He was thrown back two steps, the Coke now spilling all its contents on the carpeted floor.

“What the hell did you do that for?!” Jordan shot with anger.

George stepped back, massaging her knuckles with her other hand. “I never imagined your face could be as hard as your personality,” she uttered nonchalantly.

“Why the hell did you do that?” he demanded, his eyes ablaze with anger.

George arched an eyebrow. “You just pointed out how you see women. I wanted to prove it wrong in the fastest manner I could.”

He bent down to grab his Coke from the floor and brought the can to his cheek. “Stay away from me.” He pointed with one finger.

“Gladly and with honor,” George answered and walked back to the couch as if nothing happened. “Next time you insult my specie in my presence, gear up.”

Mildred had appeared to the door, looking curious and alarmed. “Is everything all right?”

Jordan did not answer. He was still looking at George with disbelief and anger, the almost empty can of Coke still resting against his cheek.

Mildred stared at George inquiringly when Jordan did not answer. George shrugged. “I am fine. You ask him.”

His secretary looked back at him and he dismissed her by saying, “Go back to work. And where are the files I asked for?”

“I will send them in after an hour,” Mildred answered and closed the door.

“Stay away from me,” Jordan told her again as he walked back to his chair.

“Glad to see a different look on your face for the first time though,” George uttered.

“What do you mean?” he asked, obviously still angry.

“Look in the mirror when you wake up. Then look in the mirror when you are eating your meal. Look in the mirror when you are doing anything. And then look in the mirror when you are about to go to sleep. I tell you beforehand that you won’t see any difference.”

“So you don’t like my face, is that it?”

“Under different circumstances, I wouldn’t even care what you look like. But being with you for a few hours, yes, I don’t like your face. I don’t like all of you.”

He did not look hurt at all. He just stared at her blankly.

“It is not even part of my agenda to make you like me so the feeling is mutual,” he uttered after a while.

“Good. And good thing you have a girlfriend who understands you. Keep her because she might be the last and only person you can impress.”

“Are you doing this on purpose? Are you trying to test my patience, Georgina?”

“I don’t know, you tell me.” She was not feeling the same anger she felt toward him earlier. She just felt that this little disagreement with him was far more amusing than listening to him talking on the phone.

“You’ve been a pain in the ass since we met,” he reminded.

“Who wouldn’t be? You’ve been following me for God knows how long. You’ve been outside my apartment, my work and everywhere I went. I don’t know about you, but that is not a usual hobby one would take.”

“I explained why I did that.”

“Yeah, because I wouldn’t have a meeting with you and you wanted to know the woman your parents wanted for you. You’ve had that opportunity for years when we were in those family parties and when we were in college.”

“Would you have wanted to know me those years back?”

“No, of course not.”

“Well, me too.”

A long silence lingered between them as Jordan continued to massage his face. He grabbed a fresh can of Coke from the fridge to replace the spilled one. He placed it on his cheek and continued to look at her.

“Look, Georgina, I don’t want this to be difficult between us. We don’t like each other, sure. We don’t match, I get that. But let us at least act like adults here. Let’s be professional. You are the woman my parents want me to marry. I am the man your parents want for you. We may not like it, but we have to work together to make sure that we don’t end up together and be miserable.”

George did not answer for a few seconds. She leaned deeper into the couch and shrugged. “Fine. Just don’t expect me to be like the people you work with. I don’t bend for anyone unless I need to, Jordan. That’s just not me.”

“I am fine with that. As long as you don’t butt your head into my work and start telling me how to run things, we might compromise.”

“I won’t.”

“Good.”

“Good.”

*****

I was bored.

I only had a few hours in my new heaven before I started missing my Acacia tree again.

Damn! I had cursed that tree for as long as I could remember and now I was dreaming I was under its shade. And I missed Beatle. My buddy who always told me stories of what Dean and Jackie did when they were inside him.

