Chapter Four

“WHY should I hire you?” tanong ni Sandro sa aplikanteng kaharap.

His secretary for six years resigned three months ago. Kahit hindi niya gusto ay hindi na niya pinigilan ang pagre-resign ni Tita Mary. Matanda na rin kasi ito at kailangan nang magpahinga. Bago pa niya maging sekretarya ang matanda ay una nitong pinagsilbihan ang abuelo. She was his grandfather's secretary for twenty years.

Madrigal Group of Company is a conglomerate built by his grandfather. He had two sons, but none of them inherit his grandfather’s passion for business. Sa kanilang dalawa ni Xavier ibinigay ng abuelo ang pamamahala sa kompanya. He was twenty-five when he become the CEO of the company. 

His job as the CEO of the company requires a competent secretary. Nang mag-resign si Tita Mary ay mabilis siyang nagpahanap sa HR ng papalit sa nabakanteng posisyon ng matanda. Gianna del Rio was the name of his new secretary. 

Isang buwan lang ang itinagal ng bagong sekretarya niya na si Gianna. Why, she was a big flirt. She seduced him every chance she gets. From wearing skimpy office uniform to shameless flirting. Mixing business with pleasure wasn't his cup of tea. But Gianna was tall, pretty and has a body of a model. And he was just a man with needs. Sa huli, siya pa rin ang may kasalanan dahil pumatol siya sa pang-aakit ni Gianna.

After what happened, Giana acted like they were in some sort of relationship. He decided to fire her.

Now, he didn't want to commit the same mistake again. Kung dati ay ipinaubaya lang niya sa HR ang pagpili ng sekretarya niya, ngayon ay gusto niyang siya ang personal na mamili ng magiging sekretarya.

“I'm dedicated to my job, Sir,” sagot ng aplikanteng kaharap sa isang matamis na ngiti. She even batted her eyelashes on him.

This woman was just like Gianna. Damn, the woman was already married yet she still had the guts to flirt with him.

“Okay, thank you…” Sumulyap siya sa hawak na CV. “Mrs. Benedicto.”

Bumuntong-hininga siya. Damn. He had already interviewed ten applicants subalit ni isa roon ay wala siyang napili. Mapa-may asawa o single ay pare-pareho lang. None of them was professional.

Pinindot niya ang intercom. “Hanna, send in the next applicant.” 

Habang wala siyang secretary ay ipinahiram sa kanya ng pinsang si Xavier ang sekretarya nito. His cousin Xavier is the Vice President for Engineering of the company. 

Habang naghihintay ay tumunog ang cell phone niya. He took his phone and answered the call.

“Kumusta ang secretary hunting mo?” bungad sa kanya ni Jackson sa kabilang linya. Jackson was his best friend. He was a motocross rider. He was in Europe right now to train for his upcoming competition.

“That’s the downside of having that face, pare,” biro nito sa kanya. “I have a suggestion, though. Why don’t you hire an ugly secretary? Para at least, kahit akitin ka, hinding-hindi ka maaakit di ba?” 

“Damn you, Jack.”

Narinig niya ang tawa nito sa kabilang linya. “How about your grandfather’s will? Anong plano mo roon?”

His grandfather died five months ago. Lahat ng ari-arian nito ay iniwan sa kanila ng pinsang si Xavier. Subalit may kasamang probiso ang last will nito. Maililipat lang sa kanila ni Xavier ang ari-arian ng namayapang abuelo kapag nagpakasal sila ng pinsan bago matapos ang taon. 

Bukod sa paghahanap ng sekretarya, problema din niya ang paghahanap ng babaeng mapapangasawa. 

Saktong pagbaba niya ng cell phone ay bumukas ang pinto ng opisina niya.

He was greeted by familiar face of a woman. It was the woman in the lobby earlier. So, she was applying as her secretary?

“Good morning, sir.”

“Good morning.”

He studied her. She was petite and beautiful. She has a heart-shaped face, pointed nose, small lips and a pair of emerald eyes.

He felt like he already met her before. Kung nakita na niya ito ay hindi niya basta-basta makakalimutan ang mukha nito. Especially those emerald eyes.

“You’re the woman earlier.”

“Uh, yes, sir.”

“Have a seat, Miss…”

“Coreen. Niarchos.”

Hinanap niya ang CV nito mula sa folder na nasa mesa niya. Coreen Niarchos. Twenty-five years old. Single. “Coreen Niarchos.”

Nag-angat siya ng tingin. Muling nagsalubong ang mga mata nila. “You have green eyes.” He couldn’t help but said it.

“I’m half-greek, sir.”

That explained her surname.

Ibinaba niya ang tingin sa CV bago muling ibibalik ang mga mata sa mukha ng kaharap. “You graduated Business Management in Greece?”

“I lived in Greece for eight years.”

“Why did you came back to the Philippines?”

“Personal reasons, sir.”

Sinalubong niya ang mga mata nito. Now, for the most important question... “Do you find me attractive?”

“Sir?” She was taken aback by his question. Bahagyang nanlaki ang mga mata nito.

Napatitig siya sa mga mata nito. Emerald green. That's the exact shade of her eyes.

“You’re attractive, sir…but that doesn’t mean I’m attracted to you.”

His brows shot up with her answer. “What do you mean by that?”

“You're good looking but my eyes were already on someone else.”

She was different from all the ten applicants had interviewed before her. He didn’t know why but this particular woman piqued her interest. 

“So... you have a boyfriend?”

“Uh.” Umiling ito. “No. I don't have any.”

“Oh? How about the guy you like?” He couldn’t believe he asked that question. Kailan pa siya naging interesado sa love life ng isang tao?

She bit her lower lip.  “Uhm…well, I like him but he doesn't know it. And I don't have any plans on telling him.”

“Why?” Shut the hell up, Sandro.

“Because it's complicated.”

“My apologies for asking you personal questions,” wika niya nang mapansin ang pagkailang nito. “But anyway, you're hired.”

“Sir?”

Her eyes widened in shock. He couldn’t help but smile at her reaction.

“You're hired, Miss Coreen Niarchos.”