Chapter 1

I’m now standing in front of the big mansion. I gasped as I took my time to look around the place. It’s so big! Sobrang yaman ng may-ari nito. I got my phone from my sling bag when I heard it ring. It’s Mrs. Trinidad.

“Good afternoon, Mrs. Trinidad. Narito na po ako sa lugar ng sinasabi niyo. Papasok na po ba ako?” I asked, still amazed by the place.

“Yes, hija. You can proceed inside of the mansion,” her voice was so formal unlike the times when I am talking to her in the restaurant.

I started walking towards the mansion. I confused looked at the men wearing a black suit with the maids that were in line up there, it was like they were waiting for my arrival. They’re all looking down. May matandang babae na naglakad papunta sa kinatatayuan ko. Sa tabi nito ay lalaking matipuno na nasa edad ko lang din siguro, he’s wearing a black suit.

Hindi pa man ako nakakapag salita ay yumuko na ang matandang babae sa akin. “Good afternoon… Madame Elora. I’m Dulce, the head of the housekeepers.”

“Good afternoon, Lady Elora. I’m Duke.” I can see that he’s one of the men here with us, wearing a black suit too. They’re butlers or guards or something.

My attention was suddenly drawn to the housemaids who were quietly watching me, though their heads were still slightly bowed. There was something in their eyes—an emotion I couldn’t quite name. They were looking at me with a gaze that carried both warmth and sorrow. A strange mix of happiness… and sadness. Like they were glad to see me, yet burdened by something they couldn’t say.

It felt like there was a story behind their eyes, a silent truth they couldn’t speak. And the moment they noticed that I had caught them looking, they quickly lowered their eyes as if they weren’t supposed to be caught, as if they were afraid to be seen.

I didn’t know why, but their silent stares left a heaviness in my chest, as if they knew something about me that I didn’t. Or maybe… something I had forgotten.

Confused, I still flashed a smile and greeted too. “Good afternoon, Dulce. I’m here to apply as a babysitter of…” I stopped as I tried to remember the owner of this house.

Sh*t, Mrs. Trinidad never mentioned it.

“Hindi na kailangan mag-apply, Madame Elora. Makakapag simula na po kayo agad ngayon,” pormal nitong saad, there’s a careful weight in the way she speaks.. I nodded and remembered Mrs. Trinidad offer. So I’m already hired for this. Mabuti na lang kung ganoon.

“You can call me Elora na lang po,” I corrected. She looked surprised, she cleared her throat and shook her head at me.

“I cannot do that, Ma’am. Mas mabuti at mag tungo na tayo sa opisina. Gusto ka na niyang makausap…” she said and gave signal to the maids.

I pursed my lips as I nodded slowly. I couldn’t take them calling me Madame or Lady, it feels weird. I’m just someone here, a worker like them. Masyadong nakakataas ang ganoong tawag kaya hindi ko alam kung tama lang ba na tawagin akong ganoon.

I saw Duke walking near me, but he still made sure that there’s a one meter distance between us. “I’ll accompany you there. Come with me,” aniya. I nodded and followed him.

As we walked, I took my chance to look around at this big mansion. My mouth parted as I wandered my eyes around every corner of the house. I couldn’t help but stare at the modern sculptures, they were incredibly beautiful.

I don’t know why, but there was something I felt deep inside as I looked at them.

It was a strange, unexplainable feeling… as if those pieces were special. As if they held something meaningful… something deeper than what the eyes could see. I noticed Duke in my peripheral view, he’s glancing at me, checking my every reaction, as if he’s checking on something about me. Agad din na umiwas ito ng tingin nang tapunan ko siya ng tingin. He has this look in his eyes that I saw in the housemaids. Pero agad din naging malamig ang mga mata nito.

I cleared my throat and clasped my hands together. “Can I ask, Duke?” He was alert and attentive. He looked at me and nodded. “What is it, Lady Elora?”

“Can I know your boss’s name? I mean our boss,” I asked. He threw me a glance—as if that was the one question he didn’t expect me to ask.

“It’s Aaron Kavanaugh, Madame,” he answered shortly. He cleared his throat and looked away, and I could even hear him sigh. I winced and felt a bit embarrassed. How shameful of me to ask that. I’m about to work here, yet I don’t even know the name of my employer?

Aaron Kavanaugh… So that was the name. I felt my heart pounding fast, my body could feel my crazy heart beating. Maybe I’m just nervous.

Nang mapansin kong lumiko kami at dumaan sa hallway at ang dulo niyon ay nag-iisang pintuan, ang opisina. It’s like this area was made for the office. Duke knocked on the fancy door before he opened it.

“Lady Elora is here,” Duke announced.

I walked inside the room and I could feel the cold of the room hugging my pale skin. Malaki nga ang opisina na ito. Lumibot pa ang tingin ko at natigil sa matipunong lalaki na nakatayo roon. He had his back turned to us, one hand in his pocket while the other held a glass of wine. From where I stood, I could see the broadness of his shoulders and back. He was wearing a white button-down shirt that clung tightly to his body, perfectly outlining his well-built muscles.

Well… that explains it. He’s got a big, firm, and well-shaped body.

I gasped the moment he turned, finally giving me a full view of his undeniably handsome face. It was the kind of beauty that could silence thoughts and steal the breath straight from your lungs. But it wasn’t just his features that made me freeze, it was the way he looked at me.

