Chapter 1

Biglang uminit ang ulo ko sa galit at napabalikwas ako sa upuan. Tinitigan ko si Blaire nang masama, parang gusto kong butasan ang kaluluwa niya.

"What the hell is wrong with you?" sigaw ko sabay hampas ng kamao sa desk. "Do you have any idea who I am? I'm the CEO of this company!"

Tumaas lamang ang kilay niya, at ramdam na ramdam mo ang sarkasmo sa boses niya.

"Ay, sorry naman, hindi ko kasi napansin. Siguro bulag lang ang hindi makakakita sa napakalaking karatula sa pinto na nakasulat na 'CEO's Office' sa malalaking letra."

"Good. Dahil alam mo na ako ang may-ari ng kompanyang 'to at ako ang boss mo. I expect some respect from you!" My voice echoed with authority.

Pero nagulat ako nang biglang nawala ang tapang ni Blaire, napalitan ng pagiging maamo.

"Opo, sir. Pasensya na po," nakayukong sabi niya.

Napakunot ako ng noo. Where was the feisty, sharp-tongued Blaire I had come to expect?

"That was easier than I thought," I muttered to myself, a smile of satisfaction creeping onto my face. Pero nang magsisimula pa lang akong magtanong, nagbago na naman ang kanyang ugali.

"Jerk!" she spat, shattering the fleeting illusion of submission. Muntik nang lumuwa ang mga mata ko. May bipolar disorder ba ang babaeng 'to?

My face darkened, my voice low and menacing.

"Did you... what did you just call me?"

"Hanggang ngayon nagkakaproblema ka pa rin sa pandinig mo," nakangising sabi niya.

"You're not fit to be my secretary, Blaire Balde. You're fired. Get out of my office, now." Itinuro ko ang pintuan ng opisina.

Humakbang siya papalapit sa akin hanggang isang hakbang na lamang ang pagitan namin.

"Una, ang pangalan ko ay Blaire Vilarde, hindi Balde. Pangalawa, hindi mo pa ako binabayaran ng aking sahod, kaya hindi mo ako maaaring sisantehin."

The fvck? Bahagyang umawang ang labi ko. Hindi pa nga nagsisumulang magtrabaho, nanghihingi na nang sahod?

My face twisted in anger. "You think you deserve payment without lifting a finger? Such audacity!"

"I've invested time and energy in this conversation, haven't I? So don't you think I deserve payment?" She smiled sweetly, folding her arms.

I snorted, glaring daggers at her.

"You're unbelievable." Naiiling na binuksan ko ang isang kahon, at kumuha ng cash. At inabot sa kanya. "Here's your salary, in full. This covers your salary, transportation, and compensation. Take it and leave."

Nanlaki ang kanyang mga mata habang tinitignan ang pera sa kamay ko. Isang malapad na ngiti ang lumitaw sa labi niya.

"Oh my goodness! I adore money!" Hinablot ni Blaire ang pera at binilang.

Pero bigla siyang natigilan. Muli na namang nagbago ang kanyang ekspresyon.

"Gusto ko ng pera, pero ayaw ko ng libre. Mas gusto kong paghirapan ito."

Saglit akong natulala nang ibalik niya ang pera sa kamay ko.

"I don't want it," she smiled, and I knew that smile.

Napanganga ako. Her knowing smile only deepened my shock.

"It's nice meeting you again, Drakula Fortalejo. After all these years, I'm looking forward to working for you," sabi niya na puno ng panunuya ang tono.

With a parting smile. Umalis siya sa opisina at naiwan akong tulala at hindi makapagsalita. The moment she vanished from sight, I regained my voice.

"Raki!" I bellowed, screaming for my assistant.

Raki entered my office in less than two minutes, and was met with my full rage.

"I asked for a secretary, not a déath wish! Anong espiritu ang sumanib sa 'yo at nag-hire ka ng baliw na babae?!" sigaw ko, umaalingawngaw ang boses ko sa buong opisina.

"I-I'm sorry, sir. I—" he trembled, attempting to apologize, but my fury cut him off.

"Get out! Get the hell out of my office!"

Raki bowed respectfully before exiting the office, leaving me to my turmoil.

