Chapter 8

ALAS shook his head as he walked toward the conference room. He couldn’t get over how much his childhood friend had changed. He never imagined she’d turn out to be so… well, so difficult. From the way she’d snapped at him earlier, it was clear she didn’t remember him at all. Twenty years ago, they’d been inseparable—attached at the hip, practically. But that was a lifetime ago, and they now lived in completely different worlds.

 

So much had changed since then, and he’d stopped expecting things to go back to how they used to be. He knew they’d never be as close as they were before.

 

Lydia met him along the way and opened the conference room door for him. He walked straight in and took his seat at the head of the table.

 

“Lydia, make sure to take down every detail we discuss,” he instructed.

 

Lydia nodded and opened her tablet. They relied on modern technology now—for clearer notes, and to make sharing files to their computers much easier.

 

The meeting was all about the upcoming merger between the Dela Merzcid and Domingo companies. The two firms would be working together to build high-quality, well-designed homes in a new subdivision. It would benefit so many people—not just potential homeowners, but also the communities surrounding the development.

 

The Domingo family was one of the most prominent names in the Metro. They owned shipping lines, malls, and a long list of other successful businesses. Alongside the Dela Merzcids and the Cortes family, they were among the wealthiest and most influential families in the country—three dynasties whose decisions could easily make headlines across the nation.

 

Alas stepped to the front of the room to present his proposals. After a thorough discussion, everyone agreed to move forward with the plan. An hour later, the meeting wrapped up.

 

“Alright, that’s all. Congratulations to everyone—great work,” Alas said, and was the first to head out.

 

Lydia followed right behind him.

 

“Lydia, let’s talk for a moment,” Alas said, his tone serious. Lydia knew that tone well—when he spoke like that, something important was coming.

 

“Yes, Sir,” she said, keeping pace with him. “Is everything alright? You look very serious.”

 

“Let’s grab a quick snack first. Then we’ll discuss it.”

 

They headed to the company canteen and ordered something to eat. Lydia could barely sit still with curiosity, so she asked again. “Sir, what is it we need to talk about? You look so sad. Is there a problem?”

 

“You’ve been an incredible asset to this company for almost ten years now,” Alas began steadily. “But I’ve decided you won’t be my secretary anymore.”

 

Lydia’s heart dropped. Her eyes welled up instantly. She wasn’t dreaming—she’d heard him clearly, and she was terrified he was letting her go.

 

“Hey, don’t cry,” Alas said, smiling gently. He knew how harsh his opening must have sounded. “That’s not what I meant. You won’t be my secretary anymore… because I’m promoting you, Lydia.”

 

Her mouth fell open in pure shock. “Really, Sir? I honestly thought you were going to fire me. I love this job so much. I have two children to raise, and I’m expecting a third now… Thank you so much, Sir. This means everything to me. I promise I won’t let you down.”

 

“Thank you, Lydia. You’ve been nothing but loyal and hardworking from the very start. You’ve more than earned this,” he said, giving her shoulder a reassuring pat.

 

“Thank you, Sir,” she said, wiping away her happy tears. She truly deserved this—she was one of the most dedicated, honest people he knew.

 

“You’ll be stepping up now that I’ve hired my new secretary,” he continued, adjusting his suit jacket. “Starting tomorrow, you’ll show her the roles. A week of training should be more than enough—she seems sharp enough to catch on quickly. Alright, I’ll head back to my office now. See you later.”

 

Lydia practically beamed with joy as she walked away. This promotion was something she’d hoped for for so long, and it was finally happening.

 

Alas returned to his office, knowing he still had a mountain of work to get through—and that he’d have to deal with Yna again.

 

He shook his head the moment he stepped inside. There sat Yna, twirling a pen between her fingers, completely zoned out. She didn’t even notice him standing right beside her.

 

He was holding another booklet, which he dropped firmly onto her desk. Yna jumped so hard she nearly fell off her chair.

 

“What is wrong with you?” she snapped, glaring up at him.

 

Alas smiled, studying her closely. He leaned down and whispered right beside her ear. “This is another thing you’ll need to memorize. It has the full profile of every single staff member here. Learn every employee’s name, face, and role—so you’ll know who you’re dealing with from now on. Got it?”

 

Yna shrugged her shoulders dismissively. “Why would I do that? That’s not part of my job. I’m supposed to be your secretary, not go poking into everyone else’s business,” she hissed, rolling her eyes—something she seemed to do every time she looked at him.

 

Alas stood up straight and looked her dead in the eye, shaking his head in disbelief. “First of all, you call me ‘Boss,’ Yna Maria Cortes.”

 

Yna turned her back to him, pretending she hadn’t heard a word. “You already know who I am, and I already know who you are. No need for introductions.”

 

“I don’t care about any of that. If you’ve got nothing useful to say, leave me alone.”

 

Alas let out a loud laugh, which made her spin back around to face him, clearly offended.

 

“What are you laughing at? Do you find this funny?” she challenged, raising an eyebrow. She couldn’t seem to take him seriously no matter how hard she tried.

 

“I’m laughing because you’re still acting like a spoiled child,” he replied calmly. “And even if you don’t care to know who I am, I am Alas Gabriel Dela Merzcid—your Boss. So I expect you to show me some respect. And if you don’t… don’t make me take steps to make sure you do. I don’t want to threaten you, but I will make sure you learn how to behave properly.”

 

“Whatever,” she shot back. “If you were Janus, then maybe I’d put up with you. Then I’d show you some respect. Happy now?”

 

Alas froze, and let out a long breath to keep his temper in check. Why on earth would she bring up that worthless man? And why compare him to anyone else? He was better than all of them.

 

“Don’t you ever mention that name again in front of me… It makes my skin crawl!” he warned sharply.

 

“Whatever!” she huffed, rolling her eyes again.

 

His patience had finally run thin. He walked back to his desk, sank into his swivel chair, and closed his eyes to calm himself down. He knew this was going to be a long, frustrating road if she kept acting this way. No wonder her father couldn’t get her to listen—she really was as stubborn as they came.

 

He never wanted to scold or hurt the girl he’d once cared for so deeply. He couldn’t bring himself to be cruel to her, no matter how much she annoyed him. Some part of him still valued the friendship they’d shared all those years ago.

 

But she didn’t remember him anymore. The excitement and joy he’d felt at the thought of seeing her again had faded fast—instead of the warm welcome he’d hoped for, he’d gotten nothing but attitude and headaches.

 

“I won’t give up on you, Yna. I’ll make you remember who we used to be,” he murmured to himself as he opened his eyes. He glanced over at her, still slouched in her chair, chin resting on her hand, staring blankly into space. She hadn’t even bothered to open the booklets he’d given her.

 

“I want the old Yna I knew back then,” he whispered, shaking his head. He turned his attention to the stack of documents waiting for him. Work was definitely better than getting upset over Yna.