CHAPTER 1: THE DEVIL I KNOW

MY HANDS were shaking so bad I had to press them tight against my sides, nails digging into my palms just to ground myself. The sound of my folder hitting the floor echoed painfully loud across the silent office—papers scattered everywhere, my resume, my certificates, everything I’d worked so hard for… lying there right at his feet.

Pero hindi ako gumalaw. Not even an inch.

Simon leaned back in his chair, long legs crossing casually under the desk, like he had all the time in the world—like seeing me here, terrified and frozen, was exactly the entertainment he’d been waiting for all morning. That familiar sharp smirk was still playing on his lips, the one that used to make my chest tighten and my stomach drop back in Montebello. Only now… it didn’t feel like just a schoolboy’s taunt. It felt heavier. Darker. Like a warning before the storm.

“Cat got your tongue, Audrey Lorraine?” he drawled, voice smooth as velvet but cutting like a blade—the exact same way he used to talk to me in the hallways, in the cafeteria, anywhere he knew everyone was watching. “Or did you finally run out of excuses to hide from me?”

Napalunok ako, forcing myself to breathe steadily even though my heart was pounding so hard it hurt. “I’m not hiding, Sir.” The words came out quieter than I wanted, softer, trembling a little. “I’m here for work.”

He chuckled—low, dry, and completely humorless. “Work. Right.” He stood up slowly, and my breath caught. He was so tall now, broader, filling out that perfectly tailored black suit like it was made only for him. Every step he took was calm, deliberate, like he knew exactly how much space he occupied—exactly how small he made everyone else feel. He walked around the desk, stopping right in front of me, close enough that I could smell the expensive, sharp scent of his cologne—something woodsy and cold, him. Close enough that I had to tilt my head just to meet his eyes.

“Work,” he repeated, quieter this time, leaning down until his face was inches from mine. His dark eyes swept over me—from my messy hair, down to my cheap blazer, to the scuffed heels I’d polished last night just so they’d look new—like he was memorizing every single flaw, every little thing I couldn’t hide. “You’re at my company. In my building. Working for me. And you didn’t even bother to find out who you’d be reporting to? Or were you just that desperate to see me again?”

“Desperate for a job,” I corrected him firmly, lifting my chin as much as I dared, refusing to look away—refusing to let him see how much he still got to me. “Not you. Never you.”

Something flickered in his gaze then—something fast and sharp, almost like hurt—before it was gone, replaced by that cold, unreadable mask again. He straightened up, glancing down at the scattered papers between us like they were nothing but trash. “Pick them up.”

It wasn’t a request.

My face burned hot—shame, anger, humiliation all twisting tight in my chest—but I had no choice. I knelt down, fingers trembling as I gathered the sheets one by one. And all the while, he stood there, watching me, silent and imposing, like a king waiting for a servant to finish their task. Memories flashed fast and painful through my mind—Montebello hallways, everyone staring, him laughing while I picked up my books he’d knocked out of my hands, him whispering cruel words that stuck with me for years. It felt like history was repeating itself, all over again.

“Eyes down, Audrey. Just like old times, isn’t it?” he murmured, right when I stood up, clutching my folder tight against my chest like a shield. “You never change.”

“And you do?” I shot back, the words slipping out before I could stop myself. “Still the same arrogant, cruel boy who enjoys making people feel small? Nothing’s changed, Simon. Not one bit.”

For a second, silence stretched between us—thick and heavy, charged with everything we’d never said. His jaw tightened, his expression hardening like I’d just struck him. Then he stepped back, turning away, walking over to stand by the floor-to-ceiling windows, hands clasped behind his back.

“Things change,” he said quietly, so quiet I almost didn’t catch it. “Whether you believe it or not… they do.” He paused, then spoke again, voice back to that commanding, icy tone that made everyone else tremble. “But fine. You want this job? Then you’ll do it. You’ll be here at seven sharp every morning before I arrive. You handle my schedule, my calls, my meetings—everything. You don’t question my orders, you don’t ask personal questions, and you don’t be late. And if you can’t handle that… the door is right there. Leave now, and never come back.”

I swallowed hard, gripping the folder until my knuckles turned white. Walk away? I wanted to—God, how I wanted to. But the hospital bills, Mama’s medicine, the rent piling up… I couldn’t. I had nowhere else to go. This was my only choice.

“I’ll do it,” I said, steady and clear, meeting his reflection in the window. “I can handle the work. And I’ll be professional, Sir. Nothing more.”

Simon turned his head just enough to glance at me over his shoulder, that unreadable look back in his eyes—something dark and intense, something that made my heart race in a way I absolutely hated. “We’ll see about that,” he muttered, then gestured sharply toward the side door. “Your desk is right outside my office. Get settled. And Audrey?”

I paused, hand already on the doorknob, glancing back at him.

He was watching me again, gaze dropping to my face, lingering there like he was seeing something I didn’t want him to. “Don’t make me regret hiring you.”

And as I stepped out into the quiet hallway, my legs feeling like jelly and my heart still pounding wildly, I knew one thing for certain: this wasn’t just a job. This was going to be the hardest, most dangerous thing I’d ever done. Because working for Simon Rafael Velmore… wasn’t just facing the bully from my past. It was walking straight into the lion’s den—and I had a feeling the lion had been waiting for me all along.

