The Boss and the VIP

Prologue

"Take it, or leave it." I crossed my arms on my chest as I gave him a nonchalant look. Wala man lang nagbago sa kan'yang ekspresiyon. Kung tutuusin, parang balewala lamang sa kan'ya ang pagiging kalmado dahil natural na sa kan'ya 'yon.

The funny thing is... I can go on not talking and shrugging everything for a year but I can't even stand one meter apart for a second with this brute. Don't get me wrong, definitely not because I have special feelings for him but because I hate him!

"Only one, I guess?" His brows arched up and he damn looked boyishly arrogant. Fine, ang gwapo niya. Sobra pa nga kung tutuusin pero hindi naman ako sugapa riyan. Aanhin ko naman ang isang gwapong mukha kung hindi man lang ako kayang tulungan sa buhay?

"Yes. Specifically," I answered in my controlled voice. Pinagkrus niya ang mga paa at sumandig sa sofa na kasalukuyan niyang kinauupuan. My, he is devilish!

"I want both." Isang mapang-uyam na tingin ang ibinigay ko sa kan'ya at marahang tumayo sa katapat na sofa. My office is silent, spacious and luminous. I have everything I need here except this man that I won't want to see until the ends of the world.

"That doesn't work for me, Mr. Laxamana. If you don't want any, then kindly tell your family I am more than willing to cancel the engagement." Ipinilig niya ang ulo at binigyan ako ng isang walang kaemo-emosiyong tingin.

Kung hindi ko na siya matagal na nakilala mula pa sa isang nakaraang gustong-gusto ko nang kalimutan, iisipin kong parang wala lang ito sa kan'ya. But no. That look of his is another warning for me. Though I shouldn't be fazed, right?

Yes. I am done. It was done.

"I don't want any of your terms." Lihim akong napairap pero pinilit gawing kalmado ang ekspresiyon. Oh, dear. I am not shaken, Nathan! You had me once! You can't have me twice!

"And I don't like yours too. You see, we are doing business," panimula ko na ikinatango niya. "If we won't have any mutual understanding about this matter, it will not be a successful one."

"So who do you think between us should give space? Do you think an investor and a businessman like me would settle to your 'only one' policy?" Natigilan talaga ako sa kan'yang sinabi. Damn it!

"I want both of you. The bossy one won't be enough. I also want the other Allyana Ocampo." His lips curved into an amused smile and I am completely stunned. "Or should I squeeze you myself?" Parang nagbabanta pa siya at iyon ang mas lalong nagpalakas ng t***k ng aking puso.

I ran out of words to say but no way! I am not... Not letting him!

"This is... This is illegal!" I bit my lower lip in frustration but he remained emotionless. The grim line in his lips, the stoic shape of his eyes and the stubborn structure of his jaw are all overbearing and I want a break!

"Then let me be the criminal. Again."

Unedited and Tentative.

Allyana

"Take it, or leave it."

I crossed my arms on my chest as I gave him a nonchalant look. Wala man lang nagbago sa kan'yang ekspresiyon. Kung tutuusin, parang balewala lamang sa kan'ya ang pagiging kalmado dahil natural na sa kan'ya 'yon.

The funny thing is... I can go on not talking and shrugging everything for a year but I can't even stand one meter apart for a second with this brute. H'wag akong masamain, pero hindi ito dahil natatakot ako sa kan'ya kun'di dahil ayaw ko sa kan'ya!

Noon pa man!

He was the only man I loved. Simula pa lamang noong nakilala ko siya at namulat sa mga bagay na noon pa man ay labis ko nang iniiwasan... sa kan'ya lamang natuon ang atensiyon ko.

I thought he was the one... A typical thought for a puppy love sick girl who knows nothing about worldy feelings yet.

"The same 'only one' rule, I guess?" he asked pertaining to my one and only rule in life.

