Chapter One

As the first born of family Wood. I am intended to inherit one of the biggest company they've built. Ever since highschool my parents teaches me how to handle business. So that it will never be hard for me when time comes.

Taking business is never been easy to me. I've also faced struggle. Financial and family problems for this reason I suffered deppression that affected my grades. 

God is always good, he answered my prayers. I recovered. And Yes I finished my degree with latin honors. Hardwork and sweat with pray is my ingredients to success.

After how many years my journey started.

Trying my luck I applied to 'Black Nascar', the famous company nationwide. I refuse to accept the proposal of my mother in our company. I just want to try it with other to know where I can put my limits yung walang special treatment. And thankfully they agreed on it.

As closing the window on my room, I was ready to sleep. Its already past nine o' clock in the evening when my phone vibrated, a sign that there's someone calling. 

I hesitated to answer since it was from unknown number but I just found myself putting the phone towards my ear.

"Hello, Good evening Ma'am. Sorry for disturbing your sleep or anything you did at this hour. Is this Bernadette Wood?" maligayang saad sa kabilang linya.

"Yes, Why?" I suddenly had the urge to feel ambiguous. 

"This is from Nascar Company," when I heard the company's name my heart beats fast. "Your request had been approved by the CEO. You can start on Monday morning." 

Ang bilis ng pangyayari ni hindi ko magawang magsalita, nakaawang pa ang bibig ko habang pinapakinggan ang babae sa kabilang linya. I blinked twice and slapped my face baka kasi nananaginip lang ako. Mahirap ng umasa.

I smirk ng maramdaman ko ang sakit.

"Welcome to Black Nascar Company, It is our pleasure to have you. Good Night and Congrats!" I stiffened when I heard the last word.

"Thank you!" I uttered out of stupendous and excitement.

As the call ended. I run excitedly towards the door without noticing the box.

"What's that sound sweetie-" napatakip sa kanyang bibig si Mommy ng makita ang posisyon ko. So yeah I bumped.

I squirm dahil sa sakit. Mom helped me to get up. Dad appeared in front of us together with my brother, Brent. Who's half smiling.

"What happened?" he said in a playfully tone then he burst loudly when he fugured it out.

Ng makabawi binatukan ko siya. Kahit kailan talaga ang isang 'to.

"Mom. I have a good news!" I said with a wide smile. I immediately shift sa pakay ko talaga. "Tanggap na po ako!"

"Really? Congrats sweetie." Mom hugged me tightly ramdam ko ang emosyon niya gayun na rin sina Dad at Brent.

"Congrats Young Sis!" Brent said.

Dahil malalim na ang gabi we decided na magpahinga nalang at bukas na ito i-celebrate. And as expected on the morning as I went downstairs they're already done preparing. They bought a cake with a text of 'Congrats', variety of foods and a bouquet of flowers. 

Although this is my first time na matanggap sa isang trabaho I choose na kami-kami nalang ang magcecelebrate. Even Mom's really into a big celebration whenever na may ganitong pangyayari.

I can't stop smiling while eating the foods in front of me, one by one. Finally! I'm already there. For the second time they hugged and congratulated me.

When Monday comes I was wearing my black sheath dress, with a crisp white button-down and tailored blazer with classic pumps. I was nervous at bigla na lamang nangatog ang mga binti ko ng nasa harapan ako ng 18-storey building ng Nascar. Kumawala ako ng malalim na buntong hininga at nagpatuloy sa paglalakad.

While heading to the CEO's office a girl on a clean bun approaches me. Based on her skirts I figured out that she's one of employee's here.

"I am the secretary of Mr. Eric Asterio, Bella Hayen, " she smiled and extended her arms.

"Bernadette Wood," payak kong saad at malugod na tinanggap ang kanyang nakalahad na kamay. "Are you the one who called me?" I made sure because her voice is very familiar to me.

