"It's strange. I felt less lonely when I didn't know you." - Jean-Paul Sartre

Monday again and it will be another busy week for me. I arrived a little earlier than usual in the office today, and for sure there will be tons of paperwork again. Coming early would mean catching up with the backlogs from the other week. I need to get this done so I can free my weekend as we are going to celebrate a special day. I am thrilled over it, because after so many years I am about to see them again real soon. I can't help but smile at the thought, how I missed them so much.

"You've got a big smile early this morning." I was interrupted with the voice of this unexpected visitor. "I wonder who might be the reason behind it."

I am surprised to see her again this early morning. "You again? What do you need this time?" I asked without enthusiasm.

"Ohh! Not happy to see me? Ouch! That hurts!" She said, embracing herself.

Though I know it was an act, but I can't help myself to smile, she was still the same woman who loves to play around. Kaya pati ikaw pinaglaruan. Okay self! I know that, you don't need to remind me of that! Okay?

"Stop it, will you? It won't work on me." I decided to ignore her and I continued on with my work.

A devious smile played in her lips. "But it did work before?"

I rolled my eyes. This woman is really impossible. "But now it doesn't. Aren't you busy with your company to bother me this early?"

She tried to hide the smile on her face. She's really enjoying my discomfort with her presence. "Well, you even love it when I am like this. I still remember you telling me, that "I will always be your little baby." She said innocently.

Yuck! I felt grossed, with her talking about our past. "Are you here just to reminisce about the past?"

Her eyes are moist. "The past is worth remembering, especially when you're left alone hanging without knowing the reason why. Our "almost" will always haunt me." As she said in her voice full of emotions.

"As you've mentioned it was an "almost" nothing official, worse nothing is real at all." I grimaced.

"Yeah! Almost!" she almost shouted. "Almost a relationship but it was never an almost love. What we felt was real. How could you say that?" She wiped the tears away before it dropped to her cheeks.

Although I tried so hard not to be bothered by the things that we're discussing but I can't, my heart bleeds every time I remember her betrayal. "Can't you just get over it? Our time has already passed. If you don't have anything to say, please leave. I have a company to run." I need to send her away right now, because if I don't I am afraid that she will see me break down. And I don't want it. Hindi ako pwedeng maging mahina pagdating sa kanya.

Kahit pina paalis ko na siya ay gaya ng dati ni walang bahala lang niya ang sinabi ko and she remained frozen from where she was standing. Nakakabingi ang katahimikan between the two of us until she broke it with a small smile.

"Don't worry. I already am. In fact I am here para ligawan ka." Naka ngiting binitawan niya.

I scowled in annoyance."Ms. Lobete! Let's bury the past where it belongs."

Uneasiness crept in me when I saw a lopsided grin that she immediately wiped off. "Anyway, this is for you." She handed me a bouquet of flowers and a box of chocolate.

"Ms. Lobete!" I glared at her.

"It's Tanch, Sarah. Kaya ako nandito, hindi dahil I want to reminisce about the past or any sort but andito ako para ligawan ka..." And there I saw the deviltry in her red lips.

"Nonsense!" I fire away.

"Ligawan ka...To convince you to help me to find me a boyfriend. Yun yung totoo."

Ano ba talaga tingin ng babaeng to sa akin? Matchmaker. What the! I really can't with this woman!

"Andito kaba para mang inis or magpapansin? Can you get to the point Ms. Lobete ang aga aga pero quota kana sa akin." Naiirita kong pahayag sabay hilot sa sintido ko.

"I'm really serious here, Sarah. Hindi ako titigil hanggang hindi kita napapapayag na tulungan ako." Seryoso at may diin niyang sagot.

"So you're not really bluffing about the boyfriend thing?" I asked with a force of laughter.

"I am not. I don't want my *ss in that foreign land. I can't live like an outcast in Ethiopia. My life is here in the Philippines. And I will do everything in my power para hindi ako mapatapon dun."

"If that's the case then I'll send someone on your office to help you look for a suitable A-list boyfriend. That's the only help I can offer so you would stop bothering me." I suggested pero parang hindi pa yata siya natuwa sa sinabi ko. Nakakapikon na talaga tong babaeng to.

