AEIRYN

SILENCE welcomed me as I entered his room after that sudden situation. I saw him sitting on top of the bed while looking so worried.

"Done," I said smiling but he didn't bother answering me.

I walked towards him and I showed him my smiling face. He gave me serious look as he stood up.

"You almost died for me—"

"Oh no, no, no, Mr. Lawson. I am Aeiryn Lez and no one could ever kill me," I said cutting him off. "And as I told you before, I won't die for you, for you are not worthy of my life. We will both dodge the bullet and no one has to die."

I was too shocked when he suddenly pulled me. I crashed on his body and he hugged me so tight that breathing wasn't even a choice.

"What are you doing, Ryl?" I said trying to push him away.

"You got me so worried, Lez! I was so damn worried! Paano kung napahamak ka?"

Something was really off and this was becoming so cringy!

Kumawala ako sa kaniya at nakita ko ang gulat sa mga mata niya. "Why the fuck are you acting like that?" I asked in a disgusted voice.

"I was just too worried!" he answered and I moved my head as if saying he was lying.

"Are you acting like this because we had sex? Are you trying to be attached? Oh gosh, Ryl! Stop your insanity!"

He acted as if he was a worried husband and that fucked me to death.

You may be my first, but you have no right to act as if you own me!

"I–I was just really worried. Alam ko naman kung saan ako lulugar sa 'yo. You clearly told me that you couldn't love anyone and I fully understood what you said."

"Good. That's good," I replied with a relieved tone.

Ayaw kong iparamdam niya sa akin na na-a-attach na siya, of course not for him but for myself. Ayaw kong sa huli ay mag-iinarte siya na mahal na niya ako tapos ako naman si gaga, magu-guilty dahil hindi ko masusuklian ang pagmamahal niya.

We both wanted each other's body and that was normal. I didn't want seeing him acting like this. He looked so obsessed, and that fucked my system. So damn cringy!

"The next time you act like this, I'll resign in this position, Ryl. You don't have to be so worried about me. I was trained to these things and stuffs. I was trained to be a professional in this field so you really have nothing to worry about. Stay calm and just stay safe."

Tahimik lamang siyang nakikinig sa akin habang salita ako nang salita. Maybe, he was trying to absorb how cringy he was a while ago. I didn't find it 'nakakakilig', it's more of 'nakakaumay'.

"Were you like this when you were younger?" he asked that caught me off guard.

I was stunned. I was unprepared.

"I am asking you, Lez. Were you like this too? In the past? Did you hate cringy things too? Were you not capable of loving someone even before? Or . . ."

"O–or what?" I asked while my heart was pounding so hard.

". . . were you traumatized by a past lover for you to turn this heartless and cold? Have you been betrayed? Left behind? Hurted? Hindi ka magbabago kung walang naging dahilan ng pagbabago mo," he continued in a very serious tone.

I was lost for words . . . really.

"Stop it, Ryl. You're no longer funny," I replied trying to compose myself.

"I won't, Lez. Pinipilit mong ibunton sa akin ang trauma na narasanan mo," sagot niya sa akin nang nakangisi at saka humakbang pa papalapit.

"Don't come any closer, Ryl. You might end up with a broken bone!" banta ko sa kaniya pero mas lumawak lamang ang pagkakangisi niya sa akin.

How could this man act like this? He was almost killed and now he was acting like an asshole in front of me!

Patuloy siyang humakbang papalapit sa akin at ako naman ay parang gaga na humakbang palayo.

Hello, Aeiryn Lez! You are a freaking secret agent! What the actual fuck is wrong with you?

"Hindi tayo iisa, pero pareho tayo ng haba ng pasensya, Lez. Maiksi lamang din ang sa akin. So . . . don't try testing me too. You could end up in my bed despite being a sadist," aniya at bigla akong hinapit papalapit sa kaniya. "Kung tinarantado ka ng nakaraan mo, huwag mong ibubunton sa akin ang pikon mo. That man and I are a total opposite. He made you this cold, I'll warm you heart. He made you heartless, then I will let you learn how to love again. Huwag mo 'kong pupunuin. Kaya kong magpasakop sa 'yo at sa mga kagustuhan mo, pero kayang-kaya kitang sakupin kung gugustuhin ko," patuloy niya at naramdaman ko ang paglandas ng palad niya sa likod ko, pababa sa . . .

