Chapter Text
Trinity should have known that this day would turn out to be one of the worst days ever in her life the moment her alarm clock didn’t ring on time.
The sunlight landed on her skin like a fly that refused to go away no matter how she tried to dodge it. Fuck. Why is the sun eve-
Oh, fuck.
Trinity’s eyes shot open, widening every second as she absorbed her surroundings. Her room was now bathed with bright sunlight, which shouldn’t be the case because she was supposed to get up before the sun envelopes her room. Damn. Fucking damn.
She reached on her nightstand, grasping her phone like her life depended on it and saw the time. It’s 10 minutes past seven. Quite early for someone who doesn’t work in The Pitt Publishing. Which means she’s already late.
She pulled the covers from her body like it was poisoned, running outside her room and into the bathroom, almost losing her balance because of the wet floor.
“Goddamnit, Fuckleberry!”
That goddamn roommate of hers will hear from her once she’s home after this horrible day.
The ride to their building was a blur of faces and cars as Trinity prayed for her dear life. She’s so late and it’ll be a miracle to be able to keep her job by the end of the day.
She almost forgot the coffee had she missed the way the lady in front of her balances four cups on her hands. This is literally not her day, it’s pissing her off.
A series of curses passed through her mind as she turned back and went the opposite way from their building to get their coffees. God knows the witch thrives on good brew.
Thank goodness Parker was on duty today, she’s already carrying two cups of coffee near the counter by the time Trinity was inside the shop, smiling at her. She grabbed the cups while smiling her ass off, grateful that her charms are always present when you need them. “You’re my life saver, Parker. Truly.”
“Anytime, Trinnie.”
She almost choked on that nickname but she masked her face, pursing her lips and smiling forcefully without her teeth. “Bye!” She made herself out without spilling the drinks, rushing through the sea of busy Manhattan people and cars. When she saw their building, she almost kneeled in gratitude.
Trinity made her way inside in a rush, skillfully avoiding people and manoeuvring her way into their floor while balancing two cups of hot brew on her hands. Made it into the elevator just in time. Maybe this day isn’t so bad. Or was that too soon to tell.
It was.
When she saw Victoria’s teasing smile behind the desk, she grinned widely.
“Seems like you made it before the witch did, Santos.”
Trinity tilted her head in salute, “You know me, crash.”
She did crash.
“Sweet-”
To someone and it caused the coffee in her hand spilling on her freshly ironed white blouse and black slacks. And it’s only seven am. Fucking dumbass-
“...Jesus!”
The dumbass, Ogilvie, smiled apologetically at her but she thinks the glint in his eyes says otherwise. “Sorry. Might need to change that or rub something in it.” He said before walking away.
“Motherfucker.” She grunted, dragging her sticky ass to her desk and putting down her stuff. She spotted Mel typing on her desk and when she saw the blouse she was wearing, despite it being a little oversized, Trinity didn’t hesitate to make a beeline to her.
“Take that blouse off.”
Mel looked up at her, frowning. “What?”
“Two VIP tickets for Blackpink’s concert, Saturday, take your sister with you in exchange for your blouse.” Trinity looked down on her wristwatch, “You have 5 seconds to decide.”
“Uh-”
“Done.”
After dragging Mel to the restroom to change, she went out to see her phone pinging on her desk.
Their office group chat was active.
Princess: It’s here!
Perlah: Damn
Like a hurricane, Trinity’s co-workers moved through the chaos. Tidying up their desks, pretending to squint on the monitor, taking up nonexistent calls, getting out of the way.
And just like the hurricane, Trinity felt the air turn cold. It made her shiver. God, three years into this and she still gets it.
She rushed inside the witch’s office, smoothing down her borrowed blouse and slacks, checking her reflection to make sure her half bun was intact before picking up the cup that was supposed to be hers just in time for Baran Al-Hashimi to enter her office.
Trinity held out the cup, “Morning, Boss. You have a conference meeting in-”
“Five minutes. I know.” Baran took the cup without as much of a glance on her way, going straight to her desk to set the cup and her bag down.
“And there’s also a staff meeting at 9 am.”
Baran sat down on her chair, like a queen sitting down her throne, and swiveled it to her desk. “Did you call Monica?”
Trinity pushed the papers that needed her signature closer to her while nodding, “Yes, I did. Told her that if she can’t get the manuscript by your desk tomorrow, she won’t be getting the release date that she wanted.” She gently nudged the pen towards her boss when Baran tried to search for it with her hands without looking away from the papers. “Also, your immigration lawyer called. He said that he’ll-”
Baran gave her a slight shake of her head as she started signing the papers. She does that. She doesn’t overdo it. Her expressions are limited to minimal ones, a slight tilt of her head, a small lift on the side of her lips, a twitch on her eye, a purse of her lips. But know that the whole room would get it. She doesn’t scream like a man when angry, she doesn’t scrunch up her face in annoyance.
