The Words She Cannot Read

CHAPTER 4

Farah's Point Of View

By 8am, I was already inside my office at Al-Gaddafi Oil and Gas Ventures. My heels clicked against the polished floor, and the first thing I noticed the moment I pushed the glass door open was the change in the room.

The desk. The chair. Even the plants I requested yesterday. Nandiyan na lahat. Freshly delivered siguro mga six in the morning. The air smelled faintly of varnish, leather, and new furniture, like a showroom of luxury office supplies.

I walked around slowly, my robe from last night now replaced by a crisp white blouse tucked into high-waist slacks. I brushed my fingers against the edge of the new mahogany table... smooth, glossy, obviously expensive, exactly how I wanted it. Beside it, a soft tan leather chair, perfectly matching the beige tone of the walls. Sa corner, two huge indoor plants stood tall, breaking the monotony of all the neutrals.

I stopped in front of the chair, imagining. So this is where she's going to sit. My "reading specialist." My teacher. A new stranger who's going to see me at my weakest point every single day... struggling with words that dance on the page. Hindi siya assistant. Hindi siya staff. She's going to be in my space, facing me, correcting me.

My chest felt tight just thinking about it.

I pulled out my phone and hit speed dial. A few seconds later, Elvira's voice came through the line.

"Good morning, Madam Farah."

"Elvira," I said, my tone clipped, business as usual kahit medyo distracted pa ako. "Before lunch, bumili ka ng food. Wag basta-basta takeout ha, baka kung saan saan kalang bumili. Buy in a luxury restaurant. I want steak, pasta, sushi, salads, desserts... the works. You know my standards."

"Yes, Madam. How many people po?"

"Three. Me, Rebecca, and Maureen. She's the new teacher. They'll be arriving lunch time."

Elvira hesitated just a second. "Noted, Madam. I'll handle everything."

"Make sure the delivery is before twelve. And make it look presentable. Hindi buffet style na parang may fiesta. Ayusin mo ang plating pagdating. Understood?"

"Yes, Madam. Consider it done."

I ended the call, slipping my phone on the desk. My reflection glared back at me from the black glass surface of the new table.

Rebecca. Always so excited about things like this. She probably can't wait to see Maureen again, introduce her to me formally as if I haven't already read about her online. And then Maureen herself... Attorney Saint Monica Falconer, fresh from winning cases, now hired to handle my dyslexia problem.

I pressed my lips together, pacing around the office. My heels echoed in the silence.

Luxury food, brand-new furniture, carefully curated environment. Everything was in place. Everything looked perfect. But deep down, I could already feel that familiar discomfort twisting in my stomach. This wasn't just a business meeting. This wasn't just another lawyer or consultant walking in.

This one was going to sit in that chair. Every day. Looking straight at me. Reading with me. Correcting me. And maybe... seeing through me.

I sank slowly into my own chair behind my massive desk, resting my elbows on the armrests. I glanced again at the new setup across me, the chair waiting like some kind of throne for the one person I wasn't sure I was ready to meet.

"Maureen Falconer," I muttered under my breath, testing the weight of her name on my tongue. "Let's see if you'll last."

I was still staring at that empty chair across my desk when my phone buzzed. Rebecca. Of course.