I would love to hear more stories of Jackie and Dean kissing and making out than the continuous soundless environment I was in. Jordan Ledesma’s home was no home at all. There was not a sound of traffic. There were some from inside the house, but they were just the sounds made by the helps as they moved around cleaning or whatever.

There was another car, a Fortuner, but it wouldn’t speak to me as well.

What the hell was wrong with all these vehicles?

Could they be more hospitable?

When would Georgie return? I needed her hands to wax and comfort me.

Georgie, come back!

*****

It was almost five when Jordan finally stood up from his desk.

George was still eating her burrito, the one she bought from across the street. It was her second one that day. The first one, she ate with Jordan for their lunch.

She mentally took a note to bring her own food tomorrow.

And maybe some paperwork for next week’s training class.

“We’re going home?” she asked.

He nodded. “Why do you seem surprised?” he asked, absently massaging his cheek. It did have a little bit of discoloration, but it could have been worse if she aimed for his eye.

“You’ve been working nonstop. Is this how you work every day?”

“No, but I figured I have to do more work since I will be out of the office next week.”

She did not answer and finished the last of her burrito.

“But I am planning to bring some work with me next week.” He picked up his phone from the table and stared at her, his face as blank and dry as ever. “When are you going to talk to your mother?”

“I will visit her this weekend. I will try to complain about your unbelievably dry, humorless presence. And I might add the bit about you being a harsh boss.”

He opened his mouth to disagree but she held up her hand to stop him. “I did not say that to have another chance to punch you. I am going to say those things because they will help me get my mother’s sympathy. And they are true.”

His brows furrowed.

George shot to her feet before he could say something. “Come on, let’s go back to your mansion.”

“It is not a mansion.”

“Compared to my apartment, it is.”

*****

“I heard you barely visit your family in the past,” he said when they were inside the car.

“So?”

“So, they might get curious as to why you are visiting them this weekend.”

“I am visiting them to complain. I always visit when I need to voice out something.”

“I thought you visit them because of your sister.”

She did not answer. She pretended to be busy with her phone which didn’t even have an internet access or games.

“I never met her. You two close?”

George snapped her head at him. “Let’s not talk about my sister. And let’s not talk for now. We are not together to get to know each other. We are together because we have a plan and the plan is to not be together.”

“Fair enough,” he answered with a shrug.

Silence reigned between them once again and George was quite surprised that it was not an awkward one. It was just silence. She mentally shrugged, thinking it was good enough.

*****

“I thought we are going home?” she asked.

“Well, you clearly stated earlier that you didn’t want to talk. If you didn’t, I would have told you that I was invited by a few friends for a cup of coffee and that you are going with me,” he answered, parking his car outside Calea.

George shook her head. “I am not coming with you. I’ll stay in the car.”

Jordan stared at her, a hint of impatience in his eyes. “You are coming.”

“Why?”

“Because one of them is a friend of our fathers. We have to at least show people we are trying.”

George fumed. “Fine. But don’t expect me to join your social talks.”

“Not a problem.”

They walked up the steps leading to the bright store of pastries. Jordan led the way and they soon reached a more private corner. Three men sitting around a small table looked at their direction and they gave Jordan nod.

George could immediately put them into different classes. One of them, a bigger man much older than Jordan, looked like he could be fun. The other one, also older than Jordan, was a serious man with graying hairs. The other one looked like he was in his mid-thirties, probably the second youngest of the group, was the female magnet. He almost had the same feel as Troy, only older.

“Guys, I would like you to meet Georgina Lacson. Georgina, my friends.”

The friends were Benjamin, the bigger guy and he had a jolly, open smile as he shook George’s hand; Christopher was the one with graying hairs and he respectfully greeted George, telling her he was friends with her dad; Kimpy was the younger guy and he eyed George as he took her hand.

“You look more like one of Jordan’s bodyguard,” Kimpy said and hastily added, “No offense of course.”

George waved it off saying, “None taken.”

For the next thirty minutes, George had to endure listening to the four men talk about business and strategies and other people in the business doing business with other people they knew. From time to time, they would try to include her in their conversations but she gave close-ended answers that they had no choice but to change the topic to a much more comfortable one.