But she will make sure that you know you’ve stepped on the wrong foot with only her eyes.
Baran has pretty eyes. Those pretty doe eyes of hers took Trinity by surprise when she first met her. Still does.
Trinity is not blind. Heck, she even had a silly little crush on her boss when she started three years ago. But that silly crush faded overtime when she saw how hard it is to crack the wall that is Baran Al- Hashimi.
This woman is terrifying. She walks in those five inch stilettos like they’re fucking sneakers, the effect she has whenever people hear the unmistakable click of her heels with the precision of a military officer is like wiping a messy table with a thick expensive cloth and seeing the mess disappearing.
It’s not surprising to have the staff create a group chat without her, just to alert the whole office that the witch is on the way.
She earned that nickname from Princess who once told them that Baran is like a witch with her broomstick, flying around the office to curse people.
Everyone is terrified of her.
“Cancel the call, push the meeting tomorrow.” Trinity was about to answer but Baran continued talking because, of course, she has the list of daily tasks for Trinity like she always does. “And get a hold of PR, tell them to draft a press release. Frank is doing Oprah.”
There’s the hint of smile on her face, the subtle lift of the corners of her burgundy colored lips.
She’s happy then.
Of course, she is. They have been waiting for that for months. Trinity guesses that Langdon finally did it-
“Oh, wow. That’s- nicely done, Boss.”
Baran finished her signature with a faint scratch of the pen on the last page of the file then looked up at Trinity. “If I want your praise, I will ask for it.” She turned to the cup and lifted it to her lips.
And that’s Trinity’s cue to leave. She grabbed the stack of papers Baran just signed and walked away, but before she could finally get out of the jungle, Baran’s voice filled the space causing her to halt her steps.
“Should I be calling Parker?”
“What?” Trinity’s eyes snapped up on Baran’s, meeting the obsidian depth of her orbs as he regarded Trinity with a heavy stare.
Baran doesn’t look at people. She observes them. Like they’re under a microscope, a sample to be investigated. And right now, Trinity felt like she’s being analysed and ripped apart by those doe eyes.
Whoever invented such eyes should rot in hell, this woman right here managed to weaponize them.
Baran tilted the cup so Trinity could see the faint writing from a cheap marker, the slight smudge of ink didn’t erase the clear message. ‘Call me- Parker’ and it was accompanied by a series of numbers.
Baran raised a perfectly sculpted eyebrow at her as she struggled to form a reply. Trinity released a puff of air that pushed some of her bangs away, resignation could be heard from her action.
“That’s supposed to be my cup.”
“And I’m drinking your coffee.” Baran’s eyes landed on the cup again before turning her heavy gaze back to Trinity. “Why?”
“Because your coffee spilled.”
Baran stared at her for a minute longer, before she lifted the cup to her lips, drank from the cup without looking away from Trinity.
Trinity waited for it. Her palms turned sweaty by the moment. Yup. This is such a lucky day for her. Yey.
Baran put the cup down, her gaze remaining on Trinity. If looks could kick you out of the world, Trinity would be flying her ass to the moon right now.
Away from those prying, deo eyes.
“So, you drink a dry long black?”
The raised eyebrow directed at Trinity made her smile politely. “Yeah. It’s like Christmas in a cup, Boss.”
It’s not.
The coffee is just like Baran. It’s intense, it’s too damn strong, and it’s unfiltered. A latte, which Trinity likes, is just too cluttered for someone like her. A cappuccino is too soft. Baran is just like the coffee she drinks, it demands respect. Drinking it too soon will burn your tongue, drinking it a little later will waste the bean grounded specifically for it.
Trinity learned to tolerate the damn thing because her first day was spent with apologies and pathetic tears from a spilled coffee.
Now, she orders the same thing in case a hell like the one earlier happens.
“Is that a coincidence?”
“Oh, it is. It really is.” Trinity laughed, albeit awkwardly, as she scratched her chin. “Uhm, why- why would I drink the same thing as yours, right? That would be crazy and pathetic-” The phone rang and she thanked all the Santos who birthed her. “Hello, Ms. Al-Hashimi’s office.”
“Trinity?”
“Oh. Hey, Robby.”
Baran raised her hand to point at the door and Trinity immediately knew what she meant. “Oh, we’re actually on our way there. Yeah.”
