Seven Lies You Said (Santa Juana de Arco #2)

Hailey hates Rovi to death for making her life miserable. It all started when he got the promotion she had been seeking for since God knows how long. She worked so hard on it, tapos sa isang iglap, napunta iyon sa isang bagong empleyado? All because of, what? Tropa nito ang dating may hawak niyon? The heck! Pero sinong mag-aakalang ito rin pala ang makakabuntis sa kanya? Tinamaan ng magaling! And now, she had no choice but to live with him as his live-in partner para makatakas sa kahihiyan. Well, Rovi was so good for her naman that she cannot help but to fall in love with him. But here’s a deal about him – he is a notorious liar. At mukhang kasinungalingan din ang pinapakita nitong pagmamahal sa kanya. - HAILEY had been working in the main business office of Cristobal Land in Makati for four years, not including the internship training she had undergone during her college days. She performed well. Her superiors had always been praising her for being a promising employee. Kaya naman, ganoon na lamang ang galak niya nang mabalitaan niyang nag-resign na pala ang director ng Auxiliary department. Parte siya nang nasabing departamento kaya ramdam niyang sa kanya mapapasa ang posisyon. At mukhang tama nga ang hinala niya. Kakagaling lang niya noon sa kanyang coffee break nang ipatawag siya sa opisina ng VP for Administrative Affairs. Sekretarya nito ang nagbalita niyon. “There’s a good news for you, girl,” nakangiting bulong pa nito. Kulang na lang ay lumukso ang puso niya sa tuwa. This must be it! Nagpaalam muna siyang dadaan siya sa restroom bago siya dumiretso sa opisina ng bise presidente. Syempre, gusto naman niyang presentable siya bago humarap. Well, there’s no need for her to fix her make-up. Actually, hindi naman siya masyadong naglalagay bukod sa kaunting foundation, eyeliner at lip balm dahil may tendency na maging chappy ang labi niya palibhasa’y malamig sa opisina. With her cute button nose and bright smile, this woman was flawless. Nang matapos, dumiretso na siya sa opisina. She knocked three times and waited for the signal. Nang marinig niyang pinapasok siya nito, she wore her brightest smile and came in. “Good morning, Sir Roland!” bungad niya sa middle-aged na lalaki. There was a hint of enthusiasm in her tone. “Pinapatawag n’yo raw po ako?” Napatigil naman sa ginagawa ang lalaki. Nang ibaling nito ang tingin sa kanya, may sumilay na ngiti sa labi nito na tila ba nahawaan niya. Well, that’s one of her selling factors – her bright personality.  “Yes, Ms. Alfonse,” tugon nito sabay turo sa bakanteng upuan sa harap ng table nito. “Have a seat.” Agad siyang tumalima. Her movement was well calculated. Syempre, ayaw din naman niyang magmukhang walang manners sa harap ng boss, hindi ba? “Want to drink coffee?” alok nito. “Ah, no need na po, Sir. I just had mine bago ninyo ako ipatawag. Baka kabahan na po ako niyan.” Tumawa siya.  Natawa naman ito sa biro niya. “Aba’y dapat ka naman talagang kabahan. Have you ever wondered why I asked you here?” OMG! Ito na `yun! She did her best to maintain her composure. “Actually, yes po, Sir. Napapaisip nga po ako kung may grave offense po ba akong nagawa these past few days.” She laughed awkwardly. “Of course, not! You know very well that you are a very valuable employee in our company. You are among the very few employees that we greatly valued. It’s really hard to find someone like you.” Hinawi niya ang buhok saka isinuksok sa likod ng tenga. “Nako, Sir! You’re flattering me too much. Thank you po. But I would not be doing this if your management didn’t treat us fairly. So, at the end, nasa inyo pa rin dapat ang puri because you made me feel treasured which motivates me a lot.” Humagikhik ito. “This is why I like you, Hailey. You’re very down to earth.” Ngumiti siya. “Thanks po, Sir!”  “Anyway, I think you are busy right now?” Umiling siya. “Hindi naman po, Sir.” Sir, pa-suspense pa kayo, e! “Well, baka naaabala pa kita. So, hindi na kita paghihintayin…” She secretly gulped as anticipation flooded her system. Ito na! Ito na ang pinakainaasam kong promotion! “I’m giving you a one-week vacation to South Korea at the expense of our company,” nakangiting anunsyo nito. “OMG! Thanks po—“ Natigilan siya. “Wait? Ano po?” “One week vacation sa South Korea. The company would be shouldering all of your expenses – your plane ticket, hotel accommodation, pocket money worth twenty thousand pesos. You know that. It was written on your contract,” paglilinaw nito. “This is the first time na sa ibang bansa ang libreng get-away, so you are very lucky to be selected.” Napamaang siya at napakurap-kurap. Overseas travel? That’s it? “Are you surprised, Ms. Alfonse?” sabi ni Sir Ronald. “Natulala ka, ah?” She immediately got her composure back after realizing it. “W-Well, yes. I mean, nagulat din ako. I-It’s the first time na nabalitaan kong may overseas vacation,” pagsisinungaling niya. Pinilit niyang ngumiti. “And South Korea is actually one of my travel goals. So, thank you po talaga, Sir!”  Yuck! Hindi ako mahilig sa oppa, please lang. Yung iba sa kanila, mas pretty pa sakin, she screamed at the back of her mind.  “See, how lucky are you? That’s what you get for being a hardworking employee.” Tumawa ito. “Anyway, I’m quite busy right now. The HR would orient you regarding this.” Alam niyang pinapaalis na siya nito. Pero yung promotion? “Sir, may question po ako, if you don’t mind? Not related sa travel, don’t worry po.” “Go ahead,” sabi nito habang binabasa ang papel na hawak kanina. “Sir Kenneth resigned last week, `di po ba? By any chance po, mayroon na po ba siyang kapalit?” Ang dating director ang tinutukoy niyang Kenneth. She wasn’t sure if the rumor was right but she heard that the former director of Auxiliary department wants to work abroad kaya ito nag-resign. Hailey thought it was weird dahil pamangkin ito ng kasalukuyang president ng Cristobal Land. Well, Kenneth’s clan owned the company itself, so why does he have to work abroad when his family is earning more than enough?  “Oh…” Napatigil ito sa ginagawa. “Actually, yes, we have new director already.” Kulang na lang ay magningning ang mga mata niya. There’s still a chance! “Talaga po? If you don’t mind, pwede ko po bang malaman kung sino?” Nang kumunot ang noo nito, that was when she realized that she’s being too nosy. “Well, if you don’t mind lang naman po. I’m just concern kasi marami nang naiipong papeles na kailangang pirmahan strictly by the Auxiliary director kaya po gusto ko na rin pong malaman,” depensa niya. At the back of her mind, she was wondering if she said the right thing. Mukhang naintindihan naman nito ang punto niya. “Oh, I got it. You have a point. Well, yes, sabi ko nga, meron na. He’s about to start next week.” He? Oh, s**t! Lalaki?! Kulang na lang ay mapaluha siya sa disappointment pero pinilit niyang i-maintain ang composure. “Do I know him?” Umiling ito. “I doubt that. He’s newly hired. But don’t worry, Kenneth recommended him, and he is a supervisor from his previous employment. I think he can handle his job really well. Nakaharap ko na rin siya, so don’t worry.” Asus, may backer kasi kaya nakuha agad. Kamuntikan na siyang mapairap. “And his name po?” Sandali itong nag-isip. “John Roosevelt… uhm, Borromeo. You can call him Rovi.” Tumango-tango siya. “Okay, thanks po. I’ll remember his name.” “Of course, you should have because you will be working with him.” Tumawa ito. “Anyway, if you don’t mind…? I’m busy right now.” Tumayo siya saka nagpaalam. “Sorry po sa abala,” dagdag pa niya bago tuluyang lumabas. The secretary, who has sitting at her cubicle by the door of the office, smiled at her. Nag-okay sign lang siya saka nagpaalam. While walking, she silently chanted the new director’s name. Rovi… Rovi Borromeo. I’ll remember you, she smiled bitterly. That’s the name of the guy who stole this promotion from me! And since that day, she had hated the guy she had yet to meet…