IV: The Collision

Nasa conference room ang dalaga at pakiramdam niya ay isa itong malaking hawla. Chloe stood by the large window, the busy city 50 floors below calms her heart a little bit. Hawak ang isang folder sa kanyang kamay, its crispy pages a fragile defense against the storm of her thoughts. Tatlong araw na ang nagdaan mula ng makita niya ang mukha nito sa screen ng kanyang desktop.

Tatlong araw na nagdaan mula ng magulo ang kanyang perpekto at payapang mundo. Her boss assured her that this was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, isang pagkakataon na makadaupang-palad at maka-trabaho ang isa sa mga pinakamakapangyarihan at eksklusibong kliyente sa buong syudad. And the client? Aiden Ramirez.

A quiet voice from the door made her turn and her breath hitched. He was even more looked corporate and all-business nin his custom-tailored suit than he had in the bar. The presence is more unbearable and his quiet confidence presents an invisible physical force that filled the room.

Aiden's dark eyes met hers, at sa sandaling iyon, she thought she saw a flicker of the same spark from that night. Ngunit bigla iyong nawala just as quickly as it appeared, replaced by a cool, professional expression." "Miss Villanueva." sabi nito sa malalim na boses, a familiar rumble that sent a shiver down her spine. "I'm glad you could make it." and he moved slowly to the head of the long table in the middle of this conference room. He took a seat like a king and acknowledge their last encounter with nothing. Neither a smile nor a glance, neither a chuckle nor word from him.

Ang trato nito sa dalaga ay parang kagaya ng ibang kasama nila roon- a blank canvas. Chloe mastered all her strength to return the energy with her pokerface and stand still while trying to hold herself all together. "Please have a seat." He gestured  to the chair across from his. His voice is offering all business.

Dumadagundong pa rin ang puso ng dalaga, but she forced herself to breathe, channeling her professional calm. Pagkakuwa'y nilapag niya ang folder sa mesa, at rinig niya ang mahinang tunog mula rito.

Control yourself, Chloe.

She looked at him, trying to be see him as a client, isang blueprint na mahal ang price tag. But it was impossible, he was a puzzle she couldn't solve.

Binuksan ni Aiden ang folder na nasa harapan niya. His movement is deliberate and unhurried. "My team has already checked and briefed me on your credentials," he began, malamig ang tinig na sambit nito. "Your firm's reputation for precision and creativity is why you were recommended. Mayroon akong bagong project, a complex one, and I expect results."

Nilahad ni Aiden ang kanyang vision for a new corporate campus- a multi-building complex that would become the flagship of his company. Ang kanyang pananalita ay puno ng datos- mga numero at timelines, taliwas sa mga ibinulong nito sa tainga ng dalaga. He spoke with a quiet authority like a king, making it clear that he was not asking for her Chloe's opinion but informing her with his demands.

Chloe already acknowledged his position this time, a mere employee, a vendor, a simple tool to achieve his goal. Parang burado na ang gabing iyon kung lingunin siya ng binata, na para na lamang siyang estranghero sa paningin nito.

E sino nga ba ako? Hindi ko siya kilala at hindi rin niya ako kilala.

Chloe took a deep breath, pilit na tinanggal ang mga alaala ng gabing iyon at binuksan ang folder na kanina ay hawak niya. She remembered why she was here- she was an architect, not a one-night stand. She was a woman of logic, not of impulse.

"As I see it, Mr. Ramirez," she began, her voice steady and clear, "hindi lamang ito isang corporate campus, tama?" then she tried to fathom his gaze towards her. "This is a statement, isang representasyon ng iyong kompanya, tama?" She fixed her eyeglasses that slid down her noseline. "I have already drafted some preliminary sketches." Then she push the first page across the table.

Aiden leaned forward, ang mga mata ay nakapako sa blueprint na ginawa ng dalaga. He didn't utter a word of praise, but his attention was a form of respect. His gaze then shifted from the paper to her, a direct challenge in his dark eyes.

"Impressive," sabi nito. A satisfied smile reached her lips as he hear this word. "But tell me, Ms. Villanueva," he continued, ang tono nito ay muling naging propesyonal, "what's your design philosophy? What is your approach to a project of this scale?"

Simple lang ang question nito, pero alam ng dalaga na hindi ito isang tanong. It felt like a test, a moment of vulnerability and a room for error. Kailangan niyang sumagot, but she knew he was listening for more than just a professional response.

She look at him with an intense unwavering gaze to make herself clear with her response.

"My design philosophy is simple, Mr. Ramirez," her voice echoing a new kind of strength, "every element must serve a purpose, whether it's a structural bea, or single piece of art." She refused to be intimated by the way he gawk at her.  "Form follows function, but a truly great design also leaves room for human element." she paused for a moment, studying everyone's faces in the room. "Ang isang building ay istruktura lamang, isang matibay na pundasyon. And for a project na ganito kalaki, the key is to ensure every piece works in harmony, kahit na galing pa sila sa magkabilang dulo ng mundo."

Hindi nagbago ang ekspresyon sa mukha ng binata, but a subtle flicker of something in his eyes told her he understood the double meaning of her words. Sumandal siya sa kanyang upuan, habang ang isang ngiti ay naglakbay sa kanyang mga labi. 

"Isang matibay na pundasyon," inulit ni Aiden ang eksaktong sinabi ng dalaga, his voice as smooth as the scotch they had shared. "I can appreciate that, Ms. Villanueva."

Narinig niya ang dalaga, loud and clear. She's not just good as one-night stand; she was a worthy adversary in the boardroom too.

"Your philosphy sounds good on paper, but I want to see it in real-life." He said to her, hanging the challenge in the mid-air. "Ang project na ito ay hindi lang dapat maging functional, it needs to be iconic."

He walked toward her, at ang maliit na espasyo sa pagitan nila ang nagpabilis ng tibok ng puso ng dalaga. He was too close, his scent is suffocating- isang reminder ng gabing kanilang pinagsaluhan. Aiden picked up a pen and paper and the woman find this gesture intimidating for her.

Her answers had been impressive. She spoke of foundations and harmony, dalawang pyesa sa magkaibang mundo. 

"This is what I wanted, a campus that integrates with the natural landscape- a complex that is both a symbol of our brand and a sanctuary for my employees. Think of a structure na organic, at hindi parang concrete box. Kaya mo bang gawin, Ms. Villanueva?" he asked, his voice low and challenging.

Hindi lamang siya nagtatanong tungkol sa design; gusto niyang subukan ang dalaga. Gusto niyang malaman kung ang babaeng nakasama niya at nakulong sa kanyang bisig ng isang gabi ay may kakayahan na harapin ang totoong buhay. Aiden is looking for a partner for the said project, someone who could handle more than just blueprints.

She was a woman of logic, but this project would require passion, Inaasahan niyang titiklop ang dalaga, but he did not anticipated her next move.

Chloe looked up to him, her heart is throbbing erratically. She cast away her glasses and flashed her signature smile to Aiden. The smile was a shield, isang propesyonal na kumpas na walang ibang ibig sabihin.

"Challenge accepted, Mr. Ramirez."

She's more than I bargained for, he thought, at isang ngiti ang muling sumilay sa labi ng binata.

Much, much more.