. . . puwetan ko!

"Damn you—" HE KISSED ME FOR HELL'S SAKE!

Hindi ka marunong matakot, Ryl Lorenzo! You are so nasty! You are so fucking dead after this!

NAGTATAASANG kilay ang sumalubong sa akin nang dumating ako sa opisina ng asawa kong hilaw. This office was different from his empire.

These maggots felt so entitled. They didn't even look like a decent person.

"May I ask if you have your appointment in any of the offices here, Miss?" asked the woman with red lipstick, red blush on, and red eye shadow.

"Are you poor?" I asked with a mocking tone since it looked like she wanted to mock me too.

"C–come again, Miss?"

"Wala ka bang pambili ng blush on and eye shadow? I could give you some. Just don't use lipstick on your face and eyes ever again," I replied and I saw her widened her eyes and mouth. Gosh! Lalo siyang nagmukhang bobo!

I was just telling the truth. Based on the shade of her lipstick, iyon din ang ginamit niya sa pisngi at talukap niya.

"Sino ka ba at bakit ganiyan kang magsalita?" said the woman beside her and I gave her an insulting smile.

"No wonder birds of the same feather, flock together. How could you use a blue eye shadow in this broad daylight? Gosh! You are not here to be a showgirl. You are a company employee!"

Mukhang napipikon na sila sa akin and I didn't care. I only stated their katangahan. Was that even a sin? Pasalamat nga sila pinuna ko ang kabobohang taglay nila. Dapat masaya pa sila dahil hindi lahat ay entitled para mai-describe ng isang Aeiryn Lez Ricafort.

"Guard! Guard! Damputin n'yo ang babaeng ito! Gusto niya lang manggulo!" tili ng babae at napangisi ako.

May mga lumapit na dalawang guwardiya sa akin at akmang hahawakan ako sa balikat nang umiwas ako at kinuha ang kamay na hahawak sana sa akin at pinilipit iyon.

"Oh, you would regret trying to touch the company owner's wife," I stated.

I saw their shookt faces that made me smile mischievously.

"Babe!" said a voice and as I turned around, I saw Ryl's concern face upon seeing his guard being held captive underneath me. Yeah, nakaluhod kasi ang guwardiya habang hawak ko ang braso niya.

Binitawan ko ito, saka ko hinintay si Ryl na makalapit sa akin. "How could you hire such weaklings?"

"S–Sir Ryl, asawa n'yo raw po siya. Totoo po ba? H–hindi po ba't single kayo—"

"I am married, Ms. Jimero, and yes, she's my wife," sagot niya sa babaeng blue ang eye shadow kaya't nginitian ko iyon nang matamis.

"Shall I ask him to fire you now for asking the guards to throw me out?"

Nayayabangan na sila sa akin and I was enjoying.

"Let's go to my office, babe. Let them be. They are good at their works," ani Ryl para lang yata matapos na ang usap at hinapit na ako sa baywang para lang sundin ko siya, ngunit bago pa kami tuluyang makaalis ay nilingon ko ang mga babae at nginisian.

"He's married. Wala na kayong chance. Better luck next time. Paganda muna kayo, hindi siya pumapatol sa mukhang payaso," anas ko at nakita ko ang pag-iinit ng mga mukha nila sa inis.

It was too damn obvious that they want Ryl and they were trying to catch his attention, but they would never succeed. Kung makikita sila ng mga kuya ko, lalo silang magiging ka-bully-bully.

Nakasakay na kami ng elevator nang biglang magsalita si Ryl.

"Babe, I know it's not your forte to please people—"

"Alam mo naman pala, e. Then, why are trying to say that I should treat them nicely?" I said cutting him off that made his eyes widened.

