Chapter 7: Mr. Savior

Mikaela's POV

Adrian?

Napakurap ako nang makita kong papasok sa clothing store si Adrian.

Mukhang nag-palit na siya ng damit.

He’s now wearing a black suit, his hair is perfectly styled, and you can smell his perfume from miles away.

Tangina.

Bakit ba kahit simpleng paglalakad lang, parang may background music ang lalaking to?

“OH MY GOD! GIRLS! THAT’S ADRIAN VILLANUEVA!” Sigaw ng isang kaibigan ni Leslie.

“THE YOUNGEST AND RICHEST CEO?!” Sagot naman ng isa.

Napalingon si Leslie sa entrance at biglang inayos ang buhok niya.

Ay, wow. Kanina gusto akong ipakulong, ngayon gusto nang magpa-cute.

Napailing na lang ako. Pero hindi ko na siya napansin dahil mas nag-aalala ako sa mangyayari sa akin.

“Ma'am, your bag, please.”

Bumalik ang atensyon ko sa sales associate na kanina pa naghihintay.

“Ate, wala po akong ninakaw.”

“Ma'am, we just need to check.”

“Then check the CCTV first,” sagot ni Stella.

“Miss, kung wala naman siyang tinatago, bakit ayaw niyang ipakita ang bag niya?” Singit ni Leslie.

Napatingin ako sa kaniya.

Tangina mo, Leslie. Alam kong may nilagay ka sa bag ko.

“What's going on here?”

Natigilan kaming lahat.

That voice.

That deep, cold, and authoritative voice.

Dahan-dahan akong lumingon.

Nakatayo si Adrian ilang hakbang mula sa amin, nakakunot ang noo habang nakatingin sa kaguluhang nangyayari.

“Sir Adrian!” Bati ng isang sales associate.

Hindi niya ito pinansin.

Instead, his eyes landed on me.

“Mikaela?”

Ay, Lord. Please, help me!!

Bakit naman ngayon pa?

“G-good afternoon po, sir.”

He looked at the sales associate holding my bag.

Then at Leslie, then back at me.

“What's happening?”

Bago pa ako makasagot, biglang lumapit si Leslie.

“Oh my God! Mr. Villanueva! Hi!”

Ngumiti siya habang nilalaro pa ang buhok.

Kadiri.

“I'm Leslie! Leslie Monteverde.” Sinubukan niyang iabot ang kanang kamay niya.

Adrian stared at her.

“And?”

Natigilan siya.

“Uhm… I'm a huge fan of your company!”

He didn't respond.

Instead, he looked at me again.

“Miss Reyes, I asked you a question.”

Napayuko ako dahil mas lalong dumami pa ang mga taong nakatingin.

“Sir, may misunderstanding lang po.”

“Misunderstanding?”

“Yes, sir. Pinagbibintangan po kasi akong nagnakaw.”

Nag-bago bigla ang expression niya.

“Stealing?”

Tumango ako.

“Pero wala po akong kinuha.”

Bago pa ako makapag-explain ay pinangunahan na ako ni Leslie.

“Sir, don't believe her! She's actually my cousin, and she's been stealing from our family for years!”

Napatingin ako sa kaniya.

“LESLIE!” SIgaw ni Stella sa kaniya.

“What? I'm just telling the truth!”

Lumingon si Adrian sa kaniya nang dahan-dahan.

“Did I ask you?”

Natahimik ang lahat.

Ay.

Ang sakit no'n.

Napakurap na lang si Leslie na para bang nagulat siya sa sinabi ni Adrian.

“E-excuse me?”

“I asked Miss Reyes.”

Nanatiling kalmado ang boses niya.

But something about the way he spoke made everyone shut up.

“Sir, I'm just trying to help—”

“Then stop talking.”

SHET.

GOSH, ANG POGI NIYA MAGALIT.

Napakagat ako sa labi para pigilan ang ngiti ko.