At one moment in their conversations, Christopher saw the slight discoloration on Jordan’s cheek which the latter explained as a result of a very bad accident in his office. Apparently, it was not such a big issue to the group as much as it would have been with other people, most especially women, because they did not dig further. Another thing they did not dig on was the relationship between her and Jordan. Maybe they already knew, maybe they didn’t. Either way, she was not interested because whatever was on their minds, she didn’t care.

After an hour, they asked for the bill and the four men wasted more time arguing who should pay.

George almost rolled her eyes as the battle of testosterone raged on.

Finally, Benjamin won after he stated that he was the oldest and everyone should respect him which made his friends laugh.

For the first time, George saw Jordan laugh. Well, it was just a chuckle, but it still changed his face.

It was not long enough for her to really notice the change on his face, but it was enough for her to think there could be something more to that dry, boring, non-appealing face of his.

The three men said their goodbyes to George and Jordan as they walked to the car.

“Why did Kimpy think I looked one of your bodyguards? Did you have one? Or have one right now?”

“A long time ago. Some business threats. Nothing really serious, but my father wanted to be safe,” he answered nonchalantly.

She wanted to ask more about it but stopped herself. She said so herself earlier: they were not here to know each other.

For the next twenty minutes or so, they drove in silence once more.

When they reached his home, she almost felt sorry for Toto. The car had no use being here for the whole week, but it had to be. She didn’t know when she’d need it.

*****

I was like a child in kindergarten glad to see his mother after a long day at school when Georgie climbed out of the snobbish BMW whom I decided to call Vicky after a long, boring day.

Hey, Georgie! How was it?! Did you kick his ass yet? Oh, okay…what’s that bruise on his cheek? Did you do it? Please, say you did!

But she did not answer, nor did they give a hint that they were even fighting. They were just a normal pair of people who was so indifferent of each other.

“I’ll introduce you to the household helps.”

“Helps? You mean there are more?” George asked in disbelief.

“One is enough, but then again, one gets bored,” he explained.

I have to agree to that one! I am bored as hell! I was alone here and I was bored despite the terrific garage. And Vicky here isn’t even talking to me! Do you know how much I could offer, Vicky? Whatever it is you are thinking, multiply it by a hundred, girl!

But the snobbish BMW was not even batting a headlight at my direction.

This is gonna be a long night, I uttered to myself in pity.

*****

George knew the moment she met them that they were okay with her presence in the house.

Tippy, Lita and Dioning were young and silent in Jordan’s presence, but the moment the introduction was over and he left her to their care, the three were more open.

“I hope you will enjoy your stay here, Miss Georgina,” Tippi, the same girl who opened the gates for her that morning and the one who took her bag from her, said with a crooked smile.

George gave a sigh. “I feared all of you are going to be horrible, but I guess I was wrong. Thank you.”

“Horrible?” all of them asked at the same time.

Amused, George chose not to answer their question but asked instead, “Are you relatives? You all look alike.”

The three nodded. “Cousins,” Dioning answered.

George nodded. All three had distinct facial features that were similar. They all had the same shape of nose and they all had bushy eyebrows that Jackie would surely love to get her hands on. They were almost of the same height, almost just five feet tall, but they varied on weight. Tippy was the smallest, Dioning quite heavy and Lita the heaviest.

And they all had the same pleasing smiles, smiles that almost warranted attention which they must not get a lot from their boss.

After a few minutes, Jordan reappeared and looked at George inquiringly.

“What?” she asked him.

“Aren’t you going to join me for dinner? I thought you already changed?” He looked at the three ladies beside her and asked, “Didn’t you show her her room?”

The three almost stammered for a response.

“We were getting acquainted,” George answered for them. “I’ll join you for dinner. I am famished. You took all your time talking over coffee with your buddies earlier and you did not even offer me something to eat.”

He looked surprised when she said that. “You were hungry earlier? You had a burrito before we left.”

