Chapter 2

I woke up because someone hit me with a pillow on my face.

"Hey Scarlet! Wake up! We still have work, if you might forget!" Aira shouted at me and shook my body.

"Okay, fine! I'll get up!" I annoyingly told her.

I got up and washed my face.

"Do you think I forgot what you did last night?" she shouted, and her saliva went on my face.

TF disgusting! I suddenly froze. I remembered what happened last night, but I immediately ignored it in my mind.

I have to suppress my Best friend's anger, first because I left her last night in the Club. I approached and sat down next to her. She was sitting on the sofa wearing her dark aura.

"I'm sorry best friend. My stomach hurt last night. I couldn't help it either, so I went home right away. Promise, I'll make it up to you! I'll treat you lunch later!"

And then I suddenly remembered my wallet.

"Oh shoot! I lost my wallet, Aira! Have you seen it? "I asked her.

"I didn't see it; you might have left it in the Club. Let's go back there later," she said.

"I'm sorry..."

"Apology accepted! If you weren't just my best friend, I would have strangled you while you were sleeping earlier."

I laughed and hugged her tight.

***

I've been very anxious because I might saw that masked man here in the office. Sometimes, he wandered around to observe the employees. I'm afraid I will meet him here.

I was busy with my papers when the executive secretary called me on my desk phone.

"Hello? Scarlet speaking..."

"Our CEO wants to talk to you. ASAP," that's all she said, then hung up.

I was suddenly worried and trembling. I'm doomed! Will he terminate me?

I immediately entered the elevator and hit the floor where our CEO's office was. I saw his Secretary, she suddenly called someone and said, "Sir, Ms. Scarlet is here."

I can hear my heart beating. My hands, too, are shaking.

"Please go inside, Ms. Scarlet. The CEO is waiting for you," she told me and began typing on her computer.

I took a deep breath to calm myself before opening the door. I need to act normal in front of him, or else I would be doomed. I could lose my job!

"Good morning, sir."

My cheeks warmed up again when I remembered how he had danced in front of me last night. Omg! What a humiliation!

He suddenly cleared his throat and looked at me.

"You may sit here, Ms. Scarlet."

He pointed the chair in front of him.

I sat down and only stared at my hands on my knees. I don't want to look at him because I might remember what happened last night.

"I believe this is yours, Ms. Scarlet," he said and handed me my wallet.

I was shocked to see my wallet in front of him.

"How—"

He interrupted me and said, "You fell it when you ran out of the club," he said and smirked at me.

"Let's get to the point, Ms. Scarlet. What are you doing backstage last night?" he asked.

"I was…" What should I tell him? Should I tell him that I stalked him? That I want to see him again? No way I won't say that.

"I got lost, Sir. I thought it was the Comfort room. I'm sorry." I bent down and shut my eyes, hoping that my alibi would work.

He stared at me intently and sighed.

"Since you already knew my secret. I want you to keep your mouth shut —" I cut him off.

"Yes, Sir! Promise! Swear to God in heaven. I will not speak!" I raised my right hand as a sign of promise.

"Aggressive, Ms. Scarlet? I can't be sure if what you're saying is true. Who knows, after our conversation, you will blackmail me. I investigated your background." He opened the folder in front of him, and I saw my picture there. He was scanning it intently and looking at me with a half-smile on his face.

"I see. You are from an isolated island in Siargao. No wealth, I must say poor, and you're the breadwinner of your family."

And so? Is it a crime?

"And maybe when you're stuck, you'll sell what you know about me to the media." He looked at me and caressed his chin as if he was thinking.

"I am not like that, Mr. Berkshire," I boldly answered him.

"Let's have an agreement." He ignored what I said, and he pulled out the paper stuck in the folder and took out his pen.

"What do you mean?"

"You will shut your mouth and keep my secret in return for your promotion. I know you want to be promoted to the job, Ms. Hart. Just think of your family on the Island."

"What if I signed it and I overstepped our agreement?" I asked.

"You will be in prison, and you will pay me P10,000 000." He grinned.

"What now, Ms. Hart? Deal?" he asked further.

"D-deal!"

For mom and dad, I will do it. All I will do is shut my mouth and keep his secret. That's all, easy. I signed our agreement and took my copy.

"Nice! Tomorrow you will be promoted as my executive secretary," he said with a smile and got up to leave the office.

"WHAT?" E-executive secretary? Holy cow! I was shocked. Why is it too high? Did I hear it right?

"What? Wait, Sir!" I closed the door and blocked his way.

"Did I hear it right? You want me to be your Secretary? How about your current Secretary?" I was stunned because he was so tall. I had the glanced to look at his very smooth face and shit! The tip of the nose was very pointed.

"Stop drooling, Ms. Hart."

I stood up straight in front of him.

"Well, I will just transfer my Secretary to another branch. Is it okay now? If you'll excuse me, I have a meeting to attend..." He came out of his office, and I was dumbfounded.

OMG! I Will be his Secretary? Holy Shit!

I hurriedly came out of his office with a smile on my face. I will no longer be a great servant to my co-workers starting tomorrow. I smiled sheepishly.

However, I will miss them even if they are very bossy. Can I also request that Aira's office will put up here?

I excluded my thoughts. I went downstairs and entered our office. I suddenly saw Aira's face in front of me.

"Where have you been, Scarlet? Someone said you went to the CEO's office? Did you do something wrong?" she worriedly asked me. I was taken aback by her question.

"That's a lot of questions! Yes, I went to our CEO's office. But I'll tell you what happened later. Some ears can hear us."

We gazed at the people in the office. Most of our office mates looked at us as if they were listening.

"Yeah, let's talk about that later." She left and went to her office. I also went back to my desk.

I was about to sit at the desk when my co-workers ordered something for me. I sighed and did everything that they told me to do. This is the last day, and tomorrow I will not be here anymore. I smiled.

I garnered all my time working and following their request.

"Do you know the rumors? Someone will have a promotion here in our department."

I looked at the girl in front of my desk.

"Omg! Maybe it's you, Anne! You've been working here for how many years, if I was not mistaken, six years?" one of our co-workers said.

"Correction, seven years!" she smiled and said out of plasticity.

"Y-Yeah! Maybe it's you who will get the promotion! Congrats, Anne!" Everyone congratulated her except me. Anne stared at me as if she was waiting for me to congratulate her.

Excited eh? It wasn't confirmed yet.

"Congratulations, Anne," I smiled at her.

I just laugh at their assumptions. I shook my head. If only they knew it was me.

It was seven o'clock in the evening when we went out to our work. We came home to the apartment exhausted. As we ate, we talked about what Mr. Berkshire and I talked about.

"So, what did you and our Boss talk about?" she asked.

"Hmmm. I've been promoted!" I told her enthusiastically.

"WHAT? OMG! Congratulations! Let's celebrate!" she yelled.

"We can do it tomorrow because it's getting late already; besides, we are tired."

"Where were you promoted?"

"Executive Secretary..."

"Holy guacamole! Seriously?" she surprisingly asked.

"Oh, my goodness! Good luck to you, Scarlet Hart, daughter of the Island in Siargao! You are so blessed, though. First, the leader of the Royal Night danced with you, then now you're the Executive Secretary of our Boss? Big applause to you, madam Scarlet!"

"Stop it, Aira! You are overreacting again."

"But you’re lucky, seriously, and I am happy with your achievements right now. Congratulations, best friend!" she mumbled. She hugged me, and I hugged her back.

"So, where do we celebrate tomorrow?" she excitedly asked.

"On Royal Night again?"

"Alright! Your treat!”