Chapter 65

"Welcome to JM Cosmetics!" announced Tonette as the crowd gathered around the conference room. "Today we would like to welcome those who are new in our team. As we all know, our company had been one of the top selling cosmetics company in different countries in Asia and Europe, and as we expand, we are truly grateful to have some of the brightest and smartest people in our team. As an appreciation, JM Cosmetics are giving away samples for everyone today. Please feel free to enjoy it."

Tote bags with the company's logo were being distributed as Tonette continued to speak.

"As your marketing head, I would like to present our newest members. Kindly come in the front as I call your name. For the other departments, we would like you to do the same as we welcome them, too."

Tonette called the persons one by one accordingly and soon every department presented their new team members. All the while, Robbie and Alex were on the side, watching everyone going in the front. Not one looked suspicious to him while Alex just simply looked on.

'Could there be someone else? But how?' he thought, plastering a smile to each member presented to him. He knew he had missed something... but what?

"Now, it is also our pleasure to introduce to you, Ms. Allison Macatangay, the soon to be Mrs. Magsano. She will be working closely with Mr. Magsano as her new personal assistant."

The whole crowd cheered and whistled as they all turned their heads towards her. The loud applause of people could be heard in the whole room as Alex walked with Robbie. Robbie took the microphone from Tonette and greeted everyone.

"Hello everyone. I thank you for coming today even if it was a last minute invitation. I'm glad to see everyone, and most of all, it was a pleasure meeting the new team members of each department. Welcome again and thank you for coming," he stated as the loud applause of the crowd rang in his ears.

Suddenly, Alex's phone vibrated and she took it out. Robbie was busily talking to the members, shaking their hands as she read the message.

UNKNOWN: Congratulaions! I hope you're happy.

Her eyebrows creased as she wondered of who it might be as there was only one person who knew her number outside her family. That is Elaine. But why was it unregistered?

Alex quickly put her phone back to her pocket as Robbie came back to her side. She didn't want him to worry about her especially if he had so many things on his mind. So she dismissed it, thinking it was probably nothing and yet, it still bothered her somehow. She roamed her eyes around the area to distract herself.

It was odd to see how the office looked different now. It had been a long time and she used to come and go only in Robbie's office before. But now, she would be having her own desk in his office and see him everyday. She was not sure if she would be able to sit longer in a desk and do nothing but await for calls and do schedules... and perhaps continued to stare endlessely at the computer screen.

Was this the right job for her?

As much as she wanted to work along side Robbie, she felt that she did not belong there. She was clueless on how to organize things, and most especially into jotting down endless lists of meetings and different things. Between the two of them, she was always the messy one. So how would she do her job properly if she could not even organize her own stuff?

She improved overtime, since she needed to when Sasha was born, but it still was not enough for Robbie's standards. He was overly neat and organized with his stuff and everything. He was very disciplined compared to her, always on top of things, and she knew he would eventually get frustrated with her.

Alex planned on refusing the position. She knew there would be someone else who could do better than her.

Someone more intelligent and...

She sighed. She knew she was starting to put herself down again. Robbie had always told her that she was smart and yet, she never believed in herself. Probably because of the way how her life had been. She had always thought she wasn't good enough for anyone... that she was nothing... not important at all.

Every man in his life had treated her that way that it became embedded in her... until Robbie.

Robbie was the only one who saw her true worth more than her father ever was..

Unexpectedly, her phone beeped again and reluctantly, she took it out of her pocket. It was from the same unknown number. But this time, the unknown messenger had made himself known and she realized it was no stranger to her.

But why now? Why would he try to reach out to her, and how did he know about the wedding?

Unless....

Could it be...

Her heart pumped loudly inside her chest. This was the last person she wanted to hear from. But what did he want from her?

"Alex..." a call from Robbie had her turn to him. She wanted to shove it away from her thoughts but she couldn't. It was as if it never wanted to leave at all as memories came back to her....

She did not want to remember him at all. The pain she had gone through for so many years with him still left a mark on her soul. It was hard to forgive him... especially when he abandoned her.. maybe not physically but, emotionally.

They had not spoken for years. She did not even want to.. although her sister tried to convince her several times. She gave him so many chances... so many she could count but he still did the same thing that she just gave up.... she lost hope... And just accepted he would never changed at all.

So what was the messages all about? Why now?

"I miss you... I'm sorry, Alex... Can we talk?" the messages read.

"Alex, what's wrong?" Robbie asked again. He was starting to worry. She had been silent from the moment they left the party until now that they were inside the plane. Somehow it was a relief that no one was there except them and three other people, including the pilot. It was a private plane that Robbie bought three years ago in which he used whenever he travelled outside the country.

Her tears fell from her eyes as Robbie cupped her face.

"My love... what's happening? Tell me," he said, concerned. "Did something happen that I don't know?"

He wiped her tears as she lowered her eyes. She took a deep breath before speaking.

"I... I got a message," she managed to say as her whole body shook. She couldn't control the emotions she felt. It was bursting out of her and she breathed heavily.

She felt as id the whole world was on top of her that she couldn't even breathe normally at all.

"You got a message from who?" he asked. "From who, Alex?" With his business he knew he had some enemies and yet, he couldn't imagine Alex being attacked by them. So far, he never received any threats and the competition was more civil than others.

"Alex..." it was starting to frustrate him. Whoever this person was, he sure wanted to get him by the way Alex reacted. She looked like she was having a panic attack.

Alex inhaled a huge amount of air as she spoke.

"From... from him..." she was able to say. The heavy pain in her chest was still there as it continued to prickle it, deepening as she remembered the last memory she had with him.

A horrible nightmare she did not want to go through again...

"Who is it, Alex?" Robbie asked.

She lifted her eyes towards him as she slowly whispered...

"Robbie.... it's Dad."