Secretly Yours, Boss

Chapter 6

We had this small but oh-so-chic celebratory gathering for my second successful presentation — emphasis on successful, because honestly, it still feels surreal.

Noong una kong presentation, we didn't get the chance to celebrate at all dahil nagkaroon ng biglaang one-day Singapore business trip si Liam. You know, those last-minute CEO-type flights na parang scene sa isang prestige drama? So ngayon na lang siya nag-decide na gawin ang celebration.

And honestly? Nakaka-proud lang. Like, I didn't expect this much. I had zero expectations — no grand plans, no fantasies — sabi ko nga sa sarili ko before, I just wanted career growth. Just a quiet, steady climb. But now? This feels like more than I ever asked for.

We're at this exclusive bar just a few blocks from the office — the kind of place na walang signage sa labas, only a discreet brass plate by the door. Inside, it's all soft amber lighting, marble counters, and waiters in crisp white shirts. And get this: Liam actually rented the entire place out. For me.

Isipin mo 'yun — just because I closed a deal, he shut down an entire luxury bar? Hindi ito yung simpleng "Let's grab a drink" na after-work tambay. This is a production. This is an event.

Kanina pa lang, medyo nakapag-usap na rin kami ni Liam habang nasa sasakyan on the way here. And in that effortlessly composed, almost intimidating tone of his, he told me na that question during the presentation was purely to challenge me. According to him, the answer I gave was exactly the answer he wanted to hear.

Pero ang plot twist? Kahit daw hindi ko iyon masagot, he would have approved my presentation anyway.

And here's the kicker — I actually made him smile. Yes. I, the mere mortal, made Mr. Human Freaking Ring Light smile.

And it wasn't just any smile. No. This was the kind of smile na you see in the most high-end magazine spreads — the smile of an international luxury brand ambassador. The kind of smile na alam mong kailangan ng millions in advertising budget to capture. The kind of smile na rare, precious, and in his case... borderline mythical.

Pero sa akin? He gave it for free. No cameras. No contract. Just... a smile.

And like Shin said to me noong first day ko pa lang sa company, mahirap daw mapangiti si Liam — especially if he doesn't like your work.

But me? I just made the man smile.

And not just in passing — but in a way that made my pulse trip over itself, as if the whole evening suddenly shifted into slow motion.

"I just want to make a toast for Brix, for his second successful presentation. Congrats to you," Liam declared in that effortlessly charming yet commanding voice of his, raising his glass ever so slightly while locking eyes with me for a brief second. His champagne flute glistened under the dim golden lights of the lounge, and everyone around the table instinctively followed suit—lifting their drinks in unison, the subtle clink of crystal echoing in the air.

And just like that, we all toasted. My toast. My win. My moment.

I swear, I almost got teary-eyed right there—pero like, the good kind of tears, ha. The kind na parang finally, the universe is aligning for me. This... this is the dream I've been envisioning for myself ever since I started my career: a stable, high-paying company, a workload na hindi ka gagawing zombie, a ridiculously good-looking boss na parang kinuha sa Pinterest mood board, and a bestfriend who loves and supports me unconditionally. Aaahhh... this is it. This is the life.

Almost perfect. Almost.

And you know what's even better? Me and Mr. Human Ring Light himself—yes, my boss—are actually getting along now. Hindi ko pa masasabing super close kami, but we've graduated from awkward nods to occasional small talk. And honestly, that's already a milestone in my book. He's not actually the snobby, arrogant CEO stereotype I first imagined. He's more... reserved. Calculated in his every move. Rarely smiles, always serious. But I get it. I mean, if at 28 you already own your own empire, you'd probably carry yourself with that kind of gravitas too.

Of course, hindi ako marites ha—pero syempre, I did a little research on him. Google is free, my dear. And oh my gosh. This man is basically corporate royalty. His family isn't just part of the upper class—they are upper-upper society. The kind na hindi mo basta makikita strolling in the mall kasi they have people to do that for them. His dad? A hotelier tycoon. His mom? Former beauty queen turned actress turned business mogul. And he? The youngest among five equally successful siblings, each one running their own business empires.

So yeah, no wonder he's dead serious when it comes to work. The man was practically groomed for greatness since birth.

The night went on. Everyone else was laughing, mingling, dancing—meanwhile, I found myself in my own little corner, nursing my drink. Medyo quiet lang, letting the music and chatter fade into a soft hum in the background. And then it hit me—I missed my family. Like, really missed them. The last time I saw them was Christmas 2023. That's... what? A year and a half ago? I didn't even notice time flew by that fast.

