First Temptation: The Billionaire's Game

CHAPTER 12

“Lift your chin, Cassie. Ganda! Now look down a bit, pero ‘wag mawala yung eye contact sa camera. Fierce but soft, babe.”

Hawak ko lang ay confidence na pinilit kong buuin.

Yung robe na suot ko?

Champagne silk, manipis, halos parang second skin.

Yung lace underneath?

Barely there.

Yung kaba ko?

Grabe. But I pushed through it.

Because this time, I wasn’t doing it to please anyone.

Not my mom.

Not my dad.

Not even Xan.

I was doing it for me.

Click.

Click-click.

“Turn ka a little to the left. Haaaay, YES. Ang lakas mo, Cassie. Parang sinasabi mong—‘I know exactly what I’m worth.’”

I smiled. Not the fake one na pang-event.

This one was real.

This was power.

Every pose, every tilt ng ulo, every hawak sa laylayan ng robe, deliberate.

Kontrolado.

Hindi ako helpless.

Hindi ako ‘yung brat na spoiled.

I was becoming the woman I always knew I could be—if they just let me breathe.

Tumingin ako saglit sa gilid ng studio room.

And there he was.

Xan.

Tahimik.

Nakatayo sa doorway, all in black, isang kamay nasa bulsa, the other holding a lowball glass with something dark in it.

Hindi siya kumurap.

Hindi rin ako.

Hindi ko alam kung gusto ko siyang paalisin…

or kung gusto ko siyang mas lalong panoorin ako.

My lips parted a bit, eyes steady.

Tinaggal ko ng konti ‘yung tali sa robe.

Hinayaan kong bumuka ng kaunti sa harap.

Not obscene.

Just enough to make him burn.

And from the way his jaw tensed?

Nasunog na nga siya.

“Cassie!” sigaw ni Monique, unaware sa nuclear-level tension. “That shot? That’s it! Pang-magazine cover! Grabe ka!”

I let out a soft laugh.

Pero hindi ko inalis ang tingin ko kay Xan.

Because right now, with every click of the camera…

I wasn’t just reclaiming my body.

I was reclaiming control.

At sa paraan ng pagtitig niya sakin?

Alam niyang hindi na ako ‘yung batang Cassie.

I was the storm he tried to contain.

Pagkatapos ng shoot, naiwan akong mag-isa sa studio.

Tahimik na.

Wala na si Monique.

Wala na rin si Xan.

But his gaze?

Ramdam ko pa rin.

Tumayo ako sa harap ng full-length mirror.

I was still wearing the silk robe—maluwag na nakabukas sa harap, revealing the delicate lace beneath.

Dati, ‘pag tinitingnan ko ‘yung sarili ko, parang laging may kulang.

Parang ang daming dapat itago.

Dapat refined.

Dapat conservative.

Dapat perfect.

But tonight?

Tonight I looked at myself and saw…

A woman.

Not a daughter.

Not a political image.

Not a symbol.

Just me.

And I was beautiful.

Not because someone told me.

Not because a man looked at me with fire in his eyes.

But because I finally believed it.

I traced my fingers lightly over my collarbone, then down the curve of my waist.

Hindi ito tungkol sa kung ano ang suot ko.

It was how I wore it.

It was how I stood.

It was how I felt.

Confident. Powerful. Desirable.

And the craziest part?

It didn’t scare me anymore.

It thrilled me.

My phone wasn’t with me—Daddy still had it.

But I didn’t need anyone’s validation tonight.

Not even Xan’s.

I looked at my reflection one last time and whispered—

“You’re not afraid anymore, Cassie. You’re becoming her.”

The girl I kept locked behind walls.

The girl they tried to control.

She was finally stepping out.

Tahimik ang buong mansion.

Yung tipong naririnig mo na ‘yung pag-tick ng grandfather clock sa hallway kahit tatlong pinto pa ang layo.

