Chapter 7

Roselle's eyes widened in pure shock. Her heart hammered violently against her ribcage as well as her body turned stiff, stilled seemingly freezing in her spot. This was the first time that a man had skin to skin contact with her. And to think that he was her boss that just dragged her without saying anything, she was baffled. Why the hell did his boss kiss her? What did she say anyway to make him do that? How could he just… Kiss her like that? She remained stoic, unable to comprehend what was happening. Totally dumbfounded. Her first kiss was stolen yet she was on the brink of oblivion.

Oliver's lips started to move, having a taste of what he truly yearns for. He closed his eyes as he nibbled on her lower lip trying to quench his impending hunger for her. 'God her lips taste like heaven.' he thought as he continued to indulge himself.

Roselle gasped when she felt that his kiss had turned intense and a sharp pain occurred on her lower lip. She opened her mouth carelessly in an attempt to talk but that only gave the guy further access to explore his tongue inside her mouth. Now he was searching for hers and even attempted to catch and suck it with all his might. Dahan-dahang nanlalambot ang tuhod ng dalaga at hindi niya mapigilang mapakapit sa damit ng binata. Hindi man siya nagrespond sa halik nito ay hindi niya rin magawang manlaban. She just let him do what he wanted and just closed her eyes. She felt ashamed to respond to his kisses but she admitted to herself, she also likes it. 

Marahang bumitaw ang binata sa kanya after a few seconds of satisfaction and now he was staring at her. He clearly saw her face. She was blushing hard. His eyes trailed on her hands holding on to him for support and he was secretly overjoyed. But there was one thing he was baffled with about her. Why didn't she struggle nor responded to his kisses? This situation made him feel both happy yet skeptical. Could it be that she didn't like him or she was just tolerating him because he was her boss after all? What if she has… someone in her life right now? His face suddenly turned gloomy.

Roselle slowly opened her eyes and found him staring at her. She suddenly felt embarrassed to meet his eyes. Darting her gaze away, she coughed to dispel her awkwardness. "Ahem! Okay lang po ba kayo, Mr. Mitchell?" She managed to gather her voice after a few seconds.

Oliver clenched his jaws, suddenly felt irritated. "Call me Oliver." He demanded roughly, still staring at her face. He wanted to find something that would make his mood better after having some odd thoughts in mind and calling him formally was slowly pissing him off.

Napalunok ang dalaga. "Ahm, Oli-Oliver," she stammered nervously. She feels her cheeks burning in shame. The guy's stare made her feel like running and hiding somewhere far from him. It was like he wanted to say something but he only stared at her. She felt confused.

"I… I'm sorry." The guy suddenly apologized. "I was carried too much with the alcohol effect and…" Oliver found a lame excuse to spat over Roselle's face. He noticed that she's nervous and couldn't even look at him directly. Even if he wanted to ask her about the matter that bothers him, he wasn't in the right place to do so. It was so unprofessional of him.

Roselle bit her swollen lower lip. Now she felt even more ashamed to face him. She was glad that she didn't respond to it or God knows what would be his reaction to it. "It's… it's okay, Mr. Mitchell… I mean, Oliver." Paliwanag niya with a forced smile. She was both embarrassed and angry for what happened but she carefully restrained herself not to burst out at him. 

Oliver sighs deeply and opens the fridge's door. He took out two bottles of water and handed the other one to her. "Take this. You might be thirsty." He groaned.

She accepted the bottle because her thirst was getting worse. She badly needs water to calm her swirling emotions right now. "Thank you, Oliver. Goodnight, Sir." With that, tumalikod na siya at marahang naglakad pabalik sa kwarto niya.

Oliver watched her getting away from his sight in silence. He felt frustrated. He thought that he could possibly quench his hunger by tasting her lips but he was wrong. He wanted her now. Not just to taste her but to hold her. He wanted more of her but how? He looked down at his massive bulge and shook his head. 'Why do you have to crave for someone who doesn't belong to you? Why not Sofia?' he scolded himself as he turned off the light and finally went upstairs to his room.

***

Roselle set her alarm at 5 in the morning. She woke up early and left the Mitchell's family villa before sunrise. She went to her mother's tombstone and confessed everything that happened to her. After that, she dropped by the grocery to fill her stomach during her stay at her unit. She also calls Andrea to accompany her but the latter says that they had a sudden out of town trip and now she was alone slumping on her couch while facing the television screen in a complete daze.

