Chapter 2

        'Damn! The whole day was so disappointing.'

         He personally monitored the audition ngunit walang nakapasa sa character na dapat sana ay gagampanan ni Kristel sa ilalaunch nila Fantaserye. Masyado silang madedelay kung matatagalan pa ang paghahanap ng kapalit ng dalaga.

        Agad niyang pinatawag sa kanyang sekretarya si Miss Chloe. 

        "Boss, Miss Chloe is already on the line."

        "Hello Ms. Chloe. Have you contact Kristel" agad na bungad niya sa talent manager ni Kristel.

        "I can't Boss. She turned off all her phones I guess." 

        'Brat. Such unprofessional.' 

         "Okay. So kindly update me kapag may balita ka na sa kanya ha."

        As soon as he said that, he ended the call.

        'My my.. Kristel.. such a pain in the neck.'

        He was about to open the folder that Geneva, his secretary gave him when something popped in his mind. 

        "Geneva, can you book a flight for me in Paris as soon as possible?" aniya sa kanyang secretary.

        "Huh.. Sir?" nagulat na sabi sa kanya ni Geneva. "But you have a luncheon meeting tomorrow with the department heads?"

        "Cancel them. Just do what I say. Did I make myself clear?" madiin na sabi niya to emphasize that he's dead serious.

        "Y-yes boss."

        Right there and then, niligpit niya ang gamit niya and went straight home para ayusin ang bagahe niya. He will definitely teach her a lesson. 

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        After niyang mamili ng mga souvenir items at pasalubong sa kanyang mga kapatid at magulang sa

Les Quatre-Temps Mall ay ipinasya niyang kumain muna sa malapit na Restaurant, ang Mabento Quatre Temps. Mukhang magugustuhan naman niya ang mga specialties ng nasabing classy restaurant. When the foods were served on her table, she was suddenly stunned. Ang ibang mga pagkain ay hindi naman niya inorder. There must be some mistake here.

        "Excuse me? I think you have mistaken these orders from anyone. These are not mine." aniya sa waiter na naghatid ng pagkain sa kanyang table.

        "No Madame. These are additional orders from your companion." mukhang siguradong sigurado na sabi pa ng waiter.

        "What? I don't have a companion with me." muling tanggi niya dito. Malapit na siyang mainis sa totoo lang. Hindi niya maimagine ang ganito kadaming orders. Kahit itake out niya hindi niya ito mauubos.

        "Oh, he's heading this way Ma'am. Enjoy your meal." anang waiter na nakatingin sa paparating na lalaki. Agad na itong umalis nang dumating ang nag order ng pagkain.

        'Oh - oh.'

         It's Gunner, her big boss. If only looks could burn, she would turn into ashes. Matiim itong nakatitig sa kanya. He sat beside her. 

        Iniusod nito sa harap niya ang pagkain niya.

"Eat so you could have your sanity back." may diin sa paraan ng pagkakasabi sa kanya ng binata. 

Tinaasan niya ito ng kilay. Not because he is the boss, he has all the right in the world to say that.

        "Pardon?" 

        Lumapit pa itong lalo sa kanya dahilan upang magpantay ang kanilang mga mukha. 

        "I said eat. After that, I'll go with you in your suite to pack your things. We'll head back to the Philippines."

          "What?!"

          He covered her mouth with his hand. Pero inis na pinalis niya iyon.

        "Shhhh.."

Naramdaman ang mainit na pagbuga ng hininga nito sa kanyang pisngi. She also could smell fresh breath coming from him.

        "But-" angal niya na naputol nang ilagay nito ang daliri across her lips.

        "No buts. Now eat." pinal na sabi nito.

        Nakasimangot na kinuha niya ang mga kubyertos. Napalingon siya sa kabilang mesa kung saan nakaupo ang dalawang foreigners ogling over him. She can't help but rolled her eyes. 

        'Girls would swoon over him. But definitely not her. Period. Exclamation point.'

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        She could feel tensions in her nerves. Pinagsama sama ng inis at disappointment. Hell, she's here to enjoy for a while and forget all the pain she gained in the Philippines. And now this? Her boss will just barge in and spoil her vacation.  

        'Great! Just great!'

         True to his words, sumama ito hanggang sa kanyang hotel suite and started to pack her things. 

        Mabilis niyang kinukuha ang mga damit niya na inilagay sa bagahe at ibinabalik sa built in cabinet doon. Habang si Gunner naman ay patuloy din sa paglalagay ng damit sa luggage niya. Daig pa nila ang mga batang nagpapatintero. 

        Nang sa wari ay mapuno at mapagod na ay itinaas ni JM Gunner ang mga kamay.

        "Hey.. hey.. hey stop it!" 

        Nameywang naman ang dalaga. "No, you stop it! These are mine not yours."

"Whether you like it or not, we're going back to the Philippines."

        Sasagot pa sana si Kristel kay Gunner nang makaramdam siya ng pagkahilo.. napahawak siya sa headboard ng kanyang kama.

        Nag - aalala namang lumapit sa kanya si Gunner nang makita ang kanyang hitsura. 

        "Are you okay?" agad na inalalayan siya nito upang maiupo siya nang maayos sa kama. "Hey.. you're so hot. I think you have a fever."

         Mabilis na inayos nito ang kanyang kama at iginiya siya upang mahiga nang kumportable. She couldn't say no. Parang nahihilo talaga siya para mag inarte pa. 

        "Wait here. I'm just going to buy meds outside. Can you stay here alone?" malumanay na tanong nito sa kanya.

        She nodded her head and closed her eyes.

         Naramdaman naman niya ang mabilis nitong pag -alis bago siya iginupo ng antok.

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