THE NOMINAL WIFE

CHAPTER 2: Their Career Choices

July 3, 2017. Monday. Iryn and her team of psychometricians went that morning at the headquarters of Lauchengco Group of Companies for the annual psychological assessment of their employees.

At the lobby on the ground floor, Iryn and her team had encountered the Vice Chairman and CEO Victor Lauchengco and his two sons, Voltaire and Vittorio, along with the HR department head.

Voltaire was the first one who spoke up, "It has been a while, Miss Zamora."

Iryn responded, "Yes, Mr. Lauchengco."

Vittorio's reaction, "You know this pretty lady, Kuya."

Voltaire said, "Yeah, Vitto. We met years ago. She donated blood for my wife when she delivered our son. They have the same rare blood type."

Their father then informed them, "Miss Zamora is the Chief Psychologist and owner of Psyche Solutions Clinic. Our HR department head here had chosen her clinic to do the annual psychological assessment of our employees. I didn't expect you to be this young, Miss Zamora. Our HR head here had mentioned that your clinic is one of the best."

Iryn responded, "Thank you very much for your compliments, sir. Rest assured that I and my team will provide the best service that you commissioned us to do. We can already start."

The HR department head then said, "Our department had already arranged the schedule and venue for the assessment, madam. So, sirs, please allow me to excuse ourselves so we can already start."

Victor Lauchengco responded, "Yes, you may all proceed with your work already."

Their father went to his office while Vittorio followed Voltaire into his office and interrogated him further.

Vitto, who was just two years younger than him, told him, "I like Miss Zamora. Can you tell me more about her, Kuya?"

Voltaire said, "I do not know much about her except for her name, blood type and career. She used to work at the HR Department of Saint Thomas University. It is already now that I found out that she owns a psychological clinic. She and Winona are both members of this Rare Blood Club, where they are usually called upon by hospitals whenever there is a need for their blood type. Besides, your Mom has already arranged your marriage with Alexa. I heard that you have been going out on dates with her already. Do not make things complicated anymore, Vitto. From what I heard from my wife before, Miss Zamora is already in a serious relationship. I am sure that you do not want to have problems with your Mom. So please just drop this idea of pursuing another lady because your future with Alexa is already a done deal."

Vitto responded, "You are still a kill joy, Kuya."

Voltaire reminded his half brother, "Lolo and Dad have high hopes on you. You are quite good with your work but you are just not very responsible when it comes to your love life. So look what your Mom did! She arranged your marriage with Alexa. Besides from being a famous celebrity she is also from a rich family. Her Mom is even your Mom's best friend. Do you really have the guts to go against this marriage that your Mom had arranged for you. Take note that Lolo and Dad also approve of Alexa. She is also an S-lister in our talent center."

Vitto said, "Mom, just arranged my marriage with her so that I can outlast your popularity here at LGC. Her Dad is also a minor shareholder of our business organization."

Voltaire replied, "I do not mind you surpassing my popularity or even my achievements, Vitto. But I cannot disappoint Lolo and Dad. So I am doing my best with the positions they bestowed upon me. So I suggest that you do your job much better so they can lift off some of the responsibilities and give them to you. Wallace is still not speaking. I cannot even spend more time with him because of my work. His teachers are all quitting after sometime. So I have to hire private teachers for him every now and then."

Vitto then told her, "Then find another life partner, who can help you out in raising your son. I heard Lolo and Lola recently talking about setting you up on dates after Ate Winona's death anniversary."

Voltaire informed his brother, "I honestly do not want to get married again, Vitto. I already have so much work on my plate and so I just want to devote the free time I have with my son. It will also be difficult for me to find a suitable second mother for Wallace. I cannot settle for less when marrying again will also involve my son. Whose lady do you think among our family's circle of friends will want to marry a widower like me with a son, who only wants his Mommy so he will speak again. All of the efforts of Lolo and Lola of finding me a second wife will just be all futile if my son will not approve any of their candidates."

Vitto then commented, "You just love Ate Winona so much that is why you are partial with this idea. But will you marry again if Wallace somehow approves someone to be his second mother."

Voltaire gave his firm answer, "I can do anything just for my son to speak again, Vitto, even to a point of marrying a woman I do not love. If he happens to choose a second mother for him and speak again, then I will marry that woman."

