Lumayo Ka Man Sa Akin

Chapter I

September 27, 2005

Hugo Berenguer stared at the December 2004 edition of Philippine Tatler.

Wearing a sleek and neatly cut Paul Cabral tuxedo, he stood behind his longitme girl friend/best friend Andrea Trinidad who was wearing a red Inno Sotto mermaid dress, his left arm around her waist.

Hugo drank another sip of his scotch, throwing the magazine on the floor.

He could not help but think whether or not he and Andrea are even meant for each other. Indeed they are very used to each other's company; growing up together, they were more like best friends. Andrea has always been there for him and he has always been there for her. When Hugo's mother left his father for another man, Andrea was the person who tried to calm him down and make him see the other beauties of life.

Yet, he does not feel any sort of deep intimacy but comfort. Comfort and stability which are enough in a partnership.

Glancing at his Nokia N-70, he was debating whether to call Andrea or not in Italy. A couple of days ago, she flew to Italy to pursue her degree in fashion design and he promised her that he would always call. Part of him want to keep his word yet another part of hin tells him that he shouldn't. He shouldn't because he might get her hopes up, which already are, that he feels the same way as she does towards him. He wasn't exactly sure.

Another sip of scotch diverted Hugo's attention towards the beautiful, doe-eyed woman who came out with his father from his library. This must be his father's new assistant.

Interesting.

...

Lillian Valdez is a firm believer of hard work and she owes her present and future to Armando Berenguer.

After two years of working for him, two years of being his personal assistant and a year of being the general manager of his Makati-based restaurant "Popote", this is the first time she has ever been to his mansion. When she entered his mansion, she shouldn't have been surprised how grand it is; in fact, she's more surprised about how its design and interior seem to be very minimalist. If she'd describe Armando, "minimal" is far from it. Knowing him for two years, he wants everything over the top in a non-cheesy way. Over the top at its best.

The motif was white and black. Well, she could understand why. If anything, it's either black or white for Armando, never a gray area. His walls were decorated only with original and expensive works of art: she noticed a huge canvas that looked a lot like a work of art by Jackson Pollock and Paul Cezanne.

She smiled. That's one of the many things she and Armando have in common: a passion for art.

She felt her heart jump when she saw a man wearing a white Lacoste polo that fit his body perfectly and peach Brooks Brothers cargo shorts walking towards her, his Oakley sunglasses over his head.

For some reason she couldn't explain, she found herself even more awestruck by the presence of this man. He walked with so much confidence and his dark brown eyes were glued to hers. She had never felt so taken off-guard by a man's presence before. Sure she dated a lot of good looking men in the past (just two actually) yet nobody has ever made her feel the way this man approaching her is making her feel at that moment.

She could tell he's an athlete, he's very toned and has a perfect posture. He had a nice olive skin tone and his chiseled face reminds her of a Bernini sculpture.

"Are you waiting for my Dad?" he asked.

Oh, so this is the infamous Hugo Berenguer. The troublemaker. The eldest child of Armando Berenguer from his model ex-wife Helena Preysler. There were not much similarties between Hugo and Armando except for those cold eyes and nonchalant attitude. Hugo looked very much like Helena.

"Well, yes. He invited me here." Lillian answered weakly,

Hugo chuckled, taking a sip from his glass of scotch and said, "He should be back soon. I think there was an emergency at one of the restaurants in Rizal. Please make yourself at home,"

They walked to their huge living room and Lilian felt awkward around Hugo's presence. She wasn't exactly sure if it was because of the awkward silence or because of the awkward,

unexplainable attraction she was feeling towards her boss' son.

"So gaano katagal ka nang nagta-trabaho para sa Dad ko?" Hugo asked, trying to make a conversation.

"Two years," Lilllian tentatively responded,

Hugo sat across from Lillian and had a good look of her. God she's beautiful, he thought. Her eyes are round with certain depth filled with innocence but definitely plenty of life experiences, she had pale-alabaster skin and aquiline, eagle-like nose. She wore a classic white blouse matched with a strand of pearls around her neck and beige slacks paired with light snake skin pumps.

"How is it so far?" he asked, pouring more scotch in his glass.

Lillian smiled, "I love working for Armando. Pareho kami ng attitude about life and work. I look up to him, he's a great role model."

Hugo couldn't help but chuckle, "Are you serious? Well, that's new."

Lillian frowned, not understanding what Hugo meant, "Bakit? Hindi ba?"

Hugo sighed, "Not for my brother and I, he's not. Let me ask you, paano mo natagalan ng two years ang temper ni Dad? A lot of people quit on him for that very reason,"

Lillian looked at him with confidence, "That''s because I'm not a quitter. Malaki ang utang na loob ko kay Armando. I owe him who I am today and who I'm going to be in the future," she paused then continued, "And I've heard you're quite a prodigal son yourself, is that true?" Lillian challenged him.

Hugo could only smirk, he's never met a woman like Lillian Valdez. Women tend to get all giddy on him, desperate for his attention but not Lillian.

"So tell me Lillian, what have you been hearing about the prodigal son?"

Hugo moved a little closer towards her, making Lillian's heart beat like crazy. She felt herself blush but she won't back down from his challenge.

"All sorts of things. Which is none of my business and I don't intend on making it one of mine."

Hugo couldn't help but laugh, "I like you Lillian, I really do. You're a challenge."

Lillian didn't seem amused although deep inside, she was surprised not only by his confession but the fact that he actually knows her name, "I don't play games Mr. Berenguer," she paused after she heard the main door open, knowing Armando's home, "And the feeling isn't mutual,"

Bullshit, Lilllian told herself. What an utter bullshit.

Lillian stood up from the couch and grabbed her Hermes Birkin bag, "Well, it was a pleasure talking---"

Hugo held her arm before she could even finish her sentence and pulled her closer that she could feel his breath against her skin, "Have dinner with me tomorrow night Lillian, please."

"I'm sorry---" Before Lillian could even finish her sentence, Hugo placed his lips against hers.

It was a soft, sweet, and quick kiss yet Lillian couldn't explain why it felt so sensual to her.

"I'll pick you up at Popote tomorrow after your shift," he said, not even giving her a chance to respond whether she wants to go to dinner with him or not,

"You don't even know what time I'm working or if I'm even going to be there tomorrow,"

Hugo gave her one of his heartmelting, playboy smiles, "Trust me, I'll know."

As Lillian turned around to meet Armando, she was annoyed at herself for feeling such attraction towards Hugo. Before she even met him, Armando had warned her off of his son, telling her he was nothing but trouble. Armando treated her like his own daughter and she knew he's only protecting her from his son.

She didn't turn around to take a last glance of Hugo yet the kiss they shared kept repeating over and over in her head.

Yup, Lillian was aware she's getting into some serious trouble and she has no idea how to get out.