for it. We're dismissed after some discussions and clarifications. I release a deep sight when I jump out of the lift once we reached the lobby of the building.
"Wanna come with me to see Dad? We can have dinner after." I told Callie as we walk the lobby to the entrance of the building to get my car. "I guess I can't. I have to finalize the plan and I'm gonna give you an update tonight about it. You my regards to Uncle Lambert." she said as she give me a peek on my cheek as her goodbye. "You sure?" she nodded. "You take care and call me when you get home okay?" I told her as I climb the driver seat of my silver Audi and drove to my father's office.
Am I making the right decision? That was my question as I took the road to the heart of New York where one of the hotels we owned is located. I guess I am doing the right thing because last night's topic about running the business kept on taunting me. The more it did when I sat in the office focusing on work in a company that other people I don't know runs while I can't help my own father run our company.
I know he's upset the day I chose to study Lit instead of some business course which is very helpful for us and for me especially in the future. I gave him heartaches watching me everyday going to school, talking on how amazed I am with my Lit teachers and how I appreciate everything about it. That heartache grew everyday as he saw me graduate with flying colors and all his hope vanished when I told him that I'm going to join The Flip for a training to have a chance to actually become a full time employee in the near future of that publishing company.
I can see him suffer more everyday knowing that my brother left us to live his life while I on the other hand is working for other people's company.
I will be my father soon, as I will do the same thing he did for his father. He wanted to be a doctor which my grandpa respected and let him took whatever course he wanted. He was able to finish it and did some work in a big hospital in New York where he met my mother on the last month of his residency. He gave it up and decided to join his father in the company. He did not study business but took practical studies in the company under my grandfather's management and from that day, he made my grandpa a happy father.
I know I am doing the right thing now and I won't let him have another heartache again just like my grandpa had for how many years.
I toss the key to the valet who met me at the entrance of the hotel. As soon as I jump out of the car and throw a smile to the valet, I sauntered to the reception desk.
"Is Mr. Chantelli available for a visit?" I asked the receptionist in blue uniform with a yellow scarf elegantly tied around her neck. She smile at me. "May I know your name Mam?" She's new for sure since she can't recall me though I am not really visiting here often. I prefer to stay at home than have a weekend visit here since I'm not used to full attention being the daughter of a known man.
"It's Katarina. I would like to visit Mr Chantelli if he's not busy." I told her my name which only my dad used to call me and waited for her as she dialed probably Mel's line to check on my Dad.
She told me to go directly to the 40th floor where my father hold his office as the acting president since my grandpa started to expose him to the new position which he will assume early next year upon my grandpa's retirement when he turned 65.
I took the elevator and headed up. I came across with a young group of guests on my way up and I can sense their carefree spirit as such a young age. They took off on the 25th floor and I was alone in the next couple of floors up.
The ping of the elevator signaled my arrival. I jump out of the lift and saw Mel in her table. She's so engrossed with the files in front of her with her glasses above her nose. She's a sweet woman and had been a loyal employee to my father as his secretary. She's married now and got two kids.
"Hi Mel." I greeted her which made her look up and smile big when she saw me standing in front of her table. "Hi Katie. How are you?" and she give me a hug which I responded lovingly. I can't imagine when was the last time I've been here. If mom and I dropped by here before, we just stay at the lobby and wait for Daddy down there to have lunch or dinner outside. My mom don't want full attention too which probably where I got my being a shy type of kid.
"I'm good. How are you and your family?" I asked her holding both her hands. "They're all good Kat. Thank you for asking. So you're visiting your Dad?" I nodded. "You can go ahead. He's not busy. Just going through some files which needs reviews and his signature."
"Okay Mel. Thank you so much." I give her a peek on her cheek and cross the space to the door of my Dad's office. I knock twice and push the door open when I heard him said "come in". I slowly close the door behind me and stood there as I study my father on his seat with his head down studying some files. My father is a workaholic man but very responsible and a very loving father and husband.
"Hi dad." I uttered the words nervously. He look up and smile when his eyes focused on me standing on the door. I can see the stress on his eyes. "Katarina! How are you honey?" He stood up from his chair and took the distance between us to give me a hug. "I'm fine dad. I'm sorry to disturb you." I suppress a tear to fall from my eyes. I don't know why but I suddenly felt the hurt I cause my father.
"No you're not disturbing me sweetie. I'm happy you drop by so that I'll have some new company. " I smiled at him as I really felt his happiness seeing me here in his office.
"So what can I do for you sweetie?" I don't know how to answer his question. I tried to look for the right word but I'm so nervous. "Uhm... Dad...Can we talk?"
He just smiled and gestured me that we take a sit on the couch which I nervously followed.
"So what is it that you wanted to talk about?" He's relaxed and happy sitting next to me on the coffee brown couch which spoke of a very manly taste. "Dad... uhm.. I want to.. I mean.." I stammered and bit my lip.
"You can tell me anything sweetie. Come on. What is it? Are you getting married?" He joked. I know that's his way of making me relaxed. "Can I... uhm.. can I w-work here?" His face became expressionless. I can't fathom what's on his mind right now. He did not spoke of a word and seems saddened by what I just told him. "Dad?" I check on him if he's still with me when tears started to roll down his cheeks.
"I'm sorry Dad. Did I said something wrong?" I wipe his tears with my thumb as I shout in panic inside my head. I though I will make my father happy with my decision but it seems that I'm mistaken. "Are you forced to do this honey?" he asked which I shook my head as an answer. "I just realized I wanted to do this Dad." I told him looking straight to his eyes. He smiled and hug me. "You made me the happiest father honey." he uttered the words as he spared me with his embrace and hold my hands tightly with a small smile on his face while tears roll down his cheeks.
"Am I not that late Dad? Do you have any job for me? I'm a fast learner." I was not able to stop my tears from falling. He hugged me again and the room was full of laughter after a while as we discuss things about my decision to work for my father.
I am happy not because I just made my father happy but because I can feel that I am making the right decision for my family, for the treasure business and of course for myself.
And it's been six years now since I joined the company and it's been six long years since I ran from the man who started to turn my world upside down. The man whom I met as planned out of a perfect plan but turned out to be the plan that I regretted making it perfect.
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AN: Wow! I did my first two chapters. I felt relieved but I hope I am not doing a long mumbling of words on this part coz I want to be more detailed which I think twice sometimes coz I feel like I flooded the story with all the details. Anyway, can you give your comments on my first chapter please I am begging coz I would like to know what you think of the way I did it.
I am very much open to your suggestions and please tell me if I did some errors especially on grammar and spelling.
I would appreciate your comments and likes and votes guys... It will give me more energy to write and write about this story of Katarina. I hope you like my first slice of the story though it's a bit of a flashback but I will give you more of the present scenario in the next chapters.
Have a nice reading guys. I'm sorry if I'm struggling with my English. Mwaahhh
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