Chapter 3

Mavis Estrella

I didn't know what made me trust Liz's words. Maybe it's because of my desperation. Or maybe because of her determined expression.

Nagpaalam lang itong may tatawagan muna bago pinagpapawisan na humarap sa akin.

"M-Miss, they will be here in 20 minutes."

Hindi ko mapigilang mapahinga ng malalim. Sana lang ay makausap ni Liz nang maayos ang kakilala niya. Sinabi niyang sigurado siyang tutulong ito para kausapin si Pacé.

I trust her but because she still looked worried, I couldn't help but worry as well.

My insides churned just from thinking about what Lambarde will do to our company if ever he'll get mad at our explanation. Kahit saang banda tingnan, kasalanan ko bilang CEO ang problemang 'to.

Hindi ko rin mapigilang mahiya dahil ang sekretarya ko pa mismo ang naghahanap ng lusot sa problemang 'to.

I'm disappointed with myself.

If I didn't fire those people, could we have avoided this kind of problem? It's truly absurd how such small employees managed to shake the company even in their absence. Sinigurado ng mga itong hihilain nila ako pababa.

Pero hindi ko mapigilang isipin kung bakit nila ginagawa ito? Dahil sa galit ba? Hindi ba sila nahihiya gayong sila naman ang may kasalanan sa pagkakamali nila?

I couldn't believe such cockroaches existed.

I'm Mavis Estrella. How dare they?

People who accidentally make mistakes are human. Those who commit mistakes even though they know those are mistakes, even though they know the consequences, are not human.

Mga animal sila.

I tapped my fingers on the desk while eyeing the clock on the side. Liz was biting her lips while stiffly sitting on the couch.

I'm Mavis Estrella.

I was the kind of person who's not afraid of anything, even a speeding truck. I glanced at one some years ago without batting an eyelash.

Yet now I'm feeling so much worry. I have to admit, it's not entirely because of the future of the company.

I'm worried of Liz, my secretary. It was the very first time I gave someone a chance no matter how small the mistake is. I didn't know why but I feared the possibility of Liz breaking my trust.

To me, the chance I gave to the woman was the last I could possibly give to someone if ever she'll break it. Natatakot akong habambuhay ko nang iisipin na hindi na ako magtitiwala ulit.

The last chance...

I glanced at the clock again and saw it'll be just 5 minutes before the guests will arrive.

Dahan-dahan akong tumayo at inayos ang suot na black and white blazer. It hugged my figure perfectly while the black pencil skirt with 2-inch slits on the side showed my legs. I confidently walked with my white heels, my long wavy black hair swaying behind me.

"Let's go, Liz."

—

This is on 3rd Person's POV.

The second Mavis saw Pacé Lambarde's scowling face, cold sweat dropped from her neck. She looked at the red-faced Liz and bit her lips.

'Will she be okay?' she thought.

Taas-noo namang tumitig ang sekretarya niya sa lalaki.

"Pacé," Liz called out so Mavis froze. How could the girl straight away call Pacé Lambarde's name?!

Hihingi na sana ng paumanhin si Mavis sa lalaki pero bahagyang nagulat nang magpatuloy ito sa paglalakad. She had a weird expression when she saw the guy hug Liz's small figure as if she was his long lost lover.

Even a few witnesses of the supposed contract signing were shocked, except for a pink-haired man on the side. His piercing black eyes just took in the situation as if it was not a big deal. Nakangisi pa nga ito.

Mavis knew him as Pacé's right hand man, Giyo. Ang alam lang niya ay kasa-kasama ito lagi ng CEO ng Lambarde na para bang makulay na anino.

"Lizzy baby, bakit si Giyo ang tinawagan mo at hindi ako, hmm? Akala ko ba ako ang number 1 sa buhay mo babyy~"

Bumunghalit ng tawa si Giyo habang ang iba ay nanlaki ang mga matang marinig ang weirdong pagpapacute ni Pacé.

