Chapter 2:

RHETT’S POV:

He usually lets his secretary make his coffee, but today he decided to step out and grab one himself. Maybe a quick break from work would help ease the stress piling up from deadlines and meetings.

The Elite Coffee Shop seemed perfect, cozy, quiet, and not too crowded. Just what he needed to breathe a little.

But maybe fate had other plans.

Because just a few minutes after he entered, someone accidentally spilled hot coffee on his expensive suit.

He looked down, brows furrowing at the brown stain spreading on the lower part of his suit. Then his eyes slowly lifted toward the trembling woman in front of him. He caught a glimpse of her ID, Elara Raenor.

Cold eyes. Tight jaw. What a way to start his day!

“S-Sorry talaga, sir! Hindi ko sinasadyang mabuhusan kayo ng kape,” the girl stammered, eyes wide and watery, panic clear in her voice.

He could already feel other customers glancing their way. He hated attention. He hated wasting time even more. His patience was wearing thin, but he managed to keep his composure.

“You have to be careful next time, Ms. My time is important. I don’t want to waste it.”

His voice was low, calm, but edged with authority. It was enough to make her flinch.

“Yes, sir. Pasensya na po sa abalang nagawa ko,” she said softly, bowing her head, completely mortified.

He caught a hint of embarrassment in her eyes before turning away toward the counter. He didn’t plan to make a scene, he never did. One incident like this didn’t deserve another minute of his time.

Behind him, Elara let out a shaky sigh, still feeling the stares burning into her back. When the murmurs finally died down and the customers went back to their own business, she wanted nothing more than to disappear.

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ELARA’S POV:

“Anong nangyari sa’yo, Elara? Okay ka lang ba?” tanong ni Clarie habang nag-aayos siya ng tray sa counter. “Yung pa namang si sir sungit ang nabuhusan mo ng kape. Mabuti na lang at hindi ka pinagalitan!”

Napahawak siya sa dibdib, ramdam pa rin ang kaba na parang ayaw humupa. “Ang dami kasing tao, Clarie. Hindi ko rin in-expect na bigla siyang susulpot. Grabe! Nakakahiya talaga,” halos pabulong niyang sabi habang napapangiwi pa dahil sa inis sa sarili. “Pero teka, hindi ba't si Rhett Alaric 'yon?” pagkumpirma ko, alam ko na siya 'yon. Hindi ako maaring magkamali. Gusto niyang malaman kung siya ba talaga ang lalaking gumugulo sa isip ko at oo, pati sa mga panaginip ko nitong mga nakaraang taon.

“Oo siya nga. Narinig ko noon kay Ma’am Natally,” sagot ni Clarie habang nag-aayos ng mga tasa, “na CEO daw ng construction firm na katabi ng coffee shop natin si sir sungit. Kaya bihira siyang magpakita dito. Usually, yung secretary lang niya ang bumibili ng coffee.”

Nanlaki ang mga mata ni Elara, halos mabitawan ang hawak na tray. “CEO? Oh my gosh!”

Grabe! Ang yaman pala niya!

“Yep,” nakangising sagot ni Clarie, sabay kumpas ng kamay na parang kinikilig. “Rhett Alaric. Gwapo, pero mukhang mas malamig pa sa iced americano. Yung tipong kahit ngumiti siguro, may kasamang pressure.”

Napakunot lang ng noo si Elara, pero hindi maitago ang bahagyang ngiti. “Rhett Alaric…” mahinang ulit niya, parang tinatandaan ang pangalan. Hindi niya alam kung bakit, pero may kung anong kakaibang kilig at kaba ang sabay na bumabalot sa kanya.

Napahinga na lang siya nang malalim.

Kung kailan naman niya ito nasilayan sa unang pagkakataon ay ang pangit naman ng kanilang pagkikita. Natapunan ba naman ng kape. Good job, Elara! Binigyan mo na siya ng bad impression sa’yo!

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RHETT’S POV:

“Matt, get me a new suit from my condo. Put it in the laundry basket,” Rhett said the moment he entered his office. He unbuttoned his coat, the faint scent of coffee still lingering on the fabric, then handed it over to his secretary.

“Yes, sir.”

