Slept with a Stranger

Chapter 2

Claire

Natanggap ako, kami.

Hindi ko alam kung anong mararamdaman ko, halo-halong emosyon na. Pakiramdam ko ay unti-unti ko na ring naaabot ang pangarap ko dahil natanggap ako sa isang malaking kompanya. At the same time, I feel like this won't last long. 

"Omg, I heard you're the new secretary!" bati ni Tiffany at binigyan ako ng mapanuksong ngiti, hindi ba siya nag-aalala? parang excited pa siya. 

Napabuntong hininga ako, natanggap kase ako bilang secretarya 'niya'. Si Troy, ang naka one night stand ko, ang ama ng magiging anak ko. I don't know if it's because he recognized me and wants to toy me while I work for him, which I will never comply. I must be delusional, there is no way he will remember me. He is a McConnell at wala pa ako sa kalingkingan ng mga babaeng kaya niyang i-date.

It wasn't intentional on my part, noong nag-apply naman kase ako bilang sekretarya ay hindi ko gaano binigyang pansin ito dahil hindi naman ako siguradong matatanggap ako. Isa pa, marami pa akong in-apply-an.

And yes, It was positive.

~flashback~

I am holding the pregnancy test Tiffany bought for me, I sighed, I'm shaking. I'm really nervous, I know I will accept it if mag positive man, pero there's a side of me na nagsasabi na huwag sana. I don't have a partner, even I don't know if I don't know if I am healthy emotionally to have a child.

Binasa ko ang instructions sa pregnancy kit at sinunod ito, isang pulang linya... negative.

Bumuntong-hininga ako at tinignan ang sarili sa salamin. I'm not pregnant. I said I prefer it negative, but why do I look disappointed? I must be out of my mind.

I tried to calm and composed myself, naghilamos ako at inayos ang sarili. Pag labas konay sinalubong ako ni Tiffany na gaya ko ay kinakabahan din at hindi mapakali.

She stared at me with questions all over her face.

"Negative" I said and smiled. I raised the result showing in the pregnancy test. It's just how I expected it.

Nanlaki ang mata niya at agad akong sinalubong ng yakap. "Omg" she started sobbing on my shoulder which made me surprise. "You are so pregnant, b***h" she said, still crying.

Pregnant, what? didn't I just said it's negative? 

I checked the pregnancy test once again and it was two lines!!  I covered my mouth in shock. Tiffany convinced me to try again on a different test kit to be sure. 

The result's also positive. I'm pregnant.

~~end of flashback~~

"Excuse me, miss Ortega?" a staff called my attention. 

"Yes, it's me" I answered, confirming that she got the right person.

"The CEO's office is located in the top floor, you can use that elevator to go there" turo niya sa isa pang elevator maliban sa ginagamit ng ibang empleyado. It must be exclusive for executives. Elevator palang ay nakakakaba na, it has this trace of intimidating presence left by VIPs, or am I just imagining things?

"Okay, thank you" I simply replied.

"Omg, go!" si Tiffany na mas mukha pang excited kesa saakin, she made had gestures na para bang itinataboy ako. Gusto ko siyang hilahin at isama pero iba ang department niya. 

My palms are already sweating, kinakabahan ako na hindi maintindihan, parang hinagalukay ang tiyan ko at parang natatae pa nga ata ako? ano ba 'to! Umakyat na ako sa elevator patungo sa designated floor ng CEO. Mabuti nalang at hindi ako takot sa height dahil may pa overlooking scenery pa pala rito, nang makalagpas kase sa 10th floor ay kita na ang labas ng building. 

Hindi ko maintindihan pero parang humihilab yung tiyan ko na parang pati yung baby nae-excite. Naka -ilang buntong hininga muna ako hanggang sa tuluyan ko nang pinasok ang opisina niya.

"Goodmorning sir" bati ko, smiling, trying to suppress my nervousness. I wanted to be as professional as possible, I don't want to feel intimidated and even if I am, I have to try not to show it. I am here for a purpose and that is not to get swayed by him in any way. 

Napataas siya ng tingin dahilan para mapatitig ako. His green eyes met mine, and I almost melted when he smiled. "Oh, you're finally here, I'm glad to see you again after leaving me without saying goodbye" he said casually. I almost bite my tongue when he said that.

I was shocked and I think it shows dahil napansin kong napangisi siya. This isn't how I planned this day to be. Naaalala niya ako? I bit my lower lip. Can I run? should I run? Fudge! I needed this job!

Lumapit siya papalapit at habang papalapit siya napapaatras ako hanggang sa maramdaman ko nalang ang malaking pintong pinasukan ko kanina.

"Don't ever do that again, okay?" He whispered while his eyes are still locked to mine.

Marahan akong napatango, is he always like this? Bahagya siyang lumayo, "Good" sabi niya bago tumalikod. Nakahinga ako ng maluwag, why is he doing this? it was just a one night stand! He's making it hard for me to act professionally at parang sinasadya niya iyon.

Sinabi niya sakin ang mga dapat kong gawin mula sa pag-aasikaso sa schedule niya, pag email sa mga business partners, pag block sa spam emails hanggang sa discussion ng sahod at day off na alam ko naman na. Sunday ang day off ko at 50,000 thousand a month ang sweldo ko. It's huge and beyond minimum, but as for CEO's secretary, staring salary palang daw iyon. Hindi ko alam kung swerte ba ako o malas?

Sobrang laki kumpara sa sahod ko noon, sobra sobra pa kaya nakakapanibago, siguradong makakaipon ako para mahanap ang pamilya ko, kung meron man.

"By the way, your table is on its way. You'll have the same office with me, I want you here" he said without glancing at me.

For a second time, I am shocked and out of words. I don't know how to react, fudge, I just want to work! can anybody please save me?

"Okay, thanks" maikling sagot ko, as much as possible, I don't want to have conversation with him because I feel uneasy and nervous. Nawawala ako sa focus which is not commendable.

I sighed for the ninth time, ano ba 'tong pinasok?

Kinagabihan, hindi ako agad nakatulog kung hindi ko pa pinilit ang sarili ko dahil nga buntis.

Natapos ang unang araw ko bilang secretarya ni Troy. I admit na naiilang ako sa tuwing tumitingin siya sa gawi ko, hindi ko mapigilang hindi makaramdam ng inis pag nilalandi siya ng mga babaeng nagpupunta sa office niya. He's different when he's serious, it was just my first day pero I can't help but be amazed by him. No wonder he's famous, no wonder he's rich.

I know wala akong karapatan,  but am I attracted to him already?

I guess, yes

I mean, can you blame me!?