"Good morning, Miss Bree. Here's the report for the monthly sales."

I motion her to drop the folder in my table. I was checking another folder for the Marketing team, I massage the bridge of my nose when I saw their plan again. Fucking get an famous actress and actor to market our mall's! Paulit ulit nalang ang concept.

"Paki balik 'to sa Marketing Department. Sabihin mo palitan nila." kalmadong utos ko sa secretary ko. "Tell them I need something new,"

"Yes, Miss." she answered.

"Jane, iutos mo nalang pala sa iba. Buntis ka hindi ka pa naman, baka matagtag ka kaka akyat baba." sabi ko sakanya.

Jane is my secretary since the day one I've been a CEO of our company. She's very efficient and I'm afraid to lose her, siya lang kasi ang nakakaintindi sa mood ko. Lalo na kapag nagagalit ako sa mga competitors namin na panay ang pamimirata.

"Go, call them. Sila nalang ang paakyatin mo dito." I dismissed her. Tumango lang siya sa akin at lumabas na ng office ko.

I opened the next folder and read it before signing it. Sumandal ako sa swivel chair ko at pumikit saglit, I love my work but this is stressing me out for almost a years now! I think I need to refreshed my mind.

Aksidente na dumapo ang tingin ko sa isang sulok ng table ko. I saw another picture frame again, na naglalaman ng picture ng long time crush ko noong college. I opened the cabinet beside me and saw a lot of picture frames in it!  I gritted my teeth as I called my crackhead Friend!

[Hi, hello!] sagot ni buntis sa kabilang linya. She's now pregnant with her first child.

"What the hell, Greta! Bakit may bagong picture frame na naman sa table ko?!" I yelled.

Jesus! She's been putting a lot of picture of Nichos in a frame on my table whenever she have a chance! Hindi ko alam kung trip ba ako nito o ano!

[Chill! Ayaw mo nun? May inspiration ka while working?] nang-aasar ang tono nito. I sighed, habang pinapasadahan ng mga daliri ko ang buhok.

Greta is worst when she's in her normal state, and she's so much worst now that she's pregnant! Mas lalo lang lumala ang trip niya sa buhay at ako ang nakita niyang bibiktimahin ngayon!

"Ewan. Bye!" I said and ended the call. Hindi ko na siya hinintay makasagot dahil baka ma stress lang ako lalo sakanya.

I stared at the picture frame and glared at it. Paano ako mai-inspire na magtrabaho kapag nakikita ko 'to? Kinuha ko ito at pabagsak na isinandal ang likod ko sa swivel chair, tuluyan ng kinalimutan ang mga documents na nasa table ko.

Nichos Laur Martinez, A hot Psychology student back were in college. Kaibigan siya ng kakambal ko kaya lagi ko siyang nasisilayan noon, he's like my brother shadow. Kung nasaan ang kapatid ko nandoon din siya. Pero madalas na pakalat kalat sa campus namin before na parang supervisor.

He knows that I am crushing over him but he kept on avoiding me. Hindi man lang in-entertain ang feeling ko for him! I dated a lot of boys back in college pero lagi akong pumapalya dahil sa pagsusumbong niya kay kuya, hindi tuloy ako naka moved on sakanya. And then, noong mag p-proposed na si Kuya kay Mj akala ko makakausap ko na siya nang matino but he just kept silent while dancing with me!

"Damn, walang mangyayari sa akin kung makikipag titigan lang ako sa 'yo!" I hissed. Binuksan ko ang cabinet kung saan ko nilalagay ang mga picture niya na laging nilalagay ni Greta sa table ko at inilagay ang hawak ko doon.

I am Breeyana Clemente and I will not simp again for Nichos Laur Martinez!

I forced myself to work and not to think about that guy who never tried to looked at me. I continued reading and analysing the piled up  documents in front of me and sign it habang pasulyap sulyap pa din sa cabinet kung saan ko inilagay ang picture frame.

