Once Upon A Chance

Chapter One

One thing that life has taught me in my twenty six years of existence is this: When dealing with a quarter-life crisis, it's best to arm yourself with a good cup of hot coffee and a slice of your favorite cheesecake.

Though that applies if there's a coffee shop located just a stone's throw away from your office.

In my case, going to the café right across the street has been a habit every time I'm stressed out because of work. Like today, I have spent the entire morning preparing, typing, and checking endless documents. My body has been craving sugar and I have no choice but to give in. Good thing the barista knows me well enough to always reserve a slice of cheesecake for me. Well, if you're a loyal customer and have been working for the same firm for four years, who wouldn't recognize you, right?

Speaking of work, I have never imagined myself as a legal secretary in a law firm. In university, I have always thought I would work for a magazine or an advertising company. But my dad has negotiated my application to his lawyer best friend because he thinks that's the closest thing he can get to fulfill his frustrated dream. So basically, that's the reason I'm stuck here. The cheesecake comes secondary.

As I begin clearing my work desk to have a short break, Mrs. Reyes, the law firm administrator, approaches me.  In her hands are folders and folders of paper works I still need to toil on. Behind her is the young, fresh-from-university intern Sara, who is being trained to assist the legal secretary, which is me.

"I need you to copy all of these." Mrs. Reyes puts the files on top of my desk. "Atty. Ramirez needs them. Sara will help you out."

Oh my God. More paper works.

I have no idea if it's the color of my face or the rumbling of my stomach that gives me away, but Mrs. Reyes grunts.

"Eat first then do your work," She says gruffly as she returns to her desk.

Mrs. Reyes has been like that to all of us anyway. She's grouchy, bossy, and most of the time overbearing. (Yes, bossier than the bosses!) Other workmates have told me that the legal secretary before me quit because she couldn't take Mrs. Reyes' grumpy attitude. They commend me for enduring her for years. I always remind them that it's work and maybe she's not like that outside the office. But sometimes I forget about it when I'm on the receiving end of her temper.

Back to the cheesecake, well, the thing about eating it is that you need to savor it or you will crave for more. But because there's Mrs. Reyes looking at me like she might explode anytime, I have no chance to relish the experience.

Sara follows me to the conference room. I figure that we need a bigger space so we won't make mistakes and mix up the files. Atty. Ramirez comes in afterwards to instruct us on what we need to copy, what needs to be put in the ring binder, and what must be submitted to his office. Having done this for quite some time, I've seen the files of the cases won and lost by both lawyers. Atty. Alcantara is the other half of this firm. He's my father's colleague, and technically the one who has hired me.

"So how's your first year here?" I ask Sara, who's looking at the documents like there's a bomb hidden within them that will detonate if she makes a mistake.

"Great," She answers briefly. She offers me a smile when Mrs. Reyes bursts in. Atty. Ramirez has forgotten to close the glass door.

"Focus," Her voice is as menacing as her gaze. "This is an office, not a talk show."

She gives us a final warning glance, which she's known for, before walking away. I shouldn't be doing this but I can't help but chuckle. Sara is eyeing me, her face horrified. She turns to check if Mrs. Reyes is anywhere near the conference room. She's not, and Sara lets out a sigh of relief.