Vexed 03: The Woman In Red

David’s P.O.V.

“Since you’re now the Section Head of the Survey and Field Engineering Department, you will have your own office at the twelfth floor of this building and I’m glad to inform you that it’s now ready. You can get the keys from Trixie.” Kuya Liam was referring to his secretary.

“And by the way, I asked her to interview those who are applying to be your secretary, and she ended up with these three applicants,” Kuya Liam continued as he gave me the three long folders with the applicants’ information. “But of course, I will let you do the final interview.”

“Thanks, sir. Well, I should thank Ate Trixie too.” I accepted the folders, but I didn’t yet open them. Ate Trixie wouldn’t let me down, so I trusted her. Knowing her, she would pick brainy, beautiful, and sexy ladies for me… and I couldn’t wait to see them.

Well, new girls mean new fun!

Flipping my signature pen with my fingers, I cleverly smiled at the mischievous thought that was reigning inside my head. How could I pull the hands of the clock to tick it faster?

I’m excited! Well, who’s not?

“Hey! I know that playful smile, David! Mind you, this is purely business… and I don’t want to hear any gossips about you regarding secretary with benefits, okay? You should have no other agenda than to interview them and work with them professionally!” Kuya Liam stated, silently reminding me that he could watch my every move here.

Siya lang yata ang kilala kong hindi babaero, so ano bang laban ko? Anyway, it was a good thing that he wasn’t a playboy dahil hindi ko rin naman gugustuhing lokohin niya ang ate ko.

I couldn’t help myself but to laugh. He knew my reputation as The Greatest Playboy here in the EGC. Pero sa lahat naman ng playboy, ako lang yata ang natitirang gwapong… virgin!

Tsk! I licked my lips.

When I came back from Germany, I flirted with so many women just to forget her! Hindi ko na nga mabilang kung ilan sila eh. I kissed every girl I used to date with. I almost lost my virginity to so many girls but at the end, I always came back to my senses.

Poor me. After all these years, I realized that it was still her that I needed, that it was still her that I wanted—despite what she did to me. I even called one girl using ‘her’ name, while kissing that girl on a hotel bed. Well, I didn’t want to bring girls to my penthouse. Wala pa akong nadala roon puwera kay Mama, Denise, at Ate Diane.

“Not really, sir! It’s just that, we both know that women can’t resist my charms! And what will I do about that, huh?” I narcissistically laughed and Kuya Liam couldn’t help but join me. “Anyway, I already sent you the newly proposed design structures for the hotel. Have you already checked them?”

“No, not yet! I still have lots of work to do. I’ll check them tomorrow morning and I’ll be sure to contact you for any changes. Thanks for the speedy work, Dave!” Kuya Liam complimented me.

“Anytime, sir. I’ll go ahead. Thanks for these,” I commented. I stood up and even waved the folders in the air, before I turned around and left Kuya Liam’s office.

“Hi, Ate Trix!” I compassionately greeted Kuya Liam’s blooming secretary as soon as I closed the door. She had this huge cubicle, pero wala siya rito kanina before lunch. If only I saw her earlier, niyaya ko rin sana siya for a lunch out.

She almost had the same age with Ate Diane. Ate Trixie would be turning twenty-nine too, so I was calling her Ate as part of my respect. If she had the same age with me, I might include her in my long list of girlfriends! Why not? Ate Trixie was undoubtedly sexy and she didn’t even have a boyfriend!

Like, for Christ’s sake! Bulag ba ang mga lalaki rito sa EGC?

“Hey, Dave! Congratulations and here are your keys!” Ate Trixie smiled at me while lending me the keys of my own office.

“Thanks, Ate! Did you pick the best three?” I winked at her as I got my keys. Hindi lang sa pagpili ng applicants ko siya mapagkakatiwalaan. Siya rin ang nag-asikaso sa magiging office ko and I knew that I would like the outcome.