I barely made it to my desk outside his office, hands still shaking so bad I almost dropped my folder again, nang biglang bumukas ang double doors ni Simon—at lumabas siya, mukhang may sasalubungin. His expression shifted instantly—still sharp, still commanding, pero may bahagyang pagbabago sa kanyang tindahan, parang mas relaxed kahit paano.

Ilang sandali pa, dumating ang tatlong lalaki—lahat sila mukhang galing sa matataas na pamilya rin, may kumpiyansa sa bawat hakbang, ang aura ng mga taong sanay na sanay magkaroon ng lahat. Kilala ko sila kahit hindi ko aminin—mga kaibigan ni Simon mula pa noong Montebello University, ang tatlong laging kasama niya sa lahat ng bagay.

Una si Aster Alessandro Falcone — matangos ang ilong, matalim ang mga mata, at may ngiting parang laging may nalalaman kang sikreto. Sumunod si Harvey James Vance — mas payapa ang mukha, mas kalmado, pero hindi mababawasan ang kanyang presensya. At huli si Wayne Gabriel Moore — ang pinaka-maingay sa kanila, ang laging nagsasalita nang walang filter, ang laging nakakakita ng lahat ng bagay na hindi dapat mapansin.

“Tingnan mo nga ‘to, nagpakalalim ka pa sa trabaho, Simon,” bati ni Aster habang pumapalakpak nang bahagya sa balikat ng kaibigan, may halong biro sa boses. “Hindi ka ba nagsasawa? Kahit araw-araw pa rin ganyan ang iyong iskedyul?”

Simon hindi sumagot agad, tumango lang nang bahagya habang nakatayo nang tuwid, pero ang tingin niya—hindi sa kanila. Dumapo ang kanyang mga mata sa akin, saglit lang, bago bumalik sa kanyang mga kaibigan. “May mga bagay na kailangang asikasuhin,” maikli niyang sagot, ang boses mababa at kontrolado. “Anong ginagawa niyo rito?”

“Nagpasyal lang,” sabi naman ni Harvey, ang boses malambing kumpara sa iba. “Naisip naming baka gusto mong magpahinga sandali. Alam kong mabigat ang trabaho mo ngayon.”

Tumango si Simon, parang hindi interesado, pero bago pa siya makapagsalita ulit—tumigil si Wayne, nakatingin nang diretso sa akin, ang mga mata niya lumalaki nang bahagya habang sinusuri ako mula ulo hanggang paa. Tila inaalala, inihahambing ang nakikita niya ngayon sa alaala ng nakaraan.

At pagkatapos—ngumisi siya, ang ngiting pamilyar na pamilyar—ang parehong ngiti na nakikita ko tuwing may mangyayaring masama noong high school pa kami.

“Teka lang—” huminto siya sa paglakad, itinuro ako nang bahagya, parang hindi makapaniwala. “Audrey? Audrey Lorraine Aquino, ‘di ba?”

Napatigil ako sa pag-aayos ng mga papel sa aking mesa, parang nagyelo ang dugo ko sa narinig ko. Ang puso ko biglang bumilis ang tibok, parang gusto nang tumalon palabas ng dibdib ko.

Tumingin siya sa kanyang mga kaibigan, tapos bumalik ang tingin niya sa akin, mas malinaw na ngayon, mas tiyak. “Oo nga! Siya ‘yun—ang nerd girl noong high school sa Montebello! ‘Yung laging nagtatago sa libro, ‘yung laging pinapansin ni Simon—tandaan niyo pa ba?”

Nanlaki ang mga mata ni Aster, napatingin siya sa akin nang mas maigi, tapos napatingin kay Simon, may halong pagkagulat sa mukha niya. “Talaga nga? Siya ‘yung sinasabi mo dati? Akala ko biro lang ‘yung mga kwento mo, Simon.”

Tumingin naman si Harvey sa akin nang may pagtataka, parang sinusuri ang sitwasyon. “Hindi ako makapaniwala… nandito ka pala talaga. Nagtatrabaho ka rito?”

Naramdaman ko ang init na umakyat sa aking mukha—hiya, takot, galit, lahat magkahalo sa loob ko. Gusto kong maglaho na lang sa paningin nila, gusto kong tumakbo palayo at huwag nang lumingon pa. Pero hindi ko magagawa ‘yun. Wala akong ibang mapupuntahan. Kailangan ko ang trabahong ito.

Tumingin ako nang diretso kay Wayne, pilit na pinapanatili ang kalmado kahit na nanginginig ang kamay ko sa ilalim ng mesa. “Magandang araw po, Mr. Moore,” maikli at pormal na sabi ko, iniiwasan ang pagbanggit sa nakaraan hangga’t maaari. “May maitutulong po ba ako sa inyo?”