"No! I don't trust anyone else. This is a top secret quest, I don't want to be the source of gossip among the business industry." She refused.

I scratch my hair in distress. She's really persistent. "I already told you before, I won't help you to find one because you can do it yourself."

Ngumiti lang siya. Dinadaan ako sa pangiti ngiti ng babaeng to. "You don't have to be angry about it, Sarah."

"Ghad! Bakit ba ang kulit mo?" Naiirita kong pahayag.

"I told you, hindi ako titigil hanggat hindi kita napapa "ou".

Hindi ko mapigilang hindi mapa hilot sa sintido ko. Paulit ulit na lang siya. Mag maldita nalang kaya ako dito para umalis nato. "Huwag ka ng umasa, pumuti man ang uwak hindi mo ako mapapapayag sa gusto mo."

She grinned a little bit. "Are you sure?" Nakakaloko niyang tanong. "I know you will, it will just be a matter of time."

I just rolled my eyes. Sunod sunod na talaga ang biglang pagsulpot ng babaeng to dito sa office ko. I need to tighten my security, or else makakapasok at makakapasok to. She's too much for my peace of mind. "All things have been said, I think we are done here. So l really hope hindi ka na ulit bumalik dito para mang gulo sa akin."

She laughed as if she was really amused. How I like to wipe that smile from her face."Sarah, haven't I told you that I will keep it touch? Whether you like it or not, we will be in each other's pocket." She moved a little closer to me, too close that I could smell her favorite scent. "Let me tell you this, there's no need for me to come back here to your cozy office. Because I'll make sure you'll be the one who will grace my humble workplace."

"You!" I threw dark glares at her but she only ignored it while she turned her back on me.

"See you soon my Sarah G. I'll be waiting for you." She said shortly before she shut the door and vanished in my office.

Kakarating ko lang galing sa office ni Sarah. Kahit ilang ulit pa siyang tumanggi sa hinihingi kong tulong I will really make sure na siya na mismo ang kusang papayag. If I have to be the devil here, then I would para mapapayag ko siya. Call it drastic, but it's only her that I could trust. Kahit pa na galit yun sa akin, alam kong hindi magagawa ng isang Sarah Garcia na ilaglag ako.

"Good thing you're here. I was waiting for you." My Dad just barged in my office, he seemed in such a hurry because he never even bothered to greet me.

Agad akong tumayo to give my Dad a kissed. "Yes, Dad? What do you need? Anyway, Good Morning!"

He gave an apologetic look. "Sorry Princess, I am in a hurry right now. I have a flight to catch in about 2 hours. I'm just here because I need you to overlook the company while I am away. I trust you and please don't disappoint me. I am appointing you as the acting CEO until I come home. Please attend all the meetings and social gatherings on my behalf. I'll leave the company in your hands. Good luck, Princess." He just announced that I'll be the acting CEO and then left as soon as he finished his announcement.

I was about to curse because it means I'll spend my entire day doing paperworks but then I realized that I just got myself a trap card to finally make it happen. I found myself grinning at the thought. I can't really wait. I kissed the air in so much joy. I thought it was not yet too soon but then here it is...

I immediately asked my secretary to come into my office for my schedule. I just have to endure this paperworks then after that I'll get moving with my plans.

"So what now, Andrea?" I encourage her to speak while I am busy signing the papers.

"Nothing much for today except that you've to finish all of these." She said while pointing to the loads of papers in front of me.

"Just this then I'm done? Okay. Leave now and please don't let anyone come in. Tell them I'm eating papers at the moment." She only nodded in response.

She was about to close the door when I realized that the paper I was about to sign was the agreement between Pacific Loop. I almost signed it... Good thing I really paid attention or else I just lost my chance again.

"Andrea, can you send this back to Pacific Loop, tell them that I won't sign this because their CEO failed to put the clause that I've been asking her to include. If they insist that these are the final documents then I have to call off the partnership." I announced while a wicked smile is playing in my lips.

Naked shock is visible in her face. "Are you sure? But this partnership is already agreed between Sir Jaime of PLT and your Dad. You'll face the wrath of your Dad when he learns about this." She said with a worried face.

I just ignored her warning. "But Dad isn't here, right? Ako ang batas ngayon sa kumpanya. Let me deal with Dad. And you, please send this back to them."

