Bree POV
"What do you mean they want Argueles?" Bulyaw ko sa aking dalawang empleyado na nahihintakutang napayuko.
"M-m-ma'am.. iyon po ang sabi ni Sir Sinclair, they will invest only if Argueles will be in charge. Si Sir Devauer naman po nag pull out." nakayukong ani ni Aria. Pakiramdam ko nanlambot ang tuhod ko kaya mabilis akong naupo habang binabasa ang dokumentong nagsasabi hindi na sila mag-iinvest sa proyetong binuo ko. They clearly want to take Argueles' side. And if the board will know about this, I will be ousted in no time. They will make me step down due to mismanagement and it will fvcking crush me.
"Papaanong nangyari ito?!" 'Di makapaniwalang aniko. Kung kailan abot-kamay ko na ang expansion doon pa naman nagkaroon nanaman ng panibagong sisira doon. Alam ko na kasalanan ko naman ang lahat. The expansion was a risky move but I still pushed it even without assurance. Hindi ko naman inakalang magkakaproblema ng ganito.
"Aria, put Devaeur on the line." Utos ko sa sekretarya ko na kaagad naman lumabas pero sandali lang ay pumasok din muli ito sa opisina ko.
"Hindi ko po makontak ma'am." Kabadong sagot niya.
"Then keep calling! You!" Aniko sabay paling sa isa ko pang empleyado. Nagitla siya pero alistong humarap siya sa akin.
"Call Sinclair." Utos ko naman na kaagad niyang ikinalabas ng opisina ko.
Napasandal ako sa swivel chair ko at napapikit. My head is starting to ache. But I ignored it because I have a bigger problem at hand. I can't believe they took Argueles' side. Pero kung wala sila then I've got no funds to continue the expansion. Magigisa pa rin ako ng board. Kahit saan ko anggulo tignan, I'm at the losing end. Napailing ako at mapait na napangiti. Hindi ko akalain na ganito katuso si Argueles.
Napaderetso ako ng upo ng bumukas ang pinto ng opisina ko. Kabadong pumasok ang dalawang dalagang inutusan kong tumawag.
"Mr. Octavius Sinclair is not answering Ma'am."
"Si sir Lucas Devauer din po." Magkasunod na ani ng dalawa. Napatayo ako at napapadyak sa sobrang galit. Malakas na nahawi ko ang mga gamit ko sa lamesa sa sobrang galit ko.
"What the fvck!? Those mothafvckers! Fvck! Fvck!" Gigil na gigil na sigaw ko na nagpataranta sa dalawang empleyadong nasa harapan ko. Namumula na ako sa galit ng mapansin ang nakasandal sa aking bukas na pinto ng opisina. Nagtagpo ang aming mga mata. Galit na galit ang sa akin habang mapaglaro at nakakaloko naman ang nasa mga mata niya.
"Still got a very short fuse, Bree. You never seem to change." Anas ng baritonong boses na ikinalingon ng dalawa kong empleyado sa kanilang likod. Sabay silang napasinghap sa lalaking naroon. Halata sa mga mukha nila ang paghanga sa bagong dating. He pushes himself from leaning on the wall and walked past them. Kanda-haba naman ang leeg ni Aria at Brenda, gustong hindi matapos ang paninitig sa gwapong lalaki. Habang naiinis naman ako dahil sa dami ko ng problema ay dumagdag pa si Clyde.
Talk about wrong timing.
"Leave us." I snapped at my employees pero animo'y wala silang naririnig, halatang kinikilig at titig na titig sila kay Clyde.
"Aria, Brenda... Get the fvck out!" Sigaw ko. Kailangan ko pa silang tawagin sa pangalan nila para magising sa pagkatulala sa lalaki. Napilitan na silang lumabas.
