The Ruthless (Quantum Meruit Series #1)

Prologo

Prologo

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"Prosec."

Mula sa nakalatag na mga dokumento sa kanyang harapan ay pailalim niya akong tiningnan. His action emphasized his mysterious eyes. He adjusted his glasses and I had to silence my sigh because, damn, he was so . . . hot.

"May kailangan ka pa?" aniya, ang buong atensyon ay nasa akin na.

Ramdam ko ang panginginig ng mga binti maging ng mga daliri ko. Bago niya pa mapansin ay maparaan kong itinago ang mga kamay sa aking likuran.

Willow, please calm down.

"What is it, Miss Barrameda?" untag niya nang hindi ako nakapagsalita.

Ilang segundo ang lumipas bago ko nahugot ang nalalabing tapang. "I was just wondering." I swallowed hard and inwardly prayed for strength and good result. "Do you have a girlfriend?"

That must have struck something in him. Umayos siya sa pagkakaupo. Nawala na ang seryosong ukit sa kanyang mukha. Now, he looked amused while gazing at me. Parang hindi siya makapaniwala sa tanong ko.

Ako rin naman, e. But here I was. A fool!

"Why are you interested?" He tilted his head with the same amusement curving his lips.

Muli ay napalunok ako. Parang mas lumaki ang bara dahil hindi ko iyon agad naitulak pababa sa lalamunan.

Ito na 'yon, Willow! Wala nang atrasan 'to!

"W-would you date me?" halos mahimatay ako nang tuluyan kong naibuga ang tanong.

Nakita ko ang dahan-dahan at tuluyang pag-arko ng kanyang mga kilay. Hindi ko na naitago ang kaba. Sigurado akong nakaguhit na iyon sa aking mukha at naghihintay na lamang na rumehistro sa kanya.

After almost a minute of awkward silence, he softly chuckled like he just heard something unbelievable. I felt my world fell apart. My insides were in a mass protest.

Oo. Nakakatawa, hindi ba? Noong una, ganyan din naman ang reaksyon ko.

"Do you like me, Miss Barrameda?" He crossed his arms and leaned on his seat while his eyes were still on me.

He was mocking me.

There was still amusement dancing in his eyes and I didn't have any idea if it was good. Pero sana hindi niya isipin na maliit na bagay ito para sa akin. Because, damn, this was shameless! This took me half of my lifetime to confess to him!

"Yes," halos pabulong kong sagot.

Tumawa siyang muli nang mahina at tila tinatamad na umiling-iling. I blinked as I tried to calm the rivers forming in my eyes.

You knew this would happen, Willow.

"How, though?" mapaglaro niyang tanong na parang katawa-tawa ang sitwasyon namin ngayon. "You hated me."

Bahagyang nag-init ang mga pisngi ko.

"Wala akong matandaang reaksyon sa'yo kundi irap at simangot," patuloy niya.

"T-that was before!"

"And I even heard you talking ill of me multiple times."

"But I like you now." Pinakatitigan ko siya. "W-would you date me, Prosec?"

His jaw moved. Tila nag-iisip siya habang nakamasid sa akin. Pigil na pigil ko ang sariling lumuhod at magmakaawa sa kanya na pumayag siya. I was such a loser! Never did I have thought of doing those for a man. And I thought it would remain that way!