"Yes Miss!" she nodded gracefully. She intertwined her hands on the back. "Ako na muna po ang maghahatid sa inyo sa assigned department niyo po dahil sa busy si Sir. He's signing  the contracts on behalf of the company and reports. So anyway, lets go?" 

Tumango ako at sumunod sa kanya. I love her joyful and lively attitude.

Days and months passed and my career is blooming. We're all gathered here in conference room. I wasn't the head of our department which is the Marketing Department but because Ms. Christina isn't around for some personal reason, kaming dalawa ni Rufilyn ang inatasang um-attend.

Lahat kami ay walang ideya kung bakit kami pinatawag. Bigla nalang tumahimik ang paligid ng bumukas ang pinto. Natutop ako sa aking kintatayuan ng makita ang pumasok.

Is he the CEO? Well if yes, He had the stunning looks. Parang galing langit. Ang gwapo.

"That's Mr. Eric Asterio." Rufilyn whispered to my right ear. Narinig ko na kung saan ang pangalan na iyan pero hindi ko lang matandaan.

In the midst of reminiscing kung saan ko ba talaga iyon narinig I saw Bella entering the conference Room with the folder she always carried. And naka-sunod siya sa kanya, that gave me hint. He's the boss.

"Damn, nakakasilaw ang kagwapuhan niya." I commented. I can feel the butterflies in my stomach while my heart pounds fastly when our eyes meet. 

He raises his brows on me. Nangatal ang tuhod ko sa ibinigay niyang atensyon. Pero huli na ng mapagtanto kong ako nalang pala ang huling nakatayo.

Shit. That was ignominious moment.

I've never notice that he gave me a glance for an hour kaya napagtanto kong nagkataon lang na tinapunan niya ako ng tingin kanina. Syempre naman na center of attraction kaya ako. I pouted.

Natapos ang meeting ng wala akong ibang nagawa kundi ang pagmasdan ang perpekto niyang mukha. I don't even care kung ano ang pinag-uusapan nila. Rufilyn's with me naman, and she's strenuous. 

Mula sa mapupungay niyang mata, sa perpekto niyang ilong at mapupulang labi hanggang sa matipuno niyang dibdib. He's wearing the usual CEO's suit that made him look fresh and hot.

I cupped my face. What happen to my mind. Nababaliw na yata ito.

Hinila ako ni Rufilyn palabas ng conference room. Isa sa mga katrabaho ko that became my friend. Kung hindi pa man niya ako hinila tiyak na mapapahiya na naman ako dahil ako nalang ulit ang natira sa loob na empleyado the rest ay mga shareholders na at mga board members.

I stumbled ng nasa pintuan na kami. I stiffined. I let a heavy sigh at lumabi. Ramdam ko ang mga titig sa aking likod. Kung minamalas ka nga naman. Pabagsak kong binuksan ang pinto at lumabas.

"Pinapahalata mo naman masyado na may gusto ka sa kanya, Bernadette. Alam kong gwapo talaga si Sir pero naman," she let a deep breath dahilan sa paghawi ng kanyang bangs.

Napakamot ako sa aking ulo. My side of lips rose up. Pasensya na.

"Akala mo ba hindi ko napansin ang pagkahiya mo kanina?" she smiled like an evil then humagalpak ng tawa. She even held her tummy and pointed my heated face. Ngumuso ako. "P-Para ka namang ngayon lang nakakakita ng gwapo." putol-putol niyang puna dahil sa halakhak niya.

Hinawakan ko ang kamay niya. I bit my under lip dahil natatawa narin ako sa mukha niya.

"Hindi naman kasi ganun yun," pigil tawa kong saad. "Nasisilawan lang ako sa angkin niyang kagwapuhan."

"Eh ano ba dapat iyon, aber?" she smirk waiting for my answer. Napakamot ako sa aking batok tsaka hinatak siya palayo ng conference room dahilan ng pagtawa niya.

