Seducing Mr. Encantadio

Chapter Four: He's Back

Celine’s Pov

I was standing in the lobby of the company watching him from afar. Talking to someone I don’t know. People passed me, walking fast towards the elevator. Here I am, petrified.

Nagbalik na pala siya mula sa kanyang leave. It’s been a week now. I’m trying my best not to answer his following calls after I’m having nightmares of him. Well, I call it a nightmare since I really can’t accept being like this. Or can I? Thinking only of him. Going crazy day by day or should I say every night. I really must be going insane.

Nagulat ako nang may biglang humalik sa pisngi ko. What the hell is he doing here?

“Hi. Miss me?”

Ang kapal pa rin talaga ng mukha nito kahit kailan. Tinulak ko ito palayo sa akin. Muli kong binalingan ng tingin ang pwesto kung saan si Drew but he must be gone already.

Napasimagot ako.

“Sino ba ýang tinitingnan mo?” pangchi-chismiss nito. Hinila ko ito palabas ng kumpanya at dinala sa may malaking puno sa harap kung saan tumatambay kami minsan ni Rosie para magpahangin.

“What do you think you’re doing here?” I seethed. Napalingon ako sa mga taong dumadaan at napapatingin. I sighed.

“Because I missed you?” patanong na sagot nito at pilyong ngumiti.

“Quit it. Ano ba talagang pinunta mo dito, Neo?”

Sumeryoso ang mukha nito at inadjust ang suot na black cap.

“The photographer’s dead.”

“What? Sinong photographer?”

“Our intel, Mr. Owl. He’s dead.”

"Derek Monastery?"

I covered my mouth immediately. No way. Bakit hindi ko siya nakilala sa news. At sino namang papatay sa kanya? He’s already out of this kind of field.

“He resigned last year, right?” tanong ko pa.

Tumango-tango si Neo at umupo. “Yes. But something happened at dahil doon ay pinatay siya.”

Umupo narin ako sa tabi nito. “Is that why you’re here, Neo?” I asked. “To check if I’m okay? May ideya ba kayo kung sinong may pakana nito?”

Tumitig ito diretso sa mga mata ko. “Oh.”

“Really?" I paused. "Pero wala namang kinalaman ang mission ko sa nangyari kay Mr. Owl, diba?”

“Actually, I was also sent here by Mr. P to deliver a message.” Kahit na gusto kong sagutin niya mismo ang tanong ko. Hinayaan ko itong magpatuloy. “Your target has been change. Mr. P wants you to focus on Mr. Encantadio’s only heir.”

__

Patrick’s Pov

I watched Aya as she walked inside the 13th story building of Encantadio Group of Companies.

“What do you mean change? Why?” she asked, confused.

“You need to get the information about Mr. Andrew Alcantara, the only heir of Encatadio Group of Companies.“

Napakamot ako ng batok. How can Mr. P give the wrong information about this kind of mission? Now I need to lie to her. I hate to do this but I need to.

I just hope Celine won't hate me for this.

Pero napansin kong may kakaibang gumuhit na ekspresyon sa mukha nito kanina. She seems utterly shocked. May kinalaman kaya ito sa tinitingnan niya kanina? I was broken from my stupor when my phone rang. I fished it out of my ripped jeans.

“Hello?” I answered.

“You’re needed here, Neo. Get back asap.”

“Copy, Jon.”

__

Celine’s Pov

“You need to get the information about Mr. Andrew Alcantara, the only heir of Encantadio Group of Company.”

“You need to get information about Mr. Andrew Alcantara.”

“Mr. Andrew Alcantara, the only heir.”

“Mr. Andrew.”

“Drew.” I murmured unconsciously.

“Yes?”

“Ay butiking palaka.” sigaw ko at napalundag sa gulat. The little mischievous prince just laughed at me while holding his stomach.

“You think that’s funny?” pagmamaktol ko at sinapak ito sa braso.

“That hurts.” he goofed. “Now, we’re even.” Pinahiran niya ang kanyang nangingilid na luha sa mga mata. Tila huminto na naman ang mundo ko dahil sa karismang bumabalot rito. He’s really shining like an angel sent from the heaven. How can this guy be this handsome?

That is illegal, you know.

“Why are you pouting like this, Miss Aya?” He grabbed my cheeks from side to side and stretched it like a kid.

“Ishstop it, Drew. It huwts.”

Binitawan niya ako at biglang nag-iba ng tingin.

“So, how’s your leave?” tanong ko rito habang pabalik na kami sa office. Biglang sumeryoso ang awra nito pero kaagad naman ýong napalitan ng isang matamis na ngiti sa kanyang labi.

“It went well.”

“That’s good to hear.”

Umupo ako sa table ko at hinatid ito ng tingin sa kabilang dulo. Nakapwesto ang cubicle nito malapit sa may malaking bintana. Lumingon ito kaya napangiti na lamang ako. Ngumiti rin naman ito pabalik. May naririnig rin akong tumitiling mga babae sa gilid-gilid habang naglalakad si Drew.

“Tss.”

__

Andrew’s Pov

I sat on my table and heaved a sigh. Tinanaw ko ang table ni Aya sa malayo at muling bumalik ang nangyari kanina sa lobby. Napakuyom ako ng palad. I was talking to Angelica, my cousin, about some important business proposal from someone named Mr. Anthony Keys. We’re talking then and I saw Aya through my peripheral vision. I knew she was looking at me but I pretended not to know.

