Engaged in Disguise

Chapter Six

MONDAY morning.

Week two.

Alas-siyete y medya, nandun na si Celeste sa desk niya. Early as usual. Coffee sa kamay—three-in-one from 7-Eleven, kasi hindi pa siya afford bumili ng fancy coffee para sa sarili niya.

Habang nag-se-set up ng computer, nag-flash back ang nangyari kahapon.

Si Jace. Sa children's home. Tumatawa. Naglalaro. Nag-ba-basa ng stories.

Totally different person.

At yung sinabi niya—"these kids need someone who shows up."

May something dun. May depth. May pain. Parang may backstory na hindi niya alam.

Tumunog ang elevator.

Exactly eight AM.

Lumabas si Jace.

Naka-navy blue suit siya ngayon. Perfectly pressed. Still wearing his cold face. Naka-professional mode na ulit.

Paglabas niya, nagkasalubong ang mga mata nila.

Awkward.

Kasi both of them remember what happened yesterday. Si Jace—caught off guard sa volunteering niya. Si Celeste—nakita ang soft side niya.

"Good morning, sir," bati ni Celeste and still wearing her professional smile.

"Good morning," sagot ni Jace. Then he paused. "Coffee in five minutes. Then come to my office. We need to discuss this week's schedule."

"Yes, sir."

Pumasok na siya sa kaniyang opisina at hindi na lumingon.

Tumakbo si Celeste sa pantry at gumawa ng coffee. Still the sameItalian roast. Black. Hot. Perfect timing—four minutes and fifty seconds.

Kumatok na siya sa pinto namg opisina ni Jace bitbit ang kapeng bagong timpla niya.

Inilapag ang coffee sa desk nito. "Your coffee, sir."

"Sit," sabi ni Jace. Tinuro ang upuan sa harap niya.

Umupo si Celeste and always notepad ready. Binuksan ni Jace ang laptop niya at nag-pull up ng calendar.

"This week is critical," simula niya. "We have three major things. One—investor meeting with Singapore group on Wednesday. Two—site visit to our Laguna property on Thursday. Three—contract signing with Apex Industries on Friday."

Nag-note si Celeste. Mabilis ang pagsusulat.

"For the Singapore meeting, I need full presentation deck ready by Tuesday afternoon," tuloy ni Jace. "I'll send you the draft. Format it. Make it polished. Print twenty copies. Bound."

"Yes, sir."

"For the site visit, arrange transportation. Van. Leaves at seven AM sharp. I need you to come."

Napatigil si Celeste. "Sir?"

"You need to come," ulit ni Jace. "Take notes. Coordinate with contractors. I can't do everything myself."

"Understood po, sir."

"For the contract signing, coordinate with Atty. Mendoza from our legal team. Make sure all documents are ready. No errors. No delays."

"Yes, sir."

Tumingin si Jace sa kanya. "Questions?"

"None po, sir. Everything is clear."

"Good. You may go."

Tumayo na si Celeste. Pero bago siya lumabas—

"Ms. Cruz."

Napatigil siya saka humarap. Nakatingin si Jace sa kanya. May something sa mga mata niya. Hindi cold. Something else. Something... softer.

"About yesterday," sabi niya. "At the children's home."

"Yes, sir?"

"Thank you. For not making it weird. For understanding."

Ngumiti si Celeste, a genuine smile. "You're welcome po, sir."

For a moment, nag-tinginan lang sila. Then Jace nodded.

"That's all."

Lumabas si Celeste. Bumalik sa desk.

Pero ang puso niya—tumitibok ng mabilis.

Something shifted. Something changed between them.

Hindi pa rin sila close. Hindi pa rin friends. Pero may tiwala na. Kahit konti lang.

Tuesday is a busy day for both of them.

Buong araw, nag-format si Celeste ng presentation deck para sa Singapore investors. Fifty-three slides. Graphs. Charts. Financial data. Corporate photos.

Nag-edit siya. Nag-refine. Nag-polish. Gusto niyang perfect ito.

By four PM, tapos na. Printed. Bound. Twenty copies. Professional-looking saka niya dinala sa office ni Jace.

Kumatok siya sa pinto. "Sir, the presentation decks are ready."

"Come in."

Pumasok siya. Inilapag ang samples sa desk nito.

Kinuha ni Jace at binuklat. Nag-scan ng pages.

