Pawis na pawis ako habang umaakyat sa entrance staircase ng DS company building, halos lumipad ang scooter ko sa bilis ng pagmamaneho ko para lang hindi ako malate.
Bawat hakbang ay may kabang bumabalot sa puso ko. Ilang taon na rin akong wala rito kaya masasabi kong maraming pinagbago. Mas lalong naging maganda at susyal ang loobang disenyo ng building, lahat ay nag-upgrade hindi tulad dati na simple lang ang interior design. Bukod duon ay halos lahat ng tao ay pormal, walang ingay na maririnig kundi ang yapak lang ng mga sapatos nila. Most of them are minding their own business.
Nagsimula akong maglakad nang mabagal upang mas mapagmasdan ang kabuuan ng lugar. Maraming pinagbago kaya't siguradong maninibago rin ako.
I unconsciously pinched my lower lip out of habit. I do this whenever I'm nervous, it's a bad habit of mine that's needed to be stopped. Pero hindi ko mapigilan ang sarili ko dahil hindi ko namamalayan na ginagawa ko na pala.
I gasped in surprised when someone bumoed into me, it was a woman who looks like she's in rush. Instead of apologizing, she just brushed past me and walked away. She didn't even dare to check if I was okay.
Hindi na ako nagbaon ng sama ng loob dahil hindi ko naman siya masisi at mukhang nagmamadali siya. Actually, lahat ng tao ay mukhang nagmamadali at busy.
Was Mr. Dwyer really serious about what he said? Did he really hired me for a job as his personal assistant? He wasn't joking, right? Please, tell me his wasn't joking!
Pumasok ako sa elevator. Kapansin-pansin din ang disenyo ng elevator at mukhang dinagdagan pa ito ng dalawa dahil siguro ay dumarami nang dumarami na ang empleyado ng kumpanya.
Nag-iisa lang ako sa elevator, mabuti na lang. Pinindot ko ang pinakamataas na elevator kung saan naroon ang opisina ni Mr. Dwyer sa pagkakaalam ko. Dahil ako lang mag-isa ay ginamit ko ito para makapag-ayos habang hindi pa bumubukas ang elevator. Sinuklay ko ang manipis kong bangs gamit ang kamay, naglagay ako ng konting powder sa mukha at konting lipgloss sa labi para naman mag mukha akong kaaya-aya.
Matapos ang ilang minuto ay bumukas na ang pinto ng elevator. Halos walang tao sa floor na ito hindi tulad sa first floor ng building, ang makikita mo lang yata ay mga dalawa o tatlong tao, ang iba siguro ay nasa loob ng mga opisina nila. I tried to ask a couple of people but they just ignored like the woman that bumped into me did. Hinanap ko na lang mag-isa ang opisina ng CEO, surely may sign naman siguro na nakalagay kung nasaan ito 'diba?
Few moments later, I found a fancy ceiling-height double door. Nakalagay rito ang buong pangalan ni Mr. Dwyer at ang posisyon nito sa kumpanya.
Nakaramdam ako ng kaba, inayos ko ang blazer ko at ang buhok ko. Huminga ako ng malalim at bubuksan na sana ang pinto, hindi ko ito natuloy nang biglang may bumukas dito sa kabilang side at may babaeng tumakbo palabas sa silid na 'to habang umiiyak.
Naningkit ang mga mata ko sa pagtataka habang pinapanood na tumakbo ang babae palayo habang umiiyak. Mr. Dwyer is known for his philandering ways, he probably broke the heart of that poor woman. Bukod duon ay nakakapagtaka rin kung wala akong nakitang niisang tao na mag-aapply bilang PA niya. Seryoso ba talaga siya kanina? Did he seriously hired me? If he did, then I am 10 minutes late!
Oh god, he's so confusing! And he's also frustrating!
Hindi nawala ang kaba at nerbyos ko, kadalasan naman ay confident ako tuwing nag-aapply sa isang trabaho.
I took a deep breath before knocking softly on the door.
"Come in."
I swallowed, I pressed my palm on my chest to feel how nervous I am right now. I can't believe I'll get more nervous after hearing his powerful voice.
I slowly opened the door with my eyes close, I stepped in and closed the door behind me. I can't look ahead just yet, I can't meet his eyes for some reason.
"Good morning!" I greeted, managing to sound confident and jolly.
I finally found the urge to meet his gaze, my jaw dropped and my eyes widened when I saw him naked. Not exactly naked-naked, he's just topless but that count as naked, right? Why the hell would he be naked in his office while working? Or was he working? So my theory was right? He did broke that woman's heart.
Agad kong binaba ang tingin sa sahig at tinakpan ang mga mata ko.
This man, really!?
"Have a seat," he said.
Tinatakpan ko pa rin ng kamay ang mga mata ko habang naglalakad papunta sa office table niya kung saan naka-provide na ang dalawang magkaharao sa swivel chair sa harao ng table niya.
