Chapter 4

“And you’re still holding my waist.”

Neither of us moved.

Dapat tumayo na ako.

Instead, nanatili ako roon, nakabitin sa ibabaw niya, nakadiin ang mga kamay ko sa dibdib niya, my body fitting far too easily against his.

Bahagyang humigpit ang hawak niya sa baywang ko.

Lalong nagdilim ang mga mata niya.

And for one terrifying second, inisip kong baka tuluyan niya talaga akong hilahin pababa sa natitirang pulgadang iyon at halikan ako o baka delusyonal lang ako.

“Selene,” he said, and my name sounded wrong in his mouth like that. Too soft. Too heated.

I hated that some part of me wanted him to say it again.

Kumuyom nang bahagya ang mga daliri ko sa dibdib niya. Pasimple siyang huminga nang malalim.

This was bad.

This was so bad.

I leaned back first, sapat lang para magkaroon ng kaunting space sa pagitan namin, but even that felt impossible when his hands were still on me and his eyes were still doing that thing.

That terrible, unfair thing na parang tinutunaw niya ako sa tingin. 

The necklace glinted near the leg of the desk.

Pareho kaming tumingin doon, bago muling nagtagpo ang mga mata namin.

Tinulak ko ang dibdib niya at agad akong tumayo, sabay ayos sa damit ko gamit ang nanginginig na mga daliri.

Mas mabagal siyang tumayo.

Yumuko ako para kunin ang kuwintas, pero once again, mas mabilis siya.

Nauna ang kamay niya roon bago pa umabot ang sa akin.

Tumayo ako nang maayos. “Vladimir.”

He stood there, nakalaylay ang gold chain mula sa mga daliri niya, his expression unreadable again except for the fact that his breathing still wasn’t fully steady.

Neither was mine.

“That necklace is mine,” I said.

“I know.” The answer came softer this time.

I stared at him. “Then why do you have it?”

Tiningnan niya muna ang kuwintas bago iyon dahan-dahang ikinuyom sa palad niya.

At nang ibinalik niya ang tingin sa akin, may kung ano sa kinang ng mga mata niya na hindi ko mapaliwanag.

“Go to your room, Selene.”

I laughed, sharp and breathless and angry all at the same time. “Unbelievable.”

A muscle in his jaw moved. 

Now I no longer knew if the thing making my knees weak was anger, confusion, or the feel of his hands still burning at my waist long after he let go.

Umiling-iling na lang ako and walked past him. Bahala siya sa buhay niya. I was too tired to argue. But I still promised myself na babawiin ko iyong necklace na iyon sa kanya one way or another. 

I woke up the next morning feeling like I had been hit by a truck.

Ilang segundo akong nakatitig lang sa kisame, disoriented dahil sa lambot ng bedsheets, sa mahinang ugong ng air-conditioning, at sa katotohanang nandito pa rin ako.

Still in his house.

Still in his game.

A knock came at exactly eight.

Pagbukas ko ng pinto, nadatnan ko si Mrs. Alvarez, isang babaeng mukhang mananahi na may tape measure sa leeg, at isa pang staff member na may dalang tray ng almusal.

I blinked. “Wow. Good morning.”

Mrs. Alvarez gave me a measured look. “Your measurements, Miss Monteverde.”

Tumingin ako sa tape measure. “You people really don’t waste time.”

“Mr. Del Fierro prefers efficiency.”

“Obviously.”

Ilang minuto lang ang lumipas, nakatayo na ako sa gitna ng kwarto habang sinusukatan ng seamstress ang mga balikat, baywang, at inseam ko in polite silence. Nakatiklop sa tabi ng kama ang tatlong uniform.

All black.

All fitted.

All so annoyingly elegant to the point na halos hindi na nga sila mukhang uniform.

“Are these really necessary?” I asked.

“Yes,” Mrs. Alvarez said.

“They look expensive.”

“They are,” Mrs. Alvarez replied. “You are to be ready by nine-thirty. Mr. Del Fierro has asked for you.”

“When does he not?” I rolled my eyes.

Her face remained unreadable. “You may eat first.”

The tray held coffee, fruit, eggs, and toast I was too stressed to appreciate. Hinintay ko munang makaalis silang lahat bago ko agad dinampot ang phone ko mula sa bedside table.

Three missed messages.

All from Cassandra.

My best friend had apparently been one breakdown away from para sugudin ang Del Fierro estate herself.

Tinawagan ko siya before I could overthink it.

She answered on the first ring. “Selene Lorraine Monteverde, if you don’t start giving me real updates, I swear I will literally drive there and commit a felony.”

