Chapter 36: Learning to manage the company
Vanessa didn’t want to talk too much about Melina’s marriage and answered with a fake smile:
-Of course, I’ll bear that in mind.
Mercedes had mentioned it by chance and after hearing her daughter’s reply, she changed the subject to Vanessa and Orlando.
-Vanessa, you’ve been married to Orlando for over a year. When do you want to have a baby? -asked the mother.
She was looking forward to the arrival of her future grandchildren, so today she wanted to persuade her daughter.
-We are still too young, we don’t want the baby at the moment.
Vanessa sighed helplessly inwardly, if she knew Mercedes was talking to her about this subject, she would have jumped on it.
You are twenty-four years old and that is the best age to get pregnant. Hasn’t the Moya family rushed you?
-Grandfather didn’t say anything.
-Grandfather doesn’t say it out of shame, and that’s why I have to advise you as a mother to have a baby as soon as possible,” Mercedes continued to convince her daughter.
-I know, mother. Come on, let’s not talk about it any more, I’m ashamed,” said Vanessa, deliberately covering her face.
Mercedes was amused by her reaction and made a purposely angry face at her daughter, but finally said no more.
After a while, because she was worried about the company’s pending work, Vanessa said to Felipe:
-Dad, I want to ask you something about work.
-Mother, you rarely stay at home, but you won’t come with me, you even want to talk to your father about company matters,” complained Mercedes unhappily.
-Oh, mum, I’ll come back more often, don’t be jealous. Besides, I have something important to talk to daddy about, please forgive me this time,” apologised Vanessa, making a pitiful face as she hugged Mercedes.
-Well, go and talk,” Mercedes was unable to resist her daughter’s affectionate attacks and had to accept it.
-Mum, you’re the best mother in the world! -Vanessa gave Mercedes’ hand a big kiss.
He then went with Felipe to the studio.
-What do you want to tell me? -Philip looked at his daughter with affection.
-Dad, are there any problems arising at the company? -Vanessa asked him seriously.
-Why do you say that? -Philip did not expect his daughter to ask so suddenly and returned the question calmly.
-Dad, don’t hide it from me anymore, I know everything. When I went to pick you up for lunch, I overheard your call. Dad, is the problem really serious? -Vanessa took her father’s hand in concern.
-Don’t worry, I can get over it.
-Really? -Vanessa couldn’t believe it, because she had noticed the strange atmosphere in the company lately.
-Of course I do, how can I lie to you?
For the time being, the Cazalla Group could still hold on, because Felipe was a determined man and had sacrificed some projects to stabilise the current situation.
Of course, if everything went well, the company would get through the crisis calmly, but if more emergencies arose, maybe the Cazalla Group would collapse….
Of course, Philip wasn’t going to tell Vanessa, because he didn’t want his beloved daughter to be worried about the company all the time.
As a father, his daughter’s happiness was the most important thing. As long as Vanessa was happy, Philip would have both the motivator and the courage to face any problem.
-I trust you, Papa,” Vanessa said, but she was still worried and added, “But Papa, promise me you’ll tell me whenever you need my help.
-How grown up my little Vanessa has become! -Philip looked at his daughter with joy.Property of Nô)(velDr(a)ma.Org.
-Dad, I’m not a child anymore!
Even though she had married, Vanessa’s parents still treated her as a naïve child, and did not want her to suffer at all, and, by the same token, the girl also wanted to do something for her father.
-Dad, promise me you’ll tell me about all the problems facing the company, I don’t want you to carry everything on your own, OK? And don’t lie to me, dad,” Vanessa asked with teary eyes.
Philip in turn accepted it immediately as he saw the tears swirling in his daughter’s eyes.
-Okay, I promise I’ll never lie to you.
With that said, Vanessa felt more relieved and told more funny things to cheer Philip up until bedtime.
The next day, Vanessa felt more encouraged and decided to work harder to start learning how to run a business. Previously, she had been able to do what she liked because she had her father as her back-up and when her father retired, Orlando would run the company in his place.
But now everything had changed completely.
Since she was determined to separate from Orlando at all costs, she would have to learn to manage the company on her own, so she revealed her idea to Philip:
-But didn’t you want to create your own fashion label?
Philip was very happy that his daughter had become mature, but at the same time he was sad that she had to give up what she loved for the company.
-It’s OK, I can run the company and design at the same time. Besides, it gives me more security to have a big company to support me in my career. Dad, you don’t have to feel guilty, because sooner or later I will have to take over the Cazalla Group, won’t I? -said Vanessa, smiling.
-Vanessa, I just want you to be happy.
-I’m very happy and always have been, because I’ve been very lucky to be your daughter, dad.
-My child,” said Philip, moved.
Suddenly she felt like crying and he patted his daughter’s shoulder, saying:
-Vanessa, my good daughter!
-Well, from now on, I’m going to start studying at your side how to run a company well.
-All right, I’ll send the secretary to prepare an office for you and ask me anything that comes up. Also, you can ask the secretary and all the managers.
-Yes, I’ll work hard, Dad!
That same afternoon, Vanessa started learning hard in the office that Felipe had set up and soon got used to the rhythm of the work.
It was eleven o’clock at night when he returned to Villa Real. She saw Orlando on the sofa when she opened the door, but she didn’t want to say a word to him and went straight upstairs.
-What are you doing lately? -asked Orlando.