Days After You's

Chapter 30 - The Girl Mother Brought

After lying in bed for most of the day last week, my fever finally dropped as well. I have been able to move normally at home but according to the advice of the doctor first, I better still wait a few more days before deciding to enter work.

"For Luiz, sit down" said Stella, scooping the rice as she watched me descend from the stairs. It was the first breakfast since I was finally able to leave the bed and I felt twice as energized as usual.

"Morning, Stella."

I'm still trying to adapt to my new knowledge of how I feel about Stella but now I know that rather than the weird feeling I thought I felt, it was actually anticipation. You know, a feeling like when you're about to face something new and from just imagining it can make your heart beat. I secretly thought about what my conversation and time with Stella would be like today, what else she would do and something like that. I felt so relieved when I realized this so I didn't have to be afraid anymore to be near Stella.

"Luiz, what if you just take supplies to the office for your lunch? You said you often miss lunch time because you often forget and do not have time there, if this will be more efficient for your time without having to wait for Mr. Rio to order outside first, then, and most importantly healthier too" Stella said. 

I of course was happy to hear the suggestion but I kept my expression calm.

"Okay, but I don't like food that's cold. How about you take it for me to the office? That way you can also make sure that I don't forget to eat, because sometimes I need someone to remind me."

Sometimes I see Melinda bringing or buying food for Rio, as well as some other managers, so it's okay if I ask Stella to do the same thing right?

"Oh okay. I'm not too busy at all hours either. As long as Luiz can eat on time and that's guaranteed, I don't mind."

Be it a few days after that, on the first day I returned to the office, as agreed, Stella came to bring lunch for me. He not only brought for me but also for Rio who despite having been bought food by his own wife still received all the food enthusiastically.

"Thank you very much, Miss Stella. It looks delicious."

"Together, Mr. Rio. You've been helping Luiz a lot all this time so just think of this as my thanks."

"Yes, mom. Glad to see Mr. Luiz re-entering this morning. I hope you've been advising you not to work too hard, I've got something to do with it."

"Rio, if there's nothing else, go back to your desk" I said propping my head up with my hands on the table. Since she was as good as my secretary, I didn't need to see her chatting with Stella as if I wasn't here.

Rio chuckled, "I'm joking sir. Thanks again, Miss Stella. Excuse me to go outside first."

"OK, Mr. Rio," Stella nodded and waved softly. He then sat in front of my desk and was about to open the supply that he was carrying when the door that was just closed Rio was heard to open again. I thought it was Rio who forgot something but it wasn't.

That's mommy.

Though I have felt quite happy just from the arrival of Stella first in the company precisely in this work space, but of course, my mother also chose to come on the same day and interrupt this moment. Normally if you stop by here you would only come to say hello for a while and go home, but now he brings an unknown woman with him.

"Luiz—Oh Stella, who would have thought to meet you here," said Mother as soon as she stepped in. She wears sunglasses so her eyes are invisible but I'm sure she must be very surprised to see Stella here from her tone.

"Mother," Stella stood up and bowed in greeting. She also quietly tidied up her skirt.

"Mother" my broom stood up. I prayed in my heart that he would not say anything that would destroy the atmosphere again. Lately I can't believe what came out of my mother's mouth when she was under the same radar as Stella.

Mom shook her hands and immediately switched to ignoring Stella. Instead he took the woman behind him to step closer to my desk. The woman looked so young but her dress style was very elegant like the style of an office lady who already had so much experience in her age, "Luiz, introduce this Luna, Caryna's sister. Who studied abroad."

Ah..this again. One of my antique mothers was intending to match me up with a woman. Who did he say this was, Caryna's sister? So after finding out that big brother had secretly married a foreign man and could no longer be betrothed to me, he turned to his sister. Do you want me to marry an underage girl or something?

"Hello, greetings Luiz. Aunty has told me a lot about you and I've always been curious to meet you in person" said the girl named Luna, smiling. His voice was soft and his nature looked very well-ordered.

I nodded but looked towards mom, sending a look that I was sure she understood very well her point, "What's up, ma'am? Why did you suddenly come and bring Caryna's sister here?"

"Oh it's nothing really. Just this, Luna recently graduated and is looking for a job. You can help him find a position in business administration, right?" Mom's smile was a little too wide than usual and it gave me some goosebumps, "What about being your secretary or assistant, hm? I think you'll fit in."

I did not fail to grasp the other implications of mother's words and raised one eyebrow, this woman is really still a girl! What did you think actually brought him to me? I beckoned Stella who was just staring back and forth at me and the curious mother to sit back and wait while I talked with mother. 

"Luiz, what are you doing—" mother turned around when I had turned the doorknob and brought them out.

On my face, I believe a smile of my best 'business' is plastered as if dealing with some clients and coworkers in a meeting room that is difficult to arrange.

"I'll talk to you later, ma'am," I said. Then he turned to Rio, "Rio, take my mother to my father's room and explain that this girl wants to apply for a position as one of his secretaries for an internship."

Mom folds her hands on her chest, "No need. You think I'm here for the first time? We can explain all that to your father. I can't believe you're treating me like this, Luiz. You're my own son."

"Mother, I didn't mean to offend you, but we'll continue the conversation later. I'm busy."

"busy? Busy what, if I don't see Luiz wrong, you and Stella are about to have lunch when I come."

I nodded, "Fright."

Both of mom's eyebrows shot up high, "Huh?"

"...Hm?"

"Ukh, you're making me dizzy. Whatever, if your father doesn't need a secretary. I'll come back to you, "Mom followed by the girl.

"okay."

I let out a sigh of relief. I'm sorry mom but you're the one who tricked me into acting like this. My eyes glanced at the bewildered Rio on his desk.

"Find an empty position in the administrative staff section or anything related to it. Try whose work is not directly related to me."

"For the girl you were with?"

"Yes." Yeah."

I doubt you'll actually ask Dad. He and I both know that you're not gonna accept a girl who just graduated to be his secretary. No matter how close the girl's connection to her mother is.

My head can't stop shaking at my mother's behavior. I closed the door and went back to Stella.

"The girl looks very mature, Luiz, yes" said Stella who was clearly unaware of the true intentions of the mother coming here with the girl.

"Hm."

"And he'll work for your father?"

"I don't think I will, I'm just saying that to give my mother an excuse, I've asked Rio to find another position for her," I opened one of the purple stalls that Stella brought, "What are you carrying?"

In an instant, Stella immediately forgot about the topic in order to explain the food she made one by one. I don't know what to call Stella's sometimes insensitive nature or a tendency to trust others too much of this as a positive or negative side. If it was a disloyal man, he could have been easily fooled and cheated on, but in my case, it was, I don't have to worry about dealing with her being angry or asking for an explanation for the attitude of the mother who brought another woman.

...I guess I'll just take the positive side.

I swallowed the food in my mouth slowly before glancing at the watch, "Because you've just stopped by. Want me to walk around?"

Stella nodded quickly, her face again beaming, "Mau!"