PARALLELED: Wait! Why Am I Suddenly Filthy Rich?

Chapter 2: One Weird Morning

“Everything is perfect again this month, Tanya. Good job.” Mr. Tan, the owner of the computer shop that Tanya manages, praised her. The old man counted the money and compared it to the inventory records that Tanya double-checked earlier.

Tanya smiled. “Thanks Mr. Tan.” She thanked her boss.

The old man took out an envelope from his sling bag and handed it to her. “Here’s your pay for this month. I already added the bonus in advance. Got a hunch that this month’s profit will be superb again and I was right.”

Tanya laughed. “That’s too much compliment boss. But I’ll accept this. Thanks.”

Mr. Tan laughed at Tanya’s jolliness. But that laughed immediately changed. “And, by the way. I heard about yesterday." Tanya's smile froze. She sure is receiving a scolding two days in a row. 

"Your deeds are featured in the newspaper again. I’m no longer sure if I should stop you just like Sam or just let you be. But I am now surely afraid you’re making too much enemy, Tanya.”

Tanya scratched her head and laughed awkwardly. “All is well boss. Nothing to worry about. I can fend them off even if they all come at me together.” Tanya joked but her boss just gave a serious look. Mr. Tan is surely serious this time.

“Your body is not made of steel and iron Tanya. If they come at you with guns, your kicks and punches would do nothing. Please think more about this.” Mr. Tan warned her again and she nodded. “I’d be careful, boss.” She assured him and Mr. Tan nodded. Her boss was just worried and she's thankful for that. 

Mr. Tan then bid goodbye after checking a few more reports and papers.The day went by in a flash and it’s time for Tanya to close the shop. They don’t stay open until 5pm as per his boss’ order and rule. After checking if everything was already turned off, Tanya is now closing the shop’s steel sheet door.

Tanya looked at her cheap phone and read the reminder she set. “If I don’t set this, I’ll surely forget about it, wouldn’t I?” Tanya flashed a sad smile and went her way to the closest bakeshop.

“Hi. I’d like to buy a small birthday cake please?” She told the staff.

“Sure ma’am. What name should I write on the cake Ma’am?” The staff asked her.

“Tanya. Just write happy birthday Tanya on it.” She replied.

“On it, ma’am. That would be 250.”

Tanya handed the staff the exact amount and waited for her cake on the side. Then her phone beeped. It was a text message from Samantha.

Happy Birthday Tanny. I’ll drop by later before my shift. Don’t be involved in a fight today please. See yah.

Tanya smiled. At least she has someone to celebrate with, later.

The next morning, Tanya woke up late. Samantha brought her drinks last night and she finished the rest of it after the woman left. She knows she will be late but the soft bed and pillow is still urging her to sleep.

Wait. Soft bed and pillows? Since when did she had those? All she had was just a thin mattress, no pillows and a small blanket.

So, who’s bed is she in right now? Tanya forced herself to wake up. And when she did, she was greeted with a cream-colored ceiling full with sophisticated paintings on it. She immediately got up and looked at her surroundings.

A flat screen tv, air cooler, glass windows with blinds, a vanity on the side and a queen-sized bed?

“Where the hell am I?” She slightly panicking asked and jumped out of the bed. The carpeted floor is so soft she could die.

But she has to gather her senses. Is she being kidnapped? Mr. Tan just warned her yesterday. Is this it? But why does this place seems more like a vacation rather than a cell for kidnapped victims?

Tanya jumped in surprise when the door creaked open after a single knock. Is this it for her? Is she getting killed right now?

No. She won’t let herself die without a fight. She will make sure to give this person a punch or a kick before she got shot. She can’t die shamelessly like that. No way. So, Tanya took a fighting stance and readied herself to whoever shows up behind the door.

“Lady Tanya? Are you awake?”

Lady?

When the door was finally open, a gentleman in suit came in and stared at her confusedly. “Are you doing a morning yoga, Lady Tanya?” The gentleman asked her pertaining to her fighting stance in pajamas.

