ONE WORD to describe Ayze after a month of appointing her as the CEO, it was stressful. Walang araw na hindi siya umuuwing bagsak ang katawan sa kama nuya, she doesn't even have the time to be with her cousin and taste her favourite liquor.

May mga ibang trabaho siya na kailangan niya pang iuwi sa bahay nila. Unfortunately, hindi sapat ang sampung oras para matapos niya lahat. Pinili niya naman 'to, kaya wala siyang choice kung hindi ang panindigan 'to.

Ayze simply praised herself for being an ass during her high school and college days. At least, na-enjoy niya ang kabataan niya. She feels old after working her pretty ass off!

Humarap siya sa salamin at nanlumo nang makita ang sarili. Nangingitim ang ilalim ng mga mata niya at may patubo pang tigyawat sa ilong niya. She sighed and quickly did her night skincare routine, at this rate, baka pati ang kagandahan na taglay niya ay masita ng mga buwaya.

"Gosh! I won't let them insult my beautiful face. Over my dead hot body!" bulong niya sa sarili habang naglalagay ng eye bag patches sa ilalim ng mga mata niya. Nilagyan niya rin ng pimple patch ang malapit na umusbong tigyawat niya.

She wears her shirt and cycling before going out of her room. Ayze preferred working on their sala. May naka set-up siyang lamesa doon plus her comfortable swivel chair.

Sinilip muna niya ang kapatid sa kwarto nito, and when she saw him sleeping soundly, she turned the lights off and closed the door. May mga nakakalat na papel sa buong kama nito, he must be reviewing for his upcoming exams.

Because unlike her, Vane, her brother was grade conscious. Iniiyakan nito ang dos sa card nito. Hell, he was even questioning his professors if tama ang binigay na grade nito.

Kung siya ay laging nasa guidance dahil sa pagiging basagulero niya, si Vane naman ay dahil sa pakikipag sagutan sa mga professors. The Clemente were really a pain in the ass.

"You're still working, 'nak?"

Ibinaba niya ang nakataas na paa at tuwid na umupo si Ayze nang marinig ang boses ng mommy niya. Lumapit ito sa kanya at ipinatong ang mga kamay sa balikat niya at inumpisahan nito na masahiin siya.

"It'll help you to relieve your stress. Madalas 'tong ginagawa sa akin ng Daddy niyo." Malambing na sabi nito.

Ayze couldn't help but to close her eyes and enjoy her mother's massage. Dahil sa ginagawa nito, her mind was slowly slipping away. Muntik na siyang makatulog kung hindi lang tumigil ang mommy niya.

"Are they giving you a hard time?" nag-aalala na tanong nito sa kanya.

Mayabang siyang tumingin sa mommy niya. Them? Giving her a hard time? Hell, it was the other way around. She kept on pushing them until they walked out on her territory. She won't give them time to retaliate. Ayze was planting a bomb, with every step, they'll be dead.

Her mother's empire was being cleansed by a demon.

"It was me, who's giving them a hard time. They don't like me. So am I." She shrugged her shoulders.

Hindi niya ipipilit ang sarili sa mga tao na ayaw sa kanya. She won't raised her hand if only they stay still.

"Are they really that bad?" kunot ang noo na tanong nito.

Her mother was still kind and dumb sometimes. Maliban na lang kung napuno na talaga ito.

"Real bad, Mom. One day, we'll wake up, wala na ulit sa atin ang mga kumpanya mo." Sarkastiko na sagot niya.

Napangiwi ang mommy niya sa sagot niya. She tapped her shoulder.

"I entrust our empire to you but please... Rest, Ayze, work can wait. Mas importante ang kalusugan mo, 'nak." Ani ng mommy niya.

Ayze held her mother's hand and gently caressed it. "Ma, ayos lang ako. I'll just finish this one and I'll sleep."

"Promise?" napangiti siya nang parang bata na inilahad ang pinky finger nito.

"That's so childish, Mom but yeah... Promise." She locked her pinky against her mom's and shook it a little. Just like the old times.

Pumasok ulit ito sa kwarto nila ng Daddy niya. She started working her ass off again but later on hissed loudly after noticing how slow she was.

