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Chapter 3

Author: Anne Author
last update publish date: 2025-11-19 13:23:42

Alexander’s POV

She doesn’t play the game, yet somehow, she’s changing the rules.

Wala pa akong limang minuto sa opisina pero naiinitan na ako. Hindi dahil sa temperatura, kundi dahil sa paulit-ulit na boses ni Armand sa kabilang linya ng telepono.

“You overstepped, Alexander. Hindi ka dumaan sa chain of command. Bakit mo isinama ang isang HR officer sa site validation?”

“Because the others failed,” malamig kong sagot. “And she didn’t.”

“We can’t just change protocol based on a hunch!”

Hindi ko na siya sinagot. Pinatay ko ang tawag bago pa ako makapagsabi ng mas marahas. Ang mga tao sa paligid ko gustong-gusto ang pormalidad, ang proseso kahit palpak ang resulta. Ako? I move with efficiency, not ceremony.

Tumayo ako at lumapit sa glass wall ng opisina. Mula rito, tanaw ko ang kabuuan ng 28th floor. Lahat ng tao, abala. Pero may isang presensya na parang kabaligtaran ng ingay ng mundo.

At iyon ay walang iba kundi si Jasmine Ramirez.

Naka-black slacks. Loose white top. Walang kahit anong pakitang gilas sa pananamit. Pero tuwing tatawid siya sa hallway, parang may humihinto sa paligid. Hindi dahil sa ganda lang, kundi sa lakas ng personalidad na hindi niya pilit ipinapakita.

She doesn’t smile to please. She doesn’t dress to impress. But still… she commands attention.

And that’s dangerous.

Kagabi, matapos ang field visit namin.

Nagising akong pawis na pawis bandang alas-dos ng madaling araw. Hindi dahil sa init. Hindi rin dahil sa stress. Kundi dahil sa isang tanong na bumabagabag:

Bakit hindi ko siya matanggal sa isip ko?

Bawat sagot niya sa akin matalim, diretso, walang paligoy-ligoy. Bawat tingin niya hindi humahanga, hindi natatakot, kundi pantay. At doon ako hindi sanay.

Sanay akong tingalain. Katakutan. Pagbigyan.

Pero siya? Tila ba wala akong kapangyarihan sa kanya.

At sa paraang iyon, parang mas lalo akong nawawalan ng kontrol.

“Chairman, final na po ba ‘yung memo na may bagong structure sa CSR team?” tanong ng AVP.

“Yes. Jasmine Ramirez will temporarily supervise the audit.”

Kumirot ang tensyon sa paligid. Kita ko ang pagpigil ng ilang department heads na magtaas ng kilay.

“She’s under HR. Hindi po ba conflict of—”

“Hindi ito contest ng titles,” putol ko. “It’s about competence.”

Tumahimik ang lahat. Walang tumutol.

Later that day – Private Lounge

Nakita ko siya sa executive lounge, nakaupo sa sulok, may hawak na kape at mukhang inaayos ang notes niya. Hindi niya ako nakita agad. Sandali akong tumigil sa pinto. Tinitigan ko siya. Hindi siya mukhang HR personnel lang. She carried herself like someone who knew she belonged kahit maraming gustong palabasin na hindi siya dapat nandoon.

Lumapit ako.

“Hindi mo kailangang magpaka-stress. You did well yesterday,” sabi ko.

Tumitig siya sa akin. Walang pilit na pasasalamat. Walang ngiting pang-pa-ego.

“Hindi ako nag-e-effort para pasayahin ka, Mr. Thompson. Ginagawa ko lang ang trabaho ko.”

Napangisi ako.

“Alam mo bang ikaw lang ang empleyado kong nakakalimutang tawagin ako ng ‘Sir’?”

“Sorry, default setting ko ‘yun,” sabay sip sa kape niya.

Hindi ko alam kung paano ko haharapin ang babaeng ito. She doesn’t respond to charm not that I’m trying. Pero kapag tinitigan ko siya, hindi ko maipaliwanag ang nararamdaman ko.

Hindi ito lust. Hindi rin admiration.

Ito yung takot na baka sa unang pagkakataon, hindi ako ang may hawak ng remote control.

Kinagabihan sa penthouse

Nagbukas ako ng whisky at umupo sa sofa. Nasa TV ang world news, pero wala akong naririnig.

Bigla akong natawa sa sarili ko.

Alexander, what the hell is this?

Ilang babaeng mas magaganda, mas elite, ang dumaan sa buhay ko. Models. Heiresses. Artists.

Pero ang babaeng iyon ang nakakapagpatigil sa mundo ko sa isang simpleng tingin.

Sa kanya ako naiirita pero gusto kong marinig ang boses niya.

Galit siya sa ugali ko pero ako ang una niyang hahanapin sa emergency.

Hindi niya ako sinusuyo pero gusto kong mapansin niya ako.

She doesn’t want me… and that’s the problem.

I don’t like losing.

But with her, I’m not even sure I’m playing the same game.

Kapag ang utak mo sinabing layuan mo na siya, pero ang puso ko… gusto pang manatili.

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