14. Stop Playing Games
1281 Words
LYRA
“So, what are we gonna do next?”
Nakaupo siya sa dulo ng kama, relaxed. Too relaxed.
Parang wala lang nangyari.
Parang hindi kami muntik maghalikan.
I forced a smile.
“Well…” I walked toward him, slow, controlled. “We were about to do something before your phone interrupted.”
His jaw tightened for a split second.
Got you.
“Were we?” he asked lazily.
Lumapit ako hanggang nasa pagitan na ako ng mga tuhod niya. I can feel his warmth even without touching him.
“You tell me,” I whispered.
His eyes dropped to my lips.
Damn.
For a second—just a second—may kakaibang kiliti sa dibdib ko. Hindi ito kasama sa plano.
Hindi mapagkakaila na Uncle Silas is a fine man.
Focus, Lyra.
I placed my hands lightly on his shoulders and leaned closer. Hindi pa rin ako humahalik. Just hovering. Teasing.
Pero imbes na hawakan niya ako, he leaned back.
Slowly.
Controlled.
“Careful,” he murmured. “You might be playing a dangerous game.”
My heart skipped.
Talagang alam na niya.
“Game?” I tilted my head. “I’m not playing.”
Of course, I have to denied it.
He chuckled softly.
“Really?”
His hand suddenly moved—pero hindi sa bewang ko. Hindi sa mukha ko.
He reached behind him.
And then…
He picked up his phone.
My stomach dropped.
“Interesting thing happened tonight,” he continued casually. “May nalaman ako.”
I froze.
“About?” I asked, trying to sound bored.
He unlocked his phone.
“About loyalty.”
Oh, God!
Hindi siya nakatingin sa phone. Nakatingin siya sa akin.
Direct. Sharp. Calculating.
“Did you know,” he continued, “na may hidden camera sa loob ng office ko?”
I swallowed.
Hindi ako dapat mag-react. Hindi ako dapat mag-react.
“Hidden camera?” I scoffed lightly. “That sounds illegal.”
“It’s my office,” he said calmly. “I can put whatever I want in it.”
He stood up.
Now he’s towering over me.
“Tell me, Lyra… bakit kaya may mag-iispray ng pabango, and not just any perfume because it has the same scent as you sa opisina ko nang dalawang beses?”
I crossed my arms.
“Maybe someone thinks you smell bad?”
He smiled.
But it didn’t reach his eyes.
“Vera works for you now, doesn’t she?”
That hit.
But I refused to blink and talk back.
Mas inilapit niya ang kanyang sarili.
“You are using her.”
The air shifted.
My chest tightened.
“So what if I did?” I snapped before I could stop myself.
Tutal alam na niya, there's no need to deny it.
Nagkaroon ng katahimikan sa pagitan namin hanggang sa may sumilay na ngiti sa labi niya.
Okay, medyo naguluhan ako, hindi ba dapat magalit siya but instead nakangisi siya sa harapan ko
“You’re bold,” he said softly. “I like that.” He said.
What?
“I thought you’d deny it.” He added.
“Why?” I lifted my chin. “Para magmukha akong inosente? I’m not.”
Wala na sira na ang plano ko
Fuck!
He circled me slowly, parang predator.
“You think I stole your father’s money.”
It wasn’t a question.
“You were his business partner,” I shot back. “And after he died, everything collapsed. What was I supposed to think?”
He stopped in front of me.
“You were supposed to ask.”
“Would you have answered?”
He leaned down slightly, face inches from mine.
“Yes.”
I hated that my heart reacted.
“I didn’t steal from your father,” he continued quietly. “He was drowning in debt years before he died.”
I shook my head.
“That’s not true.”
“It is, bakit ba ayaw mo maniwala, kahit ilang beses ng ipinaliwanag sa'yo ni attorney ang lahat!” Anas niya.
“You’re lying, attorney is lying, everyone is lying, I knew my dad, at hindi siya basta papayag na mawala ang lahat ng pinaghirapan niya kaya alam ko na may ginawa ka.”
“Kaya ba ginagawa mo 'to? If I wanted your money, Lyra,” his voice dropped lower, “I wouldn’t need to seduce you.”
My breath hitched.
“I’m not the one seducing,” I whispered.
He laughed.
“Is that what you call what you were doing earlier? Community service?”
I glared at him.
“You think you’re so smart.”
“I know I am.”
Then his tone shifted.
Colder.
“But you’re not.”
That stung.
“You underestimated me,” he continued. “You thought I wouldn’t find out about Vera. About the scent. About your little experiment.”
“It wasn’t an experiment.”
“No?”
He stepped even closer.
“Then what was it?”
Hindi ko siya sinagot.
Because I didn’t know anymore.
It started as revenge.
But somewhere between the tension… the glances… the almost kiss…
It stopped feeling like strategy.
And started feeling real.
Damn it.
“You wanted to get close,” he said softly. “So you created a problem only you could help me solve.”
My silence was enough.
He nodded slowly.
“Smart move.”
“Then why are you not furious?” I demanded. “Why are you just standing there like this doesn’t matter?”
His eyes darkened.
“Oh, it matters.”
Then suddenly—
His hand grabbed my wrist.
Not painfully.
But firmly.
“I just don’t lose control easily.”
The words sent a chill down my spine.
“Unlike you.”
“I’m not losing control,” I shot back.
He leaned closer.
“Then kiss me.”
What?
“If this is all part of your plan, then finish it,” he whispered against my ear. “Kiss me without shaking.”
My body betrayed me.
I was shaking.
He felt it.
He smirked.
“There it is.”
“Shut up,” I whispered.
“Prove me wrong.”
Damn him.
Damn him.
I grabbed his collar and pulled him down.
This time, I kissed him.
Hard.
Not soft. Not hesitant.
Anger. Frustration. Pride.
He stiffened for half a second—
Then he kissed me back.
But not gently.
His hand moved to my waist, pulling me closer.
Dominant.
Claiming.
The kiss deepened.
And for one terrifying moment—
I forgot about revenge.
Forgot about money.
Forgot about Daddy.
It was just heat.
And him.
Then he suddenly pulled away.
Leaving me breathless.
Eyes dazed.
“See?” he murmured.
“See what?” I snapped weakly.
“You don’t hate me.”
I swallowed.
“You don’t know that.”
He brushed his thumb lightly across my lower lip.
“No,” he said softly. “But I know you’re not pretending anymore.”
My chest felt heavy.
He stepped back.
Giving space.
“Here’s what we’re going to do,” he continued calmly. “You want answers? I’ll give them.”
“And Vera?”
“She keeps her job. For now.”
Relief washed over me.
“But,” he added, “you stop playing games.”
“And if I don’t?”
His eyes darkened again.
“Then I’ll start playing for real.”
Silence filled the room.
The tension shifted.
This isn’t revenge anymore.
This is war.
And I’m not sure I’m winning.
“So,” he said quietly, fixing his cuff. “What are we gonna do next?”
This time…
I didn’t have an answer.
- Writer
