Chapter 5

• I BREATHED in and out countless times while standing outside the building of my family's business—the PIP Inc. I was already standing here outside the company by 7 in the morning even though the office hour starts at eight o'clock.
• Today is the day, Khrystal.
• I cheered myself. Some of the employees have already seen me. Their eyes showed surprise. Perhaps, they are not familiar with me. Each glance felt like a judgment, weighing my worth before I even stepped inside. I straightened my back, adjusted my posture repeatedly, and took a few deep breaths to calm my racing heart. The thought that I might be under constant scrutiny made me painfully aware of every twitch, every misstep.
• For sure, they will also be disgusted once they find out.
• I smiled bitterly in my mind and sighed. I was about to walk when a familiar car pulled up in front of the company. My chest immediately pounded with nervous. I imagined all sorts of scenarios in which my first impression could go horribly wrong, each one playing out in vivid detail in my mind. The anticipation was almost unbearable, a tangible pressure pressing down on my shoulders.
• Slowly, a man in his 50s got out of the car. Our eyes met. He gave me a serious look and then nodded slightly in recognition of my presence.
• "G-Good morning, D-Dad," I stuttered and slightly bowed my head.
• "Come with me," he said, and took his steps into the building.
• I did nothing but follow his orders. I could feel the strange gazes of some people we pass by as I walked behind Daddy. Somehow, I realized how powerful he is; watching him walk with confidence made me admire him ever more. His authority was so tangible, the kind that made the air around him feel charged and heavier. The hum of activity in the office seemed to pause briefly as he passed, as if the building itself acknowledged his presence.
• Due to Daddy's busy schedules. He came home only twice in a month. On those occasions, I avoid getting close to them. I felt like it was their family time, and I did not belong to it. My absence in their lives felt like both a punishment and a protective barrier. I had grown used to watching from a distance, learning the rhythms of the house without truly being a part of it. I felt like a ghost in my own family, present but invisible, living in their shadows while keeping my distance.
• After a few hallways passed by and an elevator ride, we finally entered his office. I knew it was Daddy's because of his name label on the table. I stood in front of him like a puppy when he was completely seated. The swivel chair creaked slightly as he leaned back, scanning the office, then his gaze fell sharply on me. He looked at me seriously while scanning my whole presence, as if measuring my worth in seconds. I felt tiny in comparison to the magnitude of his authority, my own heartbeat loud in my ears, echoing in the silent space.
• "Do you really want to pursue this project?" he asked, while intently looking into my eyes.
• I swallowed and secretly played with my fingers. "Y-yes," I stammered.
• His eyes narrowed slightly, but I could sense a flicker of curiosity there, an unspoken question about whether I was truly ready. I straightened my shoulders as much as I could, trying to project confidence I wasn’t sure I felt. The room felt heavier with each second of silence, the tension stretching taut around us. My mind raced through every strategy I might use, every interaction I might have with Mr. Revelar, rehearsing each word before it had even been spoken.
• He hummed and tapped his fingers on his table. "Mr. Revelar is an important client, Khrystal," he said. "We need him in our company."
• Just by Daddy's tone, I knew he was letting me know the importance of the transaction that I took, which could be seen as a huge loss if I couldn’t convince the person he was referring to. My throat tightened, and I realized how much was riding on my performance. I could almost feel the weight of the company pressing down on my small shoulders, a pressure that could crush or elevate me in a single move. My fingers twitched nervously, betraying the calm expression I forced myself to maintain.
• "I will do my best to win him, Dad," I spoke confidently.
• I tried to make my voice steady, though it wavered slightly. I imagined what success would look like, the approval in my father’s eyes, the fleeting but meaningful sense of validation. My thoughts also raced to the possible failures, the potential humiliation, and the way everyone in the company might judge me if I slipped. But despite that, a spark of determination began to shine through my fear.
• He then stared at me. Later, a smile gradually appeared on his lips, which surprised me greatly.
• "I will trust you with this, Khrystal."
• Those were just seven words, but they brought millions of emotions to me. Relief, pride, and a cautious joy collided inside me. I stopped myself from crying even though I could feel my tears welling up. I wanted to scream in triumph, to release the tension that had built up over years of feeling undervalued. My chest felt lighter, but at the same time, my mind braced for the inevitable challenges ahead.
• "Welcome to our company. Prepare yourself. Twenty minutes from now, we will meet Mr. Revelar in the conference room," Dad informed.
• I nodded and bowed for a moment as respect and farewell. He pressed his intercom and called the assistant to take me to my working space. The room I entered was quiet and filled with the scent of polished wood and coffee. We smiled at each other for a while before I finally left his office. A strange mix of excitement and dread coursed through me as I thought about facing Mr. Revelar. The anticipation was almost unbearable, each step towards the conference room echoing in my mind like a countdown to judgment.
• I will make you proud, Dad.
• All my hopes and earned confidence faded when I met a familiar pair of eyes while entering the meeting room. He’s the guy I met at the mall; the one who had gone scrambling with me for my bag. My stomach sank as a sudden wave of anxiety hit me. My legs felt weak, and my palms grew clammy as I approached. I could feel the tension building inside me, tightening my chest like a vice.
• What is he doing here?
• He's wearing a black business suit and was sitting next to my dad's seat. The fabric looked expensive, perfectly tailored, and I instantly recognized the aura of someone used to command. My pulse quickened as I noticed the precision of his posture, the controlled movements that exuded power and confidence. Every little detail about him reminded me of the magnitude of the challenge I faced.
• When I thought back to our previous encounter, anxiety ate me up right away. I walked on with trembling knees. He never took his eyes off of me. He seemed to make me feel like he had never forgotten me by his steely gaze as he observed me. I imagined the conversation we might have, how my words could fail me, and how every gesture would be scrutinized. It felt as though the world had narrowed down to just the two of us, and I had to perform flawlessly.
• "Mr. Revelar," my father greeted.
• I almost tripped on my feet when I heard him. My face burned red, and my hands clutched at the edges of my blouse to steady myself. Each heartbeat echoed in my ears like a drum signaling both fear and excitement.
• He's that magnate tycoon!
• I noticed the corner of his lips lift when he saw my reaction. "Mr. Dagsinal," he said, and shook hands with my dad. "I didn't know you had a beautiful secretary," he added while staring at me.
• The comment made my cheeks heat up even more, a mix of flustered embarrassment and silent indignation. How could he know the right words to unsettle me so easily? I wanted to be professional, composed, but my mind screamed at me that I had already revealed my flustered side, giving him the upper hand.
• My dad chuckled and gently held me to get closer to them. I felt like I had lost my breath for a moment while facing him. Every movement, every gesture from him, carried authority and charm. I had to remind myself to breathe and focus, to keep my composure despite the storm of nerves. I could almost feel the eyes of the employees outside the conference room, silently watching my first encounter with one of the most powerful men in the country.
• "She's my daughter, Khrystal Dagsinal. She's the one in charge of this project," Dad stated.
• A sly smile appeared on his lips. "Oh, interesting," he said knowingly.
• I could feel my sweat forming on my head as my heart pounded loudly. I stiffened on my position when he took my hand and brought it to his lips. I could feel the pressure to impress him, to make him see competence behind my nerves. My body screamed with tension, my thoughts a tangled mess of anxiety, anticipation, and the faintest hint of attraction that I desperately tried to ignore.
• "Nice meeting you, Miss," he uttered and planted a kiss on my hand. "Should I marry you now?"
• The way he looked at me, I knew I would fail this deal.