Tamed by Deceit

CHAPTER 2

Eksaktong alas-otso ng umaga, nakatayo na ako sa harap ng Montenegro Law Building—isang tore ng salamin at bakal, tumatagos ang lamig sa balat ko kahit tirik ang araw.

You passed the bar, Serena. You’re not just a student anymore. You’re a lawyer now.

Pero kahit gaano ko pilitin ang sarili kong maniwala, hindi pa rin mapigilan ang kabog ng dibdib ko.

I stepped inside.

The marble floor gleamed. The lights were warm gold, but the air was cold—like silence dressed in steel. Every person walking past me was in a suit, eyes sharp, lips sealed. Walang kwentuhan. Walang kumpare. Lahat focused. Lahat may pupuntahan.

It felt like walking into a shark tank—with a bleeding wound.

“Atty. Alcantara?”

Tinawag ako ng receptionist—isang babae with perfect posture and flawless red lipstick. “You’re expected upstairs. Floor 39. Executive wing.”

I nodded. “Thank you.”

Pagpasok ko ng elevator, ako lang mag-isa. I looked up at the numbers blinking above—14… 22… 31… 36… 39.

Ding.

Pagbukas ng pinto, tumambad ang isang mas tahimik, mas eleganteng mundo. Black matte walls. Walnut wood desks. Leather chairs. Soft gold lighting. Lahat mas refined. Mas delikado.

“Atty. Alcantara.”

A woman in a structured gray dress stepped forward. Mahigpit ang bun. Diretso ang tingin.

“Ako si Atty. Selena Cruz. Chief of Staff. Atty. Montenegro is waiting for you.”

I nodded politely. “Good morning po.”

She handed me a thin tablet. “Starting today, you will serve as Atty. Montenegro’s Confidential Legal Apprentice.”

I blinked. “Apprentice po?”

“Special role. Direct supervision. Handpicked by Atty. Montenegro himself.”

Then she looked at me, dead serious. “Do not waste it.”

Before I could reply, itinuro na niya ang mabigat na double doors sa dulo ng hallway.

“He doesn’t like waiting.”

I walked forward—heels clicking against the marble floor. Bawat hakbang ay parang countdown papunta sa bangin.

Tinapik ko ang pinto nang mahina.

Pero hindi ko na kailangang ulitin. It swung open quietly.

And there he was.

Atty. Leo Montenegro.

Black dress shirt. Sleeves rolled. No tie. Top buttons open, revealing a peek of his toned chest. He wasn’t standing—he was claiming the space around him.

The man looked like sin carved into silk.

He turned toward me, slow and precise.

“Atty. Alcantara,” he said, voice deep and cutting, “you’re late.”

“I arrived five minutes early.”

“You’re late,” he repeated, eyes glancing at the minimalist gold clock on the wall. “To me.”

My throat tightened.

He gestured to the leather chair across his massive desk. “Sit.”

I followed, heart pounding, hands cold.

“This will be your seat,” he said. “You’ll remain here. With me. Every day.”

I blinked. “Hindi po ba dapat— I mean, I thought I’d be assigned to a junior associate program?”

“You’re not part of the program.”

“I’m not?”

“No. I selected you for this role. Personally. You are now my Confidential Legal Apprentice.”

My breath caught. “Why me?”

He picked up a file and flipped it open, not looking at me.

“Top of your class. Highest bar exam score in three years. Strong logic. Excellent discipline.”

“Thank you po…”

“But that’s not why,” he added, now looking up—his eyes locking with mine.

“Then why?”

“Because you’re untouched,” he said calmly. “Unshaped. No bad habits. No ego.”

He leaned back in his chair.

“Trainable.”

My jaw clenched.

“Excuse me?”

“You heard me,” he said, tilting his head. “You strike me as someone who’s been following rules all her life. Always pleasing. Always perfect.”

I said nothing.

He stood, walked around his desk, and stopped just behind me. I felt his presence before I even saw him.

“I don’t like noisy minds,” he whispered. “I like obedience. Clarity. Control.”

I turned my head slightly to face him. “And what if I don’t like being controlled?”

A slow smirk ghosted his lips.

“Then you wouldn’t be sitting here.”