Matt Rivera had been with him for five years. Loyal, precise, and efficient. He didn’t need explanations anymore, he knew Rhett’s rhythm like clockwork.

Rhett leaned back on his leather chair, eyes briefly scanning the city skyline outside his glass window before refocusing on the pile of documents waiting for his signature. He picked up his fountain pen, then nib gliding smoothly over the paper.

He took a slow sip of his caffe americano, its bitter taste grounding him. The earlier incident was already erased from his mind. For him, it wasn’t worth a single thought.

He lived by one rule — focus only on what matters.

Thirty minutes later, Matt returned, carrying a neatly folded navy-blue suit. Rhett glanced at his gold wristwatch.

“What’s my next schedule for today?” he asked, not lifting his eyes from the papers.

“You have a clear schedule, sir,” Matt replied after checking the monitor.

“Good.” He massaged his temples briefly, then continued signing. Work always helped him silence the noise in his head. He preferred order, control, and predictability — things that people rarely offered.

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ELARA’S POV:

“Bye, Elara! Mag-ingat ka!” paalam ni Bella habang sabay silang naglalagay ng gamit sa storage room.

“Mag-ingat sila sa’yo,” sagot niya sabay ngiti. “Amazona ka pa naman. Babalakin pa lang na lumapit sa’yo ay paniguradong baldado agad sila."

“Loko ka talaga,” tawa ni Bella bago ito umalis.

Elara changed her shoes, tucked her uniform neatly into her bag, and stepped out into the cool evening air. Finally, time to rest.

Naglakad lamang siya ng kaunti at tumawid saka nag-abang ng jeep na masasakyan pauwi. Hindi na siya naghintay pa ng matagal dahil may tumigil na jeep sa harapan niya. Sumakay siya at agad naupo sa dulo. She leaned her head on the window, eyes half-closed. Ang daming nangyari ngayong araw — nakakahiya, nakaka-stress, pero kahit papano, masaya siyang natapos na rin ang shift.

“Para po!” sabi niya nang marating ang tapat ng barangay nila.

Pagbaba niya, agad siyang sinalubong ng mga pamilyar na tunog.

The streets were alive. May nagbebenta ng fishball, may nag-iihaw ng barbeque, at may mga batang naglalaro pa rin sa gilid kahit kumagat na ang dilim. The smell of smoke and grilled meat filled the air. Dinig din niya ang tawanan ng mga kapitbahay, kalansing ng kawali, at kantang pinapatugtog ng ihawan sa kanto. She smiled. Finally, home.

Habang naglalakad pauwi, dinukot niya ang cellphone at tinawagan ang kapatid at tumigil muna sa may gilid ng daan.

“Hello, Eirina? May ulam na ba tayo?” tanong niya. Pangalawa ito sa kanilang magkakapatid.

“Meron na, ate. Bakit?” sagot ng kapatid, may halong ingay sa background.

“Bibili sana ako ng barbeque.”

Narinig niya bigla ang boses ng kanilang ina sa kabilang linya. “Sino ’yan, Eirina?”

“Si ate, ma. Nagtatanong kung may ulam na raw tayo!” sagot ng kapatid.

Natawa si Elara nang marinig ang sigawan sa background. Hindi naman nag-aaway, baka medyo magkalayo ang mga ito sa isa’t-isa. Kaya naman kailangan munang sumigaw para magkarinigan. Typical night at home.

“Bumili ka na lang daw ng barbeque, ate, para may ulam tayo bukas,” sabi ni Eirina.

“Okay, sige. Huwag niyo akong hintayin ha.”

Binaba niya ang tawag at tumingin sa tindera. “Ate, limang stick ng barbeque, at limang hotdog po.”

Habang pinapabalot iyon ng tindera, napatingin siya sa langit. Nagkikislapan ang mga bituin sa langit, pero ramdam pa rin niya ang pagod sa buong maghapon.

Hindi niya alam kung bakit, pero kahit ilang oras na ang lumipas, naiisip pa rin niya si Rhett Alaric. The man she accidentally spilled coffee on.

What a day, she thought, smiling faintly.

Next time, Elara, please… huwag mo nang ipahiya ang sarili mo kung sakali mang magkita kayo ulit!