She woke with a start, stretching lazily before realizing something was off. She wasn't in her room. She leapt out of bed and scanned the room, heart pounding. There was no sign of Hansen anywhere.
Catching her reflection in the mirror, a rush of memories from the night before flooded her mind, and heat crept up her neck. Embarrassment pricked at her, making her stomach flutter.
Sliding back onto the bed, she curled into herself, wrapping her arms tight like a snail retreating into its shell. The recollection of what had happened churned in her chest, sending tiny butterflies dancing in her stomach.
A soft knock on the door broke her reverie.
"Wait a second," she muttered, hastily wrapping the robe around her.
"Coming!" she called, her voice trembling slightly. She pushed herself up and hurried to the door, opening it just a crack.
"Good morning, ma'am. Breakfast is ready," said a soft voice at the door. "Boss asked me to serve you in bed." She gave a polite bow and urged her to open the door fully so she could bring the tray inside.
"But this isn't my room why serve me here? " Sunshine said, her expression stern.
"I'm Lettie, your new personal maid," the girl replied with a straight-faced smile. "Boss assigned me to be with you wherever you go and all your belongings were moved here this morning. Please enjoy your meal, ma'am, and don't hesitate to call me if you need anything."
Sunshine could only nod. She waited until the maid had exited before turning to the wardrobe. To her surprise, her clothes were neatly arranged now inside Hansen's wardrobe. She collapsed back onto the bed, covering her face with her palm.
"Oh jeez… what a mess. How did they manage to move all this without me noticing?" she muttered, rolling her eyes.
Meanwhile, at HAG Company, all the members were seated in the conference room, waiting for their elusive president.
The Chairman sat with his son, the vice president, immediately to the right of the president's chair, eyes fixed on the empty seat at the head of the table.
Although none of them had ever seen him in person since the company began, they all knew their CEO kept a close watch on everything that happened.
Suddenly, the soft but commanding honk of a Jeep Wrangler cut through the silence "pii… pii… pii" like silk in their ears. A ripple of excitement ran through the room, they all knew the sound.
The security man rushed out to see who it was, only to be slightly disappointed it was a businessman who regularly visited the company.
He greeted him politely and noticed two men in the back seat, one of whom was completely absorbed in his phone. Without making a fuss, he opened the gate for them and returned to his duties.
Meanwhile, the chairman received a message from the president: "I am already here."
"Alright, my staff, I think he's here," Chairman Leon said, smiling warmly. Before he could say more, two men entered the room.
They were all well-dressed and attractive, though one was noticeably taller than the other. Everyone stood, uncertain who the president might be.
As they reached the head of the room, the vice president rose and shook hands with them. The taller man took the seat at the very head, while the shorter one sat to his left.
"Dad, isn't he the one who picked me up at the airport some time ago?" Ivan whispered.
"Yes, he insisted on knowing who you really are," his father replied.
"Thank you all for putting in the effort necessary for the company," he began, his voice calm but authoritative. "I know most of you here don't know who the president of HAG is. I'm glad, however, to see that everyone was eager to meet me."
He nodded appreciatively. "I'd also like to thank the chairman and my vice for bringing the company this far. I am truly grateful."
A faint smile curved his lips. "Hansen Gray ..that's my name and I'm very proud of all of you. I've brought a little parcel for each of you. You can collect it after the meeting."
He paused, letting the suspense build, then chuckled softly. "I'm not bribing you," he added, his smile widening ever so slightly. "But it is my way of acknowledging the excellent work you're doing for HAG."
A ripple of laughter spread through the room at his joke. He turned to Ivan, giving him a congratulatory pat on the back.
"We'll surely find some time to talk," he said, his piercing eyes locking onto Ivan's. Without another word, he gave him a thumbs-up and walked out of the hall.
"Gosh! My boss is so hot!" one lady blurted, unable to contain herself. The staff laughed, excitedly collected their parcels, and left for home, buzzing with conversation about the mysterious and charismatic president.
Valerie was in the field with her friends, laughing and running when she spotted her mother approaching.
"My daughter… you're growing beautifully," her mother said softly, tears streaming down her face.
