Off The Chain

Giselle Shaw, the intern, has sent a five-dollar bonus to the company's group chat that has 500 members in it. I get crowned as the luckiest person for being able to claim 20 cents from the bonus. So, Giselle tags me in the group chat immediately. "Hey Rebecca! Since you're the luckiest person in the group chat, why don't you send a bonus here? There are 500 people in this group chat altogether, so you can just send 5,000 dollars here. "5,000 dollars isn't much for you, right? It so happens to be the bonus you've received from Mr. Gallagher because of the project you've secured. You can send us the bonus so that we can get some good luck from you!" The moment I refuse, Giselle begins playing the pity card in the group chat by claiming that she can't reap good luck for everyone in the company. My boyfriend, Vincent Gallagher, rushes into my office and starts berating me angrily. "Rebecca Campbell, just how stingy are you to not want to send a five-thousand-dollar bonus to the group chat despite being a higher-up in this company? You even made a young woman cry! Is this how you do things? "You'd better send a 50-thousand-dollar bonus to the group chat right now and write a five-thousand-word apology letter by hand! I want you to sincerely apologize to Giselle as well! Otherwise, I'll break up with you! You can forget about retaining your position in this company, too!"

Zenaida Cabrera, isang multimedia journalist mula isang kilalang news website sa bansa. Sa edad na dalawang pu't walo, hindi pa niya nararanasan magkaroon ng kasintahan dahil nakatuon lang ang kaniyang atensyon sa trabaho at pamilya. Sa takot na mapag-iwanan, sumubok siyang makipag-date ngunit palagi itong nauuwi sa wala dahil sa demanding na boss na walang ibang ginawa kung hindi ang subukin at pahirapan siya. Buong akala ni Zenaida ay hindi na niya mararanasan ang pagkakaroon ng sariling pamilya dahil sa mga responsibilidad na hawak niya, subalit isang araw, nalaman na lamang niya na siya'y nagdadalang tao na at kasamaang palad, hindi niya maalala at makilala kung sino ang ama ng bata sa sinapupunan niya.

Mira Dela Cruz, isang determined pero struggling IT graduate mula sa probinsya, ay halos mawalan na ng pag-asa matapos ang sunod-sunod na job rejection—hanggang sa isang araw sa park, isang lalaking presentable at gwapo ang nagkamali ng akala sa kanya. Akala’y isa siyang bayarang babae. “Hi miss, if you’re available tonight... I’ll pay—just once.” Ito ang unang katagang binitawan ni Ethan Alexander Reyes—ang CEO ng isa sa kilalang successful IT company sa bansa. Isang lalaking seryoso, focused sa trabaho, at ni minsan ay hindi pa nagmahal. Hindi niya inakalang ang babaeng inalok niya ng isang gabi sa hotel ang magiging simula ng kanyang unang pag-ibig. Isang malakas na pagtangi ang tinanggap ni Ethan mula kay Mira nang hindi siya maniwala na isa siyang matinong babae. “Layuan mo ako! Kadiri ka. Baboy mo!” Ang hindi alam ni Mira ang lalaking iyon din pala ang magiging bago niyang boss, at siyang magbibigay sa kanya ng panibagong pag-asa. “I’ll match whatever the other companies offer, even higher—just say yes. I need someone like you here, Miss Mira Dela Cruz.” Ayaw man ni Mira na makatrabaho si Ethan, wala na siyang nagawa. Malaki ang oportunidad na dumating, at hindi niya ito kayang palampasin. Naniniwala si Ethan na ito’y tadhana—lalo’t pareho sila ng mundo. Simula pa lang, may naramdaman na siya. Love at first sight? Maybe. "Do you believe in destiny? Because I do. I just hope this time, I get it right."

Pinagbintangan at nakulong ang Lola ni Locket, dahil kapus sa buhay napilitan siyang lumuwas sa Maynila para magtrabaho upang makaipon ng pang piyansa. Nag-apply si Locket bilang janitor sa Spyru Harbor Ship Salvor and Builder, isang nangungunang intergrated maritime service provider sa buong bansa. Ngunit, laking gulat ni Locket nang sabihin na pumasa siya sa interview para maging secretary ng Chief Executive Officer ng kompamya. Syempre, pinatos na niya ang offer na trabaho kahit pa hindi naman talaga siya qualified sa nasabing posisyon. Ang akala ni Locket tuloy-tuloy na ang pasok ng swerte sa buhay niya, hagang sa isang gabi, aksidente niyang nasaksihan ang isang krimen na hindi niya dapat nakita.

Born human in what has become a werewolf’s world, Louisa Fernandez never stood a chance. She’s just an ordinary spa worker who dreams of entering into an elite academy that has the power to change her life. That was her only goal until she crosses paths with the Alpha king. After their encounter, she’s taken against her will and forced to play his pet. The Alpha is dark, possessive and cold, and Louisa doesn’t understand why he’s bent on keeping her by his side. When she finds out the truth; that’s she’s really his mate, and there’s never been a record of a human mate before… Louisa must decide between the desire to forge her own path and the attraction she feels towards the Alpha King. BOOK ONE OF THE FATED MATE SERIES

