Chapter 4

Pagkadilat ko ng mata, agad na tumama ang sikat ng araw sa mukha ko. Napaungol ako at agad na tinakpan ang mukha ko.

As usual, I reach for my phone from the table beside my bed while still closing my eyes. But, I still can't find the table.

Inis kong minulat ang mata ko pero nagulat ako sa aking nakita.

What the hell? This is not my room!

Hindi tulad ng kama ko na simple at maliit lamang, itong kwartong 'to ay literal na sumisigaw ng karangyaan!

Well, meron ngang table sa tabi ng kama, pero dahil ang laki ng kama, parang ang layo nito kaya hindi ko nakapa agad.

Napatigil ako nang marinig ko ang lagaslas ng tubig mula sa banyo.

Oh my gosh! Kailangan kong hanapin agad ang phone ko at umalis!

Nagmamadali akong bumangon pero agad kong hinawakan ang ulo ko sa sakit.

Shit! I will never drink again!

Napasinghap ako sa sobrang sakit ng ulo ko.

Hawak-hawak ko pa rin ang ulo ko nang bumukas ang pintuan ng bathroom. Napaupo ako sa kama sa sobrang kaba at pilit na tiningnan ang taong lumabas ng banyo.

My eyes widened when I saw who came out of the bathroom.

What the freaking fuck?

It's my boss. Mr. Pierce Damien Saveedra!

Staring at me with his dark brown eyes and perfect shape of face, thick eyebrows, pointed nose, soft lips ,and well defined jaw. His whole body is wet and the only thing covered on his body is his bottom.

Because of the view, I clearly see how he has a well built body. He has a strong and firm muscle, a broad shoulder, hard chest ,and an eight pack. Even when his lower body is covered by the towel, I can say that his size is... Big.

I swallowed and looked away.

What the fuck?! Why is my boss here? Did I sleep at his place? I secretly closed my eyes because of my thoughts. Anong ginawa mp, Seraphina?

Tahimik kami. Walang gustong magsalita. Pero ramdam kong tinititigan pa rin niya ako habang nakayuko ako. Nakita ko sa gilid ng mata ko na papalapit siya sa kama.

I tightly hold to my blanket as he continued to walk closer. After a few steps it stopped at the foot of the bed, so my head lifted a little but I could only see his eight pack. I can't look at his face right now, I am shocked and embarrassed.

Napatingin ako sa kamay nya nang kinuha niya ang nakakalat na damit sa kama na ni hindi ko napansin kanina.

"I will get dressed first and we will talk after," he said, breaking the deafening silence in the room.

I can hear my heart beating so fast because of the nervousness. I didn't answer him, and he walked back into the bathroom.

Parang nabunutan ako ng tinik nang mawala siya sa paningin ko. Doon ko lang napansin na iba ang suot kong damit.

Napamulat ako. Nakasuot ako ng maluwag na polo shirt na lagpas tatlong pulgada sa tuhod ko. Agad kong tinaas 'yun para tingnan kung may suot akong underwear. Thank God, may suot akong shorts.

Pinakiramdaman ko rin ang katawan ko kung may masakit, lalo na sa private area.

What the fuck, Seraphina?! Inisip mo bang may nangyari sa inyo ng boss mo?

Napabuntong-hininga ako ng malalim. Wala naman akong nararamdamang sakit sa katawan-ulo lang talaga. Kaya muling hinawakan ko ang ulo ko sa sakit.

Fuck this head! Arghhh!

I almost jumped when the bathroom opened and my boss came out. Ang bilis niya namang magbihis!

Nagtutuo pa siya ng buhok gamit ang towel. Suot na niya ngayon ay white sando at black shorts.

Tiningnan niya ako diretso, kaya lalo akong ninerbiyos. Yumuko na lang ako. Hindi ko talaga kayang salubungin ang tingin niya.

"How are you feeling?" he asked.

