Chapter 8

Habang papalapit ang dalaga, she tries to hide what she actually feels. Huminga siya ng malalim and evoked a professional smile upon reaching the guy's position. Though feeling awkward, she tried hard to act normal after all, he was her boss and she was under his payroll.

"Good evening, Mr. Mitchell." Bati niya rito ng marahan.

"Good evening din," Oliver sighs while looking at the lady. "Haven't I told you to call me by my name?" He groaned.

"Ahm, so-sorry. Oliver, may I know why you're here at my door at this hour?" She politely demanded. She was curious about his presence at her door and she wondered what could have brought him right there. 

"It's about what happened last night. I just want to apologize for what I have done. I didn't mean to disrespect you inside my residence. I…" He wanted to say something more but the lady took the opportunity to stop him halfway.

"Ahm, Oliver. I know it was just a mistake." She babbled smiling but deep inside she was disheartened. That was her first kiss yet he just stole it like that and apologized after? How rude of him but who is she to hold him accountable for that? She was also at fault as she didn't struggle to stop him. She also indulges herself with his kiss. "I already forgot about that matter. Don't worry, that won't affect my job in taking care of your mother." She assured him with a radiant smile showcased in her face. 

"Ahm, salamat." Oliver for some reason felt disappointed at her reaction. He was expecting the least that she would nag at him for kissing her but he was wrong. Her nonchalance broke his little enthusiasm hidden within. "I'll be going to my room, Miss Ventura. Goodnight."

"Goodnight, Sir." Having said so, he left without casting a glance at her and she also entered her door. Upon closing it, she immediately jumped on her bed and hit her pillows furiously. She was so angry at him for what he had done. The little affection she nurtured for him was crushed and was replaced with irritation. She swore to herself that she would stay away from him from now on. She would never get herself closer to him anymore. She would stand on where she should be and that was away from him!

A month later…

Mrs. Mitchell's condition was improving. She was back to her old self. Everything about her was back to normal. She had also moved on from her husband's death and now she was smiling at her caregiver/therapist as she tucked her into her sheets. 

"Elle, thank you so much for your help, dear." The woman muttered softly as she yawned. This wasn't the first time that she thanked her caregiver but she felt like she had to say it everyday. "Oliver made the right choice to hire you. That son of mine was really thoughtful. I hope someday, he will find someone who would perfectly match him." She added as she slowly closed her eyes.

Ngumiti ang dalaga habang inayos nito ang kumot. "He would definitely find one that suits him better, Madam." She mumbled with a smile. 

Since that night that she swore, she doubled her efforts to get the older woman's condition better as fast as she could. Why? Because everyday, she was failing. Her hidden affection for the guy was getting out of control. No matter how hard she tries to push it aside it only intensifies. So she came up with a good idea that she has to do her job attentively to make her client's recovery fast and now her efforts came to fruition. It won't take long and she will finally be free from her heartaches. She wouldn't be able to see him anymore and she would get her life back to how it used to be.

"I doubt it." The older woman pouted. "Napaka-busy niya sa office and he seldom came home. I don't even know if he would come and spend the night here." She grumbled while yawning more.

"Get some rest, Madam. Mr. Mitchell won't like it if you exhaust your brain thinking of him. He will definitely come today as I have to leave early tomorrow." Roselle explained patiently.

"Oh, you're leaving… right. Tomorrow is your day. You have to take good care of yourself, Elle. If given a chance, I would like to meet your mother." That was Mrs. Mitchell's words before she got into her slumber. And now she was snoring lightly.

Napabuntong hininga na lamang ang dalaga sa narinig. How was she supposed to let her meet her mother when she was already dead? She shook her head and smiled bitterly. "Goodnight, Mrs. Mitchell. Sweet dreams…" she whispered and slowly landed a gentle kiss on the woman's forehead before she went out of the room and went to her own. She took a quick bath and jotted a lot of words in her journal. Halfway through her writing, her mobile phone vibrated in her night stand. She snatched it and looked over her screen. 

Mr. Velasco calling…

She frowned. It was already late in the evening yet he was calling her. Could it be that his mother was in an emergency? She tapped the answer button and quickly aligned it on her ear.

"Mr. Velasco," She grumbled.

"Miss Ventura, can you help me? Please…" Emman sounds helpless on the other end.

Kinabahan bigla ang dalaga. "Sure! What is it?" She urged, sounding rather anxious.

"I'm currently here at the gate. Can you come out for a moment and help me get Oliver to his room?" He pleaded.

Roselle froze. Get Oliver to his room? She frowned. "What's wrong with him?" She asked as she stormed out from her room and went out while holding her mobile phone.

"He's freaking drunk and his heavy ass is hard for me to handle." Emman sounds annoyed at his boss.

