"I’m gonna say I'm fine
as long as I can handle it."

HALOS mapanganga ako sa laki ng company ni Aries Palermo. Mula sa lobby na napakalawak ay may mataas na ceiling. May coffee shop rin na para sa mga empleyado.

"Cassidy."

I looked at Aries. "Call me Cass. Saka saan mo pala nalaman ang full name ko? Stalker yern?"

Tumaas ang isang kilay niya. Suplada ang lolo niyo.

"Finding out your name is just a piece of cake. Let's go."

Sumunod na lang ako sa kaniya. Bawat makakasalubong naming empleyado ay binabati siya. He looks so handsome with his pants and shirt. Para bang mas bagay pa sa kaniya ang mag-model kesa ang maging CEO ng company.

Dumiretso kami sa VIP elevator. Sumakay kaming dalawa.

"Is this yours? Anong klaseng company 'to? Nabasa ko kasi sa labas ng building, Palermo Cars Incorporation. So puro sasakyan?"

"You will know everything later."

"So you're the CEO? Wow, you're so young to be this successful."

"I'm not." He simply answered. "I'm the son of the CEO but I am the COO."

Gano'n na rin 'yon e. Being the COO, parang siya na rin ang may ari.

Nakarating kami sa... 22nd floor. Imagine how tall this building is.

Sinalubong agad siya nang sa tingin ko ay secretary niya. Wait, lalaki ang secretary niya? Is he gay?

"Your meeting with the daughter of Cabello Enterprises by twelve will be at La Pizzelaria."

"Is there any meeting that I have today other than that?"

"No, sir. I cleared your schedule as per your order."

He looks dashing while talking to his secretary. Fucker, how can be a man like that exist? He's too perfect. Pervert nga lang siya at casanova but everything is just... wow.

"She's Cassidy Gerson. She will be my personal assistant starting today."

Nagulat ako sa biglang pagpapakilala niya. I will be his personal assistant?

"Goodmorning, Miss Cassidy. I'm Lander Verallo, the secretary. I will be the one to orient you about your job description."

"Nice to meet you." Bati ko.

He's also handsome but when he's beside Aries, nagiging normal lang ang mukha niya. Anyway, bakit ba napapansin ko pa iyon?

"Call her Cass." Sabi ni Aries.

Kumunot ang noo ko sa kanya. Wow naman, ayaw niya akong ipatawag sa full name ko.

"Noted with that, sir." Lander answered. "The papers to be sign is in your table, I need everything before twelve. Thank you, sir."

"Yeah, while I'm doing that. Orient her. Tell her everything about the company and her job."

"Yes, sir."

Tumingin sa akin si Aries. "See you later."

Hindi ako nakasagot. Tumango lamang ako. Para akong na-mesmerized sa kagwapuhan niya. Gusto ko siyang itanong ng, how to be pangit kahit one day lang.

"Miss Cass, first, I'll tour you around in his office."

Tumango ako kay Lander the secretary. "Okay."

Sumunod lamang ako sa kaniya.

"This is the lobby to his main office." He explained. Narito pa lamang kami sa paglabas ng VIP elevator.

Tumatango tango lamang ako sa bawat sabihin niya.

"She's Shiela, the receptionist. She have the list of all appointments and all expecting guest everyday. Sa kanya dadaan lahat ng guest na darating to check if they have an appointment here."

"Hi, Shiela. Nice to meet you. I'm Cass."

"Nice to meet you, Miss Cass! Buti nalang dalawa na tayong babae rito. Napakasungit kasi at napakaseryoso ni Lander. Ang boring."

Natawa ako sa inasal niya.

"Yes, Miss Shiela. Narinig ko ang mga sinabi mo."

"Sinadya ko talaga 'yon."

Mukha namang close sila so, moving on, sumunod na ako kay Lander palapit sa isang pinto.

May nakalagay sa taas na OFFICE OF THE COO.

He opened the door at bumungad sa akin ang recieving area. May mga sofa lamang doon at rack ng magazine.

"This is the space for the visitors, or companions ng client."

"I see..."

Kumanan kami at bumungad naman ang malawak na office.

"That's my space, yes, my table and all those cabinets are filled with important files for the company."

"Wow."

Malinis ang kabuuan. Walang kalat at minimalize ang dating. Ang masculine. Wala man lang akong nakikitang bagay na kulay pink.

"That door is to pantry. You can eat or drink coffee. May fridge rin for all kinds of drinks."

Nice. Iyon talaga ang pinakagusto ko sa isang office.

Binuksan niya ang pantry. Sumilip ako at namangha ako sa linis doon.

"And the comfort room, is that way." Itinuro niya ang pinto sa sulok ng pantry.

