Chapter 6 I'll take you home

I rubbed my forehead when I went to the last company on the list given to me by aunt Matilda. Third company and all of that has him - his reason why they won't accept. Either there's no available slot for me, or the information they're still receiving is outdated. I always call Aunt Matilda whenever I fail at the company I go to. He has nothing else to give me, so here it is and my head hurts.

"Okay, I'll just take care of this aunt. I'm sorry."

"Sorry hija, I'm really taking care of a lot here, those were the only companies I know."

I also don't want my aunt to be bothered because I know she also has a lot of work. It's for my internship and it's only natural that I should take care of it, why do I still rely on others? I spent the whole day re-researching the company, but of course, when destiny plays you there is nothing you can do. I stumbled upon two choices, either I won't intern. Or I'll play with the dangerous fire taking the risk. If I stop, time will be wasted.

It's only been a year and it's okay, I'll leave the modeling industry. But at the same time I can't just take the risk, I have to think not only of myself but also of my brother. It is not impossible to reach his family that I have returned to the Philippines and what is worse is that I will still work under their son's management.

I let out a big sigh. I've never been torn like this in my entire life. It is difficult to decide even though the choice is both important. I stared at the number who called me last time. Is this his personal number? Or maybe his business number? I don't know. Will I call and say I will proceed with the application? Oh no. I'll just go there and find their HR so that's what I can talk to.

Yeah, definitely. To make sure that with the size of that company, our paths will never meet again, I am just an intern and I am not his regular employee. The next day, that's what happened. I ate my own skepticism and headed to the VREC Building. I even assured myself on not meeting him today because if that happens I will not really continue. If their HR or anyone else will assist me is better. Just don't let him. Wearing a mid-calf nude slim jumpsuit, I paired it with my one and only black talons.

For some reasons, I had time to put light make up, well ... I kind of had time so ... yeah. I always looked around at the people I would meet as I walked down the hallways of the building, as if some were stopping to look at me, making me uncomfortable. I don't know if it's normal, but for as long as I can remember, people here didn't think of me like this when I last went. I walked over to the clerk's desk and when I stopped in front of them they were gently startled. The smile I gave was raw.

"Uhm, I don't have an appointment but I was informed to go back here-"

"On the 40th floor, ma'am? For Mr. President?"

My eyes widened and I was confused inwardly. I raised my hand and denied what he had promised. I breathed a laugh.

"No, uhm, can it be just HR or those who handle Interns?"

The woman's judgmental eyes shifted to hers, the eyes seemed to have a conversation causing me to be even more uncomfortable. It called the phone and whispered the trembling of my heart, this is my last call, if I am not accepted here it will be up to you.

"Mrs. Madrigal is still on a meeting. She's on the 23rd floor ma'am."

The pressure on my chest slightly loosen, that means ...

"Then I can wait, where can I wait?"

"You can just proceed on the 23rd floor ma'am."

I almost celebrate what he said.

"Thank you, thank you so much." I smiled at her but her faint smile says otherwise. I just didn't pay attention to that, you can't please everybody. You also have the problem if you are affected. I entered the lift and I can't wipe of the slight hope in my face. Floor 23, far away from the 40th floor he occupies. I don't know if we will ever meet again.

I made myself comfortable in the long sofa given in the space at the side of this floor. I feel a little relieved. This is not bad after all. I waited a few minutes and the surroundings became a bit noisy. There were people coming out where that was coming from in the right aisle.

That's probably the conference room Steve was talking about earlier. Some look at me every time they see me before going straight to the elevator, and others don't seem to be talking to their peers. After a while a middle age woman approached me.

"Were you the one the lobby called me earlier?"

I quickly stood up and immediately I towered over her. I'm not tall but maybe because of the heels I'm wearing.

"Yes please." She warmly smiled at me and state some instructions.

"Sorry to keep you waiting, but come let's proceed on my floor."

I nodded and slowly followed him but he stopped and stepped aside. I stopped due to confusion, I stared at him lying on one side while I was still on the road. Our eyes met and it gently bewilderedly pulled me to the side towards his side. The smile he gave behind me was raw. My white bag swayed because of what she did. I looked back at the path of his gaze and almost dropped my jaw at what I saw. A group of corporate men walking so proudly, not after the greetings of those who had previously been just quietly working in their cell. My breath hitched looking at the man in front.

His eyes are dark and he's looking so intimidating with his corporate attire walking so proudly in this hall, on her side is a slender woman wearing a fitted red tube dress, her hair is short and she has a big smile while talking to him. Like the whole world has slowed down, the sluggish caress of the woman on his arm could not escape my sight and was followed by the laughter of the two of them.

I just want to disappear suddenly because I'm sure they'll pass by here because they're going to the Elevator. And obviously! I don't want him to see me. Damn. Instead of avoiding my gaze, I can't even take my eyes off the woman next to him, is she his girlfriend? Wife? Oh yeah, what do I care? Her lips are fuller and she is busty, really perfectly curved and you have nothing to blame. I gulped the swollen pressure on my throat, unfamiliar heat on my face started to build up. I have yet to determine what. I closed my eyes tightly and when I opened my eyes our eyes met.