"T-thank you," I laughed awkwardly while taking one the seat like he told so.
From the corner of my eyes, I could see him slipping his muscular arms inside the sleeves of his buttoned shirt, he wore a tuxedo on top of it and reached for his necktie.
I let out the breath that I was holding and finally able to look at him. His eyes are on me, I couldn't tell what's going on with his mind.
"So..." he began, sitting down on his seat, "my new assistant is twelve minutes late." He said while looking at his watch, he shook his head in disapproval and returned his gaze on me.
"The traffic—"
"Why don't we start discussing about rules?" He cut me off, he put his elbow against the arm of his swivel chair and rested his chin on his fisted hand. "What's your name?"
"Oh, uhm, it's Seraphina Leir."
Umupo ako ng tuwid at pormal, tinitigan ko siya sa mga mata kahit na kinakabahan na ako ng sobra.
"Miss Leir..." His eyes never left mine, he licked his lower lip seductively. "I'm going to give you a contract that you have sign, all your responsibilities are in there, including the rules and regulations that you strictly need to follow. Can you follow some simple rules, Miss Leir?"
"Yes, I can." I responded confidently. "I once worked here so I know a few rules and already got an advantage. I also know the responsibilities of being your personal assistant."
He nodded, "hand me your papers."
"Oh right!" Nilabas ko ang mga papeles ko at binigay ito sa kaniya habang nakangiti. Tinanggap niya ito, he just skimmed through my papers, he stopped at my resume which has my picture printed on the top right.
"So, you know what you should do already? Ayoko ng tatanga-tanga sa trabaho."
"Yes, sir."
"Well then..." his eyes roamed around my appearance and it stopped on covered breast. Wala sa sarili akong napahawak sa dibdib ko, ayokong mag-assume pero bakit pakiramdam ko ay binabastos niya ako sa mga tingin na ginagawad niya? O baka assuming lang talaga ako. "Are you still a virgin?"
Halos lumuwa ang mata ko sa tanong na lumabas sa bibig niya.
"P-po?"
"Are you still a virgin?"
What the heck is happening?
"Why are you asking that?" I asked, getting suspicious.
"Good," tumaas ang sulok ng labi niya. "Now the rules..."
Hindi pa rin rumirehistro sa utak ko ang mga sinabi niya kani-kanina lang. Bakit parang may mali yata sa mga tinatanong niya? Hindi yata normal na itanong niya kung virgin pa ako?
Napahawak ako sa itaas kong labi, malalim na nag-iisip.
Bakit niya iyon tinanong? Teka, gusto niya ba akong pagsamantalahan? Isa siyang babaero kaya hindi na ako magtataka. Tama ba na magtrabaho ako rito? Kaylangan na kaylangan ko kasi ang trabahong ito, kung pwede lang na mag-back out gagawin ko kung wala lang akong pangangailangan. Masyado naman yata akong bastos kung tumanggi ako ngayong nandito na ako.
Hindi bale na nga. Imposible namang magkainteres siya sa akin. Maganda ako pero hindi naman ako kagandahan tulad ng mga babaeng pinapatulan niya, hindi rin ako mayaman at may kaya lamang ako. I'm sure na mataas ang standad niya sa mga babae, I'm sure ang tipo niyan ay iyong maganda, sexy at mayaman.
"Are you listening to me, Miss Leir?"
Napakurap-kurap ako at napatingin sa kaniya, lumunok ako at may pag-aalinlangang tumango bilang sagot sa kaniya.
"U-uh... O-opo."
I wasn't listening, I have no idea of what the hell he's talking about.
"Get me a coffee," he said in a poker face. "Use the kitchen outside, I don't want you messing with my kitchenette.
Napakagat labi ako at tumango nalang, iniwan ko ang bag ko sa upuan at saka nagmadaling lumabas. Nakahinga na rin ako ng maluwag, hinawakan ko ang itaas kong labi habang naglalakad at hinahanap kung nasaan ang kitchen.
Where's the kitchen!?
Ang alam ko lang na kitchen ay ang sa fifth floor kung saan ako naka-assign dati kasama ang team ko. Masyadong maraming mga corridors ang floor na ito kumpara sa iba. Sana mahanap ko agad kung saan nagtatago ang pesteng kusina na 'yon.
Tinignan ko lahat ng mga corridors at kung saan-saan pa naglibot. Maya-maya pa ay nakakita ako ng malaking double door at may naka-attach na sign na ang nakasulat ay 'kitchen.'
Halos takbuhin ko ang pagitan namin ng pinto. When I pushed the door open, I was completely amazed by the fancy design and style of the kitchen. The room is very wide and gigantic, there are counters and completed tools, materials and equipmets for cooking. There are also electronic devices such as coffee maker, refrigerator, freezer and so on. Kumpleto lahat ng mga kagamitan dito.
