"What did you say?"
I raised one hand and flashed a peace sign at him when I saw the anger forming on his face. Seriously, my dad said he's a good person?! Why is he getting mad so quickly?!
"I-I was just joking, sir. You don't seem to have a sense of humor! H-hehe..."
I lowered my hand and clasped them together.
"Don't worry, sir. I will never develop feelings for you. You're not my type anyway. I prefer guys with chinito features, and you're not chinito. Besides, you're kind of scary," I said.
Especially that hotdog of yours. It looked like it was ready to attack at any moment.
"By the way, I am Rozzean Cyron Valleje. I just want to clear things before I accept you, Tali—what I mean is I want that rule in my house clear to you," he said.
I nodded and smiled. I gave him a thumbs-up, which I quickly lowered when I saw no reaction from him.
I'll note down in my notebook later the good and bad about him, I need to note his attitude! But of course, I prefer to write down the bad things about him! That's the reason why I am here.
"Because my two maids just left a while ago, you can start now. Cook me something to eat. I'm hungry."
I stood up and bowed to him, "Okay, sir! I'll take care of it! What would you like to eat?"
He stood up as well, tall and imposing. I swallowed hard when I found myself once again looking at the middle part of his body. Jeez, I might have a hard time erasing that image from my mind.
"Tali, look at me, why are you looking at someone else?" he asked me.
I wiped my right hand across my face in response to what he said.
"It's your fault," I whispered.
"What did you say?" he asked.
"You are a different maid. You talk back, but it's okay as long as you do not fall for me. What I need in my house is a real maid. Not a btch who wants to seduce me," he said, shaking his head and holding his temple.
The nerve of this man!
"I'll be sleeping. I'll come down in two hours to eat. Manang Selya will show you to your room. I'll talk to you later about your salary for the month."
After he said that, he turned around and walked into his room. While I was looking at his back, I noticed his chair. I couldn't help but touch my behind. My goodness, this guy is incredibly blessed. Everything is big.
From the tone of his voice, I could sense exhaustion. But isn't it still early? Did he come home early from the office?
"Okay, Tang-- I mean, Tali! It's your first day today! You've been accepted, and you need to excel!" I said to myself as I left the room.
I needed to gather strong evidence within the next two months to prove that this guy is not right for me.
"Tali, is your name, right?"
I turned to the elderly housemaid. I had heard her name was Selya.
"Yes," I replied.
"Where's your hometown, dear?" she asked me.
I quickly thought of a province.
"I'm originally from Nueva Ecija, but I have tried my luck in different places to make a living. I ended up here in Tagaytay," I replied.
"You're hardworking and resilient in life."
I suddenly felt guilty about lying. I have a soft spot for the elderly.
"Your room is here. Each housemaid in this house has her own room," she said.
I looked around the entire room. Seriously? Is this just for housemaids? It has its own bathroom, air conditioning, and even a sofa inside. Impressive! Rozzean takes good care of his housemaids, in fairness.
"How many more maids are there left working for Sir here?" I asked.
"I-I mentioned it because of what happened, and that's why he needed a maid," I added.
Manang Selya smiled at me, "It's just you and me as maids now. And about what happened, it's true. Most of the other maids who apply for work in this mansion aren't really interested in earning money; they just want to get close to sir and seduce him."
I winced. It meant it was true.
"Is that so?" I asked.
"Yes, dear. How about you? Didn't your heart skip a beat when you saw him? Sir is a handsome man, wealthy, and many women are attracted to him," Manang Selya said to me.
The truth is that I was surprised earlier when I saw him at the guard house. My heart is still stable, but when I saw that hot dog of his there, it was as if my soul was separated. My heart will probably beat fast too.
"But... does he have any issues, Manang?" I asked.
Manang furrowed her brow at my question.
"Issue? What issue?"
I approached her and whispered, even though we were the only ones there.
"Issue, is he a bad person?"
Manang smiled again, "You'll find out about that. But don't be afraid, as long as you don't violate any of his rules, nothing bad will happen to you."
I clasped my hands together, thinking that perhaps Rozzean was strict about not having anyone attracted to him or getting too close to his maids because he already had a girlfriend.
"Maybe, Manang, sir already has a girlfriend, right? That's why he's so strict here in the mansion and doesn't want any of his maids to have feelings for him."