I saw a hint of amusement and puzzlement in his eyes, his lips parted but he just continued on his walk. For some reason I was so annoyed to see him now, so I'm not sure why my eyes seemed to roll when I avoided looking at him. Damn, what makes me angry? I just dropped my gaze when they passed us, the woman's soft voice was like iron clinking in my hearing, I started to get pissed just by hearing her soft laugh plus the man next to her. Until the elevator closed I didn't look back. Because why would I?

"Sorry, we have to take the lift after the President take it."

Sorry Mrs. Madrigal. Something inside my stomach splashed like an ice cold, the more I felt how far he was, then in Mar De Vena it was hard for him to reach, especially now in the world he leads. It was very different from my world back then in Mar De Vena, so why did I believe him back then that we felt the same way. He clearly just want something from me, ang it was for his family and not because he reciprocated my feelings. If I have to deal with this for months then so be it. He doesn't seem to care anymore, he seems to have forgotten everything.

The way he smiled talking to the woman beside her gives a conclusion that he doesn't care about my presence at all cause he's happy and contented. I was the only one buried in yesterday's wound. My first week in that company was great, I thought I would suffer entering there but I didn't. At least once our paths never met again in that building which leads me to an assurance that it'll be like that the whole time. I'm an intern, the President doesn't need anything from me so why would our paths meet?

"Cyreese, have lunch with us."

I looked up at Steve to look at the cell I was in.

"I'll just finish this, Sir Steve."

"It's just Steve Cyreese, it's you. Come on, you don't need that breakdown yet."

He would always insist that every time we talk, his team are also very welcoming and warm, others don't know anything, others you can't get along with. Fortunately, Steve and I were included in the team, I also don't know if it was because of what Steve said to Mrs. Madrigal that he knew me so he just put me here.

"All right." I putted my desktop on sleep mode and gently put away my belongings. It's been a week like this and the work isn't hard, just enough for an intern like me.

"You're a model !?"

I laughed at the shocked reaction of Sir Lucas, in charge for documentation of their team. They are all men except for me and the Surveyor, Ms. Cruz. She only came once every time the team had lunch so I was usually the only woman among them. They are great workers, in my 4 years in the modeling industry I know how to seduce people somehow. Those men who will just take advantage of you, men who just shower you with flowery words and such.

"If I hadn't seen your photo in a magazine we wouldn't know you're a model!" I smiled shyly. Earlier we were just eating now their attention is already on me.

"And why do you have that magazine Sarmiento?" I chuckled at Steve's tone. Sir Sarmiento immediately turned pale when he heard his boss's question.

"N-no Sir, I just saw Mr. President's office!" He defensively said. My laughter was left in the air. Did I hear him wrong? Office? The magazine is in Levi's office?

"You're a model Cy, why did you take Architecture?" Steve's attention grabbing. "That's really what I want." I could explain further but I'm not in the right mind to think. I was left with what Sir Sarmiento had said earlier. Laughter filled our table as they continued to tease. I engage in listening and laughing.

"Did you see Ms. Antonio before? I really thought she didn't have underwear!"

We all burst out laughing at Sir's story. Sarmiento, they often talk to the rude Project Manager of the other wing of our floor. I was in the middle of drinking my lemon juice when he told me that so I could almost swallow it. It's good and not because it's embarrassing. I wiped the spilled grain of liquid on my chest while still holding back the laughter.

A dry tissue was on the side of my mouth ang I turned around and it was Steve. He wiped the side of my lips, I got uncomfortable. Others with us noticed that and at the same time threw stones at us, which made us even more noisy. My cheeks got hot from what they did and I couldn't look back at Steve. Only it stopped after we heard a clearing of throat.

"Lunch is over, the company is paying you more than enough, why are you wasting time here?"

My jaw dropped seeing him in the side of out table. We didn't even notice that lunch was over because of all their chatter. I looked at him and his eyes were blood shot. He uttered those words emphatically with his dark eyes. I met his gaze and as if I was burned I avoided looking there. He looks so mad.

"Mr. President, we're sorry, we didn't notice the time."

"What's the use of your watch then?"

We all gasped at his question, I looked at Steve's wrist and saw his black watch there. Okay, we're at fault, but why does he have to be embarrassed like this? I bit my lip feeling so embarrassed. Just when I thought I enjoyed my first week here then I will see him here.

"Get back to work Mr. Salazar."

"Yes, Mr. President." Steve.

That was all and he stepped away from our table. We looked at each other at the same time, the only difference between us was that they had hidden smiles on their lips, while I was left followed by the look of his backward body moving away from us. The dangerous man he could be ...

"Yeah, I just need some few appliances."

