Falling for the Billionairess (Published by Bookware)

Day 2

"Yeah," lumapit ako at ibinaba ang paper cup ng Nescafe sa mesa niya.

"Ikaw ang karelyebo ni Sherilee."

"Yeah."

"But you're a guy."

Tumingin ako sa baba, sa zipper ko kung saan nasa likod lang niyon ang patunay na lalaki ako. Pagkatapos ay tumingin ako ulit sa kanya. "Yeah."

Mabagal na sumandal si Meredith sa upuan niya, humahalukipkip. "Are you gay?"

"What?" I couldn't help it. I burst out laughing. "No, Meredith. I'm not. And I can prove it if you want me to."

Her expression became cold. "It's Miss Balajadia," sabi niya na at parang na-transport kami sa scene ng Frozen. Muntik na kong bumaling para hanapin si Olaf na baka nagtatago lang sa kanto sa lamig ng opisina. "Or ma'am. And I'll ignore your bordering-on-harrassment comment because it's your first day and you probably haven't gone through the Workplace Discrimination Training. But you do that again, you will be fired faster than you can say chauvinist, is that clear?"

So, maybe it would be wrong to tell her right then that her authoritative tone was turning me on. Ang sexy pala ng magandang babaeng medyo bossy. I wonder how she'd look like wearing a short leather dress. Anyway, I wisely kept my mouth shut. Tumango ako. "I apologize, ma'am."

"And this is a mistake," patuloy ni Meredith—Miss Balajadia. "I specifically asked for a female assistant."

Mga kilay ko naman ang tumaas. Let me tell you, inabot ako ng pitong taon sa college hindi dahil tanga ako. It was because school bored me. My brain was actually very fast... if I wanted it to be.

"Correct me if I'm wrong, ma'am. Siguro hindi pa nga ako nakaka-attend ng Workplace Discrimination Training pero hindi ba discrimination din na ayaw ninyo 'kong maging assistant because I'm a guy?"

To give her credit, parang napahiya naman si Miss Balajadia. She sighed. "You're right. I apologize."

One point, Montesines. Pero nagulat at na-impress pa rin ako dahil, wow! Marunong siyang tumanggap ng pagkakamali at mag-apologize. Tatay ko kahit 1+1=3 ang sinabi niya, hinding-hindi iyon aamin kung sinabi mo sa kanyang mali siya. Gan'un din ang Ate Kaye ko.

"Okay lang, ma'am. It's my first day, ma'am. And I don't look like your typical assistant. It's easy to judge." I winked at her before I could stop myself. Nang maningkit siya, akala ko talaga babatuhin niya ako ng stapler.

Nagtungo sa paper cup ng kape ang mga mata niya. "Ano 'yan?"

"Kape, ma'am. Sabi ni Sheri kahapon, I have to bring you coffee in the mornings."

Tiningnan niya ako. "Hindi niya nabanggit sa 'kin kahapon na lalaki ka."

Nagkibit-alikat ako. "Baka kasi nag-attend siya n'ung Workplace Discrimination Training, ma'am. She doesn't see gender."

Again, nagpunta sa stapler ang paningin ko. I distinctly saw her fingers twitch towards it this time.

Itinuro niya ang paper cup. "Take this and throw it away. I drink Starbucks Caffè Latte with non-fat milk in the mornings. I'm sure, Sheri told you that. Kung papasok ka on time, which is actually 7 A.M. in the morning in this office, 'yun ang dalhin mo. You may go."

Then she turned back to her screen, dismissing me.

Mga daliri ko naman ang nag-twitch paabot ng stapler. She actually dismissed me! Ako, si Ash Montesines, ang guwapong charming prince ng pamilya Montesines! I continued standing where I was, hindi makapaniwala. I was... shocked, and... and hurt!