Tony drove the car inside the building, parking smoothly with ease in front of the building's entrance door. Just before he could even turn off the engine and step out to open the back door for Diana, CSO had already taken charge as he usually does.
With a wide smile all over his face, he pulled the door open and raised his hand... saluting dramatically.
"Ah! My honorable boss! My one and only boss! The queen of all queens! The most beautiful woman to ever walk on this planet!"
He bellowed slightly, his loud voice echoing off the surroundings.
Diana, stepping out of the car, burst into laughter... laughing out loud as if she was free of worries. "CSO, you're at this behavior again! Please, leave me alone. I don't have the strength for your drama now."
"Ah!, Madam... no ooo!" CSO continued, still standing straight with his puffed-out chest, giving Diana another quick salute.
"But of course, madam. It is my duty to recognize your astonishing beauty! And besides, who is more gorgeous than you, my sweet madam? Hey, madam...if beauty were a crime. Ah! They would have sentenced my madam to eighty years' imprisonment because, ah!"
"Jesus!"
Diana exclaimed softly, shaking her head and still laughing. "Alright, alright, CSO... you win. But, I didn't come back with any goodies."
CSO placed a hand on his chest, shaking his head. "Ah, Madam, why didn't you get anything for the Chief Security Officer?"
Meanwhile, Tony just stepped out of the car. He sighed as he shut the car door. "CSO, must she buy something for you? At least let her rest... can't you see she's tired?"
CSO gasped dramatically immediately, taking a step back jokingly as if Tony had just insulted the entire nation.
"Tired? Tired? Sir Tony, how dare you wish my boss tiredness? Who even gave you the audacity to interrupt this sacred moment of joy?"
He then turned quickly back to Diana, who just stood there, resting her back on the car.
"Madam, please, with immediate effect...grant me an arrest warrant, so I can detain this man for obstruction of peace in this mansion!"
Diana threw her head back, laughing. She didn't see this part coming at all.
"An arrest warrant?"
"Yes, madam! He is a threat to your happiness in this house! And for that, I must lock him up before he contaminates the other staff with this disease of his!"
Tony smiled lightly, shaking his head dramatically. "Ma'am, don't listen to this man."
CSO gasped again, acting shocked. "Madam, you see? He just addressed me as 'this man' instead of recognizing my office in this house. Ah! This is a criminal offense!"
Immediately, he stood at attention, saluting dramatically to Diana again. "Please, madam, for justice's sake, allow me to carry out my duty and detain him!"
Diana, still laughing to the extent that water seemed to be dropping from the corner of her eye. "Alright, CSO, you have my permission to detain Tony... but let it be in your dreams tonight."
CSO clutched his hand on his chest. "Ah! Madam! This one... this Tony. Ah, he won't be sleeping tonight to avoid me in his dreams."
But, then he suddenly relaxed his body. "No problem! I will wait for the day you make me the Minister of Security. Then, I will detain him both physically and spiritually!"
Diana chuckled softly and shook her head repeatedly. "CSO, you can never change."
"Oh... that, I'm not even thinking of changing! As long as CSO is concerned, happiness will continue to reign in this mansion!"
Diana smiled warmly at him. "Um... thank you, CSO."
CSO beamed himself up with pride, standing even taller now.
"It's always my honor, madam! Now, please go in and rest. But remember, if you need someone to tell you how beautiful you are... ah! I'm active!"
"Oh... okay, I will do that."
Diana smiled and then took a step forward, heading towards the entrance glass door. Tony followed her behind, shaking his head in amusement at CSO's endless energy.
Meanwhile, he stood there with a wide grin on his face watching as the entrance door closed behind them. He was indeed proud of himself as this was the only way he could reciprocate the love Madam Diana had always shown him; always making sure that Diana always had something to smile about.
Diana stepped into the grand yet welcoming interior of her mansion. She already knew what would come next, the other two staff members that casually made fun of her like CSO. Sure enough, she spotted her head of the house cleaners beforehand.
"Fuego," she called casually as usual.
Fuego, upon hearing her voice, spun around immediately, with a wide grin on his. His hands were already wiping off the water on them against his cloth.
"Good evening, ma'am! This one you looked stressed... hope nobody is stressing you at the office? You know if anyone dares to, just press my digital code on your phone. And I will handle that person," he said, raising his muscles as if he had the power to fight the whole world on her behalf.
Diana chuckled softly and motioned him to calm down. "Relax, Fuego. No one stressed me."
Fuego nodded in approval. "Good, good. Good they know I don't take rubbish when it comes to you."
Diana only smiled quietly this time, knowing what would follow next. Just as expected, Fuego leaned in slightly, his voice very low as he whispered. "So...madam, what did you bring back for me?"
She smiled. "Ah, Fuego, do I look like someone with money? Nothing, oh. Truthfully, I was thinking you'd help me buy me pizza. Like... I'm craving it."
Fuego was shocked, smiling.
"Me? Buy pizza for you? How can a just me buy pizza for a whole you? By the way, Madam, you're tired. You should go upstairs and freshen up."
Diana was staring at him jokingly, smiling at his change of topic. Then, Sasha, the chief cook, walked in dressed in her kitchen attire.
"Madam."
She greeted her casually as she always did.
Diana turned to face Sasha. "Sasha, you're here. Please tell me you prepared something... I'm seriously hungry right now."
Sasha's face brightened up with enthusiasm.
"Of course, I did! I knew you'd be coming back home hungry, so I made something special just for you. Go upstairs and freshen up and, then come down, let me get it ready for you."
Diana nodded and gave her a thumbs up. "I'm coming down immediately."
Diana stepped onto the stairs, getting herself to her room. Meanwhile, Sasha rushed into the kitchen, while Fuego and Tony remained there watching Diana walk up the stairs.
But as Diana reached her room and shut the door behind her, the smiles on her face vanished like smoke into the air.
She looked around for some moments, as her worries came back flowing like an ocean rushing into her mind. She slid down to the floor, resting her back against the door.
Tears began welling up in her eyes as the weight of the doctor's words echoed in her mind repeatedly, reminding her how short her life is on this planet.