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SHAWN POV

Leaning against the cool frame of the glass wall, I froze. My dark brows pulled into a deep, incredulous frown.

Did I just overhear my icy, utterly boring PA saying that I’m handsome... and that she wants to seduce me and kiss the hell out of me?

MISS FERNANDEZ?

My gray-suited, unsmiling, robotic PA? The same woman who seems to exist solely to execute my orders with clinical perfection and zero human emotion? Miss Fernandez actually thought of seducing me? And she finds me insanely handsome?

What the actual fuck?

For two whole years, simula noong araw na nag-apply siya sa akin, wearing a drab suit, boring two-inch black heels, thick eyeglasses, no makeup except for a swipe of plain lip balm, and hair tied into a bun so tight not a single strand dared to go out of place, I thought she was completely immune to me.

Sa katunayan, iyon ang eksaktong dahilan kung bakit ko siya tinanggap.

Sa dose-dosenang mga kababaihan na nag-apply na nakasuot ng micro-mini skirts before the interview even started, alam kong ang pagkuha ng mga brain-dead flirt na iyon ay magbibigay lamang sa akin ng matinding sakit ng ulo. So I chose Miss Fernandez. She was smart, reliable, fiercely loyal, and unbelievably efficient.

Kahit anong tambak ng trabaho ang ibigay ko, kahit pa anong huling minutong utos, she never complained. She never batted an eye. No flirtatious smiles, no extra lingering glances.

I would have bet my entire fortune that she viewed me as nothing more than a piece of office furniture. Unlike every other woman in BGC and the VIP department who threw themselves at my feet, she was entirely different.

And now? Hearing her drunkenly confessing to her gay best friend—TJ from the IT department, that I’m handsome and that she wants to kiss me until I lose my mind?

My ego didn't just get a boost. It swelled up straight to the damn Milky Way.

Wow. Just... wow.

A slow, arrogant smirk spread across my face. So all those cold looks, that flat monotone voice, and those ugly suits were just a cover-up? A massive facade to hide her burning, secret passion for me?

Oh, Vanessa... you little hypocrite.

Bago pa makalingon ang dalawa at mapansin ang presensya ko, tahimik akong humakbang palayo sa breakroom at naglakad pabalik sa VIP main lounge. But as I took my seat among the high-society executives and board members, my mind was no longer on the anniversary speeches or the multimillion-peso company milestones.

My mind was completely consumed by my robotic secretary, who was secretly, hopelessly in love with me.

At twenty-eight, my life had been nothing but cutthroat business. Carrying the massive weight of Cavill Global Inc. on my shoulders meant dealing with exhausting media, greedy elite partners, and desperate women who wanted nothing more than my last name and my bank account.

But this? This new revelation was refreshingly new. It was raw, unexpected, and utterly intriguing.

I took a slow sip of my scotch, the corners of my lips twitching upwards behind the rim of my glass. So she thinks she can seduce me? She wants to melt that professional distance between us?

I would love to see you try, Miss Fernandez. Let’s see how long you can keep up that icy act.

Monday was going to be dangerously interesting.

*****

So yes, Monday morning came in a blink of an eye. Was I excited? Oh, hell yeah.

Sa katunayan, nagising ako ng isang oras nang mas maaga kaysa sa karaniwan, spent twenty full minutes fine-tuning my blonde hair in front of the vanity mirror, and picked out a crisp, tailored cream suit that practically screamed effortless perfection.

It has been raining hard in Manila since 6 AM, casting a gloomy grey fog over the BGC skyline, but who cares? Rain or shine, I knew I looked ridiculously good. 

When I stopped by an upscale corner coffee shop near my condo tower, I wore my gold-rimmed sunglasses indoors. Call it pretentious, but I literally saw two women at the counter giggling, whispering, and sneaking photos of my side profile.

I mean, can you blame them? I am, after all, an absolute catch that no sane human could ignore. Half-British, half-Filipino-Chinese—that genetic lottery gave me sharp European cheekbones, a towering height, porcelain skin, and dark eyes behind my designer eyewear. 

Add a Harvard MBA, a multi-billion-peso corporate empire, a pristine Patek Philippe on my wrist, and wealth that could buy a small island... not to brag, but it’s just pure, objective reality. I am the ideal package.

So imagine my delight knowing that my cold, unsmiling personal assistant was secretly suffering from a massive crush on me.

At the coffee shop, I did something I had never done in my entire life. Aside from my standard double-shot dark espresso, I actually stood there reading the menu to find something a woman would like.

"One Vanilla Latte... extra foam, light syrup," I ordered, along with a brown paper bag containing two fresh chocolate croissants.

I personally hated sweet pastries, carbs and sugar were the enemies of my six-pack abs—but over the past few months, I had caught Miss Fernandez quietly munching on those exact same croissants at her desk whenever she thought I wasn't looking.

Look at me, being the most attentive, dreamy boss in existence, I thought as I stepped out of my Bentley in the executive VIP underground parking. 