Manang Selya was still silent, offering only a smile in response. Her reaction piqued my curiosity even more. It would be ideal if Rozzean already had a girlfriend; that would help ensure Dad's wishes didn't come true.
After changing into my uniform, I examined myself in the full-length mirror in my room. I adjusted my fake bangs, which I had bought on Taytay. I made sure my mole was securely in place. Then I pulled down my long-sleeved top. I had ten tight-fitting long-sleeved shirts to cover my arms. Since the uniform had slacks, I didn't need to worry about my legs.
"I went out of the room and went downstairs to go to the kitchen.
"Come here, do you know how to use these appliances?" Manang asked me.
"Yes, I know how to use the oven, airfryer, rice cooker, and other kitchen appliances. I've worked as a helper before, so you can rely on me in the kitchen," I replied.
"That's good. Alright, Tali, you can start cooking now. Sir will be down in a little while," Manang replied."
"Wealthy as we are, my mom raised me not to be spoiled. I know how to cook various dishes. I can clean the house and do the laundry. I don't have a helper in my own home, so I do all the chores. I even clean up after my children.
"Okay, maybe I'll just cook afritada," I said as I gathered the ingredients I needed.
I started cooking and kept glancing at the clock. Rozzean said he would only sleep for two hours and then come downstairs."
"Hmm, the taste is just right—"
"What's that smell?"
"Oh, jolly hotdog!" I shouted, surprised.
The fallen ladle made a noise beside the stove. When I turned to the speaker, I saw Rozzean with disheveled hair and nothing on his upper body. She was only wearing sweatpants."
Holy moly. How can his maids not develop a liking for him when he always flaunts his body like that?
"Are you done cooking?"
I was alarmed. It hasn't been two hours yet, has it?
"S-Sir, you said it would be two hours before you come down—"
I was surprised when he walked towards me. I felt uneasy as he got too close. He placed his hands on both sides of me. I stepped back because he was so close!
Is this what he does to his maids?! Then they will really fall in love with him!
"S-Sir, what the--"
I gasped when he licked his index finger while looking at me.
"Hmm... it tastes good."
Help!
I squeezed myself tightly and even leaned back just to avoid getting too close to Rozzean in front of me. Apparently, he tasted the dish I cooked using his finger. But did it have to be in this position?Take a deep breath, Tangi. Don't let that guy affect you. You're here in his house to investigate, you can't fall for his trap. It looks like he's testing my patience and checking if I'm interested, just like the helpers he kicked out."Sir, if you're hungry, I'll prepare something for you," I politely said.He stepped back. I breathed a sigh of relief. Does he really walk around his house without anything on his upper body?"Where's Selya?" he asked me."She's probably outside," I replied while scooping rice for him. I also served the viand.I felt uneasy. It's as if he's watching my every move.I opened the refrigerator and took out some juice. I poured it into a pitcher and placed it on the island counter. I could see Rozzean from the corner of my eye, closely observing me. He had
Time passed, and Rozzean didn't come out of the room again. It was eight o'clock in the evening, and I had already cooked dinner. I asked Manang what he might want for dinner, and she said that our boss's favorite is "Tinolang Manok", a famous Filipino-style chicken soup.So I immediately cooked it. However, he still hasn't come downstairs. It's tiring to go up to his room because this house is so huge.Now I'm here in the living room with Manang. We're watching a show on TV. It's good that we are allowed to do this; not all housemaids have this privilege."Manang, how about you? Haven't you eaten yet?" I asked her.I was starting to feel hungry. I haven't had lunch. I had forgotten to eat before leaving my house."I won't eat until Sir eats," she replied.I pursed my lips. Was that Rozzean's rule?But to be honest, I have already noticed a few things about him in the few hours I've been here.First, he had a short temper, which isn't really good for me, because I have pets who can be
After we finished checking the appliances, they were still plugged in and closed all the windows and doors. Manang told me that I could finally rest. But when I went up to the second floor, I glanced at the stairs leading to the third floor---the master's bedroom. Rozzean."He still hasn't come down to eat," I said to myself.I took a deep breath and went to my room. Manang's room was far from mine, downstairs, so I couldn't chat with her now, and I would ask the things I wanted to know about this house tomorrow.I became curious about what she said, that perhaps sadness might be the reason why Rozzean has so many plants here. Like, it's his therapy."Why would he be sad?" I thought. In reality, this house is huge and beautiful. It's a dream house for many, and he has so much money. He can buy whatever he wants. What could be the reason for him to be sad?"Wait, why am I even thinking about this?"I stood up and headed to the bathroom in my room, but before that, I made sure to lock t