I nearly laughed for the first time since yesterday. “Good morning to you too.”

“Don’t ‘good morning’ me. Girl, are you okay? Did he touch you? Do I need to stab somebody?”

“Very reassuring, Cass.”

“Answer the question.”

Umupo ako sa gilid ng kama. “No, he didn’t touch me.”

Uminit ang mukha ko nang maalala ko na naman ang nangyari kagabi. Me on top of him. Oh my God! I hated myself for even thinking about it.

“Selene.” Nagdududang sambit ni Cass na nagpabalik sa huwisyo ko.

“Oh my God, nothing happened.” I was defensive. 

“You’re lying in a voice only I can hear.”

“I’m not lying.”

“You’re deflecting.”

Pabagsak akong humiga pabalik sa mga unan. “He’s just… annoying.”

“That is not the word people use for dangerous CEOs who blackmail them into moving into mansions.”

“Okay, fine. He’s annoying and evil and irritatingly put together.”

May sandaling katahimikan.

Then Cassandra said, very slowly, “Ah.”

I covered my face with one hand. “Do not.”

“Oh my God.”

“Cassandra.”

“You think he’s hot.”

“I did not say that.”

“You didn’t have to. Your silence said enough.”

I groaned. “Please die.”

“No, ikaw muna. You’re in a hostage situation and you’re already noticing his face?”

“It is not my fault he was genetically handsome.”

That made her laugh. Then her tone softened. “Selene. Joke aside. Are you safe?”

Tumingin ako sa paligid ng kwarto. The giant windows. The neat bed. The tray of breakfast. The folded uniforms waiting like a reminder.

“I don’t know,” I admitted. “But I think he means it when he says I’m safer here.”

Napatingin ako sa orasan. Malapit ng mag nine-thirty. 

Mabilis akong umupo. “I have to go.”

“Text me.”

“I’ll try.”

“And Selene?”

“Hmm?”

“If he hurts you, I swear I will ruin his life in a way rich people never recover from.”

I laughed softly. “Noted.”

I ended the call, nagsuot ng isa sa mga uniform, at humarap sa salamin.

The fit was annoyingly perfect.

Black fitted skirt. Crisp blouse. Structured enough para magmukhang formal, but soft enough para maging komportable.

By nine-thirty, I was walking downstairs with my spine straight and my dignity barely stitched together.

May ilang staff na napatingin sa akin habang dumaraan ako. Dalawang kasambahay malapit sa hagdan ang biglang tumahimik pagkakita sa akin.

Then one of them whispered, not quietly enough, “Sa east wing siya naka-i-stay?”

The other gave the tiniest nod.

“Hindi basta-basta nagpapatuloy si Sir ng kahit sino roon.”

I kept walking like I hadn’t heard a thing.

Sinalubong ako ni Mrs. Alvarez malapit sa hall at sinenyasan niya akong sumunod. “Mr. Del Fierro is in the morning room.”

“Of course he is.”

Pagpasok ko, nakatayo siya sa may bintana, phone in hand, may coffee mug na hawak. Wow he was even more handsome with a slightly messy hair and white shirt.

Nag-angat agad ang mga mata niya sa sandaling pumasok ako. Mula sa mukha ko, pababa sa uniform, saka pabalik sa mga mata ko.

Parang biglang humangin nang malakas at sandaling nangatog ang mga tuhod ko. 

Poker face lang siya. 

“Well?” I asked before he could. “Do I pass your rich-house employee inspection?”

Tinapos niya ang tawag at binaba ang cellphone nang hindi inaalis ang tingin sa akin. “Turn around.”

I stared at him. “Excuse me?”

“Turn around, Selene.”

I almost said no.

But something reckless in me suddenly wanted to know what he was looking for.

So I turned once.

Slowly.

Nang humarap ulit ako sa kanya, his gaze was darker.

Cooler.

And somehow hotter at the same time.

“It fits,” he said.

“Obviously.”

Bago pa siya makasagot, heels clicked against the marble outside.

Mrs. Alvarez appeared in the doorway first. “Sir, Ms. Arguelles is here.”

A second later, a woman stepped into the room like she had every right to.

Beautiful.

Elegant.

Perfectly put together in a cream dress and heels. 

Sleek ang buhok niya, flawless ang makeup, at iyong ngiti niya, mula sa malayo mukhang soft, pero sa malapitan, matalim.

Kay Vladimir unang bumagsak ang tingin niya.

Pagkatapos, sa akin.