"Alright, I'm coming." She spotted Emman's car from a distance and went to help the man. 

***

Half an hour later…

"Woah! Oliver is really something." Emman exclaimed in exhaustion. "He just drunk his ass out without telling me the reason why! I should have been home right now but he insisted on taking me with him to the bar. How annoying!" He complained.

"If there's nothing I can do here, Mr. Velasco. Can I go back to my room now?" Roselle found an excuse to escape from Oliver's intoxicated form. She wanted to flee away and lock herself up in her room. Heaven knows what would happen if she came closer to him. Her firm resolve in staying away from him would be shaken and she couldn't afford it. It would bring her pain again. 

Emman was fast to find an excuse as well after hearing her words. Peering on his wristwatch and feigning a yawn, he spoke. "Oh, Miss Ventura. I should be going. It's getting late. Please take care of our boss. Goodbye." With that, he turned around and left like a whirlwind sauntering in the stairs.

Roselle shook her head and sighed in defeat. She was left with him in his room. She looked at the guy carefully and her resolve indeed softened. She took off his shoes and socks, dropping them on the corner in order, then she slowly took off his ties. 

"Oliver? Are you awake?" She inquired, shaking him off.

Silence…

Oliver didn't budge. He was snoring.

Roselle wanted to make sure that he would sleep comfortably therefore, even if it's too difficult, she managed to take off his suit and shirt, leaving his trousers on. Then she went to his bathroom to get a clean towel then she wiped him down with it. Her palms could feel his body warmth. She ran her fingers in his chest, swallowing her saliva and stifling the terrible knots that were forming in her stomach. Her body for some reason felt strange when she touched him. It was her first time to touch a man's naked form as her father forbade her from even getting close to any men before. Now, she finally understands why.

She suddenly distanced herself from him after cleaning him up and went back to his bathroom to return the towel. Then she adjusted the AC and slowly covered him with his blankets. She was about to turn around but her hand was suddenly gripped by a strong hand. She froze and stilled in her position. Her chest began to thud loudly accompanied by her erratic breathing. She swallowed hard, unable to form her words as her eyes darted to the guy that was laying in his bed with his eyes tightly shut.

"Oliver?" She inched closer to him and tried to release herself from his grip but he only dragged her closer to him. She suddenly felt uneasy and scared. "Oliver, wake up. Ollie…" She mumbled.

"Don't leave me, please…" Oliver murmured in his slumber. "I want you to stay beside me."

Tumindi ang kaba na nararamdaman ng dalaga. "Lasing ka lang, Oliver. Please let go of me." She pleaded helplessly.

Oliver's eyes snapped wide open and stabbed right into her face. "I'm not drunk." He reasoned out. "I missed you so much." He added.

Roselle's blood suddenly boils. Her heart nearly jumped out from her ribcage. What did he actually say? He missed her? How come? What the hell is wrong with him? She was confused as hell. "What… What are you talking about, Oliver?" She tries to ask with her found faltering courage.

Oliver watched her in a daze. Truth to be told, he wasn't that drunk. He just made an excuse to escape from Sofia's grasp. He planned on taking only Emman to the bar but Sofia tracked them easily and went there. She was trying to mess with him but still, he couldn't do what she wanted him to do. He feigned to be unconscious and after getting away from his girlfriend's sight, he instructed his assistant to play with him and call for Roselle's help. As to what his reason for doing such, he didn't explain to his friend and just left him hanging while guessing. Now he successfully got her on his side and he wasn't letting the chance slip through his fingers. He must hold her tonight and pacify his irritated heart.

"Roselle, I like you. Please don't reject me." He confessed while looking at her face.

Natigilan ang dalaga sa narinig. Pakiwari niya ay mali ang kanyang narinig mula sa bibig nito. She shook her head and chuckled. "Alright! This is not funny. You're drunk so you should get some sleep now."

"Please say that you like me too." He pleaded. His grip on her hand tightened as he began to move her effortlessly closer to him. Their faces were getting closer and she was forced to sit down beside him. Warm breathes were fanning on their skins.

"Don't play your tricks on me, Oliver. We both know that you don't have that sort of feeling for me so cut this crap and let me go." She demanded. She clearly recalled how he distanced himself from her as well. He seldom came home and even ignored her whenever they crossed paths so how could he say that he likes her? It's unbelievable!

"I'm not lying." With that he yanked the lady roughly in his arms and hugged her tightly. He grazed his nose on her neck and began to kiss her earlobes. "I missed you so much and it's killing me how we both distanced ourselves from each other for weeks. I can't take it anymore. I want to hold you…" He whispered in her ears as he slowly touched her back.

"O-Oliver…" Her protest seemed like a futile attempt as the guy started kissing her neck passionately.

"Please be mine tonight, Roselle…"