Chapter 5

“Is there a problem with the meal?” Tanong ni Mrs. Alvarez matapos kong abutin ang tinidor ko at tusukin ang steak like it had personally offended me.

“No,” I said. “Just with my life.”

I glanced down at the table.

My necklace.

He had my necklace.

And he knew it was mine.

That was the part I couldn’t stop circling.

Naglapag si Mrs. Alvarez ng teapot near my plate. “Mr. Del Fierro sent tea.”

I just smiled at her.

Bahagya siyang tumango at tumalikod na para umalis. Pero huminto siya sa may pinto.

“Miss Monteverde.”

I looked up. “What now?”

Bumalik siya sa loob dala ang isang maliit na itim na kahon. Plain yet elegant.

“Mr. Del Fierro asked that this be delivered to you after lunch.”

My stomach tightened immediately. “A box.”

“Yes.”

“Is that a death threat?”

Nagkibit balikat siya. “I wouldn’t know.”

Maingat niya iyong inilapag sa tabi ng plato ko, gave one last calm nod, and left me alone with it.

I stared at the box.

Then at my lunch.

Then back at the box.

Nope.

Absolutely not.

I reached for my tea first, dahil kung iinisin na naman ako ni Vladimir, deserve ko naman ang one sip before it happened.

Ibinaba ko ang tasa at hinila ang kahon palapit sa akin.

It was lighter than I expected.

No note on top.

No name.

Just a folded piece of paper inside.

My fingers froze for one second before I opened it.

The second na nakita ko ang sulat, tuluyan nang nanigas ang buong katawan ko.

Messy.

Quick.

Rushed.

Halatang-halata na sulat iyon ng isang tao who had too much alcohol in her system and not enough dignity left to function.

I unfolded it fully.

Sorry.

I can’t do awkward mornings.

Please forget this happened.

Natulala ako at binasa ulit ang nakasalut. 

Then one more time, slower, because no.

No, no, no.

My stomach dropped.

That was my handwriting.

Oh my God.

Bumalik sa alaala ko kung paano ko iyon nilapag sa side table that night. 

I dropped this note onto the table and pressed both palms flat against the edge because suddenly I needed physical support from furniture.

Mabilis kong dinampot ang phone ko. I almost knocked over the tea and called Cassandra before I could talk myself out of it.

Sumagot agad siya. “If this is about the hot CEO again, I want credit for emotional labor.”

I didn’t even bother easing into it. “I think I ghosted him after a one-night stand.”

Silence.

Then, “I’m sorry, what?”

I looked at the note again. “He sent me something.”

“What something?”

“A note.”

“From him?”

“No,” I said. “From me.”

Another pause.

Longer this time.

Then Cassandra said, very carefully, “Selene.”

Tinakpan ko ang mga mata ko with one hand. “I know.”

“No, I need you to repeat that because my brain is refusing.”

Huminga ako nang malalim. “It’s my handwriting. It says sorry, I can’t do awkward mornings, please forget this happened.”

Napakawala si Cassandra ng tunog na parang kalahating tili, kalahating dasal. “Oh my God.”

“Please don’t make it louder than it already is in my head.”

“Too late. It’s already loud in mine too.”

Tumayo ako at nagsimulang maglakad-lakad dahil hindi na talaga kaya ang umupo lang. “Okay, but wait. That doesn’t automatically mean it was him.”

“That sounds like denial.”

“It is denial,” I snapped. “I’m being honest.”

She groaned. “Explain.”

Napatingin ako sa bintana, na parang may maitutulong kahit papaano ang sikat ng araw at mamahaling kurtina. 

“I barely remember that night. It was dark at the bar. And when we checked into the hotel, the lights were dim. I was wasted.”

“Why were you wasted?”

I stopped pacing and closed my eyes for one second. “Because I had just caught Caleb cheating, remember that night?” I gasped. “We were still together then,” I said more softly. “I was upset. I was angry. I didn’t want to think. I just wanted the whole night erased.”

Cassandra let out a slower breath this time. “Yeah I remember.”

“So when I woke up the next morning, I didn’t even bother looking at the guy properly. I just wanted to leave.” Tinignan ko iyong note sa kamay ko. “I wanted to forget it ever happened because it was a mistake.”

That was the truth. Ugly, embarrassing truth, but still.

I kept going before she could interrupt.

“He was tall, I think. And he smelled good.” I frowned. “That’s it. That’s all I clearly remember. Also, okay, he had a really nice dic— no. Never mind. Pretend you didn’t hear that.”

Cassandra made a noise. Ang tagal niyang tumili. “Tall, smelled good, and what?” I could hear her smiling.

“Can we not?” Uminit ang pisngi ko. 

I started pacing again.

“Anyway…” I stopped. “Maybe that’s why Vladimir’s scent felt familiar.”

There was a beat of silence.

Then Cassandra giggled again, “wait I can’t move on. Really nice what?” 

“Please, Cass.” Gusto ko ng lumubog sa lupa. 

“Okay, I’ll shut up.”

Tinignan ko ulit iyong note.

The paper had softened at the edges.

He kept it.

That was the craziest part.

Not the note.

Not the memory.

