Chapter 2: I am His Secretary

It was Sunday morning when Ysabel just woke up early. She just arrived in the Philippines from US yesterday. She went straight to their kitchen and saw her mother standing beside the table holding a piece of paper.

"What's this?" Her mother's face was in totally shocked when she saw her daughter's birth certificate on the table. "Bela Isidro?" Her mother's mouth twitched as her mother turned to where she was, who also looked shocked.

"I'll explain mom, okay." She approached her mother and told the reason.

"This is wrong Ysabel, you shouldn't do this!" her mother said emphatically.

"Mom, I need to do this," she said, convincing her mother. "Don't tell anyone okay, including Dad and of course the Jacob's Group."

"This is so wrong." Her mother acted out of disbelief.

"Trust me Mom, I can handle this." Her mother sighed and agreed to her.

"Okay, just don't let anyone know about this." She nodded as a sign of responsed.

Actually, she came from the US last week and she graduated last year. When she found out that Daryl Jacob did not agree to their arranged marriage, she immediately returned to the Philippines and made a plan. She plans to make him fall in love with her within two months. She changes her name from Ysabel Valle to Bela Isidro. She deleted all of her social media accounts and created new accounts for Bela because she would need that at work.

She browse her email, she's waiting for something.

"Oh my gosh, I've passed Mom!" A smile draw on her lips.

"Where?" her mother said wondering.

"Work," she replied shortly. She smiled as she went up the stairs to her room. She lay down on bed and rolled over. It was unbelievable for her that she would be accepted so easily.

"Well, I should be natural when he ask question to me. His looks won't bothered me." She nodded as she talked to herself. "I know how good looking he is, but he won't distract me. Never!"

The next morning, she woke up early because today was her interview with Daryl Jacob. She put a light make up on and wear an above the knee skirt and a peach blouse. Instead of using her own car, she just took the bus to Jacob's Group. It was also close to their house so she only took a few minutes to get there.

When she entered the company, she suddenly felt heavy. "Oh my gosh, this company really got my nerves," she whispered. It's also unbelievable for her because every women she encounters look at her and they seems that they have the feeling of romantic excitement. "What's wrong with these ladies? Am I that so handsome?" Her mouth fell open at what she was said. She's not even a dude to come up with that thought.

"Oh my, did you see it, he looks at me," the girl said, who seemed to be shaking with excitement.

At that point, she stopped because of what that woman had done. But what was even more shocking was that something hard hit her at the back. Actually, it was the body of the person who followed her. She looked at it and was just stunned by what she saw. The man in front of her now is close to perfection.

"What a clumsy girl, did she just do that on purpose?" the girl said, who also stopped because of what happened.

"Did she just bump on Mr. Ranz body? I can't believe this!" the girl's companion said looking so irritated to what she had witnessed.

"Are you following me?" She looked at the young man sharply. Now she knows why the women she meets look up to her. It's not because of her, instead a guy following her at her back.

"No. I'm not," the guy said being dead-malice towards her and passed her by. She felt disgusted of what the guy acted in front of her, but she just let it passed because she still has an interview today. And she don't want to ruin her mood this early.

When she reached the front door of the lift, it was about to close but she caught up with it and re-opened. Though she's hesitant, she also entered, even the man who ran into her was just there. And what's worst, they click the button of the 10th floor at the same time.

"Are you following me?" she heard from the young man beside her at the same time her forehead furrowed.

"Of course not. I'm going to 10th floor," she said having a strong complacement.

"Really? I have never seen you working here?" The young man narrowed his eyes at her.

"Then does it mean I'm following you?" she said frankly. "Yes, I'm not yet working here but soon, and I came here for an interview," she said having complacent.

"Interview?" The guy smiles at her and that's the time when the door opened.

They didn't even pay attention to each other when they get out of the lift, even they were going to the same destination. They both stopped in front of the CEO's office. And the assistant secretary arrived just in time.

"Good morning Sir Ranz," the assistant secretary greeted the young man beside her. The young man smile towards the girl as a sign of responsed. "And you must be the applicant for secretary?" The girl in the uniform turned to her direction.

"Yes Ma'am," she replied. The assistant secretary opened the door and they entered there. The assistant also left immediately when she introduced the applicant to her boss.

The moment Bela saw the face of her future boss, she was a bit shock because it's the guy who happened to hit her when she was crossing the lane. But she wonder how this man didn't recognized her. That was at night time, so probably he hadn't saw her face.

"Have a seat." She sat there but her companion remained standing.

"No need for me bro, I just want to personally hand you an invitation." At the same time the young man, handed the envelope to the guy who's sitted on the swivel chair. Her eyes alternated between the two. Are they brothers? But what she does know is that the initials of the Jacob brothers are pure letter D. Now she's really curious. "She must be your next secretary," the young man standing beside her said.

"I think so," the guy sitting replied.

"Great. I gotta go." Then he came out.

They were only two of them in the office. Bela just stared at her future boss. She didn't expect that this guy is really handsome in personal.

