Nights Like This

CHAPTER 11

"Whe are you here alone?" I strangely heard a familiar voice on my side.

I blinked a few times just to make sure na hindi ako nama- malikmata and I am really seeing my boss, Vance Robles, looking dashing in his black suit while holding a glass of vodka in his hand. He didn't wear his eyeglasses and his hair is neatly brushed up.

He looks sleek and clean like a gentleman. And handsome like he always is.

Nasa harap pa rin kami ng drinks station where Mom specifically puts it here dahil mahilig din si Daddy sa alcohol. In our house, he has this collection of vintage wines. I probably got him my love for drinking. It runs in the genes.

"Sir- Vance! How are you here?" I asked him. I extended my hands to him for a handshake that he gladly accepted.

Vance guided me to the side dahil may mga guests na paparating sa mini bar sa gilid. The drinks are served to them but they can also get one themselves like they I did. I just chose to get it myself to get myself out from the table because I can feel the lens of the cameras are focused on me. I hate it when somebody's watching me. It's creepy! I can't just do or say anything to stop them because they'll think of me as a rude or what.

"I'm here on behalf of my father. He worked with your father before," aniya.

I turned to him, surprised, because this is what I'm talking about when I said that we have such a small world. Who would've thought that my boss on the company that I work's father would be connected with my father?

"Really? Who's your father? I might know him," I asked him. I don't know but I kinda feel an excitement when I learned that it such a small world for me and for Vance.

"You know Vincent Robles? He's my father," sagot nya. I squinted my eyes on him while I try to remember if I know his father or if I have met him before.

Hindi nag tagal, I happily raised both of my brows because I just remembered something. "Right! I have met Sir Vincent a couple of time before! I think that was back when I was in high school? I think? I'm not really sure," I told him.

I can only vaguely remember that time because I can hardly recall anything from that time. I can't even remember what I had for lunch yesterday.

"Yes. It was when you were in fourth year in high school. Kakauwi mo lang noon from somewhere when you first met him. Napagalitan ka pa because you came home late," kwento nya. As he says that, memories came flooding to my mind.

Tama sya. It was when I was in highschool na napagalitan ako for the first time because tinakasan ko si Manong Willy who fetched me from school because it was my bestie, Haya's, birthday and I forgot na magpaalam so tumakas ako. Looking back, I really have that tendency to do whatever that I want from yhe very start. Nung college lang ako natuto to go all out.

"But wait. How did you know that?" I suspiciously asked him. I can't believe how he knows the details of that day.

"I was with my Dad, Camila. Hindi mo siguro ako na pansin sa tabi ng Dad ko because after the dinner where they condemned you for what you did, you stormed off to your room and never went down again."

"Really? Wow! You were with your father? I didn't really mind all the people back then. Masama ang loob ko because napagalitan ako, you know."

Vance chuckled and nods. My mind is still thinking of the past when a flash made me shut my eyes and look down. Pag dilat ko, it was a man holding a camera that's pointing on us. Naka ngiti pa sya like he's not even sorry with what he did at mukhang proud pa sya!

My smile drastically dropped and eyebrows are slowly nearing each other and I could feel the rush of irritation flowing through my veins.

"Sir, excuse me, but can you not interrupt our conversation with your photos?" I told him. My voice is stone cold. Para namang natauhan yung lalaki because he stopped smiling and ibinaba nya yung camera nya from pointing on us. He was flustered with what I said to him.

I stepped forward to get closer to the guy and have a face to face with him. I am so ready not really to fight him but to make him realize how rude he was when Vance, suddenly, extended his arms downward in front of me to stop me from walking.

I raised my head to his face and I saw Vance looking sharp and intense at the guy habang umiigting ang panga nya. I feel a chills on my body while looking at him. I've never seem him like this before but I could clearly tell that he's pissed. He marched forward to the guy. Sumunod ako.

I kept on glancing towards Vance because more than looking scary with the stare, he looks so cold and fierce. That's what makes him fearsome. It's like you can't mess with him because you may find yourself on the floor.

