CHAPTER 5

“Di kapa uuwi Ms. Secretary?” Hagikgik na tanong ni Alvin isa rin sa mga empleyado rito.

“Dipa e, marami kasi akong tatapusin e. Kailangan bukas ni sir.” Sabi ko sa kanya habang nag titipa sa computer.

It’s already 8 PM, natapos lahat ng meeting ni sir kanina kaya ngayong tinatapos kona yung iba lalo’t importante lahat ng dokumentong binigay kanina. Nasa loob pa nang opisina si sir diko alam kung anong oras yun uuwi. Pero feel ko hindi nako makaka-uwi nito.

Umalis na sila Alvin kaya tumawag na ako sa kapatid ko para ipaalam na baka hindi ako maka-uwi.

“Good evening Sir Sterling! May need po kayo” Tanong ko kay sir Sterling ng makita ko ito.

“It’s you again Ms. Beautiful!” Sambit nito bago ngumit sakin.

Ngumiti rin ako rito bago mag salita. “Wait lang po ha? Tanong ko lang si sir.” Sambit ko rito bago kumatok at pumasok sa kwarto.

“Sir, Mr. Sterling is here, papasukin ko poba?” Tanong ko sakanyan. He just nodded at me kaya sinara kona ang p***o at hinarap si sir Sterling.

“Sir, pasok na raw po kayo.” Ngiti kong sambit dito.

“Just Sir Eren. And here.. Coffee.. Tutal nandito ka naman and nawalan na’ko ng gana mag kape.” Ngiti niyang sambit sabay lahad sakin nung kape. Tinanggap ko naman ito kaya pumasok na siya sa loob habang ako naman ay bumalik na sa lamesa ko,

Ininum ko yung kape na binigay ni Sir. Eren sakin and infairness ang sarap nito. Macchiato yung flavor, one of my favorite types of coffee.

Tumayo ako at pinatay ang mga ilaw sa unahan bago bumalik sa lamesa ko at nag simula na mag trabaho.

Habang nagrereview ako nang ibang documents ay nakaramdam ako ng lamig kaya kinuha ko ang jacket na dala ko na nakasabit sa upuan ko.

“Grabe naman yung lamig dito, para akong nasa friezer ampt.” Mahinang reklamo ko sa sarili.

Hours past ay nasa computer pa rin yung tingin ko at nakaka-tatlong files na rin ako at 11 PM na jusko. May dalawa pa, nagawa ko na rin naman yung presentation bukas at na send kona yon sa email ni Sir kaya wala nakong problema ron.

“Oh! Ms. Beautiful! Nandito kapa? Tapos na ang out ng mga empleyado rito ah?” Napatingin ako sa p***o nang office ni sir ng lumabas si sir Eren.

Hindi nako tumayo. “Marami po kasi ang ginagawa ko, baka maya-maya po ay maka-uwi nako. Dalawang files na lang naman po.” Sabi ko rito at ngumiti.

“Ganon ba? Sige mauna na ako. Pareho kayo nitong si Darius..Mga workaholic.” Ngising sambit nito.

“Ingat po sir.” Sabi ko naman nakita ko namang tinaas nito ang kamay niya at iwinagayway.

Bumalik ako sa trabaho para makauwi at makapag pahinga pa’ko lalo’t ipeprensent kopa ito kay sir bago niya isalang ‘to sa conference meeting bukas.

“Hindi ko na kaya…Inaantok na talaga ako.” Inaantok na sabi ko bago yumuko. Ala-una na ang lastna tingin ko sa orasan kanina at nasa kalahating files na rin ako. Patapos na kung baga.

Darius P.O.V

“Why are you here again, dumbass?” I asked my best friend, Evren.

I straightened the papers scattered across my desk, organizing them into neat piles before finally sparing him a glance.

“Chill, bro. I’m just here to hang out,” he replied casually, dropping himself into the sofa like he owned the place.

I rolled my eyes. “How’s the company? Still surviving as a CEO?”