Tumaas nang bahagya ang isa niyang kilay at mas lalo lamang nadepino ang magandang istruktura ng kan'yang mukha dahilan para lihim akong mapalunok.

Fine, ang gwapo niya. Sobra pa nga kung tutuusin pero hindi naman ako sugapa riyan. Aanhin ko naman ang isang gwapong mukha kung hindi man lang ako kayang tulungan sa buhay? Idagdag pang sa pinakailaliman ng aking sistema ay labis ang muhi ko sa kan'ya.

"Yes. Specifically," I answered in my controlled voice.

Pinagkrus niya ang mga paa at sumandig sa sofa na kasalukuyan niyang kinauupuan. My, he is devilish!

"I want both. Ikaw at ang pirma mo sa kontrata, Allyana," walang kababakasan ng birong tugon niya saka ako matiim na tiningnan.

Isang mapang-uyam na tingin ang ibinigay ko sa kan'ya bago marahang tumayo sa katapat na sofa.

My office is silent, spacious and luminous. I can see commercial buildings from the glass window that is located in the tenth floor of the company's building. I have everything I need here except this man that I won't want to see until the ends of the world.

"Hindi iyan maaari sa akin, Laxamana. If you don't want any of my terms, then kindly tell your family I am more than willing to cancel the engagement," walang puso kong ani saka siya binalingan.

Engagement... Oo nga pala. Dahil sa hindi pa rin nareresolbang problema sa aming kompanya ay wala ng nagawa ang aking ama kun'di ang humingi ng tulong sa matagal na niyang kasosyo sa negosiyo—ang mga Laxamana.

Matagal na rin akong walang balita tungkol sa pamilyang iyan buhat nang matapos ang ugnayan namin ni Nathaniel ilang taon na rin ang nakararaan... Pero ngayon ay mukhang matatapos na ang pilit kong pag-iwas dahil napagkasunduan nilang ipakasal kami ng kanilang kaisa-isang anak na lalaki upang magkaroon ng matatag na ugnayan ang aming pamilya.

I violently reacted to the idea... but you see... I have no choice. I am the only heir to the family, and my good days are over. I have to face my responsibilities this time.. lalong-lalo na ang pinakamalaking pasanin ni dad. Ayaw kong may mangyari pang masama sa kan'ya bago ako gumawa ng mga sakripisyo.

Just this time, I'll let this brute win. But he can never expect anything from me! Never!

Ipinilig niya ang ulo at binigyan ako ng isa ring walang kaemo-emosiyong tingin. Kung hindi ko na siya matagal na nakilala mula pa sa isang nakaraang gustong-gusto ko nang kalimutan, iisipin kong parang wala lang ito sa kan'ya.

But no. That look of his is another warning for me. Though I shouldn't be fazed, right?

"I don't want any of your terms. I find it unfair."

Lihim akong napairap pero pinilit ko na lang gawing kalmado ang ekspresiyon. Oh, dear. I am not shaken, Nathan! You had me once! You can't have me twice!

"And I don't like yours too. You see, we are doing business," panimula ko na ikinatango niya. "If we won't have any mutual understanding about this matter, it will not be a successful one."

"So who do you think between us should give space? Do you think an investor and a businessman like me would settle to your 'only one' policy?" mapanghamon niyang tanong dahilan para matigilan ako.

Damn it!

"I want both, Allyana. You want to save your company, don't you?" His lips curved into an amused smirk and I was completely stunned.

Nawalan ako ng imik at tanging nagawa ko na lamang ay hayaan ang mabibigat na hiningang umalpas sa aking dibdib. I gave him a scornful look, yet he knows he is ahead of me any other way.

"This is... This is illegal!" I bit my lower lip in frustration but he remained emotionless.

The grim line in his lips, the stoic shape of his eyes and the stubborn structure of his jaw are all overbearing and I want a break! Hindi pa ito tapos, Laxamana! Tandaan mo ang araw na sinira mo ang lahat-lahat! Lalong-lalo na ang puso ko!