Under His Spell

Kabanata XXXVII

Who have thought, right? The old, dumb Zafina now owns a company everyone would want to have. I continued my studies in one of the prestigious school here in US, I was able to finish my course. I had reach my dream. I had become successful. And I was able to build my own company, a publishing company to be precise, an international one.

Sa amin nanggagaling ang mga libro na nilikha ng mga sikat at magagaling na manunulat internationally. I could say na karamihan ng manunulat ay sa amin gustong mapunta, sa amin gustong ipa-publish ang kani-kanilang mga gawa. Unfortunately, hindi namin sila kayang kunin lahat. We are meticulous when it comes to picking an excellent writer. Kaya hindi biro ang mapili ng kompanya ko.

I smiled lightly before I took a sip from my champagne. Well, people say experiences are the best teachers, but I say that worst experiences are the best teachers.

"Hey,"

My smile got bigger when I felt a strong arm enveloped my waist from behind. I can already determine who he is just by his manly scent.

"You have no appointments?" He asked.

"Hmm. Three more, I'll be free at seven."

"Dinner together then?"

I chuckled before I faced him, nagtagpo ang mga mata namin and I couldn't deny how handsome he is even only with those light blue long sleeves that were neatly rolled up to his elbows.

"Actually, I have an interview at six and that would be on a restaurant, I presume the interviewer and I will have our dinner there."

"Tell me the location then, I'll go there to have dinner with you." He squeezed my waist.

I almost rolled my eyes, this guy will never give up.

"Fine."

Tatanungin ko pa sana siya kung wala ba siyang appointment sa iba nang kinuha niya ang kopita sa kamay ko para ubusin ang natitirang alak doon. And before I could even protest, someone already knocked.

"Madame? Sorry to interrupt but Mrs. De Guzman is already here for the contract signing."

I attempted to move away from him but he didn't let me. Masyado kaming malapit sa isa't isa. Awkward akong ngumiti sa sekretarya ko.

"Just a minute,"

Makahulugan itong ngumiti sa akin bago tumango at lumabas. Napasimangot ako pagkatingin ko sa lalakeng nakangisi lang sa harap ko.

"You heard it already, our new writer is already here. Go now."

"How could you push me away just like that?"

Ngayon ay hindi ko na talaga napigilan ang mapaikot ang mga mata. Malakas ko siyang tinulak kaya napahiwalay na ako sa kanya.

"I'll be going, bye."

Mabilis na akong nagtungo sa pinto bago pa niya ako pigilan. Narinig ko pang tinawag niya ako pero hindi ko na siya pinansin. Napangisi na lang ako pagkalabas ko ng opisina.

"What a wonderful smile,"

Kaagad kong pinalis ang ngiti sa aking mga labi nang makita ang nanunudyong ngiti ng sekretarya ko. Inalis ko kaagad ang kahit anong ekspresyon sa aking mukha.

I'm always showing this side of me to everyone, cold and unbreakable, but my secretary knows better. She doesn't know anything that had happened to me in the past, but she studied psychology way back then, only that she shifted course. That is also why she could somehow read and understand me as well as my emotions. And I don't know if that's a bad thing or a good thing. To make things worse, I think she has a hint, or maybe she really knows, that my attitude has something to do with my past. I don't really know, since I have no big idea how psychologists' mind run.