I bit my lower lip as I tried to reach the book on the top shelf of the fiction section of the library. 

"Ugh," I grunted when I realized I grabbed the wrong book instead. Sometimes, I just really hate being short.

"Miss? What book are you getting?" 

I stopped when I heard a voice behind me. I turned around. I saw a familiar man in front of me. Xander Villarama. Of course, how could I forget him? He was the one who gave me an umbrella last week. Since that day, his face was already etched in my mind. 

I almost gaped at him. I swallowed. "Uh… that book." I pointed at the black hardbound book on the top shelf. "One hundred years of solitude by Gabriel García Marquez."

He easily took the book from the shelf. Of course, he was tall. Unlike me, who already tiptoed but still got the wrong book. 

"Here…" He glanced at the book before handing it to me. "You're a literature student?" He asked with a smile. 

He looked really good up close. And those dimples, shit, they're perfect on him. 

I felt butterflies inside me as I continued to stare at his handsome face. "Uh… no." I shook my head. "I just… like to read."

He smiled. "Oh. Have you read To Kill A Mockingbird?" 

My eyes widened a little. "Of course, who hasn't?" Shit. He knew something about books. That means… he's already a reader like me, wasn't he? 

"Well, yeah, it's a famous book." He chuckled and it sounded music to my ears. "Anyway, I'll go ahead. Enjoy reading."

He said then he walked past me. I found myself calling his name. 

"Yes?" he said as he cocked his head to me. 

I felt my heart hammering inside my chest. Was this normal to feel this way? 

"Uh…" I pushed my glasses to the bridge of my nose. "Uh… your umbrella?" 

"Umbrella?"  he asked, his forehead frowned in confusion. 

My heart fell. Of course, he didn't remember me. Who was I, anyway. I was just an ordinary student on this campus. There's nothing special about me. Even my name, together with my face, was ordinary and forgettable. 

"Uh… you lent me your umbrella last week. Outside the library."

"Oh…" His face slightly lit up. "You're that girl. The 'rain rain go away'girl." 

My cheeks flushed. Rain rain go away girl? "I forgot to bring your umbrella."

He smiled at me. "It's okay, Miss. You can keep it."

"Xander, babe." A tall woman suddenly appeared and went to Xander. "I thought you already left. Come on, let's go back to our table." I just stood there as I watched how the woman's arm clung into Xander's nape and gave him a kiss on the lips. The book I was holding almost slipped from my hand. 

"Frances, not here, okay?" Xander glanced at me and I had to turn my back and exit the shelf to hide my embarrassment. 

"Oh… I thought we're alone. Who was that girl? Do you know her?" 

"No, let's go." 

"CHARITY?" 

I didn't realize Xander was already back. He was holding a tray with a plate of fettuccine and orange juice. 

I went back to the couch. "Sorry. I got preoccupied with your collection of books."

"You like reading?" 

I nodded my head. 

"Most of them are business books. But I  have some collections of fiction books. How about you? What do you read?" 

I smiled. "Fiction books. From George Martin to Agatha Christie." I pursed my lips. "I also have a collection of Rick Riordan in my library."

"Wow. You definitely like to read." He said as he placed the tray on the table. 

"Come on, eat this first while I read the documents I needed to sign." He then picked up the folders on the sofa. He took the space next to me. Damn. Why does he always smell good? 

I looked at the plate of fettuccine in front of me. "You didn't have to do it, Sir."

"Well, now you have to eat it because I'm your boss." He joked. 

I let out a small chuckle. "Looks like I don't have a choice, then."

"It's not as good as the pasta you gave me, but it's edible," he continued. "I cooked this last night, just heated it in the oven for breakfast."

I bit my lip as I picked up the plate. "I didn't know you could cook," I said even before I could stop myself. 

He looked at me from the documents he was reading. "I live alone, Charity. I was forced to learn basic household chores."

He was still in college when his parents died in a car accident. 

He gave me a small smile. "My parents died when I was fifteen—" 

He wasn't able to finish his sentence because he started coughing. "Excuse that," he said after coughing. He sniffed. 

"This cold is really killing me." 

"Are you sure you're already feeling fine, Sir? I think you should just rest for today."

"I'm fine. Look." I didn't expect it when he grabbed my hand and placed it on his forehead. "Normal, right?" 

Shit. What about my heart? I could feel it start to beat abnormally. 

"But I still think you should be resting, Sir. You won't recover fast if you keep on working."

"It's okay, Charity," he said with a smile. "I can handle myself."

His attention went back to the papers in front of him. I started eating. The fettuccine tasted good, albeit it lacked salt. 

"I'm done signing this," he said as he placed the folder beside him. He turned to me. "How's the food?" 

I sipped from my juice before I answered him. "It was good. Just seasoned it with more salt next time and I'd be perfect."

He chuckled. "Come on, Charity. I'm your boss but I can handle criticism."

I pursed my lips. "But I'm telling the truth."

The corner of his lips curled in a lopsided smile. "If that's the case, then you should finish that. For the meantime, I'd continue this."

He picked up a pair of black rimmed glasses on the table and wore them. Then leave the couch and sat on the carpet, facing the screen of his laptop. 

I stopped from eating and stared at him. It was the first time I saw him with glasses. And damn. He looked like a hot professor in it. 

Stop staring at him. I shook my head and drifted to the screen of his laptop. He was making a business presentation on PowerPoint.

"You're making a presentation?" 

He glanced at me. "I have to present this to the board next week. I needed everything perfect."

Pamela mentioned to me that it was possible that Xander would assume the chairmanship because he was the first born of the third generation of the Villaramas.

I knew that Xander deserved the position. Not because he's a Villarama, but because of his love for his job. I saw how he worked hard for the company. See? Instead of resting, he was still working right now. 

Not everyone possessed that kind of passion like him. 

"Uh… if you want, I can help you with that, Sir." I said when I noticed him touch his temple. 

"No. It's okay, Charity. You bringing these documents to me was already a big help." He said with a smile. 

I pursed my lip. "But I want to help, Sir. You know, screen radiation can make your headache worse. I can help you with your presentations, Sir. Just fill me up with the details."

"Are you sure it's okay?" 

"Of course, Sir. Besides, I'm your secretary after all."

"Alright," he said with a small chuckle. "I'll accept that help. But please, finish your food first. I don't want to think that you wanted to help me because you don't like eating the food I serve you."

My lips parted. Before I could even react, his lips stretched into a grin. "I'm just kidding."

I almost dropped my jaw. Did Xander just joke on me?