Chapter 5: The CEO’s Favorite Employee

Navarro Holdings – Day 3

Hindi alam ni Elise kung anong mas stressful — ang mga bagong project niya, o ang boss niyang hindi marunong tumigil sa kakakulit.

Simula nung unang araw pa lang, halos araw-araw siyang tinatawag ni Gabriel sa office nito.

Minsan, tungkol daw sa design proposal.

Minsan, tungkol sa “new project directions.”

At minsan… well, parang gusto lang talaga siyang kausapin.

“Miss Ramos,” sabi ni HR Assistant habang lumalapit sa desk niya, “Sir Gabriel’s asking for you again.”

Sabay lingon ng buong department.

As in sabay-sabay, parang domino.

“Ayan na naman.”

“Girl, ikaw na talaga ‘yung favorite.”

“Baka naman may spark kayo ni boss!”

Elise rolled her eyes. “Project meeting lang ‘to. Wag kayong chismosa.”

Pero kahit siya, nararamdaman na niya ‘yung mga tingin ng mga tao — halong inggit, intriga, at konting malisya.

---

Pagpasok niya, nakaupo si Gabriel sa desk, suot ang dark blue shirt na nakasleeves up. Nakatingin siya sa laptop, pero paglapit ni Elise, agad siyang tumingin.

“Ah, Miss Ramos,” sabi niya, “I need you to review something.”

“Sir,” buntong-hininga ni Elise, “ilang beses ko na pong ni-revise ‘yung mockups. Ano pong gusto niyong baguhin?”

He smiled faintly. “Nothing. Gusto ko lang malaman kung kumain ka na.”

Napataas kilay ni Elise. “Po?”

“You’ve been working nonstop,” sabi ni Gabriel, leaning back on his chair. “You skipped lunch.”

“How— how did you know that?”

“HR reports. Or maybe I just noticed.”

“Sir,” Elise said, crossing her arms, “you’re the CEO. Hindi niyo kailangang alamin kung kumain ako o hindi.”

Gabriel chuckled. “Maybe I just want to make sure my employees are healthy.”

“Ah ganon po ba,” she muttered, turning away. “Baka po gusto niyo ako turuan mag-diet next time.”

He smirked. “Kung gusto mo.”

“Sir!”

That made him laugh — and damn it, that laugh again.

The one that made her chest tighten for reasons she refused to name.

---

Paglabas ni Elise, halos mabingi siya sa bulungan.

“Uy, nakita mo ‘yung tawa ni Sir Gabriel kanina?”

“Parang ibang tao pag si Miss Ramos kausap!”

“Si Celeste siguradong mapupuno na naman ‘yon.”

At parang sinadya ng tadhana — ayun nga si Celeste, nakasandal sa glass wall, hawak ang phone, naka-designer dress at may ngiting parang kutsilyo.

“Oh, Elise,” bati nito, peke ang lambing. “Busy ka lagi kay Sir Gabriel, ha?”

Elise smiled politely. “Work lang po, ma’am.”

“Of course,” sagot ni Celeste, with that sweet venom tone. “Work. Kasi, you know, si Gabriel… he doesn’t really mix business with pleasure. Kaya ingat.”

Elise froze, pero ngumiti pa rin. “Don’t worry, ma’am. Wala pong pleasure sa design drafts.”

“Oo naman,” Celeste smirked. “Wala ka naman sigurong ibang intention, ‘di ba? Kasi parang… ang dali mong mapansin lately.”

May mga nakikinig na staff sa gilid, pretending to work but clearly eavesdropping.

Elise straightened up. “I just do my job well, ma’am. Maybe that’s why.”

For a second, naputol ang ngiti ni Celeste.

But then she leaned closer and whispered,

“Careful, Elise. Sa kumpanya na ‘to, mabilis ma-promote… pero mas mabilis ma-bully kapag maling tao ang napansin mo.”

At bago pa siya makasagot, umalis na ito, naiwan si Elise na nakahawak sa folder, nanginginig ang kamay.

---

Later That Afternoon

“Miss Ramos,” tawag ng assistant ni Gabriel, “he’s asking for you again.”

Third time that day.

This time, Elise didn’t even try to hide her frustration.

Pagpasok niya sa opisina ni Gabriel, agad siyang nagsalita.

“Sir, with all due respect, ano po ba talaga ‘to? Every hour na lang po ako pinapatawag niyo—”

Gabriel looked up, surprised — but instead of being offended, he looked… amused.

“Do you always start conversations that way?”

“Sir—”

He stood up, walked closer. “Relax, Elise. Hindi kita papagalitan.”

“Eh ano po ‘to?” she said, voice rising. “Project meeting na naman? Or may gusto lang kayong itanong?”

He stopped right in front of her. Too close.

“Bakit parang inis ka?”

“Hindi po ako inis,” she lied.

“Talaga?” he said, smiling. “Kasi ‘yung mukha mo, parang gusto mo akong sampalin.”

“Sir!”

“Don’t worry, I’m used to women wanting to do that,” he teased, laughing.

“Hindi nakakatawa!”

“Actually,” he said softly, eyes locking with hers, “medyo nakakatawa. Kasi parang gusto mo nga.”

Elise blinked, flustered. “Sir, this is inappropriate—”

“Relax,” he repeated, lowering his voice. “I just like seeing you fired up. You look alive.”

She took a deep breath, looked away. “Kung tapos na po kayo, babalik na po ako sa department.”

Pero bago pa siya makalabas, sabi ni Gabriel:

“Elise.”

She froze.

“Don’t let anyone in this company make you feel like you don’t belong.”

Napalingon siya.

The look on his face — serious, almost protective.

“W-why would you say that, sir?”

“Because people talk,” he said quietly. “And some people… don’t like change.”

Celeste.

Elise’s throat tightened. “I can handle it, sir.”

“I know,” Gabriel said. “But if anyone gives you trouble… tell me.”

She shook her head. “No, thank you. I can fight my own battles.”

A smile flickered in his eyes. “That’s what I thought.”

---

Later that day, Elise was in the pantry making coffee when Celeste walked in again — this time, with two other girls from marketing.

“Oh, look who’s here,” Celeste said, loud enough for everyone to hear. “The CEO’s favorite.”

Elise ignored her, kept stirring her coffee.

“Wow, ang humble mo ha. Akala ko after three days may sariling office ka na,” dagdag ng isa sa mga kasamang babae.

Celeste chuckled. “Or baka may ibang reason bakit siya laging tinatawag ni Gabriel.”

Elise finally turned, 

“Kung curious kayo, tanungin niyo siya mismo.”

Taimtim silang napatigil.

Then she smiled sweetly. “I’m sure the CEO will love explaining how professional he is.”

Celeste’s jaw tightened.

Elise placed her mug down, straightened her back. “Now if you’ll excuse me, I actually have work to do. Hindi kasi ako sanay sa tsismis.”

At umalis siya, head high — kahit ang totoo, kumakabog ang dibdib niya.

---

Elise stepped out of the building, huminga nang malalim.

Tatlong araw pa lang siya rito, pero parang isang buwan na ang stress.

Pagbukas niya ng phone, may message.
Unknown Number:

You handled Celeste well today.

Nanlaki mata ni Elise. “What the—”

Unknown Number:

Next time, don’t let her see she got to you. You’re stronger than that.

—G.N.

Elise stared at the screen, speechless.

Then she smiled — just a little.

“Ang kulit mo talaga, Gabriel Navarro…” she whispered.

Pero habang naglalakad papunta sa bus stop, hindi niya mapigilang hawakan ang phone nang mas mahigpit —

and for the first time in years, she caught herself… smiling for real.