CHAPTER 01

I arrived ten minutes to 10 o'clock in Resorts World Manila to fetch my boss, Hunter Huntington, from his breakfast meeting. Hinatid siya ng company car kanina dahil nasa car wash pa ang sasakyan nito. He asked me to pick up his car and take it to him in Resorts World. 

Narating ko ang Impressions kung saan sila nag-breakfast meeting. I already spotted him from where I was. Nahuli rin ng mga mata ko si Mayana Guerrero, his current girlfriend, along with the investor.

His green eyes found me standing just outside the restaurant. I smiled mockingly at him. I tapped my watch, showing how impatient I am.

They all stood when Hunter stood up. He's wrapping things up. He better be!

Pinapanood ko sila habang tinatapos niya ang pakikipag-usap sa investor. Watching Hunter Grayson Huntington do his business like the usual except that today he brought along his girlfriend, that is a known socialite here in the Philippines, which for me is new.

Binabasa ko ang material na iniwan niya sa akin para sa meeting bukas nang makatanggap ako ng tawag mula sa kanya upang kunin ang sasakyan niya at sunduin siya rito.

Nayayamot ako habang pinagmamasdan ang babaeng nakakapit kay Hunter na parang tarsier.

The girl is attractive, I admit, but she just isn't made for Hunter. Hunters don't hunt for tarsiers, they're endangered species already. Jusko! Hindi mo na kailangan maging genius para malaman yun.

"Well, thank you! it's a pleasure doing business with you, Mr. Justin Blanchard." Hunter formally said as he shook the other guy's hand.

Tumawa 'yung lalaking investor, "Please, just Justin, you make me feel so old with all the formalities." he said, then chuckled some more.

Even the man, he's handsome and quite charming. But all in all, Hunter has that looks and charisma ten times more than anyone I know of. Tumaas ang kilay ko nang makita ang babae na lumapit pa lalo kay Hunter, at may pabulong-bulong pa sa tainga nito.

"By the way," Hunter show forth Mayana, "I apologize for not introducing you, Mayana Guerrero, daughter of Miguel and Maria Guerrero of Guerrero Alpha Realty." Justin shook the tarsier's hand and smiled at her. 

Napairap na lang ako. Hindi pa ba matatapos 'to? They were on a breakfast meeting at ngayon lang naisipan ni Hunter na ipakilala si Mayana? 

Lumapit na ako sa kinatatayuan nila. Plastic na nginitian ko si Mayana at sinimangutan ko naman si Hunter.

"And her?" biglang tanong ng lalaking Justin ang pangalan kay Hunter.

Tumuwid ako nang pakakatayo at inayos ko rin ang suot kong cardigan bago hinarap ang investor para i-offer ang kamay ko.

Hunter glanced at me, "Her?" he asked.

Yes stupid! Me! Pinanlakihan ko siya ng mata. 

"Hello, Julianne Averee Lustre, Huntington Realty's Vice President of Finance." I answered Justin's question professionally, like the way he always does.

Lumapit si Justin sa akin at tinanggap ang inilahad kong kamay, "I'm Justin Blanchard, pleased to meet you Miss Lustre." we shook hands.

I smiled, "Just Julianne, Mr. Blanchard."

He laughed, "Julianne, just Justin please." we both laughed.

"Ahm, Justin?" Hunter called his attention. "Aren't we keeping you from your busy schedule?" he asked, giving me the glare. Sinagot ko siya ng irap.

Hunter you fucking douchebag asshole!

"Yes, sorry." bumalik ang tingin niya sa akin kaya ngumiti ako, "I'll see you around." he said and bid us goodbye before leaving. Hunter glared at me, I raised a brow at him.

What asshole?

Natigil ang samaan namin nang tingin nang yumakap pa lalo si Mayana kay Hunter, "I'll see you tomorrow?" she asked in a sickeningly sweet bedroom voice.

I cringe with disgust. There's people around us and she just gone ahead using that voice that is meant for closed doors. Hunter just nodded. But Mayana pulled him closer.

Hunter sighed as he tried to get away from Mayana's clutches. But the tarsier just won't budge.

"Mayana, I have to go." sabi ni Hunter, sounding exasperated.

The girl pouted, "But I wanted to be with you!"

Spoiled brat. Pinag-krus ko ang kamay at napairap. My day barely started and I'm already exhausted just by witnessing something hideous such as this one.

"But I have work, I'll see you when I have time on my hands to spare..." Hunter said, as he forcefully removed Mayana's arms that got its hold on him.

"Pero makikita ba kita tomorrow?" she pressed on.

