The Love Affair

Chapter 1

Chapter 1

"This is a women empowerment themed magazine, so I think it is much better if you'll have more women models for it." Mr. Finneld said, after hearing Mr. Guzman's statement.

Nasa loob na kami ng opisina nito. He's sitting on a single sofa, while me and Mr. Guzman are sitting on the long couch—having a bit of a distance from each other.

"Well, we already talked about us but based on the boards decision, Ms. Fajardo alone can pull-off the shoot. And I also agree with them." Mr. Guzman replied, before taking a glance at me once again. He's still smiling with his eyes while looking at me. "We studied how Ms. Fajardo do her job and we are persuaded by it. We, in DHZ trust her on this project. I know she can handle this very well." wika nito habang titig na titig sa akin.

Okaaaaay. Uhm, kanina medyo kinikilig pa ako sa titig at ngiti nya, but now...medyo naki-cringeyhan na ako.

Geez.

"If that's the case, I'll talk with my team regarding this matter. I can't just decide alone. I need their opinion about it," Mr. Finneld said before looking at me for a second then stand. "I'll give you an answer maybe after a few days." He added before straightening his arm, offering a hand shake with Mr. Guzman.

Mr. Guzman also stand straight and accepted the offer. "Thank you, and I am already expecting a yes on this. Nakausap ko naman na ang manager ni Ms. Fajardo and he said yes to me already," he informed that made my eyes widened. Ferdz talaga! Oo na lang ng oo sa kung anu-anong project. Aish.

With my widened eyes, I saw how Mr. Finneld's brows curled and even met due to irritation then he took a glanced on me. Matalas at suplado ang uri ng tingin na ipinukol nito sa akin.

"I didn't know anything about this yet they already agreed on your offer...that's interesting but a very disrespectful actions from my staffs." saad nito habang nananatili ang tingin sa akin. Marahan akong umiling-iling.

"I—also didn't know about this until earlier, Mr. Finneld. Nalaman ko lang ang tungk—"

"Anyway, just like what I said the answer that matters is my answer and the boards decision. For now, thank you for the offer and the effort to have a talk with us. My secretary will send you outside." Mr. Finneld's tone is full of dismissal, kaya wala na 'ring nagawa si Mr. Guzman kung hindi ang tumango bago ako ginawaran ng huling tingin na may kasamang ngiti hanggang sa tuluyan na itong sunduin ng secretary ni Mr. Finneld.

When the two left, Mr. Finneld immediately scanned the files above his office table with a serious and very intimidating aura he is known for. Magkasalubong ang kilay, umiigting na panga, at seryosong mga mata. Kapag ganyan na sya ay kulang na lang na hindi na huminga ang mga nakapaligid sa kanya dahil sa takot na baka ma-disturbo ang binata, pero ako...hindi ko alam ngunit mas lumalalim ang paghanga ko sa kanya sa tuwing ganoon sya.

"Aren't you gonna leave?" Matabang nitong tanong na nagpagising muli ng diwa ko. Hindi ko napansin na nakatulala na pala ako sa boss ko. Nakakahiya!

I gulped and inhaled. Ayoko 'pang umalis kaya chi-chikahin ko muna sya.

"I stayed because I want to explain my side. Totoo namang wala akong alam tungkol sa offer ng DHZ. Kanina lang sinabi sakin ni Ferdz ang tungkol duon." panimula ko.

I saw his jaw tightened accompanied by a deep gulp. "I'm not asking. You can leave," he said in a coldest tone possible. Para 'bang -100© na ang temperature dito sa office nya dahil na rin sa cold 'nyang treatment. Grabehan din itong boss namin. Napaka-sungit!

Kaya walang nagiging girlfriend, e. Pero mabuti na rin at ganyan sya, atleast hindi committed. May chance pa ako!

"Pero seryoso ako Mr. Finneld! Wala akong alam sa offer ng DHZ. Hindi ko rin alam na um-oo na si Ferdz sa offer nila before even telling me about it." I told with a bit of persuasion in my voice. Totoo naman kasi iyon. Pashnea'ng Ferdz! Mukhang pag-iinitan pa ata ako ni Mr. Finneld dahil sa kanya!

Mr. Finneld dropped the documents he was holding before lifting his gaze at me. Walang pagbabago, magkasalubong pa rin ang kilay nito at matalim ang mga matang nakatanaw sa akin. "Really, Ms. Fajardo? Accepting bribes while doing shoots?" Anito na nagpalalim ng gatla sa aking noo.

"Bribes? What do you mean by that?" I asked.

Mr. Finneld laugh sarcastically. "Playing innocent, huh?"

"I'm not playing innocent! I just don't really know what you're talking about!" I replied.

"Those flowers? In front of the whole crew. Ano na lang ang iisipin ng ibang nakakita? They'll think that Mr. Guzman will just hire you as their model because he's interested on you,"

"Accepting flowers from those type of people is a normal thing in this business and work, right Mr. Finneld? I've been receiving a lot from then on, anong kaibahan niyon ngayon? Some even sent me a dinner invitation before." I honestly said.

