A Billionaire's Lust Obsession

Chapter 2: The Beginning of Trouble

ZERI’S POV

The office was quiet—too quiet for someone who was supposed to have moved on.

The faint hum of the air conditioner filled the space, mixing with the soft ticking of the wall clock. I traced a finger over the smooth wooden edge of my desk, trying to focus on work, but my mind kept slipping away.

Dapat sanay na ko, at ‘yon ang hindi ko maintindihan sa sarili ko.

But I couldn’t stop thinking about him—Dreyden Celestial.

It was stupid, really. He’s just an applicant. A man I barely know.

And yet… every time I closed my eyes, I could still see that calm look on his face, the way he spoke like he wasn’t afraid of me at all.

Wait! I shook my head, trying to push the thoughts away.

“Focus, Zeri,” sabi ko sa sarili ko habang inaayos ang mga proposal sa desk ko. Pero kahit na pinilit kong magbasa, the letters blurred on the paper.

All I could think of was the faint scent of his cologne that still lingered from this morning—warm, subtle, annoyingly hard to forget.

Sienna peeked into my office, holding a folder. “Ma’am… you okay? Kanina pa po kayo tahimik.”

I forced a small shrug. “Just tired. Keep the meeting schedule ready. I’ll go through the numbers in a bit.”

She nodded but didn’t push further. Alam niya na hindi ko kailangang magpaliwanag kapag ganito ako. Ang totoo, lagi naman akong ganito, pero ngayon hindi ko maintindihan dahil bago ‘yong gumugulo sa utak ko. At hindi ko ‘yon gusto.

After she left, I leaned back in my chair and stared at the ceiling.

Why was it so easy to notice him? So easy to remember everything about him?

Wait. Ano bang nangyayari sa ‘kin? Di ko maintindihan ‘yong epekto niya sa ‘kin. Ganito ba ‘ko dahil alam kong hindi siya natatakot sa presensya ko.

I know he’s different from my past. Wala siyang kinalaman do’n.

And then, like a punch I didn’t expect, the memory hit me.

The aisle. White flowers. Guests whispering. And him. The day my wedding ended before it even began.

My chest tightened. I hadn’t thought about that day in a long time — not really. Not like this. But now, for the first time in years, a name, a face, a presence… brought it all back. Parang sariwa pa rin ‘yong sakit pero siya ‘yon nakapag-propose na ulit sa iba.

Natigilan ako nang tumunog ulit ang intercom ko. “Ma’am, nag-cancel po ng meeting si Mr. Howard, may emergency lang daw po na nangyari and he’s asking if we can move the meeting to next week.”

“Okay, ikaw na ang bahalang mag-reschedule since ikaw naman ang nakakaalam ng mga schedule ko,” sagot ko naman. “Anyway, Sienna, can you bring me the monthly profit report? ‘Yan na lang muna ang i-review ko since hindi naman natuloy ang meeting ko.”

“One moment, Ma’am,” sabi naman niya kaya binaba ko na ang intercom. After a minute naman ay pumasok din siya agad dala ang report na hinihingi ko.

Mas mabuti pa na ito ang i-review ko kaysa iba ang iniisip ko.

“Anyway, have you heard anything from HR? Alam mo ba kung kailan nila pinag-start si Mr. Celestial?” hindi mapigil na tanong ko.

“Very unusual, Ma’am,” sabi niya na ikinakunot ng noo ko, napangiti naman siya at ‘yon ang mas hindi ko maintindihan. “Very unusual po na nanghingi kayo ng update tungkol sa applicant natin,” komento naman niya kaya tiningnan ko siya ng masama. “Oh, sorry!” mabilis naman na sabi niya. “Ah, ang alam ko po pinag-start na siya ngayon.”

“Agad?” Gulat na tanong ko.

“Actually, Ma’am, si Mr. Celestial po mismo ang nag-request dahil gusto raw niya aralin ang company profile natin before anything else.” Tumango naman ako and I’m impressed dahil sa initiative niya.

“Okay, you may go,” utos ko naman.

Mas lalo yata akong na-out of focus, ngayong alam kong nandito pa rin si Mr. Celestial.

I shook my head again at nag-focus sa mga papel na nasa harap ko. Pero nagsalubong lang ang kilay ko nang makita ko ang monthly report namin. I pick up the intercom again

“Yes, Ma’am?” bungad ni Sienna.

“Get the word out—every department head needs to be in the conference room in five minutes. No excuses.” Galit na sabi ko.

I gathered all the papers in front of me at dinala ko ‘yon palabas ng opisina ko.

When I walked past the meeting room, I caught a glimpse of him again — Dreyden Celestial— talking to my HR manager, calm, confident, unnervingly self-assured.

He didn’t notice me — or maybe he did and just didn’t care. Somehow, that made it worse.

I turned my heels away and walked faster. My mind racing. My heart… betraying me without permission.

Kailangan ko siyang iwasan dahil nawawala ang inis na nararamdaman ko sa monthly report na nakita ko.

Nang makapasok ako ng conference room ay nando’n na ang lahat ng department head.

