Together but Separate

Chapter 43: Too Complicated

This chapter is dedicated to:
@Khiim23
@milendj23

Kate R. Ferragni

"You're all dismissed."

They all began to stand after I said those words. Our meeting just ended after two hours of talking about our project.

Bumaling ako sa kapatid kong nasa tabi ko nakaupo. "You did great."

"Thanks, ate," nakangiting sabi niya.

It's been a week since I started training her. Tinuro ko sa kanya ang mga basic na kailangan niya malaman. Sinasama ko rin siya sa lahat ng meetings ko para masanay siya at malaman niya kung ano ang nangyayari sa bawat meeting, so she would have an idea of the flow and the topics.

So far, she was doing well. Mabilis siyang matuto at hindi ako nahirapan turuan siya. She was very willing to learn kaya kampante ako na ibigay sa kanya ang posisyon.

That night I asked her to be the acting CEO, she quit her job the next day at mabuti na lang ay pinayagan siya agad ng employer niya umalis nang hindi hinihintay ang two weeks notice na kailangan. They probably knew she would work for me kaya hindi na sila nag-request pa sa kanya na maghintay ng two weeks. I was glad because I was able to start training her right away.

"Can I talk to you in private, Kate?"

Napatingin ako sa harap. I didn't notice na nandito pa pala si Ma'am Nadia. Everyone else left except for us three.

"Sure," sagot ko saka sinenyasan si Kaila na iwan muna kami. Sumunod naman siya agad at lumabas na ng conference room.

Nung kaming dalawa na lang ang naiwan, nagsalita siya agad. "I noticed na kasama mo lagi ang kapatid mo. What's your plan, Kate? Sa kanya mo ba ibibigay itong project natin?" taas-kilay na tanong niya.

Aside from me, sina Linda at Kris lang ang nakakaalam na I was training Kaila to be the acting CEO. However, they didn't know the real reason. I just told them that I will be taking a vacation soon that's why I am training her. I knew they had suspicions, but I didn't care for now. Malalaman din naman nila ang rason eventually.

I was actually preparing Kaila to take over my job kung sakaling malaki na ang tiyan ko. I wanted to be away from stress para sa kapakanan ng anak ko. I also wanted to enjoy this first pregnancy without having to worry about anything else aside from my baby. I wanted to spend time enjoying this season, away from the prying eyes of the public. I wanted to enjoy shopping for my baby and reading him or her bedtime stories while holding my tummy like what most moms would do. Mostly especially, I wanted to get a quality time to rest and sleep, without thinking about work. As much as I could, I wanted to do everything just for my baby to be healthy inside my tummy.

Kaila was amazed by my decision. Kahit ako rin ay nagulat sa sarili ko. We both knew that I wasn't the type of person who would take a break from work nor give up my job temporarily for anything. I was a workaholic and ambitious. My focus was my business. I barely took breaks since I started my business. I didn't know that motherhood would change me, my plans and my perspectives. I was surprised also of how much I was willing to sacrifice something I loved doing for my baby's sake.

"I will be on leave, Ma'am Nadia. I don't know when that's why I am training her, so she can be ready to take over when it's time for me to get a break from work."

Napakunot ang noo niya. "On leave? For how long and for what reason?"

"I am sorry, but I cannot tell you. I hope you understand, ma'am. But rest assured that I will not leave until we finish the project. Only a month and a half left before we launch our project."