01

 

Love?

What a rookie thing to include in a career. I will never understand why people want to give up something because of the thing called love. Just what the hell could this thing even do for you?

Will it feed you?

Will it give you the necessity to live?

Will it give you your monthly payments to have the ability to provide for yourself?

No.

It will only give you headaches… heartaches.

What a nuisance, right?

That’s why I like my boss… though he’s a person who switches women on his lap like clothes he wears, he never commits to the thing called ‘love.’

 

It was actually a weird question he asked in the interview before. I was surprised back then, but looking back, I’d still say the same answer and agree with his opinion.

 

(Five years ago…)

 

“Now, let me ask you a personal question,” he smirked. Personal? I thought they’d be professional with this interview since this is a huge company—what a joke. Well, I heard the starting salary is high, and I confirmed it earlier, so who cares, I guess?

I’d just answer whatsoever.

“Would there be a chance you’d fall in love with your boss?”

What a stupid question. “I hate office romance,” I smiled.

“And I don’t believe I’d fall for such because I’d always choose my career over love,” I proudly smiled, and he smiled back. Come to think of it, the older men beside him looked on edge.

Just who the hell is this guy?

“I like you. You passed. I believe a career is also important more than love,” he stood up and stared at me with amber eyes. I have never seen such refined colors. He looks intimidating because of his almond-shaped eyes and robust features, but if you look closely at his eyes…

I was doing this earlier because it calmed me… the color of his eyes.

If you’d only stare at those pair, you’d see him smiling.

“You’re hired. You can start right now. Freya, give her my schedule.” My eyes widened when he said those words, and the two gentlemen beside him bowed a little as he walked away from them.

What the hell?

This is the infamous Johannes Alejandro. He never shows up anywhere, so I don’t really know his face!

Hah.

I stood up, trying to hide the surprise he brought into my system as I got the tablet from the woman he called Freya. “You’re quick to catch up,” he smiled at me. 

Damn. 

“I apologize; I did not recognize you, boss,” he looked at me and smirked. 

“I never really like telling people I am the CEO. I mean, why would you shout something so embarrassing, right?” Embarrassing? Ghad, his family owns the Alejandro Empire, which costs billion dollars as its net worth! It’s not just that. This is something that was passed down by generations.

Johannes and his brother, Brian Alejandro, both have their own legacy ready to be left already! Hah, and he calls this embarrassing? 

I like him.

 

****

I knocked at the boss’s office before entering without him replying. Five years and I have already memorized this routine. He’s really a womanizer, contradicting the oh-so-holy personality he gives in public. 

Not like he frequents in public since he hates that.

Johannes hates attention. I noticed that whenever reporters will ask him about his achievements. They would ask him for a feature, but he’d always decline. He will always shoo them away.

 

“What the hell?!” The woman shouted as she saw me. Oh, good, Lord! Guide me, please. I don’t really consider myself religious since I only go to church when my boss goes there.

“What is it, Nathalie?” The woman looked at Johannes with fierce eyes. She looked pissed when the man suddenly buttoned up his shirt and walked to my direction. Well, he loves playing around with women but never… ever, over his company. 

He has his priorities.

He’d even gladly push them to the ground just to sign the papers he needed to approve, review, or whatsoever I pass to him. 

“Your tie is a mess,” I said, reaching for it as he was scanning through the papers. He simply nodded at me as I fixed his tie. Johannes lets me do this; I guess this has been a part of my role as his secretary.

He made me study five languages. He made me fly to countries just to look into the situations of the company branches over there. I don’t really mind since he also let me have a week of vacation after checking the branch’s condition; even more so, with the company’s money!

What a waste not to grab, right?

I really enjoy working for this man though he’s a fucking workaholic. I often go to the company at 4 AM only to find out he has yet to go home from the previous day. And I’d stay until 10 PM just to make sure he’d at least have dinner.

Jeez, working as his secretary is exhausting yet… I lasted for five years already.

Five years, huh?

 

“This is a pass. By the way, we have to attend a dinner later.” I nodded and glanced at the woman. Johannes glanced at her too. “Also, make sure she was accompanied by one of the company cars outside. Did you prepare my change of suit?” 

“It’s in your room, boss.”

“Good. I will send you a new dress later—”

“You just sent me one last week—”

“Five years, and you already know how to cut me off, huh?” He smirked. Shit. I did not even notice I cut him off, and I was just too worked up since he’s been giving me new dresses every time we need to attend something! And it’s becoming too frequent.

He laughed at me and gave me the folders. “Be ready by six,” I nodded and bowed a little before leaving his office. Before heading to the parking lot, I quickly fixed my agendas, even his schedules for the rest of the week.

One of the things I achieved while working for him in five years, my own car. I smiled as I tapped the other seat like the car was my child. Someone from the company would freak out had they seen me do this.

“Well, I love my car,”

 

Bang!

I frowned as I looked at the screen, showing the rear of my car. Damn it. I just bought this one, for Pete’s sake! I hurried outside and looked at the damage brought by whosoever bastard it was!

“Oh my, I’m really sorry! Oh no, what should I do?” She looked like she was about to cry. She looked younger than me, probably in her early twenties. I sighed and calmed myself. She looks rich.

Her car is a freaking Lambo, hitting my BMW. Breathe, Nathalie. The world will not end; your fantasy will, but it’s okay. It’s alright.

“What the hell? Why are you even driving so slow, old woman?” I was trying to calm myself here. I was really trying, but the man from the passenger’s seat really annoyed me just now. 

I sighed sharply and combed my hair backward. “Excuse me?”

“You were driving slowly with your damn car. If it weren’t for you, we would arrive at the party we needed to—”

“Samuel! It’s our fault, okay?”

“This is why many people take advantage of you, Vie,” he scoffed and returned to the car. The man named Samuel looked out of the window and glared at me. 

“What are you doing? Call the insurance company or whatever!” Hah. This is really pissing me off.

“Exc—” I was just about to go rampant when my phone rang. I set that specific ringtone for only one person, so I quickly grabbed my purse and took my phone to answer the call.

I glanced at the woman named Vie, who still looked anxious. I sighed, “It’s fine. Just… drive safely next time,” 

“Are you sure? I’m really sorry.” Her apologetic voice did me good. She looks angelic too, sigh, why hang out with the wrong crowd? 

“Yes. You can go ahead,” I glanced at Samuel, “It looks like you’re in a rush. Excuse me, I really need to answer this call,” she thanked me more, but I just smiled at her as I answered Johannes.

 

[What took you long?]

“Sorry, I had an accident—” the heck? Why did he end the call just like that? Was he too pissed that it took several rings before I answered the call?

Hayy, I really need to get to my condo now to get ready, but I am feeling down because of my car. The car I worked so hard for was damaged just like that...

I texted Harries to call the insurance for me. It looks like I’d have to commute for the rest of the week.

When I got home, I saw Johannes by the door of my unit. I furrowed my brows. What is he doing here? It’s still two hours before 6 PM, and he never really drives me to an event. His driver usually fetches me.

“Boss?”

“Thirty minutes. I’d be waiting in my car.” He simply told me and walked away. He sounded pissed but to hell with that! 

What? Thirty minutes?! How the hell am I supposed to get ready in thirty fucking minutes?!