III

"I want you to work as my secretary."

Napamaang si Julianna sa sinabi ni Jake. Work for him? As his secretary? She's seen enough porn to not know where this is going. She shook her head at her absurdity. "But you already have Kristen. What? Are you planning on firing her? She seems good with her job--"

"Kristen is my executive assistant, not my secretary." tumalikod ito sa kanya upang maupo sa lounge chair nito. Pinagsalikop nito ang mga daliri bago ipinatong iyon sa ibabaw ng mesa at tumingin muli sa kanya. "As of now, she's very loaded since she's also working for my wife and I need someone who will focus with me on this specific project so hindi mo siya aagawan ng trabaho.

"And if you are still worried about her, in case you accept the job, she will be working full time under my wife. They seem to be in good terms, anyway. Too good for my taste."

Kumunot ang noo ni Jules. Diyatat may lihim na itinatago si Jake sa asawa nito. At ang akala ba niya ay tumigil na sa pagtatrabaho ang asawa nito para mag-focus sa pagbuo nila ng pamilya?

"I need someone who's efficient, intelligent and determined. I need someone as, well--pigheaded like you. Tenacious." he pinned her with an intense stare that Jules actually shivered. "Someone who's loyal and someone I could trust."

That made her chuckle. Hindi na lamang niya pinagbigyan ng pansin ang patutsada nito tungkol sa loyalty. "I am confident that I am more than qualified for that job but what makes you think you can trust me?"

Jake just stared back at her. "I can't?"

She flinched at that. If she's going to be honest, she will tell him that he couldn't trust her. She betrayed him once, that was enough reason for him to be wary of her. Ngunit binibigyan na siya nito ng panibagong tyansa. Should she grab it? What if this is a trap? What if this is his way of getting back at her?

"If I.." tumikhim siya. "Should I happen to accept your job offer.. Gaano katagal akong dapat magtrabaho sa'yo?"

"It depends on you, Julianna," may inilabas itong dokumentong nakabalot sa isang folder mula sa drawer ng lamesa nito. "I only need you to help me with this project. Importante 'to sa'kin. Sort of personal. Kung sakaling maisara natin ang deal, bayad ka na sa akin. Lahat lahat ng gagastusin sa pagpapagamot kay mamay, sasagutin ko should you accept my offer."

"If after that you still wanted to work with me, that would be no problem."

Julianna pursed her lips. Who in her right mind would want to continue working with her ex who she had a really bad break up history with? "Anong time frame mo?"

Jake's lips formed a smile. "Kung mabilis kang kumilos, it will be done in no time."

This project seemed to be really important to him, like he said. For him to want to focus on a single project with an urgent time frame? This must be big. Pero bakit siya? He could easily find someone legit to help him with this, why would he choose her? Wala siyang gaanong experience. All she had was an internship she had nine years ago in this exact office. She worked under his late father, Alejandro Mitchell.

But whatever. He's giving him an opportunity to pay her debts. She's doing this for her mamay.

"Fine."

"What do you mean, fine?"

"I mean fine. I'm in. Should I sign a contract or something?"

Bahagyang lumapad ang ngiti sa labi ni Jake. He quickly pressed a number on the intercom and asked Kristen to bring him the documents he needed. Tumaas ang kilay ni Jules. "You already have a contract prepared?"

"You know me, Julianna," his executive assistant--former executive assistant handed him the folder. Inilapat nito iyon sa ibabaw ng lamesa. "I always think ahead."

"You are that sure na mapapapayag mo ako?" nakahalukipkip ang mga braso na tumayo siya sa harap ng mesa ni Jake.

"Yes." he answered without even looking at her. He was busy signing the contract. When he looked up at her, he immediately gestured towards the chair in front of his table. "Please take a seat, Ms. Vera Cruz, so you can read your employment contract."

She narrowed her eyes at him before sitting. Binasa niya nang tatlong beses ang kontrata bago niya ito muli binalingan. There's literally no catch on the contract. Mas lalo siyang nagdududa cause everything seemed so fucking normal. Ngunit desperada na si Julianna. She needed this work and she mostly, she needed money for her Mamay.

Hawak na niya ang ballpen sa kanang kamay. May limang beses siguro niyang pinindot pindot iyon bago muling tumingin kay Jake. He was eyeing her. Hindi naiinip, hindi nagmamadali. He was just simply watching her with expressionless face. May isang beses na nahuli niyang tila lumabot ang mukha nito ngunit agad din iyong naglaho. Na para bang namamalikmata lang siya.

"Hindi kita lolokohin, Julianna," napapitlag siya nang muling magsalita ang lalaki. Nasa kalagitnaan siya noon sa pang-limang beses niyang pagbasa sa kontrata.

"Don't you trust me?"

