Discovered My CEO's secret

"So you'll go-see?"

She flung herself on the sofa and lifted up the big T-shirt my sister owned, I saw her red underwear. Seriously? I'm so use seeing her like this every time she visits us here in our flat. My brother is not used though.

"No. I'll get the copy of my Editorial in NY Management."

"I thought you had another, again. You've been beaten at work for a few months, Cy."

I zipped my Suede knee high Boots. I adjust the belt on the waist part of my over sized knitted sweater.

"Working your ass off again."

"Last 2 Editorials ... and catalog."

She stared at me because I knew he didn’t believe me.

"Promise." She hissed.

"That's the same line you said last time I came here."

I got my chain bag in the high stool and I looked again at my appearance in the mirror. I have to exhaust everything. If I got enough money to pursue last year of my college and and buy my own unit then I'll settle. It would be enough if I could work in a company through the profession I want.

Lourd? He has his own plans. We even argued a few times about things. I know Lucy and him have plans to settle eventually, they're right of age and I don't want to hinder them both. They've waited almost half of their life so it'll be my happiness if they own find their way for each other. But this is not my brother’s word of mouth to me. Lucy bombed out a laughter and I got so shocked with it. What's wrong with her? Too much sugar intake? He quickly sat down again and laid his face on the backrest of the sofa.

"This is unusual. You're gonna walk the streets of New York with that outfit?"

"W-why? What's wrong?"

I glanced at myself and was nervous. I'm never good at styling myself. I'm used wearing comfortable clothes, it just happened that I need to dress my self a little bit 'cause camera will be all over the place. Now my Editorial Magazine is out so for sure paparazzi will be everywhere sticking their noses at me. I don't have my body guards, and my manager is in the company waiting for me.That means I'll have to drive alone.

"Nothing is wrong Cyreese. I am seeing you wrong. The paparazzi and tabloids are celebrating you again."

My shoulder dropped at what he said. It will be 4 years in 2 months of being in this industry and I'm still not used in this limelight I've entered in. It was the substitute for everything I desired.

"I know. I don't want to wear this though."

She chuckled and finally approached me. She fixed the buckle of my belt and beat my legs.

"Aww."

"Flaunt your ass. It's only a year and you'll be leaving New York. Might as well give them a proper good bye. Duh ~ Gossips and stuff."

I was shaken by what Lucy was saying. Since his childhood, this has been the world he has come to know. He has mastered almost every system, and he is numb to every issue that will go through his life. I'm not. And I will never be used too it. "

How's Justine?"

Her eyebrows furrowed with meaning. The smirk on her lips is naughty so I turned my back on her. Are we here again?

"Justine and I are just friends, Lucy."

"Friends? After years of impressing you, still friends?"

I never asked him to impress me. I just spoke to myself.

"Are you sure you don't want to extend your contract? When you boom here in New York then you will say bye."

"I want to pursue my -"

"Studies. Yes. Of course."

She shrugged and raised her hands in the air as a sign of surrender.

"Study my ass."

She whispered at the end and just shook me. I still have a year to strive. The situation over the past two years has been very critical. Tons of projects in and out of my work and studies. So my 4 year contract is about to end. I want to focus on last year because that is the reason for all this.

"How are you two?"

Her mouth was covered and there seemed to be no answer to what I said. I frowned at his reaction.

"You guys fought again?"

I haven’t been here in the apartment for a few weeks because of the out of town photoshoot I did, so I don’t know if anything happened here while I was away. I haven't met Lourd since I got home. Only he alone.

"Nah, you're brother is just ... being weird. What time will you be home? That'll ask about you."

When he changes the subject immediately. Maybe they have another fight. I left her at the apartment and went to work.

"Would you like some beverage Ms. Suarez?"

I turned to a clerk here at the company.

"Yes please." I smiled.

"The possible circulation of those copy will be higher than the usual. We're also producing copies around Asia."

"What?"

My eyes widened at what he said. I forget the language I just borrowed.

"I mean, Asia? But we used to reach beyond circulation even though we focused on selling those in the west."

She was all smiling but I'm too shocked to comprehend. This is too much. They told me it was a big project but I didn't think it would reach the other side of the world. Several more talks were opened with some of the company’s executives. They were asking about my renewal of contract and other aspects. My answer is the same at first. I'll stick to my original plan. I have unfinished business left on my own, I think it's about time to focus on that.

"Ms. Suarez, From Mr. Bailey."

I looked at the black box with a perfectly arranged red roses. I almost wiped my face at what I saw. What is this? "

Where is he?"

I chased the clerk before he left.

"In the R&D Deparment Miss."

"Thank you."

I look constipated looking at the flowers left in the coffee table.

"That's so sweet of Justine. How's your relationship with him?"

I almost breathed my forced laugh.

"No ma'am, we're just friends."

"Oh? Really? He's been consistent since day one I thought ..."

The smile I gave here was raw. Everybody thinks of that, what else is new? How many times did I explained the truth to them? I've lost my count.

"Ma'am, She's with Lourd Vidalio isn't she?"

My ear pricked up at the whisper of his assistant. If there's one thing I'm not use hearing about, it's this. Gossips like me and my brother living under the same roof are seldom to pass by. That I would have a relationship with my own brother. I should not be affected by that mere thing 'cause what they think is way-way more different from the truth. But I can't help it. If it's about my brother and my personal life, I just can't help it.

"Thank you for your time Ma'am, But I got some errands to do so ..."

"Oh yes, Congratulations Ms. Suarez."