Ayze massaged her wrist and looked at her laptop, pati na rin sa mga papel na nakakalat sa lamesa niya. She didn't even sign half of it. Not to mention that she's basically doing her professor's job before, revising someone's paper was a total pain in the ass.

"Tulog na ang mommy mo. You can now have this, Ayze." Ngumiti siya nang makita ito na nagbubukas ng isang lata ng beer, saka 'yon nilapag sa lamesa niya. "How's your day?"

"I'm living, Dad," sagot niya at mahinang tumawa.

"And the crocodiles?" He asked.

"Dead." Malamig na sagot niya.

He saw her father's side lips rise up. Jyrelle, her father, looks at her and his eyes tell her that he's proud.

"Damn, that's my daughter." He proudly uttered.

Ngumuso lang siya sa Daddy niya. Kanino pa ba sila magmamana ni Vane? Malakas masyado ang dugo nito. Her mom was handling 3 Jyrelle in their household. Tahimik lang ang kapatid niya but he can be worse than her if he wanted to.

"Ubusin mo lang 'yan, Ayze. Rest is a must, anak..." He placed his hand on her head and messed her hair, pagkatapos ay yumukod ito para mahalikan siya sa noo. "Love you..."

"I love you more, Da!"

"MA'AM, ZAYNDREI is on his way." Amari informed her.

Inalis niya ang mga mata sa harap ng iPad niya at tumingin sa lamesa niya. Amari, on the other hand, knew that look of her. Nakabisado na siya ng secretary niya. Pinatong niya ang isang kamay sa balikat niya at minahe 'yon. She groaned when it wasn't enough to relieve her stress.

Ayze smiled mischievously at her secretary and said, "Cancel all my appointments today, Amari."

She grabbed her bag and got her things ready. Ayze retouched her lipstick and sprayed perfume on her neck and wrist. Totally neglecting her job for planning to reward herself today. She's the boss. Pwede niyang gawin ang gusto niya. Just for today, though.

"Are you going somewhere, ma'am?" Amari asked her. Inayos ni Ayze ang collar ng shirt niya at tinupi ang sleeves hanggang siko niya.

"Yes, Amari. We're going somewhere." Nakangiti na sagot niya.

"We're going somewhere? Where?" kunot ang noo na tanong ulit nito sa kanya.

Ayze happily shushed her. "Just fix yourself. I mean, retouch your makeup, spray some perfume, and get your bag. Sumama ka na lang sa akin, okay?"

Tumango lang si Amari saka ito nagpaalam na lumabas. Her table was on the outside of her office, ilan beses na niyang sinabi na ipasok 'yon sa loob ng opisina niya pero ito mismo ang tumatanggi. Saying that her office, her space.

She tried to build a room for her, pero ganun pa rin naman. Ayaw talaga nito. Amari told her that she's good and comfortable on her table set-up.

Yung nasa labas lang at open space. Nakikita raw kasi nito kung sino ang paparating at ang mga kasama niyang nagtatrabaho sa labas.

Ayze unbuttoned the first three buttons of her shirt to reveal her white gold four-leaf clover necklace. It was given to her as a graduation gift, her brother said the necklace stands for luck, hope, and love.

She sighed heavily when her office door opened. Revealing Zayndrei with his usual office attire. Slacks and his white body hugging long sleeve shirt.

"You're going somewhere? At this time?" sarkastiko na tanong nito sa kanya.

"So what, Zayndrei?" She flatly shot back. "If you're just here to piss me off, scram."

"Are you meeting someone again?" mahina ang boses na tanong nito sa kanya.

She wanted to laugh at his question. Oh dear, here they were again. Acting like a freaking couple when in fucking fact, they're not. They're going to clash and make up after. The kind of make up she avoids.

Making out with Zayndrei will be the death of her.

"For fuck sake! I'm stressed as it is, Zayndrei! Mag sha-shopping ako!" Her voice thundered inside her office.

Ayze saw with her own two eyes how he sighed and seductively licked his bottom lip. She shouted at him yet he remained calm and collected.