She put down the phone, frowning. That wasn’t on the schedule. “Why are we headed to his office?”
Baran barely glanced up from her monitor as she clicked her tongue.
Oh.
Right.
That’s one of her minimal expressions. Clicking her tongue means kicking someone useless out of the situation.
“Right. Tsk.” Trinity nodded and went out of the office, shaking her head in amusement. Another warrior was doomed to hell then.
She went straight to her monitor and typed a quick message saying the witch is on the loose before looking up expectantly to her co-workers in their cubicles. Everyone stared up at her and quickly sprung in action again. These people.
When Baran came out of her office, she’s carrying her cup. Trinity’s cup, technically.
She doesn’t know why, but the sudden urge to ask her about the manuscript she passed a month ago came to her mind. It wouldn’t hurt to ask, right?
Ever since she was young, Trinity dreamt of being an author. She grew up reading a lot of books that her Tatay used to give her. Growing up, her room has walls and walls of softbound books bought from book sales. She has so many ideas, her roommate refused to believe that Trinity Santos is such a sap when it comes to writing stories especially romances but she is. She may not fit the 'glasses-wearing bookworm' stereotype, but that doesn't make her any less of a writer.
She’s been polishing that manuscript for a long time now, and had the courage to send it to her Boss because she knows Baran didn’t climb her way up there if she can’t spot a good manuscript. And she firmly believes in her own work. She just needed that push.
And maybe a position in one of the famous publishing companies in New York.
If she could just talk to her about it without pissing her pants, that would be great. And if Baran could listen to her too.
“Uh-”
“Spit it out, Ms. Santos.”
“DidyoureadthemanusciprtthatIgaveyou?” She said in a rush and it made Baran stop in her tracks, turned around and looked at Trinity. Really looked.
Baran didn’t need to say something because Trinity is repeating what she said from the raised eyebrows alone.
“Did you read the manuscript I gave you?”
Little crescent moons are being imprinted on Trinity’s palms as she clenched her fist too hard.
“I did. Half of it.”
Trinity looked expectantly at her.
Baran just looked back at her for a second before continuing, “Needs a little improvement. Not really ideal to publish yet.”
Well, maybe it’s not ideal to publish yet because you didn’t read the whole thing-
Baran reached out, fixing Trinity- No, Mel’s- collar. “I don’t care about your personal life. Call Parker later if you want, have some night out. But when you enter this building, you represent me. So, I need you to be presentable. This shirt clearly doesn't belong to you, if Melissa’s coffee stained shirt isn’t a clear enough indication of your morning’s failures, this oversized, ruffled blouse certainly is. It’s unprofessional, it’s distracting, and frankly, it’s an eyesore.”
Baran then turned away, but she stopped and looked over her shoulder, speaking in a low voice only Trinity was meant to hear. “And if you want me to promote you as an editor, stay focused. I need you sharp and professional, got it?”
“Got it.”
Her boss turned away and entered Robby’s office with a knock.
The whole exchange was done in front of the office so everybody was an unwilling witness. Her eyes found Mel’s, who looked at her with pity and worry in her eyes. She just shook her head at her friend.
“Ms. Santos.”
At the sound of her name, she rushed inside too. Vanishing her internal turmoil and brushing off concern looks over her shoulder.
Robby, a middle aged man with the overflowing confidence of a white person, smiled at them. “What brings you to my humble office, my dear Baran?”
Humble isn’t the word Trinity is going to use. The office reeks of money. From the limited edition books on the glass cabinet, to the expensive paintings hung on the wall that Trinity is sure is out of her paycheck. There is also a new furniture to her left, and she knew Baran noticed it too because her Boss’ stare lingered a little on it before looking away.
Baran sipped a little from her cup, still looking around the ‘humble office’, “I’m letting you go, Rob.”
“What?”
Baran titled her head to the direction of the door and Trinity understood it right away, locking the glass door while refusing to meet the eyes staring at her outside the office as she did so.
Trinity leaned against the wall beside the door, watching the exchange with the experience of someone who has seen countless ‘letting go’ scenarios within the three years of her employment under Baran.
Her boss picked up a book from the shelf, examining the back of it while she let her words sink into the poor man’s mind.
“What do you-”
Baran looked up from the book she was holding, “You’re fired.”
“What are you talking about?” Robby’s eyes darted between Trinity and Baran as he rounded his desk, crossing his arms on his chest.
Baran put the book down and leaned her hip on the armrest of the soft looking couch, “I asked you, repeatedly, to get Frank to do publicity. You said it was impossible.”
“Because it is. He doesn’t do those things.”
“Oh?”
