Yna had a wonderful morning as she woke up and prepared for her one-week training with Ms. Amelia Anders. She also arranged a one-week daycare for Adan and used half her savings to cover the cost. She knew it would take time to save enough money, and she must find a babysitter soon. 

She entered the elevator with Adan and met one of the neighbors, Adeline. They greeted each other. Adeline was making funny faces at Adan, and Adan chuckled. Yna smiled at Adeline as they parted ways.   

She took Adan to the daycare center and gave her contact details in case of an emergency. Adan did not cry and waved goodbye to her as the person in charge cuddled him back inside. It’s the first time she left her son in daycare without her. But her son is a well-behaved and robust child. 

“Hi, Ms. Amelia.” Yna greeted her in her office. 

“You’re 15 minutes early, Yna, but that’s alright. Have a seat.” Amelia said, and Yna sat on the chair before her desk. 

Amelia handed him the contract, including the company’s portfolio and the job responsibility she would take as Mr. Hugo’s secretary. She understood the agreement and signed it. She handed it back to Amelia as she checked every page and signed. 

“Now, Ms. Yna, there’s one thing you should know when you do your job as a secretary. Mr. Hugo Anders is a perfectionist. He hates anyone committing any mistake on the job, specifically regarding his business and meeting schedules. I hope you can handle Mr. Hugo’s work preferences.” Amelia frankly said to her. 

“Yes, Ms. Amelia. I’ll be aware of that.” She politely said. 

Amelia showed her around the vicinity and introduced her to the employees working at the workspace station. 

“Hi, I’m Yna Mitchel. It’s nice to meet you all.” She greeted everyone with Ms. Amelia by her side. 

Everyone greeted her back nicely. 

“How long do you think she will stay?” Nikki whispered to Claudia. 

“Two weeks, or maybe three weeks if she makes no mistake? Who knows..” Claudia estimated and anticipated. 

“Damn, she’s a hot babe,” Lester whispered behind Claudia and Nikki’s back as he put his arms around each of their shoulders, opposite sides. 

“Oh please, Lester, go away,” Nikki said with furrowed eyebrows. 

“That’s why none of the ladies here in the office likes you because you’re such a swinger.” Claudia pushes away his hands from her shoulder.

“And that’s why men don’t like you either, because you’re a nagger,” Lester smirked and quietly whistled. Claudia and Nikkie were pissed. 

Then, Ms. Amelia brought Yna to Mr. Hugo’s office to introduce herself. Amelia opened the door while Hugo was on the phone talking to someone. His eyes furrow when he sees Amelia and Yna. 

“I’ll call you back later..” Mr. Hugo hung up the call as he looked at the new secretary from head to toe. Yna felt awkward by the way he looked; It was unquestionably intimidating. 

“This is your new secretary, Yna Mitchel. She will start working with you in the next few days. I’ll train her since the secretary just left without a proper turnover.” Amelia looked at his brother coldly. You can sense that somehow they don’t get along for some reason. 

“Hi, Mr. Hugo. It’s nice meeting you.” She politely greeted him while he tapped his pointer finger on his laptop keyboard. The face looked like a strict professor. Yna just looked at him with eye-to-eye contact. Somehow Hugo finds her to be “a woman that does not back out easily.” 

“Enough of the introduction. I’ll see you in the next few days, and make sure you read and check all the previous emails from the secretary. Amelia will guide you on what a secretary does, and I don’t like a slow learner in my league.” Hugo strictly said as he checked his emails. 

“Just make sure you did not forget what I told you last time. I mean it, Hugo.” Amelia strictly said before they left. 

Hugo just glanced at them like he did not care as long as they did the job perfectly without mistakes. 

Yna and Amelia went back to her office. Yna told Amelia that she would try to find a babysitter to look after her son after one week. Amelia offered her some flexibility if she could not find a babysitter in one week. 

