Chapter 3

Shaina took a deep breath while standing in front of the mirror inside the restroom of the building where she would start working. Her palms were sweaty, her knees were shaking, and her chest felt like a hammer was pounding inside. In short, she was eaten by nerves. She didn’t even know if it was nervousness or if she already needed to use the toilet.

“Okay, Shaina. You can do this,” she whispered to herself with a forced smile while staring at her reflection. “It’s just the first day. You’re not gonna poop. You’re not gonna poop!”

She shook her head at her own reflection. When you’re nervous, you really feel all kinds of things.

She fixed her hair. She didn’t look ready at all. Not like a killer secretary who could match her strict boss. She looked like a little kid on her first day of school, left by her mom at the gate. She shook her head again.

She pulled out her pressed powder from her bag, retouched, and tried to pout at the mirror. “There. You look presentable. Not like you’re ready to run back home.” She brushed her hair again and winked at herself. Somehow, it made her feel a little lighter.

Just when she was starting to breathe normally, the door opened. Panic hit her again, and without thinking, she rushed inside a cubicle to hide. Two women entered, both in office attire, clearly used to the place. They didn’t notice her because they were busy talking. Or maybe they noticed but didn’t care.

“Bes, did you hear about the applicant yesterday?” one of them said.

Wait. Are they talking about me? she thought.

“Oh my God, yes!” the other replied with a laugh. “She went to the interview with mud all over her clothes. No poise at all, te! Looked like she wasn’t even applying. If it was me, I’d rather hide under the table than face Sir Lukas.”

They both laughed, and Shaina felt her feet itching to step out and smack their heads together. Just because they didn’t know the truth about the mud, they already made her gossip material of the day.

“And there’s more,” the first woman continued. “They said Sir Lukas accepted her right away. Hmm, what’s the reason? Maybe she has some hidden talent!”

The two laughed again. Shaina couldn’t take it anymore. She pushed open the cubicle door and stepped out. She gave them a full up-and-down look.

As if you’re even pretty. You look like feet, she thought.

“Hi,” she said with a fake smile, even though inside she wanted to throw her pressed powder case at their faces.

The two women froze. Shaina clicked her compact shut, shoved it back into her bag, and walked out of the restroom with her head high, as if nothing happened.

But her mind was boiling.

First day and I’m already trending as Miss Mud Girl. And who’s to blame? Not those two witches in the CR, but my arrogant boss who drives like a king! If he hadn’t splashed me with his luxury car, I wouldn’t be a laughingstock now. So annoying!

Her fist tightened.

If only I wasn’t desperate, if only my family didn’t need me, I would never accept this job. But because of Lukas Vergara, I’m now the official office gossip. I swear, I want to bury him alive in the same mud he baptized me with! Push his face there again and again until that smug smile disappears!

She bit her lip hard.

But no. I can’t kill him. That’s just a joke. I’m still a nice person, okay! If I lose this job, what will happen to my parents in Cebu? What will happen to my family?

She took a deep breath, trying to calm herself.

Fine. I won’t bury him in mud. I’ll just throw him in a septic tank. More fitting.

She breathed deep again before knocking on the glass door with the words CEO – Lukas Vergara. Her chest tightened, like a ghost was chasing her.

Relax, Shaina. This is just work. Work that you don’t even have a choice about. That’s all, okay? Chill.

“Come in.”

She heard the deep, calm voice from inside.

When she entered, it felt like she was seeing another Lukas Vergara. Not the arrogant man from yesterday, leaning back on his swivel chair, judging her from head to toe. She still remembered that look.

Now, the man in front of her looked like a prince, like he couldn’t hurt anyone. He didn’t seem like the same boss who called her his babysitter secretary.

This one looked like a handsome, focused, almost intimidating professional boss. He wore a white polo shirt, buttoned to the neck, with a navy-blue blazer. His eyes were on his laptop, but when he looked up, Shaina froze.

“Sit.” His voice was short but firm. No arrogance, no sarcasm. Just pure authority.

She sat on the leather chair near him, trying to calm her nerves. But her eyes kept staring at him.

What is this? A doppelgänger? A clone? Or maybe he had a twin brother who was the nice one? Because it was impossible. This wasn’t the same Lukas from yesterday!

“Since you’ll be my secretary, I’ll do the orientation myself,” Lukas said. His tone carried authority, with no emotion. “I can’t leave this to anyone else. You’ll handle everything about my schedule, meetings, calls, and correspondence. Everything is confidential. If you make a mistake, it won’t just affect me but the whole company.”

Shaina nodded automatically, but her brain was already screaming.

Wow. Big word: confidential. So you’re not Lukas the Jerk today. You’re Lukas the Gentleman Boss? What a fast character development, sir! her mind shouted.

As Lukas explained the filing system and who she should coordinate with, she couldn’t help but watch him. Every move was precise, not a single mistake. His way of talking was so different from the man she saw yesterday.

And that confused her even more. Because why was she suddenly thinking he was handsome? She shook her head fast. No, her brain shouldn’t work like that. She should be mad at him. He was the reason she was the gossip of his whole company!

“Miss Dela Cruz, are you listening?”

She froze. She was caught staring at his lips. She quickly looked down at her nails, pretending to check them.

“Yes, Sir!” she answered, too loud.

He raised his eyebrow, not convinced. “Then repeat what I just said.”

Dead.

She bit her lip, pretending to think. “Uh, you said… confidential, uhmm schedule? Meetings, calls, and uhh.” She scratched her head. “Top secret and everything?”

Crap! What else did he say?

She saw the corner of his lips twitch, like he was holding back a smile. “Good enough.”

And that made her even more annoyed. Why did he look like he enjoyed seeing her struggle? And why was she the one losing her balance under his stare? Why did it feel like the situation had flipped?

Lukas Vergara, don’t you dare act like a nice guy. Yesterday, I wanted to bury you alive. Today, you look like you have an angel twin.