Secretly Yours, Boss

Chapter 4

"Liam?" halos pabulong kong sambit, pero sapat pa rin para marinig ng universe — o at least ng sarili kong puso na biglang kumabog nang hindi inaasahan. The name felt foreign yet intimate on my tongue, like a secret I shouldn't have said out loud.

He had appeared — quite literally materialized — sa likod mismo ng guy na kanina lang ay nagsasalita sa harap namin. The lighting in this part of the bar was dim, almost conspiratorial, but no amount of shadows could ever disguise him. I knew that silhouette too well. That broad-shouldered, athletic-but-not-trying-too-hard frame. The subtly confident way he carried himself, as if every step had already been choreographed by fate.

I mean, come on — I've studied his physique more than I'd care to admit. Guilty as charged. All those perfectly lit, strategically casual topless photos on his IG? Yes, I saved them. Every. Single. One. Judge me all you want, but if you saw him the way I do, you'd probably have an entire "Liam Mood Board" in your phone, too.

But seriously, bakit dito? Of all places, sa bar pa talaga? Hindi man lang sa Japanese resto na kinainan namin ni Trish kanina, where the most dramatic twist we could've gotten was an overcooked wagyu skewer. No, apparently the universe decided it needed better cinematic tension, hence... this moment.

Now, I'm caught in this impossible dilemma: should I pretend not to recognize him, or should I own the fact that I do — all too well? But let's be honest, denial is pointless. We're literally within the same sofa circle, barely a meter apart. If he decides to approach, there's nowhere to hide. Then again, would he? Would he even bother speaking to me — his newly minted colleague who just happens to have fantasized about him from afar?

"Ah, okay lang ba?" the original guy asked again, pulling me back into the present. I blinked, realizing I had completely zoned out. Without thinking, I nodded quickly — the words I had prepared moments ago evaporating like mist, stolen by Liam's sudden and almost cinematic entrance.

And then it happened. Liam moved closer, almost languidly, until he was seated beside his group... directly across from me. His gaze locked on mine, unwavering. No polite glance, no casual scanning of the room. Just... straight, unblinking eye contact. As if he was reading every single thought I've had about him — and there were many.

I could almost hear Trish's voice through the muffled thump of the bass-heavy playlist. "Be, bakit hindi ka mapakali diyan?" she finally asked, her tone halfway between amusement and concern. And she was right — I didn't know where to look. My hands fidgeted with my glass, my eyes darting anywhere except directly into Liam's. But deep down, I knew. He recognized me.

Unable to resist, I leaned in toward Trish and murmured, "Be... nasa table natin 'yung magiging boss mo."

Her eyes widened, then her hand flew to her mouth in shock. The gesture was so theatrical it could've been captured for a lifestyle spread. But, like true socialites trained in the fine art of understatement, we composed ourselves instantly, adopting an air of it's-not-a-big-deal.

Except, of course, it was a big deal.