"Let's go."

Sumunod ako sa kanya sa dulo, kung saan mayroon glass door.

He opened it. Parang living room ang bumungad sa akin.

"This is Mr. Palermo's space. Kapag may bisita siya, mga pinsan o pamilya niya and of course, friends. Dito sila tumatambay."

Kulay itim ang mga sofa. May center table sa gitna.

"And this is the last, his private office." He said.

May pinto sa may gilid ng parang living room.

He knocked on the door and opened it.

"I'm touring her around the office, Mr. Palermo."

Pagkasabi niyom ay niluwagan niya ang pagkakabukas ng pinto. Sumilip ako ro'n.

Napansin kong malaki ang office ni Palermo.

We went inside. Sasalubong agad ang malaking table ni Aries sa dulo na nakaharap sa pinto. Puro glass wall, kitang kita ang malawak na city.

He's sitting there, busy with some papers. Napansin kong nakasuot na rin siya ng coat na ipinatong lamang niya sa suot niyang tshirt kanina.

"This is Mr. Aries Palermo's office. No one can enter here without his permission. Even all his clients are not allowed here without his approval. The only people who can enter here freely is his family."

What a private person.

"That table will be yours."

Kumunot ang noo ko nang mapatingin sa itinuro niya. May table sa bandang dulo sa kaliwang bahagi nitong office niya.

Lumapit kami sa magiging table ko. Tumingin ako kay Aries na nakatuon lamang ang pansin sa mga pinipirmahan sa table niya.

"Mr. Palermo ordered this yesterday. Kaya kung mapapansin mo, wala pang gamit dito. You can do whatever you want with this table. Kung mapapansin mo, masculine ang office na ito but you can put some girly stuff at your table."

"O... kay."

"About the company. This is Palermo Cars Incorporation. Yes, it's about cars but not just cars. We manufacture and distribute car parts. Even the products for car maintenance and everything. All kinds of cars, even the most expensive is also available at Palermo Cars Incorporation."

Wala akong gaanong information about cars basta alam ko lang ay i-drive iyon. That's all.

"Mr. Aries Palermo is the COO but he's also an acting CEO. He's the one who will sign all the documents pero may ilan pa ring papeles na kailangan ng pirma ng CEO which is Mr. Palermo's father. He has an office here but he's seldom go here. Madalas ay sinasadya ni Mr. Aries and documents na dalhin sa bahay nila for signatures."

Sobrang detailed mag-explain ni Lander.

"As a personal assistant, you will do everything for him like checking out his schedules, the things he need to bring to a meeting outside, the one who will be beside him every minute. Even to his out of town or out of the country seminars and meeting ay kailangan na kasama ka. You will also monitor his foods, his time outside, his companions, all his needs will be handled by you, Miss Cass."

"Wait, parang girlfriend yata ang role ko e." Natawa ako.

"Parang gano'n na nga, Miss Cass." Natawa rin siya.

Narinig ko ang pagtikhim ni Aries mula sa table niya.

I rolled my eyes. "Pero seryoso ba? That's my job?"

Lander nodded at me. "I want you to take note that you also need to take care of his issues, like hanging out with some girls at the bar, possessive flings, pictures of him with girls that is posted to social media, all of it that could be possibly ruin his image."

"Kaloka pala ng job description ko as his personal assistant."

Iisipin ko pa lang, parang sumasakit na ang ulo ko. Iyon pa lamang na first time ko siyang punatahan sa bar, nakita ko na kung gaano siya kaharot do'n. Jusme!

Personal assistant my ass, e parang taga alaga ng pokpok na lalaki ang ganap ko dito.

"Here's the folder containing informations about Mr. Aries Palermo. This is confidential. This will stay here at the office. You can't bring this outside."

Too private but too maharot.

"You'll review it to know more about him, his family, his friends and even his favorite foods."

"Slambook lang?" I chuckles. "Nakaka-excite naman pala 'tong trabaho ko."

Lander smiled at me. "And last, don't let him sleep with sluts or random woman from the bar. Kung kinakailangan mo siyang hilahin pauwi, do that. Well, ssshhh, that's a special order from his mother and he didn't know about it." Mahinang sabi niya.

Bantay nanay pala siya.

"This is the duplicate keys from his condo unit and his car. In case you need it. Plus, this keycard to here, in his private office. Since you will be his personal assistant, you have all the rights to him."

Sana all may karapatan. Parang jowa nga lang.

"I almost forgot, madalas na may lunch date si Mr. Palermo, since he's a COO of one of the most succesful companies, a lot of businessman wanted their daughters to meet our COO even for ome lunch date to get to know each other. Sa madaling salita, para nilang binebenta ang mga anak nila kay Mr. Palermo for a possible partnership."

