"Erin, I know you're a strong woman, but facing him as his Secretary can give you too many daggers of pain. He can't even remember you!" Mavis blurted out while munching her Morrocan ice cream.
I looked at her coldly, tinaasan niya lamang ako ng kilay dahilan para mapasuko ako sa kamalditahan niya.
"At least, I'm trying right?" bulong ko sa mababang tono. Muli kong kinuha mula sa ibabaw ng clock table ko ang frame na mayroong nilalaman na litrato.
I stared at it affectionately and carefully while my thumb slowly caressed his face on the photo. It was a picture of him and me when we were in Panay Island for our vacation, and little did I know how playful fate is because that is our last picture together.
"Bakit kasi hindi ka nalang magpakita sa mga magulang niya and tell them that he can't even remember you?"
"His parents don't like me."
I said in a low tone. His parents don't like me because I'm a product of unwanted love and wedlock, a daughter of a gold digger, the illegitimate spring of Senator Vidalez.
"Grabe, ang tragic pala talaga ng love story niyo." I just gave her an afflicted smile.
Tumayo ito upang daluhan ako sa pamamagitan ng yakap. "You've been a very tough woman since the day when I met you in Manchester. I'm always here if you want to cry. We will both pass your own battle cry." Mavis whispered, causing my nerves to calm down. Having her as one of my trusted friends really gives me a lot of courage to get up and continue striving.
"Ang drama natin," she giggled softly "...All of my life, I've been inside the battlefield running with death because of my missions." pagdadrama nito.
I met Mavis inside the elite bar of Manchester, Pennsylvania. She's working there as one of the waitresses. I thought she was just a waitress not until an explosion came, bad guys appeared, and she just saved my ass from being shot by one of those men.
She revealed everything to me that she's one of the Special Agent of FBI, at first it's hard for her to befriend with me dahil sa takot na baka mapahamak ako dahil sakaniya.
Nang matapos ang kwentuhan namin, she lazily stand up at nagpaalam na itong aalis dahil malalim na ang gabi.
"See you, when I see you." Tawa nito habang sumasakay sa Ducatti nitong big bike. She swiftly ride the big bike gaya sa mga action movies with her cool aura. Mavis is a big catch, beautiful, Intelligent and her life is full of action. tiyak na kawawa ang lalaki'ng susubok na palambutin ito.
Bumuntong hininga muna ako bago pumasok sa loob ng aking kwarto at pinagpatuloy ang pagsu-summary ng mga schedules ni Travis.
From the meetings, gatherings, and appointments with different clients and investors. I smiled weakly, parang dati lang he dreamed to run an empire, ngunit ngayon nakapag tayo na siya ng kaniya kahit taliwas sa kagustuhan ng pamilya niya.
He's a ruthless business tycoon. In business, he is one of the Eligible bachelors and lately listed as one of the Dangerous Gentlemenin Asia. He is indeed a big shot in the eyes of the women.
This is what I wanted, ang saktan ang sarili ko silently. I just wanted to take care of him, martyr man kung isipin.
When I was done encoding his schedules, I yawned and peeked at the wall clock. It's already one in the morning.
"Maybe I should take a nap..." I said while closing my laptop. I set the digital alarm clock at 5 am, gigising nalang ako ng five in the morning para i-print iyon.
I hopped on my bed and lay on my soft cushions until I fell into a deep slumber.
* * * * *
"Miss, Erin heto na po ang pagkain ni Sir, Travis." bitbit ang aking leather bag. inilagay ko dito ang folder na naglalaman ng schedules ni Travis, at kinuha ko ang naka-tray na umagahan para dito.
"Thank you." I politely said and grateful for it. I smiled at the old head of the company's nutritionist.
While on my way to his office, I was welcomed by greetings from various departments.
I swiftly hit the number of Travis's floor number. When I got to the door, I took a deep breath and put on my mask as Travis Alcheim Eliades' Secretary.
Pagkabukas niya ng pinto'y bumulaga sakaniya ang hagikgik ng babae.
"Travis ano ba, I told you, you're a family's friend. Why don't you take a break and have fun with us." the classy lady said while looking at him intimately.
Tumikhim siya bago tumingin sa kaniyang boss at tipid na nagsalita.
"Good morning Sir, here's your breakfast for today." Sinulyapan niya muna ang babae bago ilapag ang pagkain sa inuupuan nitong lamesa.
The girl is eyeing her with darts. Hindi na lamang pinansin iyon ng dalaga at inilapag ang pagkain sa mesa ng boss niya.
She can clearly catch a glimpse from her peripheral vision that Travis is observing her moves, Tanging tunog ng takong ng dalaga ang umaalingaw-ngaw sa paligid hanggang makaupo ito sa lamesa niya na mediyo malayo dito.
"Who is that girl Trav?" malambing na tanong ng babae habang hinihimas ang sentido ni Travis, without noise she rolled her eyes na hindi napansin ng dalawa.
"She's nothing, Just my new secretary." I stiffened with his answer that caught me off guard. Mabilis akong nakabawi sa sakit ng damdamin na nararamdaman ko.
Nagsimula na akong magtrabaho, reviewing his proposals and creating memos hanggang sa umalis na ang babae at malanding nagpaalam kay Travis.
"Marami ba akong gagawin ngayon?" tipid na tanong nito. huminto ako sa ginagawa ko at iniabot sakaniya ang papel na prinint ko.
"You're my Secretary. It's your job to read my schedules."
Kinuha ko iyon sakaniya ng walang salita but, pain crosses my heart when he didn't even bother to look at me. Instead, he is typing something on his phone.
"8 Am in the morning, Meeting with the Sarmiento's Minings."
"Then?" My heart sank yet beating loudly when he Interrupted his business and gazed on mine.
"After the allotted time for the Sarmiento's Minings, Here's the proposal from Mr. Sarmiento..." iniabot ko sakaniya ang isang folder na tapos ko ng basahin and it's ready for his signal for—approval.
"As what I've said, After 2 hours from the meeting with Mr. Sarmiento. You have to meet the Investors of the Eliades Enterprise." He's just looking at me while I'm telling him his schedules for the whole time. Hindi ko na iyon pinansin at nagpatuloy nalang sa pagsasalita hanggang sa matapos ako.
"You'll come with me?" tanong nito na ikinatigil ko. I blink twice at tinitigan siya ng diretso sa mga mata. Those pair of green eyes na minsan ko ng natitigan.
"I'm sorry Mr, Eliades. I need to do my task smoothly for the success of your empire. Let me remind you that Bettina is your appointment, Secretary."
He run his fingers through his hair that odd sexiness on the view of him with his business suit. Tahimik itong tinalikuran ako habang nakakunot ang noo. Pinagmasdan ko lamang ito hanggang sa magsara ang pinto at unti unting bumigay ang mga luha ko'ng kanina pa pinipigilan.
As the door made sound signaling that it was shut. My legs weakened, making me knelt on the floor while clutching my chest. A lone tear fell from my eyes as I smiled feebly.
This is what I wanted, right? To be with him while enduring this pain.