Yung katahimikan na hindi lang basta walang tunog—yung klase ng katahimikan na para bang may tinatago.

Pero ang puso ko?

Hindi tahimik.

Tumitibok siya nang mabilis. Malakas. Mabigat. Para bang sinusubukan niyang makatakas sa dibdib ko, mauna sa’kin, at mauna sa kwarto niya.

Bumalik ka kapag sigurado ka na.

Yun ang sinabi niya.

At ngayon?

Hindi ko alam kung ito ba ‘yung sigurado. O kung ito lang ‘yung pagod na kong magpigil.

Nakahinto ako sa tapat ng pinto niya.

Walang katok.

Walang tanong.

Walang rehearsal.

I turned the knob.

And walked in.

Dim lang ang ilaw. Isang reading lamp lang ang nakabukas sa sulok, malapit sa couch kung saan siya nakaupo—nakarelax ang postura, pero tensyonado ang mga mata nang makita niya ako.

Naka-tablet siya. Baka nagbabasa ng report o may tinatapos na trabaho.

Pero itinigil niya iyon the moment I stepped inside.

Hindi siya kumibo.

Hindi ako nagsalita.

Pero ramdam ko ang pagitan naming dalawa na unti-unting umiinit. Nagkakaroon ng sariling pulso.

Alam kong nakita niya ang lahat sa isang sulyap:

Yung silk robe na siya mismo ang nagbigay, loosely tied sa baywang ko.

Yung bare feet ko na walang intensyong lumabas ng kwarto.

Yung lips kong hindi na nanginginig sa kaba—pero nanginginig sa gusto.

At ‘yung mga mata kong pagod nang itago ang totoo.

Dahan-dahan akong lumapit, bawat hakbang parang mas binubura ang distansya, hindi lang ng katawan—pero ng galit, ng takot, ng pagtatago.

“Cassie…” mahina ang boses niya. May panginginig. May babala.

Pero hindi ako tumigil.

“Sinabi mong bumalik ako kapag sigurado na ako,” I said softly, but clearly.

Tumayo siya mula sa couch. Matangkad. Malapit. Mainit. Lasing sa tension pero pilit panatag.

He looked down at me like I was fire wrapped in velvet. Beautiful. Dangerous.

“Sigurado ka na ba?” tanong niya, boses niyang mababa, parang may sariling gravity.

Huminga ako nang malalim, pilit pinapanatili ang lakas ng loob ko kahit parang mabubuwag na ang tuhod ko.

“Hindi ko alam kung ano ang ‘ready’ para sa’yo, Xan,” I whispered. “Pero alam kong gusto kita. Gusto kong totoo ‘to.”

Hinawakan ko ang braso niya—hindi para hilahin, hindi para pilitin—pero para magtanong. Para humingi ng sandali.

Mahigpit ang hawak ko pero nanginginig pa rin.

At halos mapikit siya.

Parang ‘yung simpleng hawak ko ay isang sumpang hindi niya na kayang labanan.

Yung kamay niya, umangat. Halos lumapat sa baywang ko. Pero sandali lang. Sandali lang bago niya ito pinigilan.

He leaned in, forehead resting against mine, eyes closed. Breathing me in.

So close.

“Hindi ganito, Cassie…” bulong niya, halos wala nang boses. “Hindi habang hindi mo pa kilala kung sino ka. Hindi habang ginagamit mo lang ako para makatakas.”

Napalunok ako. Ang lalamunan ko parang tuyo. “Xan…”

Pero ni hindi siya tumingin. Hindi agad. Tila mas piniling damhin muna ang pagitan naming dalawa bago bumitiw sa hangin.

“Kung bibigay ako ngayon,” he said, finally meeting my eyes, “lahat mawawala. Yung respeto ko sa sarili, sa’yo… sa kung anong pwedeng maging tayo.”

Tila may bumara sa lalamunan ko.

Hinawakan niya ang mukha ko, mga daliri niyang mainit, parang sinusubukang i-ground ako, o baka siya ang kailangang i-ground.