I swallowed the lump in my throat.

“You don’t belong with the rest,” he added, circling slowly back to his seat. “You belong here. In this room. Under my eye.”

A pause.

“Under me.”

The words slammed into my stomach like lightning in the dark.

I couldn't breathe. I couldn't blink.

And as I sat there, pretending to read the files on my tablet, all I could feel was the heat rising between my legs and the warning in my own heartbeat:

You’re not ready for this man.

But something inside you... wants him anyway.

Nang maka-recover na ako kahit papaano mula sa sinabi niya, sinubukan kong ituon ang pansin ko sa tablet na hawak ko. Pero kahit anong pilit kong intindihin ang mga nakasulat na kaso, isang boses lang ang paulit-ulit sa utak ko.

"Trainable. Under me."

Putang ina. Hindi dapat ganito ang simula ng first day ko as a licensed lawyer.

I cleared my throat, hoping he didn’t notice the slight tremble in my fingers. “So, Atty. Montenegro… what exactly will my role be?”

He looked up from the document he was reading, expression unreadable. “You’ll be handling my case load with me.”

My eyes widened. “With you?”

“Yes. Everything that crosses my desk, you touch. Everything I review, you read. You’ll assist me directly. One-on-one.”

Napalunok ako. “But… I just passed the bar.”

“I’m aware,” he said coldly. “That’s why I chose you.”

That’s why?

“Fresh. Malleable. No arrogance.”

He stood again, this time slowly walking toward the tall bookshelf at the side of his office. “Unlike those who think they know everything just because they’ve been in court once.”

He picked a thick file and tossed it onto my desk with a sharp thud.

“Start with this. We’ll go over it tonight.”

“Tonight?”

“Yes. Late hours are standard if you’re working with me.”

I nodded slowly, still overwhelmed. “Of course, po.”

“And don’t call me ‘po.’”

His voice dropped lower. “You’re not a student anymore, Serena.”

My name on his lips—it hit different. Parang may init na dumaloy sa batok ko.

“Sorry. Force of habit,” I mumbled.

He walked back to his seat, eyes scanning my reaction. “We’ll break those habits. Soon.”

I didn’t know what he meant by that. But my body did. Because my chest suddenly felt tight, and my legs shifted under the desk.

He’s just your boss. He’s just your boss.

Ulit-ulit kong sinasabi sa sarili ko, pero kahit anong ulit ko—parang mas lalo akong nalulunod sa kanya.

I reached for the folder and flipped it open. Financial litigation. Corporate manipulation. Offshore accounts. Complicated, high-stakes, high-pressure.

“This is… intense,” I murmured.

“And you’ll learn,” he said simply. “Fast. Or you’ll break.”

I looked up at him. “Why me, talaga?”

Leo leaned forward, elbows on the desk, steepling his fingers like a predator who just cornered his prey.

“Because you intrigue me.”

Nanigas ako.

“You’re a contradiction, Serena,” he continued. “Perfect grades. Polished image. But something in your eyes tells me you’re dying to be unchained.”

That word again. Unchained.

“Hindi niyo ako kilala.”

“Not yet,” he said. “But I will. That’s part of the assignment.”

Part of the assignment?

“Ano pong ibig n’yong sabihin?” I asked, voice a little tighter now.

Leo smirked. “This apprenticeship is not just legal.”

My lips parted in shock. “Excuse me?”

“Don’t panic,” he said calmly. “I meant psychology. Human nature. You’ll learn how power works—in the boardroom, in the courtroom, and…”

He let the sentence hang.

I didn’t dare ask where else.

Then his voice dropped again, low and calculated. “Do you have a boyfriend?”

“What?” I snapped, blinking hard. “That’s… irrelevant.”

“Everything is relevant when you’re working for me,” he replied. “I ask. You answer.”

I stared at him, pulse racing. “No. Wala po—wala akong boyfriend.”

He tilted his head slightly. “Good. Less distractions.”

And then he stood, abruptly ending the conversation.

“I have a meeting,” he said. “Finish that file. We go through it tonight. Seven p.m. sharp. My private conference room.”

Before I could react, he walked past me and out the door.

Leaving me sitting in the center of that cold, luxurious office… shaking.