"Oh! God bless me!" I exclaimed. Binuksan ko ang cabinet at kinuha ulit ang picture frame na itinabi ko at ipinatong ulit sa table ko. Sa mismong harapan ko talaga!

"Bwisit ka." I mumbled and pouted my lips. How can I moved on? Bakit kasi ang lala ng tama ko sakanya?

I blinked twice and slapped my face lightly so I can focused again in my work. I have a lot of things to do and simping over Nichos was not on the list. Work first bago landi.

I spent my whole day inside my office and attending different meetings. Siniguro ko muna na wala akong naiwan na trabaho sa office bago ako umuwi sa bahay, I finished all the papers that needed to be signed. Ayoko na natatambakan ako sa trabaho dahil nakakadagdag lang sa stress ko.

"Hi Ate!" Thrios greeted and kissed my cheek before going back to her laptop.

"What are you doing?" I ask and sit beside her.

"Research paper." she answered without looking at me. She's now 18 and currently taking business administration major in marketing.

"Rest after that." paalala ko sakanya at tumango lang siya.

"Breeyana, do not forget the meeting tomorrow darling!" sigaw ni Mama mula sa kusina. Tumayo ako sa pagkakaupo at nagpunta sa kusina. Humalik ako sa pisngi ni Mama.

"What's the agenda, Ma?" I ask and get a new plate so I can eat before I rest.

"Your twin friend, I mean his family is going to invest in our company." She explained. Umangat ang kilay ko, Kuya's friend? But he only have 2 friend right now.

The one is an Architect which is Greta's husband, Xyrus and the one with the same interests as him. Nichos. Which of the two? Nagkibit balikat nalang ako, habang si Mama naman ay humaba ang nguso.

"But I really want to merge our business with them and not just an investment. Pero kung tutuusin swerte na tayo dahil sobrang laki ng kumpanya na 'yon." she blabbere.

"What kind of business,Ma?" I ask and and drink my water.

"Martinez Mall." she simply answered. My eyes widened at naibuga ko ang tubig sa bibig ko!

Freaking hell! It's Nichos family business!

"Anyway, linisin mo yan tapos magpahinga kana okay?" she said before leaving me here dumbfounded.

Pilit kong siniksik sa pagod kong utak ang sinabi ni Mama. So I will meet Nichos parent's tomorrow? Tama ba talaga si Greta na babalik na ng Pilipinas si Nichos? Shit!

I calmed my self and readied the contract for them. Ilang beses ko yung chineck hanggang sa ma satisfied ako, kinuha ko ang hair brush ko at tumapat sa vanity mirror. I smiled when I saw my reflection.

A beautiful face indeed. They say I am like a Goddess but when it comes to business, they called me gorgeous monster. Nagpa-plano palang sila kung paano ako pababagsakin, kinakain ko na sila nang hindi nila namamalayan.

Binagsak ko ang katawan ko sa malambot kong kama at hinayaan ang utak ko na lumipad kung saan saan. I am tired physically that I can't even lift my fingers the moment my back touched the soft mattress. Tomorrow is another stressful day kaya kailangan na kailangan ko ang pahinga, so I let my self peacefully fall asleep.

"Any meetings for today, aside from the Martinez?" I ask my secretary. Pumasok ako sa office ko at sumunod naman siya sa akin.

"None, Miss." she replied shortly. "The meeting will be this afternoon, Miss. Your Mom set the appointment on Mireio Cafe," I bit my lower lip and nod my head.

Mireio Cafe, ang Cafe na pag-aari ni Mj at kung saan kami nag part time noon para matulungan namin si Greta. Umalis na si Jane matapos niyang ilapag sa lamesa ko ang mga papeles na kailangan ko na naman aprubahan at pirmahan.

Lunch came and I didn't bother to eat, sa Cafe nalang ako ni Mj kakain. Nag ayos muna ako ng mukha ko and spray perfume all over my body before grabbing my bag and leave my office.

"Good noon, Miss." nakangiting bati sa akin ng mga nakakasulong ko. I will also greet them with a smile plastered on my face, dahil less stress ang trabaho ko ngayon.

