Prologue

“Tangina, ang sakit ng ulo ko,” I groaned, sitting up with a start. Hinilot ko ang sentido, sinusubukang pagaanin ang bigat na nararamdaman ko.

Actually, I had a lot of fun last night, fvcking a bítch senselessly. And waking up this morning. I was welcomed by a pounding headache.

Inaantok pa ako nang sinubukang ibaba ang mga paa sa kama, pero natigilan ako nang may marahan pero mahigpit na kamay na pumulupot sa aking baywang, pinipigilan ako. Biglang akong dumilat at napamura nang malakas.

“What the hell?!” Biglang nawala ang antok ko, napalitan ng gulat.

“Get out!” sigaw ko at padabog na hinila ang puting kumot mula sa katawan ng babaeng hindi ko kilala.

“Huh?” she murmured, slowly opening her sleepy eyes.

“Get out of my room. Now! Or I'll make you leave. And you really don't want me to.” Nanatiling malamig ang ekspresyon ko at walang bahid ng emosyon ang boses ko.

Dahan-dahang bumaba sa kama ang babae. Mabagal ang galaw nito na para bang sinasadya. Wala itong saplot. Her eyes narrowed into a venomous hiss as she glared at me. I watched her with an air of disdain, my eyes rolling in exasperation.

Nawawalan na ako ng pasensya sa kabagalan nito. Marahas kong hinawakan ang braso ng babae at dinampot ang mga damit nito sa sahig. My eyes blazed with fury as I issued a chilling warning.

“If you ever set foot in my room again, I'll make sure you regret it. You'll be begging for mercy.” With that, I roughly shoved her and her clothes out into the hallway. Padabog kong isinara ang pinto sa harapan nito.

Sinipa nito ang pintuan at pinagmumura ako mula sa labas.

Naiiling na bumalik ako sa kama. Pag-upo ko, napahawak ako sa aking ulo at napangiwi sa sakit. Sobrang sakit ng ulo ko.

“What's wrong with me?” I muttered to myself.

Dahan-dahan akong humiga ulit sa kama, at nagsimulang bumalik sa aking alaala ang nangyari kagabi. A sly smile spread across my face as I recalled the intensity of our encounter.

She's incredibly skilled. But I'll never give her the satisfaction of hearing me say it. Why the hell would I do that? I scoffed and got up. Naghubad ako ng boxer bago pumunta sa banyo. Pero nang mapatingin ako sa magulong kama, kusang loob akong bumalik para ayusin 'yon. I abhor messes. I hate dirt.

Habang hinahagod ko ang gusot sa kama, nakita ko ang dalawang gamit na condom. A clear reminder of the previous night's escapades. I wrinkled my nose in distaste.

To avoid direct contact, I fetched a pair of gloves from my drawer. Isinuot ko 'yon at maingat na pinulot ang mga condom. Agad kong itinapon sa basurahan. Pagkatapos ay bumalik ako sa kama at pinalitan ang sheet at duvet. Nang masiguradong malinis na ang kwarto, napatingin ako sa wall clock. My stomach dropped.

“Damn, I’m going to be late for work!”

Isang oras ang nasayang bago ako nakarating sa company building.

“I’ll fire you next time you act like a snail,” I snapped, turning to Andy with a rude glare.

Hindi nag-aksaya ng segundo si Andy para pagbuksan ako ng pinto.

“I’m sorry, boss,” he said, bowing respectfully but as usual, I ignored him.

With my usual proud look, I stepped into the elevator, running my fingers through my hair to style it perfectly again. Pagbukas ng pinto ng elevator, bumungad sa akin ang manager's offices.

I walked into the first office,where I met Raki. Siya ay isa sa mga manager na talagang tinitiis ko. Madalas kaming nag-uusap pero gaya ng inaasahan palagi akong masungit sa lahat walang exception.

“Get me Lea,” I said, not bothering to smile.

“Good morning to you too, sir,” he greeted, but I just rolled my eyes at him.

“Get me Lea,” ulit ko, hindi pinansin ang walang kwentang pagbati niya.

“Boss, sinisante mo kahapon. Nakalimutan mo na ba?” he asked, taking a deep breath like he was preparing for war.

“Oh, right.” I exhaled sharply. “Well, I asked you to hire a new secretary, didn’t I?” Tiningnan ko ang oras sa aking relo, naiirita ako dahil parang ang bagal ng lahat.

“I did, sir,” Raki replied calmly.