He looked away from me and glanced in another direction. I followed his gaze and immediately stood up when I understood what he was trying to convey. There was another room connected to this one. I walked towards it. When I saw clothes, shoes, watches, and jewelry, I was truly amazed. This man is incredibly organized!I quickly grabbed some black clothing. His casual wear consisted mainly of black, gray, and white. When I returned, I approached him."Sir, please put this on," I said, placing the clothes on the edge of the bed. His eyes were closed."Are you going to sleep again, sir?""D-Do you... c-can you... help... me... dress?" I heard him say, even though it was faint.He's already sick, and yet he's still so grumpy!He sat up and leaned against the headboard of the bed. When he was about to get his clothes to put them on, I saw that he was having difficulty lifting both of his arms. I took a deep breath and approached, kneeling on the bed and reaching out to take the clothes fro
I suddenly woke up when I heard a loud noise. I rubbed my eyes and sat up, trying to locate the source of the sound. It wasn't the same cellphone that Rozzean used to call me last night.The sound resembled that of an alarm clock."Where is it?"As I looked around, I spotted the source of the noise. I let out a sigh of relief and climbed onto the chair. The time was displayed clearly; it seemed like there was an alarm in each room, and it was already five o'clock.It was earlier than my usual wake-up time. I usually woke up at six and then went to Tinatangi at eight to tend to the flowers.I turned off the alarm clock, went to the bathroom, and washed my face. While I was drying my face, I couldn't help but think about what happened last night.I wonder how he's doing now. Is he still sick?"He looks pitiful when he's sick, but when he's not, he looks like a demon with that attitude."I took a deep breath and began brushing my teeth. I needed to get ready; Manang Selya was probably aw
"O-Of course, sir! What do you think of my mole? I-it's just there!" I said, pointing to my face, then I moved aside to avoid his gaze. I was getting nervous.He remembers what happened last night, for sure, and he noticed my mole wasn't on my face! I didn't know he was that observant that even if he was sick his mind was working well. Damn this ass."Sir, it seems like you were hallucinating last night," I told him."I don't think so–""Sir," I cut him off, I closed my eyes firmly. "You had a high fever last night, I just want to remind you. It's impossible for this mole to disappear. It's been here since I was born."I almost rolled my eyes. I am thankful I didn't because Rozzean might suddenly kick me out of his house Sht. He really has an incredible memory. I didn't even stay long last night, did I? But he even noticed my mole. From the corner of my eye, I saw him deep in thought. He held his chin, and when he looked at me again, I moved away. I think he doesn't believe me!"Tell M
I was scowling as I stared at the TV, watching cartoons. I cooked some popcorn. Manang told me that I could cook the food I wanted. She said Rozzean doesn't forbid that in her mansion."That darn guy. Where could he have gone? Last Friday, he said he wouldn't just be home in the evening, but now it's Monday night, and he's still not here! Where could he have gone?"I felt like a trapped mouse. What if he does not bring his girl home? How can I get evidence?I continued eating popcorn while muttering in annoyance. When I got tired of watching, I turned off the TV. I went to the kitchen and placed the empty bowl in the sink. In my frustration and as I thought about the reason why Rozzean didn't come home, I finished the popcorn I had prepared in no time."If he keeps disappearing for several days, I'll spend my two months clueless and my effort will be wasted. It's frustrating. Where could he be?"I am so annoyed!"What are you muttering, Tali?"I suddenly turned around upon hearing Man