"Aria, Can you kindly close the door please. And don't let anyone in. I don't want us to be disturb." Anas ng lalaki na ikinapula ni Aria. Halata namang hindi niya nakilala kung sino ang lalaki at kinilig na lang ng tawagin ng lalaki ang pangalan niya. Aria couldn't even recognize the guy who taught her for almost a week how to become my secretary. Ganoon na ba kalaki ang changes ni Clyde para hindi nila ito makilala? At first, I'm fooled too. But when I looked at Clyde upclose, he has always been this good-looking. The bad outfits, gelled hair and eyeglasses only hide his good looks. Napaikot ang bilog ng aking mata sa kinilos ni Aria. Sinunod nito talaga ang lalaki at ini-lock pa ang pinto ko bago siya tuluyang lumabas.
"I'm quite busy, Clyde. Whatever it is, wait until tonight." Matigas na aniko sa lalaki na kusa ng umupo sa receiving chair ko.
"What if I don't want to wait until tonight?" Taas ang isang kilay na anito. His voice is dangerously low and playful. His posture while sitting on that chair is oozing with self-confidence. His eyes, full of desire as he eyed me up and down.
"We're in the office." I gritted. Pero ramdam ko ang pag-iinit ng aking katawan sa mapagnasang titig ni Clyde.
"That didn't stop us before." Makahulugang anito na sanhi para mag-init pa ng husto ang pisngi ko. Bigla ang pagbulusok ng mga alaala sa mismong table ko at swivel chair. Mga mapusok na alaalang maraming beses ko ng inulit-ulit sa isip ko.
I slumped on my swivel chair, feeling exhausted all of a sudden. I've got no time to indulge this guy when I have major problems to deal with. I have no time to be sexually perturb, and yet I am.
"I've got no time for this." I gritted again and I'm losing my patience. Any time now I'm about to shout in frustration. Pakiramdam ko punong-puno na ang utak ko ng problema.
"You mean you got no time for me? Too bad. As much as I wanted to fvck you now, business comes first. I'm here to discuss about the expansion." Ani ng lalaki sabay tapik sa dala niyang briefcase. His words would have mean a lot if only he had said it months ago. Kung nakipagdiskusyon ito noon pa 'di sana ay mayroon pa akong partners at investors.
"Look Clyde, I'm having problems with my business partners, the expansion took too long to come about and you very well know why." Sarkastiko kong ani, nagkibit-balikat ang lalaki na para bang hindi niya alam ang sinasabi ko kahit na halata naman siya naman talaga ang puno't dulo ng paghihirap ko.
"So please... just give me some time to think then I'll get back to your offer." Nauubusan na ng pasensiyang pakiusap ko.
"I'm an impatient man now, I need an answer today, Bree." Nakataas ang gilid ng labi niya sabay bukas ng briefcase niya at ipinatong sa lamesa ko ang mga dokumentong dala niya. Inusog pa niya iyon sa lamesa para mabasa ko ng tuluyan.
"What the fvck is this?!" Nanlaki ang mata ko sa nabasa ko sa dokumentong dala niya.
"You lost your investors and partners but you have me. I'll invest solely on your project." It's too good to be true. He wants to fund the entire project. Iyon ang nasa dokumentong pinapakita niya.
"I own the building so there won't be any problem anymore. Sky is the limit for the expenses but in return I'll demand 50% of share in the U.S. and 10% of share in the Philippines as collateral." Ani ng binata na ikinatayo ko mula sa pagkakaupo sa swivel chair ko.
How can he ask such a thing!
"This is... this is... are you crazy?!" nagugulantang na aniko.
"Let me put it simply, Bree. It's either you lose to Argueles and be their puppet CEO. Or..." he evily smile at me before continuing.
"...or lose to me and maybe if you make me happy...you'd still be the president here and still have the upperhand in the expansion. I'm the better option, Bree." He sounded conceited and I hated it. Hindi ko alam paano ako na-corner ng ganito but they played me good.
"You are asking for too much!" Naisatinig ko na iyon na puno ng tinitimping galit. Cyde gave me another of his delivish smile.
"Business is business, Bree. I have to equal my demand to the money that I have to supply." Makahulugang anito. Nagngingitngit ako sa galit pero wala akong magawa.
"You very well know how I deal with things... Take it or leave it." Maikling pahayag ng lalaki na ikinatiim ng bagang ko. He wants my company. My company that my father built from the ground. He is trying to penetrate then soon I know he'll try to control it.