I thanked everybody, I was going to lift the flower box in front of me but one of my bodyguards lifted it. Don't ask me. I also thought they were gone now. My manager is not here and left a body guard here. That's good and it's just one. I walked down the long hallway to go to the R&D Department.

My body guard drove for me all the way to the university. I just submitted the floor plan which I also gave a few weeks of time and time. I combined both shoots and vigil just after that.

I breathed a sigh of relief when my prof accepted that. I fully expected him to decline it because of my one week grace period. As much as I wanted to be treated fairly I had no choice but to ask for this privilege because my schedule could not afford it.

"Uhm, can you please drop me by the cafe. Thanks."

I dialed my manager's number who's apparently Lourd's manager too. I apologize for being late but she's cool with it.

"I'm really sorry. I still passed my last requirement at Univ."

He seemed to ignore what I said and apparently just greeted me to kiss my cheek.

"My very own Cyreese Suarez! Congratulations!"

I smiled looking at her. I was embarrassed at the attention I received from someone else in the cafe for declaring my name. Some started to take some photos, I'm not used to it yet.

"And now you're towering Asia!" She exclaimed.

I breathed a deep sigh.That's what I wanted to clarify.

"I didn't know that the contract I signed includes production in Asia, Tita Matilda."

In the amount of shoot I’ve done these past few months I didn’t realize the client’s weird contract turned out to be what he was signing with me. It's her Job to inform me but she didn't mention anything.

From the very executive of NYM came. It’s embarrassing that I was even surprised when I knew I should be getting the job I was getting. He stopped at what I said and slowly sipped his coffee.

"Darling, I'm sure that won't make any noise in the Philippines."

"But still aunt, you know how much I wanted to erase my name into their issues. I know I'm not their target but what about my brother? He's been through so much already. I don't want to be the reason he's broken like that again. gradually cooling and his name is there. "

Lourd is a very well known public image in the Philippines. Since everything happened that day a big noise and wave was made then not only in his personal life but in his whole family. My brother have suffered for how many months clearing his name into the public.

He sacrificed his own free will just to protect the family he grew up with and loved. But seeing him all through that moments was a pain to me. He tends to look so strong but I know deep inside he's unwell. It was not right for him to let everyone know that he had turned his back on his family even though his mother had vomited him up. Our first year here in NYC was not easy.

We've both dealt with our own miserable knots. I'm busy healing while he focused on me so much when I know he's deeply wounded too. If I was utterly wounded by the truths that came to my mind that night, what else is he who has long forced himself into a lie even though he knows the truth.

He never think of himself. He never acknowledge his pain and failures instead he help me cope up. He's the only person I can trust. There's no way I can fill a space in my heart for a love I thought was true yet it was just full of lies. It all just happened because I allowed it. And now I don't want to loose my brother just because of my own egocentric.

So I won’t let all my brother’s suffering go for nothing. I badly wanted to forget anything from the past and have a fresh star with him and Lucy who happened to be my family now. If my name makes a noise, his name will definitely be involved again and I don't want to get to that point.

"As long as you maintain a good scandal in that span of your promotion there's nothing to worry about Darling. And for all I know, there you are great. Keeping your image clean."

I breathed a deep sigh.

"In a few months Cyreese, your contract will end. If there is no problem you can easily get all your cards and say good bye. So if you don't want what you fear to happen, better behave and trust your management. Hmkay?"

She fixed the parting of my hair with the comfort he did. For some reason, my heart was not at peace with what he said. I don't know if I'm just bothered or I don't really have a good feeling about it.

"Oh, he's here."

I looked in the direction he was staring and I saw my brother. I smiled but his expression remained grim. It approached me and kissed the top of my forehead. The cafe was noisy because of the rumor that happened. I saw how he looked badly at the people there before he sat down next to me. I grabbed her arm and her expression immediately softened.

"Lourd, chill. You know those people are just bugs who are thirsty for another gossip.

"Should we plan about your contract renewal?"

Lourd leaned over and toyed with his key on the table.

"Ava's not gonna do it so ..."

My eyes narrowed confusedly looking at him.

"What? Lourd, no. We haven't talked about this yet? I can manage on my own. You can just focus on yourself, to Lucy, to both of you!"

Tita Matilda just sneezed at the way it looked. She's aware, she's been taking care of it for a long time.

"We won't argue about this again Ava."

"Cyreese,” I corrected him.

---

Tita Matilda:

Cyreese Suarez! Check this.

My forehead frowned. What is wrong this time? I click the link he gave me and it barely loads on my cellphone screen due to the successive explosion of my notifications on social media.

What the hell is happening? I was overwhelmed and amazed at what Lucy was doing. There's this unknown nervousness and crazy beat inside my chest as I wait for the page to load. Is this something bad?

Lucy sniffed when she saw I was an idiot. He sat with me and leaned on my shoulder, his exact look at the screen of my cellphone was the appearance of an article from Aunt Matilda's message.

"What. The. Fuck !?"

Lucy shrieked out of horror for me. He seemed to utter the content of my mind, while I seemed to have my tongue cut out because of what I had read. Coldness dripped on my face, my soul seemed to escape me. The door of my room popped and then my sister spat as if in a hurry because of the screaming Lucy made.

"What happened?"

"Scandal ?! Sex video? Really, Ava Cyreese Suarez?"

My mouth hanged open while gently shaking Lucy. Hindi can believe what I read, I didn't stop as if when i shake that I can also tell the whole world that not everything is true.