"Miss Isidro!" The guy called her but she's being dumbfounded by the handsome looks of her future boss. "Miss Bela!" For the second time, her boss called her but it seems that she doesn't hear him. "Ms. Bela Isidro!" The guy shout at her and that's the time she came back to her senses.

"Oh, I'm sorry Sir!" She fake a smile to hide her embarrassment.

"Am I that handsome?" the guy said frankly.

"Yes Sir!" She immediately covered her mouth. "I mean no Sir!" Then she just kept quiet. She can't trust herself when she's in front of the handsome creation of God.

"Okay." The guy laugh a little. Afterwards, he turned to her resume. "You're a Certified Public Accountant." He looks at her.

"You're right Sir," she replied.

"Then why you're applying for the secretary's position if you can apply for more than that?" he asked as he hovered over her resume.

"It's because I like you Sir." Her future boss was stunned by what she said. Her boss haven't heard that from his previous applicants. "I mean, I like to work with you Sir," she corrected. She was also ashamed of what she said and did in front of her boss.

"I see that you really like to work with me, you even flew here from the US."

"Exactly Sir, I even heard that your company is the biggest company in the Philippines!"

"Is that so? But you don't have any experience in this field and you only graduated last year."

"You didn't know I'm a fast learner Sir, and I always do my best!"

"Okay you're hired. You may start today."

"Really? Thank you Sir!"

Daryl then press the button on his table and the assistant secretary immediately enter his office.

"Assist her for a moment," her boss said to the girl that just came in.

"Yes Sir," the girl replied.

The secretary's table, which was just opposite his office, is now inside. Maybe it's the CEO's order that no one should ever question.

He looked at his new secretary. Only then did he notice that she was also staring at him when their eyes met, so he just averted his gaze.

Moments later, his secretary stood up and approached him. Only now did he notice that it had smooth and white skin, so he stared at it for a moment. His past secretary wears slacks so it's a new sight for him. He did swallowed his own saliva when he looked at his secretary's thigh closely.

"Sir." He came back to his senses when he heard his secretary's voice.

"Yes. Do you need something?" He asked.

"None Sir. I just want to ask if you want me to buy a coffee for you?" his secretary asked. She's unpredictable, that's what he thought at her. He thinks that this woman had done some research about her work.

"Oh, yes! Order two Espresso Americano." His secretary nodded and handed over the card he had given.

When she got out of the office, she was immediately grabbed her chest. It's because her heart was pounding harder.

"I thought it was going to explode." She stopped. She personally asked his boss for the coffee thing. She knew that she had caught up by her boss staring to him again. She's competent and even determined to do her plan and succeed. But she seems to be giving up right away. She never expect to experienced that butterfly in her stomach.

She couldn't stop talking to herself even when those she encounters were already looking at her and saying random things at her.

"I heard that she's the new secretary of Mr. Jacob." She heard from her surrounding.

"She's just beautiful but she seems like a psycho." She heard again. But she let it passed because she doesn't care about the haters who's doing is hate at all times.

And she did get to the coffee shop inside that company.

"Two ice Americano, please," she said giving her orders to waiter.

After a minute she get the order and immediately returned. She maintained her composure until she went inside the CEO's office. She place down the two coffees on his boss's table. She's about to return to her table when she heard her boss saying something. "The other one is yours." She stopped at what her boss said. She looks at her boss having a disbelief that his boss has a kind heart. Imagine that your boss treats you an Ice Americano?

"Ice Americano?" she whispered to herself as she read what was written on the cup. Only now did she notice that what she had bought was wrong. She smiled at her boss to hide it. "Thank you, Sir." That was all she said and slowly returned to her table.

Just as she sat down, the office door suddenly opened. They were both surprised because a woman opened it with a bang.

"So you're here all along!" the lady said emphatically.

"Sorry miss, but did I know you?" Her boss raised an eyebrow towards the lady.

The lady got annoyed by what her boss said and turned to her who's just sitting there dumbfounded.

"The last time I saw, your secretary's desk was in front of your office." The lady even glared at her.

"Well miss, it's not up to you to decide for that matter."

"You don't know me? I can't believe you!" The lady seems angry. "We're just talking on the phone last night!" the lady added giving her boss a look of anger.

"Sorry but I don't remember," her boss said firmly.

How can he be so calm at this situation? That's what Bela thought. Well, not to mention but this one is part of her plan. And she even know this lady. And this lady is doing her part to act.

"You don't remember, huh." The lady grabbed the coffee on the table of her boss and immediately throw it on her boss. The face of her boss could not be painted in what the lady did. Her boss was in totally shocked thinking that his skin would be peeled because of the coffee. But it turns out to be a cold water.

She immediately called the security guard and order to picked up the lady there. She then approached her boss to wipe his clothes. Their bodies were so close to each other. She even smells the stinks of coffee, but the perfume is much stronger. She was going to unbutton the longsleeve of her boss.

"I can handle this." They stared from each other a minute long.

