CHAP 4

I frowned as I entered our department because of the loud whispers of the employees. Most likely they are talking about Patriza kissing Achetbir yesterday.

"Did you hear that?" Serah immediately greeted me with a question as they approached my seat.

I couldn't help but raise my left eyebrow because of their gestures.

Aren't they tired talking about the two?

"I don't have time for that, Serah. I have a lot of reports to do today," I replied with a smile.

She hit me lightly, so I stared at her. Achetbir immediately caught our attention as he was walking. His expression was colder than what he normally shows every day, something I wonder about. The employee's earlier noisy whispers suddenly subsided in an instant.

What happened to him? He's okay when he recently left our condo.

I saw him staring at me and entered his office. The two quickly clung to me again.

"Sir Villa Forca has a girlfriend," Feya whispered.

I mentally rolled my eyes.

Yeah, I expected that news.

"Yeah, girl, and do you know what's cruel?" Serah seconded what Feya was saying.

"What?" I was lazy curiosity and piled up the papers I was going to take care of.

"His girlfriend is an employee!" they both exclaimed with their low-pitched voice.

I automatically let go of the papers I was holding causing it to fall to the floor. With my trembling hand I quickly picked it up.

"Whoa! What's with the reaction. Too shocked?" Feya's sarcasm.

"You see, you can't believe it too," Serah commented.

I hesitated to look at them and swallowed hard.

"W-Who is it?"

The two shrugged at the same time. We both looked ahead when Achetbir's mother arrived with Patriza. His mother entered first, followed by the girl, she barely glanced at my fellow employees and simply glared before finally entering.

"It looks like the real behaviour is coming out," Serah critiques along with her smirk.

"That freak is being threatened," Feya whispered and giggled at the same time.

I, on the other hand, keep my chest throbbing fast because of what they told me.

How did our relationship spread?

'Miss Mendoza, come here at the office. Now.'

I was even more nervous because he called me.

What is he doing? He knew that he was with his mother and the woman linked into him.

"Sir is really weird too, isn't he? Despite of what's happening he still have time to scold his employee," Serah said angrily and returned to her seat.

Feya looked at me pityingly. She tapped me gently on the shoulder and went to his desk. I rested deeply and fixed my belongings. Then stand and unconsciously walked towards his office.

"Awww!" I groaned when I bumped into someone.

I would have fall if he hadn't just held me so quickly.

"Are you okay, Miss?" question of a baritone voice.

I lifted my eyes and saw a handsome creature. I immediately pulled away from him and bowed in apology.

"I'm sorry. I didn't notice you." I then looked up.

He just smiled at me and nodded. "Do you know where's the CEO's office?" he asked then roamed his eyes.

I winced because what he was just looking was behind him.

"Ahmm, behind your back, Sir," I said and pointed at the back.

"Oh! My bad, I didn't notice. Thank you," he sincerely whispered and went inside.

I was caught in my instincts because me being a secretary seemed pointless. I just let him in without informing Achetbir. I just erase that thought in my head and knocked three times before I opened the door slowly.

They all focused their attention on me. Achetbir's mother automatically raised an eyebrow when she saw my image. Out of respect, I bowed to them for a moment and then looked at Achetbir who was staring at me seriously.

"What can I serve, Sir?" I asked respectfully as I simply peeked to the side where the man I had bumped into was there.

I felt him watching me intently as his arms were crossed on his chest.

"Why did you call her here, Achetbir ?! We are having our family talk. It's not time to focus on work," annoyed, Mrs. Villa Forca said and looked at me sharply.

"Come here." He commanded.

Hesitantly, I obeyed his command not to think about what was with us in the room. I was stuck in my stand when I saw two newspapers lying on top of his table. It was there that I fully understood everything that was happening since I reached the company.

We were photographed.

Even without seeing my face, it's not surprising that it's really a big news. In the first newspaper there's a photo of Achetbir entering our condo unit and next to it was a photo of me entering the unit he entered. How they found out that I was his employee is what I don't know. In the second newspaper, there's a distant shot where you can see the shadow of us being intimate with each other.

