"ANO 'to?!"

Ngumiti si Gabriel. He leans back against his chair and raises his chin to look up at the woman who stormed into his office at 9 AM on the dot. "News article."

Hindi natuwa si Lov sa sagot niya. She gives him a sweet smile and grips the iPad in her perfectly-manicured hands. "Thank you, Gabriel. Napakatalino mo talaga."

Lumawak ang ngiti niya. Ah, the sweet, sweet sound of his name.

Of the few people who called him by his first name, she's the only one who pronounces it Gay-bree-uhl, exaggerating each sound.

'Yong mga magulang at kapatid niya, Ga-bri-yel.

It's not nearly as appealing or classy as when Lov says it in her voice, kaya ito lang ang pwedeng tumawag sa kanya n'on rito sa opisina.

"Kaya ako presidente," sagot ni Gabriel, brushing a hand over his jaw.

"President ka because your family owns the business and Kuya Aze turned it down."

"I love it when you feel the need to bring up the concept of nepotism. Bago ba 'yang top mo?"

Lov raises an eyebrow. "Why?"

"Yes or no lang ang sagot, Lov."

"Lovi," she grits out, as Gabriel knew she would, because he's also the only one who calls her that. "Two syllables na nga lang, tamad ka pa?"

"Bago ba 'yang top mo, Lov?"

She closes her eyes and exhales deeply.

Gabriel grins and glances at his watch.

9:02 AM. Record time sa pang-iinis ni Gabriel sa kanya.

He should do this more often.

"Yes, it's new," Lov answers calmly, brushing the hair out of her face with one hand.

Actually, hindi na kailangan tanungin ni Gabriel—alam niyang bago. Ngayon lang niya nakita, e. Of the three years they've worked together, he's become attuned to the contents of her wardrobe and has made an inventory of it in his head. There are days that he plays a game with himself bago siya pumasok.

Naka-slacks ba siya ngayon o naka-skirt? Naka-long sleeves o short sleeves? Nakatali kaya buhok niya o nakalugay? Naka-heels, boots, o flats?

Today, she's in a white short-sleeved button-down paired with a black pencil skirt that hugs her hips. Nakalugay, naka-hikaw, naka-relo sa isang kamay, naka-heels.

"Thought so," sabi ni Gabriel. "Maganda."

"I didn't ask for your opinion, nabili ko na."

"Assurance lang na 'di sayang 'yong pera mo."

"Nandito ba ako so we can discuss my outfit choices?"

"We can." He tilts his head to the side and keeps his eyes on hers. "And if we were, I'd say you look beautiful."

Hindi nag-iba ang ekspresyon ni Lov. She narrows her eyes at him. "Nandito ako to do my job. Ano isasagot ko dito?"

Pinakita uli sa kanya ni Lov 'yong nasa screen ng iPad niya.

Is Actress Heart Ramos dating Gabriel Tanjangco of Tanjangco Group?

He shrugs.

Tinitigan siya nang mabuti ni Lov. "May pictures. Nakaakbay ka sa kanya. Nagbubulungan. She said you were texting her."

"To thank her for the invite. It was a birthday dinner."

"Your schedule is loaded, wala kang oras para sa mga birthday dinner ng mga artista."

"'Di ako tumatanggi sa lumpiang shanghai, Lov."

He watches her face morph into incredulous frustration. "Binibigyan mo 'ko ng sakit sa ulo para sa lumpiang shanghai?!"

Okay, fine. He didn't need to be a little flirty with Heart in the pictures. Truthfully, tinatanong niya lang naman kung ano recipe ng lumpia no'ng nagbubulungan sila. Hindi niya rin kinailangan i-text kasi pwede naman sa social media na lang mag-thank you.

Hindi niya kinailangan pumunta at all. Tama si Lov, wala siyang oras para sa mga gano'n.

E kaso baon sa trabaho itong PR head niya. Minsan na lang niya nakikita.

A three-hour birthday dinner para sa fifteen minutes nito sa opisina niya. Hahaha. Baliw.

"Malay ko bang mag-sa-spark into a dating rumor," he says as innocently as he can.

"You're the most eligible bachelor in the country. People are eager to know about your dating life. Ano'ng isasagot ko dito?"

"'Wag kang mag-alala, Lov," sabi niya. "Single pa rin ako and I will stay single until mag-30 ako."

He watches her cheeks flush into a lovely color of pink—the way they always do when he brings this up.

"Void na 'yon."

"May contract tayo."

"Sa pitiful piece of yellow pad! 'Tsaka you don't have proof naman."

"Arte mo, tangina mo," sabi ni Gabriel. He loves it 'pag lumalabas 'yong Engliserang accent niya. Ang expensive pakinggan.

'Tsaka natatawa na siya. Paulit-ulit si Lov sa walang ebidensya, 'di nito alam nakatago lang sa wallet niya 'yon.

"I'll answer this the way I always clean up your dating rumors," she says, sighing. "Stop giving these girls mixed signals, Gabriel. They rush to the reporters because of those. Panlima mo na 'to this year."

"Yes, ma'am," sagot niya. He grips his chair. Tapos na?

He loves bantering with her. Loves annoying her. It's the best part of his day—lalo na 'pag binibigyan siya ng look ni Lov na naaasar na talaga ito sa kanya.

