Under His Care

Caramel Macchiato Incident The world of Percy Trench Montefalco was a world of crisp suits, multi-million peso deals, and the persistent, low hum of a city he was determined to conquer. At 26, he was the young, formidable CEO of Montefalco Holdings, a real estate empire he inherited and was now expanding with ruthless efficiency. His chiseled jaw, sharp eyes, and the effortless way he carried his wealth made him the subject of every business magazine and the fantasy of many. Ngayon, his world was confined to the four corners of his Bentley, stuck in the notorious BGC traffic. "No, I want the feasibility study on my desk by Monday. End of discussion," he said into his phone, his voice calm but with an edge of steel. He ended the call with a sigh, rubbing his temples. Minsan, nakakapagod din maging boss. He decided to make a quick stop at his favorite coffee shop before his next meeting. It was a small detour, a little pocket of normalcy in his highly-structured life. Meanwhile, Joce

Counter-Offer Isang nakabibinging katahimikan ang bumalot sa boardroom. Para kay Celle, ang bawat segundo ay parang isang oras habang ang mga mata ng lahat ay nakatuon sa kanya, naghihintay ng kanyang sagot sa nakakainsultong tanong ni Percy Montefalco. Her teammates looked confused. Si Sir Mike naman ay halatang nag-aalala. A wave of heat rushed to Celle's face, the same blush of humiliation she felt at the coffee shop. But this was different. This wasn't a random accident. This was her career. This was her pitch. At hindi siya papayag na sirain ito ng isang aroganteng CEO, gaano man ito kagwapo. Huminga siya nang malalim, hinayaan ang adrenaline na patatagin ang kanyang boses. She looked him straight in the eye, from one end of the mahogany table to the other. "Mr. Montefalco," she began, her voice surprisingly steady and clear. "You don't have to worry. I can assure you that unlike my coffee, my data is spill-proof and always hits the mark." A flicker of surprise—and was that a

The moment Percy sat down, the scent of his expensive cologne—a subtle mix of sandalwood and something distinctly masculine—mingled with the aroma of garlic rice and simmering broth from the kitchen. It was a clash of two different worlds, right there at their small wooden table. For a moment, Celle felt a fresh wave of panic. Was this a mistake? "So," Percy began, leaning back slightly in his chair. The chair, which had probably seated hundreds of customers, suddenly looked too small and fragile for him. "I have to admit, this is not what I expected." "And what exactly were you expecting, Mr. Montefalco?" Celle asked, her voice steadier than she felt. She clasped her hands on her lap to keep them from fidgeting. "Something... shinier," he admitted, a ghost of a smile playing on his lips. "With more glass and less... charm." His eyes swept over the mismatched picture frames on the wall and the woven *buli* placemats on their table. He didn't look disgusted, as she had half-feared. H

Nakatitig lang si Celle sa nakalahad na kamay ni Percy. Ang kondisyon nito ay umalingawngaw sa isip niya: “You will be exclusively available to me.” May dalawang kahulugan ang mga salitang iyon, at alam ni Celle na sinadya ni Percy iyon. Isang paalala na kahit pumayag ito sa kanyang gusto, hawak pa rin nito ang kontrol. Pero hindi siya magpapadala sa takot o sa intimidasyon. Para ito sa Palengke ng Nayon. Para ito sa kanyang lola. Dahan-dahan, inabot niya ang kamay nito. Mainit at magaspang nang bahagya ang palad nito, isang sorpresa mula sa isang lalaking ang akala niya ay puro opisina lang ang ginagalawan. Ang pagkakahawak nito ay matatag at panandalian lamang, pero sapat na iyon para mag-iwan ng kuryente sa kanyang balat. “Payag ako,” matatag niyang sabi, binitawan ang kamay nito na para bang napapaso. “Gagawin ko ang gusto mo. Pero sa isang kondisyon din.” Isang kilay ni Percy ang tumaas. “At ano naman iyon?” “Sa oras na nasa komunidad ko tayo, sa palengke, sa karinderya ni

Dalawang Mundo, Isang Laban*Lunes, 9:00 AM. Sa Opisina ni Percy.*Ang opisina ni Percy ay nasa ika-45 na palapag ng isang gusaling salamin at bakal sa puso ng Makati. Dito, ang ingay ay hindi nanggagaling sa mga tao, kundi sa tahimik na ugong ng sentralisadong aircon at sa malayong tunog ng trapiko sa ibaba. Ang buong silid ay naliligo sa malamig at maputing liwanag, at ang tanawin mula sa bintanang floor-to-ceiling ay ang buong Metro Manila.Kabaliktaran ng palengke, ang mundo ni Percy ay malinis, organisado, at walang amoy.Nakatayo siya sa harap ng isang mahabang mahogany table, kaharap ang tatlong miyembro ng board at ang kanyang ama, si Don Alfonso Montefalco, ang Chairman ng kumpanya. Si Don Alfonso ay isang lalaking nasa edad sitenta, nakasuot ng perpektong-pagkakatahi na barong, at may mga matang tila nakikita ang lahat—lalo na ang mga numero sa isang financial report."So, Percy," nagsimula si Don Alfonso, ang kanyang boses ay k