Chapter 1: Taking the Risks

Belle’s P.O.V.

The office was eerily quiet after dark, the hum of computers long faded and the polished floors reflecting the soft glow of city lights filtering through the glass walls.

I knew I had left hours ago. Hindi dapat nagsusunog ng kilay ang mga katulad kong intern, lalo na kung hindi naman bayad ang nilalaan kong oras para lang matapos ang project na ibinigay sa akin ni Sir Nathan. Kauumpisa ko pa lang sa trabaho kaya kailangan kong pag-igihan para mas malaki ang tiyansa kong mapabilang sa mga regular na empleyado ng kompanyang ito.

Abala ang mga daliri ko sa pagtipa sa keyboard at nakatuon ang buong atensyon ko sa monitor ng aking computer. Summary conclusion na lang ang kailangan kong tapusin at makakauwi na rin ako, nakatanggap na ako ng ilang tawag at text mula sa kay Kuya dahil sa late kong pag-uwi.

“Working overtime, Miss Andrada?”

My heart stumbled. Muntik na akong mapasigaw sa sobrang gulat nang marinig ang baritonong boses mula sa aking likuran. Sapo ang dibdib ko ay nilingon ko ang pinagmulan ng tinig para lang ulit magulat nang mapagsino iyon.

Dylan Seyer stood in the doorway of our department, his tie loosened and his shirt sleeves rolled up to reveal strong, veined forearms. His dark gaze swept over me like a caress, and for the hundredth time since I had started, I wondered how many women worked under him without losing their minds.

“M-Mr. Seyer,” I said as I breathed, straightening. “I didn’t realize you were still here.”

He stepped inside, the door clicking shut behind him. “I could say the same.”

Lihim akong kinilabutan nang marinig ang pagsara ng pinto. The air shifted, and I felt like I was going to suffocate, lalo na nang lumapit siya sa kinaroroonan ko. Kung puwede lang huwag huminga ay ginawa ko na para lang hindi niya mahalata ang pagka-tense ko. It always happens like this when we are alone in a small, spaced place, katulad na lang ng minsang pagkakasabay namin sa elevator.

Hindi ko alam kung ako lang, o guni-guni ko lang ba ang ilang pangyayaring nahuhuli ko siyang nakatingin sa akin, maging ang madalas na pagkakabunggo ng mga braso namin sa tuwing magkakasabay kaming lalabas at papasok ng conference room.

Am I affected by that? Hell, yes! Kahit naman sino, sa angking kaguwapuhan ng aming Boss, sino ba namang babae ang hindi siya pagpapantasyahan? Sa kabila ng pagiging red flag ng ugali niya ay walang sinuman ang makakapigil na gustuhin siya. I’m sure kapag nalaman ni Lily na nakaharap ko si Mr. Seyer ay tiyak na mangingisay iyon sa inggit!

Dylan walked closer. His movements were slow, deliberate. “You are dedicated. That’s rare.”

Napalunok ako ng ilang beses dahil bigla akong pinanuyuan ng lalamunan, my heart started to beat fast. Iyon na naman ang pamilyar na pakiramdam kapag ganitong nagkakaharap kami. “I-I have to be, Sir,” nauutal kong sagot. “Internships don’t turn into job offers without a little sacrifice.”

His lips quirked into something almost resembling a smile. “Sacrifice. Is that what you call working yourself to exhaustion?”

Mula sa mapusyaw na ilaw na nanggagaling sa ilang ilaw na bukas ay nakita ko ang simpleng pangiti niyang iyon. It was magical! Mas lalong lumakas ang pagtahip ng dibdib ko at halos kumawala iyon sa loob ng katawan ko, kinagat ko ang ibabang labi ko upang pigilang mapahinga ng malalim.

“What would you call it, Sir?” I shot back, my heart pounding as hell!

Dylan leaned on the edge of her desk. His gaze never left her. “Dangerous.”

Nahigit ko ang aking paghinga nang magsimulang ilapit pa ni Sir Dylan ang mukha niya sa akin.

‘Lord, have mercy on me! Huwag niyo pong hayaan na bumigay ako sa kagauwapuhan ng kaharap ko!’ taimtim kong dasal sa sarili.

“B-Bakit po?” Gusto kong batukan ang sarili ko dahil sa pagpiyok ng boses ko. I wanted to push him and stay away but my body won’t move. At mas lalo akong nanigas mula sa kinauupuan nang umangat ang isang kamay niya at hinawi ang ilang hibla ng buhok na tumatabing sa mukha ko.

