Chapter 5: Chapter 5

"ARE you really sure about this, Charity?"

Mariel asked me for the nth time as she stared at me. She didn't even try to hide the disapproving look on her face.

"A hundred and one percent sure, Mar." I smoothed the imaginary crease on my skirt. "So, how do I look?"

She sighed. "Fine. You look… great." She put the bowl of cereal she was eating on the coffee table.

I was wearing a white button up top and a black pencil-cut skirt. Today was my final interview for the position I applied for—executive secretary of the VP for Finance. Yes. After learning from Amanda that Xander was looking for a secretary, I immediately applied for the job.

Mariel shook her head. "You're crazy for doing this. So, what's the next thing that you would do if you get this position? Try to make him fall for you?"

I frowned. "What? Of course not. I won't do that." I bit my lower lip. "I just wanted to get close to him. We both know I'm still hung up on him, right? So… maybe if I get used to seeing him every day… I'll be finally able to erase him from my system. You get what I mean?"

Mariel continuously shook her head. "You're still insane. You're supposed to be here for vacation, but look at what you're doing?"

Of course… I understand why she's acting like this. I just ruined our plan. We were supposed to go to Sagrada right now. But here I was, preparing for an interview. I felt guilty for what I did… but I just couldn't let this chance pass up.

"I know… I'm sorry, Mar. I promised I'll make it up to you."

Mariel just shook her head. "Whatever. As if I can't stop you from doing this."

"But anyway," I said with pursed lips. "I'm still not sure if I'll get accepted."

Amanda told me there were two other applicants that would go through the final interview with me.

"You've met him on the plane, right?" Mariel asked as she picked up her bowl of cereals. I wasn't able to cook us a proper breakfast so she's having cereals right now. I only had a cup of chocolate. I usually don't eat whenever I'm feeling nervous. Yup. I was nervous as hell right now.

"What if he remembers you? Do you think he'd find it weird if his seatmate from a first class flight is applying to be his secretary?" She arched her brow at me.

"I don't think he'll remember me." I said as I touched my now short chair. I went to the salon yesterday and decided to cut my hair short. I was sporting a bob cut now. Besides, I looked professional right now with my office clothes and make-up.

I wasn't wearing any makeup that day when we saw each other on the plane; my face was bare and pale. I looked like a mess that day. I doubt he'd remember me. Besides, it's as if he'd be the one to do the final interview, right?

I glanced at the wrist watch I was wearing. Amanda said that the final interview will be at nine in the morning. I didn't want to be late. "I'll be going, Mar."

She stood up from the couch. "Fine," she said as she grabbed her car key on the coffee table. "I'll drive you. I'll just grab my jacket."

She picked up the bowl of cereal on the table and left me with my mouth hanging open. Did I hear her right? "Really? You're gonna drive me there?" I asked Mariel after she was back with a jacket on top of her spaghetti strap shirt.

She pursed her lips as she played with the keys on her fingers. "I don't agree with your plan but I'm your best friend so I'd still support you. If that thing will make you happy, then, fine."

My smile went wider. "Thank you, Mar." She has been supportive ever since. That's what kind of friend she is. She'd oppose your idea but she would still support you in the end.

I remembered before, I asked her to go with me to watch Xander's basketball game. She didn't want to go at first but at the last minute, she still went with me.

"You didn't forget anything?" Mariel asked me when we went inside her car.

"I'm all good." I said, then I put on the seatbelt.

The drive to Makati took almost twenty minutes. It was thirty minutes before nine when Mariel pulled over in front of the VGC building.

"Just text me later. I'll pick you up." Mariel said before I got out of the car. I saw her pursed her lips. "I don't like whatever this is that you're doing but I'd still wish you good luck."

I smiled at her. "Thank you, Mar. Let's just meet at your favorite sushi place later. I'll treat you."

I stared at the tall building in front of me. This is it. The VGC Tower where the Villarama Group of Companies were located.

I took a deep breath before I entered the glass door. I walked straight to the lobby and pulled out my ID.

"Ma'am, please, proceed to the 10th floor." The receptionist gave me a smile. I felt my phone vibrate from my coat's pocket when I turned my back at the reception. I took out my phone.

You left your folder here in my car.

Shit! My folder. I couldn't believe I forgot it. I absentmindedly put it in the dashboard earlier.

I hurriedly turned around and walked to the building's exit but then I bumped into someone. I almost lost my balance if not only for the firm hands who held me on the shoulders.

