The Art of Persuasion

Persuade Me

Persuade Me

I woke up with a bit of a heavy feeling. Naubos ko ata ang wine kagabi kaya medyo hindi ko kinaya kung gaano kasakit ang ulo ko ngayon. I walked out of my room and blankly stared at my living room. Nagkalat ang sapatos at bag ko sa carpet at naalala ko nga palang pinagbabato ko 'yon kagabi. I picked it up and put it in place as I grabbed my phone inside my bag. It was all work-related email notifications since may access ang phone ko sa yahoo account ko and missed calls from whoever they may be.

I headed towards the bathroom and started doing my morning rituals. I cooked breakfast and decided to have a coffee since sobrang stressed ako this week. I also decided to go ditch work for today dahil ayoko pang harapin ang napakabait kong boss. If only I could be absent forever nagawa ko na sana because he won't even mind my absence anyway. Unfornately, I can't because I just don't want to.

Maya-maya lang ay nagring na ulit ang phone ko at tiningnan ko ng mabuti kung sino ang caller. I immediately answered the phone and a loud voice greeted me. So much for a peaceful morning I'd say.

"Goodness! Where were you last night? I contacted you rin sa phone mo pero cannot be reached ka and hindi mo sinasagot yung telepono sa condo mo. Teka, where are you? Bakit hindi ka pumasok today, gosh you're driving me insane!" My mother called, kidding. It was Portia; part time mother full time someone I can count on. I continued chewing my omelet and finished my meal before I started speaking.

"Battery went dead last night. Nag-overtime ako and absent ako ngayon, that's it." I explained as she repeatedly sighed. I giggled, she always gets frustrated because of me. She knows I'm a pain in the ass.

"What's happening ba, Cil? Why do you made an absent all of a sudden? Nag-away ba kayo ni.." I cut her immediately and headed to the dishwasher. Napailing-iling na lang ako as I remembered what happened last night, I'm damn tired playing safe.

"Nothing happened. Just forget it, I'd probably just go on a half day since may inuwi pala akong files dito sa bahay at ngayon ko na lang ipapasa. Got to go, sugar. Bye!" I hanged up as fast as I can to avoid her continuous questions. Knowing Portia, hindi 'yon titigil hangga't hindi nasasagot ang mga gusto niyang malaman. She's too smart for everything and I'm not much of an entertainer so I don't want her to know what happened. Saka na lang kapag nasipagan akong magsabi.

It was almost 2 in the afternoon so I decided to pack up and go to work. Tinapos ko na muna ng maigi yung mga files na ipapasa ko kasi baka mamaya kapag pinasa ko mag-mood swings yung boss ko at pag-initan pa ako. As much as possible, I'm so fed up with all the fights between us at ayoko muna ng gulo. I'm focusing on how to deal with the statement I made last night and fighting isn't going to solve anything.

I locked my condo and went into the parking lot sa ground floor. I walked towards my car and started the engine. It is an Audi R8 that I got on my 18th birthday three years ago. I can afford to buy a new one pero special lang talaga 'tong R8 sakin dahil this was one of my dad's gift to me.

It didn't took a while at nasa parking lot na agad ako ng Crescendo, the largest company that conquers mostly all of its competitors dahil bukod sa nasa lahi na ng pamilyang Fuego na siyang may-ari ng kumpanya ang pagiging negotiable, every investor and client they had always come back for more connection with them dahil hindi hamak namang convincing ang offers ng kumpanya nila at miski narin ang asset ng company-the great acting CEO himself, Caleb Ignatius Fuego.

Even his name makes ladies swoon and come running after him. He's not your typical Christian Grey type of man, he's decent, probably because his second name says it all-he's a saint trap in an alluring body ready to be dominated. He's also not your boy-next-door nor your bad boy turned into a good one. He's just Caleb Ignatius Fuego-only colder, selfish and unpredictable.