"I-I'm fine... Where's my phone, Sir? I'll leave right now," nauutal kong sagot habang ramdam kong nakatitig pa rin siya sa akin.

"Uh-huh. You drank too much, Ms. Laurent. I'm sure masakit ulo mo. Stay. We'll go to the office together."

My eyes widened at what he said. No way! I'm sure that will be an issue when we are seen together.

"No Sir, I can handle myself-"

Bigla akong naputol nang may kumatok sa pintuan.

Finally, he looked away from me and walked towards the door.

Opening the door, a woman appeared carrying two paper bags with a well-known brand.

"Thank you," sabi ni Mr. Saveedra at ngumiti nang matamis 'yung babae habang inayos pa ang buhok niya.

Hmm... Mukhang gusto ng babae si boss. Well... who wouldn't?

Napapikit ako at napailing sa sarili ko.

The hell, Seraphina?

When the my boss closed the door, umayos ako sa pagkakaupo sa kama.

His gaze is straight at me until he placed the paper bag on the table, he was still looking at me.

I looked away for a while but immediately looked back at him when he spoke.

"Eat this soup, it's good for your hang over," sabi nya.

Hindi pa talaga ako sanay sa baritonong boses nya. May kung ano akong kakaibang nararamdaman kapag naririnig ko ang mababang boses nya.

"I-I need t-to go, Sir," I stammered and immediately rolled the blanket to leave the bed.

I'll leave even if I can't get my cellphone and even if I'm only wearing this. It's so embarrassing! I sleep with my boss!

Kahit na walang suot na tsinelas ay nagpatuloy ako sa pglalakad papunta sa pinto. But before I reach the door, naunahan nta ako at hinarangan ang pintuan.

His eyes are dark and eyebrows furrowed while looking at me.

"Where are you going? You have a hang over," seryoso nyang tanong, kaya napalunok ako sa kaba.

"Besides, I'm sure you have some questions for me."

"I-I have no questions, Sir--"

"Hindi ka aalis," he said shortly and with finality.

"Sir, I'm sorry for the trouble but I think I should go. We shouldn't be seen going to the office together. Someone might have seen us," sabi ko.

He seriously stared at me when I said those words, but this time there's a hint of a smile in his lips.

"Maybe someone from your co-workers saw us last night. So today is not a big deal." amusement was visible in his eyes.

Napakunot-noo ako. What does he mean? May nakakita sa amin kagabi? Papunta sa condo niya?

Well... It is possible.

"Now eat this soup and we'll go together to the office. Don't even think of running away, 'cause you won't succeed. And worst..."

He came even closer to me at parang sasabog na ang puso ko sa kaba.

"I will fire you," he said in my ear. I could feel my hair rising on my body when I felt his breath in my ear.

I immediately felt the coldness of the air conditioner when he moved away from me and went to the table to put the food from the paper bag.

Nanatili akong nakatayo malapit sa pinto at pinanood lang siya.

"Come here and eat this," he said again.

I looked back at him and slowly walked towards the table.

He kept looking at me as I approached the table. I stopped when I noticed that he didn't move aside to give me a way towards the seat.

"Oh, do you want me to pull the chair for you?" he said suddenly, causing me to panic and widen my eyes.

"No, Sir--"

What I was going to say was cut off when he pulled the chair and motioned me to sit down.

I just closed my eyes in shame and sat on the chair. I saw the ghost of a smile on his lips.

When I felt that he had left behind me, I immediately took the spoon and get some soup.

My stomach immediately felt warm and I just closed my eyes when the pain in my head eased a little.

I was enjoying eating when I felt someone looking at me. I almost choked when I saw my boss leaning from the walk in closet door and look at me with amusement.

He is wearing a formal suit ready to go to work.

"You feel better?" he asked.

"Y-yes, Sir," nauutal na sagot ko.

"Drop the formalities. We're not in the office. Just call me, Pierce."

"I can't do that, sir. You are my boss."