She wanted to seduce me? Gusto niya akong halikan? Well, Miss Fernandez, your boss is about to make your little secret fantasies come true.

Holding the high-end coffee tray and the bakery bag, I glided into my private glass elevator, tapping my leather shoe impatiently as it zipped straight up to the 50th floor.

Ding.

The heavy brass elevator doors slid open, and there she was, standing right by her secretary station with her tablet tucked tightly under her arm.

She was wearing her usual stiff, oversized gray suit and her signature tight hair bun. But wait... my sharp eyes immediately caught a change. Underneath that lifeless jacket, instead of her drab white button-up, she was wearing a dusty pink blouse.

Pink.

A slow, triumphant smirk played on my lips. A subtle hint? A color of romance? A hidden sign that she’s trying to express her soft, feminine charm just for me today? Oh, Vanessa. You think you’re being slick and subtle, but I can read right through you like an open book.

"Good morning, Mr. Cavill, your coffee is—" panimula ni Vanessa, habang bahagyang nakasimangot bago bumaba ang boses sa kanyang karaniwan, flat, at walang-emosyong tono habang hawak ang tablet gamit ang dalawang kamay.

"—your coffee is on your desk, and your 9:00 AM meeting with the board has been moved to 10:30 AM," I finished her sentence seamlessly, stepping out of the elevator while letting the expensive, intoxicating scent of my Tom Ford cologne wash over her desk.

Sadyang ibinaba ko nang bahagya ang aking salamin sa mata, pinalapag ito sa tulay ng aking ilong upang direktang magkatitigan ang aming mga mata.

"Good morning, Vanessa," I murmured, lowering my voice an octave into a low, smooth baritone, the exact voice I know makes women instantly swoon.

Instead of walking past her straight to my corner office like I usually did, I took three deliberate, slow steps toward her, invading her personal space until I was standing right across her desk. 

Mabagal kong itinanggal ang aking salamin, itinupi ito, at isinuksok sa bulsa ng aking amerikana, giving her an unfiltered view of my face, my styled blonde hair, and my sharp jawline.

Vanessa didn't budge. She didn't blush, she didn't gasp, and her eyes didn't even drop to my chest. She just stood there, blinking blankly behind her round glasses like a motionless cardboard cutout.

Impressive, my ego practically purred with delight. Look at how hard she’s trying to fight it. The self-control on this woman is remarkable. She’s probably dying inside right now.

"Sir?" tanong niya, habang bahagyang itinatagilid ang kanyang ulo nang manatili akong nakatutok at nakatayo sa harap niya sa loob ng limang sunod-sunod na segundo. "May problema po ba sa iskedyul?"

"Nothing," I whispered, flashing a rare, deliberate 20% smirk, the exact panty-dropper smile that caused three female corporate partners in London to mess up their closing arguments back in my university days. "I brought something for you."

I placed the warm Vanilla Latte and the paper bag of chocolate croissants directly into her hands.

Tumingin si Vanessa sa kape, pagkatapos ay sa supot mula sa coffee shop, at sa wakas ay mabagal na muling itinaas ang kanyang mga mata sa akin. Sa kauna-unahang pagkakataon sa loob ng dalawang buong taon, nakakita ako ng isang saglit na purong emosyon na gumuhit sa kanyang mukha: pure, unadulterated horror and extreme suspicion.

"Ano po... ito, Mr. Cavill?" maingat niyang tanong, holding the coffee cup as if it contained active nuclear waste.

"Vanilla latte. Extra foam," I said, leaning an inch closer, my tone laced with calculated charm. "And chocolate croissants. Freshly baked from the corner patisserie."

Naghintay ako kanyang reaksyon. Ang biglaang pamumula ng kanyang mga pisngi, o ang pag kislap ng kanyang mga pilikmata, or maybe the gasp of realization that her gorgeous boss had paid attention to her subtle cravings. 

Come on, Miss Fernandez. You whispered to your friend that you wanted to seduce me, and now I’m serving your favorite breakfast on a silver platter. Show me that hidden passion.

"Sir..." Vanessa began, her voice trembling slightly with deep hesitation as she stared at the paper bag. "Did... did I make a critical mistake on your schedule? Is this... a farewell breakfast before you fire me?"

My smirk faltered for a microsecond. A farewell breakfast?! 

"No, Miss Fernandez," I replied smoothly, quickly recovering my cool, untouchable composure. I turned on my heel, heading into my executive suite and leaving the double doors wide open behind me. "Consider it... an appreciation for your dedication to me over the past two years. Drink it while it's warm."

“Thank you sir.”

Pumasok na ako sa aking opisina at umupo sa aking napakalaking mahogany desk, inaalis ang butones ng aking cream suit jacket at nakasandal sa aking leather na upuan, feeling like an absolute king conquering his empire.

Listening through the open door, I let out a soft, amused chuckle, resting my chin on my hand.

Keep playing hard to get, Miss Fernandez. Panic all you want... but we both know why your heart is racing right now.