"Do you want to keep your job or not?" Vance said to the guy who's already almost trembling with fear. The guy nods. "Then do it properly."

His voice is laced with coldness, control, and authority just how his expression looks. I looked at our surrounding when I remembered that we are a public place and it's not really a good situation if they fight here or something but luckily, they are all busy minding their own businesses while we wait for other guests.

Vance shifted his body's direction to mine and then using his hand, he scooped my waist just like that and then we left the guy speechless.

"Where are we going?" tanong ko sa kanya because we just kept on walking forward with his hand is still on my waist . Vance didn't respond so hinayaan ko na lang.

Finally, we stopped at a hallway beside the main dining room that is the passage going to the back part of the restaurant which is the garden. He made me turn my back on the wall while he peeked at the door that we passed through. The distance between us narrowed because of what he did.

"Are you okay?" he asked me. Gone the cold and scary expression, he looks like he's really worried.

"H- huh?" I absentmindedly said.

I can't think of anything right now other than how his arms is wrapping around my waist like it's really intended to be there. It didn't help that I find him hot while he's mad. That's the first time that I've seen him make such a strong expression and express that kind of emotion. The usual expression that I see on him is no expression at all. Literally. There are times in the office where I couldn't tell what he was thinking because I couldn't see any expression on his face.

There's something that fired up in me when he touched my waist. Gosh. I feel like it's so illegal to find my boss hot but at the same time, I wanna give him credit for looking good and being smoking hot at the same time.

"Are you okay?" ulit nya. His forehead are now scrunched.

The hallway's almost dark and nobody's here except us. Vance is still holding my waist that makes my heart race. It can't be helped when a handsome guy's with me in a dark place, holding my waist while we're just almost inches away from each other.

Hindi ko pa nakakalahati yung inumin ko but I feel like I'm getting drunk with how the way he looks at me.

"I'm fine, Vance. Thank you," I said to him while having trouble with my my heartbeat. It's so fast like I am having palpitations from drinking too much coffee.

Vance didn't say anything. He just stared at me like he's studying my face. I don't like when somebody stares at me but I like how he focuses his eyes on me. It drawns me to the other world if there is. I took a step back when I felt a chill on my spine when Vance's hands travelled from my waist to my upper back and then pulled me closer to him. Napaka bilis lang nung ginawa nyang iyon but I feel like i was forever.

I am serously having trouble with my breathing right now that I am almost losing my mind. Naka tulala na lang ako kay Vance.

"There's an electricity outleton your back. You might get shock if you makes contact with it," he said and then glanced on my back. He's towering over me so he can clearly see it.

His stares and his touch is enough for me to have a shock.

"Really?" I looked back and he's really telling the truth. My electricity outlet nga sa likod ko. "Thank you ulit."

Just when I was about to be lost in his stares again, parang may kumalabit sa isip ko, telling me that I should pull myself together. I shouldn't cross the line. Technically, he's still my boss. I don't want to create a weird atmostphere between us. Ako na mismo ang gumilid at lumayo sa pagkaka hawak nya.

"I'm sorry Vance, I need to go inside. They're probably looking for me," sabi ko sa kanya.

That, too. When my family start to notice na wala na naman ako, they might tjink na tinataguan ko na naman sila.

"Oh. Okay, Cami. Mauna ka na. I'll stay here for a bit," aniya. His expression went back to default.

"Why?" I asked.

"I need to get some air," sagot nya and then he motioned his hand to the end of the hallway which is the garden.

Tumango ako as I decided to let him do whatever that he wants. He could be like me who's getting bored on events like this and only attends because it's required. "Okay. Just comeback inside okay? They might serve the food anytime soon. Tell me when you need something."

Vance pressed his lips together and then gave me a small nod. I also did the same. After that, lumakad na ako palabas pasok ulit sa dining place while carrying the aftermath's effect. I am slightly patting my chest as I walking back towards our table.

I didn't know that Vance could affect me this much.