Napapitlag ako nang dumantay ang likod ng kamay niya sa pisngi ko.

“Because it’s getting harder for me to pretend I don’t notice you,” madilim ang anyong turan ni Sir Dylan.

Lumipas muna ang ilang sandali bago na-proseso sa utak ko ang sinabi niya. Unti-unting nanlaki ang mga mata ko at hindi makapaniwalang sinabi iyon ng kanilang Boss.

Are you kidding me? The cold and ruthless Boss who made the no-office-romance policy has confessed his feelings towards me. That’s impossible. That’s freaking impossible!

The confession shattered every boundary I had carefully kept.

“M-Mr. Seyer…” I whispered, unsure whether it was a warning or inviting him closer. Nagawa kong ilayo ang katawan ko sa kanya. Samu’t saring emosyon ang lumulukob sa akin ngayon, takot, pangamba, pagkabigla at kaba. Sinubukan kong tingnan siya sa mga mata ngunit maling-mali na ginawa ko iyon dahil kitang-kita ko ang kaseryosohan at kakaibang kislap mula sa mga mata niya.

“Dylan,” he corrected me. His voice was rough. “Say my name, Belle.”

Warning! Warning! Guwapong tukso, spotted!

Halos maduling ako sa lapit ng mukha niya sa akin. Pakiradam ko’y nagtatayuan ang lahat ng balahibo ko sa katawan at bigla akong pinagpawisan.

“D-Dylan . . .”

That was all it took. He closed the distance between us, his hand sliding around my waist and the other threading into her hair as his lips crashed against mine. The kiss was fierce, torrid, and wild; it felt like some restraint unraveling in seconds.

Napasinghap ako sa bilis ng pangyayari. It was not my first kiss, but it was the first time someone kissed me as hard as fck! Napahawak ako sa damit niya nang isandal niya ako sa desk ko, nanlaki ang mga mata ko nang isa-isang naglaglagan ang mga dokumentong pinaghirapan kong gawin at ayusin.

Saka ko lang naalala kung bakit ako naroon ng ganitong oras. His mouth traced a heated path down my throat, and instead of telling him to stop, my actions betrayed me. I tilted my head back, surrendering to the moment I’d secretly craved. The moment I let him kiss me, I knew we both stepped into a boundary that neither of us can’t turn back.

“Fck. This is fcking insane,” he muttered against my skin, but his hands only tightened on my hips, pulling me flush against him.

‘Yes! This is insane!’ pagsang-ayon ng isip ko.

“T-Then stop,” matapang na sabi ko, ngunit kaagad namang tumutol ang isip ko.

Dylan froze. His dark eyes locked with mine. “I can’t, I fcking can’t. Damn it!”

Nakipagtitigan ako sa kanya, I felt what he felt, and God helped me, but neither could I.

Dylan’s P.O.V

Ilang sandaling katahimikan ang namayani sa pagitan namin. I know she’s off-limits, and this is fcking out of control. I violated the one golden rule that I developed myself, but right at this moment, fck that policy!

My hand was still tangled in her hair while the other was firmly holding her waist against the edge of the desk. I was anxious that she’d slip and run away, but thank God, she didn’t move. Does that mean she likes me, too?

Lihim naman akong natuwa sa kaalamang iyon. Belle’s breath became visibly fast and heavy as her chest was rising and falling as she stares at me. Nang sandaling iyon ay tila nabasa ko kung ano ang iniisip ng dalaga, we both disregard the same attraction towards each other. That we have the same thoughts who haunted us as we leave the office everyday.

Lumamlam ang tingin ko at napatiim ang bagang dahil mas lalo lang sumidhi ang pagnanais kong makasama pa ng mas matagal ang dalaga. Jesus, I want her!

“Then don’t,” she whispered.

Parang bombang sumabog iyon sa pandinig ko, that was all the invitation I needed. My jaw clenched, and I crushed my lips into hers. The kiss seared away every shred of professionalism I’d clung to. I even tasted like dark coffee and danger, and when my tongue swept into her mouth, I forgot why this was a terrible idea.

I forgot she was an intern.

I forgot I was the CEO.

I forgot everything but the heat pooling low in my lower abdomen as my hands explored her curves, my fingers sliding down her spine, pulling her closer until there was no space left between us.