What happened last night still lingers in her mind at pakiramdam niya, hindi niya kayang humarap sa boss niya specially during daytime. She could still taste him in her mouth and it brought her a sleepless night for the first time in her whole life. What's more, her heart didn't stop beating wildly for how many hours and it was mixed with a strange feeling inside her stomach. She didn't know when she fell asleep after that.

Meanwhile at the Mitchell's family villa…

"Elle! Where are you?" Mrs. Mitchell was looking for her caregiver, trailed by a maid that was instructed to look after her.

"Madame, Elle is not here. She went out for her day off." The maid explained helplessly.

"I want her! Search for her right now." The older woman demanded dominantly while marching towards her son's door. She slammed her fist on it repeatedly calling out for her son.

"Ollie! Ollie! Wake up. Elle is gone. I want you to find her! Now!"

Oliver who was currently in his deep slumber was awakened by his mother's loud whining. He was alarmed at her words which caused him to jump out from his bed. Dinampot ang mobile phone at akmang tatawagan ang dalaga ngunit nakita nito na it's weekend kung kaya't he discarded the idea. It was her day of privacy according to how they agreed in the contract. Tumayo na lamang siya at nagbihis bago binuksan ang pinto upang pakalmahin ang ina.

"Mom, good morning." Bati niya.

"Good morning son, did you sleep well?" His mother inquired enthusiastically.

Ngumiti ang binata. Of course he wasn't able to sleep well after the incident he made last night but it made him feel elated. Somehow, it brought a little pinch of joy inside him so he lied. "Yes, mother. Tell me why are you shouting this early? What's wrong?" He inquired curiously.

"Wala si Elle. I don't know where she went." She pouted, obviously displeased.

"Today is her day off. Haven't she told you that she's going out for the whole day?" Oliver was now frowning hard. He obviously believes his mother's words. He suddenly felt angry at the woman.

"No, she didn't." Mrs. Mitchell shook her head adamantly. Dahil sa kanyang kalagayan, she totally forgot that Roselle already discussed her day off the previous night. It seems that her memory isn't as good as the lady expected her to be. Makakalimutin na ito.

"Mom, calm down okay?" He pacified and darted his gaze to the made behind the latter. "My iniwan ba si Roselle before she left? I mean notes or something like instructions on how to manage my mother while she went away?" He questioned through his gritted teeth.

"Meron po, sir." The poor maid took out a piece of folded paper from her pocket and handed it to him then she lowered her head.

Binuklat ng binata ang papel at nagulat siya sa nilalaman nito. The handwriting was so neat and nice yet the whole list contains a lot of work to do. It has 20 instructions and it was specifically inhibited hour after hour until the day ends. His expression softened a lot after ramming his eyes over it. "Mukhang mapapalaban tayo nito ah." Bulalas niya sa sarili. 'So this was her routine everyday? How did she manage to do this all?' he wondered.

***

While Oliver was having a hard time fulfilling the instructions over the list, Roselle was having enough sleep in her little apartment. The skies had turned dusk when her eyes snapped wide open. The television screen was all black and the movie had ended. She immediately turned them off and got herself fixed before going back to the Mitchell's family villa to spend the night. She took a taxi and while she was on her way, she was praying hard not to see her boss. 

It was already 7:00 in the evening when she arrived and she was glad to see that Oliver's car wasn't at the garage. She finally grinned and sauntered towards her room. She changed into her casual clothes and went to the master's bedroom to check on her client. She found the latter sleeping peacefully which caused a smile on her face. She then tiptoed and went out.

The lights were turned off but a dim light at the corner was left enough to light up the floor. 

The surroundings were now peaceful and she assumed that the whole house's staff must be in their separate rooms resting, calling it a night. She yawned and walked back to her own room only to find someone leaning on the wall. Blood slowly drained from her face and she instantly froze.

'Oliver Mitchell!' her mind shouted and she began to panic.

Her jaws ticked and heart began to thud loudly beneath her chest. Nervous and shocked, that's how her feelings mixed up! Her feet seemed to be too heavy to move forward and she felt like running away. 'No! This can't be!' She had thought that he wasn't at home but she was wrong. He was here! He was even waiting for her right at her door!