My Sassy Boss

STANDARD

AFTER a while, Zion and Fred got home at the same time, and that was the time Sarah returned to their own apartment.

"How's work, brother?" Sarah asked, and she sat on the couch while watching him removr his uniform and his shoes.

"I'm tired. My back hurts from scrubbing the toilets and floor all day. But all in all, I am good. How 'bout you? What did you do today with Mrs. Ting?" Zion told his story and then, he threw the question back.

"I had fun with Mrs. Ting even though sometimes she was rude. But I can see that she is very patient with me and very considerate. You know what, I like her," said Sarah softly and happily, who obviously enjoyed Mrs. Ting's company.

"Did she teach you a lot of things today?" Zion asked smiling knowing that she's enjoying Mrs. Ting's company, and he sat next to her.

"Yes, she did. She taught me how to draw and color and then, she taught me how to cook. We made a pie a while ago," said Sarah happily.

"Really? Where's the pie? Don't tell me you ate it all?" Zion asked laughing, he narrowed his eyes and gave her a look.

"Sorry. We finished it all. I forgot to get you a piece of it because it was really delicious. Don't worry, I will make another one tomorrow," she sadly mentioned but then, she promised so, he can taste it too.

"Yes, please. Come on, wash up now and I know you're tired too. Have a good night," Zion kindly reminded her, and kissed her on the forehead and then, pushed her to sleep.

"Good night to you, too, brother," she said sweetly, and entered the room leaving him alone in the small living area.

And the time he was left alone, he went straight to the sofa because he was really tired from work.

"I'll just wash up tomorrow morning, and I don't want to be late for work tomorrow. This is better than doing nothing. But, I need an extra job. It's not enough if I want to pay off my debts. Oh, well. We ran off so, I don't think they are going to follow us here," he thought while staring at the ceiling until he made up his mind, and he finally closed his eyes.

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———

THE following days, Zion continues to work in the hospital as a housekeeper, following their standard and without breaking any protocol, while Toni keeps coming back because of the tests that need to be done before she comes back to her doctor. She made adjustments just to get her results and because she was doing so much, she couldn't answer the calls of her parents who were both worried about her. Loren and Warren are actually fighting over Toni, and about her getting a husband or a date. He wants his daughter to do whatever she likes but, she doesn't approve because she wants to have a grandchildren since they are getting older. Every day they are arguing about their daughter's life.

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Nightfall, Toni is relaxing on her bed while watching a romantic movie, and just looking into it, her eyes couldn't stop rolling.

"That's predictable. Of course, the two will find their way to get back into each other's arms. They will get married and have babies. What a great love story," she muttered, and she change the movie by clicking the remote control. "Isn't there an unpredictable movie? It's obvious from the cover that they are going to end up together," she annoyingly added, and she browsed more movies until she saw a cover with babies. She watched the trailer and it made her smile so, she played it.

***

While she is watching, she also started imagining things inside her head like...she got pregnant and while the baby is growing inside her tummy, she begins eating healthy foods to make sure that her baby will come out healthy too. And because she doesn't want to see her baby get sick or cry, because of the needles stuck in her. She is the one hurting for her baby. She also imagined delivering the baby, and she got all sweaty but all her hard work was paid off when she finally saw her beautiful daughter that Dra. Ko gave it to her since she was the one who operated on her. Ever since then, she raised her daughter with full of love and all in financial support. But then one day came, her daughter became a teenager and began to ask her questions about who is her father and where he is because she sees all of her classmates have father except her.

"Mom, I was just wondering...everyone in my school have their father except me. Tell me, where is my father? Is he dead already that's why he's not with us? Or, is he in abroad? I talked to my classmate and she told that her father just got home from abroad after 5 years of working in another country. Is my Dad in abroad too? Can I see him? Can I talk to him? I want to meet him, Mom," her daughter asked curiously and excitingly, who looks like Toni.

And hearing all of that makes Toni's head heavy because of stress—

***

Toni gasped when she woke up from dreaming that somehow calmed her down because it was not actually happening. She immediately sat on her bed without realizing that she fell asleep while watching a movie about babies that is still playing in front of her. And because she woke up, she stood up and made tea to ease her mind. After making tea, she sat on the bar stool and there she meditated and then, she remembered what Dra. Ko told her about getting IVF and a surrogate.

"I would like to try the IVF, and I don't care how much I get to spend as long as I can have a child of my own. He or she will inherit everything I have. And, I am willing to get pregnant for my child," she whispered to herself.

— —

Toni and Dra. Ko are facing each other again in the office.

"I have decided. I want to try the IVF, and I want to insert it into myself. I want to feel to be pregnant even if it's only nine months so, we can have a connection," Toni said seriously without any doubt or sarcasm on her face.

"That's good to know but, I have something to ask you. If IVF didn't work out, what will you do?" Draw. Ko asked out of nowhere if their plan didn't work out.

"Um...I don't know. Maybe I will find another way to get pregnant," Toni answered, thinking about the doctor's question that she didn't expect. "But tell me, how many percent is the assurance that it will work?" she asked again to know more about IVF.

"20 to 35 percent. And according to your laboratory results, you don't have any problem with your blood. All are normal. The urine, the magic 12, and even your hormones. But there's one more thing that you have to do to find out if your uterus is really capable of carrying a child. I will give another prescription, and I want you to go to the ultrasound to have your uterus checked for the record before we implant it inside. Okay? And then, if we see no problem we will proceed to the laboratory to get a sperm that will penetrate your egg cell," said Dra. Ko in detail, and she handed over the prescription.

"Wait. Before we go to the laboratory, I want to choose from whom we will take the sperm cell. Of course, I want my baby to be healthy when he or she comes out. I want to make sure that all of her organs and body are functioning. I don't want some random guy. I want a healthy one," Toni demanded.

Dra. Ko smiled at her request. "Of course, Toni. We both don't want that. How about you proceed to your check-up, and I will look for guys that will meet your high standard? Yes?" And she raised two eyebrows to give her a look like she is saying that she will take care of that matter.

"Really? That's wonderful then. I'll go ahead now and do this so, we can proceed and I can have my baby," Toni replied, and she got up to have the ultrasound.

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"This is not enough. I need more income to sustain our needs," Zion whispered to himself while looking at the pay slip he received from being housekeeping in a large hospital for a month.

——

IN an early morning, Toni is in her office and quietly looking at the profiles given to her by Dra. Ko who are the candidate for the sperm donor since she is going to take IVF.

"A gym instructor? Hmm...he has a good physique. Well, according to his health status he is incredibly healthy. Wait. He's a former football player? Okay, that's a no. My daughter or son would probably like to watch games like that. It's purely physical and I don't like that. He or she will get hurt if she or he would play games like that. I want my child to engage more in intellectual things. Okay, pass," she deliberated while imagining her future child doing hard sports like football. Then, she flipped the page, and based on the picture, the man looks like a nerd. "Wow," she mumbled with amusement in her eyes while she was reading his profile. "Impressive talents. I would like my child to inherit his intelligence. Okay, wait. What? Does he have a blood type of A positive? But, I am B positive. If my child needs a blood transfusion or anything, I need to find him again, and that's not gonna happen. I want my child to have a blood type of B positive so, we are compatible with each other. I can donate mine if anything happens to my child, and I don't need to look for him again," she immediately declined when she saw his blood type.

After an hour of looking at the profiles, she sighed and leaned back.

"None of them met my standard," she said out loud.

To be continued...