Ms. Writer and the Billionaire Playboy

Chapter 2

     Chelsie clicked her white heels in the floor, medyo uncomfortable siya but she wanted to look professional at least.

     “Pag hinawakan ka ay naku! Uumbagin ko ‘yun at mag re-resign ako dito,” ini-umang ng pabiro ng kuya niya ang kamao nito.

     Napahagikhik na lang siya. Lumabas ang isang bulto mula sa opisina ni Matthew Vallejo, at nanlaki ang mata niya.

     “Oh my god, oh my god,” she whispered, “you didn’t tell me C. Vera would be here?”

     “Who is that?” kunot ng noo ni Limuel.

     “That famous writer, she wrote Tales of Aling Susan at Tikbalang sa Kwatro-Trese, yung isa naging movie.”

     “Why would a horror writer audition here?”

     “But she’s really famous,” ani Chelsie.

     “Hindi ata siya tinanggap,” puna ni Limuel base sa hitsura ng lumabas. Naka-glasses ang babae at may supernatural aura nga ang babae.

     “I even saw a sports writer,” ani Chelsie.

     “I don’t know,” napakamot ng ulo si Limuel. “Sabi niya kasi writer, eh hindi naman niya sinabi sa akin kung saang field at kung para sa ano eh.”

     “Look, kuya, hindi ata ako maha-hire,” singhap ni Chelsie. “Mga di-kalibre ang kalaban ko, may isa pa nga na lumabas dito kanina na nananalo na sa Palanca. Ako pa kaya ako?”

     “You know what, my little sister, bakit mo ba laging minamaliit ang sarili mo?”

     Chelsie sighed. Naalala niya ang minsan ay mga usapan nila pag nasa hapag kainan. Hindi naman maikakaila na ang kuya niya talaga ang bread winner sa kanila. Ito ang halos gumagastos para sa pamilya, lalo na sa pagpapagamot sa ina nila ngayon sa dialysis nito. Naaawa nga siya minsan dito dahil hindi pa nito mapakasalan ang long-time girlfriend nito dahil sa maraming obligasyon nito sa buhay.

     She hoped that she could help more. But her brother has always pushed her to pursue her passions. Nakakatulong rin naman ang suweldo niya sa pagsusulat ng romance pocketbooks, but it isn’t something that would instantly solve all their problems financially. She just really wished she could help more…but she felt the moment she steps and look out for another thing to do, the land opens up in her feet so it could swallow her. She’s not a people person, she’s clumsy and she’s weird, so she’s better off with a creative job.

     “Come to think of it, maybe my boss will pay you big?” Limuel just winked at her.

     Napangiti na lang din siya. But she can’t get this project just because kuya niya si Limuel. So once and for all, she has to be confident and give her best shot even just this once.

     HINDI ATA MAGANDANG IDEYA ang naisip niya. His head is hurting by listening to everyone who applied. Walang nakapagkumbinsi sa kaniya kung bakit tama itong ginagawa niya. Kung bakit magsusulat siya ng libro tungkol sa sarili niya.

     He even scanned one gossip writer in front of his table, trying to squeeze a next tabloid story out from him. He groaned and dialed the intercom.

     “Yes sir?” aniya ng nasa kabilang linya.

     “Limuel, you should know that a gossip writer was here.”

     Natahimik ang kabilang linya. “I’m sorry sir, writer lang po kasi ang sinabi niyo. So I tried to diversify-“

     “We shall call it a day,” napasinghap siya, twiddling the pen with his fingers.

     “But sir, marami pa po dito sa labas.”

     “I’m tired, I think I won’t do-“

     “Kahit isa lang sir, malayo pa po kasi ang uuwian ng kapatid ko-“

     “Oh,” his face changed, and calmed down a bit. He can’t let Limuel down, aside from today’s mishap, Limuel has been a very good secretary. Mahirap na din kung magtatampo ito pag hindi niya pinaunlakan sa interview ang kapatid nito.