I pulled out my phone under the table.

RAFAEL: How’s day one, hotshot lawyer?

ME: Different.

Wala pa akong nasasabing kahit ano kay Raf tungkol sa setup ko. Alam ko agad na hindi niya magugustuhan. He’s always been protective. Too much, sometimes.

Pero ngayon… hindi lang si Raf ang gumugulo sa isip ko.

It was Leo.

His voice. His eyes. The way he said “you intrigue me.”

Tangina.

This man wasn’t just testing my mind.

He was circling something deeper.

Something I never even knew I was hiding.

“Where have you been?”

Napatigil ako sa paglalakad nang marinig ko ang boses ni Raf. Nakatayo siya sa gilid ng hallway ng Montenegro Law ground floor, arms crossed, brows furrowed. His shirt sleeves were rolled, tie loosened—classic Raf kapag nai-stress.

“I thought you had a short day today,” dagdag niya, malalim ang tono.

“Late meeting,” sagot ko, trying to sound casual kahit ramdam ko pa ang init sa batok ko. Kasi hanggang ngayon, tumatambay pa rin sa isip ko ang tingin ni Atty. Montenegro kanina—parang x-ray scan na hindi lang katawan ang binutas, kundi kaluluwa.

Raf stepped forward. “Late meeting? With him?”

“Yes.” I avoided his gaze and started walking toward the parking lot. Pero naramdaman ko agad ang paglakad niya sa likod ko, mabilis, mabigat.

“Serena, sandali.”

Hinatak niya bahagya ang braso ko, hindi marahas, pero sapat para tumigil ako.

Napalingon ako. “Ano ba, Raf?”

“I’m worried,” he said directly. “Hindi normal ‘to.”

“Anong hindi normal?”

“That you’re working directly with him. The Leo Montenegro. Alam mo ba kung anong reputation meron ‘yon sa legal circle?”

Bumuntong-hininga ako. “Please don’t start.”

“Hindi ako nagsta-start. Nag-aalala lang ako. You’re not just any girl, S. You’re you. Innocent. Sweet. Predictable.”

He paused.

“And this guy? He doesn’t play fair. He’s not like us.”

I flinched at the word innocent. If he only knew what Leo made me feel just by sitting across the room.

“Raf, I passed the bar. I’m not a little girl anymore.”

“I’m not saying you are,” he said, his voice softening, “but this man... he's dangerous, Serena.”

My throat tightened. “So what do you want me to do? Quit?”

“If it means protecting you from someone like him? Yes.”

Napangiti ako, pero hindi ito masaya. “You don’t get to decide that, Raf.”

He looked like I slapped him. “I’m just trying to look out for you.”

“And I appreciate that. Pero please, wag mo akong ikulong sa imahe ng babaeng kailangan laging bantayan.”

“Because that’s not who you are?” tanong niya, half-challenging, half-hurt.

Biglang naging tahimik ang pagitan namin.

I took a deep breath. “Raf, I need to do this. For me.”

He looked away, jaw tightening. “Just… promise me something.”

“What?”

“If he crosses the line, if he touches you in any way na hindi mo gusto… tell me. I don’t care who he is. I’ll destroy him.”

His voice was quiet, but deadly serious.

I gave a small nod, kahit alam kong hindi ko siya kayang ipangako. Kasi kahit ako, hindi ko na alam kung anong ayaw at gusto ko pag si Leo Montenegro na ang nasa paligid.

Pag-uwi ko ng condo, hindi ko mapigilan ang mag-isip.

Why did Leo choose me? Why am I reacting like this?

Hindi ako ganito dati. Laging takot, laging sunod, laging safe. Pero simula nang tumapak ako sa opisina niya… parang may bumukas na pinto sa loob ko. Something dark. Curious. Wild.

And I hated that Raf saw me as someone who needed saving.

Because part of me…

Wasn’t sure if I wanted to be saved.

📩 Text Message:

LEO (Atty. Montenegro):

7 PM. My private room. Bring the case notes. Don’t be late again.

My heart jumped.

But not from fear.

From anticipation.

7:03 p.m.

Late na naman ako.

