Discovered My CEO's secret

I rubbed my forehead when I went to the last company on the list given to me by aunt Matilda. Third company and all of that has him — his reason why they won’t accept. Either there's no available slot for me, or the information they're still receiving is outdated. I always call Aunt Matilda whenever I fail at the company I go to. He has nothing else to give me, so here it is and my head hurts.

"Okay, I'll just take care of this aunt. I'm sorry."

"Sorry hija, I'm really taking care of a lot here, those were the only companies I know."

I also don't want my aunt to be bothered because I know she also has a lot of work. It's for my internship and it's only natural that I should take care of it, why do I still rely on others? I spent the whole day re-researching the company, but of course, when destiny plays you there is nothing you can do. I stumbled upon two choices, either I won't intern. Or I'll play with the dangerous fire taking the risk. If I stop, time will be wasted.

It's only been a year and it's okay, I'll leave the modeling industry. But at the same time I can't just take the risk, I have to think not only of myself but also of my brother. It is not impossible to reach his family that I have returned to the Philippines and what is worse is that I will still work under their son's management.

I let out a big sigh. I've never been torn like this in my entire life. It is difficult to decide even though the choice is both important. I stared at the number who called me last time. Is this his personal number? Or maybe his business number? I don't know. Will I call and say I will proceed with the application? Oh no. I'll just go there and find their HR so that's what I can talk to.

Yeah, definitely. To make sure that with the size of that company, our paths will never meet again, I am just an intern and I am not his regular employee. The next day, that’s what happened. I ate my own skepticism and headed to the VREC Building. I even assured myself on not meeting him today because if that happens I will not really continue. If their HR or anyone else will assist me is better. Just don't let him. Wearing a mid-calf nude slim jumpsuit, I paired it with my one and only black talons.

For some reasons, I had time to put light make up, well ... I kind of had time so ... yeah. I always looked around at the people I would meet as I walked down the hallways of the building, as if some were stopping to look at me, making me uncomfortable. I don't know if it's normal, but for as long as I can remember, people here didn't think of me like this when I last went. I walked over to the clerk's desk and when I stopped in front of them they were gently startled. The smile I gave was raw.

"Uhm, I don't have an appointment but I was informed to go back here-"

"On the 40th floor, ma'am? For Mr. President?"

My eyes widened and I was confused inwardly. I raised my hand and denied what he had promised. I breathed a laugh.

"No, uhm, can it be just HR or those who handle Interns?"

The woman's judgmental eyes shifted to hers, the eyes seemed to have a conversation causing me to be even more uncomfortable. It called the phone and whispered the trembling of my heart, this is my last call, if I am not accepted here it will be up to you.

"Mrs. Madrigal is still on a meeting. She's on the 23rd floor ma'am."

The pressure on my chest slightly loosen, that means ...

"Then I can wait, where can I wait?"

"You can just proceed on the 23rd floor ma'am."

I almost celebrate what he said.

"Thank you, thank you so much." I smiled at her but her faint smile says otherwise. I just didn't pay attention to that, you can't please everybody. You also have the problem if you are affected. I entered the lift and I can't wipe of the slight hope in my face. Floor 23, far away from the 40th floor he occupies. I don't know if we will ever meet again.

"What floor miss?"

Asked a man, wearing a casual clothes and holding a cup of Ice coffee.

"23."

"Oh, you're 23 too?"

I noticed the sincere smile he gave me. Other than what the woman in the lobby showed me earlier. I just nodded slowly at him. There are only two of us here in the elevator, he seems friendly and warm. Somehow my nervousness was dispelled because of the stares that people had given me earlier.

"What are you doing on our floor? Are you from here, or visiting someone?" I was taken a back when he started a conversation but it wasn't that bad.

"I have a purpose in HR." He frowned at what I said.

"But that's not the HR floor."

I gasped at his statement. Was what the woman told me wrong? He tilted his head and seemed to be thinking.

"Ah, maybe because of the company meeting."

My eyes lit up at what he said and I nodded slightly as well.

"That's what they told me in the lobby."

"Oh, you have an accent." He pointed at me and he smiled. My cheeks warmed at what he said. I stayed in New York for 4 years, I can't help it. I just bent down and avoided looking at him, I was shy to respond so I looked at him again when I heard his little laugh.

"I'm Steve." I looked at the hand he held out to me. I accepted it without hesitation.

