Sweet Surrender

Chapter 1- Part 2

YES, it's no other than Kevin Carlos Madrigal. I closed my eyes trying to arrange my thoughts and was shocked to see him again after a year or two. He looks as gorgeous like he always is. More mature but definitely more attractive and sexy as hell too. He looks like a movie star, only more handsome than any of the ones I can name. He’s tall, at least a head taller than me, with long legs, lean hips, and broad shoulders shown off in a perfectly tailored dark gray suit paired with a snowy white shirt. There’s no tie, and the top button of his shirt is open, exposing his throat and a little hint of well-muscled chest. His natural dark gold hair frames his face. It’s wavy and just long enough to tease his collar, with a few bright strands highlighting the dark waves. And his face! It makes me unable to remember what exactly my business why I'm here. Dark winged brows, a deep hazel colored eyes, and a Greek nose, slim and pointed like an arrowhead. His lips are full and sensual, and for some reason, they make me start to think of whispers, kisses, and those same lips tracing a path on my heated skin. s**t! What the hell I'm thinking anyway?

How stupid I was acting like a love struck teenager seeing her crush. And how the hell it happened that I didn't even know that he is one of the owners of this building. Well I know that he is a jeweler and owns a huge jewelry company he inherited from his late Italian father and has many more businesses he built himself. This company must be just of those.

Ngayon alam ko na kung bakit halos maihi na sa kilig ang mga babaeng empleyado nila dito. Isang Kevin Carlos Madrigal ngan naman pala ang isa sa big bosses nila. One of the young eligible billionaire bachelor in the country and not to mention with a looks like a Greek god. Sino nga naman ang babaeng hindi papangarapin ang isang katulad nito.

Kevin Carlos walked towards me and I felt like my breath stopped. I just stare at him, lost in the glittering of his eyes, and unable to tear mine away. Strangely, if feels like all my feelings from yesterday come back to me like a shooting star, rocking my world once again. Scary!

"Kristen Thomas. Wow, it's really you!" he exclaimed and kissed me on both cheeks before hugging me, as if he was delighted to see me again.

"H-Hey," I start, trying to find the words to say. Nabigla kasi talaga akong makita at malaman na nakabalik na siya  dito sa Pilipinas. Matagal narin kasing hindi ko siya nakikitang umuuwi sa condo unit niya kung saan ay kapit bahay kami. Sabagay wala namang bago doon. Kevin Carlos is a busy person. He's been all over the world doing business and making money. The last time I heard, he was in Canada for the expansion of his jewelry business.  

"It's been a long time. How have you been?" he asked.

"I'm doing good, thank you. How 'bout you?"

"The same I guess," he smile that almost took my breath away. Hell! He really still has the same effect on me but I cannot allow him to know my feelings.

The truth is Kevin Carlos has been trying to get on my pants but I don't allow it to happen. I have been trying so hard to save myself from drowning in his sinful charms.

"I'm happy to see you again sweetheart," he said, dodging a second round of hugging.

My heart skipped from my chest hearing the endearment he uses for me but that's just for like a split of second. I'm almost sure that he uses it anyway to many more other women and not just to me alone. "Don't call me that. I'm not your sweetheart," I told him in a low voice only we could hear.  

His not so nice secretary interrupted us. "You two know each other?" I saw the dislike in Miss Angela's face.

Kevin Carlos introduced me to her. "This is Kristen Thomas, Mr. Thomas ' younger sister."

"Sister? Lucas Thomas' sister, Sir?" Miss Angela repeated with a huge surprise on her face.

"Yes. The Thomas Global princess," he confirmed.

Nakita ko ang biglang pamumutla ng mukha ni Miss Angela. Malamang ay naalala nito kung paano niya ako tratohin kanina at sa hitsura nito ay sigurado akong pinagsisisihan na nito ang ginawa niya sa akin. Hindi naman sa pagyayabang--- Just like what Kevin Carlos said, I'm a Thomas Global princess. I come from a rich and influential family. I'm definitely not just any ordinary delivery girl like what she thought I was.

"I-I'm sorry, Maam..." hingi niya ng paumanhin sa akin habang nakayuko at hindi makatingin ng deretso.

Tumango lang ako. I know naman kasi na kaya lang siya humingi ng paumanhin sa akin dahil sa nalaman niyang isa akong Thomas at hindi dahil narealized niya ang maling ugali at pagtrato na ipinakita niya sa akin kanina.  

Lumapit si Miss Angela sa akin at agad na kinuha ang mga hawak kong boxes.

"Ako na po dito Ma'am," she said.

Ibinigay ko naman iyon sa kanya. "I hope next time when my workers deliver something here, they will be treated nice and fair."  

"Yes, Ma'am. I'm so sorry again," nakayuko na muling hingi ng paumanhin ni Miss Angela.

"Good."

Si Kevin Carlos ay nagtataka naman kung ano ang nangyayari. "What happened?" 

"It's nothing. Just a small miss understanding," I answered. Hindi naman kasi ako ang klase na ginagawang malaki ang isang simpleng bagay lang lalo at kung pwede naman pag-usapan.

"Okay," kibit balikat naman ni Kevin Carlos.

"Excuse me," paalam ni Miss Angela at iniwan na kami.

"So, what are you doing here by the way?" he asked after a while.

"As you can see, I'm working..."