Trinity wanted to shake Robby’s shoulders and tell him to just apologize because there’s no escaping this Baran. She has this glint in her eyes that tells Trinity she knows something she shouldn't. And if Robby refuses to cooperate, he should be prepared for what is going to come next because it won’t be too pretty for him.
“Yes. He doesn’t.”
“I just talked to him. Said he’s in.” Baran looked at him dead in the eye, taking a sip from her cup again without looking away from Robby who was clearly getting angerier by the moment.
“But-”
“You didn’t call him, did you?”
Robby had a troubled look on his face before he let out a sigh.
“It’s fine. I had it fixed. Now, your incompetence doesn’t have any place in my building, so I will give you two months to find another job. We can just tell them you resigned. My lips are sealed, that’s a promise.” She even made a motion to zip her lips.
Baran didn’t wait for Robby’s response, walking out of the room at the pace of a person who has the time in the world.
Trinity forced a smile at Robby who was fuming before running after Baran. They were just a few steps away before the door of Robby’s office opened with so much force, Trinity thinks it might’ve been broken from it.
“He’s out?” Baran whispered to Trinity, still walking away.
Trinity nodded, “And angry.”
“Baran Al-Hashimi, you evil bitch!”
“There we go.”
Baran’s heels stopped. She took a moment before turning to the angry man who was looking at her with daggers in his eyes.
The whole office is watching now with bated breath.
It’s not like this is new. Baran has two or three employees screaming profanities at her every month from being fired. But this is Robby, the second highest ranking employee in the company. He was here way before Baran was, according to Princess and Perlah. He’s even older than them.
And he was just fired, just like that.
“You cannot fire me! You think I don’t have any idea what is going on right now? You are threatened by me, Baran. Threatened. That’s right. I am your biggest competition and you cannot wait to get rid of me. That's why you’re firing me over some stupid Frank thing. You wanna look so damn good to the board?-”
Trinity’s gaze landed on Baran, who was as usual, too deadly calm about it. She has her hand leaning on the cubicle where Mel was sitting, her cup suspended in the air mid sip, regarding Robby with a stare only she could do.
A stare of absolute, unblinking stillness.
Not an annoyed look. Not even an angry look. Anger is too loud for Baran.
You can have people screaming names at her, but you can never see anything behind those doe eyes. You can scream at her but she will still manage to make you look stupid doing it.
Her pupils never wavered from his face. It’s like the stare alone has stripped Robby down from his lame excuses and outbursts.
But Robby didn’t stop at that.
“Just because you don’t have a life outside this building, you think you can just boss us around and make us your slaves. You know what? I feel sorry for you. Someone like you? You are one of those people who will have no one beside you on your deathbed.”
“Are you done?”
“You- What?” Robby was taken aback at what she said. He kind of expected her to be hurt which is really a zero to none occurrence, he should know that by now.
“Listen, Robby.” Baran scratched her eyebrow like explaining is such an inconvenience but she’s doing it anyway. “You should know that from the way I gave you a civilised exit earlier that I’m not firing you because I feel threatened. I feel sorry for you because you will have to find some other company who will deal with that lazy, entitled, and incompetent ass. I also feel sorry for your wife because you spent more time cheating than actually doing your job.”
There are multiple gasps echoing through the office walls with that revelation, and honestly, Trinity isn’t surprised anymore. Nothing escapes Baran Al- Hashimi. So if you want to keep your job, you better just do it properly.
Robby was about to say something, with his hands clasped in front of him, whether to pray or to prevent himself from punching Baran, Trinity will never know. But Baran cut him off.
“Another word and you will be escorted by the security out of this building. Trust me, you would want to take your exit as humanly as possible. Not with phones in your face, not with people uploading your humiliating exit to that internet site.” She turned her head to Trinity for a bit before asking, ”What was that?”
“Tiktok?” Trinity said.
“Exactly.” With that, Baran made her way to her office, heels echoing through the silent walls as their staff stared at her retreating form.
This time, Trinity didn’t wait for her name to get called. She followed the retreating form of Baran without a glance in Robby's direction.
Baran expected her to follow because she’s rattling tasks again.
“...And I need you this weekend. We will be reviewing his files and manuscript.”
Damn.
“This weekend?”
“You have a problem with that?”
Damn right, she does. Her Lola is celebrating her 90th birthday this weekend. She’s gonna kill Trinity if she misses that.
“Oh. no. No. Not a big, like big problem. It’s just, it’s my grandma’s birthday. She’s turning 90 and-”
Baran walked past her and sat down on her chair, brushing off Trinity’s excuse as usual.
