Calm

The following chapter is written in 3rd Person POV following Becca

Past midnight in Las Vegas…

“Good morning, Miss—” Paige greets after answering her phone.

“Shouldn’t you be sleeping, Paige?” Becca asks immediately after hearing Paige’s voice, cutting her off.

“Oh! I just woke up. I didn’t expect you to be up when I sent that email, I swear! I thought you’d answer it later in the day. Isn’t it like 3 AM there?” Paige explains, panic obvious in her voice.

“Of course. Time difference. Apologies. My body clock is still wired to the city.” Becca explains. “Although, I am curious. Do you often wake up at 6 AM on a weekend?” Becca asks.

“Yeah. I usually go on a run around this time.” Paige answers.

“I see.” Becca responds. “I just wanted to make sure you’re not losing sleep over starting work. I need you at your best, since I can’t be there to personally walk you through your responsibilities on Monday.” Becca tells her.

“I promise I’ll be at my best on the day, Ms. Hoffman. The instructions, the detailed guide, and the schedule you sent me to study are really helpful. I promise I won’t let you down on my first day.” Paige assures her.

“Good.” Becca replies. “Okay. Tell me the contents of your e-mail. I might as well address it while I have you.” Becca then asks.

“Oh! I just had a question about this property in the guide you sent called the Gold Room. It’s under your LLC and not under Hoffman Enterprises, but it says here I answer directly to a certain Mercy Richards and not you, and it’s only for this business.” Paige begins to explain.

“What’s your question regarding that?” Becca asks, as Paige takes a pause.

“I mean, you mentioned in the instructions that even Viv’s requests need approval from you; and unless I’ve gotten your go-ahead, I shouldn’t put Viv’s requests or plans into action. I was just wondering why that is?” Paige asks.

“No offense, but Viv’s restaurant that’s on its soft opening is garnering more business than a pub on a weekend that’s been open for years. I’m just making sure that giving carte blanche to this Mercy wasn’t a test. I mean, the Gold Room was practically empty when I dropped by around 10, when every other bar or club within the area had lines outside them.” Paige elaborates.

“I see.” Becca replies initially. “I can assure you Paige, that wasn’t a test. Mercy contacts me directly, and she’ll rarely have to contact you. If she ever does contact you regarding the Gold Room, assume her orders were directly from me.” Becca answers Paige.

“Uh-understood. Sorry if I sounded like I had my doubts about your—” Paige begins to apologize, but Becca cuts her off.

“I’m impressed with the initiative you showed, Paige. You can relax.” Becca assures her. “The Gold Room being empty is of no concern. It’s not in the guide I sent you, as it’s something I decided you need not concern yourself with; but if your curiosity gets the better of you when it comes to the Gold Room, I won’t stop you from poking around in there.” Becca tells her.

“No! No! Like I said, I just thought it might be a test.” Paige tells Becca.

“I can’t afford to test you by not communicating properly, Paige. It will only lead to you doubting everything, I say. If I plan to test you, you’ll know about it.” Becca assures her.

“Understood, Ms. Hoffman.” Paige replies over the phone, audibly calming down from her anxiety.

“Was that your only concern, Paige?” Becca then asks, as Paige remained silent after her previous statement.

“Yes. Thank you for clarifying, Ms. Hoffman.” Paige answers.

“Then I won’t keep you any longer.” Becca tells her.

“Oh! Thanks for calling Ms. Hoffman. Good night!” Paige replies.

“Good morning to you too, Paige; but, before you go. I’d just like to remind you, despite this conversation being a professional one, I’m still just Becca outside the office.” Becca tells her playfully.

“Right. I promise that’s the last time you’ll have to remind me! Thanks, Becca. Get some rest, okay?” Paige replies after a chuckle. “Not that I’m telling you what to do!” Paige adds in a panic, after realizing how her last sentence could be misconstrued.

“Thank you for your concern. I’ll sleep in a few. Good night.” Becca says before ending the call and lying back down on her bed.

It doesn’t take her more than a few minutes staring into the unfamiliar ceiling of her unfamiliar bedroom that she sits back up again, gets off the bed, and puts on her silk robe to cover herself up. Becca then heads towards the kitchen, where she unexpectedly finds her yaya.

“[Why are you still up, Marybeth?]” Becca asks Marybeth in Filipino.

“[Because you’re still up.]” Marybeth replies with a cheeky smile. “Have a seat. [I heated up some tea]. Let me get some for you.” Marybeth adds before standing up from her seat.

“I can get it myself, Marybeth.” Becca assures her.

“Sit.” Marybeth tells her, not giving her any room to argue. “You already overwork yourself enough for you to want to take over my job too.” Marybeth adds jokingly, making Becca smile in appreciation.

“[Thanks.]” Becca says with an appreciative smile, as she sits down on the chair next to Marybeth’s.

“[I didn’t ask earlier since I knew it wasn’t your down time…]” Marybeth says, as she pours some Magnolia tea into a cup with a strainer. “[... but why are we here, Becca?]” Marybeth continues, as she takes the strainer off the cup. Marybeth then opens up a cupboard, taking out some honey, and pours some into Becca’s tea.

“You already make me feel like we’ve lived here for years.” Becca comments, referring to how much Marybeth already knows about this mansion her father’s renting here in Vegas.

