"As the darkness passes to a glorious morning, dear God goes with me everywhere and let your blessings be upon me. Amen." I tell a quick prayer and did the cross sign.
I picked up my phone from the nightstand and unlocked it. As always, there is a message waiting to be read.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY MY LOVE. It reads. From a hidden number.
This always happens on my birthday every year, for a couple of years now. I have stopped letting it disturb my peace of mind.
I pick myself up from my bed and head to the restroom to get ready for work. It's still early I might as well take my time while getting ready.
"Good morning, mom." I greet my mother as I entered the kitchen, I kissed her on both cheeks.
"Good morning my dear." I bend down a little for her to place a kiss on my head. "Do you have to go to the office today?" Mom whines, childishly pouting her lips.
"Of course, mom. If it was up to me, I would stay home and spend the day with you. But I'm helpless." I shrugged and picked up the mug of hot chocolate I always drink in the morning. To say I have the best mom in the world, would be an understatement. She is the best of the best.
She is both my protector, my confidant, and my best friend. Always making sure I have everything I need to start my day.
"But it's your birthday today, can't those bosses of yours grant you a day off." She pressed, I rolled my eyes and made my way to the tiny dining table at the side of the kitchen.
My food is already on the table waiting for me to come and devour it.
"You haven't asked for leave once since you started this job, and it has been a year now. Why can't your boss be reasonable." Mom grumbled, she grumpily drops onto the seat opposite mine.
"Mom, it's not their fault either. A direct order was made from the top that everyone, irrespective of your position must be present today as the owner of the company is coming." I cut a big piece of pancake in my mouth, eyeing my mom as she is still not satisfied with the reason.
"So what? You can skip and nobody will notice with over a hundred employees." I gave my mom a are you serious look, which she dismissed.
"This is the first time the big boss is coming to our company since he bought this company. That should be a year ago as well when I was still an intern. Today's event will determine if many of us will stay or not."
"Okay, fine I understand. You can stop defending them." She reluctantly agree, I was about to jump for joy when she cuts me off.
"But..." My smile dimmed.
She stare at my face for a moment before she continued.
"You must be back before six." She said with a smile.
"Okay, mom." I went around the table and hugged her.
"I should get going, don't want to be late today of all days," I said while I packed up my bag.
"But you didn't even eat enough to last you for the day." She complained.
"Knowing you mom, my lunch flask is in my bag." I grinned at the look on her face, skipped my way to the front door, and out of the house.
I quickly made my way to the office, escaping the morning sun. Though the sun is not yet harsh it still left my skin dried. Luckily, I don't have to hail a cab to work every day, the company building is a ten minutes walk from my home.
Soon, I found myself in front of the building, I stare up at the twenty-story building. It still manages to steal my breath away, every time I stare at it. I'm always amazed.
"Good morning Brett." I greet the security man at the door.
"Good morning miss Zoey." He replied with his signature boyish grin. I have repeatedly told him to call me Zoey, instead of miss Zoey but he just won't stop.
Putting a miss on my name, makes me feel old. Especially when someone my age or a few years older calls me that. I stopped correcting him.
"Hi, Zoey." Sophia, the receptionist waved at me.
"Hi." I slumped against the marble counter, catching my breath.
"You should try using a cab, maybe you won't be panting like a winter Chicken," Sophia smirked, offering me a glass of cold water.
"Thanks," I muttered before I gulped the entire content in one go.
"But seriously Zoey you should hail a cab at times." Sophia frowned in concern. We've grown close over the year, with me always going limp on her station and her offering me water.
"Are you kidding? It's a ten minutes walk. I can't be wasteful." I remark.
"Really? Wasteful? If there is anyone that loves fashion more than me is you, Zoey. You save up all the monthly money you could use in hailing a cab to buy fancy bags, shoes, clothes, and giving yourself baby treats at the spa every week." Sophia gawk at me.
"If that is not wasteful, then I don't know what is." She shook her head.