CHAPTER 3: Offer

I was nervous. Although binigyan ako kahapon ni Mr. Navarro ng details ng CEO ng DRG, hanggang ngayon ay hindi pa rin ako lubos na makapaniwala kung totoo ba itong alok na ibinigay sa akin o hindi.

It reeked of scam for me, pero wala naman sigurong masama kung haharapin ko ang Jurgen Gabriel Del Rosario na iyon para malaman ko kung totoo nga ba o hindi.

Desperation was louder than doubt. Bahala na.

Huminga ako nang malalim pagkuwa’y muli akong napatingala sa napakataas na building. Basa BGC na ako—sa tapat mismo ng DRG building. Nagdadalawang-isip pa ako kanina kung papasok ako o hindi, pero ngayon ay buo na ang pasiya ko.

Despite my trembling knees and the worry weighing heavily on my chest, I gathered the strength to steady myself.

“Saan po kayo, mam?” tanong sa akin ng guard nang tuluyan akong makalapit sa entrance ng building.

Napalunok ako. “Um, sa office po ni Mr. Del Rosario.”

“May appointment po kayo?” tanong din ng isa pang guard.

Kaagad kung binuksan ang bag ko upang kunin ang wallet ko. Inilabas ko roon ang card na binigay sa akin ni Mr. Navarro kahapon. “Bigay po ito sa akin ni Mr. Navarro kahapon. Ang sabi niya ay pumunta ako rito at kakausapin ako ni Mr. Del Rosario.”

Kinuha ng isang guard sa kamay ko ang card, saka iyon binasa. “Ano po ang pangalan n’yo, mam?”

“Reeyah. Reeyah Olivar, sir,” sagot ko naman.

Binuksan nito ang log book na nasa lalagyan nito. “Pasok na lang po kayo, mam. Lumapit po kayo sa front desk para itanong kung anong floor ang office ni Sir Gabriel, at para po ma-assist na rin kayo.”

Tipid akong ngumiti at tumango bago pumasok sa pintuan na binuksan ng isang guard. A wide lobby and waiting area welcomed me. A grand chandelier hung from the high ceiling, adding to the charm. The entire building exuded beauty and elegance. This is not the first time na nakapasok ako sa mga company building, but this is the first time na nakapasok ako sa DRG.

Everywhere I looked, there were shimmering glass walls and polished marble floors. Lahat din ng tao na nasa lobby at waiting area, lahat sila puro magagara ang suot, may mga kaya sa buhay at mga empleyado ng kompanya. Samantalang ako, I’m simply dressed in faded denim jeans and a long-sleeved blouse with the hem neatly tucked in. On my feet, I have a pair of white sneakers.

“Good morning, ma’am. How may I help you?” tanong sa akin ng babae sa front desk.

“Um, I’m looking for Mr. Del Rosario. Pinapunta ako rito ni Mr. Navarro.”

“You’re Ms. Olivar, right?”

Napangiti ako dahil sa sinabi nito. Expected na pala nitong dadating ako ngayong umaga. “Yes. Ako nga.”

“Jade, pa-assist naman si Miss Olivar papunta sa office ni Mr. Del Rosario,” ani nito sa kasamang babae rin.

“Sure. This way, Miss Olivar.”

Napasunod na rin ako sa babae nang maglakad na ito papunta sa kinaroroonan ng elevator.

Kabado ako habang lulan na kami ng elevator. Parang feeling ko gustong lumabas ng puso ko sa dibdib ko. I couldn’t stop myself from feeling nervous.

“This way, Miss Olivar,” sabi pa ng babae nang makalabas na kami ng elevator at tinahak na ulit namin ang mahabang hallway. Tahimik ang buong floor. Wala akong ibang makitang tao bukod sa dalawang babae na nakapuwesto sa labas kanina bago kami pumasok sa isang glass door papunta na sa opisina ng CEO nila.

