CHAPTER 8.2

He sat on the swivel chair— crossed his legs, and comfortably leaned his back. Luscious tapped his slender fingers on the table, while Angel was sitting on the visitor's chair in front of him.

Bakit ba kapag siya ang kasama nito ay wala laging emosyon ang magandang mukha ng dalaga? It's both irritating and bothering Luscious, for a reason anonymous to him. And that's more frustrating.

Ipinilig niya ang ulo. He clasped his hands, while his elbows settle, propping at the top of the office table.

"I'm done reading your reports," he started. "You're good, I must say." It was a very rare moment for a Luscious Duncan to compliment his subordinates. Nakatitig siya sa magandang mukha ng dalagang tila binabasa ng bawat ekspresyon nito. Ngunit kahit kiming ngiti ay hindi magawang sumilay sa mapulang labi ni Angel.

"Thank you, Sir," she replied casually, instead. 

He smirked. Women would die just to be complimented by him, but Angel... 

Maybe because she's used to it. She's a very famous engineer after all.

Thinking about it, Angel's coldness and indifference only drags him even more towards her. And this woman should brace herself for that. Too bad Angel was still oblivious to what she's doing to him.

Nakita niyang sinulyapan nito ang sariling wristwatch bago bumaling sa kaniya. "You'll have a meeting with the board in ten minutes, Sir."

He huffed softly. Tumayo siya magmula sa pagkakaupo at naglakad palabas ng kaniyang opisina. Luscious knew about his meeting with the board, it's something that he never once forgot. Inaantay niya lamang na ito ang magpaalala sa kaniya.

"What's  in my schedule after this?" tanong niya rito habang naglalakad sila papunta sa conference room. Nanatiling nakasunod sa kaniyang malapad na likod ang sekretarya.

"You'll have a meeting with Mr. Malcolm and Mr. Alvior in Your Taste Bud's Restaurant at three in the afternoon. The Buencamino Builders is also expecting you to discuss about the construction of the company's new island resort in Palawan, that's for four post meridian." Angel paused and continued, "How about your tommorow's schedule, Sir? Do you want to be reminded for a refresh?"

A sexy smirk crept in his lips. Mukhang kabisado nito ang kaniyang buong schedule kahit pa sa mga susunod na araw. "No need." 

"By the way, Sir, Madame Duncan called this morning, and she wanted you to be reminded about your family dinner tomorrow," dagdag nito.

He nodded with a sigh thinking about his Mom. Kailangan niyang umuwi kundi mas lalong magtatampo ang ina.

Pagpasok sa conference room ay agad na nagsitayuan ang lahat ng board members na naroon. They all waited for him to sit down, and raised a finger, signaling them to take their seats.

Inisa-isa niyang pasadahan ang mga mukha nitong matamang nakatingin sa kung saan. Sinundan niya ang mata ng mga itong nakay Angel pala nakatuon. On his right side was his new secretary sitting, not heeding any attention to the people around her. 

Halos lahat ng naroon ay nakatingin sa kaniyang bagong sekretarya lalo na ang mga kalalakihan. Their eyes were glowing in admiration for Angel who was quietly waiting for the meeting to start.

Pag-angat nito ng tinginn ay bahagyang ngumiti ang dalaga, ngunit agad ding nagseryoso. She sat with a straight back. Angel was looking straight and professional like a dignified woman who she's known for.

Most of his board members are same his age. Karamihan sa mga ito ay minana na ang mga shares ng magulang kagaya niya. The men inside the room kept on gazing at Angel, definitely ogling. And the sight started to irritate him so bad. Now, Luscious was regretting why he let his secretary be with him for this meeting.

He cleared his throat menacingly . Lahat naman ng tao roon ay napatingin sa kaniya. Iginala niya ang madilim na tingin na tila nagbabantang babalatan ng buhay ang sinumang tumingin pa sa tahimik na dalaga. Ang iba ay tila natatakot na ini-unat ang likod, samantalang ang ilan naman ay nakangiti kahit halatang ninenerbyos sa kaniyang presensya. What can he say? He's not the so called ruthless billionaire at the top of Duncan Industries for nothing.

"Start now. Don't waste my time." His voice sounded domineering, and the presentation started instantly, not wanting to offend him from waiting for even a second. 

Tahimik ang buong conference room habang nagrereport ang mga departamento tungkol sa iba't ibang bagay na nangyayare sa kaniyang kompanya. Their profit increased by 20% for the last month since they launched the new product, according to the financial department. It's all thanks to his genius mind running this company.

Buong meeting ay nakikinig lang ang lahat ng board members sa kaniya. Paminsan-minsan ay magtatanong tungkol sa mga bagay na mabilis niya namang nasasagot. All in all, it was a great meeting about the continuous success in the company. Walang kahit na anong problema. Patuloy ang paglago nito.

Samantalang tahimik naman ang kaniyang sekretarya na nakaharap lang sa laptop nito. Angel eyes were fixated on the computer screen while taking the minutes of the meeting. May maliit din itong recorder sa tabi.

Pansin niya ang pasimpleng pagsulyap ng mga kalalakihan sa dalaga na matalim niya namang binabalingan sa tuwing nahuhuli ang mga ito.