“I had time to familiarize myself with the place.” Marybeth tells her with a wink, as she serves Becca the tea she prepared. Marybeth takes her seat again, next to Becca, before placing her forearms on the kitchen island.

“[You didn’t answer my question.]” Marybeth reminds Becca. “[Why are we here?]” Marybeth asks again.

“[What do you mean ‘why’]? Dad made me project head for the new casino he’s putting up here.” Becca answers her.

“[So what]? Do you need to watch the construction workers build it brick-by-brick?” Marybeth snarkily asks, and Becca gives her an understanding nod. Marybeth isn’t asking about the superficial ‘why’, she’s asking about the ‘why’ behind it.

“[You think that Dad wouldn’t have given me this project unless he was getting something out of it]?” Becca asks her.

“[Does he ever do anything unless he gets something out of it]?” Marybeth throws right back, and Becca appreciates the signature candidness of her yaya. “So, [what’s your father getting out of this, Becca]?” Marybeth rephrases her question. Becca takes a sip of her tea before answering Marybeth.

“[Do you remember the time I asked you to come with me on a vacation to the Philippines to surprise your family? Remember how afraid you were to come with me because you thought there was a condition attached to it?” Becca suddenly asks Marybeth.

“You mean the trip we found out my ex-husband started a second family with the money I was sending him while I was working here?” Marybeth asks with some annoyance, but not towards Becca; just for her ex-husband ruining her only vacation back home with that news.

“Yes. That one.” Becca remarks, getting a chuckle out of Marybeth.

“What about it?” Marybeth asks.

“I brought it up for two reasons. First, I wanted to remind you that I’m not my father.” Becca says sincerely, before holding Marybeth’s hand in hers. “At utang na loob ko sayo yun.” Becca adds sweetly.

“[I know you’re not your father], and it’s a miracle you didn’t turn out like either of your parents.” Marybeth openly takes a dig at her long-time bosses.

“Not a miracle, Marybeth. Just you. [That’s all I needed].” Becca tells her sweetly. Marybeth squeezes Becca’s hand, appreciative of the love Becca’s always felt for her.

“[I’d like to think that’s true; but if it was, your brother wouldn’t be such a little shit.]” Marybeth jokes, before sipping her tea.

“[That’s what happens when my father’s more hands-on with his parenting.]” Becca jokes back, and the two share a laugh together as they both sip on their tea.

“So that’s one reason. What’s the other reason you brought it up?” Marybeth tries to get the conversation back on track.

“Well, what happened to your ex-husband when he saw you with his new family… Something similar happened to my father at the gala last night.” Becca tells her.

“What do you mean by similar?” Marybeth asks, Becca having peaked her curiosity.

“‘He saw his 'two worlds colliding' kind of similar.” Becca elaborates, before sipping her tea; but Marybeth puts hers down on the saucer calmly.

“Which one did you meet?” Marybeth asks.

“What do you mean ‘which one’?” Becca asks to clarify.

“Mother or daughter.” Marybeth replies.

“Of course you knew. Why didn’t you tell me?” Becca reacts in disbelief of herself, not even considering that their long-time maid would know the skeletons in her father’s closet.

“Which one?” Marybeth reiterates, ignoring Becca’s question; knowing that Becca can easily infer why she couldn’t have told anyone.

“Daughter.” Becca answers.

“How did you find out she’s your half-sister?” Marybeth asks, continuing to be completely serious.

“Her mother told her, and she told me.” Becca answers.

“She told you?” Marybeth asks, shocked at Becca’s answer.

“The man I told you about, the one I’m… curious of… he’s dating Cassie, my half-sister, as well. That’s why she told me.” Becca informs her.

“I can see why your father isn’t comfortable with that idea.” Marybeth explains, and Becca nods to Marybeth’s observation.

“So your father chose to exile you here… for what? [In order to separate you from whatever idiocy he has planned to break up that poor girl and the man you want to date]?” Marybeth asks, a tone of disappointment in her voice.

“Possibly.” Becca answers nonchalantly, before sipping on her tea.

“Becca…” Marybeth says, unable to hide the judginess in her tone. “You can’t possibly think that’s okay.” Marybeth adds.

“Of course not.” Becca answers.

“[Then let me ask again — why are we still here?]” Marybeth asks her. “I’m sure if you confront your father about this—” Marybeth adds, trying to call Becca into action.

“There’s no point in initiating the fight.” Becca explains.

“You shouldn’t be afraid, Becca. You have the upper hand as long as you have—” Marybeth tells her, before Becca cuts her off.

“I’m not afraid, Marybeth; and I know I have the upper hand. I just made a promise.” Becca answers.

“What promise?” Marybeth asks in confusion.

“That I won’t jeopardize our date.”

Author's Note: The phrase 'utang na loob' doesn't really have a straight English translation so I kept it as is and not translate it. We consider it more than just a 'debt of gratitude', and the google translation for the phrase 'At utang na loob ko sayo yun' in English is 'and I owe you that', which doesn't really have the colloquial depth of the phrase to it. I explained in the comments how I understand it as well in reply to MrWhysper's question.

Author’s announcement: That’s it for Week 3, Day 1! I hope you guys enjoyed it!