"Mummy!" Valerie ran toward her, throwing her arms around her.
"Mu…m…my! I've missed you so much!" she wailed, her voice breaking with innocence.
"Don't cry, Valerie. Mommy is here for you," she said, gently wiping the tears from her daughter's cheeks and offering a comforting smile.
"Let's go for a walk, sweetie. I've missed the ice cream licking along the roadside," she suggested.
"And the swinging of hands!!" Valerie added with a giggle.
As they strolled down the street, playing and laughing together, they suddenly found themselves in front of the towering HAG Company building.
"HAG Company…?" Valerie whispered, confusion wrinkling her brow.
"Muu…m! What are we doing here?" she asked, stretching out her words as she squinted at the glass doors.
"This is where you belong, darling. You'll understand someday," her mother said, patting her gently on the head.Valerie's confusion deepened.
"Hey, c'mon now, I don't want to see that frown. Give me that beautiful smile."
Valerie beamed, a smile so bright it made her mother catch her breath.
"Are we cool now?" her mother asked.
"Yes, ma," Valerie replied, blinking rapidly.
"Mummy, can you get me an ice cream?" she asked, pointing to a small ice cream shop a few meters away.
"Anything for you, my darling," her mother replied playfully, sliding a finger across her pointed nose.
But in a clumsy moment, she stumbled and hit her foot on a stone.
"Ooops!" she cried, wincing.
"Mom! You hurt your toe! Let me go get the ice cream," Valerie said, taking the money from her and running toward the shop while he sat patiently on the bench.
When Valerie returned with the ice cream, her mother was nowhere to be seen. She called out, but the streets were empty with no response. A shiver ran down her spine. Something was off.
Valerie's heart skipped a beat. "Mummy?!" she called again, her voice trembling slightly. She looked around the street, the ice cream melting slowly in her hands, but the sidewalk was empty.
She stepped forward, peering between parked cars and the shop's colorful awning. The laughter of nearby children seemed distant now, swallowed by the strange quiet that hung over the street.
"Mum… where are you?" she whispered, her voice barely audible.
The only answer was the soft rustle of leaves from the coconut trees nearby and the faint hum of traffic in the distance. Her stomach twisted. Something didn't feel right.
She clutched the ice cream tightly, her eyes scanning every shadow. Across the road, the glass doors of HAG Company gleamed in the sunlight. She remembered her mother saying, "This is where you belong…"
Her curiosity and unease battled each other. Slowly, she stepped closer to the building, glancing at the tall structure with nervous wonder.
"Mom… please…" she called again, her voice breaking.
Suddenly, a soft sound, a faint shuffle came from behind the building. Valerie froze. Her heart pounded like a drum in her chest.
She took a cautious step forward, then another, trying to peer around the corner. The sound stopped. The street seemed empty once more.
"Mom? Are you here?" she whispered, her voice barely above the wind.
For a moment, nothing. Then, from the corner of her eye, a shadow moved with swift, deliberate, and just out of reach.
Valerie's breath caught in her throat. Was it her mother… or someone else?
She gripped the ice cream tighter, her legs trembling slightly, and forced herself to take another step toward the shadow.
"Mom… please don't leave me!"
The street was silent again, but now, every rustle, every distant footstep, every sway of the trees felt like it held a secret. Valerie's adventure for ice cream had suddenly turned into a mystery she wasn't sure she was ready to face.
"Mom! Where are you? I brought the ice cream!" Valerie screamed, her voice cracking.
She waited and waited, the ice cream slowly melting in her hands, but her mother didn't appear. Panic began to creep in, and tears ran down her cheeks.
The ice cream vendor noticed the little girl's distress. Kneeling slightly, he asked gently, "Hey, are you okay, sweetheart? Where's your mama?"
Valerie shook her head, sniffling, and tried to explain everything, the walk, the HAG Company, the sudden disappearance.
"What! So… you mean you saw your mom vanish! the vendor exclaimed, his eyes widening. "Come on, let's go to the shop. I'll call your mama and let her know what happened."
He took her small hand in his, guiding her carefully through the street, while Valerie's heart pounded in her chest. Every step felt heavy, weighed down by fear and confusion.