Princess Series Three: The Beauty Within A Beast

IX

A/N: Let's aim for five comments :)

Prince and I's relationship became solely professional. Strikto parin siya sa'kin at marami pading bawal, pero puro negosyo na ang namagitan sa amin. He never took me to the Business Ball again—for two straight years ako ang plus one niya—at hindi na niya ako kinakausap kung hindi tungkol sa trabaho. He barely gives a damn about my personal life, pero madalas ay hindi niya ako pinapayagang mag day off.

That year, nag-blossom din ang Clishique. Kaya mas naging hectic din ako. Alas otso ng umaga ako pumapasok tapos alas-cinco na ako nakakauwi, minsan ay alas-sais na. When I get home, I eat with Papa tapos ay diretso agad ako sa home office ko para gawin ang mga paper works ko sa Clishique. Ayoko namang iasa lahat kay Ari, lalo na't sa'kin nila binigay 'yung pinakamataas na posisyon. I can't be the CEO and do nothing at all. I'd rather quit as Prince's secretary than let my friends down. I'm just relieved na suportado ako ng mga kaibigan ko at hindi nila hinihingi na mamili ako. Dahil kahit sila ang pipiliin ko, masakit parin na mawala sa'kin 'yung tanging pagkakataon ko para makalapit kay Prince. He may hurt me with his words and actions, but he won't break me that easily. Hindi ko ugaling sumuko agad.

When the clock stroke 11:50 a.m., tinigil ko muna ang ginagawa ko. Out of habit, tinignan ko ang daan papunta sa office ni Mina pero hindi na siya nagpakita. Mina migrated a couple of months ago kaya talaga mag-isa na ako dito. Mababait naman ang mga tao dito, pero wala lang akong panahaon na makihalubilo sakanila. If I wasn't busy with my job as a secretary, I'm doing my responsibilities as the CEO of Clishique.

Sighing, I dialed the number at the cafeteria downstairs. Madalas na kasi akong nagpapa-deliver, e. Ayoko nang magsayang ng panahon na tumaas-baba kung p'wede ko namang gamitin 'yung oras para gawin ang iba ko pang paperworks. So it's what I did. For the next hour, I wrote and typed with my right hand while eating with my left. It was a routine for me already and I got used to it. Sobrang nasanay ako na hindi ko na napapansin na unti-unti na palang nawawala ang dati kong sarili. I barely went out with my friends because I was too busy with both my demanding works. I never really realized how much I gave to Prince—not until there was nothing left.

=•=

One year later...

"This Andres wedding will be grand," saad ni Jasmine habang tinitignan ang designs ni Erella para sa gowns and dresses ng kasal ni Sandra Reyes at Raymond Andres.

"But Sandra wants it to be simple and intimate at the same time," dagdag naman ni Erella na naging kaibigan ng kliyente namin.

We were at Clishique headquarters and it was a rainy Sunday afternoon. Typically, free day namin lahat ang Sunday pero dahil nga big project ang Andres wedding, kailangan present kaming lahat at sa Linggo lang ako libre. Mas naging demanding na ang trabaho ko kay Prince, pero okay lang. Nakakasama ko parin naman siya. But as of right now, main focus ko ang wedding na 'to. It's the first full wedding we are doing—from the gowns to the venue and reception. Everything is on us and the mere fact na ang mga Andres ang kliyente namin... Well, we can all expect Clishique to skyrocket in the business industry.

"I'll look for venues and suppliers," sabi ni Ari habang nakaharap sa laptop niya. She frowned and looked at all of us. "Do you guys want me to be the one to visit the venues? I'm free."

"I'll go with you," agad na presenta ko at napatingin silang lahat sa'kin. We all knew how strict Prince was when it came to my day offs, pero iba naman 'to. Handa akong sayangin lahat ng day off ko basta ba't maging hands-on ako sa wedding na 'to. This is a huge thing.

"Are you sure?" taas-kilay na tanong ni Jasmine sa'kin.

"Of course I am," sagot ko tapos ay napahilot sa sentido ko. "Look, I'm sure papayagan ako ni Prince. Hindi naman ako madalas mag day off , e."