His Empire, Her Heart

EPISODE 1 – PART 1: “The Cold King of the Tower”

Clara POV:

It’s 6:45 a.m., and the elevators of Steele Global Tower are already humming with life. The morning rush is a symphony of clicking heels, rustling papers, and the scent of expensive coffee.

Ako lang yata ang walang dalang Starbucks cup.

“Clara, bilisan mo! Si Sir Steele daw nasa building na!” bulong ng isa kong officemate habang sabay kaming tumatakbo papasok sa admin floor.

First day ko bilang administrative assistant sa Steele Global Enterprises—one of the biggest real estate and tech corporations sa bansa.

At first day pa lang, late na ako ng limang minuto.

“Good morning!” hingal kong bati habang inaayos ang ID ko.

“Good luck sa’yo,” sabi ni Mara, HR intern. “’Yung CEO, kilala sa pagiging perfectionist. Isang maling file lang, lipad ka agad.”

I tried to laugh, pero halata sa boses ko ang kaba. “Hindi naman siguro ganun kasama…”

Pero nang bumukas ang elevator sa executive floor, doon ko unang naramdaman ang presence niya.

Tahimik. Malinis. Masyadong perfect ang paligid—parang museum ng mga taong walang karapatang magkamali. At sa dulo ng hallway, may salaming pintuan na may nakasulat:

ALEXANDER STEELE – CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER.

Hindi ko pa siya nakikita, pero may kakaibang bigat na sa hangin.

⸻

Alexander POV:

7:00 a.m. sharp. Alexander Steele stood by his office window, overlooking the skyline of Bonifacio Global City. The sun reflected off the glass towers surrounding his empire — cold, precise, flawless. Exactly how he liked it.

He didn’t believe in luck. Only in control.

“Your morning schedule, sir,” sabi ni Joanna, ang kanyang executive secretary, habang nilalapag ang tablet sa desk.

“Cancel my 9 a.m. meeting,” he said without looking away from the window. “I’ll be inspecting the new project site personally.”

“Yes, sir.”

“Anything else?”

Joanna hesitated. “We have a new assistant assigned to admin. HR said she’ll help with the—”

“I don’t care,” he cut her off. “Make sure she knows how to stay invisible.”

As always, Alexander’s tone was calm yet sharp—ang tipo ng boses na kahit pabulong ay may dalang utos. Walang tumututol. Walang nagtatanong.

Because in Steele Global, his word was law.

⸻

Clara POV:

Invisible.

Yun yata ang gusto nilang mangyari sa mga tulad ko.

Pero paano ka magiging invisible kung may dala kang malaking tray ng kape at documents habang nakastiletto ka sa marmol na sahig?

“Excuse me po!” halos pabulong kong sigaw habang iniiwasan ang ibang employees sa executive floor. My heart was pounding so hard, parang gusto nang kumawala sa dibdib ko.

Hanggang sa—

THUD!

Nangyari ang kinatatakutan ko.

Isang maling hakbang, isang pagkadulas—at ang mainit na kape ay diretso sa charcoal gray suit ng lalaking kakapasok lang sa hallway.

“OH MY GOD!” bulalas ko, sabay tingin sa kanya. “Sir! I’m so, so sorry!”

Tahimik. Walang kumikilos. Parang tumigil ang oras.

Ang mga mata niya—matulis, malamig, kulay abo—nakatingin diretso sa akin. Hindi siya sumigaw. Hindi rin siya nagalit. Pero ang titig niya… parang kaya niyang sunugin ka ng tingin lang.

He slowly removed his blazer, ang bawat galaw niya ay maingat, kontrolado.

“You must be the new assistant,” malamig niyang sabi. “And on your first day, you’ve managed to assault your CEO.”

Napakagat ako ng labi. “Sir, hindi ko po sinasadya. Nadulas lang po—”

“I don’t accept excuses,” putol niya agad. “Clean it up. Then, report to my office in ten minutes.”

