Dancing with the Devil

Chapter 21

He looks at me full of menace as he stands in front of me as I retouch my makeup. Para siyang baliw na ngingisi kapag nagtatagpo ang aming tingin. I dropped my compact mirror and gave him a warning look.

“What?” he laughed innocently. Ang tuwa ay naglalaro sa kaniyang mga mata.

“Darling, get my alcohol please.” Turo niya sa alcohol na wala naman kanina. Diretso ang tingin sa akin, nang-aasar pang inispray ito sa kamay niya.

“Stop it!”

Inignora niya ang aking suway at pinagpagan ang sarili, sinusubukang ituwid ang mga lukot na ginawa ko sa manggas ng kanyang suit.

“You wanna come with me?”

“Where? To the meeting?” Tukoy ko. “Am I even allowed there?” Tunog nag-aalangan, dahil una ay ayaw kong makadisturbo, pangalawa I felt like I’m invading their privacy.

“Who says you’re not?” 

“Come on, I wanna get this done immediately. So we can continue what we’re doing.” He grinned at me playfully.

Tinabig ko ang kaniyang kamay na nakahawak sa aking braso at nauna nang maglakad sa kanya. Mabilis siyang nakasunod  sa akin at siya na mismo ang nagbukas ng pinto. Sinabulong kami agad ng kaniyang sekretarya, I can feel the rush in his every move.

Panigurado ay dahil sa pagkalate ng kaniyang boss sa meeting. I walked behind him and let his secretary do its job, to add up— I can’t catch up with their pace. Masyadong mahaba ang biyas nila kaysa sa akin.

“Wait a second.”

Nilingon niya ako na tila nagtataka. “Why are you walking behind me? Are you ashamed of me?”

This asshole. “Ask my feet, they might answer you.” 

He was in awe of my choice of words and he looked at me amusingly. “I am sorry for asking, princess. I shouldn’t have questioned your—” he clapped his hand to cut off his own words. Annoying me more, “come on, stand beside me.”

Ang galing-galing talaga niya mang-bwisit.

I walked past him with arms crossed, thinking that I’m not familiar with the place I stop immediately. Inirapan ko siya ng makita ang ngisi niya. His secretary was just silent, and maybe wondering why his jerk boss is acting up.

“This way, ma’am,” he held my arms and led me the way.

He opened the door for me and let me in first. Tila dumaan ang anghel ng itapak ko ang sariling paa sa loob ng meeting room. I can see how my appearance confuses them. I understand them. They don’t know me, and I am not even relevant to this meeting. Kung hindi lang ako nahila ng isa ay malamang sa malamang nagmumukmok lang ako sa office niya ngayon.

They immediately settled down as I felt his presence beside me. Igininaya niya ako patungo sa bakanteng upuan. Yung nasa gitna. The reversed seat for him, and only for him. This reminds me of how our worlds were apart by the huge gap that I can’t ignore. It somehow made me feel small.

They’re already well established whilst I was just still at the starting point. 

I avoided their gazes and kept my head held high. I must fake it until I make it. They were all formal— wearing their best suits partnered with a chosen tie that would represent them. Samantalang ako, I was still in my uniform. I look pretty basic.

He neared in my ears. “You’re fine. Don’t mind them.”

Naghila siya ng bakanteng upuan mula sa gilid at nilagay ito kanyang gilid. He snickered at Art’s hinting him to move his seat so I can perfectly settle on his right side. My brother was in front of me, making it easy for our eyes to meet.