Trust him? She used to trust this man her whole life. And he trusted her, too. Too much so to be honest. Sinira niya ang tiwala nito at ngayon hindi siya makapagtiwala na hindi siya nito gagantihan sa lahat ng sakit na idinulot niya rito.

Ngayon ay natatakot siya sa sarili niyang multo. But she had to do this. She had no other choice.

Bago pa muling magbago ang isip niya ay pinirmahan niya na ang kontrata at mabilis na ibinalik ang papel kay Jake.

His face was still devoid of any emotion. She waited for triumph, even satisfaction but no. There was nothing there. He only nodded as he inspected every single page she signed. When he was finished flipping the pages, he closed the folder and stood up. Ginaya niya ang ginawa nito. Inilahad ng lalaki ang kamay at agad naman niyang tinanggap iyon. Binalewala lamang niya ang kuryenteng naramdaman nang magdikit ang mga palad nila.

"Welcome to the company, Miss Vera Cruz." he said.

She muttered as swift 'Thank You' as she shook his hand.

"Pack your things, we will leave tomorrow."

"Excuse me?"

He opened his drawer and put back her contract inside. "I will e-mail you the details. Bring as much clothes as you like, we will be staying in Batangas indefinitely."

"Batangas? Indefinitely?"

"Yes. We are buying a property there."

Biglang nanlamig ang buong katawan ni Julianna.

Jules licked her lips and pressed the two together in an attempt to give it some color. Sa sobrang kagipitan kasi niya nitong mga nagdaang mga buwan ay wala nanag natitira pa sa pera niya upang bumili ng mga luho. Ang pagkain niya sa araw araw ay mula lamang sa tira tira sa kainang pinagtatrabahuhan niya. Ang laki na ng ipinayat niya simula nang simulang atakihin ang Mamay niya ng sakit nitong diabetes. Sa pagpapadialysis na lamang nito napupunta ang lahat ng kinikita niya at madalas ay kulang pa. Nagpapasalamat na rin siya at nabigyan siya ng pagkakataon ni Jake. Kundi ay naiisipan na talaga niyang magbenta ng laman.

Two ladies wearing expensive attires passed before her and it reminded her to bite her lips again. She knew how pale she looked. Specially without enough sleep. Galing kasi siya sa hospital kung saan inilipat ni Jake si Mamay. Marami itong tanong sa kanya na hindi niya pa masagot sa ngayon. Hindi kasi niya alam kung paano ipapaliwanag dito ang paglapit niya kay Jake. Her Mamay knew how much she hated the Mitchells. She knew what she did, of course, hindi nito kinukunsinti iyon. Ngunit hindi rin binabalewala ng Mamay niya ang nararamdaman niya. Pinayuhan siya nito na h'wag magkimkim ng galit at intindihin ang nararamdaman ng ina ni Jake. She tried. But she have had enough.

Aminado naman si Julianna sa nagawa niyang kasalanan kay Jake, ang kanya lang ay sana kung anong namagitan sa kanila ng anak nito ay hindi na nakialam pa si Josefina Mitchell. Ngunit masisisi nga ba niya talaga ito? Jake suffered a lot of pain and humiliation because of her. Maybe she would accept her punishment but she should spare her Mamay. Pinalaki siya nito ng maayos, hindi nito kasalanan na natukso siya.

"Good morning, Ms. Vera Cruz,"

Napapitlag si Jules nang bumungad sa kanya si Kristen. She was all smiles at her.

"G-Good morning!" she awkwardly stood up to greet her.

Ikinumpas naman ni Kristen ang kamay niya at sinensyasan siyang manatiling nakaupo. "Will you be okay here? Gusto mo bang maghintay na lang sa loob ng office ni Mr. Mitchell? He will be late for a few minutes, nasa baba na siya but he's kind of held up by an investor. Pero hindi 'yun magtatagal."

"Okay lang ako dito," tahimik na sagot naman niya.

"Are you sure? Do you need anything? Coffee? Or juice?"

She smiled meekly. "I'm fine, I'll do it myself. Thank you, Kristen." muli siyang tumayo mula sa couch na kinauupuan.

Kristen gave her directions to the pantry without knowing she was very familiar with the office. Marami lang nagbago dito at na-shuffle ang ilang offices pero iyon na iyon parin naman. "You can get breakfast na rin sa pantry. Mr. Mitchell provides food for the staff, one of the perks in working here." kumindat pa ito sa kanya.

Of course she knew about the perks. She worked here. Back in the days when the company wasn't this prestigious. Oo at kilala na ang MPE noon pa man, ngunit ang laki nang naging improvement nito simula nang si Jake mismo ang magpatakbo ng kumpanya.

Nang makapasok siya sa loob ng pantry ay sinalubong agad siya ng mabangong amoy ng bagong bake na tinapay. Her stomach growled automatically. She haven't had anything to eat since last night. Nagsalo pa sila sa pagkain ng mamay niya na galing sa hospital.

