Tom and Anna remained silent in the car. Anna stared outside the window, watching the trees and city lights blur past like fading thoughts she couldn't quite hold onto.
Tom noticed her silence.
She seemed… distant.
"Hey!" he broke the quiet between them, glancing at her while still driving. "Are you mad at me?" he asked.
Anna turned to him.
Their eyes met for a brief second—too quick, too loaded.
She caught him looking.
"No, no. Don't mind me," she answered, then quickly looked away.
"Okay," he said, returning his focus to the road.
Silence filled the car again, heavier this time.
After a moment, Anna finally spoke, her voice softer.
"You know… I'm just wondering," she said hesitantly, "why does Lolo disagree with your relationship with her?"
"What?" Tom frowned slightly. "How did—"
"I'm sorry if I asked that kind of question," she cut in quickly, letting out a small, awkward laugh as she glanced at him. "I was just… randomly thinking about it."
"It's okay," he said after a brief pause. "I don't know either."
Anna nodded, but her eyes drifted back outside.
"Mildred is nice and pretty, so what else is he looking for? She seems close to your family," she continued, more quietly now. Then she hesitated again, biting her lip. "If he doesn't allow you both… have you ever thought about… you know… a secret marriage?"
Tom let out a short breath, almost a laugh.
"And since when did you become interested in my relationship?" he asked, his tone light but teasing.
"Well…" Anna suddenly lost her words.
She scratched her head awkwardly, then bit her lower lip, clearly regretting what she had said.
"Sorry," she said quickly. "I was just thinking out loud."
Her brows furrowed as she looked away, embarrassed.
Without warning, Tom reached over and messed up her hair with his right hand.
"Hey—!" Anna protested immediately.
"It's okay," he said casually, still driving.
Anna fixed her hair quickly, glaring at him slightly.
"You always do that," she complained.
"Because you're my little sister," he said.
Anna sighed deeply and turned back to the window.
But this time, the silence felt different.
Heavier.
Like something neither of them dared to say out loud lingered quietly between them.
After several minutes, they finally arrived at the subdivision. Tom parked the car right in front of the gate.
The engine went silent.
But the tension inside the car didn't.
Anna immediately reached for her seatbelt, trying to unbuckle it.
"Let me help you," Tom said.
"No! I can do it," she insisted quickly.
"Come on, I'll do it," he insisted back, leaning slightly toward her.
Anna turned sharply at the same time he leaned in—
Bump.
Their foreheads collided.
"Ouch!" they both winced, instinctively holding their heads.
"I told you I could do it!" Anna raised her voice, already irritated.
"Hey, what is wrong with you? I was just trying to help you!" Tom frowned, clearly confused and a little offended.
"Then don't! I don't need your help!"
"Hey…" Tom tried to interrupt, but she didn't stop.
Anna's emotions spilled out all at once.
"Don't treat me like a young girl or a kid! I can do that… I can do it on my own!" she said, her voice shaking slightly with frustration. "And don't put food on my plate, don't pour wine in my glass, don't mess my hair! I don't like it!"
Silence.
Tom stared at her, stunned for a moment, like he was trying to process every word she just threw at him.
Then his expression hardened slightly.
"So you're mad at me because of that?" he said, his voice lower now. Controlled, but sharper. "Alright. I won't do it again. You didn't have to raise your voice like that. I'm older than you."
"TsK."
Anna clicked her tongue, eyes burning with emotion she refused to explain.
"I don't care."
She quickly unbuckled her seatbelt, pushed the door open, and stepped out of the car.
"Hey—!" Tom called after her, getting out immediately.
But Anna didn't stop.
She ran.
Not walked. Ran.
Like if she stayed any longer, something inside her would crack.
Tom stood frozen for a second, watching her disappear into the distance.
Then he exhaled sharply, running a hand through his hair.
"My goodness… this child is so stubborn," he muttered under his breath, shaking his head.
But his eyes stayed on the direction she ran—longer than necessary.
He got back into the car slowly, the silence now heavier than before, and drove off.
********************************
Anna POV:
"Haisssst…" she hissed under her breath, staring blankly at the ceiling. "What am I doing?"
Her chest felt heavy, like something she couldn't quite name was pressing down on her.
"I'm so mean…" she whispered to herself. Then she took a slow breath. "It's okay. So we won't be going close… and he'll be disappointed in me," she muttered softly, as if trying to convince her own heart. She inhaled deeply… then exhaled shakily.
Silence followed.
Anna finally stood up and opened the door.
The house was quiet.
Inside the dining area, her younger sibling Sarah was eating dinner… alone under the soft warm light.
