Secretly Yours, Boss

Chapter 1

I couldn't sleep. As in, kanina pa ako nagpaikot-ikot sa queen-size bed ko, parang I'm in some restless choreography na hindi ko naman sinasadya. My silk sheets, kahit gaano ka-luxurious, parang hindi makapag-comfort sa akin tonight. My heart is doing this couture-level drum roll inside my chest.

And the reason? Earlier today, I took the plunge and applied to one of the most prestigious BPO companies in the country right now—Emerson & Lyle. Not your typical BPO ha—this is an international powerhouse, headquartered in the US, na last year lang naisipang i-extend ang empire nila dito sa Pilipinas. Think: Wall Street meets Bonifacio Global City. And me? I went in with eyes wide open... and heart in my throat.

If you think about it, I was already in a comfortable place career-wise. My former company treated me well, salary was decent, I even had a corner cubicle na may killer view. Pero alam mo 'yung when you just feel na your soul is craving for something bigger? That's me. I wanted growth. Not just financial growth, but the kind that changes you. So with a very deep breath (and konting kape para sa lakas ng loob), I tendered my resignation, packed my designer mug, and walked away.

Yesterday pa lang actually ako nag-apply sa Emerson & Lyle. And I swear, I nailed that interview. Hindi sa pagmamayabang, pero out-of-the-box questions are practically my runway. Every answer, every smile, every calculated pause—I was serving it. Kaya when the panel said, "We'll call you," I almost gave them a standing ovation. But also, parang may tiny crack sa confidence ko.

Kasi, let's be real—mga high-caliber companies like this have their own mysterious ways. Sa ibang kumpanya, one-day process lang. Dito? Even if you're practically the reincarnation of their ideal employee, when they say "We'll call you," it's either a promise or a polite no. And that ambiguity? It's torture.

So here I am, kabadong parang I'm waiting for a Chanel haute couture fitting, praying na hindi ko masira ang moment. The idea of not getting in is unthinkable. Like, I already told my old workmates—with just the right touch of smugness—that I was leaving for Emerson & Lyle. Can you imagine the shame kung hindi pala ako matanggap? Social suicide.

Then suddenly—my phone rang. The sound sliced through my anxiety like a champagne cork popping at a yacht party. I glanced at the screen: unknown number. My pulse? Skyrocketing. I whispered a prayer to all saints of corporate success.

"Hello? Who's this?" I tried to sound calm, pero may crack ang voice ko. Classy crack, pero crack pa rin.

"Hi! This is Sheena from Emerson & Lyle. Is this Brix Peralta?"

For a split second, I froze. Parang runway model na natapilok backstage pero somehow nag-recover. Her tone was bright, almost celebratory. And I was clinging to that hope like it was my Birkin.

"Yes, speaking."

"Thank you for answering my call. I just want you to know that based on your interview yesterday, we found out that you are qualified to be a new agent here at Emerson & Lyle. May I know the best day for you to come for your job offer?"

The words hit me like a perfectly chilled glass of Moët on a humid Manila afternoon. This was it. The golden ticket. The coveted yes. My inner monologue was already screaming and doing cartwheels in Louboutin heels, but outwardly, I kept my tone smooth.

"I'm available on Tuesday at 2 PM," I replied, as if I hadn't been manifesting this for weeks.

"Great! We'll see you then. Bye."

The moment the call ended, I finally let go. I jumped on my bed like a giddy debutante who just got proposed to at a Paris ball. The kind of joy na hindi mo mabibili kahit ilang Hermès pa ang bilhin mo.

Finally. Emerson & Lyle. My next chapter. And I'm ready.

Ako nga pala si Brix Martin Peralta—although honestly, I only really claim the first and last name. 'Yung Martin kasi, for me, parang sobra siyang pang-lalaki in a very straight, varsity-jacket, jeepney-sitting kind of way. And while I do love men (in every possible sense), that middle name just doesn't match my energy. My friends—well, my real friends—just call me Brix.

I'm twenty-three years young, fabulously loud, unapologetically gay, and living solo dito sa Manila. My entire family, as in buong clan, relocated na to Canada years ago, all bundled up in puffer jackets and sipping peppermint mochas in some snow-covered suburb. Pero ako? I chose to stay here. Not because I didn't love them—oh my God, I do—but because I wanted to prove something to myself. I wanted independence, the real, raw kind. I didn't want to be that spoiled Manila boy na umaasa lang sa monthly remittance from parents abroad.

Sure, my parents can still provide me with everything I could possibly ask for—luxury bags, European vacations, limited-edition sneakers—but there's something deliciously intoxicating about earning your own money. Kaya kahit masakit sa bangs ko minsan, I stayed, I hustled, I worked.