"I'm a Section Chief." Obviously he works here.

"Cyreese. I'm applying for internship." His lips parted.

"The reason why you're not familiar, and with that outfit, you won't fit on our floor." I paled at what he said. He must have seen how I reacted.

"Oh nonono! Don't get me wrong, you're more suitable on the 40th floor. You look like an elite model."

My lips parted at what he said, okay, it's a good thing. This person does not know me. The elevator tings and I am stunned by what he said. He unfolded the open elevator and led me out first. I looked at what I was wearing and I couldn’t help but be self -conscious.

The floor is quite busy. Three rows of wings and busy people. They are quiet and have her-her world. Only a few were distracted as we exited the elevator.

"Hey Cyreese, you can sit here and wait, Mrs. Madrigal is still in the conference room." I smiled at him.

I couldn’t help but rejoice at the reception he made. He said goodbye to me and headed to the left wing of the hallway. In the distance I could still see him winking at me before he sat down in his cell and I never saw him again. Numb, I am used to the kind of attention given to me. That's their norm. I made myself comfortable in the long sofa given in the space at the side of this floor. I feel a little relieved. This is not bad after all. I waited a few minutes and the surroundings became a bit noisy. There were people coming out where that was coming from in the right aisle.

That's probably the conference room Steve was talking about earlier. Some look at me every time they see me before going straight to the elevator, and others don't seem to be talking to their peers. After a while a middle age woman approached me.

"Were you the one the lobby called me earlier?"

I quickly stood up and immediately I towered over her. I'm not tall but maybe because of the heels I'm wearing.

"Yes please." She warmly smiled at me and state some instructions.

"Sorry to keep you waiting, but come let's proceed on my floor."

I nodded and slowly followed him but he stopped and stepped aside. I stopped due to confusion, I stared at him lying on one side while I was still on the road. Our eyes met and it gently bewilderedly pulled me to the side towards his side. The smile he gave behind me was raw. My white bag swayed because of what she did. I looked back at the path of his gaze and almost dropped my jaw at what I saw. A group of corporate men walking so proudly, not after the greetings of those who had previously been just quietly working in their cell. My breath hitched looking at the man in front.

His eyes are dark and he’s looking so intimidating with his corporate attire walking so proudly in this hall, on her side is a slender woman wearing a fitted red tube dress, her hair is short and she has a big smile while talking to him. Like the whole world has slowed down, the sluggish caress of the woman on his arm could not escape my sight and was followed by the laughter of the two of them.

I just want to disappear suddenly because I'm sure they'll pass by here because they're going to the Elevator. And obviously! I don't want him to see me. Damn. Instead of avoiding my gaze, I can't even take my eyes off the woman next to him, is she his girlfriend? Wife? Oh yeah, what do I care? Her lips are fuller and she is busty, really perfectly curved and you have nothing to blame. I gulped the swollen pressure on my throat, unfamiliar heat on my face started to build up. I have yet to determine what. I closed my eyes tightly and when I opened my eyes our eyes met.

I saw a hint of amusement and puzzlement in his eyes, his lips parted but he just continued on his walk. For some reason I was so annoyed to see him now, so I'm not sure why my eyes seemed to roll when I avoided looking at him. Damn, what makes me angry? I just dropped my gaze when they passed us, the woman's soft voice was like iron clinking in my hearing, I started to get pissed just by hearing her soft laugh plus the man next to her. Until the elevator closed I didn’t look back. Because why would I?

"Sorry, we have to take the lift after the President take it."

Sorry Mrs. Madrigal. Something inside my stomach splashed like an ice cold, the more I felt how far he was, then in Mar De Vena it was hard for him to reach, especially now in the world he leads. It was very different from my world back then in Mar De Vena, so why did I believe him back then that we felt the same way. He clearly just want something from me, ang it was for his family and not because he reciprocated my feelings. If I have to deal with this for months then so be it. He doesn't seem to care anymore, he seems to have forgotten everything.

The way he smiled talking to the woman beside her gives a conclusion that he doesn't care about my presence at all cause he's happy and contented. I was the only one buried in yesterday's wound. My first week in that company was great, I thought I would suffer entering there but I didn't. At least once our paths never met again in that building which leads me to an assurance that it’ll be like that the whole time. I'm an intern, the President doesn't need anything from me so why would our paths meet?