He was staring straight into my eyes, unblinking, with a gaze that felt like it carried weight… as if it was reaching for something deep within me. His eyes were longing, lonely—like they were holding a thousand unspoken words, a quiet desperation he wasn’t saying out loud but was somehow telling me through that single look.

And at that moment, I forgot how to breathe.

I tried to tear my gaze away, tried to look anywhere but at him, but it was useless. His hand hadn’t touched me, and yet I felt completely pinned by his presence. His stare was so intense, so intimidating, it felt as if I was being unraveled, piece by piece. I looked down, unable to bear the weight of it any longer. Around him, I felt small—insignificant, even. Like I was standing before something greater, someone who could read straight through the walls I’d built around myself without even trying.

I felt my heart beating. It’s beating so fast that I could feel it. I could even hear my own heart beat! I glanced at Duke who was just staring somewhere.

“Please, take a seat,” he coldly said. I gulped and walked towards the sofa he gestured. As he walked towards the sofa in front of me I couldn't help myself but to admire him.

He had the kind of face that made you stare without meaning to, sharp jawline, a nose so perfectly shaped it looked like it was carved by steady hands. His skin held a warm, golden tone that caught the light just right. Thick lashes framed his deep-set eyes, the color of stormy gray, intense and unreadable. His brows were naturally furrowed, giving him a brooding expression that somehow added to his charm. His lips—full and well-defined—were the kind that could pull into a smirk or a quiet smile that disarmed you without warning.

“Good afternoon, Sir Aaron,” I greeted him in a formal way. I looked down and waited for him to say anything.

He didn't talk. Muli akong nag angat ng tingin sa kaniya. He's staring at me, weighting my every reaction and emotions. Nakakapang hina ang mga titig nito. Hindi pa rin siya nagsasalita! I'm starting to feel nervous.

Maybe now that he saw me in person, he didn't want to hire me anymore? Did he change his mind? No, I need this work.

He sighed. “Have a seat,” aniya. I nodded and took a seat. Ganoon din siya at umupo na sa harapan ko. There's a table between us.

“I'm Elora Mori Cruz. I'm here for the job that was offered to me. I'm very happy to work here, to work for you… Sir Aaron.” Pormal akong ngumiti sa kaniya.

I saw how his jaw clenched and bit his lip in frustration. I started to think about the words that I just said. He looked pissed, I can see that in his face with his furrowed eyebrows. Hindi na ko nagsalita, takot na may masabing mali at hindi nito magustuhan.

“Introduce yourself again,” sabi niya na parang hindi matanggap ang sinabi ko kanina.

I got confused but still introduced myself. “I'm… Elora Mori C-Cruz po.”

He scoffed. “Mori… Cruz?” ulit nito. I saw his eyes darkened. He looks so cold, and scary. My fear in my face was visible. Nahalata niya ang takot sa akin.

He looked away and looked back at me again, but this time, with soft and gentle eyes. There's this look on his face—sad and bitterness.

“Y-Yes, Sir Aaron.”

The Cruz in my name was Vince's surname. Well, because we're married. Kaya bitbit ko ang surname niya. I couldn’t understand the sudden shift in his expression—why he looked so displeased just from hearing my name.

He sighed. “You already know that you can start your work right away, right?”

I nodded. “Yes, Sir Aaron.” His jaw clenched again. He looked displeased.

He sighed. “Please, drop the formality, Elora. You can call me by my name, anything you want, just not that Sir.”

I nodded. “Okay boss.”

His eyes narrowed at what he heard. From where he was leaning back, he leaned forward again and rested both his elbows on his parted thighs.

“Just Aaron, please. Now say it,” he said.

I nodded and looked at him. “Okay, Aaron…”

He bit his lower lip. There was a ghost of a smirk on his lips, as if he was pleased by what he heard. He nodded and leaned back again, his thighs still parted, and his arms now resting along the backrest of the long sofa he was sitting on.

“Say it again,” he commanded. Para bang natutuwa siya sa naririnig niya mula sa akin. Me, calling his name.

I gulped. “Aaron,” muli kong banggit sa pangalan niya.

His name, it feels like I said it many times. I feel like I used to call his name. Sanay na sanay ang mga labi ko bigkasin iyon.

He stood up from his seat and slowly walked towards my seat. I looked up at him as he got nearer, until he's now standing in front of me. Pakiramdam ko ay sasakit ang leeg ko dahil sa tangkad niya.

My eyes widened when he stepped closer to me. He leaned down and held onto the armrest of the sofa I was sitting on, while his other hand gently held my chin. My breath hitched at what he did. Now, his face was so close to mine. I tried to look away, but because his hand was holding my chin, he managed to bring my gaze back to him.

Once again, I saw the same emotion in his eyes, the same one I had seen in him earlier. It was still there, lingering like a shadow, unspoken yet undeniably present. My heart began to race again, thudding wildly against my chest.

There was something about the way he held me, the way his eyes locked with mine, that stirred a feeling inside me I couldn’t quite explain. His touch wasn’t harsh, but it carried a weight. His gaze wasn’t threatening, yet it made my breath hitch.

It was confusing, unnerving. But more than anything… it felt like something was beginning. Something I didn’t understand, yet couldn't ignore.

“Still a good girl… Elora.”