"Oh, I'm sorry Sir," she said hiding her embarrassment once again.

At the same time, the glass window of the office automatically turned black. She was amazed because it was the first time she had encountered something like that.

A few minutes later, her boss came out, wearing a different suit and having his wet hair. The man's aura is really different when his hair is wet. It looks very fresh and it's hot.

"And there's a bathroom, too? No wonder this office is a huge one," she whispered.

She stared at her boss entirety. Her boss looks very handsome, but it makes her wonder why his boss still doesn't have a girlfriend until now. By what she seen, it doesn't look that her boss wants a man either.

"Are you trying to melt me?" her boss said. She looked away from the moment she heard that.

"Oh my, why he's so good at capturing," she whispered again. "I'm sorry Sir, I didn't mean to."

"Follow me, we have somewhere to go."

Here it is, she followed her boss. In every passage they pass, there are women they are talking to. Many of them raise their eyebrows and stare at her. But she only smiles at them to make them even angrier. When they left the company, someone was waiting in their car. The driver came out and opened the door for her boss. Her boss entered there, while she was remained standing outside.

Her boss glanced at her. "Why you're still standing there?" She was stunned from a moment but later she immediately entered when she realized something. She thought that the driver would also open the car's door for her but she realized that she was merely a secretary there.

They stopped in front of the coffee shop. But it's even more than just a coffee shop because you will only find the most expensive types of coffee there.

By the actions of the waiters, her boss seemed to be well-known there. They even convey them to a private table.

When the two sat down, the waitress immediately approached them. The waitress smiled at them, because the waitress only saw that her boss had brought a woman there. So the waitress thinks that she must be his girlfriend.

"Good day Ma'am, Sir!" the waitress greeted them. "Since, you've just arrived Ma'am, Sir, may I know if you want to avail our special offer?"

"Special offer?" her boss said wondering about it. She just keep quiet and didn't say a word because her boss just took her there.

"Our special offer is free," the waitress said.

"Daebak!" The two look at her because of what she said.

"Ma'am, are you a Kdrama fan?" the waitress asked.

"Yes!" she replied with a smile.

"Really Ma'am? Same here!" They look and smile at each other. But it fades when her boss looks at them.

"I will order the usual coffee I had here," her boss said emotionless.

"Got it Sir!" the waitress replied.

"Wait. Sir can we try their special offer?" The waitress look at them having disbelief to what she have heard. She call him Sir? So her instinct was wrong, they aren't couple.

"Our special promo is for a couple only," the waitress immediately said.

She suddenly fake a coughed when she heard that. "Oh, I see." She fake a smile to hide the embarrassment. "Well, we're not going to avail the promo," she said even smiling to them.

"Why not?" her boss said that made them look at him surprised. "Okay, lets avail their promo," her boss added grinning towards her.

"S-sir it's okay, we don't have to," she said having discomfort of her instinct what would going to happen.

"We will avail your promo," her boss said firmly.

"There's a condition Sir if you avail it," the waitress said.

Her boss agreed so the waitress explained what they were. They went inside the photo booth and they had to do the posts that were being post there. The first one is smiling with each other and they did that so easily. The second was to hug each other, which they also did. And the last one, the reason why they are staring at each other now.

"Kiss?" She bite her lips imagining what's the feeling of being kiss by her handsome boss. "No way, this is not the first kiss that I wanted," she whispered. "Sir, it's okay not to avail, you know." She even smile to her boss showing him that it's okay not to do such thing. But she was surprised when her boss suddenly squeezed her by the waist and their face got closer and closer to each other. She was being statuesque on her stand and held the built muscle of her boss. She closed her eyes and just felt something on her lips. It was a ten seconds gentle kiss with responsed. She was just stunned by what happened and did not take any action. And since there was no action to be taken, her boss took her hand and pulled her out of there. This is also the first kiss of her boss and he didn't even know why he did that.

When they returned to the table, the special order for the special promo that they did was already placed there. They also have a freebies which is a couple mug, since it is a coffee shop. In return, they provided their captured photos inside the booth and that will be posted on the love board there.

Because of what happened she can't look straight to her boss. So the only thing she do is to bow down while eating.

"Are you going to eat like that?" her boss said having disbelief. "Lift your head or I will lift it myself?" She immediately raised her head. Both their eyes met in the middle but they also immediately avoided each others gaze. Maybe it's the feeling of awkwardness between them. They were both silent and both could not look at each other.

"Is that your first time?" Finally, her boss broke the silence between them.

She looks at her boss. "Ahm, what do you mean Sir?" she said pretending not knowing what her boss meant.

"Is that your first kiss?" her boss repeat. She nod as a sign of responsed. She suddenly felt shame but that's the truth, that she is "No boyfriend since birth". It's because she have waited for him a long time ago. But her boss doesn't know about it. And he doesn't need to know about it.

Suddenly, her boss smiled at the fact that they share a similar experience. And until they finished eating her boss was still smiling.