I walked fast as I can. Ang guard na ang nagpara ng taxi para sa akin ng makita akong palabas, I didn't bring my car dahil tamad na tamad akong mag drive ngayon. Sinabi ko lang ang location kay mamang driver and we're off to go.

"I'm sorry, Am I late?" I smiled apologetically. Ngumiti lang sa akin si Mr. and Mrs. Martinez.

Papa and Mama seated beside Nichos parent's kaya ang available nalang na upuan ay ang sa tabi ng isang lalaki. I frowned when I realized who's this guy. Napatigil ako at biglang nanigas sa kinatatayuan ko.

"Bree? Sit down already." kuha sa atensyon ko ni Mama.

Kaya kahit nanginginig pa ang mga tuhod ko pinilit ko ang sarili na umupo sa tabi niya, he's just sitting there and eating his food peacefully. Just like before, hindi man lang niya ako tinapunan ng tingin. I mentally rolled my eyes.

"Nanginginig ka. Kumain kana ba hija?" tanong sa akin ng mommy ni Nichos. I smiled shyly and shake my head.

"I forgot to eat po, I have a lot of papers to sign po kasi." napakamot ako sa batok ko.

Nichos gracefully dropped his utensils on the table and wiped his lips using a tissue.

"Skipping meals is bad, you know." he said with his deep and manly voice. Damn his voice! Nakakarupok!

"Nichos is right, Hija. Order ka muna ng food, magkwe-kwentuhan muna kami ng parents mo." i smiled at Mrs.Martinez.

Tumayo na ako para pumunta sa counter at mag order ng pagkain. Good thing, they have now a chiken wings so I ordered one and a one cup of Iced coffee. Tahimik akong umupo sa tabi ni Nichos at inumpisahan nang kumain. Naiilang pa ako dahil damang dama ko ang pagtitig niya sa akin habang kumakain ako. I didn't finished my meal,

"Ubusin mo." napalingon ako sakanya.

"Huh?" tanong ko dahil baka namali lang ako ng dinig.

"Ang sabi ko ubusin mo." he repeated. Tumaas ang kilay niya sa akin. I don't know what's in his voice, na agad niya akong napasunod. Pilit kong inubos ang pagkain kahit busog na ako.

He looked satisfied when I finished my food. Wala akong tinira kahit isang butil ng kanin. After that,I started to present the presentation I made. Bahagya pang nanginginig ang boses ko dahil nasa tabi ko lang si Nichos habang titig na titig sa akin.

So, ngayon na binibigay na niya ang atensyon na gusto ko ngayon naman halos manginig ang kalamnan ko ganon?!

"Amazing. Where's the contract?" tanong sa akin ni Nichos. Napatingin ako sa parents niya at tinanguan lang ako.

"Here," Inilapag ko ang isang folder sa harapan at mabilis niyang kinuha 'yon at binasa.

"I was expecting a marriage contract, baby." nanlaki ang mga mata ko sa sinabi niya. What the fuck?!

Narinig ko ang mahinang tawa ng parents ko at ng parents niya. I calmed myself and tried my best not to be affected, pinilit ko na hindi ibuka ang bibig ko para kontrahan siya at hinayaan nalang na i-review ang contract na hawak niya.

Nagtataka pa ako bakit siya ang nag re-review noon at hindi ang parents niya. I thought he doesn't want to meddle with his family business? Well, ayun yung sabi ni kuya dati. Kaya nga nag take ito ng B.S psychology.

"Now let's get to the real agenda!" parang bata na pumalakpak ang mommy ni Nichos at ang Mama ko.

"Po? Ano hong meron?" nakakunot ang noong tanong ko sakanila.

"You and Nichos are getting married!" parang may bomba na sumabog sa harapan ko sinabi ni Mama.

"W-wait... what?" I ask almost a whisper.

"We're getting married. You'll be my wife soon, Isn't it lovely?" he said, hiding his smirk by drinking water.

___________________________________________

☕