Mr. CEO is In Love with Me (R18)

CHAPTER 03

"Oh dear, I apologized. It's just that I couldn't help myself," mapaglaro ang tono ng boses na sagot nito sa kaniya. Napakuyom na lang si Dahlia sa kaniyang mga palad at kinalma ang kaniyang sarili. Ayaw niyang masira ang kaniyang mood dahil lang sa lalaki na nasa kaniyang harap ngayon.

"No need to apologize sir," Dahlia replied in her usual formal voice. Her face is stoic and emotionless. Despite still dressing like a man, her feminine face still looks stunning. Her boss, Cornelius Vaughn smirked as if he just found her amusing.

Dahlia stared back at him. Napansin niya na medyo pula ang mukha ng lalaki at mapunggay ang mga mata. Bumaba ang kaniyang paningin sa lamesa. Hindi na nagulat si Dahlia nang may makitang alak doon. When she first entered the room earlier, it reeks of an expensive alcohol scent.

But he doesn't seem so drunk.

Dahlia didn't move and just stayed in her position. Kahit na nang tumayo na si Cornelius Vaughn ay hindi pa rin siya gumagalaw. She's waiting for him to say something pero mukhang may iba atang plano ang lalaki sa utak nito nang magsimula itong maglakad papalapit sa kaniya.

Walking with great confidence, Cornelius Vaughn made his way towards her. The man was wearing a black suit and a high-priced watch on his right hand. Dahlia doesn't know why but her heart started to beat faster. She's not sure if it was because she's nervous or something else.

"You're small for a guy," komento ng lalaki habang papalapit sa kaniya. Huminto ito sa kaniyang harap at pinagmasdan ang kaniyang kabuuan. Dahlia couldn't help but feel offended.

"N-not all guys are b-big and tall like you…" Dahlia answered in a trembling voice, not because of nervousness but because of frustration.

Just how dare he call her small? Yes she is but he doesn't need to say that out loud you know?

Tumaas ang kilay ng lalaki at hinawakan ang baba nito. His eyes suddenly changed and continue observing her physique as if she was some kind of a mysterious being. "I know that, but you're different. You look so small and weak as if you're going to break."

Mariin na kinagat ni Dahlia ang kaniyang pang-ibabang labi at humugot ng malalim na hangin. Kinakalma ang sarili para hindi masapak ang tangang lalaki na nasa kaniyang harap ngayon.

"I'm not weak." She glared at him a little, wala nang pakialaman kong boss niya man ang lalaki. Total ay ito naman ang nanguna. Gaya ng ginagawa nito, pinagmasdan din ni Dahlia ang lalaki.

Hindi sila ganoon ka lapit sa isa't isa. There was a distance between them but Dahlia felt like they're so close. Now that she's studying him, Dahlia realized how big the difference of their body is. Cornelius Vaughn is so tall, na hanggang balikat lang siya ng lalaki. Malaki rin ang katawan nito at kahit na nakasuot ang lalaki ng suit, malalaman mo talaga na may tinatago itong ginto sa loob no'n.

"Is that so?" tamad ang boses na tugon ng lalaki sa kaniya. His facial expression were clearly telling her he doesn't believe it!

"Y-yes! So don't stared at me like that anymore…" Nag-iwas ng tingin si Dahlia sa lalaki. Her chest were moving up and down and her heart were going crazy inside her body.

Why? It's because of the way Cornelius Vaughn is staring at her! It was intense and different. His gaze were like a predator looking at its prey as if it was so ready to devour it. Hindi alam ni Dahlia pero hindi siya komportable dahil na rin sa epekto ng mga tingin nito sa kaniyang katawan.

Natahimik si Vaughn at napatitig sa mukha ng lalaki na mukhang babae na nasa kaniyang harap. When he saw how his faces flushed, he suddenly felt something ticklish on his chest.

"Hmm? What's wrong?" Vaughn smirked and held the man's chin and made his new secretary to look to him. Pero kahit na nakaharap na ang mukha ng lalaki sa kaniya, ang mga mata nito ay nakatingin pa rin sa gilid. Talagang iniiwasan ang kaniyang mga mata.

"I-it's your eyes–"

"My eyes? There's nothing wrong with my eyes, princess." Dahlia's eyes grew wide and immediately pushes Cornelius Vaughn away from her. Muntik na siyang mabilaukan ng sariling laway nang dahil sa huling salita na sinabi ni Cornelius Vaughn sa kaniya.

Kung kanina ay iba ang dahilan kung bakit sobrang bilis nang t***k ng puso ni Dahlia, ngayon ay ang dahilan na ay takot at kaba. She was so nervous and scared that her heart'd about to beat right out of her chest.

Did her boss find it out? Na nagpapanggap lang siya?

Memories from where her Mother Jasmine told her to not get discovered came back inside her mind like a lost memory.

"Don't get caught, Dastan," her mother mumbled in a soft tone while caressing her face. Kahit na sobrang lamyos at gaan sa pandinig ang boses ng kaniyang ina, ramdam na ramdam pa rin ni Dahlia ang panganib doon.