At nanatili roon.

Sapat lang para ipadama sa akin exactly kung ano ang gusto niyang maramdaman ko.

Na wala ako sa lugar.

“What a surprise,” she said smoothly. “You didn’t mention you had company.”

No one had to tell me who she was.

I already knew.

Calista Amelie Arguelles.

The ex.

Of course she was gorgeous.

Of course she looked like this house made sense on her.

Of course she looked at me like I was the one who didn’t belong.

I lifted my chin before I could stop myself.

If she was waiting for me to shrink, she was about to be very disappointed.

“Calista, this isn’t a good time,” kalmadong sambi ni Vladimir

Nakatitig pa rin si Calista sa akin nang may ngiting nakakaasar. “Clearly.”

And just like that, my morning got infinitely worse.

I folded my arms. “Do people just walk into private rooms here, or are exceptions only made for ex-girlfriends?”

“Ex-girlfriend?” Calista repeated, like the term amused her. “That’s a strong assumption.”

Okay.

So that’s how this was going to go.

Bahagyang humakbang si Vladimir sa gilid. Sapat lang para maputol ang direktang linya sa pagitan naming dalawa ni Calista.

“State your business, Calista,” he said.

She finally looked at him. “Straight to business. Cute.”

Poker face pa rin si Vladimir.

“Your uncle asked me to stop by,” she said. “You’ve been ignoring his calls.”

The mention of Andrei, his uncle, instantly killed whatever humor I had left. Sigurado akong isa siya sa mga dahilan kung bakit nangyayari ito sa pamilya namin.

Vladimir’s gaze went colder. “If my uncle wants something, he can ask me himself.”

“He did. You ignored him.”

Hindi nagsalita si Vladimir. 

I looked between them. “Wow. Healthy family dynamics.”

Calista let out a soft laugh at that.

Oh, great.

Now she was elegant, rich, and somehow still funny.

She looked at me again. “You must be Selene.”

I smiled sweetly. “And you must be bad timing.”

That made her smile sharpen.

“Hardly,” she said. “From what I’ve heard, timing is exactly why you’re here.”

I kept my face calm kahit nanggigil ang kamao ko sa sinabi niya. “From what you’ve heard? So people are talking about me already? Cute.”

Vladimir’s jaw ticked once. “Enough.”

We both ignored him.

Calista tilted her head. “I just find it interesting. Vladimir has never been impulsive.”

I let out a soft laugh. “Oh, trust me. Nothing about this feels impulsive.”

Calista stepped farther into the room, all smooth confidence and expensive perfume. “And yet here you are.”

“And yet here I am,” I echoed.

“Selene,” Vladimir said, voice low now.

Warning.

Tinignan ko siya. “What?”

His eyes held mine for one second too long. “Don’t.”

It wasn’t even flirty.

It was literally just a warning.

Pero may kung ano sa paraan ng pagkakasabi niya no’n na parang may pumulupot sa pinakailalim ng gulugod ko at nanatili roon.

“Well,” Calista said lightly, reaching into her bag. “I didn’t come here to stay.”

Naglabas siya ng isang selyadong sobre at iniabot iyon kay Vladimir.

He took it without looking at it.

“Your uncle wanted that delivered personally,” she added.

His face went unreadable in that extra cold way of his. “You can tell my uncle I’m not interested in messages sent through other people.”

Saglit na dumaan ang tingin ni Calista sa akin, saka bumalik kay Vladimir. “I think what bothers you isn’t the message.”

There was definitely history there.

Not just exes.

Not just attraction.

Something heavier. Messier.

Bahagyang bumaba pa ang boses ni Vladimir. “Leave.”

Hindi agad gumalaw si Calista. 

Then, very slowly, she looked at me again. “It was nice meeting you, Selene.”

Plastik. 

I smiled back. “Sure.”

She turned and walked out, her heels clicking softly against the marble until the sound disappeared.

The room went quiet.

Tinignan ko si Vladimir.

He looked back.

Walang kahit isang nagsalita sa amin. 

Then I took a step closer. “So let me guess. Your ex-girlfriend is somehow connected to your uncle, your uncle is somehow involved in the case ruining my life, and I’m just supposed to stand here in this stupidly fitted uniform and act like that’s normal?”

Mabilis na bumaba ang tingin niya sa katawan ko.

Then back up.

That one tiny look made my skin warm in all the wrong places.

“Nothing about this is normal,” he said.

For once, I couldn’t argue with him.

I searched his face. “Did you love her?” Kusang nakalabas ang tanong bago ko pa mapigilan.

