CEO'S GIRLFRIEND IS AN AGENT

STARTED ON THE WRONG FOOT

Anxiety drove Georgina's confidence a little off. She did not anticipate that the HR process would take longer. She came into the office at 7:30, but it was already past 8 and she hadn't finished filling out and filing HR forms. The fitted skirt that ran just below her knees felt a little uncomfortable too. She almost slipped a couple of times because she kept on forgetting she couldn't lift a leg or walk with a wide stride because of it.

Meanwhile, Eric has called HR twice since George Angeles arrived. He goes to the office at seven in the morning every day. The HR must have forgotten to tell the EA, who arrived at 7:30, about it. Eric titled his head. He does not mind if the EA comes thirty minutes later than him. He also understood their hiring process, so he just waited in his office to meet the EA. But he thought that, just like the other EA before George, he would come earlier than him on the first day.

His mind got lost in reading a document when the door to the EA's office opened and closed. It was followed by the hurried sound of stilettos against the tiled floor. Eric panicked for a moment.

A woman?

He searched his mind for all the events and parties he had recently attended and all the women he casually went out with. No one comes to mind. Three knocks on the door interrupted his thoughts. The door opened before Eric could even do or say anything.

A gorgeous woman walked in. The woman must not have anticipated the sudden change in the flooring. Her foot slipped as soon as she stepped on the carpeted floor. The woman said something funny and Eric could not hold his snort. The woman cleared her throat, straightened up, and walked straight to his office desk.

Eric tapped his fingers on his wooden table, still wondering where he had met the woman in front of him. Scenes from his most recent engagements, both business and personal, flashed across his mind. His mind searched and identified the women he went home with from each of the said events.

Samantha was the graduating student from Ateneo that he met during the yacht party of Senator Guttierez’s youngest son. Carla was the supermodel he met at the Golf Club. Dianne was the daughter of Wise Telecom’s CEO. And none of those faces matched the woman standing in front of him.

Eric’s eyes widened at his last thoughts. He had a one-night stand with a Filipina during a conference he attended in Singapore last month. He was so drunk, he could not even remember the name or the face of the said woman. Eric swallowed… hard. But before he could say anything, the woman’s lips broke into a warm smile.

"Good morning, Mr. Sebastian. I'm Georgina Angeles, your newly hired Executive Assistant." She offered her hand for a handshake.

It took Eric some moments to process what the woman said. He let out a huge sigh of relief when he realized it.

“Oh! George is a woman!”

Georgina furrowed her brows. Then she remembered that her application documents were handled by the people from the headquarters.

“Yes, sir. I am a woman. If you’re not comfortable with George, Ms. Angeles is fine.” She looked at her hand, wondering if Eric would shake her hand or not.

Eric noticed that her nails were short but clean, without any nail polish on them. He accepted the hand in front of him. Georgina’s hand was soft and warm. It wasn’t dry, but he could feel faint calluses on her palm. Her hand felt a little rough, which did not go well with her overall appearance. Georgina’s dress seemed to be from a signature brand. Even her stilettos look clean and polished. Her hair is long and soft as if she just came out and had a salon that morning. Her makeup is what teenagers would call on-fleek.

Looking at Georgina, Eric could sense the air of sophistication and elegance. But he knew it took time for her to master them. Eric’s lips twitched when he remembered what she said when she tripped earlier. Unexpected circumstances could still make her tactless. Her callous hands also gave Eric the impression that, before she became a lawyer, Georgina also had a humble beginning like him.

Georgina smiled despite Eric’s piercing stare. She knew Eric was also sizing her up like what she had been doing the moment she set foot in his office. She noted that it also took Eric a while to answer the door to his office and remembered how the HR manager advised her earlier to just knock three times to announce her presence and not need a response to enter. But Eric looked a little pale when she came into his office. And if Georgina wasn’t mistaken, Eric was about to hide under his desk before she entered and tripped.

Georgina spent weeks studying Eric. She knew all his recent rendezvous, even those that happened from his trips abroad. He knew that Eric was a dangerous man, not only because of the illegal activities that they suspected of his company. In Georgina’s mind, Eric is a predator who treats every woman around him as his prey.

Eric must have assumed Georgina was one of those women he slept with and that she was there to chase after him. Georgina gritted her teeth at the thought. Among the people that she hated the most were those who were too afraid to commit and those cowardly men who ran away from their responsibilities. Georgina tried to calm herself and forced a smile. She decided to get down to business straight away. Eric’s lips broke into a smile when Georgina flipped open the iPad’s case.

“Shall I read to you your schedule today, sir?” Georgina smiled.

Eric nodded, then he leaned on his chair. Georgina tucked the strands of hair behind her ear and pursed her lips. She filled her lungs with air before she began reading Eric’s schedule. Eric couldn’t focus on it. He kept on staring at Georgina’s lips as if their movements hypnotized him. Her diction and the tone of her voice also seemed too soothing to Eric’s ears.

“Stop, stop!” Eric firmly said, startling Georgina. He motioned for her to leave the iPad on his desk, which she did.

Eric leaned forward to his desk and clasped his hands together. “Did Mrs. Bonifacio give you your office email address?” He asked about the HR Manager.

“No, sir. But she did instruct me how to create one.” Georgina confidently smiled.

Georgina kept her eyes on him, which made Eric a little uncomfortable. There was something about her stare that made him feel guilty, and he did not like it. Eric glanced at his monitor. Her EA’s email address had already been updated.

“It’s nice to meet you, Attorney Angeles. Please check your email in five minutes.”

Georgina answered, but he did not bother to look at her. He waved his hand to dismiss her. When Georgina was gone, Eric slouched into his chair. Eric thought his new EA was too assertive and too attractive, and he might end up dating her. The problem is that Eric has one dating rule. He should not date anyone from his office. He took a deep breath and Georgina’s lingering scent entered his nostrils. No doubt, he would be in deep trouble because of her.

But it’s not just Eric that felt uncomfortable. Someone else cursed as she watched Eric and Georgina on two separate monitors. She scrutinized Georgina’s resume in her hand and felt like something wasn't adding up. She knew it. She could feel it. Georgina Angeles spelled trouble for her. She tore and crumpled her resume before she angrily threw it on the floor.