That he kept it.

For years.

Umiling iling ako because no.

“Maybe it wasn’t him,” I said quickly.

Tahimik pa rin si Cassandra. 

Then, “You don’t sound convinced,” she said.

“I’m trying very hard to be.” I walked back to the table and picked up the note again. “Maybe it was one of his friends. Or someone he knew. Maybe that guy somehow ended up in the same circle and Vladimir got the note from him.”

That sounded ridiculous.

Still, it sounded less terrifying than the truth.

Buti naman at hindi na tumawa si Cassandra.

“Do you believe that?” she asked.

Tinignan ko ulit iyong handwriting. 

Then at the black box.

Then at the tea Mrs. Alvarez had abandoned me with.

“No,” I said honestly. “But I also don’t want the other answer.”

Because if it was him, then too many things changed at once.

No, no, no.

Muli akong umupo at idiniin nang patag ang note sa mesa.

“I’m not concluding anything yet,” I said. “I refuse.”

“That also sounds like denial.”

“Yes,” I said. “We’ve covered that.”

Mahina ulit siyang tumawa. Then she lowered her voice. “What are you gonna do?”

I looked toward the door.

Then at the note.

Then back down.

“I don’t know.” Because for the first time since walking into Vladimir Del Fierro’s mansion, I wasn’t sure if I was more afraid of being wrong…

or of being right.

Pagkatapos ng tawag, diretso akong lumabas ng sitting room, note still crushed in my hand, and headed for the nearest person I could interrogate.

Which, unfortunately, turned out to be a man I had never seen before.

I stopped.

Wait.

Could it be him?

No, that made no sense.

I mean… he was handsome, but Vladimir looked way better, not that it mattered. 

Nakasandal siya sa arko ng hallway, nagso-scroll sa phone niya na parang senyoro na may ari rin ng bahay. Tall. Clean-cut. Sharp jaw. Expensive watch.

He looked up the second he saw me. “Wow. You look homicidal.” He laughed. “You must be Selene.”

I frowned. “And you are?”

“Lucian Arceo.”

Tinaas ko ang isang kilay ko. “You say that like I’m supposed to know who you are.”

Nilagay niya sa bulsa ng pantalon ang phone niya and gave me an almost amused look.

“Fair,” he said. “I’m one of Vladimir’s oldest friends.”

That did not make me feel better.

At all.

I looked at him more carefully.

Matangkad, yes.

Broad shoulders, yes.

Sharp enough to ruin someone’s peace, unfortunately yes.

And because apparently my dignity had already clocked out for the day, mas lumapit pa ako sa kanya. 

Lucian’s brow lifted.

“Oh,” he said slowly. “That’s either a slap or a kiss, and I’d like to prepare accordingly.”

I ignored him.

I was trying to remember everything I could that night. 

Tall.

A low voice.

Warm hands.

And a scent.

I leaned in ever so slightly.

Lucian stared.

Then blinked.

“Are you smelling me?”

Mabilis akong tumayo nang maayos. “No.”

“You’re so convincing.” He smirked. 

I narrowed my eyes. “You’re very annoying.”

Lalo siyang ngumisi. “Thank you.”

Definitely not him.

Masyadong matapang ang pabango ni Lucian. Too sharp. Too polished in a louder way. The kind of scent that arrived before the man did. In short, papansin. 

Not like Vladimir.

Vladimir smelled cleaner. Colder. More understated. Something expensive but closer to the skin. The kind of scent you only caught when he leaned in too close or passed by just enough to ruin your entire nervous system.

Napansin ata ni Lucian ang pag-iisip ko nang malalim. Of course he did.

“Well,” he said, “whatever conclusion you just reached, I don’t like that I was part of it.”

Itinulak ko ang note sa dibdib niya bago pa siya makapagsabi ng mas nakakairita. “Did this come from you?”

He unfolded it, read it once, then looked back at me with a grin I instantly hated.

“Well,” he said, “that would’ve been one hell of a reunion.”

“Seriously.”

“What?” Tumingin ulit siya sa nakasulat. “I’m just trying to figure out if you think we had a one-night stand and you ghosted me.”

Natulala ako nang ilang segundo. 

Then his mouth tilted. “For the record, I’d remember.”

Ugh.

I hated him for real. 

I snatched the note back. I folded the it tighter in my hand. “So it wasn’t you.”

“No.” He leaned against the arch. “But now I’m very curious about who you thought it was.”

“None of your business” I groaned at iniwan na siyang mag-isa. 

The rest of the afternoon passed in a blur of schedules, rooms, and instructions na kalahati lang ang pinakinggan ko dahil masyadong abala ang utak ko sa paulit-ulit na pagre-replay ng tatlong bagay.

The note.

Lucian’s stupid face.

And Vladimir’s voice when he said, Tonight, we’ll see how well you follow instructions.

Just amazing.

By the time evening came, nakasuot na naman ako ng isa sa mga itim na maid dress, standing in front of the mirror and trying not to feel ridiculous in something so fitted, so polished, and so very not me.

I slightly flinched nang biglang may kumatok. 

I turned. “Come in.”