So stupid.

Well, I was just curious if he was truly capable of love. 

Matagal siyang nakatitig sa akin bago sumagot. “Does it matter?”

I let out a soft laugh. “Men really think that answer works on women.” I shrugged. “You know what? Never mind. It was just annoying that she walked in here like she knew exactly what she was interrupting.”

His gaze darkened. “And what exactly do you think she interrupted?”

Tumitig siya sa akin na parang masyado na siyang maraming alam. Masyado rin akong aware sa boses niya, sa mga kamay niya, sa paraan ng katawan niya sa puting polo na parang personal akong tinutukso.

Yeah, ano nga bang in-interrupt niya? Why did I feel…

Annoyed?

Threatened?

Jealous?

I hated all of those options.

So naturally, I chose deflection.

“I think she interrupted your very sweet orientation program for kidnapped girls.”

Bahagyang umangat ang isang sulok ng bibig niya.

“You’re impossible,” he murmured.

“And yet,” I said, hearing my own voice drop a little, “you keep me here.”

Nakatingin lang siya sa akin, and for one second, I thought he might actually say something real.

Instead, he stepped back. Then his gaze slid to the side table.

“To your left,” he said.

I blinked. “What?”

“The tray.” His voice went calm again. Too calm. “Bring it here.”

I stared at him. “No.”

His brow lifted slightly. “No?”

“You don’t get to annoy me and then suddenly remember I’m your maid.”

He shrugged. “You are my maid.” 

Annoying! Tumingin ako sa silver tray sa side table. Coffee pot. Fresh cup. Sugar bowl.

I folded my arms tighter. “You’re unbelievable.”

“That’s not new.”

Ugh.

I hated him.

Still, kinuha ang tray, at dinala iyon palapit. Hindi siya umupo. Hindi rin tumulong. Nakatayo lang siya roon, pinapanood ako  with that same unreadable face habang inilalapag ko iyon sa mababang mesa sa pagitan naming dalawa.

“Pour,” he said.

I looked up slowly. “You are enjoying this way too much.”

“Am I?”

“Yes.”

He said nothing.

Which, honestly, was worse.

Inabot ko ang coffee pot at nagsalin ng kape sa bakanteng tasa with more control than I felt. The sound of liquid filling porcelain suddenly felt way too loud in the room. Masyadong intimate para sa isang bagay na ganito kasimple.

Mostly because I could feel him watching me.

Every second of it.

I set the pot down. “Sugar?”

His eyes stayed on mine. “One.”

I added it.

Stirred.

Mahigpit ang pagkakakuyom ng panga ko bawat segundo.

Then I handed him the cup.

He took it without breaking eye contact.

“Anything else, sir?” I asked sweetly.

Nahuli ko siyang muntik nang ngumiti.

I let out a dry laugh. “Don’t flatter yourself. I’m doing this because throwing hot coffee at you would ruin the carpet.”

He looked down at the cup in his hand, then back at me. “Noted.”

Bahagya kong pinanliitan ang mga mata ko. “You’re awful.”

He took another sip, then set the cup down and looked at me with that same calm, impossible expression. Napakahirap malaman kung naaaliw ba siya, naiirita, o may binabalak na namang masama para sa natitira kong peace of mind.

“Mrs. Alvarez will walk you through the rest of the schedule,” he said.

I stared. “You are unbelievable, sir.”

“That’s not new.” He stepped closer. Sobrang lapit na parang uminit ang hangin sa pagitan namin.

My knees slightly trembled. 

Saglit na bumaba ang tingin niya sa bibig ko bago muling umangat sa mga mata ko.

And when he spoke again, mas mahina at mapang-akit na ang boses niya.

“But if you keep saying sir like that,” he said, “I’ll stop pretending you don’t know exactly what you’re doing.”

I wanted to step back, pero hindi ako nakagalaw. My body was a traitor. 

Nilabanan ko ang mga titig niya. 

Bumaba rin ang tingin ko sa labi niya. 

At bumalik ulit sa mga mata niya.

I was almost out of breath. Sa gilid na mga mata ko nahagip ko si Mrs. Alvarez na kakapasok lang ulit. 

“Mrs. Alvarez,” I called without looking away from him, “your boss is being inappropriate again.” 

Bahagyang kumurba ang isang sulok ng bibig niya.

At bago siya tuluyang humarap sa pinto, he said, low enough that only I could hear it,

“Get through the schedule first, Selene.”

My heart thumped against my ribs.

Then—

“Tonight, we’ll see how well you follow instructions.”