Chapter 4: Spilled Coffee

Adrian’s POV (Mr. CEO)

“Sir, your schedule for today includes the inspection of our newly opened jewelry boutique at Greenbelt, followed by a meeting with the marketing department of two.”

I didn’t bother looking up from my laptop.

“Cancel the meeting”

“Sir, we’ve already rescheduled it twice.”

“Fine.”

I heard Daniel sigh.

“Anything else po, sir?

I looked at him.

“Do you want to get fired?

“No po, sir”

“Then get out”

He chuckled before leaving my office.

Daniel has been my executive assistant for five years. Siya lang siguro ang employee sa kumpanya ko na kaya akong biru-biruin.

I checked my watch.

10:30 AM.

Fuck. I barely slept last night.

I leaned against my chair and closed my eyes. For some reason, I couldn’t stop thinking about that woman.

Scarlet.

Scarlet.

“Scarlet” I whispered.

The mysterious dancer from Velvet Room.

I’ve met hundreds of beautiful women. Model, Artista, Tagapagmana, and even CEO’s.

But that woman? There’s something different about her.

It’s her eyes.

Even if hindi ko kita nang buo ang mukha niya because of the mask she’s wearing, her innocent eyes caught me.

Or maybe it’s the way she tried so hard to act confident kahit na halatang kinakabahan siya.

And that kiss.

Fuck.

I rubbed my face. What the hell is wrong with me?

Halik lang naman yon. I’ve kissed plenty of women before. Hell, I’ve done more than that.

But why does that particular kiss keep replaying in my mind?

Damn, Scarlet.

I smirked.

“Sir?”

Daniel suddenly opened the door.

“What?”

“The car is ready.”

I stood and grabbed my coat.

“Let’s go.”

__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

GREENBELT, MAKATI

“Good morning, Mr. Villanueva!”

The boutique manager immediately approached me when I entered.

“Good morning, sir. I’m Patricia, the branch manager”

“How’s the opening week?”

“Very successful po, sir! We’eve already exceeded our project sales by fifteen percent.”

“Good.”

I walked around the boutique, inspecting the displays.

Villanueva Fine Jewelry.

One of the most successful businesses under Villanueva Corporation.

My father established the company twenty years ago, but i was the one who expanded it internationally.

Singapore, Hongkong, Dubai, and soon, Paris.

“Sir, we also received several applications for the part-time marketing assistant position.” Patricia continued.

“Let HR handle that”

“Yes, sir”

I was about to inspect the diamond collection but Daniel approached me.

“Sir, may problem po sa inventory report.”

I frowned.

“What?”

“Some items are not matching the system records.”

“Then why the fuck am I only hearing about this now?!”

Daniel remained silent.

“Get me the updated report. Now!”

“Yes, sir.”

I walked out of the boutique.

“Incomptence” I whispered to myself.

I needed a coffee. And probably a vacation.

__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Mikaela’s POV

“BES! ANG GANDA NITO!”

Napalingon ako kay Stella na may hawak na pink dress.

“How much?”

“2kyaw”

“IBALIK MO!”

Natawa siya.

“Girl, may pera ka na! Wag ka na magkuripot.”

“Hindi ibig sabihin no’n kailangan kong ubusin.”

Kanina pa kami paikot ikot sa mall. Nakabili naman ako ng ilang damit, bagong sapatos, toiletries, and school supplies.

Sa wakas, may sarili na akong mga gamit, may mga gamit na akong hindi pinaglumaan ni Leslie.

“Bes, deserve mo naman ‘to. Ilang taon kang hindu nakabili para sa sarili mo.”

Napangiti ako.

“Totoo naman. Pero kailangan ko pa ring mag-ipon. Hindi naman habang-buhay magtatrabaho ako sa club.

“True. Pero at least may pang-tuition ka na.”

“Exactly. Kaya ang next goal ko, makahanap ng part-time job na related sa course ko.”

“Marketing?”

Tumango ako.

“Yup. 3rd year na tayo, bes. Gusto ko nman magkaroon ng actual experience bago ako grumaduate. Hindi pwedeng puro book based lang ang alam ko.”

“Wow! Boss Girl ang atake!”

Natawa kaming dalawa.

Honestly, I’ve always loved marketing.

Nung buhay pa ang parents ko, I used to immagine myself working for a bug company. I wanted to become a marketing director.

Pero simula nung namatay sila, parang lahat ng pangarap ko, kaialangan ko munang isantabi para lang mabuhay.

Now that I finally have little money and freedom, I want to start building my future again.

Habang naglalakad kami, may napansin akong malaking jewelry boutique.

Villanueva Fine Jewelry.

“Bes wait!”

“Ano?”

“Tignan mo ‘yon!”

Tinuro ang nakapaskil sa glass wall.

WE ARE HIRING! Part-Time Marketing Assistant/Student Intern

Nanlaki ang mata ko.

“OH MY GOSH!”

“Ano nanaman?!”

“Stella! Hiring sila ng marketing assistant!”

Lumapit kami sa boutique para basahin ang job description. Nagulat ako na Weekends lang ang trabaho na ‘to. Saktong sakto at MWF lang naman ako sa club at wala akong klase tuwing weekends.

“Bes, ito na 'yon!”

“Apply ka na!”

“Talaga?”

“Bakit hindi? Marketing student ka naman!”

Napangiti ako.

Actually, I've been looking for opportunities like this for months.

I wanted to experience how real marketing departments operate. How they develop campaigns, promote products, and communicate with customers.

Hindi lang dahil gusto kong kumita.

Gusto kong matuto.

Gusto kong magkaroon ng experience na mailalagay ko sa résumé ko.

And most importantly, I wanted to prove to myself that I could still achieve my dreams despite everything that happened.

“Sige. Try ko.”

“GO, BESTIE! FUTURE MARKETING DIRECTOR!”

“Manifesting!”

Pero bago ako pumasok, napansin kong medyo gusot na ang blouse ko.

“Bes, ayusin ko lang sarili ko. Kinakabahan ako!”

“Relax! Hindi ka pa nga ini-interview!”

“Malay mo may on-the-spot interview!”

“Eh ubusin mo na kaya yang kape mo?”

“Wait, kalma, baka mag-palpitate ako”

Humigop muna ako bago namin napagdesisyunang pumasok sa boutique.

“Bes, wait lang. May tumatawag sa akin.” sabi ni Stella habang nakatingin sa phone niya.

“Sige, mauna na ako.”

Tumango siya at sumenyas ng ‘goodluck’ at lumayo nang kaunti para sagutin ang tawag.

Habang naglalakad ako papunta sa entrance, binuksan ko ang phone ko para tignan ang resume na ginawa ko noong nakaraang semester.

Okay, Mikaela. Kaya mo ‘to.

Pero dahil masyadong nakatutok sa phoneko, hindi ko napansin ang lalaking paparating galing sa ibang direksyon.

Until-

SPLASH!

“WHAT THE ACTUAL FUCK?!”

Nanlaki ang mata ko.

“Oh my God!”

Napatingin ako sa lalaking nasa harapan ko.

Hindi ako makapaniwala..

SI MR. CEO!

Pero hindi ‘yon ang problema.

Ang problema…

Nasa damit niya ang buong iced coffee ko.