"Why did I fire Lea? Bakit ko ba ginawa 'yon?!" I lamented in frustration. "Blaire is the devil incarnate!" I said, and began to frantically rumple my hair, but then caught myself, realizing the disarray I was causing. Napabuntong-hininga ako, at inayos ang buhok ko pabalik sa ayos.

"I'm doomed," I declared, my voice laced with desperation.

Napapalamig ako ng ulo nang biglang pumasok ang dalawa kong kaibigan na sina Rhyd at Sevi.

"Have you both forgotten how to knock?" Sinamaan ko sila ng tingin. Pero biglang may maliit na bolang tumama sa noo ko.

Rhyd was the culprit.

"Are you insane?" I asked, but he just rolled his eyes and threw another one.

"Pvssy Lord, since when did we start knocking before entering?" tanong ni Rhyd, dumiretso ito sa aking desk at umupo sa harap ko, sabay patong sa binti nito sa aking mesa.

"Lumayas kayo sa opisina ko. Marami pa akong trabaho na gagawin. At wala ba kayong mga trabaho?" tanong ko.

"Is that even a question?" patanong na sagot ni Sevi, kaya napabuntong-hininga ako sa inis.

"Why are you in my office? You're supposed to be working in yours," I asked them both, but they gave no reply.

"Hey, bro! May nakita kaming chick sa Secretary's office. Who's she? Bagong secretary mo?" Rhyd blew a large bubble with his gum, his eyes sparkling with curiosity.

"That bítch?" I spat out. Biglang sumama ang ekspresyon ko. Muling bumalik sa alaala ko ang mga sandali ng pagkikita namin ni Blaire.

Nagtawanan sina Rhyd at Sevi, kahit wala naman silang ideya kung ano ang nakakatawa.

"Sa totoo lang, hindi ko alam kung bakit kayo tumatawa." Dumilim ang paningin ko.

"Sorry," they both said, zipping their mouths.

"Well, who is she?" Rhyd asked, his curiosity getting the better of him.

"Huwag niyong sabihing hindi niyo nakilala si Blaire. You've got to be kidding me." I pick up my pen as if to dismiss the conversation.

"Blaire? Who is Blaire?" magkasabay na tanong ng dalawa.

"Tigilan niyo na nga ang pang-iinis sa akin, mga gago! It's Blaire Vilarde. The same one you knew in high school, that annoying girl," I said, throwing my hands up in frustration.

They immediately sprang to their feet, looked at each other, and burst out laughing.

"Wait, Blaire Vilarde for real? She looks totally different. So much that we didn't recognize her. We didn't quite see her well, though." Bahagyang nanlaki ang mga mata ni Rhyd sa pagkabigla.

Matagal na rin mula nang magtapos kami sa high school. Talagang nakakagulat. And to think they aren't just meeting her anywhere else but my office. Okay, this was going to be crazy, really crazy.

"It's not true, let's go confirm, bro!" hinila ni Sevi si Rhyd, at sabay silang lumabas agad.

"Siya nga talaga. Damn! She's hotter than before," sabi ni Rhyd, habang dinidilaan ang ibabang labi pagbalik nila sa opisina.

"Super hot!" Sevi added. "But wait, why did you employ her when you know you both hàte each other so much? You two have never gotten along," he asked, shrugging.

"I did not employ her, Raki did. At sinubukan ko siyang tanggalin kanina pero tumanggi siyang umalis. That witch!" I couldn't believe I was saying that, sounding defeated by someone of all people, si Blaire pa talaga.

Walang naglalakas-loob na magsalita matapos kong tanggalin sa trabaho. Why was hers different? At ang isipin na wala akong magawa ay nakakabaliw.

"Ano?!" Nagkatinginan sina Rhyd at Sevi at bumulalas ng tawa na parang dalawang baliw na walang trabaho.

"Bro, lagot ka. Ilalagay ka niya sa isa sa mga bote ng alak at tatakpan," Sevi mocked, leaving Rhyd breathless with laughter.

"Bro, magkano kaya ang isang kabaong? 'Yong napakaganda at designated. Alam mo naman kung gaano kahilig si Drake sa mga designer, 'di ba?" tanong ni Rhyd kay Sevi, sinusubukang inisin ako.

"Let me check online," Rhyd replied. Kinuha niya ang phone para tignan, pero bigla ko itong inagaw sa kanya at agad na inilagay sa aking bulsa.

"You're both insane, fôols!" I shouted, and they burst out laughing.