The Other Woman Of Jake Mitchell [R-18]

I

"You don't understand, miss," Jules' voice was full of urgency and frustration. "I need to talk to Mr. Mitchell. Pakisabi sobrang importante!"

"I'm so sorry, ma'am, but he doesn't want to be disturbed. You should call his assistant and make an appointment." sagot ng unipormadong babae sa kanya. She doesn't seem sorry at all! Jules ground her molars. She knew there was a smirk hiding there somewhere!

"This is an emergency." mariing sabi niya.

Umiling ang receptionist.

"Tell him--" naikuyom niya ang mga kamao sa ibabaw ng mesa. She isn't sure if it's a good idea to tell him it was her. But she had no other options. It's now or never.  Humugot muna siya ng malalim na hininga at nagdasal na sana tama ang gagawin niya. "Tell him it's Jules Vera Cruz."

May ilang pahina na tiningnan ang babae sa logbook bago muling umiling. "Hindi talaga pwede, ma'am. Wala po kayo sa listahan ng appointments niya."

Mariing naisara ni Jules ang mga mata dala ng matinding pagkabigo. Si Jake na lamang ang natitira niyang pag-asa sa ngayon. With drooping shoulders, Jules turned her back from the receptionist. Nanghihinang napaupo siya sa isa sa mga itim na couches sa paligid ng napakalawak na opisina. Itinukod niya ang siko sa mga tuhod at sinapo ng palad ang mukha.

Desperada na siya.

Yes, she had to be so fcking desperate para puntahan si Jake at hingan ng tulong. She had to be fcking desperate para pairalin ang kapal ng mukha at ibaba ang ipinagmamalaki niyang pride. Desperada na nga talaga siya dahil kung hihilingin ng pagkakataon, luluhod siya sa harap ni Jake Mitchell, makuha lamang niya ang kailangan niya.

She rubbed the heels of her hand against her eyes to stop the tears that are threatening to spill.

No! Hindi ka iiyak, Julianna!

Hindi niya pinagdaanan lahat ng hirap para lang ngayon siya sumuko. Lahat ng hirap at pagsasakripisyo ang nagpatatag sa kalooban ni Jules. Pinatigas ng panahon ang kalooban niya, pinatuyo ng problema at hinanakit ang mga luha niya, ginawang bato ang puso niya.

Hindi ganitong bagay ang magpapaiyak sa'yo! Hindi mo pa ginawa ang lahat! Alalahanin mo, iiyak ka lang pag tapos na ang lahat.

Jules looked at the door with the sign CEO plastered on it. Was it locked? Sinulyapan naman niya ang mga receptionist na busy sa pakikipagdaldalan sa isa't isa.

Nilaro niya ang ibabang labi sa pagitan ng mga ngipin. Kumuha siya ng tiyempo bago tumayo sa kanyang kinauupuan at dumiretso sa opisina ni Jake. Nang marating niya iyon ay agad niyang pinihit ang seradura. It was open!

"Ma'am! Teka lang po! Bawal po kayo diyan!"

Bago pa makalapit sa kanya ang babae ay naitulak na niya pabukas ang pinto. She came to a halt inside a friggin humongous office space. The walls were painted white with black accent. All furnitures were modern and.. Black. Except for the mahogany table in the middle. But it was painted with the darkest shade of brown so it wasn't that out of place. On top of it were folders that are neatly filed and an iMac. It was a little bit too organized except for the brown messy hair of the man who looked up from his blackberry and pierced her with the coldest black eyes Jules had ever seen.

Those weren't eyes she remembered.

Halos hindi na niya ito makilala. He was only twenty five when they last saw each other. And that was seven years ago. Seven years and the pictures from the internet and broad sheets did not give him any justice. There was a familiar tugging on her chest when their eyes met. His ebony irises are a perfect match to the furnitures of his office. It was like a blackhole she was getting involutarily sucked into.