“Miss Reyes.”

Napatingin ako sa kaniya.

“Yes, sir?”

“Explain.”

Huminga ako nang malalim.

“Sir, namimili lang po kami ng kaibigan ko. Then my cousin came and started insulting us. Sinasabi niyang hindi namin kayang bumili ng mga damit dito.”

He listened without even interrupting me.

“Then bigla na lang niya akong inakusahan na nagnakaw.”

“Did you?”

Nanlaki ang mata ko.

“Of course not!”

He nodded.

“Good.”

Ha? Good lang?

Lumingon siya sa staff.

“Where's your manager?”

“Sir, I'll call her po.”

“Now.”

Agad itong umalis. Mukhang kinakabahan na rin siya dahil muntik pa itong matalisod.

Bigla naman sumabat si Leslie.

“See? Even Mr. Villanueva wants the manager involved!”

I looked at her.

Girl, hindi mo ba naririnig kung paano ka niya kausapin?

Maya maya pa. Lumapit sa amin ang isang babae na naka formal attire.

“Good afternoon, sir. I'm Angela, the store manager. How may I assist you?”

Adrian looked at her.

“Your staff is accusing this woman of theft.”

Lumingon agad sa’kin ang manager.

“Ma'am, we're very sorry about the inconvenience, but we received a report—”

“Based on what evidence?”

Napahinto ang manager.

“Sir?”

“What evidence do you have?”

“Uhm… one of our customers reported—”

“So you're accusing a customer based on another customer's statement?”

Napalunok na lang siya at halata na sa mukha nito ang kaba.

“Sir, we're just following the protocol.”

“Then follow it properly.”

His voice became colder.

“Check your security footage before humiliating someone in front of your customers.”

Nag-simulang mag bulungan ang ibang mga customer sa loob ng clothing store. Nanahimik naman sila Leslie.

“Sir, we can check the bag first—”

“No.”

Isang salita pero natigilan ang lahat.

“You don't get to treat someone like a criminal without evidence.”

Tumingin siya sa akin.

“Mikaela, did you agree to have your bag searched?”

I shook my head.

“Hindi po. Napilitan lang po ako kasi ang dami nang nakatingin.”

Umigting ang panga niya at tinitigan ang manager.

“Then nobody touches her belongings.”

Oh my God.

Lord, kung ganito po ang boss ko araw-araw, baka mag-overtime ako nang libre.

“Sir, with all due respect—” Leslie tried again.

“Are you still talking?”

Napaatras siya.

HAHAHAHAHAHA.

DESERVE!

ADRIAN’S POV

I was heading to a meeting when I noticed a crowd gathering inside a clothing boutique.

Normally, I wouldn't care.

Until I saw Mikaela.

She was surrounded by three women, while an employee demanded to search her bag. There’s also other customers trying to know what’s happening.

Her hands were trembling.

Just like Scarlet's that night.

Interesting.

“Check the CCTV footage,” I ordered.

“Sir, only authorized personnel can—”

“Then call someone authorized.”

I took out my phone and called Daniel.

“Find out who owns Maison Élise.”

“Why, sir?”

“I'm considering an investment.”

“Sir, in a clothing store?”

“Daniel. Do your job.”

I ended the call.

“This is ridiculous!” the woman named Leslie complained. “She's poor! She can't afford anything here!”

I raised an eyebrow.

“And?”

She blinked.

“What?”

“Does being poor automatically make someone a thief?”

She went silent and looked at the floor. But in just a second she tried speaking again.

“I'm just telling the truth!”

“Then prove it.”

I stepped closer.

“False accusations have consequences, Miss Monteverde.”

Her expression changed.

“I wasn't lying!”

“Then the footage should prove that.”

I glanced at Mikaela.

She was looking at me with those familiar, innocent eyes.

Why does she remind me so much of Scarlet?

I looked away.

Focus, Adrian.

She's your employee.