Chapter Six
Valeria
Akala ko ready na akong harapin siya.
Akala ko sapat na ‘yung mga taon ng paglimot, ng paghilom, ng pagpapanggap na okay lang ako.
Pero isang sulyap.
Isang paghawak.
Isang aminin niyang hindi niya ako kailanman minahal ng kulang…
At parang bigla na lang akong bumalik sa simula.
---
The Day After – 8:17 AM – CruzTech HQ
“Ano ba talaga ‘tong nararamdaman ko?” bulong ko habang nakatingin sa reflection ko sa elevator.
Lip tint, check. Concealer sa eyebags, check. Deadpan face activated, check.
I was here to work. Hindi para main love ulit.
“Good morning, Ms. Navarro,” bati ng receptionist. “Mr. Cruz requested to see you before your 9AM meeting.”
Great. Maaga pa lang, stress na agad.
I entered his office, half-ready to put up walls again. Pero hindi ko inaasahan ang madadatnan.
Aiden wasn’t alone.
Nakatayo siya sa harap ng desk, kasabay ng isang babae—tall, poised, and dressed like she belonged in a Vogue spread.
And worse?
She was standing too close.
“Oh,” I said, schooling my expression. “Sorry, I didn’t know you were with someone.”
Aiden straightened. “Valeria, this is Selena Lin. She’s the director of our Singapore branch. She just flew in this morning.”
Selena offered a hand. “Nice to meet you. I’ve heard a lot about you.”
I shook it lightly. “All good things, I hope.”
She laughed, elegant and self-assured. “Mostly about your brilliance. And your... history with Aiden.”
Oh. So alam niya. Straight to the point pala siya.
I blinked, smile tightening. “Well, I guess I leave an impression.”
“You do,” Aiden said under his breath.
I shot him a sharp look.
“Anyway,” Selena continued, turning to him, “I’ll see you later for dinner?”
“Dinner?” I echoed.
“Business dinner,” Aiden clarified. “With the board.”
Selena smiled, then placed a hand on his arm. His arm.
“See you tonight,” she said sweetly before walking out.
Pagkaalis niya, I turned to him. “So, this is why you wanted to talk to me early?”
Aiden raised a brow. “Jealous?”
I scoffed. “Don’t flatter yourself.”
He stepped closer. “Then why does your jaw look so tight?”
I crossed my arms. “Look, Cruz, if you want to flirt with your international boss, go ahead. Pero huwag mo kong idamay sa power games niyo.”
His brows furrowed. “This isn’t about Selena. This is about you—us.”
“There is no us,” I snapped. “And if you’re going to keep playing this hot-and-cold game, don’t be surprised if I burn you.”
Silence.
Then he said quietly, “I’m not playing, Valeria. But I won’t apologize for people in my life, either. Just like I’m not asking you to apologize for yours.”
“I don’t have anyone,” I said.
“You could.”
“Pero ayoko.”
The words hung heavy between us.
Then he said, almost cautiously, “Why?”
I paused. “Because I don’t know how to let someone in without bleeding all over them.”
And just like that, the air shifted.
Because I didn’t mean to say that out loud.
Pero ‘yun talaga ang totoo.
---
That Afternoon – Marketing War Room
I kept it professional. Cold. Detached.
Pero kahit anong iwas ko, every time Aiden spoke, my chest twisted. Lalo na kapag napapansin kong si Selena, hindi man lang tinatago ang tingin sa kanya.
She’s smart. Gorgeous. Confident. A perfect match for a CEO like him.
And me?
I was just the girl he left behind.
--
Claire arrived with wine and gossip.
“Girl,” she said, flopping on my couch. “I stalked Selena Lin. She’s a triple threat. Galing mag-strategize, investor sa sariling tech startup, at—get this—rumored to have dated a billionaire in Hong Kong.”
I sighed. “Wow. Pang Netflix series.”
Claire squinted at me. “Wait. Are you… intimidated?”
I paused. “Hindi ko alam. Pero something about her… feels off.”
“Selena?”
“Yeah. She acts like she’s on our side, pero she watches me like she’s trying to decode every move.”
Claire leaned forward. “Girl, she’s competition. You’re not imagining it.”
“I just don’t want her to be the reason I mess up this deal,” I muttered.
Claire studied me. “Or are you scared na baka siya ‘yung pumalit sayo?”
Hindi ako sumagot.
Because that was my deepest fear.
What if she already had?
---
The next morning, I received an email from CruzTech Legal.
A new clause had been added to the contract between CruzTech and Navarro Creative.
Clause 14B:
In the event of any personal conflict that interferes with project execution, the lead strategist may be replaced at CruzTech’s discretion.
And guess who requested it?
Selena Lin.