Secretly Yours, Boss

Chapter 3

Nakalipas ang dalawang linggo, at slowly, I was starting to get the hang of the step-by-step choreography ng pagiging isang Client Expert. Medyo parang dance routine siya—at first awkward, pero once you feel the rhythm, nagiging natural na lang. I even had my first client meeting, and to be fair, it went surprisingly smooth.

Mukhang genuinely happy si Mr. Human Ring Light sa presentation ko—well, happy in his own... stoic, marble-statue kind of way.

Every time I spoke, explaining the details and walking them through the entire deck, I could see this tiny, almost imperceptible smirk sa lips niya. Not the warm, "I'm proud of you" kind of smile, but more like what Miranda Priestly does when she's secretly pleased yet pretending not to be—minus the Runway magazine couture drama. Shin even told me afterwards, "Mukhang satisfied si Liam kanina. Usually may mga pahabol siyang tricky questions, pero sa'yo, wala. As in zero."

And honestly, I took that as a silent standing ovation.

Of course, hindi naman magic 'yon. Tatlong araw ko talagang pinaghandaan ang first-ever presentation ko. I went full academic-meets-corporate realness—talagang ginamit ko every ounce ng pinag-aralan ko just to make him nod in approval. I wanted that wow factor, that "you can rely on me" vibe, and I think I might have delivered.

Pero, here's the thing: hindi ko pa rin alam kung officially approved ang buong client proposal. Apparently, mag-e-email na lang daw si Liam kay Shin for the verdict, and si Shin na lang ang magre-relay sa akin ng result. Medyo nakakakaba, to be honest.

But you know what, if ever hindi man pumasa, at least I know I gave it everything. I delivered with grace, poise, and PowerPoint finesse. Still, fingers crossed na lang tayo, kasi siyempre, bonus na 'yung maaprubahan siya.

Anyway—today is my off. And I promised myself, no corporate stress, no overthinking. This day is strictly reserved for pampering my soul after a week of deadlines and late-night deck editing sessions with overpriced cold brew on the side.

So, I called Trish to join me for some much-needed self-care. First stop, our usual favorite café here in BGC—'yung parang second home na namin, where the baristas already know our orders. After our caffeine fix, we took a slow, glamorous stroll under the mid-morning sun before deciding to swing by Uptown Mall for some indulgence therapy.

By the time we sat down at one of those tastefully lit Japanese restos, I was already in full chismis mode.

"So ayun na nga, Trish—napaka-arogante niya. Like, I don't know if he was born this serious, or kung pinaglihi siya ng mama niya sa mga horror movie villains. As in, ni hindi man lang marunong ngumiti!" I ranted, before unceremoniously shoving an entire piece of tempura into my mouth. Decorum, be damned.

Kasi nga naman, nakakainis. Every single time, I try to be civil, warm, and professional... pero he treats me like I'm some background character in his action film. Para bang allergic siya sa kahit anong friendly gesture. And hello, I thought he wasn't homophobic? Pero bakit parang he's overdoing this whole "mysterious" persona?

"Be," Trish started, twirling her straw like she was giving sage love-life advice on a reality show, "baka naman nasa getting-to-know stage pa lang siya sa'yo. Give him a chance. Malay mo, eventually, mapangiti mo rin siya. Who knows, baka slow-burn 'yan."

I took a slow sip of my red tea, savoring both the flavor and the dramatic pause before answering. "Sana lang talaga, Trish. Kasi honestly, aanhin mo ang gwapong mukha kung hindi ka marunong ngumiti? It's like having a Ferrari na hindi mo puwedeng i-drive. Sayang lang."

Alam mo 'yung pakiramdam na parang you've fallen so far, so deep into someone's orbit, tapos biglang may plot twist na hindi mo alam kung blessing ba or plot device lang ng universe to test your EQ? Shucks, sobrang hirap niya basahin. Parang naka-Prada shades 24/7 — hindi mo makita kung anong nasa likod ng lente. Is he intrigued by me? Or is he just casually indulging my presence the way one entertains a mildly amusing dinner guest?

"Anyway, change topic na muna, please," sabi ni Trish, sabay hair flip na parang nasa luncheon sa Manila Polo Club. "I start na this Monday. Pero may something pa pala akong hindi sinasabi sa'yo..." she teased, deliberately pausing to sip her matcha latte like she was staging her own slow-motion product ad.

Napalingon ako agad, eyebrows raised, kasi hello, suspense queen siya bigla. "Ano 'yon? Pa-suspense ka pa diyan, girl."

With the most controlled smile na parang iniipit lang niya ang tili, she leaned closer. "Well... I'll be your Assistant Client Expert."

Napa-nganga ako as in frozen for a second, like a scene sa teleserye na nag-zoom in muna sa reaction shot ko. Hindi ako prepared sa level ng happiness na 'yon. Imagine — my best friend, my partner-in-chaos, officially magiging ka-battlefield ko sa corporate trenches.

"Really?" tanong ko na parang hindi pa rin sure kung totoo. Tumango siya, still biting back that scream. Nang tuluyan nang mag-sink in, pareho kaming napatingin sa isa't isa, sabay silent tili sa loob ng Japanese resto — walang sound pero full impact performance. Siyempre, dignity first. Hindi puwedeng umalingawngaw ang energy namin at magpasabog ng sosyal chaos sa Uptown.