Nagmamadali akong pumasok sa executive floor ng Montenegro Law habang hinihila pa ang coat ko. Ang hallway ay tahimik na—parang lumipas na ang lahat ng oras ng mundo maliban sa akin at sa kaniya.

Huminto ako sa pinto ng private conference room ni Atty. Leo Montenegro. Malaki, matte black ang pintuan. Walang label. Walang pangalan. Pero alam ng lahat kung kanino ‘yon.

Kumatok ako, marahan. Isang beses lang.

“Come in,” ang malamig niyang boses mula sa loob.

Pagpasok ko, halos lumubog ang mundo ko sa atmosphere sa loob.

Low lighting. Dim lamp sa isang sulok. Isang mahabang mahogany table. May decanter ng scotch at dalawang baso sa isang tray. Walang ibang tao—kundi siya.

Siya, na nakaupo sa dulong dulo ng mesa, sleeves rolled up again, tie gone, top buttons open.

Para siyang kasalanan na niyaya kang upuan.

“Late,” he said, without looking up.

“I apologize po—traffic—”

“Don’t make excuses. Sit.”

Kagat-labi akong naupo sa kabilang dulo, malayo sa kanya pero ramdam ko ang pressure ng presensya niya sa balat ko. Binuksan ko ang tablet, inilabas ang notes, nag-rearrange ng files—kahit nanginginig ang daliri ko.

“Read the second paragraph,” utos niya.

Binasa ko aloud ang section ng tax evasion case, paos ang boses ko sa kaba. Pero halfway through, napansin kong hindi siya tumitingin sa tablet niya. Nakatingin siya… sa akin.

Diretso. Tahimik. Para bang siya ang nagbabasa sa’kin.

“Do you understand the loophole in that clause?” tanong niya.

I blinked. “Uh, yes. The offshore account under a shell corporation—”

“Wrong,” he said, cutting me off. “You’re reading words. Not power.”

Napahiya ako. My cheeks burned. “Sorry—”

He stood.

I stiffened.

He walked toward my side of the table, dahan-dahan, hindi nagmamadali. At nang tumayo siya sa likod ko, naramdaman ko agad ang init ng katawan niya kahit hindi siya lumalapit nang husto.

“Stand up,” he said.

“What?”

“Stand. Over here.”

Tumayo ako, alanganin. Tumabi ako sa kanya habang inabot niya ang tablet ko at pinakita ang clause ulit.

“Do you see the real trap?” tanong niya, his voice low.

“I… I think so—”

“You feel so. That’s your problem,” he whispered. “Law is not about feelings. It’s about leverage. Pressure. Control.”

I looked up at him, throat tight. “And people?”

His gaze locked on mine. “Are either weapons… or weaknesses.”

He took a step forward. Hindi pa rin kami nagkakadikit. Pero ang pagitan namin, halos wala na.

My breath hitched.

“And you, Atty. Alcantara,” he murmured, “haven’t decided yet if you want to be either.”

“I’m here to learn,” I whispered.

“And I’m here to teach,” he said, his hand hovering just a few inches above my wrist—not touching, but I could feel the gravity of it. “But teaching has its price.”

“What price?”

His eyes dropped to my lips. Then climbed back to my eyes.

“Obedience.”

My legs weakened.

Pero bago pa ako makasagot—he stepped back.

Parang hinugot bigla ang init sa kwarto.

“You’re dismissed,” he said.

Napasinghap ako. “That’s it?”

“For tonight.”

“I thought we’d review—”

“We just did,” he said, picking up his scotch glass. “You learned something more important than clauses tonight.”

“Which is?”

He took a sip and looked me dead in the eye.

“How quickly your body betrays your mind.”

Paglabas ko ng conference room, nilalabanan ko ang bawat hakbang. I felt dizzy, raw, and alive all at once.

Hindi niya ako hinawakan. Hindi niya ako hinalikan.

Pero pakiramdam ko para na akong hinubaran.

Hindi ako makatulog.

Pag-uwi ko ng condo, ilang ulit kong binuksan at sinara ang bintana, uminom ng malamig na tubig, nagsubok ng audiobook para antukin—pero wala.

Ang problema, hindi ang init ng kwarto.

Ang problema… ako.

Mas eksaktong sabihin: ang katawan ko.

