Unloving The CEO
By clefairy
Date: July 18, 2022
Ch. 6Six


I bit my lower lip. Ever since I came back to the Philippines, Xander has been always on my mind. 

"If you don't want him to appear in your dream, then stop thinking about the guy." Mariel continued, shaking her head. "I thought you're no longer the Charity six years ago, but it looks like you're still the same Charity who's obsessed with Xander Villarama. You can't even enter a relationship because of your obsession with that manwhore."

She picked up a piece of bacon using her fork and stuffed it in her mouth. 

"I told you I'm not obsessed." I pursed my lips. "If I'm obsessed, then I should've stalked him or something. But I did not, right? And he's not a manwhore."

She snorted. "I saw you yesterday. You were typing his name on the internet." Her eyes slanted at me. I felt like a cat getting caught stealing my owner's food. 

Yesterday, I tried to search him on the internet. Well, only because I wanted to find who he was dating right now. I heard him talking to a girlfriend on the plane. 

"That's harmless stalking," I answered defensively. "That doesn't mean I'm obsessed." 

She cocked her brows at me as placed a fried egg on her plate. "If you're not obsessed, then what are you?" 

I chewed on my lower lip. "Well… I'm just… really in love with him, I guess." 

After meeting him and talking to him on the plane the other night, I realized I was still freaking in love with Xander Villarama. 

Mariel gaped at me in disbelief, then she kept on shaking her head. "Six years, Charity. That's how long you've been admiring him. God. I don't really understand how you stay in love with him through the years. Fine. I would probably get it if you two dated, but heck, Xander didn't even know you existed."

"I don't understand my heart, either. I guessed, the heart wants what it wants." I said, shrugging. I tried dating other guys but none of them seemed appealing to me. 

She just rolled her head before reaching for her glass of water. "I couldn't wait for our vacation. I swear, I'll find you a nice guy so you finally get to move on from that Xander Villarama."

I just chuckled at her. "What about you? Any guys you wanted to talk to me about?" 

She frowned. "Guys are just headaches."

I pursed my lips. Mariel proved to be a real man-hater. I never heard her date anyone. I wondered what her type of guy is. 

"I wonder…" My words left hanging when the doorbell rang. 

Mariel stood up and left the kitchen. She was back with Amanda behind her. She was Mariel's cousin, who also lived in this condo building. I already met her the other day. 

Amanda greeted me and joined us for breakfast.

"I wish I could join you," Amanda asked when Mariel mentioned our trip to Sagada on the weekend. 

"Excuse me." Mariel stood up when her phone rang. "I'll just answer this," she said, frowning while looking at the screen. I wondered who was calling her. 

"You can join us, Amanda," I said to Amanda as I watched her pour orange juice on a glass. 

"I wish, but I can't." She frowned. "I can't leave my work right now."

Amanda finished her college in Cebu and is currently residing here in Manila for work. 

"See?" She pointed at her phone that was placed on the table. I looked at the screen and saw a resume. Mariel told me she was working as a HR staff. 

"It's freaking Saturday but I need to sort out hundreds of resumes." She shook her head. "It was just yesterday since I posted the vacant position for our company yet I already received almost a thousand applications."

My forehead creased in curiosity. "What's the position?" 

"Executive secretary of the VP for Finance." She pursed her lips. "Well, I heard that our boss fired his secretary because she tried to seduce him."

I gasped. "That's unprofessional."

"Yup," she agreed. "But I can't blame the woman, our boss was really good looking." She picked up a hotdog and bit it. "As in insanely hot."

My eyebrows arched in curiosity. 

"He's one of the hottest bachelor's in the country," Amanda continued. "Plus, he's really nice. He's different from those typical snob and asshole rich men. That's why girls are salivating for him."

She let out a sigh as she picked up her phone. "Our boss wants us to find him a new secretary ASAP.  But I couldn't understand him. He wanted a female and single secretary who was professional enough and wouldn't seduce him."

I slightly frowned. "He should hire a male secretary or a married one, at least." I remembered my cousin Luke. His secretary was a guy because he said he couldn't help but flirt with a female secretary, and he hates mixing business with pleasure. 

Amanda scrunched her nose. "Tsk, I wished I could tell that to Sir Xander."

"Xander?" 

"Oh. That's the name of our boss. The one looking for a new secretary."

I gape at her. "Xander… as in Alexander Villarama?" 

"Yeah. You know him?" 

"ARE you really sure about this, Charity?" 

Mariel asked me for the nth time as she stared at me. She didn't even try to hide the disapproving look on her face. 