"Good, are you sure you're alright being alone?" I smiled lazily at him and had nothing to say.

"Babe, you're so repetitive. Cyreese is a grown up Lady, stop being an ass."

Lucy replied hugging my sister. They even stared in front of the camera and I was just tired of watching them. Good and congratulations.

"Don't mind you brother."

Lucy waved, "Anyways, how are you in there? Do people discriminate you or ..."

"No, actually its not what I've expected it to be. Looks like people don't know anything here."

That's the truth. People don't even know me, so they probably don't know that either.

"Anyway, you don't have any circulation projects there in the Philippines." "I had - some shoes and apparels."

"Yeah, but people don't really care that much." I sniffed and nodded at what he said. Lourd was just lazy to listen as we talked.

"Why? Is the issue still noisy there?"

"Ah, n-no-"

"Yes."

When Lourd cuts to Lucy. I was weakened by what he said. Lucy moaned and my sister and I sighed. I have to set a mindset that West is different from my country. There I am known and here I am not. My anxiety wont help me in my daily life. If that's what I'll do then I won't be able to move on. And yet another that is not true!

"Don't mind the issue Cy, that won't affect your life-"

"It will."

Lourd cuts back to. Lucy was thrown into the air.

"If it's the model industry it won't affect you, rather you'll be even more famous when your name makes noise. Bad publicity is still a publicity. But you're an Architect in the making Cyreese, companies will get to know about it and will question your professionalism. "

My chest throbbed at the truth he said. That's true. Over and over again, it will haunt my background over and over again causing me to break down.

"But Lucy is right, just don't mind it for now while the our company is taking over legal actions. Once it's proven that it's not you everything will be back to normal. " Thank God, for this brother of mine.

"Bye Cyreese!"

I waved at Steve's team, they were on a different path because they were going to the parking lot because they had cars. And I have to go to the main door because I have to book a car service. That's one of my goals, I've moved to my unit and I'm gradually using it there. Now I just have to study route so I can buy my own car, for now I settled myself booking so I can go home. I waited in front of the building while booking but some have already declined me, I'm not the only one waiting here, I also have colleagues who I think are also waiting. Five more and I still decline. I let out a frustrated sigh. Why?

"I'm just going to commute. Tsk"

I looked at the woman next to me who was walking away, I think the same thing happened when she booked. Commute? Can I commute too? But I don't know the route and such. Ugh! Now I just appreciate my body guards in New York, if only I had a driver now and own a car. A few minutes later, the rest of my companions who were waiting left.

I've been forcing myself to leave to go home, I've been trying to book here for an hour but still nothing. I want to tear up with annoyance and frustration. What do I do now? Tears welled up in my eyes as I saw a black tinted SUV parked in front of me. Wait, did anyone accept me? I looked at my cellphone to check but nothing, I looked up again and lowered the car window in front of me.

"Are you waiting for someone?"

He said it from within in a strong and deep voice. I gasped, don't have any clue how would I talk to him. He stared at me and in the blink of an eye he got out of his car and turned to my seat. He was wearing his usual corporate attire but his sleeves are roll up to his elbow and his tie are loose. Typical look that says the job is done.

"Waiting for car service?"

He read her lips and nodded softly, I was swallowed up by what I saw. His lips turned red at what he did. It was as if hot water had been thrown into my system. I can't even look at him straight in the eye.

"You don't have a car?" I just shook my head and focused on my cellphone and showed I didn't want to talk to him. I waited for him to leave and I didn't pay attention to him anymore.

"There's a problem with legal matters about that company. You won't be able to book at this moment."

And he got my attention. My eyes widened at what he said and my world almost collapsed. Why is there still a problem? How am I now?

"Get inside, I'll take you home."

My breathe hitched, as if I wanted to be deaf to what he said.

"Not anymore, I'll just commute."

"And you think I'll let you do that?"

I gulped at his tone. There was his tone again as if everything he said I had to follow.

"Why not?"

I almost bit my tongue, why did that even come out of my mouth !? He tilted his head and his dark eyes turned into amusement, as if he was amazed at what I said. My knees trembled at his stares, it's so dangerous that he didn't seem to like what I said.

"You're under my company, when something bad happens to you, I'll answer."

Hand spat. I laughed without humor. Of course, what else could be the reason, right?

"Okay."

I shrugged even though inside I was shivering with annoyance. He opened the door and without hesitation I entered there. I almost turned a blind eye to the familiar smell of his car. I followed his gaze as he turned the car toward the driver's seat. My heart wanted to faint as I saw his eyes piercing the tinted glass of his car.

He got in, I made sure to focus my attention in front. I waited for him to start the car, I looked at him and saw him moving towards me. What the ...

He stopped when he saw that I was backwards. He smirked when I met his eyes. He straightened up and I almost caught my breath with the extreme nervousness I felt. I remembered the fresh recollection as if it had just happened yesterday.

"Seatbelt."

Damn! I'll make sure to buy a car tomorrow!