Bawat tiklop ng balat ko, bawat pintig sa pagitan ng hita ko—naghahanap.

At kahit anong pilit kong itanggi, ang mukha ni Atty. Leo Montenegro ang laman ng bawat fantasiya.

I shouldn’t. He’s my superior. My boss.

Pero bakit parang siya pa rin ang humahawak sa hininga ko, kahit wala siya sa tabi ko?

Napapikit ako.

Naalala ko kung paano siya tumingin—mata na parang binabalatan ako ng dahan-dahan.

Naalala ko ang boses niya…

“Obedience.”

“Your body betrays your mind.”

Napasinghap ako, and for the first time in my life—I let my hand travel under my thin silk shorts.

Mainit ang palad ko. Nanginginig ang daliri.

This is wrong.

Pero masyado nang masikip ang init sa pagitan ng hita ko.

Marahan kong hinaplos ang sarili ko—una sa ibabaw, then deeper.

Isang ungol ang muntik na makawala sa labi ko.

I was wet. Soaking. And I didn’t even know this kind of heat existed.

It’s him. It’s because of him.

I gasped, hips arching slightly. Oh my god…

Then—

Knock. Knock.

Napabalikwas ako sa kama. Muntik pa akong mapasigaw.

But then I saw the notification.

New Email – From: Atty. Leo Montenegro

Subject: Case Notes Incomplete – Urgent Review

Shit.

Tumayo akong mabilis, kinuha ang coat, at nagmadaling bumalik sa office.

It was past 10 p.m. when I returned to the 39th floor. Tahimik. Madilim ang hallway. Pero bukas ang ilaw ng private office ni Leo.

Pagpasok ko, wala siya sa desk.

Sa halip, naiwan lang ang briefcase niya… at ang notes na may markang pulang ink.

“Review. Page 18-21. Try again.”

Nagbuntong-hininga ako. Nilapag ko ang bag ko sa couch at dumiretso sa side table to grab a bottle of water. Pero sa bawat page na binabalikan ko, ang utak ko bumabalik din… doon sa kama.

Sa init. Sa galaw ng daliri ko.

Napalunok ako.

And then, habang binabasa ko ang paragraph, hindi ko na mapigilan.

Napaupo ako sa leather chair sa corner. Tahimik. Mag-isa. Madilim.

I crossed my legs, pero hindi na sapat.

I slid one hand down between them.

One more time.

Walang makakakita. Isang saglit lang.

Napapikit ako. Hininga, mabigat. Daliri, marahan. Ibitin, ilapit. Ilubog.

“Say it,” boses niya sa utak ko. “Do you want it?”

I gasped.

“Yes…”

And then—

“Interesting.”

Napatigil ako. Nanigas.

Boses. Totoong boses.

Biglang lumamig ang paligid.

Paglingon ko—

Leo was standing by the door.

Arms crossed. Face unreadable. Eyes—hungry.

Nanlaki ang mata ko. “I—I thought you weren’t—”

“You thought wrong,” he said, voice low, calm, lethal.

Napabangon ako, halos matumba.

“I’m sorry—Atty. Montenegro, I—”

“You moaned my name.”

My breath caught.

“I didn’t—”

“You did.”

Lumapit siya, hakbang-hakbang, dahan-dahan, hanggang halos maabot na niya ang desk.

Hindi siya lumapit sa akin—pero hindi na kailangan. Ang boses niya lang sapat na para manlambot ang tuhod ko.

“I should fire you,” he said, voice tight.

I looked down, shamed. “I—please don’t—”

“But I won’t.”

He leaned in slightly.

“Because the moment I saw your face the first day… I knew this would happen.”

“I didn’t mean to—”

“You did.”

Now his voice dropped deeper.

“You wanted to. You were dying to be caught.”

I bit my lip, humihikbi sa hiya at kaba.

Leo stared at me. His eyes didn’t blink. His jaw clenched.

Then—he took one step closer.

Pero hindi pa rin niya ako hinawakan.

“Next time,” he said, his voice velvet and danger combined,

“you’ll come… when I tell you to.”

He turned and walked out.

Iniwan akong nakaawang ang bibig, nanginginig ang tuhod, basang-basa sa gitna ng opisina niya.