LUMUNOK si Lexie nang silang dalawa na lang ni Aiden ang natira sa opisina nito. She was suddenly aware of Florida’s last words. Mas nakakatakot daw si Aiden kapag mabait ito. Why? And what’s with the warning of not falling in love with him.
“Take a seat. Do you want coffee? Tea?” alok ng lalaki.
Umiling agad siya. “No, thank you. I just had a cup a while ago.”
She loved coffee. It keeps her on her toes. Pero sa pagkakataong ito ay kape ang huling bagay na kakailanganin niya. Ninenerbiyos siya. Ngayon pa lang ay naiintriga na siya kung ano ang mayroon sa bago niyang boss.
Sumandig ito sa mesa. “What do you think of my office?”
Luminga siya sa paligid. Maaliwalas ang opisina nito. It had the excellent view of the bay. Hanggang tumutok ang mga mata niya sa bulaklak at ngumiwi. “It is flowery?”
“I love flowers,” sabi ng lalaki.
“I am not exactly a fan of flowers. No offense meant.”
“That’s sad. Inilagay ko ang mga bulaklak para mapangiti ang mga pumapasok sa opisina ko. Office work is stressful as it is. Would love to see your face light up every time you see flowers.”
Isang lalaki na gustong magpangiti ng babae. So he was not doing it for himself. He was doing it to make someone else smile. “Sweet,” nausal niya dahilan para lalo itong ngumiti.
Bigla niyang naipinid ang bibig. Don’t. Just don’t say anything unnecessary. Be formal. Don’t like him no matter how charming he is. Just don’t. Be a pro.
“Come. I will show you around.”
Itinaas niya ang baba nang hawakan nito ang siko niya. Nagsikap si lexie na manatiling pormal ang ekspresyon. Ngumingiti siya kapag may ipinakilala sa kanya si Aiden at tumatango kapag may sinasabi ito.
Napansin niya na umiilaw agad ang mga mata ng mga kababaihan at beki kapag nakikita ito. He was indeed a heartthrob. Palabati rin ito at parang kabisado halos kung sinu-sino ang mga tauhan sa hotel. Parang hindi siya ipinakikilala ng boss niya sa mga empleyado nito kundi sa mga kapamilya at mga kaibigan.
Matapos ang tour ay pumunta sila sa cafe ng hotel. Umorder ito ng kape at dessert para sa kanila. The place was relaxing and classy. May live jazz band pang nagpe-perform lobby ng hotel at makikita mula sa bukas na pinto ng cafe. She finally had a job. She was finally a part of Brava International Hotel. Success!
“Is this okay with you?”
Inangat ni Lexie ang tingin mula sa hinahalong kape. “What?”
“That you are working with me instead of my brother?”
Nagkibit-balikat ang dalaga. “A job is a job.”
“I am afraid I am not as colorful and popular as my brother.”
Malungkot ang mga mata nito habang nakatitig sa kanya. Parang inaabangan nito ang pagkadismaya niya o kinikilatis nito kung ano ang pakay niya sa pagpasok sa kompanya.
“I am here as your assistant, not as a fan girl or a groupie of your brother. I just want to do my job,” she said in an even and controlled voice. Si Amadeus lang ba ba ang gustong makasama ng lahat ng babae na pumapasok sa kompanya? Hindi ba pwedeng gusto lang maghanap-buhay? “Perhaps you want to see my resume.”
She wanted to keep things on a professional level. Dahil hindi naman siya pumunta doon para magpa-cute sa lalaki o manilo ng mayaman at guwapo para maging boyfriend.
Akmang iaabot niya dito ang folder na naglalaman ng resume niya pero umiling ito. “Keep it. Resume is boring. Tell me more about your self.”
Tumuwid siya ng upo. “I graduated from…”
“Nah! Napag-usapan na ninyo iyan ni Kuya. You were thorougly examined by the HR Dept before you got an interview with my broher. I am sure your resume is impressive that’s why he hired you. Are you married? Single? In a relationship? Complicated?” Isang pilyong ngiti ang sumilay sa labi nito.
“I am single,” walang gatol niyang sagot.
“Do you date?”
Kumunot ang noo niya at umiling. “N-No.”
Itinaas nito ang dalawang kamay. “Hey! It is okay to date. As much as I love a dedicated assistant, I also want you to enjoy life. Hindi kita yaya o alipin na pakikialaman ko ang love life mo. As long as it doesn’t interfere with your work, then we are cool.”
“I don’t really date,” giit niya. “I prefer working. Hindi ninyo kailangang alalahanin iyon, Sir. Sa dati kong trabaho, on call ako twenty-four-seven. You can count on me during emergencies.”
“If you don’t have a date, we can date,” prisinta nito.
Napanganga siya sa pagkagulat. Niyayaya siya nitong mag-date. Ano siya? Charity case? Wala siya ka-date kaya ginagawan siya ng pabor.
Or maybe he is testing me. Gusto siguro niya akong hulihin para malaman niya kung kakagat ako sa pain niya. He could easily kick me out of the company once I show him some interest or make a stupid mistake of falling for him.
“Thanks for the offer but I must decline. I don’t date my boss. I am not into office fraternization,” sabi niya at uminom ng kape. “So what do you expect from me as your assistant?”
“Be more human. I don’t want a robot assistant.”
“Are you saying that I am a robot?” Nakakainsulto na ito. Ano ba ang gusto nitong babae? Someone who would fawn all over him?
“Smile more often. We are in a hotel service and not in a military camp. Gusto ko na makita kang ngumiti. Hindi mo kailangang laging maging seryoso.” She had a feeling that had he been her interviewer, she won’t pass just because she doesn’t smile much. “You can smile, laugh and go crazy with me. I want to see you enjoying your job.
Gusto nitong kunin ang loob niya. Madali para sa puso niya ang bumigay pero pinipigilan siya ng isip niya. Smile, laugh and go crazy? That was never her character. She was always formal. Ingat din siya sa emosyon niya.
“Okay, Sir,” usal niya at napilitang ngumiti.
“Very good,” sabi ng lalaki at gumanti rin ng ngiti. But this one was more genuine. As if he was happy to see her smile. “Do that more often. Mas bagay sa iyo ang nakangiti kaysa laging seryoso. So what do you do for fun?”
“None.”
“We must remedy that one.”
This man was an enigma. He could easily make women fall for her. And he was acting like he wanted things that way. Pero bakit itinataboy nito sa huli?
He was very dangerous indeed.