"How did you know I was about to say that?"

Napangisi ako. Sa aming tatlong magkakapatid, bahagya kong nakuha ang ganitong utak ni Mom. I could read body and eye languages.

"I am not into lowly human beings, Ryl. Mas mahirap pa silang intindihin at pakitunguhan kaysa sa mga matataas na tao na ang gusto lang ay pera. These creatures have no limit when it comes to their interests. Believe me, mas nakakatakot pa sila kaysa sa inaakala mo," paliwanag ko sa kaniya.

I didn't honestly care kung makuha niya ang ipinararating ko o hindi. Wala akong pakialam kung maiintindihan niya ba ako o iisipin niyang mayabang ako dahil mula ako sa angkan na kinabibilangan ng mga pamilya na hindi maaaring banggain at salungatin. I DON'T CARE. I just don't.

Nakarating kami ng opisina niya at pinaupo niya ako sa sofa kung saan may nakapila na nakabukas na mga folder.

This was what I told him to prepare kaya nandito kami sa opisina niya at kaya naiwan na muna ako sa bahay kanina. I needed him to collect and ask for his employees portfolio as well as those who attended the board meeting at his empire. Hinayaan ko siyang gawin itong mag-isa para isipin nila na siya lang ang may pakialam sa bagay na ito.

Yesterday, I talked to Callia and I learned from her that those who attended the board meeting had me investigated. Nakakaawa lang sila dahil kahit na ano pa ang gawin nila, wala silang makukuhang impormasyon ukol sa akin bukod sa isa akong prinsesa ni Madam Cassandra Ysabelle Freezell.

"Hindi ko alam kung sino ang dapat paghinalaan sa kanila—"

"You don't have to choose, Ryl. Lahat sila ay dapat paghinalaan mo. No one is exempted. I repeat, no one is exempted," putol ko sa kaniya.

Naupo siya sa swivel chair niya and I started reviewing na portfolios. Maraming kahina-hinala sa mga ito, especially when it comes to their wealth. Biglang yaman o hindi naman kaya ay bigla na lang usbong ng negosyo both here and abroad.

"What do you want to eat?" tanong niya sa akin habang busy ako.

"Wala akong gana," I replied and I saw him stood up from my peripheral vision.

He walked towards me as he sat on the portfolio in front of me. "Eyes me on, babe. What do you want to eat? I wouldn't mind if you answer me with the naughtiest answer you could think of," he said mischievously and I rolled my eyes, not because of disappointment but because of disbelief with his naughtiness.

I punched his arm and gave him a naughty grin. "You are so damn nasty, Rancher! We are at your office—"

"And I wouldn't mind doing it here, babe. That would be so thrilling and exciting," he said cutting me off with a naughty smirk.

I stared at his eyes as I bit my lower lip. "Hmmmm," I hummed then I wet my upper lip with my tongue. "Sounds so damn arousing, babe," I continued as I placed my hand on his leg and slipped it all the way to his hardening shaft. He was aroused too!

"You are really a seductress. God! I want to say hello to your womanhood right now while you are sitting on top of my lips."

He was so damn naughty and I fucking like it! I fucking like how he could arouse me verbally. He was a temptation too!

"And I want to sit on your top too, while brushing my womanhood on your expert tongue, Ryl. I want you, babe. I want you right now too," I flirted back and a nasty grin formed on his lips.

He was about to reached for my face when an alarming knock was heard from the door. It was too sudden and it was fast as if someone had been receiving a threat behind the close door.

I stood up and walked through the door. I opened it and I was shocked when I saw a woman with many bruises and blood all over her body. She's the woman, the woman I saw once at the bar before I went to see Ryl the first time.

"R–Ryl, R–Ryl, tulungan mo 'ko. P–parang awa mo na," she begged and I was stunned knowing that she knew Ryl.

"E–Eunice."

And that was what shookt me most. She's Eunice? His . . . first love?

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M A Y O R A
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