Chapter 5

Chapter Five

Tinitigan ko ang kamay ni Sebastian na nakahawak sa maliit na baywang ni Stanford, and for the first time I felt a slight pain at something that was not even hurtful for me. This was so new to me and I hated the feeling, alam ko kasi kung ano ito, I feel jealous of her. Hindi naman kasi ako dapat magkaganito sa kapatid ni Niu, because he was basically considered my brother, too.

Iniwas ko ang tingin doon at binaling sa mukha ni Stanford, ngayon ko lang yata naramdaman ng pagkainis sa babaeng ito. She’s one of our best clients because she was obsessed with fine jewelry. I like her because we have the same intersest, and that is the love for jewelry. Pero ngayon ay gusto kong bawiin na gusto ko siya, I hated her now that Seb's arms were around her. Ningitian ko siya at binati pero hindi ko pinansin si Sebastian, I don’t want to look at his face and be distracted again. Kung puwede ko lang siyang irapan ay kanina ko pa iyon ginawa.

“Hi,” I was all smiles at Stanford. “How are you?” I asked her. I lead them to the VIP room where she can choose my latest collections of rare stones. Ito ang gusto ni Stanford sa mga alahas niya, she chooses the perfect gem and then I’ll make the design for the jewelry.

“Never been great because of this very handsome gentleman here,” mapang-akit itong tumingin kay Sebastian habang hinimas-himas ng kaliwang kamay nito ang dibdib. Parang nag-e-enjoy naman ang kumag dahil may ibinulong ito kay Stanford at napahagikhik ang babae.

Gustong malukot ng mukha ko dahil sa nasaksihan, they were flirting in front of me! Tumikhim ako para kuhanin ang atensyon nilang dalawa, tumingin ng malagkit si Seb sa akin habang nakayapus ang braso ni Stanford sa leeg nito. Inirapan ko siya at nilakasan ang pag-tikhim ko.

“Would you like to look at our display first or we’ll go to the VIP room?” I politely asked her. much as i hated her right now, she's still my client and I need to treat her right. 

Kumalas agad si Stanford kay Seb bago bumaling sa akin at maarteng kumapit sa braso ni Seb, “Sa VIP na tayo dahil may pupuntahan pa kami ni Seb.”

“Follow me this way,” tumalikod ako at unang umalis, ang nakakainis pa ay dinig na dinig ko sa likod ang mga hagikhik ni Stanford. I actually did not expect her to behave like this since she always sounded so strict and bitchy. Ngayon ko lang siya nakitang naglandi. Napailing ako, Sebastian Altamirano was really one of a kind.

Donnie opened the VIP room for us, he was one of my first employees. Nang makapasok kami ay pinaupo ko sila sa two-setter sofa bago ako umalis para kunin ang mga bagong dating na mga mamahaling bato. Stanford always wanted to have unique pieces of jewelry, she made it clear to me that she’ll sue me kapag gumawa ako ng kapareha ng mga style na ginawa ko para sa kanya. 

Sinenyasan ko si Amelia na dalhin at ipakita ang mga mamahaling bato. These gemstones are from different parts of the world, from the common to the rarest, we all have it, and this is the reason why our customers keep coming back.

Sebastian was staring at me while I presented every piece of gemstone to Stanford, he was sitting beside her making it easy for him to look at me without Stanford noticing it. Hindi ko siya pinansin at patuloy lang ako sa pag-present ng mga mamahaling bato.

“This Pink Diamond is 68-carat oblong cut from Russia, and it was actually one of a kind because of its size.” I handed her the stone, and from the looks of it, she was amazed at how huge the diamond was. Stanford was really so into rare pieces. Nagningning ang mga mata niya habang nakatingin sa mga mamahaling bato. 

“What do you think, Seb?” she queried him. 

Tiningnan ko si Sebastian na patuloy pa rin na nakatitig sa akin, hindi man lang nito pinansin si Stanford. Pinandilatan ko siya dahil baka mahuli siya nito na nakatingin sa akin, mawalan pa ako ng customer ng wala sa oras. He only lifted the side of his lips to form a smirked before turning to Stanford who was now busy with the other gemstone.

“This one’s better.” He picked the Red Beryl and placed it near Stanford’s neck. “Don’t you think so, sister?” He looked at me darkly as if something was going on inside his mind.

“Uhh, yeah. That one is a 50-carat heart cut Red Beryl.” I nervously answered him, I don't want to draw attention now, not in front of my client. 

“Especially if wore nothing but this,” Sebastian continued.

Halos mamula ang boung mukha ko sa sinabi niya dahil sa akin nakatitig ang mga mata niya habang sinasabi niya iyon, at hindi man lang ito napansin ni Stanford.

“Okay, I’ll have this one. I want this gem hanging on my neck at Seb’s birthday party," masayang saad ni Stanford. 

His birthday will be two months from now, it will be his 39^th birthday. I smirked at the thought, Sebastian's nearing in his forties just made him look more powerful and handsome. Aging is doing good on him. 

“Of course, miss Stanford, I’ll send you the designs next week. Thank you so much for always patronizing our shop, it’s a pleasure.”

Sebastian just smirked at me before heading his way out of the VIP room with his arm draped around Stanford’s waist. Umasim ang mukha ko dahil sa mga inakto nito. It’s like he was flirting with me, which he should not but then he has his hand all over Stanford. At nakakainis pa doon ay apektado ako sa mga kilos niya. I don’t want to entertain these feelings but with Seb around me, it’s just so hard to ignore it.