“I won’t be your rebellion,” he whispered. “Gusto kong ako ‘yung pipiliin mo kapag buo ka na. Kapag wala kang tinatakbuhan.”

Walang galit sa mata niya.

Walang sama ng loob.

Walang paghuhusga.

Just… longing. Restraint. Hope.

Hinayaan ko na lang ang katahimikan ang sumagot para sa’min.

Yung katahimikang hindi awkward—pero puno ng tinig na hindi masabi.

Then dahan-dahan niyang inatras ang kamay niya, para bang sinasabing, if I don’t let go now, I never will.

At ako?

Tinapik ko ang puso ko nang mahina. Parang sinasabi sa sarili kong, “Tama na muna.”

Binalot ko ulit nang mahigpit ang robe sa katawan ko.

Isang hinga pa.

Isang sulyap pa.

At lumakad akong palabas.

Tahimik.

Kalmado.

Pero ang apoy sa loob ko?

Buhay na buhay.

Because this time… I wasn’t walking away from him.

I was walking toward something real.

Even if it wasn’t time yet.

ALEXANDER POV

She was right in front of me.

Barefoot. Wrapped in the silk robe I gave her days ago. Hair slightly messy from sleep or nerves or both. And her eyes—

God, those eyes.

Burning with something I couldn’t name. Something between bravery and desperation.

Parang nasa harap ko ang apoy—at imbes na umatras, lumapit siya.

And God… I wanted her.

Not just the shape of her.

Not just the lips that trembled when she said my name.

I wanted the way she looked at me like I was the only thing real in her world full of fake perfection.

I wanted the way she challenged me, defied me, then turned around and trusted me with pieces of herself no one else got to see.

My hands twitched at my sides.

One move.

One kiss.

One second of letting go—

and I’d ruin everything I was trying to build with her.

Everything.

And I knew myself.

I don’t do halfway.

So when her fingers touched mine—soft, hesitant, trembling and sure all at once—

I stopped breathing.

Goddammit, Cassie.

I stepped back.

Just one step.

But it felt like I was dragging my soul behind me.

"Not until you're sure," I said, my voice low and tight, like every word cost me something.

She blinked.

Parang hindi niya inaasahan. Parang hindi sanay na sinasabihan ng hindi.

Parang sinaktan ko siya gamit ang isang salitang hindi niya alam kung paano i-process.

But I had to do it.

Because I wasn’t going to be just another escape route for her.

I wasn’t going to be her rebellion.

“Hindi kita hahawakan para lang patunayan sa’yo na may halaga ka, Cassie,” I added, my eyes never leaving hers. “Gusto kong piliin mo ‘ko. Hindi dahil galit ka. Hindi dahil gusto mong tumakas.”

The way her expression cracked—subtle, almost invisible to anyone else—cut me deeper than I expected.

She stood there.

Silent.

Hurt.

Confused.

Beautiful.

And so f*****g close.

Too close.

My jaw clenched as I fought every instinct to reach for her.

To pull her in.

To bury my hands in her hair and kiss her until we both forgot the world outside this room.

But I didn’t move closer.

Because if I touched her now… there’d be no going back.

No undoing it.

No pretending I could protect her and have her at the same time.

And the thing about Cassie?

She didn’t need another man breaking her just to feel powerful.

She needed someone who could see her and still choose to wait.

So I waited.

Even if it burned like hell.

Even if my own breath was shaking in my chest.

Even if the look in her eyes said she didn’t know whether to cry or scream or kiss me anyway.

I waited.

Because I wanted her whole.

Not broken.

Not angry.

Not reaching for me just because I was the only steady thing in the chaos of her world.

I wanted her heart—

but only when she was ready to give it.

Not as a weapon.

Not as a shield.

But as a choice.

So I stood there. Frozen. Bleeding silently from every part of me that wanted to fall.