Because in that moment, beneath the hum of conversation and the clinking of glasses, one unspoken question was hanging in the air between us and Liam — What if this changes everything?

~~~~

While The Boy Is Mine from Ariana Grande's Eternal Sunshine album was seductively spilling from the club's premium sound system — that kind of bass na ramdam mo sa dibdib mo, with just the right reverb para maramdaman mong parang soundtrack ng sarili mong movie — I found myself in a situation I wasn't exactly prepared for.

The group of boys na kanina lang ay casually nakatambay sa sofa with us — you know, the type na parang straight out of a Tatler polo match feature — had now migrated to the dance floor. And, of course, kasama si Trish, swaying under the dim, moody lights, her champagne flute already replaced by a glowing cocktail that matched her dress.

And just like that, Liam and I were left... alone.

We were seated in opposite sofas, this gorgeous low-lit table between us, littered with crystal glasses, half-melted ice, and that faint aroma of expensive gin. Both of us drinking. Both of us silent. Both clearly aware of the situation but pretending otherwise.

No one dared to break the ice at first. Certainly not me. Alam mo 'yung feeling na kahit ang dami mong gustong sabihin, parang your vocal cords suddenly took a vow of silence? That was me. The shyness wasn't cute anymore — it was borderline criminal.

Finally, his voice cut through the soundscape. "Didn't know that you're a party goer?"

Just like that, my pulse spiked. Of course, it had to be him starting the conversation. The irony wasn't lost on me — I'm normally madaldal, the type na kayang magbenta ng refrigerator sa isang eskimo, pero pagdating sa harap niya? Wala. Not a single coherent word in sight.

Because Ariana was still belting in the background like she personally wrote the song for my love life, I pretended not to hear him. Classic stalling tactic. "Anong sabi mo?" I asked, feigning innocent confusion while my heart was doing a full choreography in my chest.

He exhaled, slow and deliberate. That kind of sigh na alam mong may kasamang Really? energy. It looked like he was debating whether it was worth repeating himself, but in the end, he did. And then — in one smooth, almost lazy motion — he stood and crossed the small space between us.

Before I could even process, he was there.

Beside me.

Not even a full arm's length away.

I froze. It wasn't just proximity — it was the weight of his presence. That kind of gravitational pull you only read about in Vogue Philippines profiles of men described as "dangerously magnetic."

And then came the scent. My God, the scent. I knew it instantly. That unmistakable, clean-but-intoxicating profile of Versace Eros Flame — rich, spicy, masculine. The last time I smelled it was years ago, on my ex. And just like that, memories came flooding back — champagne toasts, Sunday brunches in Makati penthouses, late-night drives along the Skyway. Except this time, those memories were wearing Liam's face.

I took a discreet breath, composing myself. I refused to give him the satisfaction of seeing me rattled. I had mastered the art of the poker face — years of social events and polite small talk had trained me well.

After all, sino ba namang may crush ang basta-basta aamin? Certainly not me.

Tumingin ako sa kanya — pero hindi basta tingin. This was the look. 'Yung klaseng tingin na curated, calculated, parang fine jewelry displayed under the perfect lighting: beautiful, but untouchable. A look na hindi niya mahuhuli na sobrang gusto ko siya. More of, I'm just your employee, and you're my boss kind of gaze. A gaze na may subtle boundary line na hindi pwedeng tawirin.

I let a small, almost effortless smile play on my lips, the kind of smile na puwedeng i-interpret as friendly, or just polite. Then, in the most casual tone I could muster — as if I wasn't currently sitting opposite the man who could singlehandedly unravel my composure — I answered his question.

"Minsan lang. Not really that much like the other Gen Z na parang every Saturday ay nasa mga pub or clubs. Ako kasi, I just hanged out here with my friend tonight to celebrate my first ever presentation."

It was the truth. Plain and simple. Wala naman talagang rason para mag-imbento pa ako sa kanya. My feelings, yes — iyon lang ang tinatago ko. But the rest? Walang filter.

He nodded, that subtle tilt of the head that felt almost approving. His eyes, however, were a different story — there was a glint there, as if my answer amused him more than I intended.

"Nice," he said after a pause. Then, almost too casually, he added, "But you can still make it more true."

Before I could even process the weight of that statement, he was already sliding away, reclaiming his earlier spot just as the boys and Trish returned from the dance floor — all glitter, perfume, and champagne laughter.

Ako naman, naiwan na parang slow motion ang lahat. I could literally feel my jaw drop, like I was physically trying to calculate his words in my head.

Ha? Ano raw?

Make it more true? E, iyon na nga 'yung truth! I was here because I wanted to celebrate a small win — the fact that I had presented in front of him and actually survived it without combusting. Wala nang ibang dahilan. Well... wala namang dapat.

I glanced at him, and there he was — already looking at me, but in that maddening way of his. The kind of gaze na hindi confrontational, pero alam mong may tinatago. A gaze na parang sinasabi, I know something you don't... and I'm not telling until you figure it out yourself.

Gosh. He was so unpredictable.

In all the men I've met — from trust fund babies at charity galas to the kind of high-powered execs na sanay sa boardrooms and yachts — siya lang ang ganito. Hindi mo mababasa. Hindi mo masusukat. Parang he exists outside the usual male archetypes na nakasanayan ko.

And yes, I know. He's straight. And I know — or at least I keep telling myself — na baka wala naman akong chance sa kanya. But is it really too much to hope for a sliver of possibility? Kahit katiting lang?

The problem is... it's hard to hope for something when you can't even read the person in front of you.

Being around him feels like trying to piece together a thousand-piece puzzle with no starting point, no picture on the box, and half the pieces missing. It's maddening.

Tangina.

Am I... actually falling for my boss?

This was supposed to be a harmless crush. A little thrill to make the workdays less dull. But now? Now it feels like I've walked straight into the kind of plot twist you only read about in glossy society magazine features — except this one, I can't skip to the end to find out if we end up together.

On X: he's so unpredictable.