Chapter 1: The New CEO

It’s been a week since Mr. Montero announced the changes on the company I’ve been in for about 3 years now. I was his secretary and I was close to their family treating me and my brother as their own since the unfortunate day when my parents died. They’ve given me the job because they said they’ve known my parents from along time ago which was very new to me and my brother since the first day because mom and dad never mentioned a friend like them. I’ve never heard their names but they had brought the proof at the funeral.

My parents’ picture when they were just got married and beside them, the smiling faces of the Monteros.

My brother Dean and I though never accepted them adopting us or the house or the money they offered with us not worked hard for it.

We both learned to be independent from other people and we were so close that we sometimes practically sleep in a bed.

Well then, enough of our history.

I set the final folder down on the table Mr. Montero used to own. It saddened me and all of the employees knowing everything will never be the same again without our father in the company.

“Is everything done?”, I heard Cecille from the doorway and I nodded fixing my skirt. I looked at my watch checking the time.

Today was the day our new CEO would take over and it would be the very same day I was assigned to be his assistant due to my last boss’ request. And of course how could I refuse when I owe him everything that I am.

“They’re at the lobby talking with pleasantries, you know”, she giggled.

“Okay. Let’s get ready”, I instructed and she cleared her throat knowing I disliked impropriety when it comes to our work. I’ve always wanted everything to be done perfectly. I’ve hated it when something fails even on the little details we had.

We walked out of the room and formed a line just outside.

I wore a business face when the elevator dinged open and about five men stepped out of it.

They were chatting about the company and other businesses and studied the new faces. Four of them were unfamiliar. They were all wearing suits but the two of them had earpieces so I just guessed they were body guards.

Mr. Montero and his son, Diego, were grinning widely at the man they were talking to and who I assumed the new CEO and my new boss. I made it my first priority to make sure that everything was up to this man’s satisfaction so that I wouldn’t put Mr. Montero’s name to shame. I would do anything, whatever it would take… anything that was related to work and what justifiable in line of my work as his assistant.

They were a few steps away from where I was standing and I was just about to greet them when my eyes finally landed at the man who would sit on the throne from now own and would consume much of my time than my brother and my dog.

And that was when I felt what the girl on the movie I watched last night described. The one thought she said I claimed stupid. The world stopping right in front of you and your senses would fail you just then. My breathing faltered until it stopped and my eyes stung painfully.

I stood there frozen. And I felt the blood draining out of me.

H-How is this even possible?, I asked no one in particular.

Was this some kind of a joke?

Or was it one of those another movie-referenced line that I should say and justify how small the world can be for the two people for them to meet?

Why is he here?!

The hurt…

The pain…

My own heart breaking…

Everything I’ve tried so hard to forget, and when I thought I was finally succeeding, was coming back to me.

My heart that was long erased the feeling for him started beating fast inside of me and I was afraid it might come out of my chest.

It hurts!

It was like a bullet killing me in an instant.

Before I knew it, they were in front of me.

‘HE’ was right in front of me.

The man who left me years ago without any word. The man I needed the most when I had nothing left but was nowhere to be found.

“Mr. Esguerra…”, Mr. Montero started smiling, “this is—“, before he could even utter my name, the heartless man said my name.

“Alice…”, he said it so easily like he still had the right. He said it the way he used to say it before and I had to grind my teeth for that.

How dare him!!!

Eyes flew to my whole being wondering how a man of his power could come to know my name.

“You know her?”, someone asked. I did not bother to know who because I was staring at those familiar yet unfamiliar set of chocolate eyes I loved. I remembered how they looked at me with softness but now, they were hard and cold and it hurt.

“Yes”, even his voice, hard and cold.

“That’s great! She’s going to be your assistant from now on and I tell you, she is the best I know when it comes to her work. Some of my friends and foes alike wanted to steal her away from me so I needed to warn you to keep her safe”, the joke made his eyes even darker by the second and I saw his face fell emotionless.

And somehow I wondered what happened to him. What happened to the boy that was sweet and caring?

“So Alice? I guess you also know this man?”

I wanted to say no but then I thought denying him would only make me look bitter at things and I had to show that he didn’t affect me anymore.

I smiled and turned to Mr. Montero. Taking a deep breathe, I struggled to pronounce his name.

The name I called many times but the owner never showed up, never came.

His name.

“Mr. Seth Esguerra… Welcome, sir”, I almost gave myself a reward for saying it calmly and naturally like he didn’t make me want to run away from here.

Like my knees were not shaking.

Like my hands were not itching to slap him.

I reached out to shake his hand and his eyes did not waver off of me. They became wild with emotions I could not fathom what though he remained emotionless nonetheless.

He grasped my hand in a firm grip and his familiar warmth enveloped me. He stepped a little closer that I could smell his cologne.

He squeezed my small hand still looking at me in the eyes.

Without another word, he turned and went inside his new office followed by the other four men and I knew I had to do the same.

What have I gotten myself into?

Seth…

He, showing up so suddenly and worse, the new boss, surely changed things now.

Taking another deep sigh, I made my way to the door wishing this was just another nightmare.

Should I quit?