BECAUSE OF YOU

EYEGLASSES

When Tamara arrived at the top floor, she saw the familiar space. However, there were some differences in its design from the last time she was there. Probably to fit the new CEO’s preference, she thought. The assistant immediately escorted her to the room of the CEO. 

Tamara saw him intently looking at the document in his hand. She had the chance to glimpse at his appearance "hmmm, he's younger in person than the pictures of him,” However, his frown sent Tamara an unwelcoming sight. ”I am looking at a full-blooded tyrant, no doubt it.” she muttered silently.

Alex took his serious gaze away from the document he was reading and looked at Tamara, still carrying the frown on his face. Standing in front of him was a stiff woman in her thick eyeglasses neatly covered by a suit and blouse buttoned up her throat—a very old fashioned lady. “What is this lady doing here?” in his mind, his frown became more pronounced.

The unattractive old maid must be part of their MA team, but where was the head? Alex realized that she might be a substitute to her absent boss, Alex’s blood boiled even more. "I asked for the MA head to come to me. Where is he?" he said, his tone very authoritative every inch the tyrant Tamara assumed him to be.

"Good morning Sir, I am Atty. Tamara Legaspi, the MA legal head Sir," she told him, looking confident as she spoke. She refused to be intimidated by the tyrant in front of her.

Caught by surprise, Alex did not expect that his MA head was a woman lawyer. He thought all the while that the "Atty. Tam", they were referring to, was a man. He slowly shook his head and motioned her to sit by the chair in front of him. He cannot do anything now. He contained his anger since it was a woman, he would have to deal with her with less aggressiveness. He wouldn’t want to deal with emotional breakdowns women were known for.

'Anyway, good morning Atty. Tam," he said, the frown was still present on his face.

"Thank you and good morning again, sir," Tamara said and sat down erectly at the chair. Based on his reaction, she was aware that the CEO was expecting a man instead of a woman to head the MA team. A real deal chauvinist, Tamara thought. “Chauvinist tyrant, what a character combination.”

Alex was utterly taken aback by the situation. He first calculated his next moves. He expected to lash out at a man. Instead, this female lawyer was in front of him. Alex touched his head instantly and shook his head. 

Then, he decided to talk to her.

"Atty. Tam, you are well aware of our job’s importance, sensitivity, and difficulty, right?" He started the conversation with an icy-cold question.

"Yes, sir, it's well defined in our job description," she answered coldly.

"We almost lost the deal yesterday because you were not around," he said, his eyebrows narrowed.

Tamara was not informed about this, but she tried to explain, "It's beyond my knowledge, Sir. I had requested for the undertime schedule two weeks in advance."  She told him flatly, anyway, it was the truth. It was not her fault at all. She wouldn’t take the blame easily without defending herself.

Realizing that it was not her fault, after all. Alex decided to let the issue slip away. His irritation also settled a little. It was the reason why he disapproved of a woman taking part in handling sensitive work because he couldn't snap on them rashly. 

He would definitely have her replaced immediately. Meanwhile, there was work he wanted to do the soonest. He handed the document he was reading earlier to Tamara.

"This is the property we need to acquire for Palawan resort; however, the owner would like JV (Joint Venture) instead of acquisition. Find a way to purchase it." He uttered coldly.

He knew it wouldn't be easy. He meant to test the capability of this woman lawyer. “How dare the HR and legal team present him with a woman lawyer knowing the magnanimity of the job and the risks associated with the job.” he thought.

Tamara read the document and nodded in approval. "Let me see what I can do, Mr. Brias," she uttered politely.

Knowing there was nothing else to discuss, he was about to dismiss her, but he suddenly noticed her side profile. The woman in front of him was somewhat familiar; he thought. Did he saw her somewhere? When he looked at her face to face earlier, all he saw was a stiff woman with her very thick glasses. However, her side profile showed her face outline. She has a heart shape face, a small pointed nose, and a bright pinkish skin tone. The lady was lovely on a closer look, but the eyeglasses ruined it all. He needed to see her eyes.

"Atty. Tamara, can I ask you a favor?" he requested to make sure he was right.

Looking at him again, she said, "Yes sir," she thought that he would summon another order. He’s the boss, after all.

"Can you please take off your eyeglasses?" he continued to gaze at her, holding his breath. His eyes were like an eagle about to swallow his prey.

Tamara was wholly taken aback by his request, but she needed to comply nonetheless. She nodded.

"Sure, sir," she slowly took off her eyeglasses, clearing and adjusting her vision before she slowly looked in his direction.

Although her curly brown long hair was in a bun, Alex immediately recognized the lady after taking off her eyeglasses. She was the lady he saw wearing the golden gown yesterday. Without her eyeglasses, she instantly becomes attractive in his eyes. He was stunned and almost fell on his chair, but he concealed it immediately. All his irritation suddenly disappeared...the enchantress was in front of him.

He throat suddenly runs dry and he swallowed the thick liquid that formed in his throat.

"Thank you, and you may put it on again," he said, mesmerized by her sudden transformation without her thick glasses. Alex bit his lips, thinking of what else to say but couldn't think of any. He was knocked for six by the beautiful the lady in front of him.

Suddenly, the arrogant boss was speechless. He wanted to smile, but he dared not. The lady should not be unsettled, he thought.

Although Tamara was bewildered, she followed what she was told. She hurriedly put back her eyeglasses.

What's the problem with her eyeglasses? And what's the issue of the man? 

“He’s weird! A weird chauvinist tyrant!” she muttered silently.

She heaved a deep sigh but maintained her poker face while she looked back at the man.