One minute. Two minutes. Walang expression sa mukha.

Then—

"This is excellent work," sabi niya. Tumingin siya kay Celeste. May approval sa mga mata nito. "Professional. Clean. Polished. Better than what my previous secretaries produced."

Nag-blush si Celeste sa sinabi nito. "Thank you po, sir.”

"You have a good eye for design," tuloy ni Jace. "This will impress the investors."

"I hope so po, sir."

Tumango si Jace. Then he went back to work.

Lumabas na si Celeste, pero ang ngiti niya ay hindi mapigilan.

He praised her. Sinabi niyang excellent ang work niya.

First real compliment. And it felt... good.

Wednesday.

Investor meeting day.

Dumating ang Singapore investors ng nine AM. Tatlong lalaki. Naka-business attire. Professional at mukhang mga seryoso.

Nag-set up si Celeste ng conference room. Presentation ready. Coffee ready. Water ready. Notepads. Pens and everything.

Pumasok si Jace. Naka-dark suit. Naka-tie. Still wearing his commanding presence.

Kasunod niya ang mga investors. "Gentlemen, welcome," bati ni Jace. Firm handshake. Professional smile—yung smile na business lang. Hindi genuine pero polite.

Naupo na sila at nagsimula na ang meeting.

Si Celeste ay naka-upo sa side. Taking notes. Silent. Invisible. But observant.

Nakita niya kung paano mag-present si Jace.

Confident. Articulate. Persuasive. Every question, may answer. Every concern, may solution.

Hindi siya nag-panic. Hindi siya nag-stumble. Smooth.

Impressive.

After two hours, nag-end ang meeting. Successful. Nakuha nila ang interest ng mga investors at may follow-up meeting again next month.

Nag-shake hands sila then bid their goodbyes.

Nang umalis na ang investors, biglang naupo si Jace sa isa sa swivel chair. Huminga siya ng malalim. Nag-loosen ng tie.

"That was exhausting," bulong niya. More to himself than to Celeste.

Pero narinig ni Celeste.

"But successful po, sir," sabi niya. "They were impressed." Tumingin si Jace sa kanya. Tired eyes. But appreciative.

"Thanks to your preparation," sabi niya. "Everything was organized. Professional. It helped."

"Just doing my job po, sir."

Tumango si Jace. Then, "You did more than your job. You did it excellently."

At dun, ngumiti siya, tipid na ngiti pero totoo.

Nakita ‘yon ni Celeste. At nabigla siya.

Ang smile ni Jace, kahit tipid lang pero alam niyang totoo iyon. More human. More... gwapo.

Wait. Did she just think he's gwapo?

Of course he's gwapo. That's a fact. Pero—

No. Stop, Celeste. Focus.

"Thank you po, sir," sagot niya.

"You can take an early lunch," sabi ni Jace. "You deserve it.”

Lumabas si Celeste. Pero ang isip niya ay lumilipad.

Bakit ba siya nag-blush nung ngumiti si Jace?

Bakit ba tumitibok ng mabilis ang puso niya?

This is bad. This is very bad.

Rule number one: Don't get emotionally involved.

Pero parang lumalabag na siya. Unti-unti.

Thursday.

Site visit day.

Alas-sais y medya ng umaga, at naka prepare na si Celeste. Naka-pants siya ngayon. Simpleng blouse. Flats—comfortable para sa walking. Nag-dala ng backpack with notebook, pens, water, at snacks.

Seven AM, dumating ang van na sasakyan nila sa building. Pagbaba ni Celeste ay naabutan niya si Jace na naghihintay. Naka-casual siya ngayon. Dark jeans. Polo. Walang tie. Ang sleeves niya naka-roll up at nakasuot ito ng sunglasses.

Less CEO. More... normal guy.

"Good morning, sir," bati ni Celeste.

"Morning," sagot ni Jace. "Ready?"

"Yes po."

Sumakay sila at tumakbo na ang van papuntang Laguna. Two-hour drive.

Sa loob ng van, tahimik si Jace, still working in his laptop. Nag-review ng documents.

Samantalang si Celeste naman, ay nakatingin sa bintana nang sasakyan. Pinagmamasdan ang mga nadadaanan nila. Trees. Fields. Simple houses.

Ang peaceful. So different from Manila.