There are also signs to every cabinets and drawers to which things are placed.
I opened the cabinet of coffees. Ang laman nito ay iba't ibang klase ng kape. Mapa-coffee beans man 'yon o instant coffee.
Anong kayang prefer ni Mr. Dwyer sa kape?
Dahil wala akong ideya ay tinimpla ko nalang ang kape na siguradong magugustuhan niya. Creamy coffee ang nasa isip ko dahil mahilig ako duon and I have just the thing for that. Sana nga lang ay hindi siya mahilig sa black coffee.
Ito pa lang ang pinapagawa sa akin eh natataranta na ako. Paano na 'yan kung may iba pa siyang iutos sa akin?
After making the coffee, I returned to the CEO's office. Kumatok muna ako bago pumasok, hindi ko siya nakita sa swivel chair niya. Ang hula ko at nasa silid ito kung saan nakabukas ang pinto. I didn't choose to be nosy, nilapag ko na lang ang kape sa table niya at naupo sa kinauupuan ko kanina. Nakuha ng atensyon ko ang cellphone na nasa table, nakabukas ito at kitang-kita ang mga hubad na litrato ng mga babae at mga p**n videos sa nakalagay na gallery nito.
Napatayo ako dahil sa nakita sa gulat, pinatay ko ang cellphone at dumistansya rito dahil sa takot. I backed away but my back bumped into something... or maybe into someone.
"Miss Leir?"
I flinched when I heard his voice from behind. His breath was tickling the exposed skin on my nape. I felt his strong and hard chest on my back as he reach for his phone.
"What are you lookin' at?" He asked, his warm breath fanning my ear. My hairs on my neck stood when his hand landed on my waist.
I bit my lower lip and swallowed in nervousness.
"Looking at this?" Pinakita niya sa akin ang cellphone niya na may lamang kabastusan.
Hindi ako nakagalaw at nakapagsalita. I could feel the warmness of his breath on my nape, nang bumaba ang kamay niya sa pang-upo ko saka na ako natauhan at gumawa ng kilos. Hinarap ko siya subalit imbis na makaiwas ako ay mas lalong lumala pa ang posisyon namin.
Our face are just an inches away from each other, our body are almost touching. It made my system hyper and alive for some reason.
"Why are you looking through my things, Miss Leir?" His eyes piercing through mine.
Now, I got trapped between his arms and under his gaze. I let him trapped me just like that!
"I-i... I'm not looking through your things, s-sir. It's not my intention. Your phone was a-already open, s-sir." Nauutal kong sagot.
He hummed in response, he took the coffee that I made for him and took a small sip, his eyes still focused on mine.
"Entertain me."
"I-it's not really my intention. Believe me." I looked down to avoid his piercing stare. It's starting to make me uncomfortable. "The phone was already open, It's not like I wanted to see those things on your phone."
His lips tugged upwards, he didn't responded for a few moments and just stared into my eyes.
"It's normal for a guy to have those things in their phone." He said, he reached for something on his table behind me and handed it to me. "Sign this contract now." Binigyan niya rin ako ng ballpen pero hindi pa rin siya lumayo sa akin para bigyan ako ng espasyo. Mabilis pa rin ang pagtibok ng puso ko dahil sa kaba.
Dahil desperado akong makaalis sa posisyon ay pinirmahan ko na lang ang kotrata nang hindi ito binabasa.
Kinuha niya mula sa akin ang kontrata at binaba sa lamesa. He took another sip of the coffee before speaking.
"Miss Leir?" He put down the coffee.
"Y-yes po?" Nanatili lang akong nakatingin sa sahig.
Narinig ko siyang tumawa ng mahina, pumunta ang daliri niya sa baba ko at inangat ito nang magsalubong ang mga mata naming dalawa.
"Bakit parang takot ka yata sa akin? Don't worry, I don't bite."
What he said made me look at his lips, I bit my lower lip after seeing how red and glossy it was and it seemed natural. How can someone have those perfect lips, I'm jealous.
"Back to business. I want you to be professional, I don't want you to make even just the slightest mistakes. I suggest you to try getting to know me so you can serve me right, understand?"
Bakit kaylangan mo pang maging ganito kalapit!?
I nodded, swallowing.
"Are you single?" He dropped another confusing question.
I frowned, "h-ha? "
"Are you single? "
"O-oo, bakit na naman—"
"I don't want anyone touching what's mine. You're my personal assistant which makes you mine, Miss Leir." The look he's giving me is so intimidating. My heart was still beating crazy, my heart never stopped beating so loud that I got paranoid he might hear it.
May kung anong pumasok sa isip ko para tanguan ang gusto niya.
He smirked. "Good girl."
He stepped away from me and then went to his seat. Hindi pa rin rumerehistro ang lahat sa utak ko kaya nanatili lang akong nakatulala at nakatayo.
What just happened?
Aksara