Sure, we talk on the phone all the time, pero iba pa rin kapag nandyan sila physically—when you can actually hug them, smell their familiar scent, feel that warmth na walang kapalit.

"Why so quiet and alone?"

I nearly jumped out of my skin. Liam just appeared out of nowhere, sliding into the empty seat beside me like it was the most natural thing in the world.

Seriously? No warning? No footsteps? Parang may teleportation powers?

I immediately straightened up, smoothing my posture like I was in an etiquette class. "Just... missing my family," I replied softly, my voice trying to sound casual kahit medyo shaky sa loob.

He simply nodded, lifted his glass, and took a slow sip—his gaze still somehow lingering on me.

For a few minutes, we sat there in silence, watching our colleagues dance wildly to Warm by Ariana Grande. I swear, para akong estatwa—unsure if I should break the silence, unsure what to say, unsure if it's even my place to start a conversation with my boss in such a... off-duty setting. Because, come on—if talking to your boss in the office is intimidating enough, how much more in a setting like this?

My God.

And then... it happened.

Without a word, he reached out, gently took my hand, and before I even processed what was going on, I was already walking beside him—out of the bar, into the cool night air, and straight into his car.

He started driving. No explanation. No destination mentioned. Just the quiet hum of the engine and the soft city lights streaking past the windows. I sat there, equal parts confused and curious, my mind spinning with possibilities.

I didn't know where we were going. I didn't know what this was.

But honestly? It felt exactly like one of those scenes you see in movies—where the real story is just about to begin.

He slowly pulled the car to a stop, the soft hum of the engine fading into the night air. Before I could even reach for the door handle, nauna na siyang bumaba. I was about to follow when, to my surprise, he walked around and gently opened the passenger door for me.

Wow. Gentleman si Kuya. The kind na bihira mo na lang makita nowadays—lalo na in this generation. I gave him a small, genuine "Thank you" as I stepped out, my heels clicking softly against the pavement.

The moment I looked around, my eyes widened. The air felt lighter here. The city noise was gone, replaced by the distant hum of crickets and the cool rustle of leaves. I realized where we were—or at least I thought I did. Parang Antipolo. Infairness, how did we even get here in just, what, fifteen? Twenty minutes max? Then I remembered—yeah, he drives fast. Not recklessly fast, but the kind of controlled speed na alam mong may tiwala siya sa sarili niyang skills.

While I was still processing everything, my gaze drifted forward... and then it hit me. The view. The view.

The Manila skyline stretched endlessly before us, bathed in the soft glow of a thousand city lights. It looked like someone had spilled golden dust across a canvas of black velvet. And at night? Grabe, ibang klase. The kind of view that makes you fall in love with life all over again. Add to that the strong, crisp wind rushing past my skin—it made me instinctively wrap my arms around myself. My Nirvana shirt—na ginawa kong crop top because why not?—suddenly felt inadequate against the coolness of the evening air.

And then, out of nowhere, something warm and weighty draped across my shoulders. A coat. His coat. My fingers instinctively held it in place as if to lock in the warmth. I turned my head to look at him, but he wasn't looking at me—his gaze was fixed on the horizon, the city lights reflecting faintly in his eyes. There was the faintest curve of a smile on his lips.

I couldn't help but smile too. Slowly, I followed his gaze, letting my own eyes drink in the view he seemed so deeply connected to.

"When I feel like my head is about to explode because of work, I just go here to make myself feel better," he said quietly, almost like it was a confession meant for the wind.

I turned to look at him again. There was something different in his expression—something heavy yet quiet. May lungkot sa mga mata niya, a kind of sadness that doesn't shout but instead lingers, unspoken.

I wasn't used to seeing him like this.

"Are you okay, Liam?" The words slipped out before I could stop myself.

He glanced at me briefly, then gave a small, almost tired smile before walking back to his car. From the front seat, he took out a pack of cigarettes, tapped one out, and lit it with practiced ease. He took a slow drag, exhaled, and only then did he answer.

"I think so. Maybe I am... maybe I'm not." His voice was calm, but there was a weight behind it. He inhaled again, deeper this time, as if hoping the smoke could carry away whatever was on his mind.

I let out a sigh I didn't realize I was holding. Why am I even asking him this? He's my boss. I'm just his employee. There are lines here—boundaries I shouldn't be crossing.

And this—this moment, this night—shouldn't mean anything more than what it is. It's just him sharing his little escape space with me. Nothing more.

At least... that's what I keep telling myself.