“Then where the hell is he or she?” My voice rose automatically, like someone in this building had just committed a crime.

“Wala pa po siya, sir,” Raki answered, still maddeningly calm.

My eyes widened in disbelief.

“The hell! Does she think this is her father’s impoverished home? She’s not even at work yet, while the CEO is already here?” I snapped, outrage bubbling in my chest.

”Sir, relax lang po kayo. Malapit na siguro—”

“Pagdating niya, sabihin mo na dumiretso sa opisina ko!” iritadong putol ko kay Raki.

“I will do just that, sir,” sagot niya, at bumalik agad sa trabaho.

Sa likod ko, narinig ko ang malakas na sabi ng isa sa aking empleyado.

“Ang yabang at ang sama talaga ng ugali!”

“Oo nga. Nakakabaliw magtrabaho para sa kanya,” dagdag pa ng isa.

“He may be rude and arrogant, but we all still love him for one thing, right?” Raki said.

“Yeah, absolutely,” they all replied at the same time, chuckling.

Hindi ko sila pinansin habang lumalabas ako sa managers' office at dumiretso sa silid ng paggawa ng wine. Different wine makers were busy with their tasks, some making the wine, some in charge of aging, and others handling the bottling.

They all greeted me, pero hindi na ako nag-abala pang sumagot. Naglakad-lakad lang ako at lumipat mula sa isang bahagi ng pabrika patungo sa isa pa.

Habang nag-iinspeksyon ako sa lugar, may biglang bumangga sa akin. Natapon nito ang mga grapes na dala sa damit ko.

“I’m sorry. I’m very, very sorry, sir. Please forgive me for my clumsiness,” she stammered, her voice trembling.

Her apology was met with a cup of water. Kinuha ko ang pinakamalapit na baso at ibinuhos ang tubig sa babae. Nagliyab ang galit sa dibdib ko.

“How dare you ruin my look? Do you have any idea what it takes to look this good?” I thundered.

“Pasensya na po talaga, sir. Pangako, hindi na mauulit,” she pleaded, clasping her hands together.

“Of course it will never happen again because you’re never coming back here. You’re fired! Your services are no longer needed. Leave. Now!” I growled.

My voice echoed, making everyone else in the room shudder. Galit na galit akong lumabas at nagtungo sa aking opisina.

Sa loob ng opisina ko, mayroon akong private room at puno ng mga damit ng mga designer. Dito ako nagpapalit ng damit kapag may emergency na nangyayari tulad nito. I absolutely hate it when someone ruins my looks. I walked inside and began changing into something else before starting my day.

“How hard is it to avoid ruining my looks, bítch?” inis kong bulong habang hinuhubad ang shirt ko.

Nagpalit ako ng damit. Pagkatapos ay tinignan ko ang sarili sa salamin. A smile tugged at my lips. Perfect. I looked exactly how I wanted to look.

Nakangiti pa rin ako habang lumalabas sa private room. Huminga ako nang malalim bago umupo sa swivel chair, at agad na nagsimulang magtrabaho.

“That bítch still hasn’t come yet? Things I love.” Napangisi ako, pero agad ding naantala nang may kumatok sa pinto.

“Come in,” I said calmly, eyes still fixed on the documents scattered across my desk.

The door opened, and a woman walked in, her gaze sweeping across my office. Nang mag-angat ako ng tingin dito, sakto namang nagtagpo ang aming mga mata. Pareho kaming bahagyang nagulat.

“Drakula?” Blaire’s eyes glimmered, amused.

Drakula ang inaasar niyang pangalan sa akin noong high school pa kami.

“Mukhang iniwan ka ng boyfriend mo kagabi. Halata namang apektado ka pa rin. Otherwise, why would you forget to come to work?” pangungutya ko.

Her eyes widened in disbelief, but I wasn’t done.

“Did you even bother checking yourself in the mirror before coming here?” I added, my expression unchanged. “Mukha kang baliw na nakawala sa mental.”

Her lips curled into a slow, sly smile.

“Na-stress ka yata. Relax ka lang, Drake. Hindi ko sinasadya na sirain ang araw mo kahit madali namang gawin kasi lagi kang miserable,” she shot back, stepping closer, amusement dancing in her eyes. “Alam mo, kung mukha akong takas sa mental, ikaw naman ay mukhang isang sumpungin na scarecrow na inabandona sa bukid.”

“What the hell?!” I snapped, springing to my feet.