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Under Pressure

Author: mscelene
last update Last Updated: 2025-10-18 15:48:18

Amelia POV

By the time nakarating ako sa Blackwood Tower that morning, nagsisisi na ako sa lahat ng life choices ko kung bakit ako napadpad dito.

Isa na namang “urgent” assignment galing kay Ma’am — at syempre, hindi ko pwedeng tanggihan.

> “Mr. Blackwood specifically requested your presence in the morning board meeting.”

Requested.

As if may choice naman talaga ako tumanggi sa taong may-ari halos ng kalahati ng Manhattan.

Pinilit kong kumbinsihin ang sarili ko na professional lang ’to — siguro gusto lang niyang ipa-clarify yung clauses na inayos ko last time. Pero aminin ko man o hindi, the thought of seeing him again made my heart go on a full-blown cardio session.

Pag-akyat ko sa top floor, ibang level talaga.

Floor-to-ceiling glass windows, city skyline sa backdrop, sunlight bouncing off chrome and marble — parang nasa ibang mundo ka.

At sa gitna ng lahat ng ’yon, nakaupo siya — Adrian Blackwood. Dark suit. Darker stare. One hand on his watch like he literally owned time.

Hindi ma
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  • Empire of Desire   Warnings and Temptations

    Amelia POVIt started with an email.Subject: Meeting Follow-up — UrgentFrom: Richard Hale, Senior Partner.The moment I saw his name, napahigpit agad yung hawak ko sa phone. Richard wasn’t the type to send emails unless may something really wrong — or really serious.Pagdating ko sa office niya, my palms were already sweaty.“Close the door, Amelia.” he said, eyes still glued sa laptop.Bad sign. Always a bad sign.I closed the door quietly. The noise from the city faded until all I could hear was the faint hum of the AC.“Sit.” he said.I obeyed.For a few seconds, tahimik lang. Then he leaned back, crossing his arms, eyes sharp like he was trying to read me.“You’ve been attending meetings at Blackwood Corporation,” he said. “Directly with Adrian Blackwood.”It wasn’t a question.“Yes, sir. I was asked to provide legal support for the bid—”“Cut the formality, Amelia.” His tone hardened. “You know exactly what kind of man that is.”I frowned. “Excuse me?”He sighed and stood, walk

  • Empire of Desire   Under Pressure

    Amelia POVBy the time nakarating ako sa Blackwood Tower that morning, nagsisisi na ako sa lahat ng life choices ko kung bakit ako napadpad dito.Isa na namang “urgent” assignment galing kay Ma’am — at syempre, hindi ko pwedeng tanggihan.> “Mr. Blackwood specifically requested your presence in the morning board meeting.”Requested.As if may choice naman talaga ako tumanggi sa taong may-ari halos ng kalahati ng Manhattan.Pinilit kong kumbinsihin ang sarili ko na professional lang ’to — siguro gusto lang niyang ipa-clarify yung clauses na inayos ko last time. Pero aminin ko man o hindi, the thought of seeing him again made my heart go on a full-blown cardio session.Pag-akyat ko sa top floor, ibang level talaga.Floor-to-ceiling glass windows, city skyline sa backdrop, sunlight bouncing off chrome and marble — parang nasa ibang mundo ka.At sa gitna ng lahat ng ’yon, nakaupo siya — Adrian Blackwood. Dark suit. Darker stare. One hand on his watch like he literally owned time.Hindi ma