"Yes, I am your boss and I am ordering you to drop the formalities and call me by my first name."

I swallowed because of his sudden seriousness. I just nodded to him and looked at the food.

Wait... Why am I the only one eating?

"A-aren't you going to eat?" I asked shyly.

"I'm not a fan of breakfast"

I was about to speak when there was a knock on the door and Pierce immediately walked towards the door.

I saw that woman earlier who brought back a paperbag with a well-known brand name, that I knew was clothing. I rolled my eyes and just shook my head when I saw her big smile on my boss again.

I continued eating and just ignored them even though I knew they were talking.

I stopped eating when paper bags landed on the table.

"Choose what you will wear and you can bring that home." he said and my eyes widened because I know how expensive these clothes are.

I looked at him again and was about to speak when he raised his eyebrows.

I swallowed again before avoiding my eyes.

"Uhm, I have a question..." nauutal kong sabi.

Naglakad siya papunta sa sofa malapit sa table, umupo roon at pinagkrus ang braso.

"Oh? I thought you had none?" may nakakalokong ngiti sa labi niya.

"I-I actually have a question..." sabi ko, nahihiyang tumingin sa kanya.

"Hmm..." Tumango siya. "Okay. What is it?"

"Who dressed me?" diretso kong tanong sa kanya.

Tumaas ang kilay niya, kasabay ng pag-angat ng isang sulok ng labi niya.

Please, sana hindi siya 'yon. Please, hindi siya.

Pero nang hindi siya agad sumagot, kinabahan ako lalo.

"I called one of the servants from this building to dress you up," he finally said. May multo ng ngiti pa rin sa labi niya.

I breathed a sigh of relief from what he said.

"Why? Did you think I am the one who dressed you up--"

"No!" mabilis kong sagot, pinutol ang sinasabi nya.

"Sir..."dagdag ko, sabay yuko. 

Kahit pa sinabi niyang i-drop ko ang formalities, hindi ko pa rin magawa. Boss ko sya--ang new CEO namin, to be exact. At eto pa ang nangyari sa akin ngayon! Nakatulog ako sa condo nya! Nakakahiya!

I bowed my head and then picked up the paperbags from the table and stood up.

"I'm really sorry for the big trouble sir. Just deduct from my salary everything you paid for these clothes and the food."

I saw the sudden seriousness of his face which made me nervous, but I continued to speak.

"This will never happen again, I assure you, sir-- "

"I said drop the formalities," he said seriously.

"I can't do that, sir. We should stay professional even when we're not in the office, because you can't change the fact that you are my boss and I am one of your employee. In fact, you are our new CEO , whom we didn't know well yet, and what happened today is my mistake, sir. I'm sorry and I will handle myself carefully next time," mahaba kong sabi at agad na pumasok sa bathroom.

After I close the door in the bathroom, I immediately sighed and leaned against the door.

You are so stupid, Seraphina! Don't drink if you can't handle yourself!

I sighed again and at agad na nag shower. I couldn't help but be amazed, because even the bathroom, kasi lahat ng mga gamit ay famous brand!

Well... I shouldn't be so shocked. From the looks of my boss, I know he's incredibly rich.

I continued to shower until I was done. I grabbed a bathrobe and put it on immediately before approaching the paper bags to look at the clothes. And my eyes lit up at how beautiful they were.

It's all my favorite colors! The dresses are all maroon and black. What a coincidence!

I grab the maroon office jumpsuit that I know will look good on me. I also grab the black blazer and a fit office dress with a scarf in the neckline.

I can't choose what to wear! I had a big smile while still looking at the clothes but my smiles gradually disappeared when I remembered how expensive these clothes were and all of them would be deducted from my salary.

How many months of salary will be deducted from these expensive clothes!

I looked at the other clothes in the paper bag and frowned as I chose again.

After choosing, I was about to take off the bathrobe when I remembered something.

It's the underwear I'm going to wear. Oh my gosh! How can I forget that?