“I have a very good digestive system,” she retorted, going to the way she thought was the dining room.

“That’s the kitchen. Dining is this way,” Jordan said behind her and she whirled around immediately to follow him to another room where a rectangular, six-sitter table was located.

“Appetizing dining area,” she noted.

“Interior design doesn’t come cheap,” he answered, taking a seat at the head of the table.

George took the one on his right and they waited as Tippy and the others hurried to serve them something hot and fresh.

“Thanks,” she said to Dioning as the lady poured her a glass of Calamansi juice.

She saw Jordan look at her direction as she spoke but he did not say a word.

This was one of those moments why she hated living with people like him, including her parents. They thought talking to those serving them during meals was a crime.

George did not let that thought affect her appetite and she attacked the Bakareta served to them with gusto. She asked for another serving of rice because the rice was served in cups with lids and she hated it. But it gave her another thought: Jordan Ledesma was watching his diet. The guy was a health buff of some sort.

Jordan became busy with his phone, tapping or scrolling away, George ate.

He did not comment when she had another cup of rice, but he waited until she was done.

And when she was, he stood up almost as instantly and said, “Well, good night. You better sleep early because I need to go to the office early.”

She just nodded as she finished her juice and he left without another word.

“That was a good meal, guys. Thanks,” she told the three ladies when they reappeared to clean up. “Do you need help?”

“No,” the three of them answered in unison.

“Okay, if you insist. I do a lot of cleaning back in my apartment and being free of such task almost feels like a miracle,” she jested and they laughed. “Well, ladies, I hope we can all be good to each other. I am feeling tired though.”

Tippy stepped forward and said, “I’ll take you to your room, Miss Georgina. It’s this way.”

George was led upstairs where a short hallway was located. Only half of the second floor was used for the rooms. The other was left open to give more space for the living room downstairs.

“We only have three bedrooms up here. One for guests, one for Sir Jordan, and the other for his parents if they come for a stay.”

George reminded herself that Jordan was an only child and that she should not have been surprised if his parents would have their own room in his house.

“Our rooms are downstairs, at the back, near the kitchen. If you need anything, just say so,” Tippy continued as she led George to the farthest door. “This is your room. Your bag is inside. Good night, Miss Georgina.”

George nodded and smiled. “Thanks. See you tomorrow.”

The girl beamed at her and she entered the room, the cool air from the air conditioner greeting her. She saw her bag at the foot of the double bed situated in the center of the room. She went for it and took out her charger. The room was not that big, but it was designed to give the illusion of spacious. The walls were light gray, the white sliding built-in cabinets at one side of the room had mirrors as their doors, and the wooden floor had a light wash on it.

A flat screen television was mounted on the wall right across the bed but George was not really fond of the TV unless she was with her friends, especially Jackie. What she appreciated in the room was its minimalist look. And the window. It was just as she had wanted it to be. Large and behind her bed. She could climb out and escape if she wanted to, she thought.

There was another door for the bathroom. George plugged her charger and her phone beside the bed and went to open the bathroom door. It was a decent size with a shower. A glass wall separated the bath from the toilet. She went back to her bag and took out her necessities and placed them in order in the bathroom.

She wrestled with herself whether or not to place her clothes in the cabinets, but later on decided to be more orderly. She’d be staying in this house for the next three months and she better be comfortable. She did not bring a lot of clothes, just enough for a week-long stay. If she needed more, she could always bring more next time.

Once she was settled and her empty camping bag was stashed inside one of the cabinets, she lay on bed to check on her phone.

Jackie and Dannie had been texting her all day, asking how she was doing.

She never texted back.

She didn’t know what to say.

She didn’t know how she was doing.

Well, she could tell them about punching Jordan, but that would only either make them say she was totally nuts or that he deserved it.

She turned off her phone.

She wanted to be alone with her thoughts for now.

Tomorrow was another day and she hoped Jordan wouldn’t push her the wrong way to deserve another punch.