"Oh… where are they?" Anna asked as she stepped in, her voice quieter than usual. She sat down on the empty chair.
"Date," Sarah replied without looking up.
"Oh." Anna blinked, then forced a small smile.
She stood again and grabbed a plate, fork, and spoon.
"Why are you late?" she asked while setting the table.
Sarah only shrugged. "Nothing. Just going somewhere."
They ate together in a calm, comfortable silence.
But Anna's mind wasn't there.
After dinner, Anna washed the dishes while Sarah sat nearby, watching her quietly.
A few seconds passed.
Then—
"I think Ate is going to get married soon," Sarah said suddenly.
Anna paused for a fraction of a second.
"Mm? Why would you say that?" she asked, continuing to scrub the plate as if her heart didn't just skip.
"Well… they have stable jobs. I think it's time to have a niece or nephew," Sarah replied innocently.
Anna let out a soft laugh, but it didn't sound completely real.
"Hahaha… ugh, I'm tired," she said, finishing the last dish. Then she suddenly pulled Sarah into a hug from behind. "Please carry me. I want a piggyback ride."
Sarah immediately pushed her away.
"As if I can carry you. Go find someone else," she said, standing up.
"Bleeh!" Sarah stuck her tongue out and ran upstairs.
"Hey!" Anna laughed despite herself, chasing after her. "Come back here!"
Upstairs, Anna peeked into Sarah's room again, her voice softer now.
"Can I sleep in your room?" she asked, almost like she already knew the answer.
"No!" Sarah replied instantly.
That answer hit her harder than it should have.
"Aw… that hurts," Anna said, pressing a hand to her chest dramatically. "I miss sleeping beside you."
"Sorry, but I don't miss that," Sarah replied flatly.
She lay down on her bed, turning away.
A few minutes passed in silence.
Then Sarah noticed Anna still lingering near the door.
"Oh! I thought you were going to sleep here," Sarah said.
Anna froze.
"Really?" she asked, as if unsure she even deserved the answer.
Then she quickly shook her head.
"Oh… I changed my mind," she said. Then added immediately, "Joke!"
But there was something in her voice that didn't sound like a joke at all.
She ran to her room, changed quickly, washed up, and came back holding a pillow tightly against her chest.
Without another word, she climbed into Sarah's bed.
She lay down beside her sister, pulling the blanket up slowly.
And in the quiet of the room, with her thoughts still unsettled and her heart still heavy…
Anna finally closed her eyes.
And drifted into sleep—like she was running away from everything she refused to say out loud.
***********************************
Tom POV:
The next morning, Tom arrived at the company.
As he stepped inside and went upstairs to his father's office, the atmosphere immediately shifted. Employees straightened up, whispers spreading like wildfire down the hallway. Excited glances followed him from every corner. Some tried to act normal—but failed miserably.
He was back.
And everyone knew exactly what that meant.
Tom didn't react. He never did.
"Glad you came," his father said, covering the phone's mouthpiece as he greeted him.
Tom gave a small nod and walked in, sitting on the couch as if he had never left. Calm. Controlled. Detached.
But inside, everything felt the same as always—too loud, too familiar, too suffocating.
His father continued his phone conversation.
Tom reached for the magazine on the table, flipping through it without reading. Just something to do. Something to keep his thoughts from drifting.
Soon after, the secretary entered with a tray. The quiet clink of cups and plates filled the room. Only then did he realize he was hungry.
He opened a bottle of water, drank slowly, then picked up a sandwich and ate in silence.
Eventually, the call ended.
His father sat across from him.
"Here's the key," Tom said, handing it over.
"I thought you weren't coming," Marvin replied, taking it. He studied his son for a moment longer than necessary. "So… are you ready?"
Tom leaned back.
"There are two vacant positions—Marketing Department or Admin," Marvin continued. "You choose."
A pause.
"I'll take Marketing," Tom said without hesitation.
"Alright," Marvin nodded slowly. "There've been changes since you left. You'll be briefed."
He tilted his head slightly.
"Do you want me to tour you around?"
"No need, Pa," Tom replied immediately. "I'll go later."
Marvin smiled faintly.
"I renovated the marketing office based on your style. The previous head was… too old-fashioned. So I changed it."
Tom's eyes flickered.
"Chairman Yang?" he asked.
The air shifted instantly.
"Don't call him like that," Marvin said sharply, his tone firm. "He's your grandfather. Not a stranger. You'll hurt his feelings."
Tom smirked—but there was no humor in it.
Marvin watched him carefully.
Then, softer now—
"By the way… how is Anna? Did you send her home last night?"
Tom exhaled through his nose.
"Yeah."
A beat.
"She's mad at me," he admitted.