  • Empire of Desire   The Chance Encounter

    Amelia POVHindi naman talaga ako dapat nandun sa Blackwood Tower that day.Actually, nangako pa akong hindi na ako babalik doon kahit kailan.Pero ayun nga — parang may ibang plano si tadhana.In the form of an urgent courier job na ayaw kunin ng kahit sino sa office.> “Cruz, dalhin mo ’tong documents sa Blackwood Legal,”sabi ni Ma’am habang busy sa laptop.“I-drop mo lang, tapos umalis ka agad. And please— huwag kang makikipag-usap kahit kanino.”Right.Kasi apparently, talking was my biggest sin these days.Tinuck ko sa braso yung envelope, sabay sakay ng MRT papuntang downtown.Pagdating ko, ayun na — Blackwood Tower, nakatindig sa gitna ng city like a monument of power.Glass, steel, and money — yung tipong building na kaya kang paliitin kahit hindi ka pa pumapasok.Pagpasok ko sa lobby, parang museum ng yaman: marble floors, mirrored walls, at puro taong naka-suit na mukhang laging may meeting in five minutes.Huminga ako nang malalim at lumapit sa guard.“Delivery for Blackwo

  • Empire of Desire   The Reprimand

    Amelia’s POVMay kakaibang tahimik sa opisina kapag alam mong may nag-aabang na problema.’Yung tipong bigat ng hangin parang hatol—at bawat bulungan, parang kutsilyo.Ganun ang naramdaman ko pagpasok ko sa Archer & Vale kinabukasan.Lahat ng tao biglang naging abala. May ilang napatingin sa akin tapos mabilis na umiwas, kunwari busy sa mga screen nila. ’Yung mga nasa coffee machine? Biglang tumigil sa usapan.Hindi ko na kailangang magtanong kung bakit. Alam ko na.Pag-upo ko sa desk ko, andun na agad ’yung email galing kay Mr. Vale:Subject: Immediate Discussion Required.Bad sign.Huminga ako nang malalim at dumiretso sa opisina niya. Hindi man lang ako inalok umupo — unang red flag.“Amelia,” simula niya, malamig. “May ideya ka ba kung anong klaseng gulo ang pinasok mo ’tong firm?”Kunot-noo ako. “Sir, hindi ko po—”Bam. Binagsak niya sa mesa ’yung folder — mga notes ko, ’yung revisions ko after ng meeting with Blackwood.“You overstepped. Again.”“Sir, sinunod ko lang po ’yung co

  • Empire of Desire   Curiosity and Control

    AdrianCuriosity is a dangerous thing.Sa negosyo, it built my empire — asking the right questions, digging deep until every secret was mine.Pero ngayong gabi, that same curiosity turned against me.Because the question wasn’t about profit margins or merger clauses.It was about her.Amelia Cruz.Sinabi ko sa sarili ko, it was just business — gusto ko lang malaman kung sino ang representative ng law firm bidding for one of Blackwood Corporation’s biggest contracts.Half true, maybe.Pero habang nakaupo ako sa opisina, past midnight, staring at the city lights, alam kong may iba pa.“Sir?”Si Lucas, my assistant, stood by the door — always efficient, loyal, never asks more than he needs to.“You asked for a background report on Ms. Cruz?”Tumango ako. “Yes. Everything public — education, employment history, family. Nothing invasive.”He hesitated. Just a second.“Of course, sir.”

  • Empire of Desire   The Arrogant CEO

    AmeliaPaglabas ko ng office, halos midnight na. Tahimik na ang city—yung klase ng katahimikan na mapapaisip ka kung ilan pa bang tao ang gising… either chasing their dreams, o tumatakbo mula rito.Ako? Nasa gitna siguro.Nag-vibrate ang phone ko pagpasok ko sa elevator. Si Maya — best friend ko since college. Hindi talaga siya natutulog nang maaga, lalo na kapag alam niyang OT na naman ako.> Maya: “Tell me you’re out of that office, woman.”Me: “Just left.”Maya: “Good. I’m heating leftovers. You’re coming over.”Napangiti ako kahit pagod. Ang version kasi ni Maya ng “leftovers” ay parang handa ng fiesta—at may kasamang emotional support sa bawat subo.Pagdating ko sa apartment niya, naghihintay na siya sa pinto—barefoot, messy bun, oversized shirt na may print na “Overworked but Still Fabulous.”“You look like a zombie.” sabi niya, sabay yakap.“I feel like one.” sagot ko, sabay bagsak ng ba

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