And because I'm me, of course gusto ko ring i-maximize ang pagiging free and fabulously queer. I wanted everything: the nights out in the city, the dangerous crushes, the 3 AM afterparties na amoy champagne at cigarette smoke, the kind of whirlwind romance na parang lumabas lang sa isang glossy spread. Gusto kong maranasan lahat 'yan—no parental curfews, no one asking "Anong oras ka uuwi?" Just me and the city.

So yes, I bought my own condo. Paid in full from my own savings and the salary I earned from my last job. Hindi siya Forbes Park mansion, but it's mine—floor-to-ceiling windows, a closet that's 70% statement pieces, and a queen-size bed na parang naging stage ko na rin for life's... let's say, more private performances.

And honestly? I can say na I'm living quite a lavish single life. My salary is mine alone—walang hatian, walang nagpapadala sa probinsya, no tita asking for pang-tuition. I'm grateful every single day na pinanganak ako sa isang pamilya na hindi lang financially comfortable, but also emotionally generous. No judgment, no shame. Ever since bata pa lang ako, parang alam na nila na babaihin ang bunso nilang anak—so by the time I officially came out, it was less of a confession and more of a formal announcement of something everyone already knew.

They just nodded, smiled, and probably thought, "Finally."

Anyway, look at me—nagiging emotional na. Pero enough about my whole origin story. I need my beauty sleep. Tomorrow is officially my last day in my old company. May pa-despedida sila for me—nothing grand, just a small spread of wine, pasta, and probably the token chocolate cake with "Good Luck, Brix!" in overly sweet frosting.

And then, come Tuesday? My job offer day with Emerson and Lyle.

God, I can't even stop smiling thinking about it. I feel like I'm standing right at the edge of something major. The kind of chapter change na parang soundtrack-worthy. Tonight, I'll sleep with a grin on my lips, as if even in my dreams, I'm already stepping into that next, brighter room.

~~~~

"Be, I'm seriously gonna miss you," Trish said, her voice trembling habang nakayakap siya sa akin na parang ayaw na niya akong pakawalan. I could feel her arms tightening around me, and when I glanced at her face, her eyes were glistening, ready to spill those precious tears na pilit niyang pinipigilan.

Trish is honestly my one and only real bestfriend here. Like, literally. Siya lang talaga. Everyone else sa company? Oh my gosh, pure plastics. As in, mga fake-fakean na parang friends lang sa surface pero deep down, ginagamit ka lang pala. And the worst part? They only pretended to like me kasi they know I have money. Ako naman, being my naïve, so trusting self, nagpauto pa talaga. Imagine, I actually thought they cared about me.

Pero si Trish? Iba siya. She's the only person na may guts to actually confront me about stuff—brutally honest kung brutally honest. If she doesn't like something about me, she'll tell me straight to my face, no filter. And she was also the one who opened my eyes na, hello, ginagamit lang pala ako ng mga ka-work namin. Like, she literally said, "Girl, wake up, they're just leeching off your wallet." That was my wake-up call.

After that, I kinda distanced myself from everyone else. I stopped joining their fake coffee invites, yung mga "let's hang out" na actually "let's see if you'll pay for our frappes." And from then on, I just stuck with Trish.

I honestly thought na maybe they prepared some cute padespedida for me or something, kasi nga I'm leaving soon. Pero, nope. Nada. Not even a single congratulations na natanggap ako sa Emerson & Lyle. Obviously, kasi wala na silang mahuhuthutan sa akin. So sad for them.

"Be, I told you before pa na you should follow me to Emerson & Lyle. Para we can be together again, diba?" I told her for like, the hundredth time already, with that little playful tone pero deep inside, I'm serious, girl.

I've been convincing her for months to apply with me. But this stubborn queen? She always says no. Takot daw siya kasi baka hindi siya makapasa sa interview. She knows kasi na super intense yung hiring process sa Emerson & Lyle—like, it's not for the faint-hearted. Pero ako, I went for it blindfolded, just for the sake of my career growth. And honestly? It paid off. Totally worth it.

"You know I can't just leave my job like that. My family needs me. Like, what would I even feed them if I don't have work?" she said, with that defensive but tired tone.

"Ayan ka na naman!" I groaned. "For once and for all, can you just think about yourself muna? Hindi pwedeng palaging sila ang priority mo. How will you even grow kung lagi mo silang binubuhat sa shoulders mo?" I said, in full bestfriend motivational speaker mode, before casually sipping my iced macchiato like it was a dramatic scene in some Netflix series.

She just sighed—one of those deep, weighted sighs—then looked away. Her gaze went far, like she was staring at a future she couldn't quite imagine yet.

Kasi here's the thing: Trish is the youngest sa siblings nila, just like me. Pero the difference? Siya pa ang breadwinner. Mind you, she's only twenty, pero she's carrying the weight of an entire household. Her older siblings? Oh, they married early. And guess what—when they run short on cash, guess sino ang unang tinatawagan? Yep. Trish.

"Hey, why are you crying?" I asked, nang mapansin kong may luha nang tumulo sa gilid ng mata niya.

"Wala lang," she said softly. "I just... had a realization about everything you said. You're right. Maybe it's about time I choose myself."

I smiled—one of those quiet, relieved smiles. Honestly, I thought this bestfriend of mine would never have that breakthrough moment. But there it was.

