Ruining Mr. Clarke

Kabanata 3

Andrea was shocked. Hindi niya maalis ang tingin sa papalayong likod ng lalaki. The man truly has a broad back and every sway of his arms showed his toned muscle, flexing. Even the way he walked shouted dominance, and that you can tell that he was not an ordinary person but a billionaire.

She knows him, of course. Who wouldn't? Julian Clarke Veneracion was all over the headlines, like every day! He has a big heart for those who were in need and in children that necessitated care, particularly the kids with cancer.

It was amazing, yes.

Andrea has investigated the life of agitators in her province but if not all, the majority of them were corrupt. Kaya hindi niya mapigilan ang mag-rant sa Chief nila dahil sa balahurang trabaho ng ibang opisyal sa kanilang lugar noon. It was something she abhorred. How can one take the people's money and use it for their own good?

That was why she admired Julian Clarke. The most sought tycoon in Solaris City, the fastest-growing metropolis in the country. He was not just a businessman but plans to run for a Mayor position in the said town. He was highly respected, and some women would really like to be his wife.

Sadly, the charming man didn't express his need to have someone.

Sundo-sunod siyang napakurap nang may sumagi sa kaniya. Nang tingnan iyon, isang kahindik-hindik na mukha ang kaniyang nabungaran.

"Alam mo, Andrea..." simula ni Manager Yoo. "Kung pagod ka na, mag-resign ka na."

She laughed awkwardly. "Gusto mo ngayon na, Manager Yoo? I can take this apron off and march outside, and never come back."

"E, 'di mag-resign ka! Hindi ka kawalan at mas lalong hindi mo makukuha ang sahod mo ngayong buwan."

Andrea rolled her eyes as she started to clean the table. All around ang trabaho niya sa Cafe. Isang barista, at minsan naman ay server. Hindi naman katanggi-tanggi ang sarap ng kape nila, pero mas nangingibabaw sa isip niya kung paanong napadpad roon ang mayamang makisig na si Julian Clarke?

"Alam mo, Manager Yoo..." segunda niya bago tuwid na tumayo para harapin ang huli. "Nakita mo ba si Mayor? He was here earlier if you didn't notice."

"Si... Si Mayor?" Nanlaki ang mga mata nito.

Tumango-tango siya. "Yup..." But I ruined it. She wanted to add but she held herself.

Some things are better left unsaid. Crush na crush pa naman nito ang Mayor dahil sa kakisigan nitong taglay. If she expresses how she ruined the opportunity, she might be ban from entering the shop. Masarap pa naman ang kape... Sayang kung maba-ban siya dahil sa katangahan niya.

But looking back, it was the first time that she looked at him closely. She heard a lot of rumors about Julian Clarke, some were dark, others were good. On top of everything, the kindness of his heart dominated. He was highly respected, as everyone can see how Solaris City improved in the past two months because of his family.

He was only appointed as the Chief Executive Officer of his family-owned company. Since then, reviews about his good reputation arises, and that he should follow his father's step. There was even some Magazine company that was trying their best to interview him. Sadly, there's no Journalist in the country that succeeded in getting a word from him. Aside from being a busy man, she heard that he valued privacy.

Unlike her, she loves to dig in people's lives. Well, it's the nature of her work. She loves her job more than anything.

Nang matapos ang shift niya ay kaagad niyang tinawagan ang Editor-in-Chief. She has resigned from the coffee shop in the hopes that she would get an assignment like what the old man promised. Yet before she could even press the call button, a message popped out on her email.

Just reading the subject has made her dance in glee. Finally, the task she has been waiting for has come.

"Damn, yes! Thank you, Lord!" she screamed in delight.

Kinabukasan ay maaga siyang gumayak para simulan ang trabaho. She was too overwhelmed as she read the file last night. She even has to read it five times to make sure and disturbed the Chief to confirm if it was real. Andrea hardly even slept thinking about it.

Julian Clarke Venaracion. To be honest, she was not amused. It was shocking that she would have the reason to get close to her, but how? And why?

Why would they want her to ruin his reputation?

She has second thoughts. Everyone has a dark side but why choose to ruin someone who showed kindness? Hindi niya maintindihan kung bakit pero para sa trabaho, gagawin niya. Maybe this assignment would be her big break... For the sake of her promotion, she would try to enter his world. She tried to ask why, but the Chief just shrugged it.

Mabilis siyang lumabas ng kaniyang sasakyan nang makita ang target. He was not alone... They seem all busy but she came here merely for work, and she's not going to slip this chance. Minsan lang magpakita ang huli kaya sasamantalahin na niya.

She ran in his direction and as expected, a guard blocked her.

"Sir Julian! Sir Julian Clarke!" she called. "Bitawan mo nga ako! I'm not going to cause any harm here so please, let go..." aniya sa humarang sa kaniya.

The man just looks at her straight. And when her eyes landed on Julian, she stilled when she got to see him smile a bit, then later coughed fakely.

"I'm busy, Miss... Whatever you're up to, I don't have time for it," puno ng kayabangan nitong sambit.

The girl on his side looked at her, smirking. Saka lang siya binitawan ng lalaki nang umalis na ang dalawa, iniwan siyang nakatanga.

"He didn't remember me?" she asked herself. Parang kahapon lang ay natapunan niya ito ng mainit na kape!

And Miss... He knows her! Tanda niya pa kung paano nito bigkasin ang pangalan niya!