Sexy Boss

HALOS mabingi si Violet sa lakas ng kanyang boses. Nang magtinginan ang mga taong naroon ay doon niya pa napagtanto ang kanyang ginawa. Si Mason na tila nagulat din sa kanyang biglang pagpalahaw ay biglang lumapit sa kanya na kanyang ikinabalisa. Paanong magsasama sila sa isang bahay? Nahihibang na ba ito? Wala iyon sa kasunduan na kanyang pinirmahan bago niya tinanggap ang trabaho.

Ngiti pa lamang nito ay tila hindi niya na nagugustuhan ang epekto sa kanya, paano na lang kaya ang tumira sa iisang puder kasama nito? She decided to become Mason’s secretary to get revenge for her cousin, not because she needed to playhouse with him, damn it! Hindi maari na lagi niya itong makasama kung hindi ay baka hindi mapigilan ang sarili at ano pang magawa niya rito dahil sa sobrang galit.

“I suppose I’m right. Harper didn’t inform you about this,” wika ni Mason para mapatingin siya rito gamit ang tila gulat pa rin na mga mata. “Most of my secretaries are males and I offered one of my guest rooms to let them save their money instead of paying rent here in Quezon, which I know is expensive. Tulong ko na iyon sa kanila bilang pagiging personal secretary ko. The salary is higher than what other companies pay for secretary's wages because they were in charge of cooking me breakfast and dinner as well. It was stated in the contract you signed this morning, didn’t you notice? I expected Harper had already discussed this matter with you.”

Pinigilan ni Violet mapailing sa kawalang paniwala, hindi lamang dahil sa ginawa ni Harper kundi dahil na rin sa kanyang kapabayaan. She should have read the contract thoroughly before signing it. She was too agitated to initiate her revenge and this is what it got her.

As an experienced CEO, she should have known better, especially when it comes to contract signing. Ngayon ay wala na siyang ibang magagawa kundi sumunod dahil lalabag siya sa saad ng nakasulat kontrata kapag siya ay tututol. Pero, kung iisipin niya nang maigi, puwede itong daan para mapalapit sa kanya ang binata. If she got more lucky, she could make Mason fall in love with her. And when he does, he will break him.

“It’s perfectly fine, Sir Mason, I can get my things and live with you just like what it’s stated in the contract,” aniya sabay ngumiti sa binata. “But it will take time, so I just need the address of your house. Magco-commute na lang po ako papunta sa inyo, Sir.”

“Are you sure you are going to be all right, Miss Guzman? I can help you move things since I’m also on my way to the house. Just bring the important ones and then we’ll get the rest tomorrow,” he offered, his voice gentle and assuring.

Muli ay napaisip na naman si Violet habang nakatingin sa matipuno na binata. Mason was so good at pretending, it almost got her. Kuhang-kuha nito kung paano magmukhang mabait at magtunog tapat, na para bang kahit anong oras ay puwede mo itong pagkatiwalaan. But she wasn’t going to be like others who he had deceived and hurt. Dahil siya mismo ang gagawa niyon sa binata.

“I am certain, Sir Mason. No need to help me. You should go home and rest. I will be in your house before sundown...” aniya sabay tingin sa relong-pambising. Nang makita niyang alas kuwatro ng hapon pa lamang ay bahagya siyang nakahinga. “...to cook you dinner. Congratulations again on sealing the deal. Nobody could have done it as effortlessly as you are.”

Mason chuckled, baring his white and straight teeth and enticing dimples to her. At hayun na naman ang kanyang puso, halos mabingi siya sa lakas ng kabog. Sapagkat kahit na naapektuhan sa mga ngiti ni Mason ay hinarap niya ito nang sumang-ayon ito sa kanya at nagpaalam pagkatapos maibigay ang address nito. Hinatid niya ito ng tingin bago dali-daling tinawagan ang sekretarya na si Ava nang mawala na ito sa kanyang paningin.

“Ava, I need help...” natatarantang wika ni Violet nang sagutin ng sekretarya ang kanyang tawag. Tila ba nang mawala na si Mason ay doon pa rumehistro sa isip niya ang magiging kalagayan niya kapag tumira siya kasama nito. “I wasn’t inform that I will be... I will be living with him in the same house, and I promise to be in his house by sundown.”

“What?!” Napalakas ang boses ni Ava sa kabilang linya kaya naman inilayo niya ang cellphone sa tainga. ”Then you shouldn’t have agree, Miss Violet. How can you live with a man who broke your cousin’s heart? I don’t have a good feeling about this.”