Hunter sighed in defeat, "I'll just see you tomorrow, Mayana." sabi niya, without trying to offend the bitch. If I have my way, I would rain on her goddamn parade every time I have the chance.

She forced a smile, I smirked. Oh sweet! I waved Mayana goodbye as Hunter signalled me to walk with him, leaving Mayana there. Lol! What an asshole Hunter is! 

"Julianne," tawag niya sa akin, nilingon ko siya. "I told you not to flirt with any of our investors." he told me, tumaas ang kilay ko.

Ano raw? Nabingi yata ako dun sa sinabi niya.

"What the fuck are you talking about, Hunter?" I asked, scandalized of what he just accused me of. "Did my ears fail me or it is what you just really said." I told him that stop him from walking.

"Do you want me to repeat what I just said?" natatawang tanong niya.

I pressed my lips to a grim line or I thought was a grim line just to dare for authority, "Yes, Hunter, I dare you..." I replied, looking at him dead serious.

He swallowed, "Never mind," he dismissed and started walking again. I followed him, this asshole just called me a flirt. 

Hindi niya ba alam ang ibig sabihin ng malandi? I can even give an example of malandi if he ever called me like that ever again. Mayana is malandi. Not me. Bakit 'di niya sinabihan iyon ng malandi?!

Hinihintay namin ang kanyang kotse sa entrada ng Resorts World. Naka-krus ang kamay ko at nakatingin sa malayo. Ayokong makita ang mokong na 'to.

"Julianne," tawag niya sa akin.

I didn't look at him. Umiwas ako ng tingin sa kanya. Not that he cares.

"I'm sorry for saying that to you..." he breathed near my ears.

Paglingon ko ay nakatayo na siya malapit sa akin. Natalon aki nang kaunti dahil doon.

"What are you doing?" I asked, rubbing my ear.

"Apologizing..." he replied in his stoic face.

Hindi ko na nagawang sumagot dahil pinarada na ng valet ang kanyang black Lamborghini sa harap namin. Ang kotseng ipinick-up ko sa car wash kanina. He even gave the valet a tip and took his car keys.

"Let's go, Julianne, there's a lot of work to be done." he said, opening the passenger seat for me.

I rolled my eyes and straighten myself. I'm still at a state of shock from his sudden apology.

"Don't you dare roll your eyes on me." he said, I faced him and rolled my eyes before taking the passenger's seat.

Binalingan ko si Hunter nang 'di pa niya sinara ang pinto, "Hunter," I called him, "there's a lot of work to be done." I mock him.

He scoffed and stared at me.

"As you may know, I've notice the number of times that you rolled your eyes from earlier..." he said as he leveled himself at my eye level.

Ngumisi ako, "Talaga?"

Tumango siya, "And why is that?"

"Don't get me started, Hunter." I told him.

Tumayo na siya at sinara ang pinto. Umikot siya at pinanood ko ang pagtanggal niya ng butones sa kanyang coat. This douche acting cool!

"Hurry up! Hunter." sabi ko pagkabukas niya ng driver's seat.

He chuckled, "Sure, Julianne..."

He drove away from Resorts World. Samantalang tinanggal ko naman ang aking heels. Inangat ko pa ang aking paa at kinuha ang foot massager sa glove compartment.

"Puwede namang mag-flats ka na lang..." sabi niya.

"Hindi bagay ang flats na meron ako sa suot ko ngayon..."

"Then we buy you new ones..."

I laughed, "No."

"I'll ask my personal shopper to buy you flats..."

"No, Hunter."

"Ano bang size mo?"

"No way."

"Was it, 8.5 US?"

"You don't need to buy me flats..."

"As if you can stop me from buying."

I groaned out of frustration. Ano pa nga bang silbi nang pagpigil ko sa kanya na 'wag akong bilhan kung gagawin din naman niya? I'm wasting my saliva and even my breath in doing so.

"Just say 'Thank you' when it arrives..." he said, giving me a quick glance.

"Sure, thank you in advance!"

I didn't attempt on making conversations with Hunter and let the silence reign upon us.

Hindi ko gusto ang palagi niyang pagbili sa akin ng kung anu-ano. From blouse, dress, shoes, jewelries, and perfumes. Hindi ko gusto iyon dahil sa mga tingin na ginagawad sa akin ng mga tao sa opisina.

Nang nasa pamilyar na kaming daan ay binasag niya ulit ang katahimikan.

"I didn't mean to offend you in some way, I just wanted you to be comfortable..."

"Don't overthink it, Hunt, it's your money..." I said in a monotone and looked outside.

"By the way, Harper's coming to the office..."

Nilingon ko siya, "Why would he be in the office?"