Mavis didn't know how to react so her icy gaze remained on the two still hugging people. Nag-aalala pa siya kay Liz dahil muntik pa itong mabuwal dahil sa biglaang pagyakap ng lalaki.

"P-Pacé, I can't b-breathe!"

"No babyyy~ I missed you so much." He talked like a child so some people in the room flinched. Hindi kapani-paniwalang ang kaninang nakabusangot na lalaki ay parang batang nakikipag-usap. "Bakit ba lagi mong inuuna 'tong kompanyang 'to kaysa sa akin?"

Mavis knew what it all meant. Magkasintahan ang dalawa. Hindi niya tuloy alam kung hihinga ba siya nang maluwag o mas lalong kabahan.

She's Liz's boss and she let her help in something as big as this. Maybe Pacé will question her competence and deal with their company with a bad taste in his mouth.

It wasn't in her personality to second-guess her capabilities like this but she's feeling it for weeks now. Nawawalan na talaga siya ng tiwala sa sarili.

Pero totoong nakaramdam siya ng saya nang malamang hindi nagkamali si Liz.

'But what if choosing me to be her boss is her mistake?' Mavis thought.

"Miss Mavis Estrella," seryosong sabi ng baritonong boses ni Pacé kaya napatingin si Mavis sa kanya. "I believe this isn't our first meeting." Hapit na hapit sa bewang ni Liz ang braso nito habang ang kanyang sekretarya ay hindi na makatingin sa kanya.

Mavis knew she had to suck it up since there was no other option to quell Pacé's anger. She knew this man would berate her for using his lover just to negotiate but what else can she do?

Nandito na. Isa pa, si Liz naman ang nagpresentang tumulong.

Nanatili ang malamig na ekspresyon sa kanyang mukha bago tumango sa lalaki.

"Certainly, Mr. Lambarde. We have engaged in talks about business a few times."

Pacé scanned her appearance and gave out a smirk.

"I don't know how but you're still as beautiful as ever, Mavis when you're still single." Hindi nakatakas sa mapanuring tingin ng lalaki ang pagtalim ng kanyang mga mata. Tumawa lang ito. "Aanhin mo 'yang ganda mo kung tatanda kang dalaga?"

"P-Pacé!" saway ni Liz sa kanya nang maramdaman nitong mas lalong nairita si Mavis sa sinabi ng lalaki. Ang hindi alam nito ay wala lang iyon kay Mavis. Ayaw niya lang talaga sa apog ng nobyo ni Liz. "Don't say that."

He pouted and muttered an apology to Liz and gazed at Mavis again.

"If you don't want these people to know how lame you are, let's talk in your office," he grumbled. "You'd dare to use my bride?"

Mavis tried so hard not to roll her eyes. Ngayon at sinasabi na ng lalaki ang kinapuputok ng butsi nito, gusto niyang sipain ito palabas ng kompanya niya.

Kung makainsulto ay akala mo naman matagal nang alam ni Mavis na fiancee ito ni Liz.

Because if she had only known, she would've just cursed the guy's company to hell than let her poor secretary be squished like that.

Kung makayakap naman ito kay Liz ay para nang isang Koala bear. Hindi bagay ang ganitong klaseng lalaki kay Liz. Parating mukhang aburido si Pacé Lambarde. How could a sweet woman like Liz become this arrogant guy's partner?

"Then, please follow me," Mavis said and turned towards the door. Kaagad na tumalima ang mga tao para magbigay daan sa kanya. While she walked, all of them imagined how her bouncy ass swayed in that skirt which made a few shameful people gulp.

"Hey, why are you eyeing that woman's ass?" naiiritang sabi ni Pacé kay Liz. "Anong meron sa kanya na wala ako?!"

"Exactly that," Liz murmured with flushed cheeks. "That wonderful ass."

Napamura na lang nang mahina si Pacé. Talagang karibal niya sa puso ng mapapangasawa ang maganda at sexy nitong boss. Hindi niya alam kung dapat ba siyang mapanatag o mabahala dahil doon.

