Chapter 3

Chapter 3: Words

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Damn! Is this a coincidence or someone’s playing a trick on me?!

I want to convince myself that I'm just hallucinating and he's not the one I am seeing right now. 

But heck! It's him. That arrogant guy at Q's Caffee. 

Of course, there's a possibility that he's also working here because he’s a relative of the HR head in this company. But I never thought he will be this big.

God! He's the CEO! And sooner, he will be my boss!

I can't help myself not to panic upon knowing the fact that I'll be working under him. I'm worried if I could handle being with him in my entire career.

Why of all people it should be him? Can't it be someone who is kind and easy to deal with and not like him who is immodest, arrogant and so full of himself!

I heaved a sigh and eyed him, calculating if I should go near him or I'll just leave this damn room. But when my eyes meet with his deep ocean orbs giving me an intense gaze, it was as if I had lost my strength and my attention was solely focused on him.

I gulped hard several times as he was throwing me an intense gaze. There was something magical about his blue eyes that seemed to hypnotize me. Now I realize more how perfectly the shape of his face is.

How can a man be as gorgeous as him? Like as if, he's out of this world!

Yvor also has a pretty face. He was even a campus heartthrob back then in college. But this man . . . he's way more than being handsome. And why the hell am I comparing them?

Jesus, Lura! What's gotten into you?!

I shook my head and wanted to avoid looking at him but I just can’t. It was as if there was a magnet in his gaze that’s pulling me into him.

I stared at his face, more intent this time. His features were perfectly molded. From his luscious lips that every woman would surely want to taste to his well-defined jaw, pointed nose, thick eyebrows, and those deep ocean orbs that even it gives me to chill with his cold gaze, still, he looks so ravishingly hot just by having it.

And heck! He's just only wearing a plain business suit yet, his appeal is overflowing.

"Stop ogling and just sit."

His deep and cold baritone voice woke up my senses.

"What?" was all I could utter.

I blinked and I saw his forehead creased but I can see his lips twitching.

"I said stop ogling and sit," he said with authority.

I bite my lower lip and gulped hard.

Oh, Godness, Lura! You're embarrassing! I chastised myself as I felt the heat on my cheek.

I puffed a breath and went to his side. Without a word, I quickly took the seat in front of him while he's comfortably sitting on the long couch with his legs crossed.

I breathe out again to calm my heart that is rapidly beating. I tried to take away the shame that I had done earlier by observing his entire office. Until I looked at the large office table—which looked like made up of pure Narra tree, where a glass nameplate was placed and his name was beautifully engraved in it.

Lucio Gavin Cradford

Chief Executive Officer

Lucio Gavin. I mumbled his name inside my head. 

The side of my lips rose. His name suits him.

"Do you think so?"

The smile from my lips faded and my attention was turned back to him when his cold voice echoed in the room.

"P-pardon?" I asked, clarifying what he just said. I didn't hear that much because I was so intrigued by his name.

I got no answer from him, instead, he shut his mouth and stared at me intently again. I could no longer meet the intensity of his gaze that seemed to examine my depth so I immediately looked down.

But, just seconds after I did that he then spoke.

"Look at me in the eyes when I'm talking to you," he firmly muttered which made me stiffened.

My body seemed to have its brain and suddenly followed his wishes. I adjusted my seat and looked straight into his blue eyes. My heart pounded so fast at that and I didn’t like what this meant!

N-no! Stop it, Lura! You shouldn't feel this way! It isn't right!

I closed my eyes and shook my head multiple times. I struggle to convince myself that the outcome will not be good if I continue to be enslaved to the sensation I am feeling towards him. Or maybe what I feel is just normal because this is the first time I've interacted with other people, especially with a man like him.

"If you're sleepy, you shouldn't come here in the first place."

I quickly open my eyes upon hearing what he said and shook my head. 

"I'm not sleepy . . . sir," I firmly answered.

"Then, don't ever close your eyes. You're disrespecting me," he warned.

I nodded and directly apologize, "I'm sorry, sir."

"How much do you want the job?" he suddenly queried, ignoring my apology.

I did not immediately grasp what he asked. It was sudden and I felt like I was being interrogated instead of just a simple job interview.

"The clock is ticking. Don't make me repeat my question, Miss..."

"Abejero," I butted in, not minding his remarks. "Lura Elise Abejero, sir." I tried to smile—to lighten up the mood but failed when he just gave me a sharp look.

I’ve got frustrated by the way he’s treating me but I need to be calm.

Yet, I couldn't think of why is he like this? What is his problem? Why is he so grumpy and arrogant? Is he too stressed out handling a big company like this? Well, if that's the case, he needs to loosen up a bit.

"I'm not asking for your name," he scoffed. "Just answer what I asked you to."

I sat down in my seat at the kind of tune he used. I could hear that with annoyance. It was as if he was just holding back on me and if I hadn't corrected my answer he might have exploded completely.

I gulped hard and nodded. "I b-badly need a job...s-sir," I answered with trembled lips, afraid that any minute he might lose his patience and lashed out on me.

"Then, what can you offer me?"

I was taken aback by his sudden follow-up question. It made me speechless. I did not expect that so I don’t know what to answer. I thought earnestly as my hands sweated.

I puffed a breath. "I c-can't offer you anything, sir, but..." I trailed off, choosing the right words I should give him, "...you can have my loyalty and trust. I'll be patient with you too," I added. 

Though, I'm not quite sure if I could do the last thing I said. Because it takes a lot of patience with the kind of temperament he has. I just really hope I can do that.

I simply took a deep breath and smiled slightly at him as I watched his reaction. I thought he like what I answered but I could not see the slightest pleasure on his face. He just remains stoic and didn't even blink an eye. He stayed still and didn't say anything. He is merely giving me an intense gaze. 

My smile faded. I can feel my cheeks heated up while my heart is back at it again, beating rapidly and pounding so hard. I quickly looked away, saving myself from drowning in him.

All of a sudden, silence enveloped us. I can still feel his gaze on me and no matter how hard I try to calm my heart I just can't. And it's frustrating me!

"You may leave," he eventually spat.

My mouth dropped open as my eyes bulged. Shocked and confused by what he told me.

That's it? He's done? No further questions? Violent reactions? Or even objection from what I answered to him?

He stood up and turned his back on me. He sat down in his swivel chair and focused his full attention on the laptop laid on his desk.

I just sighed and didn't howl anymore. Maybe it is better if his interview had ended now so that I can leave at this four-cornered room. And then, eventually, this strange throbbing of my chest might stop.

"Thank you for your time, sir. I'll go ahead," I bid goodbye then bowed in respect.

He just nodded and didn't even glance at me.

I gasped and took a heavy step toward the door.

"He's pretty irritable," I couldn't help but whisper to myself.

"You're saying something?"

I was taken aback when he suddenly spoke. I turned to him again and shook quickly. I smiled lightly when he gave me a bad look as my heart was pounding again, not for anything but I was sure it was because of nervousness. 

"N-nothing, sir. I'm leaving," I mumbled and even before I could close the door of his office, he told me something that I didn't expect to come out of his mouth especially the last word he uttered.

"I'll hold on to your words . . . Elise."