Vitto then told him, "Well, we might both have pursued bachelor's and master's degrees in business administration but I am every much aware that you are way much better than me that is why Lolo and Dad had chosen to bestow the positions you have now. Mom is so obsessed to the idea of me surpassing you in all aspects of life especially when it involves LGC. I don't like that life you are living, Kuya. You are a very filial grandson and son that you do not have much time to spend on your son anymore, who needs you the most."

Voltaire expressed, "That is why I already allotted all my Sundays for him. I also told Lolo and Dad to give you more responsibilities because I believe in your business capabilities. I need your help, Vitto. So please try even harder to surpass my achievements. Just do it for your own self-fulfillment. Let go of your playful ways around women. That way, Lolo and Dad can trust you more."

When Vitto left his older brother's office and went to his own office, he immediately telephoned their HR department head and requested for all the information about Iryn Zamora and her psychological clinic. He was quite aware that his father only wanted the best service from other companies like a psychological assessment center.

As he browsed the information forwarded to him through the private messaging application of the headquarters he found out about all of the academic qualifications, list of trainings/seminars/workshops attended, work experience, business establishments, organization memberships, and accolades of Iryn Zamora. Not much was stated about her personal information except for her name, birthday, and business address. He was quite impressed with all the information he had come to know but he wanted to know more so he called up his friend who owned a private investigation firm to dig more about Iryn Zamora's personal life.

On the other hand, Iryn received a call from her former psychology and psychotherapy professor, Dr. Alma Dy, who currently worked as the head of the psychiatry department of STU Hospital.

Her response was, "Yes, Dr. Dy. What can I do for you?"

The psychiatrist then told her, "I have just encountered another special case of a child who has a PTSD and will not speak. I am aware that you are busy with your own psychological clinic and so I did not referred this child to you right away even if I firmly believed that with your excellent psychological skills and innate maternal instinct, you can reach out to this child. Will you be able to accommodate this child?"

Iryn responded, "I wish that I could accommodate all the children that you wished to refer to me, Dr. Dy, but right now, my schedule is just full up to the end of the year," Then she asked, "Have you already asked Grace about the possibility of taking on this child?"

Dr. Dy stated, "I will only need Grace's expertise as a child counselor and early childhood educator once this child speaks up again. The child has an IQ of a genius but due to a vehicular accident that had ended the life of the child's mother almost a year ago, the child stopped speaking. The child just recently told the father wanting Mommy so as to speak again."

Iryn said, "Can it be possible that this child just want a second mother and not the biological mother?"

Dr. Dy responded, "That is what I also think. But the father is so busy with his work to think about dating again. The child's pediatrician and developmental psychologist had initially advised the father to hire female private tutors for the child's basic education and other additional lessons that the child wishes to learn, just so the child will be able to be accustomed socializing with strangers. But then these private tutors did not have the patience to work for the child because of his uncontrollable tantrums every now and then. The child only listens to the father. Trusted old married couple, who works for the father in their household, looks after the child whenever the father is at work. The child is so good to them but they also had not much ability to cope with the child's tantrums."

Iryn expressed her interest, "I wish to be of help, Dr. Dy. So as soon as I have a vacant spot, I will take on the case of this child. But right now, I still got prior commitments with other children who need more serious mental health care."

Dr. Dy stated, "So far, the child psychologists I recommended had not been able to connect with this child. The first two ones had already given up. We are now on the third one."

Iryn said, "Instead of recommending a female child psychologist, why not try to recommend a male child psychologist, Dr. Dy? As you said, the child listens to the father. So I think that another father figure might work out."

Dr. Dy acknowledged it, "That is true. I have thought about it already so if this third female child psychologist is still not a perfect match to the child, I will then recommend males until you can accommodate the child. So notify me immediately if you already have a vacant spot."

Iryn affirmed, "I will inform you about it right away, Dr. Dy."

Then the doctor said, "You and Grace both have the aptitude to be great psychiatrists but then you both opted to pursue a different career path. I have convinced you to take the qualifying exam for medicine after you finished your degree in psychology as Summa c*m Laude. You qualified and yet you did not pursue medicine."

Iryn said, "Well, I might not be a doctor of medicine but I have a degree in doctor of psychology. You knew the reason why I opted to accept the HR job and just pursue a masters degree in clinical psychology, Dr. Dy."

Dr. Dy admitted, "Yes, I knew your reason. You wanted to be financially independent right away so as not to burden your parents financially even if they were very much willing to continuously support your studies should you had decided to pursue medicine. I have really admired your perseverance but as one of your mentors, I just believe in your capacity of becoming an excellent psychiatrist. We do not have much psychiatrists in the country. They often seek greener pasture in other countries were they give much attention to mental health."

