All Chapters of His Personal Secretary: Chapter 21 - Chapter 30

The office was already alive with the usual Monday energy: the rhythmic clacking of keyboards, the low hum of conversation, and the scent of burnt toast from the pantry someone clearly left too long in the microwave.Ashley clutched her tumbler of coffee tighter than necessary as she walked briskly to her desk, pretending—insisting—to herself that everything was normal.This is fine. We’re fine. We’re professionals. It was just one intense moment. That’s it.She sat down and forced herself to open her laptop like her heart wasn’t still beating out of rhythm. Her fingers hovered over the keyboard longer than they should have, as if typing an email would somehow reset her brain.But then, she heard it.That voice.“Good morning, Ashley.”She looked up—too quickly, too instinctively—and there he was. Danielle, in a sharp charcoal suit, looking every bit the composed executive, but his eyes… those eyes. They flickered when they met hers, like they were both remembering the exact same mome

Ashley sat at her desk the following morning, eyes glued to her monitor, but her mind… elsewhere. She was trying—really trying—to look like everything was normal. Like she didn’t almost kiss her boss last night. Like Danielle didn’t look at her like that. Like her heartbeat didn’t skip three beats whenever she remembered the way his hand lingered on hers.But today, she was all about professionalism. Corporate girlie muna, wala munang landi. She even wore her most neutral blouse—light gray, not even a hint of pink. Her hair was in a tight bun, as if to keep her thoughts from straying.“Coffee?” Des appeared beside her with a steaming cup, smirking knowingly. “Kulang ka sa tulog, girl. You okay?”Ashley accepted the cup and took a grateful sip. “Thanks, Des. Yeah, okay lang. Just… alam mo na, work.”“Work ba talaga o si Sir Danielle na?” Des teased, raising an eyebrow.Ashley shot her a warning look. “Shhh! Hindi puwede dito ‘yan.”Des laughed softly, walking away with a wink. “Fine. P

The week after the conference room meeting felt strangely quieter for Ashley. At least in terms of the space between her and Danielle. There was something new in the air—something tangible. They hadn’t openly acknowledged it beyond that one conversation, but the subtle shifts were impossible to ignore.At work, everything seemed the same on the surface. The hum of the office, the deadlines, the meetings. But every glance from Danielle lingered a little longer than it used to. Every email from her carried a hint of something more, like an inside joke, or a shared understanding that only the two of them truly knew.But Ashley still had to be careful. She couldn’t let this thing—whatever it was—cloud her judgment. She wasn’t stupid; the power dynamics between them were still there, unspoken but ever-present. She was still her assistant, and Danielle was still her boss. They couldn’t just forget that.And yet, every time Danielle smiled at her, every time their eyes met across the room, t

That night, after Ashley had gotten home and changed into her comfiest pambahay, she found herself scrolling mindlessly through social media, her mind still buzzing from the café. Danielle’s voice echoed in her thoughts—“Slowly.” That simple word had grounded her more than she expected.Her phone lit up.Danielle: Let me know when you get home safe.Ashley smiled to herself.Ashley: Just got in. Thanks again for tonight.There was a pause, then another ping.Danielle: Thank you for saying yes.Ashley bit her lip. She typed and erased twice before settling on:Ashley: I think I would’ve regretted saying no.Three dots appeared, then disappeared. Then reappeared.Danielle: Goodnight, Ash.Ashley: Goodnight, D.She held the phone to her chest for a moment before placing it on her nightstand. For once, she didn’t feel like overthinking.Just this once, she allowed herself to feel the quiet thrill of maybe.Scene: Office Pantry — Monday MorningThe start of the week brought the usual wave

“Ash, are you sure you packed everything?”“Yes, Danielle,” Ashley replied, laughing as she zipped up her overnight bag. “Toothbrush, charger, extra clothes, and snacks. I got this.”Danielle gave her a mock glare from across the condo’s open-plan living room. “You’re teasing me.”“A little,” Ashley said, slinging the bag over her shoulder. “You’re just very...organized.”Danielle raised an eyebrow. “You mean neurotic?”Ashley grinned. “I mean detail-oriented.”They were both dressed casually for the first time in weeks—Ashley in loose jeans and a rust-colored hoodie, Danielle in black joggers and a crisp white shirt with the sleeves rolled up.They were headed to Tagaytay for the weekend. Not exactly a grand romantic escape, but a short trip they both agreed on after another draining week. Something to breathe in. Something to make room for them outside the office.No timelines. No meetings. Just air, trees, silence.And each other.Scene: Road TripAshley fiddled with the aux cord i