Fvck!

I'm sure it was taken only yesterday because we had sex again last night in front of the glass wall of the house.

"Mom, meet Jandie Mendoza, my girlfriend. She's the only woman that I'll marry," Achetbir said seriously as my knee weakened.

What is he doing? Is he already crazy?

Her mother, as well as Patriza, looked down at me. I saw Mrs. Villa Forca gritted her teeth and quickly approached me to give me a loud slap.

"Mom!" Achetbir shouted as he pulled me onto his back.

I touched my cheek at the same time tears were forming in my eyes.

"So, you're the woman who's tainting my son's name. What do you want? Money?" she spat angrily.

"Mom, stop!" Achetbir shouted in anger, causing his mom to look at him with disbelief.

"What? Are you really serious about this woman, Achetbir?" she asked tremblingly as she pointed at me. "She's just a mere secretary. What will the rest of our partners will say? That you have no taste and silly to one of your employees?" she added.

I expect to hear that from other people in case they found out about us, but I didn't expect it to be this painful when it comes directly from the parent of your loved one. I bit my lower lip to prevent from crying.

"Don't speak like that about her, Mom. Jandie and I truly love each other. Stop being judgmental and let me clear it, I don't care what they will think about me," Achetbir defended and softly glanced at me.

"No! You should marry Patriza so this issue will disappear. Show them that this is just fake news because the truth is, Patriza is your girlfriend," his mother rebuked.

"I won't fvcking do it!" Achetbir yelled.

"A-Achetbir," I stammered calling his name.

I great restraint so that my tears would not stream once he turned his gaze back to me. It hurts me to see the two of them arguing just because of me. I was even more hurt because I knew her mother was right that his name would ruin due to our relationship.

"I think we need to break up," I said, making his jaw clenched.

"Stop this, Jandie. If you think about the issue, it will also disappear over time," he said and gently held me on my arms.

I slowly shook and swallowed to clear the air in my throat. I averted my gaze because I can't take a look on his pleading eyes. My eyes spontaneously went to the man in the room with us. His eyebrows rose a little when he noticed my stare.

An idea popped into my mind.

"Your mom's hunch was right, Achetbir. I am just using you for your money," I stated and then looked at him.

"Stop lying, babe, we both knew that it's not true. Don't tell a lie just to broke up with me," he said seriously.

I laughed and walked away from him. "But I am really telling the truth, Achetbir. I'm just playing with you, and I have another relationship," I said directly while looking at him.

"See? Her true color also came out, son. You don't deserve that woman," his mom butted in.

"Enough!" Achetbir shouted again.

We all fell silent because there was a hint of extreme anger in his tone along with the darkening of his eyes.

"I knew you were lying, Jandie. Why are you doing this?" full of his annoyed question.

I laughed again and stared into his eyes.

I'm sorry, but this is for your own good.

"Let me show you then," I said and walked to the man who's kept watching us.

I had seen no emotion visible in his eyes as I headed to his place. He seemed to understand what I want to do based on his reaction. I turned again to Achetbir who was staring at me intently when I was in front of the young man.

"He's the man that I am talking," I announced and pulled the man's nape for a kiss.

The man automatically grabbed my waist and responded to the kiss I was giving.

I am sorry, babe ...

I love you.

We stopped as when Achetbir's belongings on the table loudly fall. His mom and Patriza shrieked because of his action. He looks livid as he breathes harshly.

"Leave ..." He said coldly and stared at me. "Leave woman. We're done," he repeated.

"Let's go," said the man next to me and gently held me by my waist in support.

Achetbir's gaze could not escape me as his jaw tightened again. I stood up straight despite my weakness and bowed in respect and left with the man who's supporting me.

As the we finally get out of his office and his door closed, my tears automatically run down to my cheeks as I lost my strength. My companion quickly caught up with me and locked my face in his chest.

"Cry," he said simply that made my eyes burst into tears.

I no longer care if other employees see us. I just want to release all the pain that I am feeling as I remember how hurt his eyes was.

I am sorry, babe ... I am sorry.