No strings attached |(UNDER REVISION)

Chapter 12- The deal

For the most interesting person I've met in a while.

- Zara.

My fingers curled around the note.

I could feel Stacey grinning.

Aiah just raised an eyebrow, waiting for my reaction.

God, I wanted to wipe that smirk off her face.

I stared at the note in my hands, my grip tightening. Of course, it's from her. As if last night wasn't bad enough, now Zara thought we were playing some kind of game.

Stacey was still grinning like she had just won the lottery. "Wow, Mikha. Mukhang may bago nang nagpapadala sa'yo ng breakfast. Sino na nga ulit 'yung nagsasabing hindi siya nagseselos?"

I shot her a sharp glare. "Putangina, Stacey."

She cackled. "Uy, hindi na kailangan magalit! Baka matuwa pa si Aiah."

I could feel Aiah watching me, waiting, her smirk ever-present. I refused to look up at her, pretending to be extremely focused on my paperwork. But then-her voice cut through the tension.

"Samahan mo 'ko."

I blinked, finally meeting her gaze. "Ha?"

Aiah sighed, like I was being slow on purpose. "We have a meeting. Let's go."

I frowned. "I wasn't told about a meeting."

She shrugged. "I'm telling you now."

I rolled my eyes but grabbed my tablet anyway. "Fine."

Just as I was about to stand, Stacey leaned in with an exaggerated whisper. "Aba, mukhang may nanalo na. Sorry, Zara, better luck next time."

I felt my face heat up. "Stacey, shut up-"

"Oh, so you are mad," she teased. "Bakit? Baka gusto mo 'kong ibato sa conference room?"

Aiah smirked. "Now that I'd like to see."

I shot her a glare, my jaw tightening. "I'm not going with you anywhere."

Aiah raised an eyebrow, then calmly reached for my wrist and pulled me up from my chair.

Mahirap ipaliwanag kung anong naramdaman ko noon. It was a mixture of anger, frustration, and something else I refused to name. Something that made my pulse quicken at the simple touch of her fingers.

"Let's go, secretary." She said it so smoothly, so arrogantly, that I had to fight the urge to shove her.

She released my wrist just as quickly, as if she had made her point.

"You-"

My words were cut off by Stacey's laughter. "Ooh, I love the tension." She gave me a wink. "Don't be too mad, Mikha. Baka maubos kilig ni Aiah sa'yo."

I groaned and grabbed my tablet, brushing past Aiah as I stomped out the door. I didn't have time for her games.

But the worst part?

As much as I wanted to ignore her...

I couldn't stop thinking about her fingers on my wrist.

I walked ahead, my heels clicking against the marble floor. I could feel Aiah trailing behind me, her presence looming over my shoulder like a shadow I couldn't shake.