Her Antics

Chapter 1

AYA'S POV

I'm fuming mad. The reason? This impossible guy in front of me, Xerxes Villafuerte himself. Kanina pa niya ako binabara while I was presenting the idea of my team.

"Will you let me finish with my presentation first Mr. Villafuerte? You can have your questions and comments when I'm done. I said calmly. But I was far from being calm. I want to lash out at him.

"Of course!" came his nonchalant response.

After I delivered what has to be, I looked at him. I was waiting for a worst comment this maligno can come up with but I was in for a surprise.

"Your team got the best idea Ms. Montefalco. Your brother risked his reputation when he decided to let you handle this meeting. Mabuti naman at hindi mo siya binigo." Then he smirked. I really want to wipe the smirk that is permanently etched on his face. 'Hambog!'

Matutuyo ang utak ko dahil sa kapre na yun. Nang malaman kong siya ang kakausapin ko sa business meeting na ito, umayaw ako agad but kuya persuade me to take this one kaya wala akong magawa. Baka ako pa ang maging dahilan kung bakit tatandang binata si kuya kapag hindi pa niya makukuha si ate Sci. Kailangan rin naman ng kasama si Yaya Pilar sa check-up niya.

Agad akong umuwi sa bahay. Pero hanggang dito, nagngingitngit pa rin ang kalooban ko dahil sa damuhong yun.

"Weeew! Kainis kausap yung damuhong Villafuerte na 'yun. Sarap ilibing ng buhay! Tama, wala naman sigurong manghihinayang sa halimaw na nagkatawang tao na yun. Dapat ko ng pagplanuhan ang gagawin ko sa lalong madaling panahon baka maubos na ang buhok kong nalalagas na sa inis ko sa kanya!!" I know you'll think that I'm going insane kasi kinakausap ko na ang sarili ko but I can't help it.

"Malala na yan Aya. Gusto mo ipapahatid na kita sa mental hospital?" pang-iinis ni kuya. Hindi ko napansin ang paglapit niya.

"Kuya naman ehh! Bakit pa kasi ako ang pinapunta mo sa business meeting kanina? Di mo ba alam na makukulong na ako sa salang homicide. Muntik ko ng mapatay ang gagong Villafuerte na yun!" gigil na saad ko.

"Matino naman si Xerxes ahh?" nagtatakang tanong ni kuya.

"Anong matino? Saang sulok ng katawan ng halimaw na yun ang matino? Huwag na nga nating pag-usapan ang gunggong na yun kuya. Kakahighblood. Kumusta nga pala si Yaya?" pag-iiba ko sa usapan.

"That's why I'm here. We need to discuss kung anong operasyon ang pipiliin natin. She has a progressive heart failure kasi matagal bago madetect na may sakit sa puso si Yaya. Dilated cardiomyopathy daw." When I heard the bad news, parang maiiyak na ako. Ayaw kong mawala si Yaya. She's the closest thing I have for a parent. My parents died in an accident 5 years ago.

After dinner, we've decided what course of treatment Yaya will undergo. While I was heading to my room, kuya called me to his office.

"Bakit kuya, may nakalimutan ka pa bang sabihin sa akin? Tanong ko agad. Thinking it's about his progress with ate Sci, naexcite ako bigla.

"You will be the COO of the company. I'll announce it tomorrow during the board meeting." Walang paliguy-ligoy na saad ni Kuya. I was dumbfounded.

"What?! Hindi mo ba narinig yung sinabi ko sa iyo kanina? Muntik na akong makapatay ng tarantado kung hindi ko lang napigilan ang sarili ko kuya. Department head pa lang ako sa lagay na yan. Ano pa kaya kung gagawin mo na akong COO? Baka hindi pa man ako nakaupo sa magiging opisina ko, nakakulong na ako. Magiging mamamatay tao na ako kuya kaya please lang, huwag mo akong gawing COO." Hinihingal na pakiusap ko. Kuya just laughed on my face. He thinks I'm over reacting but I am not.

"Aya, nababaliw ka lang. Itulog mo na lang yan at bukas na bukas rin ay magigising kang maluwag sa kalooban mong tatanggapin ang pagiging COO mo." pagdidismiss niya sa akin. Wala akong nagawa kundi sumimangot na lang. I slept with a murdered Xerxes Villafuerte on my mind.

XERXES' POV

I was not surprised when Yke announced that his sister will be the new COO of their company. I am one of the members of the board because my father decided to give me his share in this company. Actually, he gave me all his wealth. And now, he is happily travelling around the globe with my mom, leaving all the responsibilities to me.

"This is a bad idea." I heard Aya murmuring the same chant for the time being. After the announcement, everybody agreed. Who wouldn't? All of us knew that Aya can carry herself well as the company's COO. I am looking forward to meeting a fierce Aya Montefalco inside the boardroom. I am always fascinated by her gestures, her facial expressions, the way she carry herself and the way she answered every questions businessmen will throw. She does not get intimidated by powerful figures. I remember one time, she frankly spoke to the son of one of the members of the board that she finds him arrogant, irresponsible, spoiled brat. She said it in front of the members of the board without batting an eyelash. The boy's father was amused. Aya was just an ordinary employee that time. Nobody knew she was the daughter of the late owner and the sister of the CEO.

"Aya, sabay tayong maglunch." Narinig kong aya ni Marco. Siya yung pinahiya ni Aya noon. Not that intention ni Aya na ipahiya ito but I know the boy's reputation. Pangalan lang naman ng ama nito ang pwede nitong ipagmalaki. But after that incident, nakita ko naman na kahit papaano ay nagbago na ito.

"I'm sorry Mr. Sy but Ms. Montefalco here agreed to have lunch with me." Hindi ko mapigilang sumingit. Nakita ko ang pag-awang ng mga labi ni Aya at ang pagkunot ng noo nito pero diretso lang kay Marco Sy ang tingin ko.

"Ah, ganun ba? Si-sige sa susunod na lang." utal na saad nito.

"I think wala ng susunod Mr. Sy. Ms. Montefalco's schedule is full for this lifetime so you can back-off now." Hindi ko mapigilang mairita sa titig na ibinibigay nito kay Aya.

"Ah,eh,uhm, I'll go ahead." Natatarantang umalis ito sa harapan ko. I smirked. 'No sweat!'

Isang nakangising Aya Montefalco ang nabungaran ko nang ibaling ko sa kanya ang attention ko.

"Hmnn, I can't help but think that maybe, just maybe, you still have the hots for me." She grinned and left me there with eyes wide open.