A Billionaire's Lust Obsession

Chapter 1: The Day He Walked In

ZERI’S POV

PAGBUKAS na pagbukas pa lang ng elevator ay unti-unti nang nanahimik ang buong floor.

Every head in the hallway turned toward me. Conversations stopped. Even the keyboards fell quiet.

Good.

I stepped out to that elevator, my heels clicking against the marble floor— steady, unhurried, deliberate.

Hindi ko na kailangan magsalita para lang malaman nila na wala ako sa mood for any mistakes today. My presence did all the talking. Kaya nga pati yata paghinga nila ay ayaw nilang iparinig sa ‘kin.

“Good morning, Ms. Montealegre,” someone greeted me, at halos pabulong lang ‘yon. They know I hate loud voices.

I didn’t reply. I didn’t even look at her. The silence was my language, and everyone in this building knew how to read it.

Instead, I scanned the room, every desk, every station, every face—I wanted them to know exactly who they were working for.

The MONTE. Atelier — this is my company, my empire, my rules.

Natigilan ako nang mapadaan ako sa design department. There’s a stack of messy drafts that caught my eye. Kumuha ako ng isang papel na nando’n.

“What is this?”

She froze. “I—I’m still finalizing it, ma’am.”

“Then why is it on your table?” seryosong tanong ko at ibinaba ko ulit ang papel na hawak ko sa harap niya. “Nagsasayang ka ba ng resources? You all know I don’t look at drafts. I want final results — printed and presented.”

“S–sorry po, ma’am. I’ll fix it right away.”

“Make sure you do.” I gave her one last look before walking away. Hindi ko kailangang sumigaw para matakot sila. One sentence from me was enough to ruin their whole day.

“Ah, Ma’am Zeri,” habol ni Sienna sa ‘kin, ang ever-reliable kong assistant, hawak niya ang tablet niya. “You have a meeting at ten,” sabi niya and so I nodded. “And tumatawag po ulit si Mr. Arevalo. He said it’s really urgent.”

“Then, tell him I’m busy,” walang ganang sagot ko. I know him. It’s not about business.

“Pero, ma’am—”

I stopped walking and looked at her. “Sienna.”

Tumango siya agad. “Got it, ma’am.”

Pagpasok ko sa opisina ko, isinara ko agad ang pinto. The noise from outside faded instantly.

Finally, peace — or something that resembled it. Ewan ko ba, tulad ba ng sinasabi nila nang dahil sa edad ko kaya ang bilis ko nang mairita sa mga ingay.

Lumakad ako papuntang table ko at nilapag ko ang bag ko ro’n. Tinanggal ko ang coat ko at tumingin sa glass wall na tanaw ang city skyline.

The city outside looked calm—so different from what’s inside me. I sighed and walked toward my swivel chair. I sat down, grabbed my phone, and started browsing on Inspyr. Ito na lang yata ang social life ko, ang mag-browse sa social media accounts ko.

I leaned my head back — and everything stopped for a moment nang makita ko ang pangalan niya sa news feed ko. I smiled sarcastically nang mabasa ko ang caption niya: She said yes, and somehow, the world finally made sense.

It was the same pain — the one I thought I’d left behind two years ago. At ngayon ‘yong tanong ko na ‘bakit’ sa sarili ko hindi ko pa rin masagot-sagot hanggang ngayon.

I still remember everything. How could I forget? That day was my most unforgettable nightmare —the day I learned to live without needing anyone. It was the day that destroyed everything… and built this version of me.

The intercom buzzed, breaking my thoughts.

“Ma’am,” si Sienna. “There’s a new applicant for the marketing position. Should I ask him to wait?”

“What’s his name?”

“Dreyden Celestial.”

For some reason, napahinto ako. I don’t know why — maybe it was his name, or maybe I was just tired.

“Send him in,” sabi ko, finally turning my phone away.

I heard the door open, and the sound of his footsteps—quiet but deliberate—made me look up.

The light from the large window hit him, playing across his hair and shoulders. A faint hint of cologne drifted in the air—subtle, but enough to catch my attention.

And that’s when I saw him—tall, calm, at sobra yung confidence niya for someone applying for a job. Bakit parang overqualified siya as marketing staff?

He looked straight at me, without hesitation.

“Good morning, Ms. Montealegre,” he said, his voice steady. “I’m Dreyden Celestial — but you can just call me Drey. I’m applying for the position today.”

I met his gaze, curious despite myself.

I motioned for him to sit. “Have a seat, Mr. Celestial. We’re not close enough for me to call you by your nickname.” Napangiti siya. Yes, ngumiti siya. At ang lakas ng loob niya para gawin sa harap ko ‘yon. “Is something funny?”

“No, Ms. Montealegre. I just realized you were right — we’re not in the right place to be calling each other by our nicknames. Still, thank you for offering me a seat,” sagot naman niya. Calm pero may confidence na hindi ko madalas makita sa mga applicant.

He sat across me, shoulders straight, eyes steady.

“So,” I started, flipping through his résumé. “You worked for Lucent Media before?”

“Yes, ma’am. As senior marketing strategist for three years.”

“Three years,” I repeated, scanning the page. “And why did you leave?”

He hesitated for half a second, then smiled — konti lang, pero sapat para mapansin ko.

“Because I didn’t want to sell lies anymore.”

Napatingin ako sa kaniya. “Excuse me?”

“I wanted to work for a brand that actually stands for something,” sabi niya, diretso pa rin ang tingin sa ‘kin. “Not one that builds illusions.”

That was bold. Most applicants would flatter me, promise loyalty, or exaggerate achievements.

But this one—he challenged the conversation without even trying.

“Interesting answer,” I said, closing the folder. “But this company builds perfection, Mr. Celestial. And perfection is often… an illusion.”

He leaned slightly forward. “Then maybe that’s what makes it dangerous, Ms. Montealegre.”

I froze. Not because of what he said — but because of how he said it. Calm. Controlled. Like he knew something about me that he shouldn’t.

“Do you always talk to your potential boss like this?” tanong ko, raising a brow.

“Only when the truth fits the question,” he replied.

I stared at him, unblinking.

For the first time in a long time, someone didn’t flinch under my gaze. And I hated that it intrigued me.

“Confidence can be a strength, Mr. Celestial,” sabi ko sa malamig na tono, “but it can also be your downfall.”

“Noted, ma’am,” he said simply, with that same small smile that felt like both a challenge and a promise.

Tahimik ulit. The kind of silence that stretches — not awkward, but electric.

I broke it first. “You’ll hear from HR by tomorrow, but you can also go to them if you want to ask about further arrangements,” I said, standing up.

He stood too, buttoning his coat. “Thank you for your time, Ms. Montealegre.” And before leaving, he met my eyes again. “It’s an honor to finally meet the woman everyone’s afraid of.”

Then he walked out, leaving that line hanging like perfume in the air — faint, but impossible to ignore.

Pagkaalis niya, I exhaled slowly. Bakit parang matagal ko nang kilala ‘yong boses niya?

Bakit parang may bigat sa bawat tingin niya — as if he’s seen a part of me I’ve been trying to bury?

For the first time in years, my silence didn’t feel peaceful. It felt… loud.