"Wow, Trish... sobra akong happy. As in, you have no idea kung gaano ako ka-thankful na makakasama kita. Kasi girl, grabe, the stress lately? Hindi sa work ha — I mean, presentation-wise, kaya ko 'yan ng eyes closed. Pero yung boss ko? Different league of stress 'yun."

Let's be real: hindi ako nahihirapan sa trabaho ko. These presentations? Puchu-puchu lang sa akin 'yan. I've been debating and defending my points since my college days — lagi pa akong top contender sa debate championships. Public speaking is practically my cardio. But Liam? Si Mr. Human Ring Light himself? That's a different battlefield altogether.

Grabe, ang hirap niyang pangitiin. Parang every smile niya may NDA, exclusive for select occasions lang. I want the kind of easy, relaxed rapport na meron siya with Shin — 'yung casual banters, 'yung effortless warmth. Pero sa akin? Parang kailangan ko pang mag-apply ng visa at magtayo ng tulay just to cross over into his zone.

Pero maybe, tama si Trish. Maybe, kailangan ko lang talagang bigyan ng time si Liam. Let him get to know me, in the same way na I'll take the time to read between the lines of his guarded exterior. After all, the best things in life are always worth the slow burn.

~~~~

Hindi pa doon natapos ang aming Saturday soirée ni Trish. I mean, hello, since nasa BGC na rin kami — the land of endless neon nights and people who treat cocktails like accessories — naisipan na rin naming mag-bar hop. We decided to go to one of those it pubs na parang permanent fixture na sa nightlife map dito. Actually, our usual spot 'yan before, back when I was still in my former company with my so-called friends. And yes, ako lagi ang taya noon — not because I had to, but because, let's be honest, ako lang naman talaga ang may liquid assets sa grupo.

We didn't even have to browse the menu. As in, muscle memory na for the waitstaff. They know my drink by heart — JD with lime and a rim of salt. Crisp, potent, unapologetic. My signature. Syempre, habang slowly swirling my glass, hindi mawala sa akin 'yung instinct to scan the crowd for the aesthetic male population. Because in BGC, the men are curated — a heady mix of gym-sculpted, cologne-drenched, and LinkedIn-successful. And honestly? If you're here, you're not just here to sip — you're here to observe, be observed, and maybe play a little. Tonight, I was more than ready to be on that frequency.

Trish and I were deep in girl math and gossip mode, swaying ever so slightly to the beats, when Pussycat Dolls' I Hate This Part came on — that bittersweet, cinematic anthem na parang laging may montage sa utak mo kapag naririnig mo. We were in our element, comfortable on this plush, circular sofa, our drinks catching the dim, golden light like they were props in a fragrance ad.

Then, out of nowhere, a group of guys made their approach.

They settled themselves casually on the opposite curve of the sofa, the kind of body language na alam mong they've done this a hundred times — scanning, calculating. And Trish and I, of course, knew this drill all too well. This is the urban safari version of BGC nightlife — predators (in branded polos) looking for targets who might be good for a round of free drinks. The formula is textbook: find guests who seem alone, initiate charming banter, and hope for the champagne to flow.

But, darling, I wasn't born yesterday. Yes, bakla ako, pero alam ko ang boundaries ko. I can play along with the banter, treat it as entertainment, maybe even sponsor a drink or two if I feel generous. But cross the line? No. Plus, may kasama akong babae — so there's that protective layer of mutual watchfulness.

And then — twist.

Instead of the usual flirty, "So, what are you drinking?" opener, one of them — a conyo-looking guy with Kenneth Cole loafers and a jawline that deserved its own ZIP code — leaned in, offering the kind of smile that felt both confident and almost too polite.

"Uh... can we just sit here? Wala na kasing upuan."

Trish and I locked eyes — that silent girl-to-girl Morse code exchange na kayang maglaman ng limang paragraphs of judgment, amusement, and curiosity all at once.

I turned my head slowly, already rehearsing in my mind the perfectly measured, slightly aloof response I was about to deliver — something polite enough to be socially acceptable, but with just the right amount of disinterest para hindi halata na curious ako. My lips had barely parted, the first syllable lingering at the tip of my tongue, when — out of nowhere, as in like magic — a familiar face suddenly appeared in my direct line of sight.

And I swear, hindi ito exaggeration — but is it his actual hobby to just pop up everywhere? Like, does he keep a secret calendar of my whereabouts and strategically plan his entrances para laging may element of surprise? Because honestly, this was giving main character energy.

"Liam?"

The name escaped my lips before I could even adjust my tone to something more effortlessly detached. My voice came out softer than I intended, almost betraying the tiny spike of adrenaline that coursed through me the moment our eyes met.

There he was, standing a few feet away, looking like he had just stepped out of a meticulously curated GQ cover shoot. The ambient lighting from the bar's warm Edison bulbs seemed to bend toward him, like even physics was contractually obligated to highlight his presence. His tailored jacket — midnight navy with a subtle sheen — hugged his frame like it had been commissioned exclusively for him by some Milanese artisan who doesn't even advertise his services to the public.

And that expression... neutral but knowing, as if he had already read the entire script of tonight's events and was simply here to deliver his lines at the exact moment they would have the maximum emotional impact. His eyes swept the space with that quiet authority that made you feel like everyone else in the room was background noise.

Inside my head, my thoughts were a mix of annoyance and intrigue: Why is he here? How long has he been standing there? And more importantly, why does his sudden appearance feel like the opening scene of a scandal I didn't even know I was starring in?