At tulad ng hangin, umalis siya—iniwan akong nakatayo sa gitna ng hallway, basang-basa sa kahihiyan.

⸻

Clara Pov:

Ang lamig ng aircon, pero mas malamig pa rin ang pakiramdam ko.

Habang pinupunasan ko ang sahig gamit ang tissue (at dignity kong durog na), naririnig ko ang bulungan ng mga tao.

“Siya ‘yung assistant na natapunan si Mr. Steele…”

“Lagot ‘yan. Wala pa yatang nakaka-survive ng unang araw na nakainitan si CEO.”

Napapikit ako. Lord, kung gusto Mo po akong i-test, sana soft launch muna, hindi agad grand opening.

Pagpasok ko sa opisina niya, halos matulala ako.

Floor-to-ceiling glass windows, minimalist furniture, black and silver tones—lahat mukhang sobrang mahal. Pero hindi iyon ang pinaka-impressive.

Siya.

Nakatayo si Alexander sa tabi ng mesa, tinatanggal ang necktie niya habang tinitingnan ang laptop screen. Mula rito, mas na-appreciate ko ang presence niya—matangkad, broad shoulders, at ‘yung aura na parang sanay siyang sinusundan ng ilaw kahit hindi siya humihingi.

“Sir…” mahina kong simula.

He didn’t look up. “Do you always announce yourself before speaking?”

“Po?”

Finally, tumingin siya. “When you enter this room, speak with confidence. Not fear.”

Hindi ko alam kung sermon ba ‘yun o pep talk, pero napa-straight ako bigla.

“Sorry, sir. I just want to apologize again. Hindi ko po sinasadya—”

“I’m aware.” He sighed, then handed me a folder. “You’ll be assisting the finance department today. Don’t make another mess.”

“Yes, sir.”

Habang lumalabas ako ng office, narinig ko pa siyang nagsalita, mahina pero malinaw:

“Let’s see how long you’ll last.”

⸻

Alexander POV:

Alexander watched her leave—small, nervous steps, but with a spark of defiance in her eyes. Most people would crumble under his tone.

She didn’t.

He didn’t know why that intrigued him.

He opened his email, but his mind was still replaying the image of the girl holding a tray, eyes wide, apologizing like the world depended on it.

“Clara Villanueva,” he murmured, checking her file.

Bachelor of Arts in Communication, graduated with honors. Worked part-time in a small marketing firm. Hired last week through HR recommendation.

“Unremarkable,” he muttered.

Yet something about her felt… distracting.

⸻

Clara POV:

The whole day was a blur. Paperworks, signatures, phone calls—lahat sabay-sabay. Pero kahit anong gawin ko, paulit-ulit lang sa isip ko ‘yung eksenang natapunan ko si Mr. Steele.

Hanggang sa mag-5 p.m. na, and I was still reorganizing files.

“Clara,” tawag ni Mara. “Uwi na tayo!”

“Wait lang, I just need to finish this report.”

Napailing siya. “Grabe ka, first day pa lang, overtime agad?”

“Eh baka kasi…” huminga ako nang malalim. “Baka ma-fire ako pag hindi ko inayos ‘to.”

“Girl, kung sinisante ka ni Mr. Steele dahil sa kape, at least viral ka!”

We laughed, kahit halatang pagod na pareho. Pero sa likod ng tawa ko, may kaba pa rin.

Pag-uwi ko, habang nakasakay sa jeep, naisip ko: Siguro tama si Mara. Hindi ako bagay sa mundo ng mga taong may marble floor at million-peso suits.

Pero bukas…

babalik pa rin ako.

Kasi minsan, kahit alam mong hindi ka nababagay, gusto mo pa ring subukan—dahil baka, sa pagitan ng gulo at takot, may maliit na chance na mapansin ka ng tadhana.

O ng isang lalaking kasing-lamig ng salamin ng kanyang tore.

This episode is consists of 3 (Three) parts.

I will post later The remaining 2 parts.

Enjoy reading everyone!