Pumasok si Mrs. Alvarez, calm as ever, carrying a folded white cloth over one arm.

“Mr. Del Fierro will be working in his office until late,” she said. “He wants his coffee fresh, his desk cleared, and the blue file returned to the shelf after he’s done with it.”

I blinked. “So I’m on coffee duty now.”

“You are on whatever duty he assigns.”

Fair.

Mrs. Alvarez handed me the cloth. “You’re to report to his office in ten minutes.”

Tinignan ko ang cloth na inabot niya. “He’s really committing to the maid thing.”

Tumango lang si Mrs. Alvarez bago lumabas sa kwarto ko.

I shook my head at nagkabit ng lipgloss bago ko pa makalimutan. Ilang segundo ko ring sinuklay ang buhok ko. 

After that. I followed the west hall down toward his office. 

Mas tahimik ang mansion sa gabi.

But it didn’t feel peaceful. Sa ingay ng utak ko, hindi ko na alam ang pakiramdam ng peace. 

When I reached his office door, it was already half-open.

Ganito lagi ang itsura ng kwarto kapag nagtatrabaho siya. Bukas ang lamp. Naka-open ang laptop. Wala ang jacket. Naka-roll ang mga manggas. Maluwag ang tie. May baso ng tubig na hindi man lang nagalaw.

He barely looked up when I walked in.

Tumayo lang ako sa sulok and waited for him to say something. Napanganga lang ako nang tuloy-tuloy lang siyang nag-type sa laptop niya na parang hangin lang akong dumaan.

Lumakad pa ako palapit sa kanya at huminto exactly sa harap ng mesa niya.

I shook my head once. “Say something.”

Sa wakas, tinignan niya ulit ako for like a second or two. Then he closed his laptop.

Rose from his chair.

And came around the desk.

He stopped in front of me, sobrang lapit, that I could feel the heat of him. Sinubukan kong umtras pero na sa likod ko na ang lamesa niya. 

“You don’t remember me.” His voice, when it came, was low enough to make the whole room feel smaller.

Biglang kumabog ang puso ko. 

I stared at him. “Vladimir—”

Dumapo ang kamay niya sa gilid ng desk sa tabi ko, boxing me in without quite touching me. 

Then his gaze dropped briefly to my lips.

When he looked back up, mas humina pa ang boses niya. 

“You wanted the rules.”

A beat.

“Here they are.”

I froze.

Patuloy niya akong tiningnan na parang alam na alam niya kung gaano kalakas ang tama ng linyang iyon sa akin.

“Take those files back to the shelf,” he said. “Wipe down the desk. Refresh my coffee. Then wait for me by the door.”

Actual maid instructions. Wow. 

Hindi pa rin ako makagalaw. Parang nakakulong ako sa pagitan ng mga braso niya kahit hindi naman niya ako hinahawakan. “You’re serious.”

“Yes.”

Nanatili akong nakatayo, with his scent still messing with my head, and the memory of that night hanging just out of reach like it was laughing at me.

Sa wakas ay bumitas na ang dalawang kamay niya mula sa mesa. He took one small step back, finally giving me room to breathe.

“Do it properly,” he said.

God.

That voice.

That stupid calm, commanding voice.

Dinampot ko na ang mga file para lang may mapagkaabalahan ang mga kamay ko. Isa-isa ko iyong ibinalik sa shelf exactly where he wanted them. Then I came back to the desk, picked up the cloth from the side table, and wiped the polished wood nang padabog. 

I could feel him watching me the entire time.

Kaunti na lang matutunaw na ako at lulubog sa lupa. 

I reached for the coffee tray. I looked at him one second too long.

Then back at the cup.

I poured.

Added one sugar.

Stirred.

Set it down in front of him.

Done.

My pulse was still a mess.

My thoughts were worse.

And none of it was helping.

Tumalikod ako at naglakad papunta sa pinto because apparently, sumusunod na talaga ako sa mga utos niya ngayon, which was a deeply upsetting thing to realize about myself.

When I stopped there, I folded my arms and looked back at him. “Happy?”

Hindi agad siya sumagot. Tumitig lang siya sa akin. 

Nanatili akong nakatayo sa may pinto, suot ang itim na maid dress, his office quiet around us, his note still in my pocket, the whole night hanging on the edge of something I was not sure I was ready to hear.

Then he said, very calmly, “Now come here.”

Kumabog na naman ang dibdib ko. Hindi ko alam kung anong nakain ko pero lumapit agad ako sa kanya. 

He leaned back against the desk, one hand beside the coffee I had just made him, habang nananatiling nakatutok ang tingin niya sa akin.

“One last thing,” he said. “Go to my room.” 

“Which room?” 

“The room where I sleep, Selene.” 

My knees trembled. Malamig naman sa silid niya pero parang namawis bigla ang sentido ko. 

“What are you planning?” Pinilit kong magpanggap na hindi apektado. 

He playfully smirked.

My heart thudded. Somehow, his smile made him look even more breathtaking.

I hated him. That was the last thing I should have been thinking.

“What?” I asked again. 

“Go to my room,” he repeated. “Change my bedsheets. Then wait for me there. After that, I’ll remind you why that note exists in the first place.”