Destroy Me, Oh Elena

Chapter 2

Natahimik ako ng ilang segundo.

"I'll think about it."

"What's there to think about? It's work and for work only. No side feelings included." He smirked.

"I'll ask my PR team first." Kinuha ko ang cellphone ko at tumalikod sa kaniya.

"Then perhaps, I should ask for your number na din?"

Why is he asking for my number? Hindi ba niya 'yon nakita sa acting portfolio ng mga cast? O talagang hindi siya interesadong mag-basa ng mga ganoong bagay?

"Hanapin mo na lang sa Acting Portfolio ko."

"That wasn't your number. I rang it yesterday. That was your number for work. I think I need the one that you always use, Elena."

"Why? Didn't you say that this 'dating' thing is work and for work only? Then perhaps, you don't need my personal number, yes, Pietro?" Humarap akong muli sa kaniya. I gave him a small smirk.

He smirked back. "Okay. If that's the one working for you. Okay, I'll be okay with that."

"Mauna na 'ko." I smiled cunningly before turning my back and walking away from him. That was one hell of a conversation.

Pagka-uwi ko ay agad akong dumiretso sa bathtub na inihanda ng katulong ko sa condo. Agad din naman akong nakatulog dahil sa pagod at puyat, dagdag pa si Pietro.

"Then, would you like to go on a date with me?"

Bakit ba kailangan ko pa 'tong gawin? Hindi pa ba sapat na tinanggap ko ang role na 'yon? Bakit naman pati personal na buhay ko ay kailangan pang maapektuhan?

Ano na lang ang sasabihin ni Jansen dito? Siguradong hindi papayag 'yon.

God, why do I have to date him? I don't even like him! He's the last person I would want to see and be with!

I also don't know why I hate him. I hope I would be enlightened someday about it because this isn't healthy anymore. It's making me become more stressed upon things. This project is by far the hardest one for me. Kaya ayoko sa mga love team. I hate love teams.

"You have a dinner with Sir Jansen at 8:00 PM. And tomorrow, you have a meeting with Ms. Grace at 10:00 AM. After lunch, you need to be on the studio with Sir Pietro for the Mega Magazine photoshoot-"

"What? That wasn't on the schedule before, am I right?" Kunot noo kong tanong sa personal assistant ko.

"Ah, yes po. Itinawag po sa'kin ito kanina ni Sir Melvin. Biglaan po raw." She answered.

"Can I decline?" I looked at her as if I'm a kid, desperately begging for a candy.

"I don't think so, Ma'am. Since PR team po ng Bright Cameras ang nag-ayos nito." She gave a pitiful look.

"Bakit ba kailangan ko pang makasama ang lalaking 'yon?" Pumikit ako ng mariin.

"Bakit naman, Ma'am? Hindi ba siya mabait sa personal? Mabaho ba?" Pang-uusisa pa niya.

"No. I just.... hate him. Kung nandoon ka lang kahapon, malalaman mo."

"E 'di ba pinaalis niyo ho ako para ayusin 'yung mga outfits niyo po? Sayang, 'di ko nakita si Sir Pietro. Ang pogi pa naman niya. Crush ko siya." Ngumiti pa ang personal assistant ko sa ere na para bang pinagpapantasyahan niya si Pietro.

"'Wag mo nang pangarapin pang makita ang lalaking 'yon. Baka 'pag nakasama mo siya, kainin mo lahat ng magagandang sinabi mo sa kaniya. Ha!" I rolled my eyes at her before slowly chuckling.

"Grabe ka naman, Madam. Siguro naman may tinatago ding bait 'yon sa katawan. Kailangan lang talagang makahanap ng katapat para mailabas."

"You know what? I don't care at all. Wala akong pake sa kaniya. Basta I'm doing my part in this project, so he should do his as well." I said that before standing up and heading to the shower.