The man in front of me… he was wearing a black three piece suit and checkered necktie.

I slowly moved my eyes to see his face. And my heart almost left my chest when I realized who was in front of me.

Xander Villarama.

I stared at his gorgeous face. His wavy hair was neatly combed, his jaw in perfect angle. And dang, he smelled so freaking good.

"I-I'm sorry. I wasn't looking," I managed to say despite the rumbling of my chest.

"It's okay." He looked at me… and I saw how his forehead creased. "You're… familiar."

My lips slightly parted. Did he recognize me? But I cut my hair short. And I was wearing makeup.

I felt my heart hammering when I noticed he was looking straight into my eyes. "You're that woman. The woman in the plane." I watched as his lips slightly parted in disbelief. God. Those naturally red lips.

"You remember me?" he asked as he let go of my shoulder. I totally forgot that he was holding me.

"I'm the one you—"

"Yeah," I answered even before he finished his sentence. I felt my cheeks heat up when I remembered what happened on the plane. Of course. Damn. It was so stupid of me to think that he'd forgotten that embarrassing memory.

"Right. It was you." He smiled… and I felt something melting inside me. "What are you doing here?" He asked in a curious tone. "Do you work here?"

"U-uh…" Before I could answer him, someone called him.

"Come on, Xander. I don't wanna be late."

It was only now that I noticed the man beside him. He was also handsome and tall. Just like Xander, he was in a business suit. His face looked annoyed as he looked at his watch.

"I'm sorry, I have to go," Xander said to me. "Be careful next time, okay?" He gave me a smile before he walked past me.

I almost closed my eyes when his scent lingered on me. God… he smelled so good. I wondered what his perfume was.

Shit. The folder. I immediately headed out of the building. I found Mariel waiting for me, her car still parked in front of the building.

"What happened to you?" She asked as she handed me the folder, her forehead creased. "You looked disoriented."

I tucked some strands of my hair at the back of my ear. I just shook my head. "Thanks, Mar."

She just nodded at me before rolling up her car's window.

I went back inside and rode the elevator. I punched the button to the tenth floor. Damn. Xander remembered me. Should I push this through? Would he find it suspicious if the woman who puked on him on the plane became his secretary?

You can always tell him it was a coincidence. Besides! You're still not accepted for the job.

Before I could think twice, I already saw Amanda. She stood up from her desk and approached me. She led me to the conference room together with three other applicants.

Of course, I told Amanda that Xander was my long-term crush. That I've been in love with him for six years already.

I could still remember her shocked face when I told her I wanted to apply as Xander's secretary. She even choked on the juice she was drinking.

"You and Sir Xander… have a history together?"

"No." I shook my head. "We're just schoolmates." I pursed my lips. "He didn't even know my name," I told her how I fell in love with Xander.

"Why didn't you do something about it?" she asked me.

I gave her a small smile. "I didn't have the confidence back then. Besides, I looked like a nerd before. Definitely not his type." Well… Xander likes tall and slender women so I'm still far from his type until now.

"And you wanted to apply as his secretary to get close to him?"

I shook my head. "No. On the contrary, I wanted to get rid of my feelings for him." I tapped my fingers on the dining table and told her the same thing I had said to Mariel.  "I've put Xander on the pedestal in the past six years… maybe if I finally get close to him and discover some of the bad things about him, I'd finally be able to un-love him."

"Alright. But I can only help you get an interview," Amanda said. "I don't have a final say on who'd get the post."

I looked at Amanda. I couldn't back out now. After she helped me? Besides, I was no longer the old me. I was no longer a quitter.

"I'll just call our manager."

She told me beforehand that it was the HR manager who will conduct the final interview.

I looked at the two women beside me. They were both wearing pencil-cut skirts. The one was wearing black-rimmed glasses while the other woman looked like a model with her height and physique.

I bit the inside of my lower lip as I stared at my shoes. I couldn't believe I was feeling nervous. Back in Greece, I led at least three hundred people. After finishing my Master's degree in Management, I trained under my brother's supervision for two years before my father let me handle one of our businesses.

Amanda told me I was too qualified for the job so I omitted some information in my CV.

Almost fifteen minutes later, the door opened. A middle-aged woman wearing a white button-up, black coat, and slacks went in.

"Good morning." She greeted us with a warm smile on her face. "Your final interview will be conducted by Mr. Villarama himself."

I almost fell from my seat. Wait. What?!