Marvin raised a brow. "Oh? Why?"
"I don't know," Tom said, but his voice wasn't as sure as his words. "She just… felt different last night. Uneasy."
"Maybe because you bullied her too much," Marvin said lightly.
Tom shrugged, but something in his expression tightened.
Marvin didn't miss it.
After a moment of silence, he asked quietly—
"Do you like her?"
Tom's head snapped up.
"What kind of question is that?"
Marvin didn't flinch. Didn't smile. Just watched him.
"Last night, you two seemed close… and—"
"It's not what you think, Pa," Tom interrupted, sharper than intended. "She's like a little sister to me. She knows that."
A pause.
Marvin leaned back slowly.
"Alright," he said, voice calm but thoughtful. "But sometimes… the person who knows you best is the one who misunderstands you the most."
Tom looked away.
The words landed heavier than expected.
He grabbed his water and drank, slower this time.
"But she said she doesn't like the way I treat her," he muttered.
"Because you treat her like a little sister?" Marvin asked.
Tom didn't answer immediately.
That silence said enough.
Marvin gave a quiet, knowing smile.
"It seems like you're starting to worry about her."
Tom let out a frustrated breath.
"Ugh, come on, Pa. It's nothing."
But even as he said it, his grip on the bottle tightened slightly.
Marvin simply stood.
"Then don't think about it too much," he said calmly. "Just let things be."
Tom nodded once—but his mind didn't.
And for the first time that morning…
he wasn't sure what "nothing" really meant anymore.
After he finished his food, Tom went to the Marketing department. He is the new head of that department, her secretary has given him the files since he left.
He sat all day, he determined to know every detail of the activity of their company, and he studied the processing of their communication delivery to their valuable customers.
***************************
Chairman Yang POV:
"How is he?" he asked, standing by the glass wall, staring at the city outside like it held all the answers.
"Well… I think he is fine," Marvin replied. "He stopped working here two years ago. He wanted to study our market during that time. He asked Nancy to compile data for him over those two years." He paused. "You know him… he's very OC when it comes to marketing."
"It's true," Chairman Yang said as he slowly walked back to his chair and sat down. "And he's perfect for that job."
"I agree."
A brief silence filled the room—heavy, calculated.
Then Chairman Yang spoke again, his tone quieter but sharper.
"So tell me… how is his relationship with Anna?"
Marvin exhaled. "Mm… about that. They seem close. But you know him—his personality. He's sweet… he treats her like a little sister."
Chairman Yang leaned back slightly, eyes narrowing in thought.
"He will fall in love with that woman," he said with quiet certainty.
Marvin hesitated. "I think Anna will do anything for him… but Tom will never fall for her."
Chairman Yang's expression darkened slightly, as if he already knew the ending.
"She is distancing herself," Marvin added, observing carefully.
"Mm." Chairman Yang sighed. "I'm sure she will."
They both stood and walked out of the room.
"You want to see him?" Marvin asked as they headed toward the elevator.
"No," Chairman Yang answered immediately. Firm. Final. "Let him do whatever he wants. Just make sure he doesn't skip dinner."
Marvin nodded.
They reached the elevator doors.
"Take care, Pa," Marvin said.
"You too," Chairman Yang replied.
The doors closed slowly, swallowing his figure as the elevator descended toward the parking level.
Marvin walked toward Tom's office.
He pushed the door open without knocking.
"What do you want me to order?" he asked casually.
"I miss Mama's menu," Tom replied without looking up from his work.
"Oh, I'll call her. Mr. David will send it here," Marvin said.
He stepped inside fully, watching his son work. "So, how's your first day here?"
"Everything is new," Tom answered simply.
"I understand," Marvin said with a faint smile. "I told you… there are a lot of changes."
Tom finally looked up.
"Pa… I think our company decreased by 2% in the market."
"You noticed?" Marvin's eyes lit up with pride. "You're a genius."
"That's what I'm worried about," Tom replied.
Marvin then pulled up a chair and sat beside him, immediately shifting into work mode. He explained everything in detail—the decline in stocks over the past two years, the shifting market trends, the gaps in internal strategy.
Tom listened intently, his focus sharpening with every word.
Time passed without them noticing.
Eventually, Mr. David arrived with their dinner. The aroma filled the office instantly, breaking the tension of business and replacing it with something warmer… familiar.
"I miss this," Marvin said softly as he sat down.
"Sorry, Pa," Tom replied.
"No, no worries, son," Marvin said, smiling as he placed food onto Tom's plate—especially the dim sum Janeth had prepared.
Tom let out a quiet breath, almost relieved.
"Wow… Mama's cooking is still the best in the world."
