Chapter 5: Tension Builds

#### **Chapter 5: Tension Builds**

Jarren sat in his sleek office, staring at the city skyline through the floor-to-ceiling windows. The view was breathtaking, but his mind was elsewhere. He clenched his fists, frustrated, as the image of Keisha Joli played over and over in his head. The recent meeting with her was still fresh in his memory, and no matter how hard he tried to forget it, she wouldn’t leave his thoughts.

_"Ano ba talaga ang problema ng babaeng ‘yon?"_ he muttered under his breath, pacing back and forth.

He couldn’t understand how someone like Keisha—so determined, so focused—could manage to irritate him this much. She was stubborn, always challenging him at every turn, yet somehow, he couldn’t help but admire her for it. She didn’t back down easily, and that was something he wasn’t used to.

_"She’s a distraction,"_ he said to himself, trying to focus on his work. But the harder he tried, the more his mind kept drifting back to her.

The way she looked when she was passionately explaining her ideas during their meeting, the fire in her eyes that both annoyed and intrigued him. She wasn’t like the others he had met before. She was different—strong, independent, and unafraid to stand her ground, even against someone like him.

_"Focus, Jarren,"_ he muttered, trying to shake off the feeling.

But despite his frustration, a part of him couldn’t help but admire her work ethic. She was dedicated, working harder than anyone else he knew. That determination, that drive—it was something he rarely saw in people, especially in the business world where most were content to let others do the heavy lifting.

And then there was the physical attraction, an undeniable pull he felt every time he saw her. He hated it. He hated how she could make his heart race with just a glance, how the mere thought of her could distract him from his responsibilities.

_"Hindi pwede ‘to,"_ Jarren said aloud, as if speaking it into existence could somehow make it true. _"I can’t let her get to me."_

He returned to his desk, opening his laptop to check emails, trying to drown out his thoughts with work. But as he scrolled through his inbox, one email stood out—a follow-up from Keisha regarding their next project meeting.

His chest tightened as he clicked on the message, reading her words. Even through text, she managed to convey that same fierce determination that both impressed and infuriated him.

---

**Meanwhile, across town...**

_"Ugh, ang yabang talaga ng taong ‘yon!"_ Keisha grumbled, sitting on her bed with her laptop open. Her fingers hovered over the keyboard as she reread the email she had just sent to Jarren. She could almost see the look on his face when he read it—probably annoyed, as usual.

Keisha leaned back, running a hand through her hair. No matter how much she tried to avoid him, fate kept pushing them together. She didn’t like it. She didn’t like him. At least, that’s what she kept telling herself.

But deep down, she couldn’t deny the pull she felt toward him. Sure, he was arrogant and entitled, and he acted like the world revolved around him, but there was something about him that made her heart race whenever they were in the same room.

_"No, Keisha, stop it,"_ she whispered to herself, shaking her head. _"You don’t like him. You can’t."_

It wasn’t just that they were enemies in the business world—constantly butting heads in meetings, fighting over deals, and challenging each other’s ideas—it was that he represented everything she disliked. Power, privilege, and the assumption that everything should come easy just because he had money.

And yet... she couldn’t stop thinking about him.

_"Ugh, nakakainis!"_ Keisha groaned, slamming her laptop shut. She had too much work to do to be wasting time thinking about someone like Jarren Villarreal.

Her phone buzzed, and she glanced at the screen. It was a message from Maria.

_"Hey, kamusta? Coffee tomorrow?"_ Maria’s message read, cheerful as always.

Keisha smiled a little, grateful for the distraction. _"Sure,"_ she typed back, needing a break from the whirlwind of emotions Jarren stirred up inside her.

---

**Back in his office, Jarren couldn’t focus.**

He sighed, leaning back in his chair, eyes closed as he replayed his recent interactions with Keisha in his head. She was always so serious, so focused on her work. He respected that, more than he’d care to admit. But it was also what frustrated him about her. She never let her guard down.

In one of their meetings, when he had tried to make a lighthearted joke, she barely cracked a smile. It was as if she refused to see anything beyond their professional rivalry. And maybe she was right. Maybe he shouldn’t be thinking about her in any other way either.

But he couldn’t help it.

There was something about her—something that drew him in, even when he didn’t want to be.

His phone buzzed, pulling him out of his thoughts. It was Luke, one of his closest friends.

_"Bro, you free tonight? Drinks with the guys?"_

Jarren hesitated. Normally, he would have said yes without a second thought. But right now, he didn’t feel like being around people. Not when his mind was so tangled up in thoughts of Keisha.

_"I’ll pass. Got some work to finish up,"_ he texted back, putting his phone down and running a hand through his hair.

He needed to get her out of his head. But the more he tried, the more she seemed to invade his thoughts.

---

**The next day, at the café...**

_"You look like you need a break,"_ Maria said, sliding into the seat across from Keisha, her eyes twinkling with her usual playful energy.

Keisha let out a long sigh. _"You have no idea."_

_"Let me guess... Jarren again?"_ Maria teased, raising an eyebrow as she took a sip of her iced coffee.

Keisha groaned. _"How did you know?"_

_"Kasi every time we meet, he’s all you ever talk about lately,"_ Maria said with a laugh, leaning forward. _"Admit it, Kei, he’s really getting under your skin, huh?"_

_"I hate him,"_ Keisha muttered, stirring her coffee aggressively. _"He’s so... infuriating. But at the same time..."_

_"At the same time, he’s hot,"_ Maria finished for her, grinning.

Keisha’s face turned red, and she glared at her friend. _"Maria!"_

Maria laughed, holding up her hands in defense. _"Sorry, sorry! But aminin mo na, Kei, you can’t stop thinking about him."_

Keisha sighed, slumping in her seat. _"Okay, fine. I’ll admit, he’s... attractive. But that doesn’t change the fact that he’s arrogant and impossible to work with."_

_"Minsan, you have to separate the personal from the professional,"_ Maria said thoughtfully. _"Or maybe... you don’t."_ She winked, teasing.

Keisha rolled her eyes but couldn’t help the small smile tugging at her lips. _"It doesn’t matter. I’m not going to entertain the idea. I have too much on my plate right now."_

_"Well, let’s just see where fate takes you,"_ Maria said, her tone light but her eyes sparkling with curiosity.

As Keisha sat there, she couldn’t help but feel conflicted. She knew Maria was right—there was something between her and Jarren, even if she didn’t want to admit it. But she also knew that letting herself fall for him would only complicate things.

No, she couldn’t afford to be distracted, not by him. Not now.

But despite her resolve, a part of her couldn’t help but wonder what it would be like if things were different. If they weren’t enemies. If they weren’t constantly at odds.

_"Stop it, Keisha,"_ she whispered to herself. _"He’s not worth it."_

But even as she said the words, she couldn’t help the flutter in her chest at the thought of seeing him again.

---

Jarren, on the other hand, found himself staring at his phone again, debating whether to message Keisha. He wanted to keep things professional, but there was a growing part of him that wanted more. More than just meetings. More than just rivalry.

But he knew better than to let himself fall into that trap.

_"Focus on the business,"_ he told himself again.

But with each passing day, it was getting harder and harder to convince himself that business was all there was between them.