Nag-shower lang ako ng ilang minuto bago ako dumiretso sa pagpili ng isusuot kong damit sa dinner namin ni Jansen. I have decided to wear a simple white tube jumpsuit before pairing it with my green stilettos. Sa condo lang din naman ni Jansen kami magdi-dinner dahil hindi kami pwede sa labas. Kaya simpleng damit at alahas na lang din ang isinuot ko. Hindi na ako nagdala ng damit dahil hindi ako pwedeng matulog doon ngayon. Marami akong appointments bukas.

"Shane! Come check my outfit!" After fixing my overall look, I called my personal assistant to check it out.

"That's good, Madam. I like it!" She said. I think I should give her a raise. She's a personal assistant s***h a stylist na e. Picking her has been a convenience for me.

"I'll just pick up my things and ready na ako umalis."

"Ma'am..." She called me while looking at her tablet. "Oh my God."

I turned my gaze into her before my phone rang. My manager is calling me.

[El! Where are you?] Melvin screamed.

"What? I'm at my condo malamang!" I screamed back.

[Well, you need to fix an outfit now. You're going on a date in 20 minutes]

"What? Anong date?" I was shocked. "Na-notify mo ba mga 'to about sa schedule ko today?" Inilayo ko ang phone bago ko tanungin si Shane.

"Yes, ma'am. Kahapon pa po ng umaga. Right after mag-sabi si Sir Jansen about the date."

"Eh anong trip ng mga 'to?" Pinandilatan ko siya ng mata. "Hello? Melvin? I'm unavailable right now. May pupuntahan ako!"

[No! You're going on a date with Pietro whether you like it or not! I'll send you the location, and be there in 20 minutes pronto!] He screamed like a witch before ending the call.

What the hell am I gonna do now? I have a dinner date with Jansen at 8:00 PM. 20 minutes from now! I can't ditch him for that guy! Oh my God. I feel like throwing up.

"I'm sorry ma'am, hindi na po ako nakapalag kay Sir Melvin. Sinabi ko naman po na may schedule na kayo with Sir Jansen, but he insisted po na sa date niyo ni Sir Pietro ikaw pumunta." Pagpapaliwanag ni Shane.

"It's fine." I was stumped by the situation. It's so hard to pick between personal life and my job. Why does this have to happen?

"Ano pong gagawin natin, Ma'am?"

I was silenced for a moment.

I cannot afford tarnishing my relationship with Jansen. He's all I have.

But I cannot ruin my career, too. I need to pick the latter.

"Call Jansen. I'll talk to him. If he didn't respond, tell him there's been an emergency. Tell him babawi ako." I told my Shane.

She rang Jansen's number three times but there's no response. I have decided to leave since it's nearly 8:00 PM. I need to be right on time. Baka kung ano pang sabihin ng lalaking 'yon sa'kin.

"I'm gonna go. If ever mag-reply siya, alam mo na ang sasabihin." I gave her a nod before leaving my condo.

Nakatulala lamang ako sa loob ng kotse habang nag-iisip kung paano ako mag-papaliwanag kay Jansen kung bakit hindi ako naka-sipot sa dinner.

Ayaw niya pa naman ng hindi sinisipot dahil ayaw niyang nagmu-mukha siyang tanga. Hindi ko naman ginusto ito. Talagang kailangan ko lang gawin para sa career ko.

Dumating ako sa restaurant ng saktong 8:00 PM. Walang masyadong tao dito. My live string quartet na tumutugtog. Sinalubong naman agad ako ng waiter na iginiya ako sa aming table. My laman na ang isang baso ng wine. Malamang ay nandito na siya.

"Table's turned, huh? You're a bit late, Elena." Napairap na lang ako ng marinig ko ang boses na iyon.

"Hindi ako late. Maaga lang ang dating mo."

"My bad." He smirked before sitting on the opposite side of me.

"When you asked me for a date, I didn't know you were that serious?"

"Well, now you know that I am." He gave that smirk again.