Semua Bab MY SECRETARY HATES ME? [ ENGLISH VER. ] : Bab 11 - Bab 20

Gianna's POVI was so grateful that the throbbing in my foot had finally subsided. It was still a little tender, but the sharp, stabbing pain was gone. I was currently holed up in Mr. Locan's office, tasked with cleaning the place and sorting through the mountains of paperwork that had been languishing in his drawers for who knows how long. I swear, the sheer volume of junk he'd accumulated was astounding. Random documents were scattered everywhere, threatening to take flight at any moment. It looked more like a landfill than an office. I was in the midst of sorting through two boxes overflowing with rusty fasteners when Mr. Locan's phone, which he'd apparently left on his desk, started to vibrate.I paused, setting down the handful of fasteners I was holding, and glanced at the phone to see who was calling."Stupid," I read aloud, my eyebrows shooting up. Who on earth was named "Stupid"? Seriously, what was with Francis and his questionable choices in contacts? Naming someone "Stupid

GIANNA'S POVStepping into Mr. Locan's office, I was met with an unexpected sight: a throng of men. My throat tightened. Just keep your head down, Gianna. Do your job."Coffee, Sir." I presented him with his usual black coffee, trying not to fixate on the one man who'd been watching me since I entered. He offered a smile, and recognition sparked in my mind. That's him. The guy from the elevator. This is getting awkward."Anyone else care for coffee, Sirs?" I inquired, addressing the group. There were three men in total, none of whom I'd seen around before. "No, thank you. I'm not a coffee person," replied the smirking stranger, his gaze lingering a beat too long. He was strikingly fair, with a captivating, almost Asian cast to his features, and a physique that spoke of dedication. I glanced at the other two, but they politely declined with a shake of their heads. With a nod, I retreated slightly, awaiting instructions from my boss."Ms. Magsandingan, is it?" the fair-skinned man spoke

"Need anything else?" I asked the two kids, refocusing my attention on them. Francis, meanwhile, remained tethered to his laptop, his fingers dancing across the keys in a blur. He'd been like that all day, practically fused to the screen, while I was relegated to entertaining his nephews. It was nearing five o'clock, and their ride was still a no-show, so I was doing my best to keep them from descending into boredom. Thankfully, Xia's spirits had rebounded, and she was now happily playing with her brother."Daddy..." Xia suddenly tugged on Francis's sleeve, drawing him away from his digital world. She held up a drawing of a flower, her eyes sparkling with innocent expectation. "What color should I make it? Pink or red?" she asked, her voice filled with childlike wonder. I waited for Francis's response, but he seemed to hesitate, as if grappling with a complex decision. "Uh... what color do you want to make it?" he countered, avoiding a direct answer. "But I want you to choose," she in

A wave of self-consciousness washed over me as I sat in the jeepney, the too-short hem of my dress a constant reminder of my vulnerability. Cramped between strangers, mostly men, I couldn't shake the feeling of being on display. We were headed to Jeneel's birthday party, an event that promised a world of extravagance I barely knew. I'd already caught the driver's eyes in the rearview mirror, a lingering look that made me shift uncomfortably."Hey, are we almost there?" I asked Gael, my cousin, my voice laced with barely suppressed impatience. She was lost in the meticulous application of her makeup, seemingly oblivious to my mounting anxiety. A quick glance out the window, and she was back to her reflection. "Almost. What's the big rush?" She shoved her cosmetics back into her overflowing bag. "Don't forget the gift, okay? You'd forget your own name if you could." I clutched the brightly wrapped present a little tighter, a silent reassurance.Finally, the jeepney screeched to a halt i

I woke up to a harsh brightness stabbing at my eyes—the sunlight streaming through the wide-open window. I sat up on the bed, groggy and confused. Did I fall asleep?Wait a second.I turned toward the window again, and the full blaze of morning sunlight hit me. Crap. It’s already daytime!I scrambled for my phone. The screen flashed 26 missed calls—all from my cousin.“Oh no,” I muttered, jumping out of bed in a panic. I searched for my bag, ready to bolt out the door—then froze.I wasn’t alone in this room last night, was I?I glanced around the huge, spacious bedroom. Empty. No sign of Francis anywhere.Where did he go? He wouldn’t have just left me here, right? He was still sick!I hurried down the stairs, but a mouthwatering smell stopped me in my tracks.Was that… bacon?My stomach growled as I sniffed the air. Oh, God. That’s definitely bacon.Who the hell is cooking bacon?I followed the irresistible scent to the kitchen—only to stop dead in the doorway.A man, dressed in black