"A hundred and one percent sure, Mar." I smoothened the imaginary crease on my skirt. "So, how do I look?" 

She sighed. "Fine. You look… great." She put the bowl of cereal she was eating on the coffee table. 

I was wearing a white button up top and a black pencil-cut skirt. Today was my final interview for the position I applied for—executive secretary of the VP for Finance. Yes. After learning from Amanda that Xander was looking for a secretary, I immediately applied for the job. 

Mariel shook her head. "You're crazy for doing this. So, what's the next thing that you would do if you get this position? Try to make him fall for you?" 

I frowned. "What? Of course not. I won't do that." I bit my lower lip. "I just wanted to get close to him. We both know I'm still hung up on him, right? So… maybe if I get used to seeing him every day… I'll be finally able to erase him from my system. You get what I mean?" 

Mariel continuously shook her head. "You're still insane. You're supposed to be here for vacation, but look at what you're doing?"

Of course… I understand why she's acting like this. I just ruined our plan. We were supposed to go to Sagrada right now. But here I was, preparing for an interview. I felt guilty for what I did… but I just couldn't let this chance pass up. 

"I know… I'm sorry, Mar. I promised I'll make it up to you." 

Mariel just shook her head. "Whatever. As if I can't stop you from doing this."

"But anyway," I said with pursed lips. "I'm still not sure if I'll get accepted."

Amanda told me there were two other applicants that would go through the final interview with me. 

"You've met him on the plane, right?" Mariel asked as she picked up her bowl of cereals. I wasn't able to cook us a proper breakfast so she's having cereals right now. I only had a cup of chocolate. I usually don't eat whenever I'm feeling nervous. Yup. I was nervous as hell right now. 

"What if he remembers you? Do you think he'd find it weird if his seatmate from a first class flight is applying to be his secretary?" She arched her brow at me. 

"I don't think he'll remember me." I said as I touched my now short chair. I went to the salon yesterday and decided to cut my hair short. I was sporting a bob cut now. Besides, I looked professional right now with my office clothes and make-up. 

I wasn't wearing any makeup that day when we saw each other on the plane; my face was bare and pale. I looked like a mess that day. I doubt he'd remember me. Besides, it's as if he'd be the one to do the final interview, right? 

I glanced at the wrist watch I was wearing. Amanda said that the final interview will be at nine in the morning. I didn't want to be late. "I'll be going, Mar."

She stood up from the couch. "Fine," she said as she grabbed her car key on the coffee table. "I'll drive you. I'll just grab my jacket." 

She picked up the bowl of cereal on the table and left me with my mouth hanging open. Did I hear her right? "Really? You're gonna drive me there?" I asked Mariel after she was back with a jacket on top of her spaghetti strap shirt. 

She pursed her lips as she played with the keys on her fingers. "I don't agree with your plan but I'm your best friend so I'd still support you. If that thing will make you happy, then, fine." 

My smile went wider. "Thank you, Mar." She has been supportive ever since. That's what kind of friend she is. She'd oppose your idea but she would still support you in the end. 

I remembered before, I asked her to go with me to watch Xander's basketball game. She didn't want to go at first but at the last minute, she still went with me. 

"You didn't forget anything?" Mariel asked me when we went inside her car. 

"I'm all good." I said, then I put on the seatbelt. 

The drive to Makati took almost twenty minutes. It was thirty minutes before nine when Mariel pulled over in front of the VGC building. 

"Just text me later. I'll pick you up." Mariel said before I got out of the car. I saw her pursed her lips. "I don't like whatever this is that you're doing but I'd still wish you good luck."

I smiled at her. "Thank you, Mar. Let's just meet at your favorite sushi place later. I'll treat you."

I stared at the tall building in front of me. This is it. The VGC Tower where the Villarama Group of Companies were located. 

I took a deep breath before I entered the glass door. I walked straight to the lobby and pulled out my ID. 

"Ma'am, please, proceed to the 10th floor." The receptionist gave me a smile. I felt my phone vibrate from my coat's pocket when I turned my back at the reception. I took out my phone. 

You left your folder here in my car. 

Shit! My folder. I couldn't believe I forgot it. I absentmindedly put it in the dashboard earlier. 

I hurriedly turned around and walked to the building's exit but then I bumped into someone. I almost lost my balance if not only for the firm hands who held me on the shoulders. 

The man in front of me… he was wearing a black three piece suit and checkered necktie. 

I slowly moved my eyes to see his face. And my heart almost left my chest when I realized who was in front of me. 

Xander Villarama. 



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