And I let her walk away.

Not because I didn’t want her.

But because I wanted her too much.

And for once in my life—

I chose restraint.

Because she deserved it.

And if she ever came back, eyes clear and heart steady?

Then I’d take her with no fear.

With no holding back.

With nothing but everything.

CASSANDRA POV

“Not until you’re sure.”

Yun lang 'yung sinabi niya.

Simple. Maiksi. Walang sigaw, walang galit.

Pero para sa akin?

Parang buong pagkatao ko ‘yung tinulak palayo.

Parang may pintuang binuksan sandali—pintuan sa pagitan naming dalawa—at bago pa man ako makapasok, isinara na niya ito sa mukha ko.

Tahimik.

Mabigat.

Bumigat rin ang robe sa balikat ko. Parang biglang naging sampung kilo ang tela. Parang sinisingil ako ng sariling balat ko sa lakas-loob kong lumapit sa kanya.

Tahimik akong binalot ulit ang robe sa katawan ko habang lumalabas ng kwarto niya. Pa-atras. Paunti-unti. Para bang baka kung bumilis ako, bibigay ako.

Hindi ko alam kung anong mas mahirap—

‘Yung kahihiyang ako pa ang lumapit?

O ‘yung sakit ng pagtanggi na walang sigaw, walang sampal… pero mas masakit pa sa kahit anong salita?

I thought I was ready.

I wanted to be ready.

Para sa kanya. Para sa sarili ko. Para sa kung anuman ‘tong namamagitan sa amin—kung meron man.

Pero sa isang salita lang niya, bumagsak lahat ng confidence ko.

All the strength I built, all the fire I carried from the moment I walked into this mansion—

Gone.

Wiped out by one quiet rejection.

Pagbalik ko sa kwarto, sinarado ko agad ang pinto at nilock.

Saka lang ako huminga nang malalim.

O mas tama—saka lang ako humikbi.

Hindi ko hinayaan bumagsak ang luha habang nasa hallway pa ako.

Hindi ko siya binigyan ng satisfaction.

Pero ngayon?

Wala na akong laban.

Tuloy-tuloy na siya.

Tahimik lang. Walang iyak na may tunog. Pero ramdam mo—sa dibdib, sa lalamunan, sa mga mata—na wasak ka.

Humiga ako sa kama, nakatalukbong. Hindi ko na hinubad ‘yung robe. I wore it like a scar. A memory. A punishment.

The fabric that once made me feel seen, wanted… now felt like a reminder.

Of how much I wasn’t.

I should be angry.

I should be humiliated.

Pero higit sa lahat… nalilito ako.

Akala ko pag pinili ko na siya, matatapos na ang tanong.

Akala ko sapat na ang "gusto ko siya." Akala ko kapag lumapit na ako, hahawakan niya ako. Hindi niya ako hahayaan.

Pero mas lalo lang akong napuno ng tanong.

Bakit hindi niya ako pinili pabalik?

Bakit hindi siya lumapit?

Bakit ang sakit, e hindi naman niya ako sinaktan?

It was the gentlest kind of rejection.

And somehow… the most painful.

Because he didn’t push me away in anger.

He stepped back in kindness.

And that’s what made it worse.

Kasi hindi ko siya masisisi.

Hindi ko siya mapipilit.

Hindi ko siya masasabing masama.

Kasi pinoprotektahan niya ako—even from himself.

Pinikit ko ang mga mata ko, hoping sleep would take the ache away.

Pero kahit anong pilit kong kalimutan, kahit balutin ko pa ng kumot ang sarili kong katawan at damdamin…

Ang naiwan lang sa isip ko, paulit-ulit na parang sirang plaka—

"Not until you're sure."

At doon ako lalong natakot.

Kasi ngayong ako na ang tinanong…

Bigla kong na-realize—

Hindi ko alam kung kailan ako magiging sigurado.

Or worse…

Kung magiging sigurado pa ba ako.