Wait... Did he also buy an underwear?

I immediately rummaged through the other paperbag and was relieved when I found some underwear.

Wait. The color of the underwear is my favorite color too.

I shake my head wanting to get off the thoughts that he knows what are my favorite color and my size.

Seraphina, what the...? Shut it!

Okay, Seraphina. It's just a pure coincidence, okay? The servant of this hotel-that girl earlier was the one who bought these clothes, alright. And maybe you have the same favorite color and she knows what is your size. Stop thinking that it's your boss who ordered about the size and the color. Stop imagining things!

"My god! What is happening to me?" I whisper before I shake my head and get dressed.

When I walk outside the bathroom I almost stopped walking when I saw him staring right at me.

I can't read his mood. I don't know if he is mad about earlier or not. He's just so... serious.

He looked at what I was wearing before returning his gaze to my face.

"Take your time. I'll just wait" he simply and seriously said.

I cleared my throat. "Where are my things, sir?"

His eyebrows slightly furrowed before he looked at the table where I ate earlier and I saw my pouch there.

I slowly approach the table and get my pouch. I face my boss and he is already eyeing me.

"What? Do you need something? He still serious while speaking.

Maybe that is his normal expression, right? I am embarrassed to ask 'cause I know I am troubling him too much but I need to use a hair dyer.

"Do you have a hair dryer, sir?" I shyly ask.

"I have none."

Oh okay.

"But I can ask someone to buy right now-"

"No need, sir!" I interrupted what he said.

"It's okay. I just ask" I awkwardly smile at him.

I shouldn't have asked!

I immediately got inside the bathroom and immediately put on some light make up. When I am done, I pick up my phone and open it. My eyes widened when I saw the time.

It's already 9:15 in the morning. My god! Wes are so late. I quickly came out of the bathroom and saw my boss adjusting his neck tie.

"I'm so sorry, sir. I didn't know we were late. I didn't see my phone earlier so I don't know what time it is." I quickly explained.

"It's okay." He simply glanced at me and then got the two paper bags beside him and put them in the table.

"Take a look in that paper bag..." he said.

I slowly looked at the two paperbags and was almost amazed at what I saw.

A stiletto heel that I admire for so long! I save money and I'm planning to buy this! But now it's in front of me! Oh my gosh!

My smile faded when I realized that it would be deducted again from my salary. I hope my boss doesn't get too caring and doesn't buy more of these heels. I can still wear the heels I wore yesterday.

Yes, I want this heel but I'm still saving it. Now is not the right time!

Since there was nothing I could do because the stiletto heels were already here, I just put them on.

I choose the maroon one that compliments my fitted maroon office clothes.

My mouth turned an 'o' when I finally wore it. It looks good on me! It's so comfortable too!

I turned my eyes to my boss who had been looking already looking at me. Right. We are so late, he's waiting for me.

"I'm sorry sir. We are already late, let's go" I said and was about to walk past him when he spoke.

"It looks good on you" he complimented before he walked first and I followed him.

I smile at his compliment while we are walking towards the elevator.

When we get inside the elevator, I scan my outfit from head to toe.

I sigh and smile sweetly. What a fine and expensive outfit I have today.

When we got out of the building, I immediately saw an Aston Martin parked in front of us.

Wow, what a dashing car.

When it rang, I immediately looked at my boss who immediately walked to open the door.

Oh, it's his car.

Before he got into the car, I immediately spoke.

"Sir, I will just take a cab. I'm sorry for the trouble and like we talked about earlier, just deduct from my salary everything you spent on me. Thank you, sir." I said and smiled and was about to walk when he spoke.

"You're not going to take any cab. Get in" he said in his low and baritone voice.

."But sir---"

"Don't you remember what I said earlier? I can fire you" he said seriously.

"Take that cab and when you arrive at my company. You are already fired"

I swallowed what he said especially when I saw that his expression was dark and angry.