Like she didn’t matter.
“-It’s fine. I’ll cancel it.”
Tangina.
Explaining to her Lola and Nanay that she might not be available and she’s missing yet again another family celebration will never be an easy task.
The moment she said the reason as to why she’s cancelling, the disappointment can be felt from the phone.
“Why are you working on the weekends, anak? That witch is really impossible. Kahit naman ang diyos nagpapahinga ng linggo.”
Trinity sighed, running a hand through her hair. Her half bun is long gone now. Her bob is longer, finally reaching past her shoulder now. “Nay, look, I’m really sorry. But I can’t be in her bad graces right now, she let go of the second highest ranking official today. I need to be around on the weekends or else, enduring the past three years of torture will be going to waste-” From the corner of her eye, Trinity saw Baran walked out of her office and is making her way to Trinity’s desk. “-you know what? We’ll get back to you as soon as we can. Thank you.”
She hung up, smiling tightly as she looked up at her Boss.
“Is that your family?”
Guess lying is out of the options now. Why does she keep on trying anyway? It’s no use. “Yes.”
“Did they tell you to quit?”
“Every single day.”
Barang opened her mouth to say something but the phone rang. Trinity answered it as quickly as possible because she’s not sure she would like to hear what her boss has to say.
“Okay. Alright.” She put down the phone and stared up at Baran again, who was expectantly looking at her with those damn doe eyes. “Gloria wants to see you upstairs. Said it’s urgent.”
Baran let out a huff, a rare occurrence, then clicked her tongue. “Okay. Come get me after 10 minutes so I can actually do something aside from being summoned by people. We have a lot of work to do.”
“You got it.”
Once Baran is out of sight, Trinity kicks the trashbin under her desk in annoyance.
Damn that woman. Damn her and her pretty doe eyes.
For the next few minutes, she answered at least three calls from people she constantly heard about. She never forgets to check her watch to see if 10 minutes had passed so she can get her Boss out of Gloria’s cage.
She stood up just in time for the clock to strike 8:50.
Trinity literally sprinted to Gloria’s office, greeting Mateo a good morning as she passed by his desk. Mateo is Gloria’s secretary who kept on complaining that Baran doesn’t even look his way, ever since then, she makes it a point to greet him back.
Trinity opened the door, no knocking needed because she knows Baran will have her back if Gloria’s decided to scold her for that.
The sight that greeted her is just another day of Gloria, now with Cassie, arguing with Baran.
“No, I’m begging you. Please just listen-”
“There’s nothing we can do right now-”
Cassie’s eyes landed on her, then Gloria’s and finally, Baran. With a questioning gaze, like she didn’t command her to come for her after 10 minutes. How bad was the problem that she forgot about it?
Baran was looking at her sternly, her cold gaze seeping through Trinity’s skin.
What the hell is wrong with this woman? She’s literally doing what she asked for.
“Sorry to interrupt.”
Gloria waved a dismissive hand on her way, “That can wait. Ms. Santos. Be a sweetheart and close the door-”
“Sorry, but Frank called. Said he wanted to talk to you about-”
Cassie held a hand up, “Ms. Santos, we are in a meeting-”
But Trinity is not looking at them.
She’s looking at Baran, who is now looking at her with a hint of amusement in her eyes. Then she blinked, her expression identical to how Trinity's little cousin looks whenever he solves a puzzle. And she did the weirdest thing she has ever done in the course of Trinity’s existence in The Pitt Publishing.
She smiled.
A full smile in Baran’s dictionary. It wasn’t just a smirk, not a mere turned up on the corner of her lips. It’s a full smile, and up close, Trinity spotted a small dimple under the corner of her lips. A tiny, chin dimple.
Baran has a dimple.
She was so deep into the smile that she didn’t hear what Baran has said.
But she was getting closer, and Trinity almost fainted on the spot when she gently pulled her inside the office. The door in Gloria's office closes with a soft click.
“I think that this is the perfect time to tell you then.” is what Trinity heard clearly and finally registered. Baran is telling Cassie and Gloria and it involves her.
Nothing involves her. Baran used to tell her that she’s just there as her prop and she doesn't have a say on what is happening. So for her to pull Trinity inside, and involve her with this, is really weird.
Cassie crossed her arms as she regarded both of them with a suspicious eye.
Gloria leaned back on her seat and waited for Baran to continue talking.
Baran patted Trinity’s cheek, so affectionately the younger woman had to stare at her for seconds to process what was happening. But Baran’s eyes are leaving hers, turning towards the two other women in the room, a smile plastered on her face.
“We are getting married.”
What a horrible day it was indeed.