Trapped

Chapter 3

I spent almost two weeks to learn the things around the company. My brothers have decided to make me a team leader of business development department because that will help me see the transactions inside the company. The most noticeable instance is the people around me move awkwardly everytime I am around. The previous team leader whom I replaced gave me a detailed orientation of the job and the people around me.

She worked in our company for 32 years, and that earned her so much respect from the employees. When she submitted her resignation letter to Eros, my team discussed about the farewell party for him at night. Even they asked me to go, I declined because that will put them in an awkward situation. I want to give them that last chance to spend time all together with their superior who has become a friend.

Being a sister of the owner has its perks and teething troubles. My team members give me utmost respect, but they never include me in group lunch or other activities. My intention was to be in their circle because I can see that they are funny and the harmony between them exceed my expectation.

There's only a man in my team who was brave enough to talk casually to me one Friday afternoon. He is an intern, and almost the same age as me.

"So why did you never had a serious relationship?" Bryan asked when I mentioned to him a little about my flings 3 years ago. We are in the lobby because I am waiting for the driver to prepare the car in front of the entrance of the building while he's waiting for the rain to stop, for he didn't bring any umbrella.

"It only hurts in the end to love seriously." His lips formed a shape 'O'. I am already grateful that someone reaches out. Afterall, my goal is to search for my meaning and position in this company, there is no even slight intention of causing mischief to anyone.

"So you have loved before. You won't be able to say that without experiencing it. How painful was it that you never dared to cross the line again?" He is good in assessment. Technically, I have never been in a serious relationship. The last time I checked, what I had with Alfonso was secret before I got betrayed.

"It was unworthy remembering, and I don't want to go around telling everyone about my tragic first love." I answered. His expression makes me want to laugh hard. He was carefully paying attention to everything that's coming out of my mouth.

"Really? The guy must be insane to give such romance. Every guy would wish a happy ending with a woman like you." His voice lowered when he delivered the last sentence. This is like talking to a new friend, but I will spare him the trouble of thinking about the mystery of fake marriage.

"If you are poetic as that, I might as well transfer you to other department. I don't deserve you in my..." He stood with a wide smile.

"Sorry, Ms. Westly. I got carried away for a moment. Please have a safe trip home." He walked fast in going out of the building. I didn't notice that the rain has stopped.

The HR Department made an announcement through memo that there will be a company outing a week from now. Everyone gets motivated to work because of that. When I asked Eros if he would go, he mentioned that he has to be in Singapore by that time, so he's leaving everything to Mr. Kier and me. There are around 800 employees in our main company, so outing will be done by department. Every Friday and Saturday, there will be 3 departments to enjoy a private resort in Tagaytay. We are scheduled to go in the first week with the Research and Development Department and HR Management Department.

That night, Liam went to my unit with a wine and chips. In the past few years, we became good friends, and I have to say that he was one of the reasons why I survived college. He motivated me to take academics seriously, and supported me to all my endeavors. The friendship between us cannot be compared to my friendship with Sceeya, Heirra and Zey because this one does not tolerate my incomeptence. He would always try to help me progress, and he never gave up on fixing me when I was broken from my first love.

"Don't you have part time job tomorrow?" I asked when he sat comfortably in the sofa after putting the bottle of wine and chips on the center table. He looks stressed about something.

"Is there something bothering you?" He sat straight before facing me. Those eyes give comfort more than anything in the world.

"I heard from Sceeya that you stayed in Ferrer's mansion last weekend after you got drunk. Did you have any encounter with Alfonso?" Here comes the interview session with him again. If he finds our about Alfonso, he will freak out and give a lecture to me again.

"Nothing like that happened. I just slept in the guest room and when I woke, I immediately texted the driver to pick me up." He nodded with one his brow raised. He's strict like that.

"Did you hear anything from Hailey? She's not answering my calls." His heavy sigh said enough to how stressed he is. He must have pushed some buttons to her girlfriend again. As a boyfriend, he is very understanding and responsible given that his girlfriend, Hailey, is so much younger than him. He's 32 years old and she's just turning 21 this year.

"No. What did you do?" His guilty smile flashed.

"I forgot that we're having dinner tonight. I was an hour and 30 minutes late, but she was still waiting for me. We had dinner, and the night went smooth. Now, she's giving me a cold treatment." No one would like to argue with him in public. He aspires to win every argument, so I understand Hailey a bit in that part.

"That's the second time this month. Make it up to her." His eyes look terrified. They were so in love and although they are keeping their relationship secret, I know that they are still having the best of it. Everyone around me has someone to fall with while I am here watching them and learning from them. A man should know a woman's worth to know how to love her. That's what he taught me.

"What should I do? Flowers? Long message?"

"She needs sincerity more than those. From how I observed her, she doesn't get swayed by your money and name, she is in love with your intelligence, passion in the things you do, maturity, kindness to everyone and also loyalty. Think about something that will remind her how important she is to you. Give her what she wants the most- assurance that you love her all the same as your lovely first days together." His jaw dropped.

"Wow!" He murmured seriously as he gave slow clap.

"Stop that, Liam. You are annoying me." He nodded while a sarcastic smile is displayed in his face.

"Thank you for that suggestion. I hope when the time comes that your boyfriend starts treating you s**t like how I have been treating Hailey in the past months, someone implies him that thought because you look like you will stay single all your life the next time your heart gets broken." And he isn't wrong with that.

After being alone for a long time, I am learning to settle with this set up after realizing that this is not so bad. I get to do the things I want without the frustration that someone will get mad. No one will cheat on me and no one will make me feel unimportant. I am receiving overflowing love from my family and friends. That is enough to live day by day.

"Open that wine before the mood here gets any sadder." He laughed and went to the kitchen to get the corkscrew. He's holding a gallon of ice cream when he returned.

"This is for you. No alcohol because you already had so much last week. Let's limit alcohol with two times a month. I heard you will go to an outing next week, so you will surely have alcohol there too. That will make it two for this month." I rolled my eyes when he placed the ice cream in front of me. He's so strict.

"Do you need help? Want me to text Hailey?" I asked when he sat beside me. He snorted before shaking his head. For that woman, he can be cute like this.

"She hates it when I use you to settle the things between us. Let me handle everything this time, Yllana." He fell so deep in love with that woman.

"Okay! But if you need any help, don't hesitate to ask me. She's a friend of mine afterall." Liam introduced me to her, and we usually hang out together with my friends.

That night was short. Our endless laughter and dramas will resume tomorrow because it is already dawn. A little tipsy, he left the unit at around 1 in the morning. He took the wine with him as it was a very expensive one. That man remains frugal over time.

I am already preparing to sleep when my phone vibrated in the side table. Who would text me at this hour?

'Is Liam still in your place at this hour?'

I sat straight in bed after reading the message from Eros. How did he know that my neighbor is here? He never texted me like this before, so this one is creepy. Is he watching over me? Is there a CCTV around here? Why do I feel like this isn't Eros?

With shaking hands, I typed my reply. Damn. I did so many crazy things here.

'He just left. How did you know?' He did not reply after that. A lot of things are playing in my mind because of that message.