I was about to protest when he got in the car and I had nothing to do but open the door and get in the car.

Why is he doing this? Is it hard to just listen to me and let me take a cab on my own? Beside I am just an employee on his company! He should just leave me alone. I already caused him a big trouble! And what I am doing right now is protecting our image! My god!

I was just sitting with a frown and leaning on the chair in the back. And I thought we were about to leave but Pierce didn't even move from his seat.

"What are you doing?" he seriously asked.

I looked at him confused.

What am I doing? Sitting waiting? Isn't it obvious?

"Sit in front" he simply said.

"I'll be alright here, sir--"

"Sit. in. front" he emphatically said.

Just follow your boss, Seraphina, so there is no trouble and you can go to the company.

I let out a deep sigh before I opened the car door and sat on the passenger seat. He put his seat belt so I did the same.

We were silent as we made our way to the company. Minutes passed by and I saw that we were close to the company.

"You can drop me there, sir." I pointed to the place where I drop when Felix was the one to drive to drive me from my house.

He didn't say a word and just continued driving. I thought he was going to stop the car but it just continued driving until we passed the place I pointed out earlier.

"Sir--"

"No one will see us, Seraphina. If that's what you worry about" he seriously said and I almost shivered because of the coldness of his voice.

"We are late and they already focus on their work." his continuation.

I didn't answer him when we entered the parking lot.

Okay, I won't go with him inside the company anymore so that no other employee will notice that we came here together.

After parking the car, I immediately took the paper bags and quickly opened the door.

"We can't go together, sir. I'll go first." I said and quickly walked away from him to an elevator in the parking lot.

"Shit. Why did it take so long to open?" I weakly complain.

When the elevator opened, I immediately entered but my boss was by my side so he also entered the elevator.

I just closed my eyes. I saw him pressing the button to close the elevator but someone blocked it so it opened again.

I immediately wanted to see who it was.

My ex best friend, Daine. She looked at us and I looked away.

"Good morning, Mr. Saveedra" he greeted our CEO and the man responded with a small smile.

We were silent inside the elevator and I just breathed a sigh of relief when it opened so I immediately got out of the elevator and left the two of them there.

I quickly walked towards the Marketing office and when I got there, I immediately put down the paper bag I was carrying.

And because of my haste to walk, it was as if my heels made a noise so they seemed to notice me entering the office.

"Hey, Seraphina. You are so late. Where have you been?" Leah immediately greeted up to me.

"Where's Mr. Cruz?" I will ask

Mr. Cruz hates so much when there is a late in the Marketing Office. I will just give him a reason now why I am late. Well... A made up reason though. I can't tell him that I slept in our CEO's place.

"Don't you worry, dear. I made up an excuse to you. You are safe now" she said and winked at me.

I chuckle and sit on my swivel chair.

"Thank you, Leah" I said and smiled at her. She smiled too.

"Wait. Where did you sleep? We looked for you last night but you suddenly disappeared."

"Oh... Uh..."

I awkwardly laughed at her before I spoke.

"Let's just talk about it in our lunch break. Okay?" I only said to her.

"Oh, okay! Let's just work for now" she hyperly said before turning to her laptop.

I breathed a sigh of relief before opening my laptop.

"Miss Velarde?"

I turned my head and I see Mr. Miller.

"Yes, sir?"

"We have a meeting in the afternoon in the CEO's office." he said before he walked outside the office.

I just nodded and faced Leah.

"What excuse did you say, huh? Obviously he's not mad that I'm late" I happily asked her.

"Hmm. Let's just wait for the lunch break" she said

I laughed at what she said and shook my head.

Wait... We have a meeting in the CEO's office this afternoon?

Little by little my smile disappeared.

Why do I feel unlucky today? I mean I am so embarrassed about the trouble I have caused to my boss last night and this morning. Can this meeting be scheduled today?

Ugh! What an unlucky day you have, Seraphina.

I just let out a deep sigh and face my laptop before I focus on my work.