His Secretary

When Athalia got into the CR. She faced the mirror and looked at her reflection. Athalia sees a woman with a look of pleasure on her face, and fear of what will happen. What did Luke think and why did he take her as his Secretary?

Does he think? Athalia sigh. After all, there was nothing wrong with what he did. Luke surprised her. He didn't even tell her that he had a plan. So that, she wouldn't be surprised like this.

Now, there is no reason for Athalia to avoid Luke anymore. Because even if she avoids him, he spontaneously approaches her. Why is Luke doing this to Athalia? She closed her eyes and calmed herself. She turned on the faucet and washed her hands.

Athalia sighed again before deciding to leave the CR. When she got out, she saw Luke and Mr. Lereño talking seriously while there is a paper in front of them. Is that the contract that she needs to sign?

Athalia walked closer to them. Luke turned and look at her. Athalia couldn't escape her sight as he looked at her from head to toe. She was suddenly disgusted so she averted her gaze from him. When she got close to the table, she sat in the chair. Mr. Lereño turned his gaze to her and took the paper in front of Luke and handed it to her.

"Sign this, Ms. Ramos." - Mr. Lereño pointed to Athalia's name on the paper where she will sign.— "It says that you will decide how long you want to work as Mr. Sebastian's Secretary and three days a week you will be his Secretary." her Boss explained to Athalia. She nodded and picked up the ballpen next to her laptop and signed it. After signing, she gave it back to Mr. Lereño.

"Okay. So we've all settled. So I hope everything will be fine. Hopefully, our partnership will be successful, Mr. Sebastian." Mr. Lereño said to Luke.

"Yes, of course, Mr. Lereño" Luke replied while looking at her intently. Athalia looked down because she couldn't meet his gaze.

"Okay. So I have to go. Mr. De Guzman will meet with me today to discuss important things regarding the expansion of our business. So, I'm going." Mr. Lereño goodbye and stood up.

Mr. De Guzman is one of his trusted business partners at Heirwone Enterprise. Now Luke is also his business partner. Mr. Lereño does not just trust anyone. She doesn’t know how Luke gets Mr. Lereño's trust and is his partner.

"I'm leaving too, Sir," she said and took the laptop and put it in the laptop bag. Athalia was ready to stand when Luke spoke.

"We need talk, Ms. Ramos."-he turned to Mr. Lereño— "I'll take care of him, Mr. Lereño. I'll just tell her something." Luke said firmly.

Mr. Lereño nodded in agreement and walked out of the VIP Room. As Athalia sat back in the chair. She looked at Luke who was staring at her intently.

"So, what's now?" she asked. Luke cough.

"Are you avoiding me, Athalia?" he asked.

Athalia could see the pain in the twinkle of his eyes. He is not the only one who was hurting now. Athalia too, she wants to be with him but she can't.

"Yes, because that's what's needed. Luke, you have a girlfriend. How will Mickhaela feel when she sees us together? As much as possible I don't want to dispute with someone." she said to him. His mouth tightened.

"He knows we're friends and he'll understand. I met you first before her so she has no right to get angry." Luke said while staring at her intently.

Athalia met his gaze. That's what hurts, that they're just friends. He wants to tell her. But nothing will happen either, because Athalia certainly feels nothing toward him. Luke smiled bitterly at the thought. Maybe, their fortune is to be friends not to be a lover.

"Okay. Tell it Mickaela about us. Because I don't want to have an enemy. Yeah, we're poor, Luke. But I won't let her say anything bad to me when I become your Secretary because whoever she is I will not let her insult me. I was raised with dignity, that even if I was poor I would never be oppressed. " She said while staring sharply at Luke. The corner of Luke's lip rose.

"You're still a fighter until now Athalia. That's why even years had passed by —." what he was going to say was cut off when the ring tone of her cellphone rang. She took it out of her shoulder bag that was on the table and look at the screen, Charles is the caller.

"Charles is calling, I'll answer it, please excuse me," she said and before Athalia could answer the call she saw her face of Luke darkened. Is he angry? She just ignored him and put the cellphone in her ear.

"Hello, Charles. Good Afternoon!" She warmly greeted Charles who was on the other line.

"Good Afternoon also, Ath. I'm here today in the building where you work. I'm picking you up. I asked the Receptionist if you were out, and she said you left with Mr. Lereño. Where are you and I'll pick you up there." he asked. Sh*t! Why she doesn't remember he's going to pick her up now? Athalia sigh.

"I'm sorry Charles, it's a sudden meeting of mine with my boss. I forgot that you're going to pick me up today. I'm sorry for bothering you." She apologized and looked at Luke who was greeting her teeth. Athalia was confused about Luke's behavior, but she ignored it.

"I'll take you home, Athalia. So tell Charles to go home and don't bother." Luke said in a whisper but a hard voice.

Athalia was suddenly startled by the voice he used. She was devastated to see him look sharply at her. For no apparent reason, Athalia nodded like she was hypnotized by him. A sweet smile foes on her lips.

"Okay. Where are you now and I'll pick you up?" Charles asked again who was still in the other line. Athalia shook her head as if the person she was talking to was in front of her.

"Uhm. Charles, maybe next time? I'm with Luke." she said. Charles on the other line was silent for a few seconds.

"Charles?" Athalia asked. Charles sneezed.

"Okay Ath, take care. There's still next time," he said and turned off the call.

