“MS. CRIZIA AGUILAR? You're the next.” I took a deep breath bago tumayo. Gosh. I'm so stressed! Kanina pa ako naghihintay dito sa interview at sa wakas at tinawag na rin ang pangalan ko.

I'm here at Singapore. Dito na ako lumaki at nagkaisip. Tiga dito ang ama ko habang ang ina ko naman ay tiga Pilipinas kaya marunong akong mag tagalog. Sadly. They're dead. Bumalik din ako rito because I don't want to stay in the Philippines anymore.

This is going to be my first work since my annulment.

Kumatok muna ako at hinintay ang pagsagot ng tao sa loob. Mahigpit ang hawak ko sa folder na kanina ko pa dala. Laman nito ang background ko. Ewan ko ba pero ngayon lang ako nakaramdam ng ganitong kaba.

“Come in.” Isang baritonong boses ang nagsalita. I gulped. Lalaki ang magi-interview? The voice sounds familiar.

Dahan dahan kong binuksan ang pintuan. Nanginginig ang tuhod ko sa kaba. Hindi ko alam kung bakit. Napalunok ako at dahan dahang pumasok. Nilibot ko agad ang paningin ko. Mas maganda ito, malaki at wow! May chandelier! Bongga! Lalaking lalaki itong opisina.

“Have a seat...” Bumaling ang tingin ko sa lalaking nakaupo sa swivel chair. Napakurap ako. Napigil ang hininga. Napawi ang ngiti. “Zia...”

Are you kidding me?! This can't be!

I gritted my teeth. Hinding hindi ako magtatrabaho sakanya. Siya ang magi-interview sakin so, ibig sabihin, siya ang magiging boss ko. Right! I thought kaparehas niya labg surname itong pangalan ng resort pero hindi! Kanya pala ito. No way! I'm college graduate at marami pa akong trabahong makukuha.

Pumihit ako. I can't do this! I just can't! I can't work with him! I can't accept him as my boss! I can't accept my ex husband! I freaking can't!

“Where are you going? I said, have a seat.” Seryosong saad nito. “Have a seat, Ms. Aguilar.” Matalim ko siyang tinignan.

Asshole! I was once a Mrs. Rivera! Your Mrs. Rivera! The one you dumped!

“I'm sorry, but I refused to have this work.” Seryosong saad ko din dito. I can't believe this! It's been five years since we annulled our marriage without specific reason. Basta na lang siyang nagdesisyon!

I was so in love with him. I trusted him so much.

“And why? Please be professional, Ms. Aguilar. Have a seat and let's do the interview.” I closed my eyes. Ayoko talaga pero kilala ko siya. I can't do anything, but to obey him. Papangitan ko na lang ang sagot ko.

I sighed bago umupo sa harap niya. Inabot niya ang folder ko at nag-umpisang basahin 'yon. I can't stop myself from staring at him. He's more handsome now--- oh, yuck.

“So, Ms. Aguilar, a college graduate, 27 years old, uhm, single?” Naningkit ang mata ko sa tanong niya. Hindi kasali ang gano'ng tanong.

“Taken.” Sagot ko.

Gosh! I'm not taken! Ni hindi nga ako nagkaro'n ng boyfriend after him.

“Break up with him, then.” Kumunot ang noo ko.

“And why?”

“Well, you will be a busy person so you won't be able to give him a give, so, I suggest to break up with your boyfriend.” Pigil ko ang sarili kong umirap.

“He will understand. He will always understand. He's not that kind of a man. He will support me.” Matalim ang mga mata niya pero wala akong pake. Naiinis ako sakanya.

Mariin ang tingin niya sakin hanggang sa mag-umpisa siyang mag-tanong. “Tell me about yourself, Ms. Aguilar,"

I took a deep breath before I talked. "I graduated college in Philippines with the course of Bachelor of Arts in Economics. I'm an only child and I didn't get a chance to work after college because something happened." Titig na titig siya sakin kaya gano'n rin ako sakanya. I know he knew what I mean.

Tumikhim siya. "Tell me, what's your weaknesses?"

Hindi ako nakasagot agad. Weakness? May kahinaan pa ba ako sa lagay na 'to, e, halos iwan na ako ng lahat?

"Hmm. Maybe my weakness is when the person I trusted more than anyone... giving all I have... suddenly lied to me." Wala sa sarili akong napangiti. "That's my weakness because I was left with nothing."

Nanatali ang tingin niya sakin at gano'n rin ako sakanya. I'm perfectly sure that he's aware. Because he's the one who gave me trust issues and the one who caused my trauma.

He licked his lips. "My secretary is planning to leave as my secretary because she wants to do other things, but still in my company. I want to know why do you want this job?"

Oo nga pala't secretary ang pinapasukan ko.

"I'm kinda good at obeying someone..." Hindi ko alam pero may nakita akong kislap sa mga mata niya na nawala rin agad.

"Where do you see the hotel in five years?” Tanong nito.

“Well, the hotel is already successful so I assume in five years it will sink,” I shrugged. “You know, hindi palaging nakatayo ang negosyo.” Nakakaintindi naman ito ng tagalog dahil nasa Pilipinas ito for 5 years at alam ko nasa Pilipinas din ito noong kabataan niya.

“Are you kidding me, Zia?”

“We're not close so don't call me 'Zia'.” Inis kong sabi. “And no, I'm not joking. I just answered your question honestly.” He massaged his forehead.

“What can I expect from you?”

“Nothing. Please, stop asking about expectation dahil hindi naman nangyayari ang mga 'yan.” Pinilit kong ngumisi. Gusto kong maramdaman niya ang pait sa boses ko.

“Why should I hire you?” I looked directly in his eyes. I can almost see his soul.

“Because you need to make it up to me.” Nagtangis ang ngipin ko. Nanlaki ang mata niya. “You just made me miserable years ago, remember? So you will hire me because you need to make it up to me.” I smile sweetly. “Are we done?” Tumikhim siya.

I changed my mind. I need this work and I have to be professional this time.

I just disobeyed my parents for him year's ago. Nagpakasal ako sakanya kahit ayaw nila dahil wala silang tiwala dito, but I followed my heart. Nagpakasal kami nang hindi lingid sa kaalaman ng karamihan.

“Y-yeah. You're hired.” Ngumisi ako at tumango. Tumayo agad ako at kinuha ang bag ko.

“Thank you.”

“Please look for my secretary and ask her.” Hindi siya makatingin sakin. I just nodded.

Lumbas na ako ng opisina niya. Hinawakan ko ang dibdib ko kung nasaan banda ang puso ko. Ang hirap palang maging matapang pero kailangan. I needed to. For me.

Goddammit. I can't believe it. I'm hired kahit na walang kwenta ang sagot ko? And I can't believe it, he's my boss. My ex husband is my boss.

Susulat ko siya soon! Please support our Diego Brix Rivera. Dito niyo malalaman yung nangyari sakanya bago siya pumasok sa buhay ni Brie at kung anong nangyari sakanya when he let go Brie. Better read A Deal with Mr. Billionaire first.