Prologue

Prologue

Matilda’s POV

“Job well done, Mate!” nakangising saad sa akin ng ilang mga katrabaho matapos kong ibalitang nakuha ko ang impormasiyong matagal na nilang kinakalap.

“Boss, wala bang pa-dinner diyan? We finally got a big scope!” anila sa kaya natatawa akong naupo sa upuan ko. 

“Huwag ng dinner, Boss. Cash na lang sa akin,” nakangisi kong saad kay Brian, ang CEO ng APWT News Co. short for A Paper Will Tell News Company. 

“Mukha ka talagang pera, Mhie,” natatawang saad sa akin ni Natalie. 

“Money can rule everything.” Doon sa mga nagsasabing money can’t buy happiness, hindi pa siguro nila naranasang bumili ng gamit para sa sarili habang walang iniisip na bayarin sa bahay at walang iniisip na amang halimaw kapag dating sa pera. 

“Sus, ‘yan ka na naman,” natatawa nilang sambit kaya napataas naman ako nang kilay. 

“You can’t celebrate yet, Mate. Ayaw magpa-interview sa ‘yo ni Eric, he’s too scared that you’ll full a stunt again just like the last time.” Brian said kaya naman napalingon ako sa kaniya. Natawa naman ako nang mahina. 

“Hmm… He’s probably hiding another thing again,” ani ko. 

“I told to just focus with the artist on the other company. We can’t afford to fight those people in our side,” iritado niyang saad sa akin. Imbes na makinig ay sinubo ko lang ang chips na nakita mula sa table ko. Makunat na ‘yon kaya napangiwi na lang ako. 

“Boss naman. Sa akin mo pa talaga sinasabi ‘yan? As long as I have facts, I’ll write. But of course with a little bit twist of my words,” natatawa kong sambit bago nagkibit ng balikat.

Iniharap ko na rin ang computer ko at nagsimulang magtipa tungkol sa nakalap kong balita sa hot sexy star na si Vena, she’s dating the hot billionaire in town. That’s worth my paper. It worth my fingers to move. 

I like to work alone. Brian can’t really do something about me. I’m one of the best employees he has here. I’m making a lot of money for his company and of course, I also need to be here, I know I’m talented. Smart too. You can also say that I’m pretty. But, yeah, I also need the influence of the company at the moment. All of the things I’ll gather will be nothing without it.

I don’t really mind though. I like what I’m doing. I’m getting a lot of money here too. 

Ilang oras pa akong nanatiling nakatingin doon hanggang sa tuluyan na akong natapos. I’m finally done with my article. Just one click and boom. Everyone’s talking about it. 

Napangisi na lang ako bago kinuha ang gamit ko. I have already changed my clothes from being a nerd to a hottie chick. I need to celebrate on my own. I need drinks.

Namalayan ko na lang ang sariling nasa bar, as usual. 

Nakangisi ako habang pinanood ang ilang artista. They’re lucky that it’s not office hour and I don’t have my camera with me. Nakaupo lang ako sa upuan ko habang nakadantay sa sofa. Napangisi ako habang pinanood ang lahat. As the night fasten, everyone’s getting wild. 

Some are dancing around with literally stranger. I love the view. I always enjoy this. The loud music, smoky place, and of course the roar of people. I love seeing them having fun.

“Hey, want a drink, Miss?” tanong sa akin ng isang lalaki. 

“Want to have fun?” nakangisi pa nitong tanong sa akin. 

“I’m having fun.” Napatitig naman siya sa akin doon. 

“Something more fun than watching,” nakangisi nitong saad. 

I am more of a watcher person. I’m having fun watching. I personally hate being linked with a person. It’s more than a headache than fun.

“No, thank you,” ani ko na tipid na ngumiti. Wala naman siyang nagawa kung hindi ang umalis. 

Napatingin ako sa cellphone nang makitang tumatawag ang magaling kong ama. 

“What?” bungad ko. 

“Nasaan na ang ipon mong hipokrita ka? Talagang pinagtataguan mo pa ako ng pera, ha?” galit niyang tanong sa akin. Napangisi naman ako roon. 

“Wow. May pinatago ka ba?” nakangisi kong tanong. Humalakhak pa ako upang mas lalong mainis ito. Agad kong narinig ang malakas na galabog mula sa bahay. Nailing na lang ako. Para akong masisiraan ng bait pagdating dito. 

Pinatayan ko na lang din siya ng tawag nang marinig ang ilang mura niya sa akin. I don’t want to go home. I won’t go home. 

Namalayan ko na lang ang sariling nasa dance floor habang nakikipagsayaw kung kani-kanino. Naramdaman din ang hilo sa dami nang nainom na alak. Napahagikhik pa ako nang may makasayaw na lalaki. I can’t see his face. My eyes is to blurry but my nose can still smell and this guy has a nice masculine fragrance coming from him and mix of freshly smell as if he just went out from the shower room. 

Naramdaman ko ang paghapit niya sa aking mga baywang. What a nice day to be alive…

“You smell so nice,” pabulong na saad ko na nilapit pa ang mukha sa kaniya. 

“And your breath too… smell like a mint…” ani ko na humagikhik pa nang tawa bago inilapit ang mga labi sa kaniya. I was drunk. I know. But it taste so good… Damn. He taste too good. 

“Do you want to go out?” pabulong na tanong ko habang nakahawak pa rin ang kamay sa kaniyang mga leeg. 

“No.” Napabagsak naman ang balikat ko roon. 

“I won’t go to a drunk lady who’s not even in her right mind.” Pucha. When the word sexy was invented, I can assure you that his voice is one of them.

“Fine, I’ll just find another boy,” pabulong na saad ko. Dahan-dahang inalis ang kamay rito but he just tighten his hand around my waist. Narinig ko pa ang malalalim na hininga nito. 

“Believe me, you won’t.” I can hear the coldness and icy tone in his voice. Damn. Can I use that voice to wake me up every single morning?

“We’ll go outside.” He said before he tried to bridal carry me.