"And just like what you did earlier, you also accepted those?" Malamig pa rin nitong tanong.

"Of course I didn't! Maybe Ferdz accepted those, but not me."

"Maybe I should replace Ferdz in being your manager. He's not honest about work," wika nito. Nakatanaw pa rin sa akin ang binata kaya't hindi ko mapigilang labanan ang tingin nito. Bukod sa nakaka-akit naman talaga ang mga mata nya, jusko sis ang pogi pogi naman kasi talaga! Ang sarap—titigan! Sheez.

"Can I call you other names? Not Mr. Finneld? I mean, it sounds so old. Its not suited for a manly bachelor like you." Hindi ko alam kung saan ko nakuha ang lakas ng loob na sabihin iyon ng diretsuhan sa kanya, basta na lamang iyong lumabas sa bibig ko at wala na akong ibang magagawa pa kung hindi ang panagutan iyon.

His curled brows curled even more. "What did you say?"

"Sabi ko hindi bagay sayo ang Mr. Finneld. Pag naririnig ko 'yon noon, akala ko matandang byudo ka na." Sagot ko.

"What the fvck are you saying? Nakalimutan mo na ba kung sino ako?" Bakas na ang inis sa tinig nito.

"Nope. Boss ka namin. Ikaw si Rencis Finneld Delos Santos. 30 years old. Single. Mayaman. Malakas ang s*x appeal. May six packs abs. May kissable pink lips. Hard jawline with a little mustache. Muscles on the right places, and may mga matang tunay na nakaka-akit at ngiting nakaka-bighani." I said straightly, then I smiled. "Malabong makalimutan ko kung sino ka."

The irritation he's having turned double after hearing all of my words. Napa-hingang malalim pa ito.

Self, ano 'bang mga sinabi mo?!

"Can you just leave my office and do what you need to do." He said, urging me to leave. Napatikhim naman ako dahil parang mas lalo ko pa nga atang nainis ang lalaki. Sheda naman. Bat ba ganito kalakas loob ko ngayon? Dati naman hindi ako maka-basag pinggan.

"O—okay po." Sagot ko na lamang bago tuluyang nagsimulang lumakad palayo sa office nito, nang mahagip ng mata ko ang isang kulay rosas na sobre sa ibabaw ng mesa ng lalaki, medyo natatakpan ng ilan niyang dokumento. Hindi ko naman sana ito pagbibigyan ng pinsan nang mahagip ng mata ko ang pangalan ko na nakasulat duon.

Shantal Avery Fajardo.

"That's me!" I said and immediately get closer to it and took it away. Halatang nagulat si Mr. Finneld dahil mabilis itong nag-angat ng tingin at napatayo ng makitang hawak ko ang kulay rosas na sobre.

"Give me that." Anito bago sinimulang agawin sa akin ang sobre. Pero dahil makulit ako ay itinakbo ko iyon sa may sulok ng office nya.

"Why didn't you gave this to me? Sa akin naka-address ang letter!" I informed him.

"Give me that, Ms. Fajardo!" He said, running after me.

"Nope. This is mine! I should read what's inside!" Wika ko habang binubuksan ang sobre habang papalapit sa may sulok, nang may mga brasong pumulupot sa bewang ko at isinandal ako sa pader. Natagpuan ko na lamang na nasa harapan ko na si Mr. Finneld habang seryoso ang tingin sa akin. Ang sobre naman ay hawak ng dalawang kamay ko na kasalukuyang nasa aking likuran. Itinatago mula sa binata.

"Give that to me." mababang wika niya.

Umiling ako. "No. This is mine. I should be the one keeping this. Kanino ba iyon galing?"

"Ms. Fajardo, give that damn letter to me!" Madiin na niyang saad.

"Ayoko."

His jawline moved. "I'll count from 1 to 3. Pag hindi mo pa yan binigay, lagot ka sakin." pagbabanta nito, na imbes na ika-inis ko ay mukhang kinikilig at na-excite pa ata ako. Ano naman kayang gagawin nya pag umabot na ng tatlo ang bilang nya?

Hahalikan nya kaya ako? Hihi. Exciting~

"Isa..." He started counting.

I gulped while blinking. Walang balak na isuko ang letter sa kanya. Habang tumatagal ay mas tumatalim ang tingin nito. Hindi yata napapansin ang maliit na distansyang natitira sa pagitan naming dalawa.

"Dalawa..." He continued.

Muli akong humugot ng hininga habang nakikipag-laban pa rin ng titigan sa kanya. Shet. Feeling ko pinagpapawisan na ang anit ko dahil sa halu-halong emosyon na nararamdaman ko! Oh shittt!

"Tat—"

"Kiss me first then I'll give it!" I blurted out of nowhere. Gulat. Iyan ang naging reaksyon ko pagkatapos 'kong sabihin iyon, habang si Mr. Finneld naman ay halatang nanlaki ang mata matapos maintindihan ang winika ko. Grabehan ang lakas ng loob, Avery! Saan mo ba nakuha 'yan?!

I cleared my throat to start explaining but then Mr. Finneld's next action prohibit me from talking.

...because he just prevented me to talk using his own lips.