Chapter 2

Calixta Verana POV

Ang tunog ng takong ng sapatos ko sa tile floor ng hallway ay tila sumasabay sa kaba ng dibdib ko. Pero hindi ito ang kabang nakakamatay bagkus ito ’yung kabang nakaka-excite.

Zion Montes walked ahead of me like a king marching to his throne. Ang lapad ng balikat niya, at kitang-kita ang perpektong hulma ng likod niya sa suot na coat. Pagdating namin sa dulo ng hallway, binuksan niya ang pinto ng isang private conference room.

Pagpasok namin, sinalubong kami ng malamig na hangin at ang amoy ng mamahaling leather at lemon-scented cleaner. He didn’t sit down. Instead, he went straight to the bar corner and poured himself a glass of whiskey. Tanghaling tapat, pero uminom na siya.

Trauma response? Or just a habit? I noted in my head.

"Sit down, Calixta," utos niya nang hindi tumitingin sa akin.

Umupo ako sa mahabang conference table, pinag-cross ko ang binti ko at inayos ang skirt ko. I made sure to maintain my posture. I was watching him, studying every move he made.

Dahan-dahan siyang lumapit sa akin, dala ang baso ng whiskey. Ibinaba niya ito sa tapat ko bago siya umupo sa tapat na upuan, pero masyado itong malapit. He leaned forward, his elbows resting on the table.

"You said you like challenges," panimula niya. His voice was low, almost like a purr. "Most people who work for me quit within the first week. They say I’m too demanding. Too cold. Too... much."

"Maybe they’re just too weak, Sir," mabilis na sagot ko. I didn't blink.

He smirked, but there was no warmth in it. "Is that so? Then let's test your strength."

Bigla siyang tumayo at lumakad paikot sa upuan ko. Ramdam ko ang presensya niya sa likuran ko. Ang init ng katawan niya ay parang dumidikit sa balat ko kahit may suot kaming damit. Inilapit niya ang mukha niya sa may bandang tenga ko.

"I have a condition, Calixta. A very specific way of working," bulong niya. I could feel his warm breath on my neck, and it sent shivers down my spine. "I don't like being touched. I don't like people getting too close to my personal space. But my assistant? My assistant needs to be everywhere I am. 24/7. Can you handle the irony of that?"

"I can handle anything you throw at me, Zion," I said, using his first name on purpose.

Napatigil siya. I felt the atmosphere shift. Masyadong personal ang pagtawag ko sa pangalan niya, at alam kong nakuha ko ang atensyon niya. Bigla niyang hinawakan ang magkabilang armrest ng upuan ko, kinukulong ako sa gitna ng mga bisig niya.

"Who gave you the right to call me by my name?" galit pero may halong panggigigil na tanong niya.

Humarap ako sa kanya, kahit na magkadikit na ang mga ilong namin. This close, I could see the golden flecks in his dark eyes. I could see the pain he was trying to hide behind that billionaire facade.

"If I'm going to be your shadow, I should at least know the man I’m following, right?" matapang kong sagot.

His eyes dropped to my lips. For a split second, I thought he was going to kiss me. I wanted to see if he would react. I wanted to see if the 'problem' I heard about was real. Pero bago pa mangyari 'yun, bigla siyang lumayo at tumalikod.

He gripped the edge of the table so hard his knuckles turned white. He was breathing heavily, as if he was fighting something inside him.

"Get the files on the table," he said, his voice strained. "Study them. That's the project we're working on. If you can't memorize every detail by tomorrow morning, don't bother coming back."

I stood up, picking up the thick folder. Pero hindi pa ako lumalabas. I walked towards him, stopping just a few inches from his back.

"Zion," I called out softly.

"What?!" he snapped, turning around.

I didn't say a word. I reached out my hand and slowly brushed a stray strand of hair from his forehead. It was a simple gesture, innocent yet intimate.

The moment my skin touched his, Zion froze. Literal na tumigil ang mundo. I felt his whole body stiffen. But then, something happened that neither of us expected.

His pupils dilated. A low groan escaped his throat. At sa sobrang lapit namin, hindi nakaligtas sa paningin ko ang bahagyang paggalaw sa ibaba ng kanyang zipper.

He felt it. He definitely felt it.

Gulat na gulat si Zion. Agad siyang umatras, tila nandidiri o natatakot sa sarili niyang reaksyon. His breathing was ragged now, his face pale yet flushed at the same time.

"Get out!" he roared, pointing at the door. "Now, Calixta! Leave!"

I didn't flinch at his shouting. Instead, I smiled—a slow, victorious smile. I knew I had just unlocked a door that had been shut for years.

"See you tomorrow, Boss," I said calmly.

Lumakad ako palabas ng boardroom na parang walang nangyari. Pagkasara ko ng pinto, napasandal ako rito at huminga nang malalim. My heart was pounding like crazy.

So, it's true, I thought. He is broken. But for some reason, I am the only one who can fix him. Or maybe, I’m the only one who can break him even more.

I looked at the folder in my hand. Wanted for Pleasure. Hindi ko alam kung bakit 'yun ang pumasok sa isip ko, pero isang bagay lang ang sigurado: Zion Montes just had his first taste of what I can do. At hindi ko siya titigilan hangga't hindi siya sumasamo sa paanan ko.

The game has just begun.