Chapter 7: Odd Common Behavior


    "Ready?" Kyle asked his sister.


    "Ready!" Confirmed Kenzie.


    While the twins were about to enter the CEO''s office without permission, Samantha was exining


    to John Garcia her situation.


    A hiss left John''s lips, and he said, "You see Miss Davis - "


    The sound of the children trying to push the door opened alerted John that he got up from his seat,


    "Kids! No! Don''t do that!"


    "Why is this door so heavy!" Comined Kyle as he was pushing with his might!


    "Urggghhh!" Kenzie grunted while helping her brother.


    Sadly, no matter how hard they pushed, the door would not budge.


    Samantha rushed in their direction and said, "Guys! What are you doing? Are you trying to get me


    in trouble?!"


    Walking behind her was John. He said, "It''s okay. When Mr. Wright is in a meeting, the door can


    only be opened from the inside." He pointed to the security system by the side and said, "See that?


    That''s high technology."


    The frown on the twins'' faces became evident.


    Kenzie shook her head at his brother while Kyle squinted at the door. He shot a nasty stare at the


    security lock and said, "just our luck."


    John ced both his hands on the twins'' arms and said, "Kids, let''s get back to my table. If the boss


    finds out." He pointed to the camera above the door and added, "Uncle John will lose his job. We


    don''t want that to happen, right?"


    "Sorry, uncle John," said Kenzie. "You''ll still give us Christmas gifts, right? It''s two in one; a birthday


    gift and a Christmas gift!"


    "Kenzie!" Samantha scolded her daughter before she exined to John, "I''m sorry, Mr. Garcia.


    They were both born on the 25th of December - fraternal twins."


    This text is property of N?/velD/rama.Org.


    "Wow! You guys must be your Mommy''s greatest gifts!" Remarked John before helping the twins


    return to his table.


    Going back to Samantha''s concern, John took out a checkbook and said, "Miss Davis, it''s going to


    go through a process - requesting for a new certificate, but I can do is lend you the money. How


    much do you need?"


    "No! I can''t possibly take that. I - I could just wait!" She raised her hands in surrender and said, "It''s


    fine."


    "But does the certificate guarantee their enrollment?" John asked with a frown. The truth was, it was


    the first time he had heard of it. He concluded, Samantha must have been really low in cash that


    she was resorting to such means.


    "Well, I''m not sure, but if it doesn''t - "


    "Then, just take my help, Miss Davis. Besides, it''s not like you can run away. I know exactly where


    you live," John teased before asking, "How much do you need?"


    Sam pursed her lips. She took a deep breath and said, "Three thousand dors."


    "That does not even cover half of your sry, Miss Davis. What were you so worried about?" John


    easily wrote on his checkbook while asking for the name of the school, "Which academy?"


    "Um, the North Bright Academy," Samantha softly answered.


    John smiled and resumed writing the check. He said, "Actually, that school is partly owned by Mr.


    Wright''s mother. However, we don''t have time to ask a favor from her right now." He tore the check


    and offered it to Samantha. "Here... Payable whenever."


    Samantha awkwardly took the check and gawked at it for a second. She gulped down her own


    spew before saying, "I - I don''t know how to thank you enough."


    "Hmmm... How about I eat for free when you start working at the hotel? I am bound to go there one


    of these days," said John.


    Nodding her head, she confirmed, "Absolutely! That''s a done deal." She extended her hand and


    repeated, "thank you so much!"


    Turning to her kids, she said, "Let''s go, guys! We are runningte!"


    Meanwhile, Kyle had been standing right next to John''s table. He had been earlier looking at the


    Silver Surfer penholder in front of him. It was a very stylish penholder, but what really made him


    stare was the fact that John had ced it at the very center of his desk.


    From his stance, it was blocking his view of John. Something in him just itched that he moved the


    penholder to the side of the desk, right where it should be. He remarked, "It looks better this way."


    For a second, John was once again taken aback. The actions of the boy were very familiar, but


    before he could point his finger at it, Samantha bid goodbye, suggesting she was in a hurry.


    "Goodbye, Mr. Garcia. Thank you again." Holding her children, she rushed out to where the


    elevators were.


    Seeing Samantha leave, John pondered on his desk for a moment. He really wanted to take a


    picture of Kyle. Heck! He wanted to show the boy to his boss!


    He couldn''t be mistaken. After two years of working for Ethan Wright, he was sure the boy looks so


    much like him! He hissed and returned the penholder to where he preferred it to stay and said,


    "Maybe another time."


    Just as he was drowned in these thoughts, the door of the CEO''s office swung open.


    Ethan Wright, in his grey suit, walked with poise towards John''s table. He ced several documents


    on his desk and told, "Is the 9:00 AM appointment already here?"


    "No, sir. They haven''t arrived -"


    "Consider themte! How dare they request for an investment aid when they could note on


    time!" Ethan instructed.


    "Ah, sir. There are still fifteen minutes to nine - "


    "In every appointment, John, one must arrive half an hour early! It''s a business standard! Cancel


    the appointment and tell them I am not interested!" With his stern and raspy voice, Ethan repeated


    his directive.


    "Yes, Mr. Wright. As you say," said Jonathan while getting up in acknowledgment.


    Ethan was about to leave when he suddenly saw an eye-sore. He turned back to John and said,


    "What''s wrong with you, John?"


    Grabbing the Silver Surfer penholder, he said, "These are supposed to stay on the side of the


    table!"


    He further tightened his eyes and told, "It''s an eye-sore at the center of your desk!"


    While watching his boss reenter his room, John still moved back his penholder to the center of his


    table. He shook his head and said, "What - an - odd -mon behavior!"


    Suddenly, having a lightbulb moment, he rushed into Ethan''s office and ogled in his presence for a


    second. He stuttered as he suggested, "Boss, um..."


    "What is it, John? Hurry up. I don''t have all day," Ethan reminded.


    "What - what are the chances that - that you have... kids that you don''t know of?" John asked


    fearfully.


    John Garcia suddenly felt his heart racing. How he now regretted bringing up the idea.


    He watched as Ethan Wright put down his pen and cast him a murderous stare. He heard his boss


    asked him, "Do you like your job, John?"


    "Uh, Yes. Boss." John knew what wasing, that he retreated a few steps back. "I''m - I''m sorry,


    Mr. Wright. It''s just that Miss Davis came by, bringing her kids, and oh, boy! Does her young boy


    look like you! Haha!"


    "Maybe that was just a coincidence!" He bowed his head, nearly reaching his knees before saying,


    "My apologies for even thinking it!"


    "Wait! The chef? Samantha Davis, the chef?" Ethan immediately asked.


    John thought he heard himself wrong. He tilted his head as he made the slowest turn back to face


    his boss and he asked, "Do I get to keep my job, Mr. Wright?"