Athalia could feel in Charles's voice the jealousy towards Luke. Why? Well, they are friends after all. Athalia turned to Luke who was still staring at her.

"What?" she asked him. He shook his head.

"Nothing. So let's go? On Monday, you will start being my Secretary Athalia. So better prepare." he said and smiled. It's like there's something else in his smile, is he planning something?

LUKE AND I EXITED the Restaurant and headed to the parking area where his Black Sedan was parked. Athalia couldn’t help but admire his car, it was luxurious. Luke opened the passenger's seat door for her. When she got in, she put the seatbelt on her waist for protection. When Luke got into the driver's seat and fastened the seatbelt. He immediately start the engine of his Sedan and drove it out of the parking lot.

"How is Uncle Adan?" she asked when she remembers Luke's Father.

Uncle Adam was kind to her when he was here in the Philippines. How is he? Athalia glanced at Luke. He was slightly taken aback.

"He's fine." - he looked at her. She saw the sadness in his eyes. Is he sad because he is not with Uncle Adam now? He looked back at the road .— "You? How are you and Charles?" he asked and she a bitterness in his voice.

"Ahm, we're okay. He's kind and thoughtful." Athalia said and looked at Luke. She saw the sudden movement of his jaw. Is he angry because Charles was good to her and they getting along?

"Just don't let him hurt you. He will regret Athalia, Athalia. Is there someone that I don't want to be hurt, it's you" he said and looked at her with intensity. Athaluq didn’t allow herself to intimidate him by how he looked at her. Athalia nodded.

"He won't hurt me. I'm sure of that. Charles is a thoughtful man, I feel his sincerity in courting me. So don't worry. If he hurts me, I won't hesitate to break up with him when he becomes my boyfriend." Thalia answered so that Luke will calm down. He looks like a lion who's willing to clutch his enemy.

Luke didn't comment on what she said. So Athalia decided to look out the window to see the houses they passed by. It looks like they are close to town. The restaurant is beyond the town. Minutes have passed until they reached the gate of their house. Athalia looked at her wristwatch.

It's six o'clock in the evening. She got out of the Sedan and didn't wait for Luke to open the door for her. She looked up at the sky, the sky was overcast. It looks like it's going to rain. Suddenly, the door of the house opened, and Athalia's mother came out carrying a plastic bag, which the inside was probably garbage. Luke also got out of the Sedan.

"Athalia? Luke?" Carmen asked and walked toward the gate holding the plastic bag.

"Aunt Carmen!" Luke shouted and approached Carmen and waved.

Athalia also approached and waved to her mother. Carmen immediately opened the gate and placed the garbages on the side of the gate. The garbage truck will pick it up tomorrow at dawn. The garbage truck is owned by the municipality and they will the garbages of every house in their town.

"Good evening mom." Athalia greeted politely. Carmen smiled at Athalia and face Like and give him a quick hug. Carmen immediately withdraw from the hug and invited look to go inside the house.

"Come in, Luke. Maybe, you have dinner tonight with us. I'll cook Afritada. You must have missed that." Carmen said. Before Luke could answer, Athalia preceded her mother.

"Mom, it looks like it's going to rain. Luke might be stranded in the house. It's hard to travel when raining." Thalia said. Luke looked at her.

"It's okay, Auntie. I want to taste your Afritada. I miss your Afritada!" Luke gleefully said with a wide grin on his lips.

Athalia sigh. Looks like she can't do anything to stop Luke, he is persistent. Carmen smiled broadly and led the way into the house. Athalia locked the gate. Suddenly, her fur rose as a broad arm wrapped around her waist. She felt a tingling sensation as his breath hit her ear.

"I miss you my, Best Friend," Luke said which caused her knees to weaken.

She hold tightly to the gate railing to gain strength because Athalia felt she would lose her consciousness. She turned to Luke, and she regretted what she had done because their bodies got close. Their faces are only a few inches away. Athalia's heart was beating so fast. She can feel the heat of his body because of the contact.

"Say that you miss me too Athalia. Please say it," he said in a pleading voice. She swallowed first to clear the clog in her throat.

"I miss you too, Luke," Athalia said but it's too late for her to take back what she said. The corner of his lip rose as he stared at her. When he broke away from the embrace. Her heart beats normally. How Luke could do this to her?

"Let's go inside, the breeze is a bit cold. It looks like it's raining." Luke said.

Athalia nodded because no words came out of her mouth. Luke folder their hands. Athalia looked at their holding hands. She tried to pull it away, but he tightened his grip on my hand even more.

"Just now Athalia, I want to hold your hand. When we get inside I'll let it go." Luke said and turned to her.

Athalia sees in Luke's eyes that he's waiting for a positive response from Athalia. She sigh. There is nothing wrong with holding hands. Besides, they're friends. That's the painful truth, they're just friends. She nodded and smiled.

"Sure. Besides, we are friends." Thalia said in a factual tone.

She saw a sadness in his eyes. But, soon it's disappeared and replaced by a sweet smile. Luke pulled her into the house while their hands were intertwined.

Athalia is happy because they’re together now, there’s no reason for her to deny her feelings. But until when she'll confess her feelings toward Luke? She has a girlfriend and Charles will be her boyfriend soon when she's ready to say her 'yes' to him.

Come what may. For now, Athalia won’t think about that. She will make all the days they haven't together because the time will come when their paths will part again. Because they're not meant to be. It hurts, but she has to accept it.