I dipped myself in the pool, feeling intense anxiety. What the fck is he doing here? I know that his is his house b-but, ugh!Rozzean's gaze was still on my mind.Relax... just relax, Thaliana Tangi. He's on the third floor of the rooftop, and it's dark down here because all the lights are off. It's impossible for him to have seen my face. B-But, I'm a mestiza. My skin is fair; I'm sure he saw my body! And to think I was floating, ugh!I quickly resurfaced, and when I looked up, he was no longer in his spot. I hurriedly put on my pajamas and t-shirt. I decided to pass through the back to avoid crossing paths with him in the living room!After putting on my clothes, I grabbed the towel. But then, I remembered my mole and let out a soft scream.My fckng mole!"Damn! I placed it on my clothes! w-where the hell is it?!" I immediately looked down, but because it was dark, it was hard to find it. I was sure it fell somewhere around here.This is so annoying! Ahhh, I am an id/ot!I bent down,
After 6 yearsWe are outside of the room. It's Rozzean's birthday today, and I baked a cake for him. I looked at my triplets. Their pointer fingers were on their mouths. I told them not to make noise.My pets, dogs, and cats followed us. I'm thankful that none of my children are allergic to animals, and they even share my fondness for them. Thalia always plays with Rose, while Rozwell and Rockwell prefer the dogs.When Lily barked, Rockwell sniffed at her, and our dog immediately stopped."Mommy, do you think Daddy will like our surprise?" whispered Taki."I think so," I replied to Taki and lit the candles on the cake.As I opened the door to our room with Rozzean, we entered slowly. My children covered their mouths to avoid making noise. My husband is still sleeping, lying face down on the bed, and his bare back is visible."Shhh, Rockwell!" scolded Rozwell to his brother.My triplets are not identical, but Rozwell and Rockwell do have a striking resemblance."You two, stop," Thalia
Thaliana Tangi Dela Vezca Valleje POV "R-Rozzean!" What the hell? I thought it was supposed to be next week? "Rozzean!" I shouted again. He hurriedly entered our room. When we locked eyes, he quickly approached me. "W-Why?" "My water just broke! I-I'm going into labor!" We locked eyes again. He didn't move. "Rozzean!" I shouted again. When he snapped out of it, he lifted me and headed to the garage. We passed by Luther. It looks like they're still working! "Is she giving birth?!" Luther asked. "Yes!" Rozzean was still barefoot, and when he started the car, I couldn't help but cry out in pain. "Fck!" "Let me drive; where are the babies' things?" Luther asked as he turned around. "Damn, yes!" I heard Rozzean say as he got out of the car. I felt like I was going to pass out from the pain. "Ahhh!!" I screamed as the stinging pain hit me. When Rozzean came back into the car, he had the babies' things with him. Luther drove fast. We headed to the hospital. Rozzean also tried
Rozzean Cyron Valleje POV"Baby... it's 1:45 am. What do you want?"I looked at my wife, who was frowning while sitting on our bed. We moved our room downstairs because I was worried she might slip on the stairs. It's dangerous for her to use the stairs since her belly has grown bigger. Ferline said it's normal, and we can expect it to get even bigger in the coming weeks."I want spaghetti. Can you cook it for me, my love?"I nodded and smiled at her. We left the room, and she held my hand. She sat on the side, watching me as I started cooking."You look handsome..."I smiled at her. Thaliana eats a lot, but she's not gaining weight. Maybe it's because she's always hungry and eats a lot due to carrying three babies. I understand her, so I'm always with her to fulfill her cravings. I'm working from home now. Thaliana said it's okay for me to go to the office, but I refused.Even if I go to the office, I won't be at ease thinking about her at home.Now, I am working online. When there a
The next morning as newlyweds with Rozzean, I woke him up with gentle kisses. Since he was still very sleepy, I told him I would go downstairs and prepare our food. He agreed and went back to sleep.In the kitchen, I found Manang, who was already getting breakfast ready, and I helped her."I'm Thaliana Tangi Dela Vezca Valleje," I said while looking at my wedding ring."Gosh... I feel like a teenager getting all giddy!"Rozzean is my husband... we are married."Tangi... calm down! Relax!"Once the food was ready, I went up to our room with a tray in hand. I entered and placed what I brought on the side table, then approached my still-sleeping husband."Good morning, husband..." I said with a smile and kissed Rozzean all over his face."Hmmm..." he's smiling!"We are going to eat--""I will eat you.""Oh, Rozzean, seriously! I went downstairs to cook for you, don't tease me with your 'I will eat you' if you don't eat what I cooked, I'll be upset!"He suddenly sat up in bed. His eyes ha
