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The Almost

Author: mscelene
last update Huling Na-update: 2025-11-12 08:04:09

Amelia's POV

Tatlong araw kaming hindi nag-usap.

No calls. No messages. No “accidental” run-ins sa office.

Tahimik. Pero hindi ‘yung ordinaryong tahimik — ‘yung tipong sinasadya. Controlled. Parang parusa.

O baka test.

Pagdating ng Thursday night, ramdam ko na ‘yung pagod hanggang buto. The firm felt suffocating — bawat meeting, mabigat; bawat tingin ng tao, parang kutsilyo.

Lumulubog ako sa mga tsismis, sa mga report, at ‘yung tanging taong pwedeng tumigil sa lahat — si Adrian Blackwood — ay biglang nagkunwaring hindi ako umiiral.

Kaya nung tumawag ‘yung assistant niya at sinabing, “Mr. Blackwood would like to see you in his private office,” napatawa na lang ako.

Of course he would.

Pagpasok ko sa opisina, nando’n siya — nakatayo sa harap ng floor-to-ceiling windows, walang jacket, sleeves rolled up, the skyline behind him glowing gold and gray.

Hindi siya agad lumingon, pero alam kong naramdaman niya
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  • Empire of Desire   Wrestling With Morals and Dreams

    Amelia’s POVNaka-latag sa desk ko yung folder parang loaded na baril. Black leather, sleek, hindi mo pwedeng hindi pansinin. Yung signature ni Adrian sa last page parang nagbubuga ng init sa papel—tahimik na declaration ng power na hindi kailangan ng salita.Tiningnan ko siya parang ilang oras. Sa bawat kurap ko, yung mga salita sa isip ko nagre-rearrange: career advancement, loyalty, security, legal immunity. Mga promises na, sa theory, pwedeng gawing reality yung future na dati, sa quiet moments lang, pinangarap ko.Pero may halaga. Alam ko.Bawat instinct sa katawan ko sumisigaw na wag. Hindi ako naive—si Adrian Blackwood, walang libre. Lahat may kapalit. At yung version niya ng “partnership”… may weight ng possession, control, at something na hindi ko ma-define pero ramdam mo sa lahat ng aspeto ng buhay mo.Itinulak ko yung folder palayo. Nanginig mga fingers ko. Hindi dahil sa takot sa kanya, kundi takot sa sarili ko. Gaano kalaki ang kailangan kong ibigay? Gaano kalaki ang dapa

  • Empire of Desire   The Contract, Again

    Amelia’s POVDapat alam ko na may mali nung tinext niya akong, “stay after the meeting.”Hindi siya nagtatanong.Hindi siya humihingi.Nag-uutos siya.Pero ito… iba. Maingat. Parang casual. Halos gentle.At kung Adrian Blackwood ‘to, yun yung warning sign na parang flare sa dilim.Unti-unti nang nag-alis yung conference room. Mga department heads, tense, shallow breaths, relieved na makaalis sa scrutiny niya. click ng pinto nung huling executive.At yun lang—kami na lang dalawa.Nakatayo siya sa head ng table, kamay sa pockets, posture relaxed—pero yung mga mata niya… hindi.Nakikita niya ako.Ako lang.“Amelia,” mababa, smooth ang boses, parang coaxing, “sit.”Pinilit kong panatilihing neutral yung expression ko. “Mas gusto kong tumayo.”Ngumiti siya ng bahagya. “Hindi mo magagawa.”Ayoko na tama siya.Pero umupo pa rin ako. Kasi resisting him… parang laban sa gravity. Wala kang magagawa. Nakakapagod. At sa huli, matatalo ka rin.Lumapit siya dahan-dahan, bawat hakbang deliberate. Pa

