CHAPTER 5

“Hello, Debs?” aniya.

“Sam, don’t panic,” hinihingal na saad nito.

“Deby.” Seryoso ang boses ni Samantha. “Mas mukha ka pang nagpa-panic kaysa sa akin.”

“You need to get back here right now. Check the message that I sent you. Now na.”

“Okay, okay.”

Binack niya muna ang call at pumunta sa messages niya. She clicked the link at dinala siya nito sa isang news page. It’s another news story about her. But this time, with another man.

‘SAMANTHA FUENTES AND MORGAN LOCKWOOD ARE SECRETLY DATING. SEEN TOGETHER AFTER BREAKUP NEWS WITH RONAN ALBERT.’

Napalingon ulit si Samantha kay Morgan na ngayon ay malawak ang ngiti sa mukha. Hindi niya akalain na seseryosohin nito ang sinabi niya kagabi. Minumura ni Samantha ang sarili sa kaniyang isipan habang tinitignan ang iba pang notifications sa phone niya.

This news would either become her another downfall or the thing that saved her career.

Hindi rin maalala ni Samantha kung paano siya napunta sa kotse ngayon ni Morgan. Nakatulala lang siya sa labas ng sasakyan at iniisip kung paano niya i-explain ang mga nangyari sa agency niya. At isa pa, people are already bashing her online. Hindi dahil nagawa niya agad na magkaroon ng ‘new boyfriend’ but because it’s MORGAN LOCKWOOD.

“I am going to confirm the issue,” putol ni Morgan sa katahimikan.

“Ha?” Parang nabalik sa kasalukuyang si Samantha.

“Bakit parang gulat na gulat ka pa rin?”

Hindi agad nakasagot si Samantha. Kung tutuusin, she wanted this. Siya mismo ang lumapit kay Morgan to make a noise bigger than her and Ronan’s. But the problem is, it was all too fast for her.

But she should handle this like how it is supposed to be. At ito rin naman ang plano niya from the very start.

Huminga siya nang malalim bago lumingon kay Morgan. “Let’s go to my agency. Also, i-prepare mo na ang sarili mo sa dami ng press na nakaabang sa atin doon.”

Tahimik ulit silang dalawa sa loob ng kotse. Habang papalapit na sila sa building ng agency ni Samantha ay mas lalo siyang kinakabahan. Hindi naman ito ang unang beses na nasangkot siya sa mga kontrobersiya. As a model, she is prone to issues, scandals, and false rumors.

Pero iba ito ngayon dahil isang Morgan Lockwood ang kasama niya sa issue na ito.

“We’re here,” saad ni Morgan.

Napatingin siya sa labas ng bintana. Halos mapuno ng reporters at paparazzi ang harapan ng building. Huminga ng malalim si Samantha bago ngumiti. She needs to look pretty and sophisticated para pantayan ang level ni Morgan.

“Miss Samantha, is it true that you and Mr. Lockwood are dating?” tanong ng isang reporter nang bumaba sila ng sasakyan.

“How about Mr. Albert? Is it really over?”

“Miss Samantha, are you going after Mr. Lockwood because you are out of brand deals?”

The last question made her stop walking. “Morgan is just the best man for me. What can I do? The best man appeared right after the worst man left me.”

Agad na nagkagulo ang mga reporter matapos marinig ang sagot niya. She felt more confident now dahil alam niyang kasama niya si Morgan and no one would dare to challenge or question him. Sunod-sunod ang tanong na ibinabato sa kaniya ng nga reporters.

Before she could react more, Morgan stood up properly and grabbed her waist to pull her closer. Samantha was surprised when he did that. Alam niyang they were just faking but it seems a bit much and too close. Naaamoy niya ang pabango ng lalaki at ramdam na ramdam niya ang makisig at matipuno nitong katawan.

“You’re enjoying this, huh?” Morgan whispered to her ear, sending shivers down her spine.

“W-what are you saying?” Nagaalangan na tanong ni Samantha.

“You asked for this and there’s no turning back. I don’t care if we’re faking it or where this is going but as long as I hold the media about this issue, you’re mine,” he added.

Napakunot ng noo si Samantha. “What–”

“To make everything clear,” Morgan faced the media. “Yes, we are getting to know each other for now but you can play with your imagination about it,” he added with a smirk on his face.

Hindi siya makatingin kay Morgan habang pumapasok sila sa loob ng building. His arm is still around her waist. Tila wala itong balak na bitawan siya hanggang sa makapasok sila sa loob.

“I meant what I said back there,” bulong nito ulit sa kaniya.

“Do you still like me?” Matapang na tanong ni Samantha.

“I’m still figuring that out.”

Bahagyang natawa si Samantha. “No way. Ang tagal na simula noong ni-reject kita.”

“And yet, here you are, still talking about it,” he replied. “Looks like neither of us forgot.”

“How can I forget when you keep appearing everywhere,” pabulong na sagot ni Samantha. Totoo naman, every tabloid, news outlet and billboards is full of his face.

“You rejected me once, Samantha. Don’t make the mistake thinking you’ll get the chance to do it twice.”

Hindi na umimik si Samantha at ibinaling na lang ang tingin sa daan. Hindi niya alam kung ano ang isasagot niya rito. He started claiming her out of nowhere and for some reason hindi niya man lang ito malabanan.

Pagpasok pa lamang ni Samantha sa conference room, agad siyang napa-tigil. Nawala nang bahagyang ngiti niya sa labi nang makita kung sino ang mga naroroon. Nasa kabilang dulo ng mahabang mesa si Ronan. At ang babaeng naka-upo sa kanan niya ay pamilyar. Samantha is sure that she is Ronan’s new girlfriend.

Biglang uminit at mabigat ang buong silid. Napatingin siya sa mga executives ng agency bago muling ibinalik ang tingin sa dalawa. The executives immediately stood up when they saw Morgan enter the room. Inalok nila ito ng upuan sa kabilang dulo ng mesa at katapat na nito si Ronan.

“M-Mr. Lockwood…” Kinakabahan ang isa sa mga executives. “Welcome to Tr-Ace Agency.”

“Is this how you treat your models? Not offering any chairs for her to sit on?” Morgan asked coldly pero wala ni isa ang kumilos.

“I don’t mind standing,” saad niya. “But what are they doing here?” Tanong ni Samantha habang nakatingin kay Ronan at sa girlfriend nito.

Ngumiti ang babae. “Hi, Samantha. I am Khloe—

“Don’t,” she cut her off. “Ano’ng ginagawa niyo rito?”

Khloe smiled more. “As of this morning, our family acquired additional shares from several investors. So, we are now the largest shareholder of this agency,” sagot nito.

Tahimik pa rin ang lahat. Walang gusto magsalita tungkol sa nangyayari ngayon. Hindi ganoon kahina si Samantha para hindi maintindihan ang sinabi ni Khloe. She’s here not only to show off as Ronan’s girlfriend, but also as their boss.