Calm and collected, calm and collected, calm and collected.
He should be calm and collected when she gets here. But fuck, he's the total opposite now.
'Tangina Faulkerson, umayos ka. Tagal mong pinaghandaan 'to. Do not ruin it.
The light buzz of his intercom distracted him. He turned away from his office's floor to ceiling windows and went to his oak CEO table in the middle of the room.
"Yes?" He asked brusquely as he pressed the button of the machine.
"Your 10am has arrived, Sir."
"Let them in."
He waited at his table as his secretary opened his door for Atty. Feliciano and the woman who is the reason why he's such a wreck right now.
Maine.
Here we go Faulkerson. Do not mess this up.
"Mr. Faulkerson, good morning." Atty. Feliciano greeted him when they were finally inside. He nodded but he didn't look at him because his eyes were already focused on the lady behind the lawyer.
Maine has changed. He remembered her as a pretty and cheerful young lady so he didn't expect the guarded woman in front of him now.
Guarded but exquisite. I bet she'll be more lovely when she's pliant in my arms while I.. fuck Faulkerson, rein it in!
It has been a long time since he last saw Maine, six years to be exact. For a long time, he constrained himself to disregard what he felt for her. All this time he had driven himself to nurture only the pain and the resentment for the day that they run into each other once more.
For this day.
He believed he's readied enough and got everything secured except he was so wrong.
God knows how enticed he is at this moment to just disregard everything. God knows how he's making an effort now not to bridge the short distance between them so she can already hold her.
No. No Richard.
He cleared his throat to distract himself. "So I believe you've already advised Ms. Mendoza about everything?" He said through clenched teeth, trying his best to suppress the overwhelming emotions that he is feeling at the moment.
"Yes Sir. Ipinaliwanag ko na sa kanya lahat kahapon."
"Okay, I'd like to speak with her in private please, iwan mo muna kami. We'll call you when everything's settled." He advised the lawyer who followed willingly in return. He motioned for Maine to have a seat in one of the chairs in front of his table.
"How are you, Maine?" He asked as the woman came near which gave him a better view of her eyes. Her swollen eyes. Maybe from crying? He thought.
"I am good, thank you."
"Aren't you going to ask me in return? Ang tagal din nating 'di nagkita ha?" He asked when Maine did not show any attempt to start a conversation.
Maine sensed his sarcasm and gave her a piercing stare. "I don't think I still need to, it's already obvious."
Yeah, still the lady with the sharp comebacks.
He smirked. "Alright, I think you want to go straight to business which is actually good because time is money. I trust Attorney Feliciano already made you aware that we're willing to bend budgets to make sure that we can already start the proj--"
"Why are you doing this RJ?" Maine asked, interrupting him.
"Alin? Itong project na 'to?"
"These. Why are you doing these? D-dahil ba 'to sa nangyari dati?"
"Are you trying to say that I am doing all these just so I can get back to you?" He asked exaggeratedly.
Maine appeared to be embarrassed by his answer and was not able to respond.
Then he laughed, he just had to. The sound of his amusement bounced off the walls of his office and he saw how it made Maine uncomfortable.
With an exasperated tone she spoke, "I will have to think about what you are.. y-your company is forcing me to do here. Tatawagan ko na lang si Atty. Feliciano kapag ready na 'ko. Sa kanya na lang ako makikipag-usap." She stood and started pacing towards the door.
"What if I tell you that, yes, I'm doing all these to get back to you. All these to hurt you, Maine? Anong gagawin mo?"
His revelation stopped Maine mid stride. He took the chance and walked towards her.
"Please, RJ. Not today."
"Please? Naalala mo sabi ko din sa'yo no'n, please? Sabi ko sa'yo no'n, please ipaglaban mo ko? Sabi ko sa sa'yo no'n please pakiusapan mo yung pamilya mo na huwag idamay ang nanay ko? Na ako na lang ang aalis? But guess what, hindi naman gumana sa'yo yang please na yan."
"You don't know what you're talking about."
"Tang-ina Maine, your family ruined my life. You ruined me. You played me for a fool. "
"Hindi totoo yan!" Maine shouted.
She looked at him and he saw tears. Kulang pa 'yan.
Maine turned and went for the door.
Oh no, you won't. He thought.
He grabbed her and pinned her on the wall, setting his leg between hers. She reacted by pushing him so he took her wrists and held it firmly above her head. They were so close that he can feel the contours of her body molding into his and it drove him crazy. They were so close that he can smell her delicious scent. So close that he almost want to take her right there in that spot, in that room.
"Saan ka pupunta? Aalis ka na? Tatalikuran mo ko ulit?"
"Please RJ, let me go.." Maine begged.
"No." And at that same moment, he shunned all limitations he'd been forcing on himself and kissed Maine. He took her lips angrily as payback for all the torment that he believed she brought on him. He bit, suck, and took all that he can take without her permission.
This is his revenge and he wants more. He demands more.
He let go of her hands so he can hold her. His arm encircled her waist while the other grabbed her hair so he can angle her head up. As her mouth slightly opened as a result of the action, he saw the chance and dove in, entering her without a warning, his tongue pushing and seducing.
With a few more push and teasing he felt something change. He felt her body relaxing, trusting him to carry her weight and her hands, though reluctantly at first climbed his neck until it got entangled in his hair.
He knows he's winning. But slowly he knows he's also losing.
Richard knows that right now, it is already his yearning for this woman that is controlling him and judging from the way that Maine took him in, he understood that they share the same hunger for each other.
Step by step the kisses became slow, delicate, thoughtful. They would've stayed that way forever if only humans have no care for air, yet they do, and hesitantly they both let go.
Both disoriented, they look at each other, uncertain of what to do. But Maine was the first to recover and just as he was going to utter something she turned and left his office.
He had never been so confused in all his years.