It was at that moment that I finally realized how deeply I was committed to crossing this line and taking the risk.

“You have no idea how long I’ve wanted this,” I muttered against her lips. My breath was hot and ragged. I want more, and it’s dangerous.

Muli ko siyang tiningnan sa mga mata, she was mesmerized but not shocked. Her eyes flashed as she looked at me.

“You still have time to stop me, I won’t get offended,” sabi ko sa pagitan ng mabibigat na paghinga.  If she wants to stop, I’ll stop, and even if it’s hard for me, I’ll leave, but if she wants me to continue . . .

Nakita ko ang magkasunod na paglunok ni Belle at ang pamumula ng buong mukha niya. Damn, she’s so hot and gorgeous!

“I-It’s fine,” halos pabulong lang na sagot ni Belle at nagyuko ng ulo.

I let out a sigh and smiled. I held her chin up and gently kissed her again. She responded quickly.

Fck! My mind went black, ang tanging nasa isip ko ay ang maangkin ang dalaga at nawala na sa isip ko kung nasaan kami. I want her badly and can’t wait for any minute to hold and touch her!

I heard her gasp as I lifted her onto the desk without breaking the kiss. I nudged the keyboard, and it slipped off.

I gently spread her legs and pushed her skirt up. I moaned as my hardness felt the skin between her thighs. Shit! This is driving me crazy!

I hardly pressed my body on her, and Belle responded. Her body arched back and wrapped her legs around me, causing my thing to get even harder. Fck!

She moaned, and for fck’s sake, it was like an angel’s voice whispering in my ears. It was arousing and addictive. My hands started to explore all over her body, and it stopped on her bottom, clenching it tightly. Isinubsob ko ang mukha ko sa balikat niya and planted a small hickey, leaving my mark on her body.

“God, I want to take you right here, right now,” nanghihinang sabi ko. Kailangan kong kontrolin ang sarili ko habang nasa tamang pag-iisip pa ako. Kahit gaano ko kagustong angkinin ang dalaga ay alam kong hindi iyon ang tamang lugar para sa bagay na iyon.

“You can’t…” she murmured, even as her hands fisted in my shirt, pulling me again to kiss her.

I chuckled darkly, trailing kisses along her jaw down the sensitive curve of her neck. “You keep saying that while your legs are wrapped around me.”

Her cheeks burned, but she didn’t let go. “Because you’re not stopping either.”

“Damn right, I’m not,” nakakaloko kong turan.

I kissed her again, hungrier this time, like I was making up for every moment I’d spent ignoring my feelings towards her.

Somewhere in the back of my mind, I knew this was reckless. I knew that if anyone walked in, her internship would be over, and my reputation would take a hit.

But then again, the hell I care! Why should I be scared?

My hands slid up her thighs, pushing her skirt higher, wala akong narinig na pagtutol mula sa kanya. I slightly bit her neck and looked at her.

“Tell me to stop,” I rasped as my lips brushed her ear. “Tell me you don’t want this, and I’ll walk away.”

My heart pounded hard as she looked at me intently. Bagaman sinabi ko iyon ay wala siyang balak huminto, it wasn’t enough. I want to kiss her more.

She cupped my face, shook her head, and forced me to meet her gaze. “I won’t lie to you, Dylan.”

Damn! I snapped! Hearing her again calling my name just like that feels like she’s seducing me to take her.

In a blur of heat and desperation, I swept the remaining papers off the desk, the crisp rustle of contracts and reports scattering like fallen leaves. My hands were on her again, sliding under her blouse, finding bare skin that burned under my touch.

Nakapasok ang pangahas kong kamay sa suot niyang bra at pareho kaming napaungol nang maramdaman ang kakaibang init na dala niyon. Gumapang ang mga labi ko pababa sa kanyang leeg, muling umarko ang katawan ni Belle. Mas lalong nagsumidhi ang pagnanasang nararamdaman ko dahil sa nakikitang reaksyon mula sa dalaga. This side of her was wild, undone and completely consumed and I started falling for her, again. Harder. Deeper.

Bago pa man muli akong makalimot ay huminto na ako. I rested my head on her shoulder and slowly took my hand under her blouse. She moaned again. I sighed deeply and controlled my urges for the nth time.

“You’re dangerous,” she breathed, her fingers tangling in my hair.

I pulled back just enough to look at her. My eyes were dark, and I was gazing at her. “And you’re addictive. Dangerously addictive.” I said and pinched her nose.