.

.

.

I'm just enjoying my downtime in my house - drinking a glass of my favorite wine while grilling my favorite steak. I really loved it when I got home early before the night set in. I get to enjoy the sunset and being able to feel the cold breeze of night air.

"Sarah!"

My personal space and time was interrupted by the madding voice of my Dad. What is he doing here and why the hell he's been calling me like that?

I immediately went down to the ground floor to meet him and I was really surprised to see him with a scowl on his face. "Yes, Dad? What's with the scowl on your face?" I stated rather than asked because if I didn't know better he was out of blood because of the way he looks - he was really angry.

"What did you do this time?" He started.

My eyes widened at his question. It seems that I was the one who caused him to be this pissed off. "What did I do?" I asked in confusion.

"T-Squared Mobile returned our papers and call off our partnership, do you know that?" He asked with a rather strong voice.

I snatched the papers in his hands in disbelief. Indeed they returned the papers. "Why would they do such a thing? It has all been set and agreed. Why did Sir Ariston have to do this?"

"Ariston didn't do it, he was out of the country. Do you know that Tanchellie is the acting CEO? She's calling off this deal because you failed to include in the document a clause that she needed."

Damn*t! I cursed silently. So she's playing dirty now. She's not really bluffing about calling off the partnership if hindi ko siya tutulungan. Well I have a word for that egotistic spoiled brat.

"Don't worry Dad. I'll fix this one." I assured him.

"Just make sure Sarah! I've worked hard for this partnership to push through and you just screwed it! You failed me!" He said with full remorse.

I can't help but to slightly comb my hair with my hands. This is so frustrating. "I'm sorry Dad. Promise I'll fix this as early as tomorrow."

"I need results Sarah, not just promises." My dad almost shouted before he stormed out of the house.

That woman was really a pain in the head and also in the *ss!!!

The next morning...

"You! Egotistic! Arrogant! Exasperating! Spoiled Brat!" I started once I stepped inside the four walls of her office.

"Ahhh! My Sarah G, why are you so angry?" She said with an obvious grin on her face that I really wanted to wipe. "To what do I owe you this unexpected visit?" She innocently asked.

"You do know why I am here." I answered vehemently looking at her in an icy tone that is enough to freeze the entire office building.

I saw a smile that she immediately hid. "Do I?" she stated rather than asked without looking at me while playing with her fountain pen.

"I know you do! Stop playing games with me!" I snapped furiously at her. "You do know why the hell I am here!" The nerve of this woman I really can't believe that I associated myself with this woman before. I really regret the day that I met her.

There was a proud smug on her face that she's trying to hide by looking at the ceiling. "Remind me again, will you?"

"You're egotistic, arrogant, an exasperating spoiled brat! You're not really bluffing that you're calling off the partnership if I refuse to help you!" I furiously repeated to her.

"Yes! I know that already. Anyway, you're a little late today, Sarah. I was waiting for you the entire day. I really made it! You graced us with your presence."

"You're unbelievable! Using your position just to make me agree?! Need I remind you that I am not your puppet who will agree to whatever you demand!"

"Need I remind you also that I promised to do everything in my power for you to agree." She said with such deviltry.

"You're incorrigible! I really hate you! Bastard!"

"You've such a foul mouth! You've been calling me several names already. Just one more and will kiss you senselessly."

I let out a small sound as I bit my lip in irritation. "Is that all you could do? Threatening me again?! Shame!"

"It's not a threat, Sarah dear. It's a promise."

"As*..."

I was caught off guard! She didn't let me finish and instead she silenced me as she kissed me torridly in her very office.

"As*hole!" I finished as soon as I was able to pull away from her.

There was a triumphant smile on her face. "How I missed your sinful lips. They've caused me sleepless nights before, but that was before." She announced as she wiped the lipstick on her lips. "Are you done insulting me? Because if you do, then let's get down to business." She added innocently while I stood frozen from where I've been standing. "Just what kind of trouble did I get myself into..."

Sorry for the late update.

I hope you're doing great. Stay safe! The earth is in a total mess right now!

I'm on a holiday, so I can't update much this week.

Much love from the sandy beach of Tuka Island.