“So, what’s your say? Is it worth it?” asked Angelica while handing me the soft copy of the proposal.

“I’ll review it.”

“Alright then. See you.”

Ange left at pupuntahan ko na sana si Aya nang may biglang humalik sa pingi nito. I don’t know why I hid but I did and it annoyed me as hell. Who the f**k is that monkey? Anong karapatan niyang bulagain at ilapat ang madumi niyang labi sa mapulang pisngi ni Aya? I was angry at hindi ko napansin na nasira ko ang flash drive until it made a cracked inside my palm.

“Tsk.”

Kumuha ako ng post it note sa drawer at isinulat ang mga kataga. Pinaskil ko ito sa maliit na whiteboard sa gilid ng pc ko at napangisi.

Natapos ang araw. I shut off my computer at napasandal ako sa swivel chair at tinignan ang langit sa labas. Kulay kahel ang langit ngayon at sobrang linaw ng mga ulap. It’s a great day to have a dinner date. Tumayo agad ako at kinuha ang black coat na nakasabit sa likod ng swivel. Pumunta ako sa pwesto ni Aya na hanggang ngayon ay nakadikit parin ang mukha sa computer.

“Don’t tell me you’ll have overtime now?”

“Oh, ah hi.” aniya at inayos ang kanyang suot na glasses. f**k. She’s so beautiful. Napakagat-labi ako. “Didn’t know you're still here?” pagkuwaý tanong nito at bumalik sa pagtipa ng kanyang weekly report.

Kinuha ko ang swivel sa katabing table at umupo sa tabi nito. I lied on her small shoulder na alam kong kinagulat niya. I smiled. “Wanna eat outside tonight? My treat.”

Ilang minuto ang lumipas bago ito sumagot.

“Ah. Su-sure. I don’t have any plans for tonight.”

“Great. It’s a date. Fetch you by 8:30? Is that okay with you?” I asked.

Tinanggal nito ang eyeglasses na suot at nagkusot ng mata. “Ah, yeah. Great. See you.”

I will make this girl mine. Hindi ko hahayaang mapunta siya sa iba. Lalo na sa unggoy na ýon. That should be me.

I smiled at her. “Great.”

__

Celine’s Pov

After umalis ni Drew ay kaagad kong pinatay ang computer ko. Oh gosh. What should I wear? Wala pa naman akong disenteng damit sa closet. All I have are jeans and long coats. I really need to make a quick detour. And visit Lesley to her boutique. Wait, is it a formal dinner or something? Argh! Why didn’t he say anything?

I composed a small message and sent it to him. Just seconds after he calls me.

“Aya, just wear something you’re comfortable in. Don’t let that label get to you. It was just some silly standard. You’re beautiful just the way you are and whatever you're wearing.”

Napaarko ang kilay ko. “You know hindi ka nakakatulong. Ang layo ng sagot mo sa tanong ko. Okay then, see you.”

I hung up and stormed out of the office. I still need Lesley’s help.

Nakarating ako sa boutique 6:30. Upon seeing me Lesley comes running to hug me. I open my arms and catch her.

“Finally, dumalaw ka na rin sa boutique ko.”

“I was busy back then. Sorry hindi ako nakapunta but at least you received my flowers?”

“Well yes. Your Daisies made it. And they’re so refreshing to look at. Like a little sunshine on earth.” Nakangiti ito habang nagbabalik-tanaw sa kanyang opening last year.

“I am so proud of you, Les. You finally made it.”

Yumakap ulit ito sa akin ng mahigpit. “Aww. Thank you friend. So, you need anything?”

“Yeah, I’m looking for some informal but formal dress.” I laughed at my own description.

“Oh? A semi-formal dress.” Pumunta ito sa may sulok ng boutique kung saan maraming mannequins na nakadisplay. Each wearing an amazing dress.

“Tada! I just got this and it's a limited edition.”

All I can say is perfect.

I look at my whole body mirror one last time. I think I look great. I wore a white lace dress with all these beautiful daisies imprinted in the dress. It was so nice that I immediately bought it. Akala ko pa naman magtatagal ako sa boutique ni Lesley. But turns out, she is just that amazing.

Okay. It’s almost time. Drew should probably ring the doorbell any minute now.

[DING DING]

“Speaking of the devil.” I giggled at kinuha ang white purse sa lamesa. Huminga muna ako ng malalim saka lumabas ng kwarto. I opened the door and voila. A Greek god came to life and was standing in front of me.

“Hey.”

“H-hi.”

Ba’t ba ako kinakabahan? Dinner lang naman ‘to. Jusko. Maghunos-dili ka, Celine.

“You look innocently gorgeous, Missy.”

Huwag kang ganyan Drew.

“You look devilishly handsome yourself, Mister.” I smiled.

While he was driving, I kept on glancing at him. He really is illegally handsome. He wore all black. On the inside was a black plain shirt topped with a leather cardigan. A levis pants and a black shoe with a white highlight around the edge. We’re so contrasting like a ying and yang.

“Don’t look at me like that. I might melt.” he joked. Eyes were still glued on the road. Good.

“I didn’t stare at you. You're silly.”

Binaba ko ang bintana dahil masyadong mainit sa loob ng kotse. Hindi nakakatulong ang aircon. Sira na yata. Pinaypayan ko ang sarili. s**t mainit talaga eh.

Celine calms your senses down.

Oh great. How can I survive the night without making a fool of myself?