"Alam mo ikaw ha, masyado kang pala-desisyon. Buhay ko ito kaya huwag kang makialam lalo pa at wala naman ako’ng naging say sa love life mo,” naiinis na pahayag ko kay Franco. Naiinis kasi ito nang malaman na gusto ko ng magkaanak. Lagpas na ako sa kalendaryo at sa takot ko na mapag-iwanan ay ito ang naisip ko na solusyon. Wala sa vocabulary ko ang pag-aasawa dahil na rin sa naging karanasan ng nanay ko at sa nakikita ko sa paligid ko kaya nawalan na ako ng interes lalo na sa mga lalaki. Maraming nanliligaw subalit lahat sa akin ay red flags. Dagdagan pa nitong kaibigan ko na walang inaayawan basta naka-palda sa paningin nito lahat ay maganda. Mabait naman ito, matalino, responsable, masipag at madiskarte subalit sadyang palikero. “Ako ha, concern lang ako sa iyo. Huwag sanang masamain. Mamaya sa kagustuhan mo ay mapahamak ka pa.” Patuloy na litanya ni Franco sa akin. “Kaya nga bago pa mangyari iyon ay uunahan ko na. Hindi ako mai-inlove, hindi ako magiging martir at lalong hindi ko hahayaan na masaktan lang ako ng kagaya mo. Kaya nga anak lang ang gusto ko at iyon na ang pupuno sa pangarap ko. Hindi ako mag-aasawa at sakit lang iyan sa ulo,” masungit na sagot ko. “Ganun ba? Bakit ka pa maghahanap sa malayo at hindi mo kilala kung mayroon naman sa harapan mo? Ako na lang kaya, ano? Makakasiguro ka pa na galing sa magandang lahi at pamilya ang magiging anak mo,” tugon ni Franco. Napamaang ako sa naging sagot n’ya. Pwede kaya o baka magiging mitsa lang ito ng bagong kalbaryo sa buhay namin? Mas makapagpapatibay o makakasira kaya ito sa aming pagkakaibigan? Subalit hindi ko maiwasan kiligin at makadama ng challenge na baka ako lang pala ang makapagpapatino kay Franco.

For snacking in the office during overtime, I was fined 600,000 dollars by my manager! She was extremely furious as she pointed at me. “Taylor, don’t be so arrogant just because you’ve secured a deal! “You should be working in the office. Go home if you want to eat! “You’re violating company rules. No snacking during working hours! You should be punished since you’re aware of that rule! “You won’t be getting the 600,000-dollar commission from this deal!” I looked at her and said indifferently, “Suit yourself.” Then, I decided to slack. She could not stand it.

My name becomes the sensational topic on the trending list thanks to my company's employees, who have cyberbullied me relentlessly. It all started when an intern named Cecily Plinkton posted a complaint on her social media feed, claiming that the seafood thermidor, a new food item that had just gotten released in the company's cafeteria, was sold for 14 dollars, which was four dollars more expensive than before. "What a scum company! Are the higher-ups that crazy over money? They're just leeching from us white-collar peeps repeatedly!" The entire Internet doesn't hesitate to curse me out. They claim that I'm a cold-blooded capitalist who's greedy enough to charge her own employees for lunch. No one cares about the fact that I've been shelling out my own money in order to upgrade the cafeteria's food choices just so I could make the employees happier. Every day, they get to eat over hundreds of dishes to their fill for free. Every week, the expensive dishes, such as lobsters and crabs, are charged at the net price. Thanks to these free benefits, the administrative department has been suffering from almost a one-million-dollar loss every year. So, I announce that the food prices in the cafeteria will be changed to reflect the current market's prices. At the same time, I've fired the head chef and the kitchen staff and left the meal preparation to another company that produces instant meals. As soon as the announcement is made, the entire company goes into a frenzy. The employees all crowd outside my office while begging me to bring back the benefits with tears streaking down their cheeks.

Taken away as a captive in place of farm proceedings, Thalena’s life took a twirling turn as she experienced things she never dreamt of. From being disvirgined brutally to being mated to the twin Alphas. How would she handle the different feelings that would arise?

Akala ko tapos na ang gabi. Tahimik na ang buong bahay, pero hindi ang dibdib ko. Kagagaling lang namin sa isang party—hosted by his mother. Ang daming tao. Ang daming mata. Pero kahit na ipinakilala niya akong secretary lang, ramdam ko ang pag-aangkin sa bawat sulyap niya. Lalo na nang may lalaking lumapit sa akin. Lalo na nang ngumiti ako, kahit sandali. Doon ko siya nakita—yung paninigas ng panga, ang lalim ng tingin na parang babagsak ang langit. Kaya hindi na ako nagulat nang may kumatok. Malakas. Walang pasintabi. Pagbukas ko ng pinto, naroon siya. Si Cayden. Nakatayo sa dilim, may halong galit at silakbo sa mukha. Hindi siya nagsalita agad—dumiretso siya sa loob, isinara ang pinto, at hinila ako papunta sa kama. “Cayden, what are you—stop!” Nagpumiglas ako. Umiwas. Pero hinigpitan niya ang hawak sa braso ko. Lumuhod siya sa kama, pinilit akong mapahiga. At saka siya bumulong, malamig ang boses, pero parang nasusunog ako sa bawat salita. “Tonight, whether you like it or not… I’m going to claim you.” Nanlaki ang mata ko. Hindi ito tanong. Hindi ito pakiusap. Ito ang utos ng isang lalaking hindi kailanman tinanggihan. Hindi siya aalis. Hindi siya titigil. At ngayong gabi— Tatatakan niya ako ng pangalan niya. Kahit hindi ako handa.