Julianna stepped towards the cabinets in search for the coffee. Wala na kasing laman ang coffee maker. Jake will probably want some coffee too when he comes. At mabuti na ring makapag-almusal muna sana siya bago dumating si Jake at baka bumiyahe sila patungong batangas ng hindi man lang nalamanan ang sikmura niya. Wala na rin siyang pera bukod sa singkwenta na nasa wallet niya. Pinamasahe na kasi niya kanina ang kalahati ng perang natira mula sa sweldo niya nung nagdaang buwan.

Nagsalin siya ng isang tasang kape nang matapos magbrew ang isinalang niyang ground coffee. Dumampot na rin siya ng isang mainit init na muffin. She sighed. Nang biyakin niya ang tinapay sa gitna ay lalong sumabog ang amoy niyon at muntik pa siyang mapaungol. It's been so long since she last tasted a freshly baked muffin. Agad siyang kumagat at sumimsim ng kape. Sana ay matagalan pa ng kaunti si Jake.

Napangalahati na niya ang kinakain nang makarinig siya ng ingay mula sa labas ng pantry.

"Good morning, Mrs. Mitchell," narinig niyang bati ng mga tao mula sa labas.

Tumayo ang buhok sa batok ni Jules. Hindi niya inaasahan na magkukrus ang landas nila ni Sharmaine this early in her employment. Akala pa naman niya ay makakalusot siya dahil aalis sila ni Jake. Kung papalarin na mabilis nilang maisara ang deal ay hindi na kakailanganin pang magkita silang dalawa ng asawa ng ex niya.

Binilisan na lamang niya ang pag-inom sa kape upang makapagtago man lang sa CR. Hindi naman sa may kasalanan siya kay Sharmaine. She just think it was unnecessary to face such drama. She's not a fool to think that Jake's wife will not recognize her. She's afterall the woman who left Jake in the altar. She's the infamous runaway bride. At alam niyang hindi maiiwasan na magkaroon ito ng issue sa pagtatrabaho niya sa asawa nito.

Julianna hastily got up from where she was sitting and took her cup to the sink when the door opened. Kamuntikan pa niyang mabitawan iyon nang makita niya sa peripheral vision niya ang asawa ni Jake.

"G-Good morning, Mrs. Mitchell," hindi siya makatingin rito ng diretso.

"Good morning," ganting bati nito. Naging alanganin ang ngiti nito at tinitigan siya. "I don't think I've seen you before. Are you new?"

"Y-Yes-"

"What's your name? From what department are you working?" usisa nito.

Kung suswertehin ka nga naman.

Ibinuka ni Julianna ang bibig upang sumagot ngunit naunahan siya ng bagong dating.

"She's my new secretary." sabay silang napalingon ni Sharmaine kay Jake. He was wearing a casual black polo shirt and pants but he still looked so powerful. His presence almost took all the space of the pantry. Tila ba lalong kay sikip ng lugar na iyon para sa kanilang tatlo.

"New secretary?" Sharmaine's perfectly sculpted eyebrows arched.

"Yes."

"What about Kristen?"

"Kristen will stay here with you." lumakad si Jake patungo sa direksyon niya. Napaatras naman si Jules at tumama pa ang puwitan niya sa counter nang umabot si Jake sa isa sa mga overhead cabinet upang kumuha ng tasa. Amoy na amoy niya ang cologne ng lalaki at tila ba iniimbitahan siya niyon na idikit ang ilong sa poloshirt nito.

For goodness' sake, Julianna! Nasa harap mo lang ang asawa niya!

Kagat labi siyang lumayo rito. Nang mapatingin siya kay Sharmaine ay kitang kita niyang nakatutok din ang mata nito sa kanya. Namumula ang pisngi na napayuko siya. This is so fucking awkward!

"I don't need Kristen to tail me wherever I go." his wife said.

"That's not what you said when you asked me to let her come with you in Hongkong to go shopping."

"That's just a one time thing!"

"And you never have to ask me again," Jake sipped the coffee and eyed her. Tumaas ng bahagya ang kilay nito at umiwas naman siya ng tingin. Alam na nito ang ibig sabihin niyon.

Yeah, stupid. I still remember how you like your coffee.

He let out a hmm before continuing with his drink.

"Let's go. Mahaba ang byahe." Jake announced. Nang ibaba nito ang tasa ng kape ay simot nito ang laman niyon. Sharmaine eyed the empty cup before looking at her husband's retreating form. "He never finishes his coffee before."

Gustong ngumiti ni Jules pero pinigil niya ang sarili at nagpaalam na sa asawa ni Jake. Mabilis na hinabol niya ang lalaki, pigil parin ang ngiti na gustong sumambulat sa mukha niya.

Bad Jules!