His lips curled into a teasing grin.

“Of course. Unlike you, I actually know what I’m doing.”

I shot him a flat look. “You wish.”

He chuckled before his eyes wandered around my office. “So, have you found yourself a wife yet?”

I immediately stopped what I was doing.

“What?”

“You heard me.” He leaned back against the sofa, looking far too amused. “Uncle told you that you need to find a wife soon. Once you’re married, he’ll finally hand the company over to you.”

I sighed and leaned back in my chair.

“That’s still a long way off. I have more important things to worry about. I need to expand this company first.”

Evren raised an eyebrow.

“You forgot?”

“Forgot what?”

“Tomorrow.”

I frowned. “What about tomorrow?”

“You’re supposed to introduce your future wife to Uncle tomorrow, remember?”

My eyes widened.

“Shit.”

I dragged a hand down my face, already feeling a headache coming on.

“That old man…”

Evren laughed. “You really forgot, didn't you?”

“I was busy.”

“Sure you were.”

He glanced toward the door before looking back at me with a mischievous smile.

“You know, your secretary seems to fit Uncle’s standards.”

My expression immediately hardened.

“Don’t.”

“What?” He shrugged innocently. “I’m just saying. She’s smart, reliable and beautiful. Sounds perfect to me.”

“Shut up.”

Evren only laughed.

“If you don't want her, then I’ll take her. It’s not like you’re interested in her anyway.”

I slowly looked up at him.

He was still smiling, completely unaware that he had just crossed a line.

“Go ahead.”

My voice was calm, but my eyes were anything but.

“Touch her. Make a move on her.”

I stood from my chair and walked toward him.

“But if you do…”

I stopped directly in front of him, my gaze turning cold.

“You’ll die right here. Right now.”

For the first time that day, Evren's smile disappeared.

“Chill, bro! I’m just kidding, okay?” He laughed awkwardly before I returned to my seat.

“Ehem. You know, I don’t think your secretary has any plans of going home tonight. Look.”

He pointed toward the window beside the door of my office. Through the glass, I could see the light coming from the desk where my secretary was still working.

“Let her be. She has a lot of things to finish for tomorrow, so I guess she’s not going home yet,” I replied.

“Okay, if you say so. I’ll get going. Goodnight.”

He stood up, shook my hand, and walked out of my office.

Once he was gone, I returned my attention to my work. I still had plenty to finish, and I needed to prepare for tomorrow’s schedule as well. I’d deal with that damn marriage arrangement tomorrow. I had more important things to worry about tonight.

Hours passed.

A notification suddenly appeared on my computer. It was a message containing the files my secretary had sent me. I opened them immediately and began reviewing each document carefully.

My office was a complete mess by then. Papers were scattered all over my desk, some of them completely irrelevant to what I was working on. I gathered the unnecessary documents and set them aside before focusing on the files in front of me.

I lost track of time.

When I finally glanced at the clock, it was already 1:30 AM

I let out a tired sigh.

“That’s enough for tonight.”

I organized the papers on my desk, grabbed my coat, and left my office.

But the moment I stepped outside, something caught my attention.

The light from my secretary’s desk was still on.

I walked toward her desk, intending to tell her to go home.

But when I got closer, I stopped.

She was already asleep.

Her head was resting against her arm, her face peaceful and completely relaxed. Without the usual concentration in her eyes or the serious expression she wore while working, she looked different.

Softer.

I stood there for a moment, simply watching her.

She had probably pushed herself too hard again.

I turned around and went back into my office. Opening the cabinet, I took out a blanket before returning to her desk.

I carefully draped it over her shoulders, making sure not to wake her.

Then I lowered myself onto one knee beside her desk.

For a moment, I just looked at her.

I smiled faintly.

“You really haven't changed, have you?”

My voice was barely above a whisper.

“You're still as beautiful as ever… Avi.”

I gently pulled the blanket higher over her shoulders before standing.

I switched off the light above her desk and lowered the air conditioning.

Then I turned around and walked away.