“So, tell me—what happened to the market? Bakit ganiyan ang baba ng profit natin this month?”

Wala na akong oras para sa small talk. Everyone looked tense, and that’s exactly how I wanted it.

“Ma’am Zeri,” sabi ni Mari, our Creative Head, “Pixel & Pulse Media po ang nangunguna ngayon sa market. They launched an aggressive campaign this month—”

“And we didn’t see that coming?” I cut in, my tone sharper than intended. Silence followed.

Renan, our HR head, cleared his throat. “Actually, Ma’am, kaya rin po namin pinayagan si Mr. Celestial na mag-start agad. Marketing requested his input for a new strategy.”

I froze for a split second at the mention of his name.

“Fine,” I said, recovering. “From this day on, I expect results. No more excuses.”

Everyone nodded. The tension was thick, like the air inside the conference room was heavy enough to choke on.

“Meeting adjourned.”

As they filed out, I rubbed my temples. Another headache. Another long day. And now… another distraction I couldn’t afford.

Kahit gusto ko magpahinga hindi ko magawa dahil mas lalo lang akong nalulungkot kapag wala akong ginagawa. Two years ko nang sinusubsob ang sarili ko sa trabaho.

Napabuntong-hininga ako saka ko kinuha ang mga papel na dala ko kanina para bumalik ng opisina ko. Paglabas ko ng conference room, I caught myself scanning the office, half-expecting to see him hovering near my office.

Which, of course, he wasn’t. Alam naman nila na ayoko nang pagala-gala during working hours.

He was probably perfectly fine, unbothered, probably thinking about his own things while I… was thinking about him.

Nakakainis.

Padabog kong naihampas ang hawak kong papel sa isang table na nadaanan ko kaya halos lahat ng employee na nando’n ay napatingin sa ‘kin. But I didn’t give a damn.

Why do I keep thinking about that annoying, intrusive man?

Binalik ko lang ang mga dala ko sa office ko. And by five o’clock, I just wanted to breathe, so I decided to go home for some fresh air.

I grabbed my coat and stepped out of the office, my heels clicking down the hallway. Instead of the elevator, I decided to take the stairs.

And then I saw him—through the glass wall—as I made my way down the stairs. I rushed toward where he was.

He was sitting outside in the small garden, coffee in hand, looking absurdly calm. As if the world revolved around him and I was just… another pedestrian.

“Mr. Celestial,” I said, trying to keep my tone neutral.

He looked up, and that same small smile appeared. That smile that made my chest tighten for reasons I couldn’t explain.

“Ms. Montealegre,” he greeted, standing. “I didn’t expect to see you here.”

“I needed air,” I said. Short. Controlled. Para hindi niya ipahalata ‘yong kabang nararamdaman ko, and that’s what I can’t understand about myself, which actually frustrates me.

“Then let’s share it,” he said, gesturing to the bench beside him.

At first, I hesitated. Then, with a quiet sigh, I sat down. Not because I wanted to. But because… curiosity got the better of me. Gusto ko malaman kung bakit ganito ‘yong nararamdaman ko.

For a while, we just sat there. Quiet. Watching the city stretch around us. And for a moment, I allowed myself to forget my carefully constructed walls.

“You’re… different from the stories I’ve heard,” he said finally, turning to me.

“Stories?” I asked, raising a brow.

“People talk,” he said simply. “About the boss who fires without blinking, who makes everyone afraid of her shadow…” He paused. “I wanted to see the woman behind that.” Pagtapos ay tumingin siya sa ‘kin, and just like that, my heart stops.

I wanted to roll my eyes, but I didn’t. Because there was something in the way he said it — not mocking, not flattering — just… observing.

“I’m still the same,” I said quietly. “I just… don’t waste my time.”

“Fair enough,” he said, taking a sip of his coffee. “But time can be wasted in interesting ways too, don’t you think?”

I wanted to tell him to stop being vague. To stop teasing me. To stop making my heart beat like a teenager’s.

But I didn’t. I can’t.

I opened my mouth to speak, but he glanced at his wristwatch before I could.

“Hindi ko napansin ang oras,” napapailing na sabi niya. “Sorry, Ms. Montealegre, I have to go. I’m meeting someone for dinner. I have to go!” Parang may kumurot naman sa puso ko dahil sa sinabi niya.

“Okay, go ahead! Pauwi na rin naman ako,” sagot ko.

“Okay, bye! See you tomorrow!” Nakangiting paalam niya bago niya ko tuluyang talikuran.

He left just like that—walking away with that confident stride that made my chest ache for reasons I refused to name.

I stared at his back until he disappeared around the corner. For a moment, all I could hear was the soft buzz of the streetlights outside and the distant murmur of the city around. The air felt heavier, like even the wind was mocking me.

How could I even think he was single? Of course he has a girlfriend. Guys like that don’t stay single; girls practically line up for him.

I let out a bitter laugh, shaking my head.

Kailan ka pa naging naive, Zerina?

The words echoed inside me like a quiet slap.

Maybe it was the cold night air or maybe it was the truth finally sinking in—but as I walked back to my car, I realized one thing: I wasn’t just distracted. I was in trouble.