~~~~

Finally, Tuesday na. I'm here at the chic and modern office of Emerson and Lyle, sitting in the waiting area, anticipating my turn. May ilan pa akong kasabay, all waiting for the same thing—a job offer.

Medyo may kaba pa rin. Kahit sabihin pang pasado na ako, there's still that flutter in my chest that just won't go away.

"Brix Peralta?" tawag ng isang babae from the reception area. I looked up, flashed a confident smile, and walked over. She guided me towards a glass-walled conference room.

Pagpasok ko, agad akong sinalubong ng malamig na hampas ng aircon. Inside, there were three people—two women, one man.

Naturally, my eyes went straight to the only man in the room.

My God. He's hot. And when I say hot, I mean the type of hot na tipong mala-Michele Morrone ang aura.

Tangina, medyo nag-wet ata ang kiffy ko.

He was wearing a pale blue polo shirt, unbuttoned at the top for that subtle tease. Hair, perfectly brushed up. Skin, sun-kissed bronze. Eyes, almond brown. And those lips—soft pink and just the right shape. Tapos buff pa siya. As in, the type of buff na parang gusto mong magpa-headlock habang nakangiti.

"Hi," bati ng babaeng katabi niya, pulling me out of my mini fantasy.

"Hello, I'm Brix," I introduced myself, my voice just a tiny bit shaky. Not sure if it was from the AC... or from the view.

"Have a seat," she offered. I sat down directly across from them, but my eyes kept darting back to Mr. Human Ring Light.

Grabe, I've seen a lot of attractive men in my life, but this one? He's in a league of his own—parang laging may professional lighting crew following him around.

Gosh. Worth it talaga ang Emerson and Lyle. If this is the kind of eye candy I'll be working with, walang absent-an to, promise.

"Hi Brix, I'm Sheena. I'm the one you spoke with the other night who gave you the good news," she said with a smile. "As I mentioned over the phone, you're qualified to be an agent here in Emerson and Lyle, but..."

She paused. Then her eyes flicked to Mr. Human Ring Light.

Biglang bumilis ang t***k ng puso ko. Jusko, akala ko secured na 'to. Akala ko araw-araw ko nang makikita ang lalaking 'to sa opisina. Pero bakit may but?

"Is there any problem?" hindi ko napigilan itanong, trying to sound calm kahit ramdam ko na parang may drumline sa dibdib ko.

Napatingin sa akin si Mr. Human Ring Light — seryoso ang mukha, parang hindi marunong ngumiti. Lalo tuloy akong kinabahan, parang may announcement na magbabago ang buhay ko forever.

"Actually, you are more than qualified," he began, in that impossibly deep, smooth voice. "As we reviewed your CV, we saw that you graduated from the University of Ontario, finishing Business Communication. So instead of offering you an agent position, management decided to give you a role in the back office." Walang pause, walang crack sa boses, parang scripted sa isang luxury brand commercial. Mas lalo tuloy akong na-fall... sa boses niya.

"You heard it right, Brix. So it's up to you if you want to accept the offer," dagdag ni Sheena, smiling as if inaabot niya sa'kin ang susi ng bagong Range Rover.

Duh? Sino ba naman ako para tanggihan ang ganitong blessing? High position, competitive salary, plus gwapong officemate na parang leading man sa Netflix? Jusko, jackpot ito!

"Yes, of course. I'll accept it," mabilis kong sagot, halos hindi pa niya tapos magsalita.

Napangiti si Sheena, satisfied. Pero si Mr. Human Ring Light? Wala pa rin. Same poker face, parang naka-Photoshop ang emotion out of his system. May tragic backstory kaya siya?

"Great to hear that. And, also, you'll be working under Mr. Liam Estrada. He'll be your boss."

Boom. Parang nalaglag ang panga ko sa sinabi niya. Si Mr. Freaking Human Ring Light... magiging boss ko?! What the—