Weight of Desire (Puerto Del Sol Series)

Chapter 4

Busy..

A month passed quickly, filled with meetings, deadlines, and late-night conversations with Alex. Every day felt like a mix of progress and stress, but I was slowly finding my balance. My business was still facing challenges, but my team and I were working hard to make things better.

One afternoon, I was sitting in my office, staring at my computer screen. The numbers on the sales report weren’t as high as I wanted them to be, but they were improving. I sighed, rubbing my temples. "Kaya mo ‘to, Margaux."

Mia knocked softly on my door. “Hey, you okay?” she asked, concern on her face.

“Yeah, just tired,” I replied with a small smile. “Pero okay naman. Konti na lang, babalik na tayo sa dati.”

“That’s the spirit!” she said, her red hair bouncing as she moved toward the table. “By the way, may bagong influencer na gusto kong i-consider for our next campaign. She’s young, trendy, and I think she can really connect with our target market.”

I nodded, scanning through the profile she showed me. “Hmm, okay siya. Let’s give her a shot.”

After Mia left, I leaned back in my chair, glancing out the window. The sky was clear, with just a few clouds lazily drifting by. I missed the calm of weekends, but right now, work was my priority. "Focus lang, Margaux."

Later that evening, I had plans to meet Alex. He had been my constant support, always knowing when to cheer me up or give me space when I needed it. Tonight, we were going to his place for a quiet dinner. I was looking forward to it—just the two of us, no work, no stress.

As I arrived at his apartment, I could already smell something delicious cooking. I knocked, and the door swung open, revealing Alex in a simple gray t-shirt, his smile wide.

“Hey there,” he greeted, pulling me in for a quick hug. “You hungry? I made pasta.”

I laughed, stepping inside. “Always. You know I can’t say no to your cooking.”

We sat at the small dining table, the cozy atmosphere making me feel at ease. As we ate, we talked about our day, sharing both the good and the bad. He told me about a new project he was working on, while I vented a little about work.

“Alam mo, kahit mahirap, you’re doing great,” Alex said, looking at me seriously. “You’re strong, Margaux. You can handle this.”

I smiled, feeling the warmth of his words. “Thank you. I needed that.”

After dinner, we moved to the couch, relaxing while the TV played quietly in the background. I leaned against his shoulder, feeling the weight of the day slowly melt away.

“You know,” I started, my voice soft, “sometimes I feel like I’m drowning in expectations. From my dad, my family... even from myself. Minsan gusto ko lang ng konting pahinga.”

Alex’s arm wrapped around me tighter. “I get it. But remember, you don’t have to carry everything alone. I’m here.”

I nodded, feeling the comfort in his presence. He always knew what to say.

The next morning, I woke up early, ready for another busy day. As I drove to the office, the streets of Cebu were already buzzing with life. Vendors were setting up their stalls, and children were walking to school, their uniforms neat and pressed.

When I arrived, my team was already waiting in the conference room. Mia was going over the latest marketing strategy, and Jason was discussing the budget. The atmosphere was tense but focused.

“Okay, let’s get started,” I said, taking a seat at the head of the table. “We need to finalize everything for the campaign by next week. We don’t have time to waste.”