Nang makarating kami sa tapat ng malaking pinto, kumatok ang babae roon bago binuksan ang pinto at pumasok ito. Saglit akong naghintay sa labas bago ito muling lumabas.

“Pasok ka na po, Miss Olivar. Mr. Del Rosario is waiting for you.”

Tipid akong ngumiti at tumango sa babae. Kahit kabado, pumasok na rin ako sa pintuan. Just as the elegant lobby and waiting area had impressed me the moment I walked into the building, the room I entered now was equally grand and spacious. Towering glass walls stretched from floor to ceiling, letting in natural light that danced across the polished marble floors. Every detail spoke of sophistication and luxury, making the entire space feel open, bright, and refined. A sofa set was placed at the center of the wide room. Behind an oversized desk sat a man in a swivel chair.

Jurgen Gabriel Del Rosario.

I had seen him in magazines more times than I could remember—always dressed in a sleek, expensive suit and wearing that same cold, unreadable scowl. Even through glossy pages, his presence carried an edge, a chill that lingered. Meeting him in person was an entirely different experience.

He was taller than I expected, with an aura so powerful it seemed to draw all the attention and oxygen out of the room. His features were striking, almost too perfect to be real. His cheekbones were razor-sharp, as if carved from stone, his jaw tense with quiet restraint, and his eyes . . . piercing, icy, and distant. Like steel forged in silence, they offered no hint of kindness—only the calculated gaze of someone who had seen too much and trusted no one.

He didn’t greet me. Not even a nod or a twitch of his lips. His expression remained unreadable as I entered. With a single, deliberate motion of his hand, he gestured toward the chair in front of his oversized desk, silently commanding me to take a seat.

“Good morning, Mr. Del Rosario!” I said with a polite greeting.

“You’re probably wondering why you’re here,” sa halip ay wika niya sa akin pagkaupo ko pa lang sa visitor’s chair.

“Ano at gusto mo akong makausap, Mr. Del Rosario?”

“I have an offer.”

“Offer?” Hindi na ako nagpaligoy-ligoy pa. Ito naman ang dahilan kung bakit ako nagpunta, para malaman ang trabahong ibibigay niya sa akin kagaya sa sinabi ni Mr. Navarro.

“A marriage.”

My jaw dropped. “Excuse me?” hindi ako makapaniwala sa sinabi niya. A marriage? Siguro kung hindi ako nakaupo ngayon, baka biglang tumiklop ang mga tuhod ko dahil sa sinabi niya.

“A contractual one. One year. Public appearances, joint residence, the usual spousal arrangement-minus intimacy. In exchange, I’ll pay you ten million pesos. Half upfront. Half at the end.”

Napatitig ako sa guwapo niyang mukha. Of course, he’s handsome.

He was serious. Deadly serious.

Okay, wait. Pinoproseso pa ng utak ko ang mga sinabi niya. Nabigla ako masiyado.

Napalunok ako saglit at bumuntong hininga. “You want me,” mahinang sabi ko, “to pretend to be your wife?!”

“Yes.”

“And why me?” nalilitong tanong ko pa.

“You’re anonymous. Skilled at performing. Comfortable in front of cameras, and most importantly . . . desperate.”

Biglang nag-iba ang timpla ko dahil sa huling sinabi niya. Yeah, I almost forgot. I am desperate right now. Bukas na ang huling araw ko para makapagbayad sa ospital bills ni mama.

“I’m not a prostitute, Mr. Del Rosario.”

“I didn’t offer sex,” he said, his tone unchanging. “Just a name. A role. Play it well, and your mother lives.”

The room spun around me. My hands curled into fists.

This was insane. This was indecent, but this is exactly what I needed. I need money for my mother.

I met his gaze head-on. “If I say yes . . . when do we start?”

Tumayo siya sa kaniyang puwesto, seryoso pa ring nakatitig sa akin. A moment later, he reached out his hand to me.

“Now.”