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Vanessa POV

Sa loob ng dalawang taon, I have one survival mantra every single day to survive the ruthless, bossy billionaire na wala nang ibang alam sa buhay kundi gawing impyerno ang araw ko: Deep breath. Smile. Remind yourself na may bills ka ring binabayaran.

Oh, hello. I’m Vanessa Fernandez. Twenty-five years old, 5’4”, and certified NBSB (No Boyfriend Since Birth). Was it because I couldn't find a man? Heck no! Hindi naman sa pagyayabang but my face can easily score a 9/10 even without makeup. 

The real reason? I am a ridiculously busy person. Ever since landing the secretary and personal assistant job for the ruthless CEO at the ripe age of twenty-three, my romantic life completely evaporated. Wala na akong panahon para maghanap ng jowa dahil sa amo ko pa lang, kulang na kulang pa ang oras ko.

CAVILL GLOBAL INC is one of the biggest conglomerates in BGC, hotels, malls, luxury residential towers, and establishments left and right. And my daily schedule? Full-time babysitting for a twenty-eight-year-old demanding human icebox named Shawn Lim Cavill. 

Seriously, pati yata paghinga at pag pitik ng mata niyan, kulang na lang iutos at ipa-calendar pa sa akin. Hays! Sarap talagang ipakain sa tikbalang. Lahat na lang inuutos.

Anyway, today was the 50th CAVILL GLOBAL Anniversary. The whole building was buzzing, especially the VIP Department on the 50th floor where the executive suites were located. Around 4:30 PM, the other secretaries of the senior partners and executive directors were already retouching their red lipsticks, spraying expensive perfume, and gossiping about the latest office chika.

Habang ako? Heto, nakakunot ang noo, nanggagalaiti, at parang gustong manakit.

It was already 5:00 PM. Supposedly, out ko na at dapat kasama ko na ang mga kaibigan ko para uminom at kumain. Pero at the very last minute, the devil himself decided to drop a bomb. 

Shawn ordered me to rearrange his entire calendar for next week, cross-check three quarterly reports, and, as if his veins were running on pure caffeine, requested his tenth cup of dark espresso for the day. Grabe, pusta ako, kulang na lang duguin 'to ng kape sa taas ng blood pressure niya.

"Two years, Vanessa. Two long years of torture," bulong ko sa sarili ko habang padabog na kinokopya ang panibagong itinerary niya sa system sabay buntong hininga, "Kung hindi lang mataas ang 6-figure salary at performance bonus dito, matagal na kitang sinampal ng resignation letter, Mr. Hellish!”

Finally, after another agonizing twenty minutes, natapos din ako. Pumasok ako sa private office niya nang hindi man lang kumatok nang maayos, just a soft, passive-aggressive tap on his mahogany double-doors.

"Sir, I’m finished with your calendar update, and the espresso is on your side table," Saad ko  with my classic, flat, emotionless 'robot' voice. "Um, pwede na po ba akong mag-out?"

And of course, ang kamahalan didn't even look up from his iPad. He was wearing a tailored suit, his golden-blonde hair styled effortlessly, and his rimless glasses sitting sharp on his high nose bridge. 

Ang gwapo ng h*******k!

He just gave me a blank, nonchalant glance that could freeze boiling water, then returned to reading his document. No verbal response. Not even a head nod.

For two years, I had learned to translate the language of the alien: That blank, unbothered look meant 'Get out bago masapian na naman ako ng masamang espiritu.'

"Thank you, Sir. Enjoy the anniversary event," I lied through my teeth. The moment I closed his door, my stiff professional posture melted. Hay salamat! I pulled a mock-ugly face at the door frame, made a gagging motion, and practically sprinted toward the elevator. Finally! Makakain at makakainom na rin sa party!

Forty minutes later...

"Another glass, bakla! I-bottoms up mo 'yan!"

Nasa VIP lounge break room area kami sa lower floor. Away from the flashing cameras, grand speeches, and the formal ballroom downstairs, eto lasing na ang lola niyo! Tipsy, flushed, and ngising-ngisi, panay ang salita ko habang hawak ang pampitong baso ng wine.

Nakatayo sa harap ko si TJ, my gay best friend, stylist, and the only soul in Manila who truly knew what I was holding back inside my chest every 8 AM to 5 PM: HATRED TO THE FULLEST.

"In fairness ah, baks," hirit ni TJ habang nakatagay din, "grabe 'yang boss mo. Half-British, half-Chinese, blonde, naka-eyeglass, tapos ganyan kagwapo? Mukhang galing sa romance w*****n! Kung ako sa 'yo, 'di lang trabaho ang gagawin ko diyan."

"Che! W*****n ka d'yan!" I rolled my eyes so hard I almost saw my own brain. "Gwapong demonyo kamo! Akala mo kung sinong Santo! Inosente raw ang mukha pero kapag nag-utos, parang tagapagmana ng buong solar system! Robot ang tingin sa 'kin niyan, TJ! ROBOT!”

“Whehh?!”

“Whehh ka jan! Ay naku baks, feeling ko nga, hindi niyan alam ang tunay kung pangalan eh! Puro Miss Fernandez! Ang sarap talaga ipakulam!"

"Araw-araw kitang naririnig na nagrereklamo," TJ scoffed, flashing a naughty smirk. "Why don't you seduce him? Alam mo, kung ako sa 'yo, matagal ko na 'yun hinubaran sa harap para mawala 'yang kasungitan niya! Tingnan natin kung makakahindi ba 'yang boss mo sa beauty mo."

Nangiwi ako at muntik nang maibuga ang red wine sa mukha niya. "That asshole?! No way! Mamatay man si Batman at si Superman nang sabay, there is no way in hell na papatulan ko 'yon! Nakakairita lang isipin na kailangan kong makita ang mukha niya bukas!"

"Ay sus, try lang kasi! Follow me, okay? Gayahin mo ang aura ko!"

TJ dramatically pouted his lips, bent his waist, and batted his eyelashes like a villainess in a Tagalog drama.

Napatawa ako ng napakalakas. Dahil sa sobrang kalasingan at kapilyahan, ginaya ko ang nakakatawang akto niya. Sinundan ko ang bawat kislap ng mata niya, pumatong pa ako sa desk, and acted like a desperate starlet trying to land a lead role.

"Infairness naman, gwapo nga siya, 'di ba?" pabebe kong sabi habang nakanguso at pautap-utal dahil sa lakas ng tama ng alak. "S-seduce ko kaya si Boss? I'll kiss the hell out of him para matigil sa kakasigaw at kaka-overtime sa 'kin!"

Nangisi ako nang nakakaloka, completely feeling like a comedic genius. "Ayan, iladlad ang beauty!" TJ laughed out loud, pointing at my ridiculous face. 

Pero dahil nga lasing na lasing ako at busy sa pagrampa sa harap ni TJ, I didn't notice the huge glass wall right behind me.

Nor did I notice the tall figure in a black suit standing just outside the threshold, holding a glass of scotch.

Shawn Lim Cavill was standing right there. His blond hair caught the dim light of the hallway, his golden-framed glasses resting on his sharp nose bridge. 

One of his dark eyebrows was slowly arching up, and his usually cold, unbothered lips slowly curled into a dangerous, highly amused, and arrogant smirk.

And he just overheard half the conversation.