"I know," Marvin said with a small laugh. "That's why I fell in love."
They both laughed, the sound softer now, more human.
"You should marry a woman who fills your stomach," Marvin teased.
Tom chuckled. "Mm… Mildred knows how to cook. I'll probably marry her someday."
The atmosphere shifted instantly.
Marvin suddenly coughed.
Tom quickly handed him water. "Are you okay?"
"Yes, yes," Marvin said after drinking, still recovering. "I'm sorry."
"Someone remembered you?" Tom asked, raising a brow.
Marvin smirked faintly. "Your mama."
They both chuckled again.
After dinner, Marvin packed the remaining food into a lunch box.
"Don't be late, okay?" he reminded.
"Yes, Pa. I will," Tom replied. "Please tell Mama I love her."
"Call her yourself," Marvin said immediately.
Tom stood and hugged him.
"Alright… take care. I love you, son," Marvin said, patting his back firmly.
"I love you too, Pa," Tom replied.
Marvin left.
The office fell into silence again—deeper this time, almost empty.
Tom returned to his desk.
He opened his computer and worked through the night, ignoring the exhaustion creeping into his bones, refusing to stop until everything was done.
When he finally left, the city was already asleep.
"Hi, babe."
"Hey, how was your first day of work?"
"Ugh… I'm tired," Tom admitted, leaning back.
"And you? How about you?"
"Great! I'm going to Hollywood this Friday," she said excitedly.
"This Friday? I thought you were coming home."
"Yes, I was supposed to… but I have an urgent meeting with a new client that afternoon. I'm sorry."
"It's alright. Just take care of yourself."
"Yes, babe. Don't worry about me… oh wait, I have to go. Bye."
"Bye… I love you."
The call ended abruptly.
Tom stared at the dark screen of his phone.
For a moment, he didn't move.
The silence around him felt heavier than the entire day combined.
He leaned back on the couch, closed his eyes slowly…
And let exhaustion pull him under.
The next morning, Tom arrived at the office early.
He was dressed in a sharp new suit, his backpack slung over one shoulder. His steps were steady, controlled—like he had already decided the tone of his entire day.
While waiting for the elevator, he noticed Chairman Yang approaching from a distance.
Without hesitation, Tom quickly pressed the elevator button.
The doors slid open.
He stepped inside immediately.
And just as the doors were about to close—
Chairman Yang arrived.
Their eyes met for a brief second.
Tom pressed the close button faster.
The doors shut.
Inside the elevator, silence fell.
Outside, Chairman Yang stood still for a moment.
"Tsk tsk tsk," he muttered under his breath. "That immature child."
Then he continued walking as if nothing had happened.
Meanwhile, Tom entered his office.
His staff immediately greeted him the moment he stepped in. The atmosphere shifted instantly—respectful, alert, attentive.
His secretary, Nancy, followed him inside and quietly closed the door behind her.
"Don't disturb me unless I tell you so," Tom said without looking up.
"Alright, sir," Nancy replied obediently, then left the room.
Nancy was 5'4, chubby, and wore eyeglasses that gave her a slightly nerdy look. Her curly hair was always neatly tied, and she had been married for five years. She was reliable, sharp, and had been working in the company since she graduated from her vocational secretarial course.
More importantly—she understood her boss.
She didn't question him.
She just made sure everything he needed was always within reach.
Later, the telephone on her desk rang.
She answered it immediately.
"It's me," Tom's voice came through the line.
"Where did you put the book I asked for last night?" he asked, referring to the marketing strategies book.
"It's on the bookshelf, sir—behind you," she answered calmly.
Tom paused.
"I'm standing in front of the bookshelf."
A beat.
"On your left side. Four books from eye level," she corrected.
Tom turned slightly.
"Ohh… there you are," he said. "You're the best, Nancy! Thank you. You're a gift from God above."
Then he ended the call.
Nancy stood there for a moment, blinking.
"Of course I'm the best, sir," she murmured proudly. Then she added with a small grin, forming a heart with her fingers, "Saranghaeyo."
A little later, Marvin Yang arrived.
"Nancy!" he called as he stepped in. "Is your boss here?"
"Yes, sir!" she replied with a smile.
He paused for a second. "You look pretty today."
Nancy didn't even hesitate. "I'm always pretty, sir."
Marvin laughed. "Yes, of course. That's why I like you."
They both chuckled lightly.
"Keep smiling, Nancy!" he said before walking toward Tom's office.
Nancy watched him go, still smiling to herself.
Marvin pushed open the door to Tom's office.
And the day continued.
*********************
Stay tuned! Chapter 10 The summer Job ... is coming
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