Iryn's response was, "I might not have a medical degree but I still pursued a career on treating the mental health conditions of our patients from all ages especially the children. Children's mental health is one of my major concerns as well as that of Grace. Thus, we decided to establish the day care center as well as the preschool. We prioritize toddlers and children with mental health conditions before accepting others. But we can only accommodate a limited number of toddlers and children for us to be effective in the delivery of our services."

Dr. Dy commented, "I am very much aware of that. That is the very reason why your psychological clinic is very successful as well as the day care center and the preschool that you and Grace have established. I am very proud of what you and Grace has become. You both have the genuine passion to help out young children. I fervently hope that you can accommodate more children in the future. More and more children have the need for experts on mental health."

July 4, 2017. Tuesday. It was the second and final day of the annual psychological assessment among all the employees of LGC Headquarters including the artists as well.

After that day, Iryn and her team had been invited by the HR department head for dinner, which was also attended by Vitto Lauchengco, as the Vice President for Administrative Affairs of LGC. Vitto did not waste such opportunity to flirt with Iryn.

Vittorio had already received the report about the personal life of Iryn from his private investigator friend, and so he started hitting on Iryn with, "I heard that you had just recently broken up with your boyfriend a few months ago, Miss Zamora. Will you be ready to date again or perhaps entertain potential suitors?"

Iryn had immediately answered with great conviction, "I have so much work to do for the rest of this year, Mr. Lauchengco. So dating or entertaining potential suitors is the least of my priorities. I am very satisfied with my career. I do not need a man to define me as a woman, or a man who will be a roadblock to the career path that I have chosen for myself."

Vittorio said, "Don't tell me that just because your ex-boyfriend had cheated on you, you have already become a man hater. There are still a lot of men much better than him out there, Miss Zamora."

Iryn's response was, "I will not be having this conversation with you if I have become a man hater, Mr. Lauchengco. Let us just say that I do not believe on the old adage stating that the woman's only place is in the home. I also have plans to settle down if the right man comes along.

Vittorio then asked him, "So what exactly do you want in your ideal man?"

Iryn responded, "Well, my man does not have to be necessary very handsome or very rich. I belong to the middle social class and I am very much aware that the difference in socio-economic status can post a problem in a a relationship between a man and a woman. So I just want my man to be consistent, stable, respectful, and loyal."

Vittorio then said, "I am like that."

Iryn had then immediately added, "I also don't want my man to be a cheater or a two-timer like my ex-boyfriend. I believe that a man who suddenly have a change of hear should break things off with his current relationship before pursuing another relationship. That is what you call respect. If you are really consistent, stable, respectful, and loyal, Mr. Lauchengco then you should not be flirting with me considering that you are already engaged to be married to Miss Alexa Hofmann."

Vittorio did not waiver and tried to explain, "It is but a wedding engagement arranged by our mothers. Alexa and I are really not in love."

Iryn then frankly responded in a very calm manner, "It is actually none of my business whether your forthcoming marriage is an arranged one or not, Mr. Lauchengco. I value myself as a woman and so I have no plans to be in a relationship wherein I might hurt another woman. I had been in that situation when my ex-boyfriend cheated on me then dumped me just to be with another woman. If you have respect for women then you should not even think of being disrespectful of us. Your mere flirting with me right now is quite disrespectful not only on my part but more so on your fiancée's part."

Vitto commented, "You are just making me admire you more with all of your arguments, Miss Zamora," and so he decided to apologize, "So let me express my apology if I have somehow made you feel disrespected. It is just that I have really found you very attractive since I saw you yesterday morning."

Iryn's reply was, "Thank you very much for your compliment, Mr. Lauchengco. I do accept your apology. But with every apology comes responsibility. I hope that you will not flirt with me ever again. LGC is one of the biggest corporate clients of my psychological clinic. There might be more cooperation between our two organizations in the future so I hope that the good working relationship between our organizations will not be ruined by your playful ways around women. I will let this offensive act slip this time. I hope that there will never be a second time because I do not want to entangle myself with an engaged man."

Vitto just uttered, "Okay."

But in his mind – You are a very difficult woman to woo, Miss Iryn Zamora. Women usually fall for me easily so why didn't my charm work on you? It seems that my looks and my fortune have no appeal on you. I simply cannot accept it.