I was pouting the whole time habang pabalik kami sa aming area. Rufilyn didn't stop teasing me. She didn't stop pestering me. Sinusundot pa niya ang tagiliran ko. 

"Nakaka-starstruck naman talaga si Sir. Kung wala lang talaga akong jowa, niligawan ko na si Sir." kinikilig niyang saad. "Alam mo nakataas ang kilay kanina ni Sir ng makita kang nakatayo-"

"Alam ko. Kitang-kita ko. Gosh, nakakahiya yun." I covered my face.

"Pero agad iyong napalitan ng ngiti ng makita ang reaksyon mo." Umismid ako. Kalokohan. Hindi ko kaya nakita ang pagngiti niya kanina. "Napansin ko rin ang pasulyap-sulyap niya sa gawi mo."

Iniinis talaga ako ng babaeng 'to. I knew that he didn't glance at me the whole time sa meeting kanina dahil nakatingin rin ako sa kanya. Tsk. She really thought huh na kakain ako sa mga pa-in niya. 

"Bernadette, Madali lamang makuha ang atensyon ni Sir lalo na kapag empleyado niya ang mga ito. He was very nice to all people."

I smirked. Pinagsasabi ng babaeng 'to. Mas lalo ko pang binilisan ang lakad ko para matahimik na siya. But just what I've thought she also made her steps faster to be able na mapantayan ako at asarin muli.

"Bagay kayo." she articulated. Umismid ulit ako pero may kasama ng ngiti. "Maganda ka at gwapo siya. Tapos pareho pa kayong mababait."

Tinampal ko siya sa kanyang pwet. 

"Bolero mo," I commented and shrug my shoulder. Lumingon ako sa kabilang banda at doon ngumiti. Bagay daw kami.

Nagpatuloy pa ang panunukso niya sa akin hanggang sa marating na namin ang department area naming dalawa. Kung hindi ko naman siya pinaningkitan ng kilay ay iniismiran ko siya. Mas lalo pa siyang naging madaldal kaya tuloy halos ng mga ka-trabaho namin alam na ang kahihiyang nangyari sa akin kanina.

"Bagay kayo!!" tukso sa 'kin ni Cailli. Ngayon ko lang napansin na pinalibutan na pala ako nila. Nasapo ko ang aking noo.

Ngayon lamang ako hindi natuwa sa kadaldalan nila, ngayon lang. Kakaibang mga ngisi ang isinukli nila sa 'kin ng sinabi kong magsitigil na sila. It was the wrong choice na pinatapos ko ng maaga ang project namin for the sales ayun tuloy wala silang ibang ginawa kundi ang pinagkaka-abalahan akong tuksuin.

I gulped when Basic was back from the restroom. I heard from my co-workers that she was also have a crush on Eric. She's also my friend and it didn't sounds good that I admired her crush too. 

"Hala siya, namumula ang pisnge." Lumakas pa lalo ang kantyaw nila at sinundot-sundot ang tagiliran ko.

I don't know kung hindi nila alam na paparating na si Basic kaya they didn't stop teasing or maybe napansin talaga nito ang pagpasok ng area at wala lang talaga silang pake.

They noticed my silence kaya napalunok sila. I saw guilt in their eyes. Without any words comes out on their mouths they swift their swivel chair and turned back to their places.

I rested my elbow on the table at sinapo ang aking noo. Ipinikit ko ang mata. My phone beeped continuously.

My brows furrowed. It was all from them. Lumingon ako sa kanila at ibinalik kalaunan ang tingin sa screen ng phone ko.

'Sorry' 

I just ignored that. When the afternoon came, we went back to our usual routine, we left the area together and acted as if nothing had happened.

While driving I could not help but to think of Eric's gentle face. Until I get home Eric's face is what I always see. Nagpagulong-gulong pa ako sa aking kama para dalawin na ng antok. Its already past 10 in the evening and my mind was still awake.

He really occupied in my mind that much huh.