     “Okay,” bawi niya, “let her in. She will be last for today, and that’s it. I’m stopping this interview.”

     “O-okay sir,” nabuhayan ito ng loob. “Again, sorry po sir.”

     “It’s okay, you are right, Limuel, I didn’t specify what I wanted. I should be clear, and you were just helping me by diversifying my choices.”

     “Tumpak iyon sir, gusto lang kitang tulungan. Isa pa ho, dapat ay tinanong ko kayo, yun ang tamang step.”

     Ah, he can’t lose Limuel as an employee. There is something in this guy that is very promising. He can trust him. And his time and sanity won’t afford him of hiring another secretary again.

     Just a few seconds and a petite woman entered his office. She looked nervous. Her body was just in sync with her height, not a whooping ten, but something charming has come across his way. He can say in one glance that she belongs to the cute department. Not really his cup of tea, but at least pleasant to the eye.

     She has creamy white skin, shoulder length black hair with a fringe, framing her heart shaped face, and bringing more focus to her deep brown eyes. 

     “Chelsie Villanueva, I may say?” aniya.

     CHELSIE ALMOST FROZE. When she heard him say his name, it was a voice that could command, it has strength and it was manly and solid and pleasing to any woman’s ears. And when she looked up, she saw in person an embodiment of every woman’s dream.

     Matthew has this chiseled manly face, attractive black deep-set eyes, stare that could easily make someone gasp, prominent jaws and lips that fit his features. He has a black and slightly tousled hair. He was wearing a tuxedo and a tie, and he wouldn’t need to take it off for one to instantly see he is fit and lean. And even if he was still sitting, he already looked tall.

     “Nice to meet you,” hindi pa rin na-erase ang pagkakatulala niya dito.

     “You may sit, please,” offer nito sa upuan sa harap nito.

     She gingerly sat, napabuga siya ng hangin. She gave him her resume. But when she reached to give him, inabot lang nito iyon ngunit hindi nito binasa o minasdan lang man ng saglit.

     “You may know why you’re here?” anas ni Matt, eyeing her directly.

     “I heard na naghahanap ka ng writer.”

     Napatango lang ang lalaki, “And do you know why?”

     Saglit siyang napatulala ulit. “Honestly, hindi sinabi sa amin kung bakit. Pero mas mainam siguro kung malaman naming kung bakit.”

     “Exactly,” tango nito. “Why would I need a writer? What for? Your brother said it’s a legacy, to write your own story and so generations after you can benefit and gain knowledge from that story.”

     Napa-clear out ng lalamunan si Chelsie. “Ah, actually ako po ang nagsabi niyan, sinabi ko po sa kuya ko,” napangiti siya. Gosh, she must have looked stupid.

     “So what do you think, Chelsie? Do you think my story can leave a legacy?” he mulled over.

     “You will hire a writer to write your story, sir?” pagka-klaro niya. “Parang biography?”

     “You’re quick, I like that” he smiled. “So you think from my track record, people will read about me? What do you know about me, by the way?”

     Napatulala siya ulit. Si Matt ay kilala bilang sikat na businessman at babaero. Of course, hindi niya sasabihin yun sa harap ng lalaki. “M-mga basics lang, tungkol sa negosyo niyo siguro at reputasyon…”

     “Reputasyon?” pagkaklaro nito.

     “Reputasyon, tulad ng mga general na agam-agam tungkol sa inyo. I think, sir, totoo man yun o hindi, ang mahalaga ay malaman ng ibang tao yung mga hindi nila nalalaman tungkol sa iyo. Iyon naman ang purpose nun, may control ka sa takbo ng gusto mong ipahayag sa storya, kung ano ang sa tingin mo ay mahalaga para malaman nila.”

     And Matt Vallejo looked at her meaningfully, parang hatol kung mababago ba ang buhay niya o hindi. The next words he will say will change her life.