Chapter 5: Trapped with You

Kinabukasan, maaga pa lang, nasa conference hall na ako para sa final presentation. Everything was going well — until the sky outside darkened.

A faint thunder rolled across the city.

By the time the meeting ended, the rain had turned into a full-blown storm. Sheets of rain hammered the glass walls of the hotel, and lightning flashed every few seconds.

Pagkatapos ng presentation, lumapit sa akin si Alessandro, hands tucked in his pockets as usual.

“You did well,” he said simply.

“Thank you,” sagot ko, trying to sound professional kahit nanginginig na ‘yung tuhod ko. Not from fear — but from how his presence always seemed to take over every space.

“I’m impressed,” he added. “You handled the board like a queen.”

I smiled, nervous. “Coming from you, that means a lot.”

“Good,” he murmured, eyes glinting. “Then maybe you deserve a reward.”

Before I could respond, biglang may dumating na staff. “Sir, ma’am, apologies — all flights back to Manila are grounded due to the typhoon. It’s not safe to travel tonight.”

I blinked. “So… we’re stuck here?”

“Yes, ma’am. At least until tomorrow.”

Alessandro’s lips curved slightly. “Then I guess fate has a strange sense of humor.”

Later that night

The storm didn’t stop. In fact, it got worse. I stayed in my suite, half-packed and restless. I tried reading, scrolling through my phone, but I couldn’t focus.

At 10 p.m., may kumatok sa pinto.

When I opened it, Alessandro was standing there — hair slightly damp, sleeves rolled up, eyes unreadable.

“Power’s fluctuating,” he said. “You shouldn’t stay alone.”

“I’ll be fine,” I said softly, though my voice betrayed me.

“I insist.”

Before I could protest, pumasok na siya. Dalawang hakbang lang, pero parang lumiit agad ‘yung kwarto.

“You don’t take no for an answer, do you?” I muttered.

He smirked. “Not when it comes to you.”

Lightning flashed outside, lighting up the whole room for a second. Then the lights flickered — and went out.

“Great,” I sighed. “Just perfect.”

“Stay still,” he said, his tone suddenly protective. “The emergency power will kick in soon.”

And while we waited, silence fell. Just the sound of the storm — and our breathing.

When the soft emergency lights finally came on, his face was half-shadowed, half-lit. The contrast made him look even more dangerous... and beautiful.

He glanced at me, voice low. “You’re shaking.”

“It’s cold,” I lied.

He took off his suit jacket and draped it over my shoulders before I could stop him.

“Better?”

I swallowed. “Yeah… thanks.”

His hand brushed my arm as he adjusted the jacket. A small touch — but it felt electric.

“Why are you really here, Alessandro?” tanong ko. “You could’ve stayed in your suite.”

He looked at me for a long time before answering. “Because the thought of you alone, scared, while the storm rages outside... didn’t sit well with me.”

My heart skipped a beat. “You don’t even know me that well.”

“I know enough,” he murmured. “Enough to care.”

I turned away, trying to steady my breathing. The rain kept pounding, matching the rhythm of my heartbeat.

“Do you ever stop being like this?” I asked quietly.

“Like what?”

“So sure. So… impossible.”

He chuckled, low and deep. “Not when it comes to something I want.”

“And what do you want?”

He stepped closer, his voice a whisper now. “You.”

My breath hitched. “Alessandro…”

He stopped, just inches away, his eyes searching mine. “You don’t have to be afraid. I won’t cross the line... unless you want me to.”

The air between us thickened. For a second, I thought he’d kiss me. I thought I might let him.

But then he exhaled, stepping back. “You should rest. It’s been a long day.”

He turned toward the couch and sat down, loosening his tie. “I’ll stay here tonight. Don’t worry — I’ll behave.”

“You’re impossible,” I muttered, half-smiling.

“Maybe,” he said, leaning back with that infuriatingly calm expression. “But at least you’re smiling again.”

I lay on the bed, pretending to sleep. Pero sa bawat pag-ikot ko, naririnig ko pa rin ‘yung mahinang paghinga niya, the faint clink of his watch, the storm outside — and the sound of something breaking quietly inside me.

Because I knew this wasn’t supposed to happen.

I wasn’t supposed to fall.

Not for a man like him.

But as I closed my eyes, I realized something terrifying.

Even with the storm raging outside,

the real danger was right here —

in the quiet, in the dark,

and in the way my heart beat faster whenever he said my name.