"I mean how come?" medyo nagugulohan niyang turan na nakatingin sa logo ng t-shirt ko na suot.

Nagkibit naman ako ng balikat. "We got short of man power so I have to deliver the orders myself."

"Your family own a coffee shop now?"

"No, no... It's my personal business. Kakabukas lang namin a few months ago kaya medyo nagtitipd pa ako sa paghire ng tao."

"Wow, you really never fail to amaze me. You're always an independent woman like always," may paghanga niya wika.

I felt flattered. "Why, thank you. Anyway, I have to go. I still have things to do in the coffee shop and I don't want to take away to much of your time..." paalam ko.

"Can't you stay a little while? Actually we are throwing a small welcome party for Kenzo."

So, para pala sa bestfriend niyang hudas ang welcome party na 'to. Hanggang ngayon ay hindi parin talaga ako makamove-on sa ginawa ni Kenzo sa dalawang matalik kong kaibigan na sina Chantal at Pamela. Kaya parang hindi parin ako komportable na makita siya at i-welcome back pa.

Sa pagkakaalam ko. Matapos ang nangyaring kagulohan sa pagitan ni Kenzo at dalawa kong matalik na mga kaibigigan ay sa ibang bansa ito nanirahan at sa pagkakaalam ko ay kasama nitong umalis si Pamela.

"I'm sorry. I really have to go back to Dream Mugs---"

Ngunit hindi ko pa man natatapos ang pagpapaalam ko ay bumukas na ang pinto kasabay ng sabay-sabay na  pagsambit ng mga tao sa paligid ng "Welcome Back Sir Kenzo" at popping ng mga confetti habang sinasalubong ang pagpasok nito.

Kenzo Fontavilla Salameda is still as handsome as always---with his dark brown eyes, and a charming smile that gives him the appearance of being the harmless, friendly-yet-incredibly-hot  guy next door. Just like his best friend, Kenzo's love for women is generous. Patunay doon ang pagsasabay niya sa dalawa kong matalik na kaibigan.

"Thank you everyone," Kenzo said grinning. He probably didn't expect his people to give him a surprise welcome party like this.

"I'm sorry. You're probably not ready to see him yet," Kevin Carlos apologies. He probably notice my awkward reaction upon seeing Kenzo.

I nodded. "It's okay. Not your fault." Walang may kasalanan kung bakit nandito ako sa sitwasyong ito ngayon. Talagang maliit lang siguro ang mundo namin.

Kenzo looks up from the bunches of employees welcoming him and noticed me us. He excuses himself and comes over in our direction.

"Welcome back, bruh," nakangiting sinalubong ito ni Kevin Carlos at nag brother hug silang dalawa.

"Thanks bruh," turan ni Salameda.

Nakatayo lang ako sa bandang tagiliran nila. Gustohin ko man na umalis na ay hindi ko ginawa. Hindi naman ako pinalaking bastos ng mga magulang ko. Isa pa hindi naman siya sa akin may atraso kundi kay Chantal.

"Kristen," he exclaimed above the loud surroundings then kissed me on both cheeks. Halatang hindi rin makapaniwalang makita ako at dito pa sa welcome party niya. "You look gorgeous."

"So do you," I said.

"Bruh, you forgot to mention to me that you two are together," kausap niya kay Kevin Carlos na may halong panunukso habang pinaglilipat-lipat ang tingin sa amin.

"Oh, no. We are not together. I'm here for business," mabilis kong sagot at itinuro pa ang logo ng "Dream Mugs" sa t-shirt kong suot.

"Oh sorry, I thought finally---"

Kevin Carlos cut him off. "We just met again today." 

"Anyway, I really have to go. I still have my business to take care of. I hope you guys enjoy the cup cakes," pagpapaalam ko.

The truth is I'm not really comfortable seeing the two of them again but of course I cannot tell it directly to them.

"Can't you stay a little longer?" asked Kenzo.

"Sorry, I really can't stay even if I want to. You see, bagong bukas lang ang "Dream Mugs" at hindi pa sanay ang mga taohan ko ng wala ako," I explained.

"I understand," said Kenzo.

"I'll send her out bruh," wika naman ni Kevin Carlos.

"There's no need. I can manage myself," I refused but he insisted. "Thank you," pasasalamat ko sa paghatid niya sa akin kahit hindi naman kailangan.

"Can I see you again?" he asked while we were waiting for the lift.

"What does it suppose to mean?" I turned to him.

"Dinner?"

Oh, so he's inviting me out. Why I am not surprised!

It's Kevin Carlos Madrigal. He is not just one of the youngest Billionaires but also the biggest devil-may- care Casanova in the country. And it seems that he hasn't given up trying to get on my pants or maybe it's his ego.

"Are you hitting on me, Mr. Madrigal?" deretso at walang legoy kong tanong habang nakataas ang isang kilay.

"I'm always interested in you, you know that," he said with a flirting smile on his lips.

Kung ibang babae lang siguro ako baka nagtatalon na ako sa tuwa. Imagine, Kevin Carlos Madrigal is here right in front of me, telling me that he's interested in me and asking me out for dinner. But I'm not just any other girl who would bite his bait.

"Bye, Mr. Madrigal. It's nice to see you again," I said and went inside the elevator.

"I will see you again," he said with a hint of a promise.