HEART OF THE ROSE

CHAPTER 3

INSIDE his car, it was a comforting sight as Charles watched the busy woman retouch herself using the tinted glass of his car. His smile was wide not because he laughed at her, but because of the intense amusement, he had for the woman. 

 When Charles could not withstand he took his cell phone and then placed the camera on the woman who was still smiling. He made sure that the flash was off before he started taking pictures.

A few moments later the woman left. Charles saw her enter the Bluebook's own entrance so he smiled faintly. He thought it might be a customer.

When he was sure that the woman had entered the building already, Charles immediately went out of his car. The guard on duty at the entrance of the building immediately greeted him. He was in the elevator when he heard the sound of his cell phone ringing. He pulled it out of his pocket just to take a heavy sigh after finding out who is the caller. And like what he said last night, it is Shara who is calling. 

Charles did not cancel the call and did not take it either. He proceeded to the fourth floor. Passing the Human Resources cubicle, he saw someone who seemed to be interviewed by Wendy.

The woman is not facing him so he can't see her face. But the build of her body and her hair is familiar to him and so he stopped and came closer to them. As when it seems that both women sense his presence they turned their gaze on him.

Charles was stunned as soon as he learned who was the woman who's being interviewed by his staff. None other than the woman whom he took a picture with a while ago. And it seems like his world stops spinning for a while the moment their eyes met.

He once said the woman was beautiful. Well, now he thinks he needs to correct that because she's even more beautiful up close. And that is why he seems to be losing his sense of self. "Good morning, sir" Wendy her HR Manager polite greeting. 

It was as if he had just realized that, and like what he usually did in the office, he responded formally to Wendy. "Good morning," he said, looking at her for a moment before turning her gaze back to the other woman that is now smiling at him.

"Good morning sir," the woman's voice, very sweet and very nice to hear.

Instead of responding, he simply nodded. So, she is an applicant. He didn't force the joy in his heart but he still felt it.

Just in case he gets the job, it is good to know that he is not a smiling person when it comes to working. It was his habit to keep his staff obeys him. And there is no exemption for it, even for that woman with angelic beauty.

"THAT'S a piece of good news! This is perfect timing for our special dish, a celebration of you in getting a new job" Keira's mother is so happy for her.

"They really need an office clerk that is why they asked me to have my first day tomorrow. They said I am in probationary status already. The benefits are good with one sack of rice every month, health care for each family member, " she said happily then sip into her coffee cup. 

Her mother smiled at her kindly. "Bosses are like that Keira. It's natural for them to be serious and strict because other employees are abusive. " She shrugged her shoulders. "All right. But what I see in him is that he seems to be faking his seriousness. I hope he smiles a lot because he is very handsome, you know, like an actor" she said, trying to control her giggles but she failed.

It was when her mother stared at her with so much amusement in her face. "Does my princess seem to be in love?" from behind her, she heard that statement from her father who had just come home from work.

"Papa, does it have to be in love right away?" she met his father for a kiss. "If not, what is it anyway?" he sat down and asked for a coffee to her mother afterward.

"Crush!" Keira said following her words with giggles.

"Crush is for teenagers Keira. I think it's about time for you to get into a serious relationship. You are already twenty-five, it's about time for you to have a family of your own" it was her father.

It was when Keira's smile disappeared at the same time dropped her gaze. "Why not, but the only problem is, my heart seems so elusive," she said.

Her parent got what she meant, and so her mother spoke. "It's been four years already, there is nothing wrong with trying again. You might not know, this time you can finally be happy, " her mother's advice.

She didn't hide from her parents, her feelings for Erik. And that happened when her mother came to her room and found her crying. It's been a week since Erik and his family left for Canada. Her mother asks her what made her cry. And then she admitted the truth to her.

 "Hopefully, but this one is hard and I might lose my job" was true to herself.

Her mother shook her head. "I am not talking about your boss. What I am trying to say here is, try entertaining some suitors. You might never know that one of them might be the right one for you" Helen explained.

Keira laughs softly. "I'll give it a try, but I can't promise anything. The truth is, I am happy being single as long as I have you and Papa and Karl" she told her mother. "I need to change" Keira stood up.

Her parents nodded to what she said. While her mind is occupied by none other than the mysterious and handsome look of her boss. Just like what she said to Helen, Charles has been the celebrity kind of a man. Tall, medium fair complexion and lean, masculine figure. He looks so mysterious with a proud nose and kissable red lips. 

Charles has a fine mustache on the right places in his face and for Keira, it is among those characteristics that added extraordinary charisma and charm to her boss. He may not be the smiling face type, but his eyes know-how. They can shift emotion and that is something that made her smile.

She's got a crush on him, she needs to admit that. But if talking about letting his feelings grow? She honestly does not like the idea aside from the fact that she is too scared to try because of so many reasons. 

That, his family might not like her. With the thought, she was laughing secretly, but that was half true because it can really happen in real life. They are rich and have a great chance of being arrogant. Charles may have an attitude problem. 

Well, he is rich, handsome, and powerful which is not impossible. But above all those, she knows for a fact that he is a womanizer. She had no plans to shed tears in the bucket so she could not tolerate the feelings she had for the man.