Pero hindi tumigil si Wayne. Tumawa siya nang mahina, tumingin sa kanyang mga kaibigan, tapos bumalik ang tingin niya sa akin—ang tingin na parang nakakatawa ang lahat ng ito, parang isa lang akong bagay na mapaglilibangan ulit. “Grabe, hindi ako makapaniwala. Ikaw talaga. Ang nerd girl… ngayon ay sekretarya na ng pinakamalakas na lalaki sa lungsod. Ano ‘yan, Audrey? Hindi ka pa rin makalimot sa nakaraan? O baka naman—”

Biglang tumahimik ang paligid.

Naramdaman ko ang pagbabago sa hangin bago pa man ako nakatingin kay Simon. Tumayo siya nang tuwid, ang katawan naging matigas, ang mga mata naging madilim at malamig—mas malamig pa sa dati. Tumingin siya kay Wayne, at ang tingin niya… nakakatakot. Parang isang babala na sapat na para patigilin ang kahit sino.

“Tama na,” sabi ni Simon—isang salita lang, mababa, pero may bigat na pumigil kay Wayne sa kanyang sinasabi. Walang halong biro, walang halong pagtawa—utos na kailangang sundin agad.

Napatingin si Wayne kay Simon, nagulat nang kaunti, parang hindi sanay na makita ang kaibigan na ganyan ang mukha. “Ano ba, nagtatanong lang naman ako, Simon. Hindi naman masama magtanong kung bakit nandito ang dating nerd girl natin—”

“Sabi ko, tama na,” ulit ni Simon, mas matigas ngayon, ang boses bumaba ng isang tono na nagpatigil sa lahat ng kanila. “Siya si Ms. Aquino. Ang sekretarya ko. At nandito siya para magtrabaho—hindi para pag-usapan ninyo, hindi para alalahanin ang nakaraan. Kung may kailangan kayo, sabihin niyo. Kung wala… umalis na kayo. May gagawin pa kami.”

Nagulat silang lahat—si Aster, si Harvey, lalo na si Wayne. Kilala nila si Simon—siya ang laging kasama sa mga biro, siya ang laging nauuna kapag may pinagtatawanan. Pero ngayon… ibang-iba siya. Ipinagtatanggol niya ako? Kahit paano?

Tumahimik si Wayne nang ilang sandali, nakatingin kay Simon, parang sinusubukang intindihin kung ano ang nangyayari. Tapos umiling siya nang bahagya, ngumiti nang mapait, parang may naiintindihan na hindi pa namin sinasabi. “Sige, sige… nakuha ko na. Tahimik na ako.” Tumingin siya sa akin nang huling beses, may ibang tingin sa mga mata niya ngayon—hindi na pagtawa, kundi pagtataka. “Pasensya na, Ms. Aquino. Hindi ko intensyong maging bastos.”

Tumango lang ako nang bahagya, hindi makapagsalita, ang puso ko pa rin tumitibok nang mabilis—pero hindi na dahil sa takot lang. Dahil kay Simon. Dahil sa ginawa niya.

“Tara na,” sabi ni Aster, hinawakan ang balikat ni Wayne at Harvey, parang naiintindihan niyang kailangan nilang umalis na. “Huwag na nating abalahin si Simon at ang kanyang… sekretarya. Babalik na lang kami sa ibang oras.”

Tumango si Harvey, sumunod agad. Si Wayne naman ay tumingin pa nang huling beses sa amin bago sumama sa kanila—ang tingin niya puno ng tanong, parang alam niyang mayroong nangyayari sa pagitan namin na hindi niya alam.

Nang makaalis na sila at tumahimik ulit ang buong paligid—tayong dalawa na lang ulit ang nasa labas ng opisina niya—hindi ko alam kung ano ang sasabihin ko. Tumingin ako kay Simon, at nakita kong nakatingin din siya sa akin, ang mukha seryoso, ang mga mata puno ng emosyon na hindi ko mabasa.

“Sila… hindi masama ang hangin nila,” sabi niya sa wakas, ang boses mas mababa at mas malambot kaysa kanina. “Wayne lang… masyadong prangka. Minsan hindi alam kung kailan dapat tumigil.”

Tumango ako, hawak nang mahigpit ang gilid ng mesa ko para pakalmahin ang sarili. “Salamat,” bulong ko, kahit na mahirap sabihin. “Salamat… sa pagpigil sa kanya.”

Tumingin siya sa akin nang matagal, parang may gustong sabihin na hindi niya masabi. Tapos huminga siya nang malalim, ibinalik ang kanyang dating malamig na anyo—ang maskara na isinusuot niya para sa lahat. “Gawin mo ang trabaho mo, Audrey. Huwag mong isipin ang sinabi nila. At huwag mong kalimutan… nandito ka para magtrabaho. Walang ibang bagay na mahalaga.”

Tumalikod siya at pumasok sa kanyang opisina, isinara ang p***o nang dahan-dahan—iniwan akong nakatayo doon, puno ng tanong sa isip ko, naguguluhan at hindi makapaniwala.

Dahil sa sandaling iyon… hindi ko na alam kung sino talaga si Simon Rafael Velmore. Ang bully ba na kilala ko noong high school? O ang lalaking kakapagtanggol sa akin kanina lang? At bakit… bakit parang may ibang bagay na nangyayari rito—bagay na hindi ko pa handang harapin?

to be continue~