'This will be the last time that I'll ask her to attend a meeting with these idiots.'

He thought to himself.

Imbes na kasi nakapokus ang mga ito sa meeting ay nasa dalaga ang atensyon. Pati tuloy siya ay naiinis sa hindi niya malamang kadahilan.

Pagkatapos ng meeting ay mabilis siyang tumayo. Gano'n din ang kaniyang sekretarya na nakasunod lamang sa kaniya matapos nitong ayusin ang sariling gamit. Hindi niya na inabala pang magpaalam sa mga tao na naroon o magpasalamat. It's their job to do their work. Pare-pareho silang nakikinabang at kumikita rito.

"Hi, I'm Vent de Leon." 

Natigilan siya nang marinig ang boses ng isa sa kaniyang board members. Luscious glanced over his shoulder just to see the man offering his filthy hand to Angel. Awtomatikong nagtagis ang bagang niya sa nakita. Tila nagulat rin ang dalaga na napatigil mula sa paglalakad, ngunit mabilis ding tipid na ngumiti sa binata bilang ganti.

'That billion dollar smile which she can't even give me!'

Tatanggapin na sana nito ang pakikipagkamay ng binata nang mabilis niyang hinawakan ang braso nito at hinila palapit sa kaniya.

He glared at Mr. de Leon, who looked shocked at what he did. Kahit din siya ay nagulat sa kaniyang ginawa. Ang alam niya lang ay nag-init ang kaniyang ulo sa ideyang maglalapat ang balat ng dalawa. "My secretary isn't interested Mr. de Leon. Offer your hand elsewhere or say goodbye to my company," pagbabanta niya rito. Nakita niya naman ang pamumutla nito na ikina-ngisi niya ng lihim.

He pulled Angel who still seemed so puzzled outside the conference room. Nang makabawi ito ay mabilis nitong inagaw ang sariling braso mula sa kaniyang pagkakahawak. His eyebrows furrowed in annoyance. Pakiramdam niya ay tila may nakakahawa siyang sakit na tila iniiwasan nitong magdampi man lang ang kanilang balat.

A strange emotion flashed in her hypnotizing brown orbs. Ngunit bago niya pa mabasa ang emosyon sa magandang mata ng dalaga ay mabilis itong nawala.

"I'm sorry, Sir," nakayuko nitong sambit na hindi makatingin sa kaniyang mga mata.

'Sorry for what?'

His knuckles fisted. Luscious gritted his teeth in frustration. Nilampasan niya ito at nagtatagis ang bagang na naglakad pabalik sa kaniyang opisina. 

Luscious slammed the door behind him. Pagpasok ng opisina ay napasabunot siya sa labis iritasyong hindi niya malaman kung bakit niya nararamdaman. He's just so fucking irritated! 

Una, dahil sa nakita niyang kasama ng dalaga si Wrath. Pangalawa, dahil sa tingin ng mga kalalakihang gusto niyang gilitan ng leeg, sa kaniyang sekretarya magmula nang pumasok sila ng conference room. Pangatlo, dahil sa pagpapakilala ni Mr. de Leon sa dalaga at akmang pakikipagkamay nito.

Lahat ng iyon ay may kinalaman ang kaniyang sekretarya!

He went inside his private room to take a shower. Luscious needed to calm his system which has been in havoc because of his secretary. He can't believe that he's being like this just because of that woman. He felt so f*cked up! Ilang beses niya pa lang itong nakikita, ngunit ganito na ang epekto nito sa kaniya.

'What is wrong with me?'

He went under the shower with his both hands against the cold glass wall. Namalisbis ang malamig na tubig sa kaniyang katawan habang nakatingala sa kawalan. He closed his eyes but the image of that woman suddenly flashed in his mind. His lips thinned as he shook his head to clear his thoughts.

Pagkatapos niyang mag-shower ay lumabas siya upang magbihis. To his surprise, Angel was inside his office. Kitang-kita niya ito mula sa monitor na konektado sa CCTV sa kaniyang opisina. Nakatayo ito roon habang may hawak na folders, tila hinahanap siya. 

Luscious eyes squinted before pressing the speaker inside his private room.

"I'm inside my private room. Come in."  

Wala ni isa bukod sa mga magulang niya ang nakapasok sa kaniyang pribadong kwarto kaya hindi niya rin alam kung bakit inutusan niya itong pumasok rito.

'Something's really wrong with me.'

He walked towards his living room where her gorgeous secretary was already sitting. Tanging twalya lang sa kaniyang ibabang katawan ang nakatakip sa kaniyang buong kahubdan. He wanted to see if Angel would still be unaffected. 

Luscious grinned devilishly.

Pinagkrus niya ang mga braso sa harap ng kaniyang dibdib. Tumikhim siya para kunin ang atensyon nito.

Nang bumaling sa kaniya ang dalaga ay tila hinipan siya ng napakainit na hangin. She's just staring at his face, not minding if he's half-naked. Her eyes remained casual. Instead, she seemed unbothered to get flushed.

'Something's wrong with me. But this woman isn't normal at all.'