Tanya looked at herself and back to the gentleman. He is not holding a gun or being hostile towards her. Maybe she got it wrong? With those assumptions, Tanya slowly withdrew her stance and stood straight. “Uhh, h-hi? I just woke up and I don't know what happened. So can I know where is this place? And what am I doing here?” She asked.

The gentleman gave her a confused look but still answered. “Well, Lady Tanya, you’re inside your bedroom and just woke up from your slumber.”

“No. No. No. Yes. I was sleeping here, but this is not my bedroom. How did I get in here? Who brought me?” She asked again.

“You were brought here last night by your two bodyguards, Sir Morty and Monty.”

“Morty? Monty? I don’t remember having an enemy bearing those names. Who are they?” Tanya asked again. This conversation she’s having is getting weirder and weirder.

“Well, those two gentlemen are your trusted bodyguards Lady Tanya. They're surely not an enemy.”

“What? No. Look here Sir-“

“It’s a pleasure for this servant to be called “Sir” by his master but I am just a humble butler serving you, Lady Tanya. Just call me Gilbert, please, if I may ask.”

Tanya got startled when the gentleman suddenly bowed 90 degrees in front of her. “Fine. Fine. Gilbert. I don’t understand what’s happening, okay? And stop calling me “Lady”, geez. I don’t live here. That’s my point. But yeah whatever, I’ll just go home right now.”

Tanya walked pass Gilbert while he is still bowing.

“But Lady Tan-“ She heard the butler talked so she turned around.

“Uh-uh. Stop. Don’t talk. And don’t follow me, too.” She ordered.

And since it was an order from his master, Gilbert doesn’t have any choice but to stay in place. But as he was worried, he immediately called the bodyguards-Morty and Monty- to follow their master instead. The young lady was acting weird. He has a feeling that something is wrong.

Downstairs, Tanya found herself in awe on how huge the place is. But she doesn’t have enough time to be amazed any longer. She has to find her way out and go home already or else, she would definitely be late for work.

Luckily, after a long walk from that crazily huge yard of that creepy mansion, Tanya was finally able to see a familiar highway. She finally found the bus stop and the moment she hopped on; everyone’s stares was darted at her. Well, who wouldn’t when she was still in her pajamas? But Tanya isn’t bothered at all. The most important thing to her is to reach her apartment and go to her work after.

While on their way, Tanya felt something strange on this familiar city of hers.

Didn’t this place have those seedlings inside a box still? Why is there a huge tree in there already? Or did I just mistook the place? Whatever. The traffic is still as bad so nothing’s wrong.

As the bus reached the city proper, Tanya finally felt relieved. The buildings around are still the usual. She admits that the incident earlier made her worry a bit, but seeing the city made her worries flew away quickly. 

Maybe she was just pranked by Samantha? A hidden camera, perhaps? Her friend has a lot of wealthy clients so asking them to use that creepily huge mansion was easy.

"That's right!" Tanya told herself. 

As she was celebrating that palpable conclusion, her eyes caught someone from the sidewalk. It was Samantha! She was right! That's where the culprit was waiting for her, huh? Tanya quickly made the driver stop the bus and hopped out before even paying. 

“Manty!” She called out. But her friend didn’t stop walking. “Samantha!” She called again and this time, her friend halted from entering a car. Samantha turned to look at her.

“Manty!” She called again and ran towards Samantha but she was stopped by two bulky men.

“Miss Tanya Gasque. You are not allowed to be near with the Mistress. Please take your leave.” One of the two men told her. As Tanya was a bit in hurry, she had the urge to throw a punch at the man but she remembered her promise with Samantha last night. No fighting for a month.

“Move. I just want to talk to my friend. And what’s with you two? Are you her bodyguard?”

“Yes, they are.”

Tanya heard Samantha’s voice. The two men moved aside to make way for her friend. She took a step but Samantha stopped her.

“And a friend? Are you sick in the head, Tanya? Because I don’t remember being friends with my no.1 enemy.” Samantha looked at her from head to toe. “Looks like your precious bodyguards are not around. Lucky for you, we’re in the middle of the street. Or else, you’d be lying dead now.”

“W-what?” Tanya asked. She was so dumbfounded. But Samantha already turned away from her and hopped inside her car leaving her so clueless of everything that just happened.