It felt like a dream, our wedding with Rozzean. I couldn't stop smiling and laughing for almost the entire time because of unexpected and joyous events. Even my Dad danced with him. It was the first time I saw my Dad dance like that.Even my siblings joined in the fun. However, the most memorable moment was our family's reaction when we announced my pregnancy. My parents even shed tears in the end."Baby..."And here he was, Rozzean, just entering our room. He was behind me, trailing his lips along my back as he unzipped my wedding gown."Are you sure?" I asked."Hmmm... you didn't ask Ferline earlier to be sure."Ferline was at the reception earlier, but of course, I felt shy asking her about intimacy while being pregnant with triplets.I looked at her after Rozzean fully brought down my gown."W-Wait. Doesn't this need a shower? Let's take a bath first!"Rozzean smirked and then shook his head."I can't wait," he said, claiming my lips.It was obvious!I smiled and held onto his nec
After the incredibly joyful intermission number by my family, Rozzean approached me, breathing heavily. He held my hand and hugged me, placing his lips near my ear and whispered."It's embarrassing..."I laughed again and patted his back."You're embarrassed about that? You were so into it."I heard Rozzean's hearty laughter. When he let go of me, I wiped the sweat from his face and neck. He was really sweaty, even though the reception was air-conditioned!"It was Thes' idea. She said you'd be thrilled if I danced the jumbo hotdog. And she was right."I glanced at Thes, who was focused on her cellphone screen, probably watching the video she took earlier, as she continued to laugh."And Luther? How did you convince him to dance?" I asked, smiling."I don't know what happened. I think Thes talked to him. It seems like he was just forced; I don't know what Thes said to get Luther to agree to dance with me. I was surprised that Luther agreed. I never thought he would do this. You can tel
We heard loud applause inside the church after a quick kiss, Rozzean and I."Ahhh..." I turned to Rozzean when I heard his voice. He was holding my hand and kissing it."Mine... finally, you are mine."I smiled at what he said. I held him by his cheeks and gently pinched them."Really, you're the one who's mine," I replied."Hmm... I can't wait for our honeymoon."I widened my eyes and looked around, worried someone might have heard. I gently tapped Rozzean on the chest. Another honeymoon!"Honeymoon has happened several times already; your mind is still on honeymoon."He's still kissing my hand."That's different. My performance this time is not as your boyfriend but as your husband."He knows a lot! And what performance is he talking about? I was about to speak again, but the crowd came forward to congratulate us."Congratulations!"Thes came to us; I thought he had something serious to say, but I was surprised when five men approached us, and when I saw what they were holding, I co
After ten minutes, I saw the organizer approaching me. I opened the car door and stepped out. Many photographers were taking pictures as I walked."Ma'am, it's your turn to enter," the organizer told me.I nodded and thanked her. When I stood in front of the church door, I took a deep breath.As the door slowly opened, I tightly held my bouquet. Everyone inside the church was standing. All their attention was on me as I walked slowly.I looked at the aisle and saw Rozzean. He looked handsome in his black tuxedo. He was smiling at me, biting his lower lip. I also noticed him adjusting his suit, though it seemed fine to me. Is he nervous?When I reached the middle, my parents greeted me, and I kissed their cheeks. My father was crying again!"Dad..." I said.We continued walking down the aisle."I-I'm just happy... so happy, Tangi.""I love you, Daddy..." I said to him and looked at Mommy, "I love you, Mommy, thank you so much."As I walked slowly, I glanced around the people inside the
Rozzean and I decided to keep my pregnancy a secret until after we get married. We also asked Luther, Thes, and Ferline not to tell anyone for now. We wanted to share the news with our families after the wedding and surprise everyone with the fact that we were expecting triplets.The day we found out we were having three children was unforgettable, mostly because my husband fainted. I was worried about what happened to him, but when he woke up, I could hardly breathe from laughing.He was so embarrassed. Luther, Ferline, and my best friend Thes were all laughing too. Even I couldn't help but laugh. I felt sorry for him, so I stopped laughing when he hugged me, burying his head in my neck.Rozzean kept cursing and saying he was just so happy. He fainted from pure joy upon learning that we were having triplets.His sibling didn't let it go. Luther teased him about it all the time. I'm sure they continue to tease him whenever they're together."Beautiful!"I smiled at my hair stylist whe