Ate Trixie laughed because she already knew what I was talking about! “You, silly playboy! What do you take me for, Dave? Of course, I did. And you have to treat me for that!” she teased me.

“I will… kahit saan mo pa gusto. But right now, I have to go.” I assured her before going straight to the elevator.

“I’ll be sure to remember that!” I heard Ate Trixie squeal in anticipation.

Kuya Liam’s office was located in the twenty-second floor, so I had to wait for the elevator to go down. Based on the LED screen, it went from the twenty-sixth… twenty-fifth… twenty-fourth… twenty-third…

And finally, the elevator reached the twenty-second floor!

The elevator door opened and as soon as I stepped inside, a woman with long brown hair and was fully dressed in red immediately went out of it, as if she was in a hurry. She even bumped at my right side and I almost dropped the folders because of her.

Neglecting the sudden uncomfortable feeling, I narrowed my eyes in disdain. Wow! Does she even know how to say sorry?

Minding my own business, I ended up only seeing her sexy back. I fully decided to just ignore her. Today was indeed a great day. She was lucky because I didn’t want to get pissed and ruin my day!

I pushed the right floor button. The elevator door closed and as soon as it opened on the twelfth floor, I went straight to my new office… pero hindi pa rin ako mapakali.

Shit, what’s happening to me!

There was something about her that triggered my curiosity. Ignoring her wasn’t enough, I guessed. Somehow, I couldn’t help myself to think about that woman in red.

Who is she? Can I include her in my long list of prospects?

Ni hindi ko man lang nga napansin ang ganda at ang laki ng opisina ko ngayon dahil patuloy lang na ginugulo ng babaeng ‘yon ang utak ko. I wasn’t able to see her face but one thing’s for sure. Just by looking at her curves—how her butt sexily swayed as she elegantly walked—there was no wonder that she was drop-dead gorgeous!

Damn this boner!

*****

“Hey, relax! There’s one more, okay? Papupuntahin ko na ba siya sa’yo?” Ate Trixie said over the phone. She was trying to calm my nerves.

“Yes, please!” I said as I ended the call.

Quite disappointed, I closed my eyes and removed my eyeglasses. Then, I gently massaged my temples and forehead. I guessed I would be having a headache. I couldn’t help but be upset!

Paano ba naman kasi? ‘Yong dalawa kong in-interview na mga aplikante ay puro ganda at ka-sexy-han lang pala ang kayang ipakita. I wondered if they even had the brains to do the job!

Actually, I was doubtful about how Ate Trixie managed to pick them! Gano’n na ba talaga ang tingin niya sa akin? Na madali lang akong masilaw sa hot chicks? I didn’t become a topnotch engineer for nothing!

Alam kong babaero ako. I even had more than ten parallel flirtations at the same time, pero hindi naman sila basta-basta lang. When it came to women, I had a very high set of standards!

Majority of them were even famous actresses, TV hosts, and top models. Some were also licensed engineers, politicians, and professionals in their chosen career fields. Yes, I might like bitches… but I preferred bitches with brains!

Heaving a deep sigh of contempt, I was about to open the third folder when I heard some knocks on my door… and for that, I sighed again in disappointment.

I ended up closing my eyes, trying not to throw a fit. I have always hated to hear knocks! Really…

“Come in!” I said as I looked at the door, gritting my teeth.

Now, I just realized that I wanted the wooden door to be replaced with a glass surface. In that case, the people outside wouldn’t bother to knock anymore because I could easily see and instruct them to get inside my office.

Yeah, what a perfect idea!

The door opened and a woman with a long brown hair fully dressed in red timidly showed up, making me frown. Rubbing my clean-shaven jaws, I silently studied the woman. She had a slender body and it wasn’t that bad.

Teka, siya ba ‘yong babaeng bumangga sa akin kanina?

It made sense dahil papunta siya kay Ate Trixie kanina. Now, I could see her face clearly and she really looked familiar. I opened the folder, quickly scanned her curriculum vitae, and that confirmed my thoughts as I called her…

“Vanessa?”