"First time mo sa Laguna?" tanong ni Jace. Breaking the silence.

Napalingon si Celeste. "Ah, no po, sir. I've been here before. But not often."

"Where are you from again?" tanong ni Jace out of curiosity.

"Batangas po, sir," sagot ni Celeste. Sticking to her cover story.

"Batangas," ulit ni Jace. "Nice place. Quiet. Simple."

"Yes po. Very different from Manila."

"Do you miss it?" tanong ni Jace.

Nag-pause si Celeste. Do I miss it?

Actually, no. Kasi hindi naman siya talaga from Batangas. But Celeste Cruz is.

"Sometimes po," sagot niya. Safe answer. "But Manila has opportunities. Kaya I'm here."

Tumango si Jace. "Fair enough."

Then bumalik ulit siya sa work.

But something shifted again. Nag-small talk sila. Normal conversation. Not just boss and secretary. Pagdating nila sa site, nag-start ang tour. Ang property ay malaki. Twenty hectares. May mga naka-construct na buildings at may mga ongoing construction.

Naglibot sila around the area. Si Jace ay nag-inspect at nag-tanong sa mga contractors. Nag-check ng quality.

Si Celeste naman ay nagsat ng notes. Nag-pictures at nakipag-coordinate.

Mainit. Sobrang init. Pawisan sila pareho. Pero tuloy lang.

By lunch time, natapos ang inspection nila. Kumain sila sa isang local restaurant. Simple food. Bulalo. Kanin. s**o't gulaman.

Naka-upo sila across each other habang kumakain.

"You're good at this," sabi ni Jace. Out of nowhere. "Sir?" tanong ni Celeste nang may pagtataka.

"Being a secretary," clarify ni Jace. "You're efficient. Organized. Professional. Most of my previous secretaries—they couldn't handle the pressure. But you... you're different."

"Thank you po, sir," sincere na sagot ni Celeste. "I just... I just try my best."

"It shows," sabi ni Jace. Then he paused. "Can I ask you something?"

"Of course po, sir."

"Why do you work so hard?" tanong niya. "I mean, I know you need the job. But you go beyond. You come early. Stay late. Perfect work. Why?"

Nag-pause si Celeste. Nag-isip.

Why?

Kasi I'm spying on you. Kasi I need to prove myself. Kasi I'm trying to save my family's company.

But she can't say that.

"Because I want to prove something," sagot niya. Partial truth. "To myself. Na kaya ko. That I'm capable. That I'm more than what people think."

Tumingin si Jace sa kanya na may pang-unawa sa mga mata niya.

"I get that," sabi niya. "I've been there. Trying to prove yourself. To people who doubt you. To people who think you're not enough."

"You, sir?" gulat na tanong ni Celeste. "But you're the CEO. Everyone respects you."

Ngumiti si Jace. Bitter smile. "Respect and approval are different things. People respect my position. But do they approve of me? Do they think I deserve this? That's different."

Nakita ni Celeste yung vulnerability sa mga binitawan nitong salita. A real vulnerability.

"I think you deserve it po, sir," sabi niya. Honestly. "From what I've seen, you work hard. You're smart. You care—about the company, about the employees. You deserve your position."

Tumingin si Jace sa kanya nang matagal.

Then—

"Thank you, Celeste," sabi niya. First time niyang gamitin ang first name niya. "That... that means something."

Parang huminto ang ikot ng mundo ni Celeste.

He called her Celeste. Not Ms. Cruz. Celeste.

At the way he said it—soft. Personal. Intimate.

Ang puso niya ay tumibok nang mabilis, nang malakas.

This is bad.

This is very, very bad.

Kasi she's falling.

Falling for the man she's supposed to be spying on.

Falling for Jace Sullivan.

At hindi niya alam kung paano ito tatapusin nang hindi masasaktan.

Pareho silang mag-su-suffer.

Kasi ang lahat—lahat ng ito—ay base lamang sa pagpapanggap, sa kasinungalingan.

At ang totoo?

Ang totoo ay hindi niya alam kung kakayanin pa niya.

Kasi for the first time in her life, Luna Hart is feeling something real.

Something genuine.

Something... dangerous.

Pero ang tanong—

Until when she’s willing to go?

Hanggang saan ang kaya niyang isakripisyo?

Ang mission?

O ang puso niya?