CHAPTER THIRTEEN

ABOT langit ang kaba na nadarama ni Kai habang nakaupo sa upuang katapat ng office desk ni Brian Hagen. Sa pagkakaalala niya ay binalaan na siya ni Mary Raven noon tungkol sa lalake. 'Wag na 'wag siyang magpapahuli rito dahil kapag nangyari 'yon ay baka mapahamak pa ang agency nila Raven. But of course, since Kai did not listen or took the advice seriously, she's now facing the consequences.

"So... Miss Graciadas..." Gone from the smile on his face inside the Red Mansion, Brian was now in all seriousness as he faced her, with papers on his desk.

Katrina had to clear her throat to correctly utter a word. "Yes?"

He looked at her eye to eye. "I'm impressed that you did not even change your surname into a new one. Or at least made your middle name your surname." Mas bumilis ang patibok ng puso ni Katrina. Brian then leaned over his desk. "Give me a valid excuse why I should keep the only heiress of the Golden Palace of the Graciadas and not throw you out of my village?"

Kai's world seemed to shatter as the man uttered those words. Wala na. Nahuli na siya. There would be no valid excuse since this was a punishment for a lost challenge. Mary Raven's agency might even be in danger because of her clumsiness. I'm so sorry, Raven.

"Miss Kai Graciadas — or should I say Miss Katrina Graciadas?" muling pagkuha ng lalake sa atensyon niya.

Kai did her best to calm herself down and slowly, her body relaxed. She straightened her body sitting posture and raised her chin. Katrina masked the nervousness in her eyes with pride upon hearing her first name. "Mr. Brian Hagen? Nice to meet you properly."

The man raised an eyebrow before he leaned his back on his chair. "I never expected the Graciadas heiress to meet like this. What is it that you want, Ms. Graciadas?"

Kai crossed her legs as she let out an intimidating aura. "I want to purchase the last lot in this village," was the only reason she could think of.

"While dressing up and pretending to be a lowly maid?" puno ng pagdududang tanong nito sa kaniya.

Katrina nonchalantly shrugged. "I wanted to inspect everything this village has to offer, even its benefits to its employees."

Brian's forehead creased. "That's still an improper way, Miss Graciadas. You even made a fake document just to inspect?"

She firmly nodded. "Is there a problem?"

"A lot actually," he honestly responded. "But since I know your father, I'll let it slide for now." Hindi malaman ni Kai kung matutuwa ba siya o kakabahan nang banggitin nito ang ama niya. "Anyway, back to the lot, I apologize but you can't purchase it."

The lady frowned. "But why? I've passed by it and there's nothing built on it."

"It already has an owner, Miss—"

"I'll double their price then," matapang na sabi ni Kai. Kung hindi siya magtatagumpay sa pananatili sa village na ito bilang maid ay maninirahan na lang siya. Ang mahalaga ay makikita niya nang mas madalas at malapitan si Nathan.

Unfortunately for her, Brian stood his ground. "My friend owns it, Miss. And it has always been reserved for her, ever since the start of the Royalty Village," pagpapaliwanag nito sa kaniya.

Napataas naman ng kilay si Katrina. Did I hear that right? "Did you just address your friend as her?"

Brian nodded. "Yes. And actually, she's the architect of this village. So that lot is one of my thank yous to her."

A woman... Kai thought. "Then inform me if you'll have another lot available in this village—"

"Feed my curiosity, Miss Graciadas," pagputol ni Brian sa dalaga. "Why are you so interested in living in my village that it made the spoiled — your father's words, not mine — princess to enter it as a maid?"

Para namang naputulan ng dila si Katrina. Dalawa lang naman talaga ang dahilan niya: Nang dahil sa punishment at para kay Nathan niya. Pero kahit ano roon sa dalawa ay hindi niya naman pwedeng sabihin.

"With all due respect for your father, I just want to understand your reasonings. Since at some point, your situation would be considered illegal, and I don't adore illegal activities in my place, Miss Katrina. May it have a good reason or not—"

"I!" halos pasigaw na putol naman ni Kai sa sinasabi ni Brian habang nakapikit. "I like Nathan." Tila nakaramdam siya ng sobrang kahihiyan. "I-I like him so much and I want him to like me too." Pahina nang pahina ang boses ng dalaga sa bawat salitang binibitawan nito.

Hindi naman nakaimik kaagad si Brian at tinitigan lang ang nakapikit at namumulang dalaga sa harapan niya. Halos ilang minuto pa ata ang lumipas na puno ng katahimikan ang opisina ng binata. Hindi ito makapaniwala sa rason ng babae.

Dahan-dahan namang idinilat ni Kai ang mga mata niya saka iniwas ang tingin sa lalake nang makita niyang nakatitig lang ito sa kaniya. "If he can't like me back, then at least I'll know to myself that I did my everything just to have his attention. If I fail then, I'll fail. I won't bother him again, nor do stupid things like these again."

Ilang segundo ang dumaan bago nagsalita ang lalake. "Well, it's a relief that you're aware that your actions are stupid." Sinamaan ni Kai ng tingin ang lalake pero hindi naman ito naapektuhan. Mahinang natawa na lamang ang lalake. "But you're being honest now, so I'll let this go, for sure this time."

Kai flatly stared at the once intimidating man. "For sure this time? Why? You were supposed to tell my father even though you told me that you won't?"

Brian grinned and nodded. "Of course. I dislike dishonest people the most." Katrina just crossed her arms over her chest. "Anyway, thank you for being honest, Miss Katrina, but I apologize. I don't have current plans to extend my village — to add another lot."

"Then I have a favor to ask, Mr. Hagen," Katrina became so serious. "Let me continue my disguise as a lowly maid in your village. I'll only have to stay for a month, then I'll leave. Just let me finish — let me have my chance on Nathan, and if I can't have his attention within the remaining weeks, I'll stop, I promise."

Brian matched her seriousness. "What do I get in return?"

"I'll owe you one. I'll do or give you anything you want me to." Katrina stared directly into his eyes, and all he could see was pure determination. "Anything, Mr. Hagen."

Ilang saglit lang din tumitig si Brian sa kaniya hanggang sa ito na ang pumutol ng pagtititigan nila at bumuntong hininga na lamang. "Fine. But you're not allowed to cause any more trouble, Ms. Katrina. The boys would already suspect me for letting this incident go, so if you got yourself in another trouble, I'll have to treat you like how I treat my employees — I'll have to fire you."

Tumango naman si Katrina. "I understand. I won't get in trouble... for sure this time."

Napailing na lamang si Brian. Akmang paaalisin na niya ang dalaga nang may maalala ito. "Ms. Katrina, how come Levi, Gio, and Vynzent treat you like that awhile ago? Even Chris acts as if you're their friend."

Napasimangot naman si Kai saka muling napasandal sa upuan niya. "Well, they caught me in trouble and well... they were friendly — except for that Vynzent. Him? Friendly?" Kai huffed. "As if."

Mahinang natawa na lamang si Brian saka hindi na sinabi sa dalaga ang napansin niya kanina sa lalake. "Whatever you say, Ms. Katrina. I'll dismiss you now. Go back to your apartment, and I'll inform the boys about your stay in this village."

Katrina's face brightened up as she smiled. "Thank you so much, Mr. Hagen."

"Sure. Good luck with Nathan," he teased her to which she only replied with a smile before finally standing up, bidding a proper goodbye, and leaving his office — his mansion.

Nathan, looks like I'm still lucky after all. So wish me luck too.

H | Z

I am honestly hoping to finish this story within this year. 😭 So Nathan... Kai... Brian... wish me luck too. 😭