Connor was sitting in the middle of his king sized bed. Around him were scattered business journals, magazines and newspapers. He occasionally glances at the flat TV dedicated to fox News while non-stop typing on the keyboard of his laptop.

"Recruit more personnel and screen them thoroughly and set up an extensive background check for recipients." He moved his phon to his other ear. "I don't want thw bombing in Davao International Airport to happen to us... It's good to be careful. The twin engine that Zeke Martinez bought,is there any problem? good."

He looked up when the door to his room suddenly opened the furious young brother of his entered.

"I'm busy, Caleb"

"Where is my Xbox?"

"I confiscated it" he then replied and continued talking to the general manager of the domestic airport.

"Why?" Tommy asked "it's mine. You don't have the right to take it becau----"

He held up the report card that his teacher had sent him

"What's my Xbox got to do with that?"

"Everything." He looked at his watch. "I'm talking to someone, let's talk later, Caleb"

"I want it back"

"You will, when you passed all of your subjects."

"I want it back now!"

"Don't raise your voice on me" he said with a threatening voice.

Caleb walked out.

He left his laptop and followed him to his room. When he opened the door, his head exploded at the noise coming from his electric guitar.

"You're not a kid anymore, Caleb." He said, making his voice louder, defeaning the sound of the noise from the guitar.

Caleb increased the volume even more.

He pullled the plug of the guitar and Caleb's face frowned even more. But he ignored it. "If you won't study hard, you won't be able to get into a good university in college." He stopped speaking as Caleb replugged the cord of his electric guitar.

Again he pulled it out from the outlet. "Listen when I talk to you" he said.

"Why? Are you done talking to that client of yours?"

"That was my general manager!"

"Leave me alone! You don't have the time to talk to me right?"

"You won't get your xbox this way, Caleb"

"Don't you ever get it?" He dropped his electric guitar on his messy bed. "This isn't just about my Xbox or my grade! Aw, forget it."

"Then what is it?'

But before he could answer, his cellphone rang again. Caleb shooked his head and turn the speakers into full blast 

He knew there was no point in this converst6 so he just let it go.

* * *

"I had the best idea of my life, Pam!" She said

"No"

"But Pam, this is much better than --"

"No"

"Can you hear me out first?"

"I know what are you goinng to say, Cassandra!"

She continued flipping through stacks of papers "and my answer is no"

Maybe she should hit her with a paper weight to get a reaction apart from saying her favorite word no. Until this moment, she still couldn't imagine how she had survived three years in the tentacles of this workaholic monster. But if there is one good thing that she had learned from this workaholic monster, is how to get what she wants. Whether it be free tickets for the BTS concert or an interview with the highest ranking government official in the country. Si she will not stop as long as she agreed to her will. It was Pam who taught her to do that.

While she was sitting on the visitor's chair, she remembered that she has a policy on Philippine Status magazine open idea, where they are free to talk to her for news ideas, and she would listen. Unless she is in a bad mood. Just like today. But she will not let it affect her will, if she wait for Pam's mood to lighten, she was sure that it will take eben6 a couple of months.

"Look, Pam, don't you think it will be easier if my assignment would be something that I like to do?".

"Yes"

"Then let me do a story about something that I really, really want to write." Pam finally looked at her.

"So what's this story something about?"

"Being women as an inborn opportunists"

"Okay. You can do that. But after you've finished your first assignment." She already returned her attention to stack of papers. "You know I really don't want oending especially those scheduled works"

"But what you're asking me is impossible."

Pam turned on to Cassandra "You can't do it?"

Cass wanted to frown. Of all the things that she hated in this world, it is when people question her ability, especially when it comes to her job.

"Of course I can. But two weeks is not enough for me ti finish this assignment."

"How much time do you need?"

"A month."

"I can only give you three weeks. We need that story on Billionaire Bachelor's Club before their marketability subsides. I want this to be your passport for the promotion."

Her invisible antennae stiod up when she heard the word promotion. She dreamed of rising from being a staff writer.

"What promotion?" She asked.

Smiling, Pam took of her glasses. Her boss is beautiful, probably the same age as her too. But because she's always serious, it's not noticeable.

"Maya will resign next month because she and her family will be migrating to US. That meabs, the position for associatie editor is open by then. There are a lot of qualified candidates but I'm highly considering giving you the editorial seat because I know that you're good, Cassandra."

I think she is sick. She has praised ger twice. But she also knew she shouldn't trust her. The last time she did, she ended up doing a story of a disillusioned man who psychoanalyzes his parrot.

"I trained you when you first came here so I know your ability." She continued "Besides you have a lot of experience when it comes to your job. But like I said, you are not the only one who is qualified. So to avoid resentment, i gave you each a special assignment. To be fair to others as well."

"And the one that was assigned to me is the Billionaire Bachelor's Club."

"You ought to be thankful. All of them wanted to exchange assignment with you that are also a candidate for editorial seat. I said okay. But they'll forget about the promotion if they don't like the assignment I gave them." Her boss put her elbows on the desk and folded her hands. "So Cassandra, do you also want to forget about being associate editor?"

And miss the opportunity she waited so long?

"Just call me Cass and you'll have your Billionaire Bachelor's Club story in three weeks"

“Good.”