Wow, gwapo naman pala niya sa part na iyon.

"Actually, he has a schedule later at lunch. You need to accompany him but you'll just sit to another table just to watch them. In case, there's a problem, you're there. But, you need to act like you're a customer too. Eat anything you want. Here's your credit card for your expenses. You can use this as long as it's for your job or company. There's no limit. You can also buy the things you think you need for your table like supplies, pens and such."

Grabe rin pala ang benefits kapag dito nag-trabaho.

"Oh... kay. Loaded na ako ng informations."

"Good." He said. "Your first day at work will be today. Goodluck and again, nice to meet you, Miss Cass."

Ngumiti ako sa kanya. Mukha namang mabuting tao si Lander. Nakakatuwa rin. Isa rin kasi sa maganda sa trabaho ay kasundo mo ang ka-trabaho mo. Hindi tulad ng echoserang manager ko sa FF Jewelry. Magsama sila ng bobitang Rochelle. Hindi pa ako tapos sa kanila.

Umupo ako sa upuan ko. I looked the papers inside the folder that Lander gave me.

Bumungad agad ang picture ni Aries Palermo. Para iyong resume.

Siya lang yata ang kilala kong gwapo sa picture pero mas gwapo pa sa personal. Siguro ay hindi na nahirapang mag-photoshop ng picture niya iyong nagprint nito. Ang perfect kasi ng mukha. Mas makinis pa yata ang mukha niya sa akin.

Aries Chance Castillo Palermo. Wow may second name pala ang lolo niyo. Took up Business Management at Shinwoo University. Single... hm, wala kaya siyang mga panganay? Kidding aside, itinuloy ko ang pagbabasa.

Father, Duke Aris Alano Palermo. Mother, Cherrypink Castillo Palermo.

So obvious naman na sa parents niya nakuha ang pangalan niya.

Siblings, Arisse Chandria Palermo, Arion Chase Palermo. Kabog ng mga pangalan. Magkakatunog.

Nakasaad rin dito ang detailed address ng bahay niya at ng condo niya. Ang dami rin niyang list of achievement as a businessman.

Paano kaya niya napagsasabay ang pagiging casanova sa pagiging businessman?

"My dck's size in not included there. Wanna know?"

Muntik ko nang mabitawan ang hawak na folder. Hindi ko man lang napansin na narito na siya sa harap ko.

"Medyo bastos, sir." Sabi ko.

He chuckles. "Do you already know your job?"

Tinaasan ko siya ng isang kilay. "Oo alam ko na. Hindi mo sinabi, jowa pala ang hanap mo at hindi assistant."

Mas natawa siya. "Well yeah. Assistant with benefits."

Sinamaan ko siya ng tingin. "What? Sa pagkakaalam ko, iyong pagta-trabaho dito may benefits pero sa akin mismo, may makukuha kang benefits, luh asa ka."

He laughed. Mas gwapo pala siya talaga kapag tumatawa.

Kumabog ang dibdib ko nang umupo siya sa table ko. Tumungo siya upang magpantay at magkaharap ang mukha namin.

"The last time I checked, you offered something to me that's why you're here."

I gulped. Hindi pa rin ba nakakalimutan? Itutuloy pa rin ba 'yon?

"Ah... you know the situation." Sabi ko.

"Yeah. I can wait for days." He said. "You can choose where to do that. Here? At my condo? You decide."

Ramdam na ramdam ko na mapula na ang pisngi ko sa sinasabi niya. Bakit kasi kailangang i-open up?

"You're red."

"No, I'm Cass."

He grins. "I think Lander forgot somrthing to tell you."

"Ano pa ang hindi niya nasabi?" I asked.

He tilted his head. Mas inilapit niya ang mukha niya sa akin.

"Pack up your things tonight."

"May out of town meeting agad?"

He shook his head. "Starting tonight, you will live at my condo."

Oh... kay. Wait. "What?!"

"Your my personal assistant. You need to be with me twenty four seven, baby."

What the fuck, fucker?!

Napatayo ako. "No!"

"Or stop right now, go back to your previous job and forget about the deal about pulling out my shares."

"Ang sabi ko, no! No... as in bakit mamayang gabi pa, pwede namang ngayon na?"

What did I just say?!

He stared at my face. Hindi siya nagsalita. He pressed the intercom under my table.

"Lander, cancel all my plans including the lunch date. Miss Cass and I have plans today. We'll be leaving in ten minutes. Get my car ready."

"Copy that, Mr. Palermo."

What the fuck just happened?! Para akong nawalan ng karapatang tumanggi!

Aries Palermo, you're a legit fucker.