“You can bring your son here in a baby carrier if you have not found anyone yet. Your area is quite spacious, and the co-workers are not allowed to go near your area as per Mr. Hugo’s instructions since he became the CEO. But, you must ensure that Mr. Hugo will not find out about bringing in your son occasionally. The one starts in the office from 9 am to 1 pm. He goes out for business meetings and outdoor activities with his clients for the rest of the afternoon. So, manage your time when he is here.” Amelia advised nicely to her. 

Yna was grateful for Amelia’s support of an employee like her. And she would find a suitable babysitter for her son. After the training, Yna went to pick up her son at the daycare, who showed a happy face seeing her. It seems Adan had fun at the daycare center with other toddlers like him. 

** 

When she exited the elevator, she saw Daniel carrying a plastic bag in front of her apartment. Daniel saw her, and they greeted each other. 

“Hi, I came to apologize and, at the same time, thank you for helping me. Please take this as my thank you for offering.” Daniel handed the plastic bag. It was a box of fried chicken and a pack of cider. Yna smiled at him as Adan tilted his head and smiled too. 

“Oh, this is too much for us. Why not you join us for dinner?” Yna invited him inside her apartment. Daniel, with a solemn gesture, agreed.

Daniel did not think of how he ended up in Yna’s apartment, but for him, Yna is like an elder sister. He had never experienced such kindness from her sister Dara who ignored all his calls whenever he needed mental and emotional support. Yna was not his family, but he felt comfortable that at least there were still people who never judged him, no matter how sinful he was.

They had a long conversation about life and meaningless story. However, he needed more time to be ready to share everything with Yna. The reason why he became such a player and the reason why his family kicked him out of the house. The very reason that only He and the late Samuel know about. He only told Yna he felt useless; anyone who cared for him was gone. Yna understood his current situation, and she was right to become at least a sister to him. They laugh as they eat the fried chicken and the can of cider. At the same time, Adan enjoyed playing on the carpeted floor with his random toys. 

“Do you perhaps know any babysitter you recommend to me?” Yna suddenly opened up. 

“Not actually; I’ve been a player all my life, so not all in school like me. Why?” Daniel wondered as he sipped his can of cider. They sat on the sofa, watching Adan playing like brother and sister conversing. 

“Ahm, honestly, I got a job that pays well. It would be enough to pay all the bills and necessities we need. I have arranged one-week daycare for Adan, but I can’t afford it because it’s too expensive. So, I only have one week to look for a babysitter to look after him when I am at work. One of the bosses has been so kind that I can bring Adan to work as long as the big boss does not see him.” Yna explained, holding the can of cider in her hands as she looked at Adan, smiling at her as she smiled back. 

Daniel glanced at her and thought for a moment. He took another sip of the cider and offered to help her. 

“Well, I can babysit Adan from Mondays to Thursdays, but probably in the afternoon after my class at 1 pm. And on Friday, I can babysit from 10 am until you finish work. I wake up late, though, if that works for you.” He kindly said. 

“Are you sure, Daniel? Babysitting is not easy, although Adan is well-behaved. Do you know how to change nappies and make bottled milk?” Yna asked as she smiled, looking at Daniel’s reaction. 

“Oh well, you must teach me how to do that?” Daniel chuckled as he scratched his head, holding the can in his left hand, slouching forward. 

Yna laughed as so as he did. 

“Then, how do you want me to pay you if you are really that keen to babysit Adan,” Yna asked. 

“You don’t need to pay me,” Daniel said. 

“Huh, but I need to pay you according to per hour rate. How am I supposed to pay you?” Yna wondered. 

“Then, pay me with food because I am so damn bad at cooking my meal. Just ramyeon or takeaways mostly.” Daniel awkwardly chuckled. “And I like your food. A home-cooking food.” he smiled. 

Yna was surprised, and yet she agreed. She sensed that Daniel came from a wealthy family. 

Daniel went back to his apartment late at 10 pm. He took a shower, changed into his pajamas, and his thoughts wandered again. His apartment is quiet, yet his living in hell with all guilt and regrets. He wanted to cry but couldn’t anymore because he couldn’t do anything. He missed Samuel so much that he realized how painful it is to lose someone when they are gone.