She swallow multiple times and nodded her head like an obedient dog. Jasmine smiled in satisfaction and speak again, "Good, you'll know what will happen next if you get caught. You want it to happen, right Dastan? So be a good boy and don't get discovered."

"Hey! What's wrong with you?" Dahlia gasped as if she just got awaken by a nightmare. Sumalubong sa kaniya ang nakakunot noong mukha ni Cornelius Vaughn.

Dahlia quickly get away from Cornelius when she realized the man was holding both her arms. She hugged herself and caress her arms. She replied, "Nothing…"

Cornelius Vaughn's forehead furrowed just a bit and asked in a ridiculous voice, "Are you that shock that I called you princess?"

Dahlia blinked her eyes and nodded her head aggressively the next seconds. Of course she is! Parang mamatay na nga siya kanina sa gulat dahil doon.

"O-oo naman, lalaki ako but you're calling me that. I'm not a woman," matigas ang boses na ani niya at masama ang tingin na binigay dito.

Cornelius finds her reaction exaggerating. He breathe out a heavy sigh. Napakamot ang lalaki sa likod ng ulo nito. "It's your fault since you look like one."

"What? I didn't hear you," Dahlia spoke in a frowning face. Mabilis na umiling-iling si Cornelius Vaughn at ngumisi.

"Nothing, it's a secret." The man grinned, making Dahlia feel something again on her stomach and chest. Cornelius Vaughn turned around and went back to his table.

Dahlia just stared at the man's back. It seems like he didn't discover her secrets yet. Dahlia called her palm into a fist and took a deep breath.

Working with a man like Cornelius is not good at all.

"How's your first meeting with him Dastan? Does he really possed a god-like beauty? I already saw him in pictures but it can be edited you know? That's why I'm asking you this. I need to know!" Napatigil si Dahlia sa pagkain at blangko ang mga mata na napatitig sa maingay na babae na nasa kaniyang harap.

"Why don't you look for yourself?" she asked in a bored tone and continued eating. Lethania, the woman she met during the interview, now started acting like they're close.

"Don't be like that, you know I can't." Nanghihinayang na napa buntong hininga si Lethania.

The two of them are currently inside the cafeteria of the company. It's currently lunch break. Mag-isa lang siyang kumakain kanina nang biglang dumating ang babae. At first, she was so bothered by her loud mouth but as the time passed, she suddenly felt like she was used to it.

Dahlia wiped her lips and decided to humor the woman. "He's good-looking, just like what the rumors said."

Lethania froze as if she didn't expect that coming. Seconds later, the woman started flooding her with questions. Walang nagawa si Dahlia kung hindi sagutin ang lahat ng iyon. Dahil kapag hindi ay alam niyang hindi siya titigilan ng babae.

Hanggang sa matapos na lang ang kanilang lunch break, hindi pa rin nakapag pahinga si Dahlia kahit ilang minuto lang dahil sa babae.

Dahlia went back to the top floor with heavy shoulders. It's her first yet she felt like this will be her last.

"You're pale," her boss commented when she got there. The man rose up from his seat and look for something. Pagkatapos ay binigay nito sa kaniya ang kinuha nito.

Dahlia stared at the thing on her palm. It was a medicine.

"I'm not sick, sir." Cornelius just ignored her and gave her his flask.

"Drink the medicine. I don't want you passing out," striktong ani ng lalaki. Her lips pouted a bit. Why is he suddenly so strict?

Walang nagawa si Dahlia kung hindi sundin ang gusto ng lalaki. It's her first day and she can't mess this up. Kung malaman ng kaniyang ina na nawalan siya ng malay sa gitna ng trabaho ay baka kung ano na naman ang gawin nito. Just imagining it gives her shivers already.

Without thinking much, Dahlia swallowed the medicine he boss gave and drank water from the flask he also gave. Throughout the whole time, Cornelius was just staring strictly at her.

Nang matapos na siya ay binigay niya sa lalaki ang flask at nagpasalamat. Inabot iyon ng lalaki at nagsalita, "You said earlier you're not weak, but what's this?"

Dahlia froze and was taken back by his words. Napangiwi siya at napakamot sa kaniyang pisngi.

"It's a different case–" Napatigil si Dahlia sa pagsasalita nang hawakan ni Cornelius ang kaniyang mukha at haplusin iyon.

"It is, just admit it already." He grinned refreshingly. May kung anong pinahid ang lalaki sa gilid ng kaniyang labi. Pagkatapos ay dinala nito ang sariling kamay sa bibig nito at dinilaan. Nanuyo ang lalamunan ni Dahlia habang nakatingin sa lalaki.

What the f*ck did he just do. Did he just wipe something on beside her lips and lick it? Isn't that indirect kiss?

Dahlia was bewildered and greatly shaken. She doesn't know why he's acting like this. The Cornelius Vaughn in her expectation is nowhere near this flirty. Why the heck is he like this?!