"Giyo!" tawag nito sa kaibigan na kanang kamay niya rin sa trabaho. The pink-haired man raised a brow at him as a question. Marahang binitiwan ni Pacé si Liz bago lumapit kay Giyo at bumulong. "Akitin mo nga 'yang babaeng boss ni Lizzy. Baka maagaw ang pinakamamahal ko."

Giyo looked at him weirdly.

Nauna nang maglakad palabas si Liz at sumunod sa boss nito. Napansin ni Giyo ang tila infatuated nitong ngiti at napailing.

He didn't get why so many people are attracted to that woman.

"Do you think I'm gonna have fun with a block of ice? No thanks."

Si Pacé ay padabog na lang na sumunod dito. May naisip siyang ideya para hindi na mag-isip pa si Mavis na agawin si Liz sa kanya.

If Mavis knew what he was thinking, she would've smacked his face on the spot.

—

"Liz, please serve him something he'd like to drink," ani Mavis sa malamig na tono at bumaling kay Pacé. Iminuwestra niya ang kamay patungo sa couch habang siya naman ay pumwesto sa couch sa mismong harap nito. "Please sit."

The scowl was on the man's face again after hearing her words. Wala man lang ni katiting na "welcoming" na pakiramdam sa pagsasalita ni Mavis kagaya ng dati.

"I don't need anything, Lizzy babyyy," Pacé said with a sweet voice and dragged her to sit beside him. He couldn't stop the feeling of jealousy from fostering inside his heart when he could see Liz's enamored face every time she looks at Mavis. "Lizzy babyy, stop looking at her. Baka gusto mo halikan kita?"

Liz blinked a few times and gave him a glare. Pacé could only sigh in defeat.

"Fine. Let's hear the situation."

Kaagad na nagpaliwanag si Liz sa kung anong nangyayari sa kompanya ni Mavis. She didn't leave the tiny details and spoke as if she loathed those people who dared to do such underhanded tactics.

Pacé listened carefully. Unti-unti na niyang naunawaan ang sitwasyon. Hindi naman talaga imposibleng mangyari ang bagay na iyon dahil sa malamig na akto ni Mavis Estrella sa karamihang mga tao.

Sooner or later, it will happen if a cold-hearted boss like her continuously acts like she doesn't care about them and only sees them as mere workers.

"You know," Pacé started and looked at Mavis' pokerface. Masasalamin sa abo nitong mga mata ang lamig na halos manuot sa balat ng kung sinuman pero hindi nagpatinag ang lalaki. "They probably did that because you didn't give them your trust. There should be trust in both ends, not just in their end. Hindi maganda iyon. Kaya bumabagsak ang mga kompanya ay mismong mga empleyado mo ay binabalewala mo lang."

"Hindi ko sila binabalewala," Mavis said. "Mr. Lambarde, look, I know that I did wrong but isn't it too much for them to do that to me? They deserve to be fired."

Kumunot ang noo ni Pacé. May naramdaman siyang kakaiba sa tono ng babae, na para bang hindi kapani-paniwalang nagkakamali ang ibang tao pero natural kung si Mavis ang magkamali.

'Is she not that confident, after all?' Iyon ang tumatakbo sa isipan ng lalaki pero wala naman siya sa posisyong itanong iyon. Napakapersonal na niyon kaya iniba na lang ni Pacé ang usapan.

"Lizzy told me you gave her another chance and that's not natural for you." Ngumisi ang lalaki. "Dahil ba alam mong magagamit mo siya sa hinaharap laban sa akin?"

"Let me make myself clear, Mr. Lambarde. I have my reasons but I certainly won't use Liz to do something to you if I have known beforehand that you're her fiancé."

"What's that supposed to mean?"

"Exactly what I meant," simpleng sabi ni Mavis at nagkibit-balikat. "You're here now so I couldn't really kick you out when you're offering yourself like this."

"O-Offering—tsk. Don't make it sound weird." Mavis just raised her brow so he continued. "Whatever. Basta ay palalampasin ko itong hindi cash ang binayad niyo dahil nakiusap si Lizzy."

