I almost ignored the email.
Honestly, akala ko isa na naman iyong mass reminder tungkol sa reports o mandatory meeting na walang gustong pumunta.
It was barely eight in the morning, and already, my day felt exhausting.
The elevator ride alone drained me.
It's too many people, lots of conversations, and too much perfume mixed with coffee that I hate to smell.
I stepped out onto our office floor with my usual expression “tired but composed” and headed straight toward my desk.
“Good morning!” bati ni Karen habang abala sa pag-aayos ng papers niya.
“Morning.” maikling tugin ko.
“Uy, nakita mo na iyong bagong email from company?”
There it was again. Napabuntong-hininga ako habang inilalapag ang bag ko sa upuan.
“Hindi pa.”
“Buksan mo na. Bilis.”
I narrowed my eyes slightly. “Bakit parang excited ka?”
“Just open it.”
She so suspicious. Binuksan ko ang laptop ko habang si Trisha naman ay biglang lumapit sa desk ko na parang may aabangan na kung ano.
“Ano bang meron?” tanong ko.
“Basta. Open mo na.” pagmamadali niya.
I logged in quietly before clicking the unread email sitting at the top of my inbox.
From: Executive Office.
My brows furrowed slightly. Then, I read the message.
Selected employees will be assigned to assist directly under the Office of the CEO for upcoming internal operations and executive coordination.
I almost closed it immediately, because I am not interested. But then my eyes landed on the highlighted name below.
‘Serene Valdez’
I stared at the screen for a few more seconds trying to process what's happening. Then, I read it again. Still the same name on the screen.
“Wait…” bulong ni Trisha habang sumisilip sa screen ko. “OH MY GOD.”
“What’s happened?” tanong ni Karen agad.
“Si Serene!”
“What?!” Pareho silang napalapit sa desk ko habang ako naman ay nananatiling tahimik.
The hell?
“Bakit ako?” mahinang tanong ko, mostly to myself.
“Girl, you will work directly under the CEO!” sabi ni Karen. “Do you know how big that is?”
“Maybe they sent it to the wrong person.”
“Hindi ka naman si Ramon from Accounting.”
I ignored Trisha’s comment and reread the email carefully.
There's no clarification and explanation. Just the instructions to report directly to the executive office by ten in the morning.
Weird! Hindi naman ako ang manager. Hindi rin ako close sa kahit sinong executive para mapansin.
I simply did my job… I do it quietly and consistently. Nothing more, and nothing less.
“So…” Trisha grinned slowly. “Mukhang napansin ka ni Mr. Villareal.”
Napataas agad ang kilay ko. “Don’t start. We both know that's not gonna happen because the referral will come from superior”
“Pero bakit ikaw?”
“That’s exactly what I’m asking. Wala naman akong ginagawa.”
Honestly, hindi ko rin maintindihan.
There were more qualified people in the department. People who are better at communication, presentations, socializing… everything corporate executives usually liked.
I was good with work. That was it.
“Maybe because of your reports?” sabi ni Karen.
“Or maybe may crush siya sa’yo,” dagdag agad ni Trisha.
I gave her a flat look. “Touch some grass.”
Tumawa lang siya habang ako naman ay muling tumingin sa email. For some reason, naalala ko iyong pag-uusap namin ni Jackson kagabi.
‘You noticed errors everyone else missed.’
A strange feeling settled inside my chest.
No, impossible. One conversation wasn’t enough reason for this. Right?
“Serene.”
Napalingon ako kay Ms. Ramirez, our department head, na kararating lang.
“Can I speak with you for a moment?”
I stood up immediately. “Yes, ma’am.”
Tahimik akong sumunod sa kanya papunta sa maliit niyang office. Pagkasara pa lang ng pinto, she looked at me with an expression I couldn’t fully read.
Not upset but not exactly happy either.
More like impressed, I think?
“You received the email already?” Tanong nito.
“Yes, ma’am.”
She nodded once and sat down. “Mr. Villareal personally requested you.”
That made my stomach tighten unexpectedly. Personally?
“May I ask why?” I ask curiously.
“He reviewed your reports from the last quarter.” I blinked at her.
“He said your work stands out.”
I didn’t know what to say to that. Compliments about my work weren’t unusual. But hearing that the CEO himself noticed it? That felt different.
“Your role is temporary for now,” Ms. Ramirez continued. “You’ll assist with executive schedules, internal reports, and financial coordination.”
“That sounds more like an executive assistant.”
“Not exactly. You’ll still work under Finance, but directly coordinate with the CEO’s office.” I nodded slowly.
“Any concerns?”
A lot but none I could explain properly.
“I’m fine.”
She smiled faintly. “Good. Don’t overthink it, Serene. This is a great opportunity.”
Maybe? Or maybe it was the beginning of something complicated. Complicated things rarely ended well.
At exactly ten in the morning, I found myself standing outside the executive floor. Everything looked quieter here.
This floor looks expensive. Even the air-conditioning felt richer. I adjusted my grip on the folder in my hands while waiting outside the office doors.
The receptionist smiled politely at me. “You can go in now, Ms. Valdez.”
I nodded once before stepping inside. Jackson’s office was larger than I expected.
A minimalist modern room with glass windows overlooking the city. 
The CEO is standing near the window while reading something from his tablet. For one second, I considered how ridiculous someone could look that calm this early in the morning.
Then he looked up. “Ms. Valdez,” he said calmly.
I stepped forward slightly. “Good morning, sir.”
His gaze lingered on me for a brief moment before he placed the tablet down.
“You’re early.”
“It’s ten exactly.”
A faint amusement crossed his face.
“I noticed.” I suddenly became aware of how alone we were in the room.
“Please, sit.”
I sat carefully across from his desk while trying not to overthink everything. He remained calm as always. Yet somehow, there was still something unsettling about him.
Not threatening. Just difficult to ignore.
“I reviewed your work,” he said directly. “You’re efficient.”
“Thank you.”
“You don’t miss details.”
I looked down briefly at the folder in my lap. “I just do my job.”
“That’s exactly why you’re here.”
Simple words… But something about the way he said them made my chest feel strangely tight. As if he meant more than he was saying.
“I prefer people who pay attention,” dagdag niya habang nakatingin diretso sa akin.
For some reason, I couldn’t hold his gaze too long. Which was unusual for me. I wasn’t easily intimidated. But Jackson Villareal carried a kind of quiet intensity that made people feel too seen.
“I hope the reassignment isn’t inconvenient for you,” he continued.
“It’s unexpected.”
“That bothers you?” tanong niya.
“A little.” To my surprise, the corner of his lips lifted slightly.
“You’re too honest.”
“You asked, Sir.” 
That earned a softer expression from him. And somehow, that made him feel less like the untouchable CEO everyone talked about.
“You’ll adjust quickly,” he said.
I nodded once. “I’ll do my best.”
For a second, he simply looked at me. Not in a way that felt inappropriate. As if, he was trying to understand something about me without asking directly.
“I know you will.”