“I don’t have a choice, Ava,” aniya at nagsimula nang maglakad para pumara ng taxi. Takbo-lakad ang kanyang ginawa habang taas ang kamay nang may masipat siyang taci na papalapit. “Can you do me a favor? Use my car and go in the house. Prepare my things. Dress. Uniform. Heels. Anything important that I used everyday. But keep it simple and cheap. Rememeber that I am a secretary now and not a CEO. I’ll be there in twenty.”

“Alright, that is noted. Leave the packing to me,” pagtatapos ni Ava bago niya pinatay ang tawag.

Husto ang pagdating ng sasakyan sa kanyang tapat kaya sumakay na siya papasok at ibinigay ang address ng kanyang bahay sa taxi driver. “Please, pakibilisan na lang po, Kuya. Salamat.”

Hindi mapakaki si Violet habang pauwi. Laking pasalamat niya nang hindi siya nahagip ng traffic sa daan kaya agad siyang nakauwi bago mag-alas kuwarto y medya. Pagkapasok niya sa bahay ay nakita niyang handa na ang kanyang mga dadalhin. Nakalagay ito sa kanyang pinaka-simple maleta na kanyang pag-aari at malaking eco bag ng isang mall.

“Oh, Thank God... you're a life saver, Ava,” hinihingal na wika ni Violet habang umupo sa pinakamalapit na upuan. She slumped on the sofa and idled for a second even though she already knew Ava was silently gazing at her in her most concerned manner. “I can’t believe I’m going to be a secretary and a cook as well. Should I stop this nonsense?”

“The question is can you stop, Miss Violet?” nang-aasar na balik-tanong ni Ava na agad nagpasimangot sa kanya. “You even offered his secretary a higher position to start this revenge. The conviction is really strong, I doubt it.”

“Well, I’m desperate. I really want to revenge for Amber, but the thought of living with him... with that damn Mason,” Napatigil si Violet nang maalala ang nakakahumaling nitong ngiti. Untin-unting siya tinusok ng kaba at takot kaya namab napapikit siya at naiinis na napasabunot sa sarili. “Shit! This isn’t what I signed up for.”

“You should expect the worse scenario, Miss Violet. Taking sweet revenge is a long process one can never do overnight... that’s why I offered myself to be your aid at all times,” Ava insisted, sighing deeply. ”Call me anytime and I will help you without thinking twice, Miss Violet. Alam kong hindi ka sanay sa mga trabaho na katulad ng trabaho naming mga sekretarya. You need all the help you need, so don’t hesitate to ask me when you need one.”

“I would definitely need your help soon,” pagsang-ayon ni Violet sabay pinunasan ang pawis sa noo. Damn, she only sweats when she's working out and now she’s sweating for another reason. And she knew she would definitely sweat more in the future because of her state. Being a secretary is not a joke after all. “Now, I don't have much time. Call me an uber and help me load my things, please. I need to be in his house before sundown.”

---

HINDI magkandaugaga si Violet nang bumaba siya sa taxi nang ihinto siya ng Uber sa address na ibinigay ni Mason. Dahil hindi siya sanay na maraming dinadala kundi ang mamahaling bag na laman lamang ay cellphone, make-up, at pitaka, ay naramdaman niya na agad ang pananakit ng kanyang mga kamay at pamamawis ng kanyang noo pababa sa leeg at likod.

Even though the place was quite windy because of the trees at the entrance, she still felt hot and exhausted. Ngayon lamang siya na pagod ng ganoon sa tanang buhay niya.

Hila-hila ang di gaanong kalakihan na maleta at ang isang malaking eco bag, pinindot niya ang doorbell at naghintay na pagbuksan siya ng pinto. Ilang minuto lamang ay pinagbuksan siya ng guard at tinanong ang kanyang pangalan. Ipinakilala niya ang sarili bilang si Lila Guzman at bagong sekretarya ni Mason Staurs. Nang makumpirma ang kanyang pangalan ay agad na pinapasok siya at binigay sa kanya ang daan papasok sa bahay.

Gaya ng sinabi ng guard ay dumiretso lamang at kumaliwa para matunton ang entrance ng bahay. She went straight and turned left just like she had been instructed and then she dropped her bags when he saw Mason coming out from the pool wearing only black pool shorts.

Napalunok nang malalim si Violet nang hindi sinasadyang mahagip ng kanyang mga mata ang napakaganda at maskulado nitong katawan. Tila kitang-kita niya kung paano katikas ang binata habang tumutulo ang tubig sa buhok nito pababa sa batak nitong tiyan hanggang sa pool short nito na hindi naman kasikipan pero nakikita niya pa rin ang umbok sa harap nito.

“Shit...” Napamura ni Violet nang mahina nang mapagtantong nakatingin ang binata sa kanyang direksyon at halos nahimatay siya sa sobrang gulat ng ngitian siya nito at lapitan.

Oh, the temptation is a quite a torment for her. Karma na ba ito sa kanyang planong paghihiganti?