He wishes there were a deeper reason for loving that look on her face aside from he finds her extremely attractive, kaso 'yon lang 'yon e. Medyo nakakahiya, pero mababaw na mga nilalang lang ang mga lalaki.

"I also need you for a shoot later at around three, 'yong corporate video," tuloy ni Lov, scrolling through her iPad and furrowing her eyebrows.

Gabriel sits up. "Sino nando'n?"

"Our videographer—"

"Sa team mo," he clarifies.

"Si Abby—"

"'Di ako available, may meeting ako no'n," sabi ni Gabriel, looking at his very blank schedule sa screen niya.

Mabilisang nag-imbento siya ng gawa-gawang meeting sa Outlook.

From: Francis Gabriel Tanjangco (gabrieltanjangco@tanjangcogroup.com)
To: Lois Vienne Gueco (lovigueco@tanjangcogroup.com)
Subject: Meeting
Location: Conference Room 2
Start time: Wed 12/20/2023 | 3:00 PM
End time: Wed 12/20/2023 | 3:01 PM
Send meeting: Wed 12/20/2023 | 5:00 PM

"Fine. When are you free?" she asks, looking at her own schedule.

He makes a guess. Usually, free si Lov nang... "Mga 4:30."

She pulls her bottom lip in between her teeth. Gabriel's eyes track it.

"Okay, I'll fill in for Abby," she mutters, using her stylus pen to move things around. Gabriel smiles. "For your approval din 'yong press release about last Wednesday's event. I sent it to your email this morning."

"I'll read through it." Knowing he can't keep her here any longer, he says, "Magtrabaho ka na, iniistorbo mo 'ko."

Lov rolls her eyes. "Kung hindi dahil sa dating rumor mo, you wouldn't even know I was in the building."

Kaya nga siya gumawa ng dating rumor, e.

'Tsaka dumadaan si Gabriel sa office ng PR kahit nasa kabilang dulo ng building 'yong conference room o 'yong pantry.

"See you at 4:30," sabi niya, winking at her.

Lov doesn't bother. She turns around to leave.

"Wait."

She faces him again with one eyebrow raised, her iPad perfectly folded on her arm.

Gabriel stands up.

He walks around his desk and slowly makes his way towards her with his hands in his pockets hanggang sa nakatingala si Lov sa kanya.

She meets his stare straight on and snaps, "What?"

Gabriel puts his hands on her shoulders and turns her around, gently sweeping her hair away from her back. "Hindi nakatali."

"Oh."

Her top is undone at the back of her waist. Gabriel brushes his fingers against her skin, the base of her spine, and he relishes in the sharp intake of breath she takes before he ties it together.

He also relishes her scent, inhaling deeply.

Gabriel will admit he takes a bit longer than it should.

"'Yan," he murmurs, letting his hand touch her hip before he steps back. "Okay na."

Lov clears her throat and opens the door. Without looking at him, she says, "Thank you."

Then she's gone.

Gabriel curls his fingers by his side and returns to his desk.

Ang downside sa ginagawa niyang pagpapapansin, tatawag na naman ang nanay niya.

"Yes, Mother?"

"Maganda si Heart," bungad ni Pam sa kanya, obviously elated. "She's younger than you, pero okay lang. Successful 'yong latest project niya. Love the pictures."

Younger din si Lov. "Ma, it's a rumor. Lov is cleaning it up as we speak."

"Sabihin mo kay Lovi 'wag na!" His mother clicks her tongue. "Tingnan mo o, sabi ni Heart, 'He's very endearing. I want to see him again, of course,'" she reads from the article Lov showed him earlier. "Anak, bagay kayo!"

"Wala akong pakialam, Ma, hindi na kami magkikita niyan. Nagpapapansin lang po ako."

"Kanino?!"

Natawa si Gabriel. "Sa media, natural. Sa bansa." Sa PR head ko po.

"Magpapansin ka pa," utos ng nanay niya. "Tutal, diyan ka naman magaling. Tawagin mo si Heart, dali. You started it already o, you texted her daw."

"Ih."

"Bastos ka talagang bata ka!" inis na sabi ni Pam. "'Di mo ba naiintindihan na tumatanda na kami ng tatay mo? Buti pa si Marge, may apo na!"

Gabriel's mouth twitches at the mention of Lov's mother. "Tell Dad to stop with the blind dates disguised as business meetings. Wala akong oras at wala akong gusto sa mga alay n'yo. Hindi pa ako ikakasal ngayon."

"E kailan?! 'Pag nakabaon na 'ko sa lupa?!"

"When I'm 30," natatawang sagot niya. "Dramatic mo minsan, Ma. See you tomorrow."

As expected, it doesn't take long for the news articles to pop out once more.

Tanjangco President Clarifies Real Score with Actress Heart Ramos

MANILA - Tanjangco Group's Gabriel Tanjangco sets the record straight amid rumors that he is dating actress Heart Ramos.

This after fans and supporters gave their stamp of approval saying that the pair looked good together in photos after the actress's birthday dinner a few nights ago.

But the youngest eligible bachelor puts some other hearts at ease and denies the rumors: "I am still very much single. Heart and I are good friends; nothing more."

The rest of the article states how he's a career man first and how he's working to keep Tanjangco Group a pivotal driver for the country's economic future, then focuses on the company's goals for the coming year.

Gabriel stops reading and smiles to himself.

Lov is damn well good at her job. Kahit na nagpapapansin lang talaga si Gabriel sa kanya.