CEO of My Heart

Chapter 1: First Sight

Shit. I'm late. I can't be late.

I almost jumped out of the taxi when I finally got to the entrance of our building.

Late ka na, Kate. Late ka na naman.

8:30 am. I was supposed to be here thirty minutes ago. We are doing a pictorial for the company's bosses and our first subject is arriving at 9am.

I rushed into the finger scan machine at the entrance and ran all the way to the nearest elevator right after pressing in.

It was still very early and wala pang tao so I was waiting for the elevators alone. Good, walang ibang kaagaw. Sakto lang pag nagmamadali. I have to make it to the 13th floor asap to check the set up.

The photographer was already there but I have to show him the visual pegs so that he'll know how to set-up the lights.

Finally, one elevator opened its doors.

Ang aga naman kasi. Sabi ko 10am dapat ang first subject eh. Sino ba naman kasi ang pumapasok ng 8am sa isang TV network kung saan puyat lagi ang lahat?

Pasara na sana ang elevator when I saw a hand waving between the doors to stop them from closing.

Kainis! Kung kelan namam nagmamadali ang tao tsaka naman...

My thoughts were rudely interrupted when a "Clark Kent" entered the elevator.

Eyeglasses. Long sleeved polo shirt. Necktie. On his arm, he was carrying his suit.

Teka, may nagsu-suit ba sa opisinang ito?

He is a Clark Kent. Cute na nerd. I've always had a soft spot for nerds, especially the cute ones. And this one? Definitely a Clark Kent.

He had that boy-next-door look. Mukhang matino at inosente. Yet, he was exuding a vibe na para bang ang tali-talino niya. Mukhang genius.

Saan kaya ang meeting nito? I saw him press the 15 button. 15th floor? Ano'ng gagawin nito sa executive office?

Ang cute niya ha. He looks about the same age as me, or baka mas matanda sa akin nang konti.

He was not wearing a guest pass, so malamang empleyado siya dito. I was checking him for an ID hoping to get his name. He was not wearing any. Sayang.

Ting!

At mas sayang na nasa 13th floor na kami. The elevator doors opened. Kung di lang ako nagmamadali, di talaga ako bababa. Susundan ko siya hanggang 15th floor. Stalker level.

But I had to go. Late na nga kasi.

To my surprise, he held the doors open for me. Nakakainis. Cute na nga, gentleman pa. Nasaan ang hustisya?

I muttered a quick thank you to Mr. Clark Kent as I was going out of the elevator. I caught a glimpse of his boyish smile. Syet. Cute nya talaga. Nakakaganda ng umaga.

Bye, Clark Kent.

Ok. Back to work.

Syempre pagdating ko, wala pa talagang naka-set-up.

I immediately talked to Josh, our photographer, to show him the pegs. After seeing them, he quickly instructed the lightmen on where to put the lights.

My phone rang. It was Ms. Tina, the assistant of our first subject, Sir Carl. She's asking if we are ready because Sir Carl is in his office waiting for our cue to go to the pictorial set.

Of course...not! And of course I could not tell her that.

"Miss Tina, may inaayos pa po kami sa set up. Give us 10 more minutes. Ganito na lang, I'll just send the make-up artist there. Pa-powderan na lang po muna natin si sir bago siya bumaba dito para ready na siya."

"Ok, pero bilisan nyo ha, may 10am meeting pa itong boss ko. Ayaw nito ng late." sabi ni Miss Tina.

Whew! Nakalusot!

Ang aga naman kasi talaga. Ang hirap kayang gumising nang maaga. Sino ba kasi itong si Sir Carl? Last year naman hindi ito kasama sa pictorial. And why do they call him the Boy Wonder? Partner ni Batman? Baka naman maliit kasi siya.

Kung ano-ano na naiisip ko. I am definitely not a morning person.

After 5 minutes, miss Tina arrived at the pictorial set-up. Medyo nag-panic ako kasi di pa sila tapos mag-set up.

"Ikaw ba si Kate?"

We just spoke over the phone when I was coordinating this photo shoot kaya ngayon din lang kami magkikita ni Miss Tina.

"Opo. Kayo po si Miss Tina?"

I reached out for a handshake to this middle aged woman. She looks strict and intimidating pero mukhang mabait naman nung kausap ko siya sa phone.

"Andun na yung make-up artist. Maya-maya lang bababa na si Carl."

Wow. First name basis sila. Ngayon lang ako nakarinig ng sekretarya who does not address her boss as sir.

"Alalayan mo na lang yung boss ko ha? First time nun sa pictorial eh. Mahiyain yun. Baka mahirapan kang pangitiin yun."

"Oo nga po, Miss Tina. Bagong executive pa lang po siya, ano? Wala kasi siya last year sa pictorial for the company annual report." I had to probe a little kasi curious ako kay Boy Wonder.

"VP na siya dun sa pinanggalingan niyang subsidiary. Pero ngayon nalipat siya dito sa mother company kaya ngayon lang siya makakasama sa company annual report."

"Bata pa po ba siya?"

Imbestiga pa more.

"Ay, oo! Mga 34 years old lang yun. Kaya di ko matawag na sir eh. 42 na ako."

Wow. Ang bata niya to be a vice president of a company. Matanda lang pala siya sa akin ng 9 years.

Lalo tuloy akong nagwa-wonder tungkol kay Boy Wonder.

I checked the set up. Finally, natapos din. I saw Josh taking sample shots at one of the light men.

"Mabilis lang naman ito di ba?" Medyo makulit si Miss Tina.

"Ay, opo! Basta magsa-smile agad yung boss nyo, mabilis tayong matatapos."

"Eh yun lang. Maghanda ka na ng joke mo."

Natawa na lang ako sa sinabi ni Miss Tina. Pati siya natawa.

Then, she looked over my shoulder to the direction of the door. Nakatalikod kasi ako sa pinto.

"Eto na pala siya."

I turned around quickly to see our first subject.

And there he was.

Clark Kent.