All Chapters of Bound to the Billionaire Contractor: Chapter 31 - Chapter 40

MAYA:“Tina, parang hindi magandang ideya to,” pang-sampung beses ko na atang sinabi kay Tina sa pagpasok namin sa bar.Shala ang lugar. Isa sa mga pinupuntahan ng young professionals para mag-relax at magsaya after mag-trabaho. Madilim ang ilaw. Maganda naman ang music. Mamahalin lang nga ang mga drinks. Pero sobrang ang uncomfortable.“Relax ka lang kasi,” bulong sa’kin ni Tina habang hinihila ako papasok. “Magpa-practice lang naman tayo. Kailangang maging Maria Ysabel the Auditor ka sa social setting. Para ma-sure natin na kaya mo pag nasa building ka na ni Papa R.”Tumingin ako sa paligid. Hindi pa rin ako mapalagay. Wala din kasi si Lea, hindi sumama sa’min. Hindi daw siya nagpupunta sa mga bars at ipagpa-pray nalang daw ang plano namin.May bakanteng mesa naman. Umorder kami ng drinks. Mga cocktails na hindi ko pa naririnig.“Okay,” lapit sa akin ni Tina. Ito magiging rules natin. Ngayong gabi, hindi ikaw si Maya. Ikaw si Maria Ysabel. Confident. Sophisticated. Flirty.”“Flirt

MAYA“Already did,” sagot ko naman. “Mukhang you like control. And you hate losing.”Tama naman kaya ako? Hula-hula ko lang ‘yun.Ngumiti si Ton. Mabagal at confident. “You’re not wrong. But you…”Tumigil siya sandali, iniisa-isa ata niya bawat parte ng mukha ko na parang minememorize niya. Hala siya. “You’re harder to read,” dagdag niya.“Good,” sabi ko naman. Yes, effective ang pagpapanggap. Makaka-graduate na’ko.“Okay, let me guess. You’re in marketing. Or consulting?”“Close,” ngumiti ako. “Let’s just say… I like fixing problems that people create. Or vice versa. Creating problems that people can’t fix.”Natawa siya sa sinabi ko. “Impressive.” Tiningnan niya ‘ko ng matagal. Yung tingin na mabigat pero hindi naman bastos. Parang curious lang. “You know, the more we talk, the more I realize that you’re not who I expect you to be.”“So what did you expect of me?”Ngumiti siya. “A distraction.”“And now?”“Now you’re a challenge.”Napatawa ako. Akala ko nagbibiro siya. Pero yung mg

RENZOMonday morning, I was in Anton's office, reviewing quarterly reports. Boring but necessary."These numbers don't add up," I said, pointing at a spreadsheet. "Project expenses versus projected costs. There's a discrepancy.""I'll have finance check it," Anton said, making notes. "Could be a data entry error.""Or it could be something else." I looked at him. "Anton, I need you to be thorough on this. Yung Makati project especially. There's been... talk.""Talk?""About cutting corners. About substandard materials. About—"A knock on the door interrupted us.Carla, Anton's secretary, poked her head in. "Sir, the external auditor is here. Ms. Cruz.""Already?" Anton checked his watch. "She's early. I like that. Send her in."Carla opened the door wider.And a woman walked in.Shoulder-length wavy hair, light brown. Professional outfit—navy blazer, white blouse, pencil skirt. Red lips. Confident stride.Beautiful.Anton stood up immediately, a wide grin spreading across his face."W

MAYA Tumingkayad ako at inayos yung necktie nya. Ang tapang ko ha. Pero deep inside grabe yung kaba ko. “Because if you’re worried,” pagpapatuloy ko pa, habang tinitingnan siya direkta sa mata. “Maybe we can discuss this… privately? Over dinner? To clarify your concerns.” Napasinghap siya. Nakita ko ‘yun. Mukhang effective ‘tong ginagawa ko na ‘to! “Are you…” parang naging husky yung boses niya, “are you just flirting with me, right now, Ms. Cruz?” Ngumiti ako. Mabagal. Nagpapaka-seductive kahit hindi ako marunong. “Flirting? That’s unprofessional, Mr. Alcantara,” dumantay yung kamay ko sa dibdib niya. Hala, ba’t nagugustuhan ko ‘yung ginagawa ko. Naramdaman ko yung tela ng mamahalin niyang suit. At yung malakas na kabog ng dibdib niya. “I’m just being… friendly.” Namamaos na rin ata ako. “Friendly.” Ulit niya. “Yes. Friendly.” Sang-ayon ko naman, habang naglalakbay ‘yung kamay ko pataas sa balikat niya. “Unless you’d prefer I be unfriendly? Formal? Or cold?” Ngumiti ako

RENZOParang natigilan siya sa sinabi ko.“What?”“Sorry,” I waved it off. Tinitingnan ko lang naman yung reaction niya. “Wrong person. You just reminded me of someone for a moment.”“Oh, okay,” sagot naman niya. Test number one: passed. Hindi niya naalala yung bar. Or she’s a very good actress. Binasa niya ulit yung menu. I can see her struggling reading descriptions like “branzino with saffron beurre blanc”.After a long moment, she looked up. “I… honestly, hindi ko alam ang mga pagkaing ‘to,” inamin niya, halos hindi makatingin sa’kin ng deretso. There it was. Vulnerability. Admission of not knowing. Si Maria Ysabel, mukhang hindi gagawin yun. I saw how she reacted with Anton. She was confident. Sophisticated.“That’s okay,” I said gently. “Want me to explain?”“Okay lang ba?” tumingin siya sa’kin. Totoong gratitude sa mga mata niya.I spent the next ten minutes going through the menu. Explaining each dish. How they were prepared. Anong lasa.Nakikinig naman siya mabuti. Nagt