Kick-Start

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Opening Soon: Jabug Sta. Monica

"The hell? Annie! Annie!" Ella Santamaria yelled to her secretary to come quick. "Ano 'to?"

"Ma'am kasi po..."

"A rival fast food right across our store there?!"

The secretary nodded.

"Who owns this? Find out who owns it."

"Ma'am, sabi po sila James del Rosario din po."

"Double check and get back to me."

Ella sat down, still seething. James del Rosario na naman!

Ella Santamaria worked in the family business and she was currently overseeing their food business segment. Graduating with a degree in Business and Hotel and Restaurant Management, her father decided that it was best for her to start her stint in the family corporation with this area. She was doing well - the high end businesses were keeping their clientele, and she put up a few restaurants and fast food chains to grow revenue for their area.

For the past few years, she has had one constant competitor: James del Rosario. He was worked for one of the food giants in the Philippines and has been after the same markets as Ella's business.

Over two years ago, James opened a restaurant in Quezon City and Ella promptly opened a similar one right beside it, splitting the customers. The earnings she made there allowed her to finally purchase and put up a franchise at a prime location, which turned out to be a huge success, turning a profit within their first year.

Now, it was James who was going to dip into her customer base.

Hours later, her secretary came back with the confirmation. "Ma'am, sila Mr. Del Rosario po ang owner talaga. Ang balita pa nga, everyday daw po kumakain sa store natin kapag lunch."

The nerve of that guy.

The following day, she held office at their store and told the Branch Manager to inform her when James del Rosario comes in.

Close to one in the afternoon, she was told that he had just purchased his lunch.

Ella went out and scanned the dining area. She found him just as he was about to bite his burger. "Bawal dito ang kalaban."

"Ows? Sino may sabi?" He challenges her with a look. Well, to an outsider it may have seemed like the handsome stranger was flirting with her, considering he had a twinkle in his big brown eyes, his red lips in a smirk and his dimple showing.

"Ako."

"Ikaw lang pala eh. I paid, I can eat here. Now, gutom na ako. If you'll excuse me..." he made another move to bite into his sandwich, but she stomped her foot and hit the table causing it to shake and some of his drink to spill. "Ano ba naman."

"Go away."

"Wow. Ganyan ba itreat ang customers dito?! Buti nalang, in a month, may alternative na. Sa Jabug nalang ako." James got up, and winked. Moving closer and dropping his voice to a whisper, "Thanks sa free promo for our store."

Ella's eyes widened.

Shit. She played into that! And now some customers gave her wary stares. Shit, shit, shit Ella!

James lingered a little and the tip of his nose grazed her earlobe. Both their breaths hitched. It was a brief moment that sent shivers down Ella's back.

He pulled back and gave her a hooded gaze. Just as quickly, his sly grin was back. "See you at our opening next month!"

Ella berated herself. "Stupid. Ugh! Shit. What do I do?!"

She busied herself planning an event for the store. She didn't want to lose customers to James del Rosario and didn't want to keep going back to that brief touch.

Still, she woke up in the middle of the night after dreaming about doing very naughty things with a certain sworn enemy.