  • Empire of Desire   Amelia: I Can’t Escape Him

    Amelia’s POVMay mga moments sa life na bigla mong mare-realize yung isang bagay—yung nakakainis, na matagal mo nang pinipilit balewalain.For me, ganito yung morning after the board meeting. Nakaupo ako sa maliit kong kitchen, hawak ang cup of coffee na hindi ko ma-inom dahil sobrang exhausted ako.Adrian Blackwood is everywhere.And hindi ko ibig sabihin physically.Nasa decisions ko siya. Nasa choices na hindi ko na fully free gawin. Nasa paraan ng pagtitig ng mga tao ngayon sa akin—may halo ng takot, inggit, at calculation.Nag-exhale ako, pinisil ang mukha ko sa palms ko.I defended him. I saved him.At sa ginawa ko ‘yon… na-tie ko ang sarili ko sa isang lalaking ang shadow umaabot nang mas malayo kaysa sa akala ko.Nagbu-buzz ang phone ko—ulit-ulit. Siguro sampung messages in five minutes.“Amelia, can you introduce me to—” “Are you working directly with Adrian now?” “Do you know what’s the next move for Blackwood?”Yung mga taong last week halos hindi ko kilala, ngayon curious

  • Empire of Desire   Adrian Thanks Amelia in His Own Cold, Possessive Way

    Adrian’s POVThe boardroom empties slowly—sobrang bagal para sa pasensya ko. One by one, lumalabas ang executives, hawak ang folders nila na parang shield, their eyes flicking between me and Amelia as if naghihintay sila ng aftershock. Good. Dapat lang silang kabahan. They almost gutted my company today.They almost gutted me.But the one person who didn’t flinch… the one person who stepped into a battlefield she didn’t even owe me…She’s still standing sa gitna ng room, inaayos ang notes niya kahit nanginginig ang daliri.I press my palms on the table, inhaling deep. My pulse is still sharp, intense—adrenaline refusing to die down. I’ve been in meetings like this for years—hostile takeovers, emergency hearings, PR nightmares big enough to destroy empires. I’ve stared down monsters wearing suits.Pero walang tumama sa akin tulad ng boses niya kanina. Solid. Calm. Galit—pero para sa akin. Defending me like she belonged beside me.And that thought alone? Nakakabahala.She closes her bin

  • Empire of Desire   The Consequence of Choosing a Side

    Amelia’s POVThe elevator doors slid shut, trapping us in a pocket of silence.My pulse wouldn’t calm down. Parang nanginginig pa rin yung legs ko. The adrenaline from the board meeting hadn’t faded—in fact, mas lalo ko siyang naramdaman now that everything was over. I had just faced twelve people who could end my career kung gusto nila. I stood up for a man who could dismantle entire companies with a single decision. I defended him with a confidence I didn’t even know existed in me.And Adrian…Adrian just watched.He didn’t stop me.He didn’t overshadow me.He watched me.With pride. With intensity. With something too dangerous to name.I forced myself to breathe slowly. The elevator hummed as we descended. In the mirrored panel, I could see my reflection—slightly trembling. Adrian stood beside me, hands in his pockets, posture tense but unreadable.He hadn’t said a single word since we left the boardroom.Not one.Hindi ko alam kung good sign ba yun or a warning.When the elevator

  • Empire of Desire   Vindication in a Room Full of Enemies

    Adrian’s POVThe boardroom felt different today.Hindi na siya mukhang room of power. Mas parang courtroom na hinihintay lang sabihin kung guilty ba ako o hindi.Twelve board members sat around the long obsidian table, each one wearing a mix of discomfort, arrogance, and obvious resentment.They weren’t happy to be here.They weren’t happy to admit they were wrong.And they definitely weren’t happy that I survived the attack meant to destroy me.I leaned back, hands steepled, watching them squirm. Tumahimik lahat the moment I lifted my gaze.Good.Fear suited them.Across from me sat Amelia—quiet, composed, her folder closed in front of her. Pero kita ko ang tension sa shoulders niya kahit pinipilit niyang magmukhang calm. She didn’t belong in a room full of people who would happily throw her under the bus for their own gain.But she came anyway.For me.The thought hit deeper than I wanted to admit.The chairwoman cleared her throat. “Let’s begin. We have reviewed Ms. Cruz ’ document

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