Chapter 1

While nearing the SeaTac International, I pondered how I had come to this; this meaning going home to my father, to Forks for vacation. The last time I was home was eight years ago for two weeks during spring recess. I made a resolution during those two weeks that changed my life.   I wondered if I would make another life-changing decision this time.

I knew something was amiss when Mike Gomez, my boss and the COO and President of the company I work for, knocked on my office door two weeks ago. He rarely came to my office and when he did it usually meant there were problems.

“Isabella, may I talk to you?”

Only Mike could get away with calling me my full name for the reason since I shared it with his late mother. Mike or Miguel Gomez was of Filipino descent and family oriented. He said he hired me not only because of my academic credentials but also because I reminded him of his daughter.   He groomed me to rise through the ranks and to become part of management. In no time I became a Junior Vice President and member of his management committee.   I had even spent a few Christmases and Thanksgivings with his family. I was also a common fixture in many Gomez family gatherings.

“Yes, Mike, what can I do for you?” I was a bit wary as I had a vague idea for his call.

“Isabella, I am very concerned with your health. I just found out that what happened this morning was not a first.” I had fainted during that morning’s management meeting while giving a presentation.

“Yes, I passed out during my staff meeting last Friday. Look, I’m ok; I’m feeling better. I just stayed up late last night and missed breakfast. I’ll just have a big meal later and sleep it off tonight. Tomorrow I’ll be back to normal.”  I smiled to try to appease him.

“I don’t think you get enough sleep at all and it looks like you lost some wait. Have you been eating well?”

“Yeah, I eat enough and I sleep enough.” I lied. I hadn’t been sleeping well for the past three months. I had only two to three hours of sleep a day.  My appetite was also a bit off.

“Isabella, I just looked at the security logbooks. There are many days when you were the last to leave and the first to arrive early. I even saw a couple of days when you clocked out past midnight.” I felt like a teenager who came home past her curfew.   I had to stop myself from biting my lip and my nails.

“So what have you been doing during those times?” I saw the concern on his face. Mike is the New York version of my dad, Charlie.

“I’ve been keeping tabs on our overseas divisions; time difference, you know?” Our Asia offices have not been doing well. 

“You let them adjust to your time. Call them when it is convenient to you and not the other way around.   You can’t go on working like that. Look what happened this morning.”

“Ok.  Sure. I’ll do that.”   

“So the reason I’m here is…Umm.  I recommend that you go on vacation. You need rest, Isabella.” 

“Ok. I’ll take the day off tomorrow.”

“No. You misunderstood me. I urged that you take your vacation not just a day off.”

“I’ll take a three-day leave and when I get back I’ll be rested and refreshed. Is that alright Mike?”

“Bella, what I meant was a full blown vacation. You have not used any of your vacation credits since you started working here. This is actually a management decision.   Simon decided to offer you a three month paid vacation.”  Mike only called me Bella only when he was in ‘boss mode’.   And when Simon Golding, the CEO’s name came up, I knew this was not a just suggestion but an order.    I understood that I had to abide by their decision and go on a break.

“Your leave starts January 1.   Travel and accommodations will be charged to the company.   I’ve informed Pamela of the arrangements so all you need to do is to decide where you want to go.” I just nodded but it hadn’t yet sunk in.   I had two weeks left. Different thoughts flashed in my mind. Was I being let go? What would I do on when I’m on leave? What would happen to my department?   Would I survive outside my office? Where was I going?    

Mike looked at me and saw the panic on my face.  He knew that my work was my life.   He knew I had virtually no social life and I was content when working.

“You know that we value you and your work. You are integral to the success of this business.   We just can’t allow you to compromise your health for work.   Your position will remain yours. Isabella, you are not being fired. Do you understand?”

“Yes. Thanks Mike.”   He patted my back before he left. I understood he and Simon had my best interest at heart. They had always been supportive from the beginning.

“Simon became worried when he noticed that you were a bit pale and seemed to have lost weight. He panicked when you collapsed during the meeting. You are like a daughter to him.   You are like family to me, too. I know how attached you are to your work. But what is all you hard work for Isabella?”

I thought about what Mike had asked me but I couldn’t come up with an answer. I didn’t know why I was so driven. I would like to think that I work hard for my parents but they were both set for life. While they were far from rich, they had everything they need and more even after retirement. I couldn’t say I work hard for my family since I was without one, not even a boyfriend. I had been pretty much alone and self-sufficient since I graduated from college. I had even paid all my loans including my sizable study loans. 

Having found no answer to that question, I deliberated on where I would go for my vacation. Three months is a long time for me to be far from work. I considered going far – to Asia or Europe?  I might as well enjoy an all-expense-paid holiday.  Then I thought of staying in my apartment so I could go to the office at moment’s notice should they need me.  Finally I found a compromise and made a decision. I would go home to my father whom I had not seen in several years.

Prologue

Since my second year in college, I had never been in this situation. I had set my course early on and eliminated deviations. I had decided on what I wanted to be at my current age and I was almost there. But then I found myself at a proverbial fork on the road. 

One decision that was made for me, another spur-of-the-moment decision I made led me to this situation. I had to decide which way to go. One path would allow to me to continue the course I had set early on and to achieve my goal. Another would require that I deviate from my course but would allow me to realize my dream.   Which one should I choose? Did I want to be content or happy?