"Do you think I'm that stupid? I know you are trying to steal my company from me!" Giit ko. Clyde heaved a deep sigh.
"Don't you see that I'm trying to save you? You are going to lose from this fight even before you started it. The Sinclairs and Devauers gave up on you and I'm the only person who can make you save face!" Giit din niya. Napalunok ako at ramdam ko na ang panghihina sa katotohanang wala na akong ibang option pa.
I have to choose between the lesser of two evils. Kasalanan ko din. I was too reckless.
"Fvck this! If you don't want my help then don't." Nauubusan ng pasensiyang aniya. He was about to stand up and walk away. Naguguluhan pa ako pero alam kong si Clyde pa rin ang pag-asa ko para malusutan ang problemang meron ako. I quickly ran after him before he can even turn the doorknob of my door. Hinarang ko ang sarili ko sa pintuan. Nasa mukha ko ang kalituhan pero nasa mukha ni Clyde ang munting tagumpay. He knows he had me.
"Forty percent share for the expansion and 5% share of the company here." I tried to negotiate. He chuckled then lean down on the wall, with both his hands trapping me to the closed door.
"50% wifey, and 10% of the company here. No more, no less." Ulit lang niya sa offer niya. He is now speaking so close to me that I can smell his minty breath and his now expensive cologne. My heart started to beat double time. Same effect. He still has that same effect on me.
"I can't. I'll lose my majority if I give you my own share." I said. Clyde moved closer until his lips are just inches from mine. He looked distracted. So was I. And I know he is intently looking at my lips, like he wants to taste them. And I want to taste his.
"Then, don't lose me if you still want to be the major shareholder because I'd still demand that 10%." Pinal na anito kahit na ba alam kong pareho na kaming nag-iinit kahit hindi pa man kami nagkakadikit. His breathing is uneven as if he ran a full mile and me, well, I feel breathless. And I felt the wetness in between my thighs. Damn this traitorous body! I'm arouse as hell!
This is madness.
"What do you mean don't lose you?!" Pinipilit kong paibabawin ang katinuan ng pag-iisip pero napakahirap non dahil sa tuksong nasa harapan ko. I don't want my hunger for him overpower my sensibility. Ikinapit ko ang aking mga kamay sa saradong pinto para pigilan iyong hatakin sa leeg si Clyde. Clyde gave me another playful smile, he knew. Damn him! He knew I can't turn him down now. He suddenly scoop me off my feet, walked a little, then put me down on my cleared table. He put himself in between my thighs and thrust his hard manhood into me. A loud moan escaped my lips and it made Clyde smile widened. Damn him! He knew I can't resist him now.
"Make me happy Bree, then you can have everything." Ani lang nito pagkatapos ay sinakop na ng labi niya ang labi ko. Magpoprotesta pa sana ako pero mabilis ang mga kilos ni Clyde. His kisses were demanding for a response and my own free will betrayed me by obliging and kissing him back. I can't control my desire for him after tasting his lips. He pulled my blazer off and tugged harder on my clothes causing the buttons of my button-down shirt to pop out.
"Stop! I don't have a change of clothes." Kabadong aniko. Nasa opisina kami. Wala sa bahay. Fvck! Nasa opisina kami!
"I'll buy you a wardrobe later." Sagot lang ng binata pagkatapos ay hintak na niya pababa ang skirt ko sanhi para mawarak ang tagiliran non. I moan aloud when he finally massage my exposed breast. Alam kong bumigay na din ako ng nagmamadaling hatakin ko ang neck tie niya. Wanting him to give me another kiss, Clyde obliged. He speared me with his tongue and playful bit my lower lip. Kumilos na din ang kamay ko para hubaran siya. Another ripping sound and I knew I have another ruined panty.
Clyde groaned aloud as he finally entered me. He thrust in and out of me in a haste. Nanggigil at ubod ng bilis na halos hindi na ako makahinga sa sunod-sunod na nararamdamang sarap. It was the carnal need to be one. It was that unending passion we had for each other. Inevitable and lethal. It was madness.