"I'm coming with you." Anito at lumabas sa opisina niya.

She brought her handbag, saka siya sumunod sa lalaki palabas. Narinig niya ito na hinahabilinan ang sariling sekretarya na i-cancel din ang mga natitirang appointments nito ngayong araw. Ayze sighed, ever since siya na talaga ang bad influence sa kanilang dalawa.

"Your bag, please?" Zayndrei asked. Inabot niya ang bag sa lalaki. It doesn't suit him. Hindi bagay ang handbag niya sa suot nito. "What?" marahan na tanong nito nang mapansin ang tingin niya.

"My bag. Give it back to me. Hindi bagay sayo."

"No way. I'll carry it for you."

"May kamay ako?" sarkastiko na sabi niya.

"Alam ko." Zayndrei cooly answered her.

He placed his hands on her back and walked with her. Nakatingin sa kanila ang ibang empleyado. Ayze was sure that there's a rumour going to spread about her in a matter of seconds, right after they exited the building.

They saw her with Zayndrei yet she's seeing other guys. In hotels, famous restaurants, and they sometimes visit her in her office.

Little did they know she was scheming them.

Hinayaan niya lang na manatili ang kamay ni Zayndrei sa kung saang parte ng katawan niya. His hand was placed on her thigh when he was driving. And now that they're in the mall, nasa likuran ulit niya nakalapat ang kamay nito. It was big and was too easy for her to feel.

Pareho silang dalawa ni Amari na namili. Ang pagkakaiba lang, her secretary knew her boundaries. Ayze wasn't even looking at the tag price, basta lang niya 'yon kinukuha. She bought some office clothes for her.

Tahimik lang na nakasunod sa kanya si Amari, habang ang dalawa naman ay dala ang mga shopping bags nila. Nang mapunta sila sa men's wear, kaagad siyang namili.

"His face looks scary..." pasimple na bulong sa kanya ni Amari.

Ayze glanced at Zayndrei. Malayo ang tingin nito pero walang kasing talim ang mga mata nito. Hindi siya nag-iwas ng tingin, hinihintay niya talaga na tumingin ito sa kanya.

"Is it for someone? Boyfriend?" Amari's question caught her attention.

"Dalawang lalaki lang ang pinagkakagastusan ko, Amari. My father and Vane, my little brother."

Tumingin ulit siya sa gawi ni Zayndrei. His expressions change, lumambot na 'yon. Nanatili ang tingin niya sa lalaki lalo na nang hatiin ng dalawa ang mga shopping bags. Zayndrei was carrying her shopping bags and his secretary was carrying Amari's shopping bags.

Amari leaned in and whispered, "They're like dogs?"

"Our dogs." Ayze answered.

ZAYNDREI was supposed to talk about business with Ayze but found himself waiting for her to finish shopping. He doesn't mind being pushed around if it's Ayze. Sanay na sanay na siya sa ugali nito. They've been together since God knows how long.

Tumigil siya nang madaanan nila ang isang shop ng gitara.

"Kolthon," tawag niya sa kasama. "Samahan mo muna ang dalawa. Give me a heads up kung nasaan na kayo, okay?"

Tumango lang ito sa kanya at sumunod sa dalawa. Siya naman ay pumasok sa shop at bumili ng guitar picks. One for him and one for Ayze.

He plays guitar as his hobby but Ayze plays it for pleasure. Zayndrei thought that she's going to pursue music rather than managing her mother's businesses.

"Sir, pwede po pa-engraved."

"Can you give me a piece of paper?" He asked and gave it to him. Sinulat niya ang pangalan nilang dalawa ni Ayze at hinintay na matapos 'yon.

From: Kolthon

Sir? Ma'am Ayze is looking for you.

Below the message was their location. Kaagad siyang nagpunta doon. And when he saw her, he immediately went back to her side.

He sighed and whispered, "Seriously, Ayze... We shouldn't be here, shopping."

"I told you already, Mr. Marcus. I'm stressed. I deserve a rest."

Ngumisi siya nang pormal siya nitong tinawag. "Should we rest in my place after this, Ms. Clemente?" 

☕