He quickly glanced at me, "Father wanted Harper to be involved in the business, instead of just spending the money we earn he should know how to earn it too..."

"Bakit mo sinasabi sa akin na pupunta si Harper sa opisina?" tanong ko sa kanya.

Nagpakawala siya ng hangin at diretso ang tingin sa kalsada, "He wanted to be in your department and if he found out you're in Finance he would ask to be placed there!" 

"So? Ano naman iyon sayo?" panunuya ko.

"Just. Shut up," pagod niyang sabi. Nagkibit balikat na lang ako at tumingin na lang ulit sa labas.

45 minutes in driving we arrived at the office. Supposedly it's 15 minutes or less in this fast ass car. But what can I say? We're in the Philippines, where traffic is already normal.

"Aanhin mo ang sports car kung traffic naman sa EDSA?" pang-aasar ko.

"HA-HA." he fake laughed as he handed his keys to the valet.

"Come on, Hunt, there's a lot of work that needs to be done!" ulit ko sa sinabi niya kanina.

Bago niya pa masagot iyon, his secretary, Dulce de Leche - I mean, Dulce Cruz, is already waiting for him by the entrance. Nang mamataan ako ni Dulce ay inirapan na niya ako.

This bitch has the freakin' audacity to roll her eyes on me? She should've thanked me for doing her job for her!

Dapat nga siya ang sumundo kay Hunter roon! Ako na nga ang gumawa! She's the secretary and not me. Hindi ko iyon trabaho. Tapos ay ako pa ang iirapan niya!

It should be her job to accompany Hunter to everything he's concern of because she's the secretary and I'm not. Vice President ako ng Finance at sa totoo lang ay wala rin akong alam sa kung anong may kinalaman sa business.

Everyone in Huntington Realty knows I didn't even finished a degree about Business more so in Real Estate. I'm the Vice President of Finance Department and I know nothing of it. I was just placed here for some known reasons.

All of what I know, Hunter taught me. Si Hunter pa ang gumagawa ng mga presentation na ako ang magpre-present sa board, to his father, and he'll tell me anything that presentation points out or what is all about. 

Because my strength isn't about business, or about making houses or condominium towers. My strength lies in making dresses, sewing and stitches, and fashion. I'm also good at styling. I can mix and match in every shirt, blouse, shorts, skirts, pants and shoes. I know what make up best suited in the look I created. Hindi pa ako pumalya sa roon.

Since Hunter was already snatched by Dulce, I went straight to my office to sketch some new designs I can sell in my online fashion boutique - JL Collections. Kaunti lang naman ang trabaho ko dahil nakadepende iyon sa ipapadalang trabaho sa akin ni Hunter. Which close to none.

Mula sa huling file drawer na nasa gilid ng aking desk ay kinuha ko ang aking pencils at sketch pad pati na rin ang color pallet at cloth pallet na ako mismo ang nag-arrange.

I started doing a sketch close to my style. I chose in the color pallet best suited on the style I sketched. Black and white with yellow accents. 

I indulged myself with the scent of the pencil lead and the screech of pencil's semi-sharp edge on to the paper when Macy Ebora, my used-to-be competition to Vice President of Finance Dept. - which is my position now, strut inside my office like she owns it.

"Hi noob!" she greeted me and placed a pile files on my table.

Tinitigan ko ang mga iyon tsaka ko ibinaba ang pencil na hawak ko at pinagmasdan ang kampon ni Satanas. "What are you doing here?" pagod na tanong ko. I mean, I never have that much work. Ang trabahong ipinapadala sa akin ay 'yung mga galing mismo kay Hunter.

"Giving you your work load," she smiled, like she's triumphant or something. 

I was about to tell her to scram and leave me alone so I can continue sketching when Hunter entered my office with his famous scowl.

"Ms. Ebora, what's that?" Hunter asked, pigil na pigil ang galit.

I smirked. That was beyond my work load. 

Macy Ebora cowers in fear in front of Hunter. Ibang klase talaga ang datingan at ang timing nitong mokong na 'to!

"Aren't you informed that all of Julianne's work load were to be sent to me first?" he asked Macy. Magkasalubong ang dalawang kilay ni Hunter at gusto kong tumawa pero pinigilan ko.

Imbis ay tumayo ako, "Hunter, I'm hungry." I whined. Hunter stared at me, I smiled. He motions me to come with him and I did. Naunang lumabas ng opisina ko si Hunter.

"Ilagay mo 'yan sa office ni Hunter," sabi ko kay Macy, "Bye! I'm out for lunch." pang-aasar ko pa bago sumunod kay Hunter.