Elysian Secrets

Kabanata 4

Nagsitayuan ang lahat ng balahibo niya sa batok sa malalim na boses na iyon. Still, she had the presence of mind to shove the black envelope, the invite, and the Elysium card under her overnight bag bago niya nilingon ang pinanggalingan ng boses.

Raphael is standing by the door to his office. Suot pa rin nito ang pantalon nito kanina noong sinamahan siya nito sa elevator. He lost the the suit jacket. His white buttoned down shirt remained instead.

He looked like he just rolled out of bed, with his rumpled shirt and messy hair standing on ends. Nangangati ang mga paa niyang lumapit rito at paraanan ng mga daliri ang buhok nitong magulo at nagsisitayuan.

She fought the urge down. The man is not Niccolo that she could mother. In fact, he is two full years older than her. If may dapat ituring na bata sa kanilang dalawa, siya iyon.

She focused her eyes on his face so she could forget all about his rumpled hair. The irritated look he is throwing her way helped.

"I'm waiting, Guiliana." His tone is dripping with impatience.

"May binalikan lang ako," paliwanag niya.

"At this ungodly hour? It's so important, hindi na puwedeng ipagpa-Lunes pa?" nagdududa nitong tanong.

Hindi siya umimik kaya kumawala ang tinitimpi nitong iritasyon and bore down on her. She pushed her overnight bag farther and planted herself in front of it.

He stopped right in front of her, standing toe-to-toe. If she leaned her head forward, her nose will bury itself into the middle of his chest. That forbidden image popping in her head scared her enough that she leaned back to look at him in the eyes. Wala na siyang pakialam kahit mangalay man ang leeg niya. Ang mahalaga, no part of her face would bury into any part of his chest.

His eyes flicked for a second at her overnight bag, then returned to her face.

"What are you hiding, hun?"

As usual, she pointedly ignored the endearment.

"Nothing."

He tried to push pass her to get to her bag, but she pushed on his chest with two hands. It was like pushing on a wall. A moving wall.

He kept coming, pushing her to walk back until her butt met the hard edge of her desk. Wala na siyang mauurungan pero sige pa rin ito sa paglapit.

She doesn't know how it happened but she found herself perched on the edge of her desk, thighs parting for him. The same desk that trapped her, stopped him. Napakapit siya sa dulo ng mesa and stared at her boss, wide-eyed, as she felt the steel between his legs pressed up to her core.

"Sir?" How does she always end up in this situation with this man?

"You know my name, sugar. Use it."

"R-Raphael?"

She wanted it to sound like a command but it was closer to a whimper than anything else. Pathethic. No one can command a proud dragon.

His wicked grin thrilled and horrified her at the same time. That made her feel even worse . "Yeah, hun?"

"Move back. Let me go."

"Not happening."

Was that supposed to be a whisper? Or was that just a product of her hyperactive imagination? It must be the latter because Raphael did took one step back.

After sniffing her. He must have sniffed her. What's that deep inhale for if not for that?

"Coming back here at 1AM is not nothing." One-track mind. Basta sa pangingialam sa buhay niya, may one-track mind ito.