"Can I ask why it's always supposed to be like that?" Kumunot ang noo ni Pacé sa kanyang tanong. Lizzy squeezed his hands so he looked at her instead. Binalik niya ang tingin kay Mavis at akmang magsasalita pero bumuka na ang bibig ng babae. "You don't have to answer that. I'm grateful that you're making an exception and I assure you that it won't happen again."

"I'm not so sure about that," he mumbled. "It sounds like there are so many people who'll oppose you in the future."

"Bakit mo naiisip 'yan?"

"I'll be blunt, Mavis Estrella. You don't look human to me." A large question mark almost popped out of her pretty face. "Masyado kang malamig, mas malamig pa sa makinang kinakalawang. Hindi ko alam kung bakit ka may trust issues at kung bakit kaagad mong pinapalayas ang mga taong nagkakamali. What I know is that your business wouldn't thrive like this. It's already a miracle that it lasted for 5 years." He frowned. "It's not natural for a company to fire their employees every now and then just because of trivial mistakes. It sounds so unreasonable. Nawawalan ng maraming empleyado, pati na pera ang kompanya mo dahil sa mga paniniwala mo. Your own ideals shouldn't bring other people down. There are people who worked so hard for this company. Di porket may-ari ka, ikaw na ang pinakanagmamahal sa kompanya."

"Liz told me this is a wonderful company. She's having a lot of fun learning in her job and she enjoys the company of the people here but there's another thing that bothered me from her stories," Pacé said.

"P-Pacé," Liz started to say but he continued.

"The people love you as their boss Mavis but it's a love born out of fear. They fear that they would be thrown away once they're caught making mistakes." Inihilig ng lalaki ang ulo. "Don't you think the pressure drilled in their hearts because of fear will result to something like this? It's either they'll choose to leave you or take their revenge because of that kind of love."

With his words, Mavis' always serene eyes shook. What she remembered weren't her employees but instead, she saw Kaiden's crying face. His pleas echoed in her heart as well as his goodbye.

Mavis finally understood what happened.

Unti-unting nawala ang imahe ng umiiyak na mukha ng ex niya. She saw his weary smile instead.

"So it was like that," she murmured. She looked at Liz and Pacé and slightly bowed her head. "Thank you for what you said to me. I appreciate it."

Wala man lang emosyon ng pagpapasalamat doon.

"Look at this, Lizzy. Your boss can't even smile at us. Why did you even choose her?" Hindi na nahiya ang lalaking sabihin ang hinaing nito. He then lovingly gazed at his fiancee. "You can be my secretary instead, Lizzy babyyy. I'll treat you be—"

"Shut up, Pacé," sabi ni Liz sa kanya nang may pagkainis. "Don't be rude to my boss."

Gustong maiyak ng lalaki dahil sa narinig.

Tumikhim si Pacé at nagsalita ulit kay Mavis.

"I won't make a fuss with your company in one condition."

Mavis knew this was coming. Lagi talagang may kapalit ang lahat. Iyon naman ang batas ng mundo.

"What is it?" she asked.

"Attend our wedding."

Ilang segundo ang lumampas bago tumili si Liz at natakpan ang bibig. Nang marinig iyon, tumango na si Mavis.

"Okay."

"N-No, no, Miss, you d-don't—" Pinantakip ni Pacé ang malaking kamay sa maliit na bibig ni Liz para hindi na ito makapagsalita.

"Thank you. We'll be expecting you there."

May namuong plano sa isipan ng lalaki habang sinasabi iyon. Ipapakita niya kay Mavis na hinding-hindi nito maaagaw si Liz dahil itatali niya na ito sa sarili.

Wala namang kaalam-alam si Mavis at nagtanong lang kung anong motif ng kasal.

"Pink."

"Alright."

Mavis thought the color suited her secretary well. Gusto niya ring makita itong naka-gown. Paniguradong cute itong tingnan.

She didn't notice it but she had grown fond of the woman for a while, as if she's her little sister. She grumbled on why she only had a crazy Casanova older brother and not a cute and innocent younger sister like Liz.