It was almost midnight but the area was fully packed with people especially at the 7/11 convenience store and Jollibee. I could tell from their uniforms that most of them were factory workers from the nearby processing zone.

Previously, driving alone at night helped me to relax, but after my close encounter with Omar, I couldn’t relax at all. How could I when the man didn’t waste any opportunity to tell me that he wanted me back in his life.

What a lunatic!

My mother was already asleep when I get home and I didn’t bother to wake her up. I went straight to my bedroom and prepared for bed. I applied a moisturizing cream on my face when my phone rang, and Nikka’s name appeared on the screen. “Are you a psychic or something? How did you know I’m home?” I asked her as soon as the call was connected.

Nikka laughed at the other line and said, “Silly. So, how’s the interview?”

I considered telling her about my previous relationship with AZ’s Chairman but I held my tongue. Although we were colleagues for the past five years, we were not that close to share our personal lives. “It’s done,” I answered.

“Good. Is he handsome?” Nikka asked.

“I’m not sure, but it will depend on how you look at him, but for me, he is,” I replied and I heard Nikka giggled at the other line. “He’s not my type,” I set her straight just in case she would think differently.

“Then, who’s your type? Our boss? Anyway, I sent something on your email, check it before you finalize the article about AZ’s Chairman.” Nikka ordered.

“Alright, bye.” I dropped the call and didn’t comment on Nikka’s question about who’s my type, but why did she mention our boss? There was something in Nikka’s voice that forced me to check my mail before going to bed. Her name was on the top of my inbox and I immediately clicked it.

“Oh my God!” I exclaimed and slumped on my chair after reading it. Then I shook my head in disbelief because there’s no way it could be true, however, I barely knew the man, and the evidence was strong enough. My hands trembled as I dialed Nikka’s number and when she answered, I couldn’t open my mouth to speak.

“Yes, Anna?”

I heard Nikka’s voice but I didn’t know what to say to him but as a journalist, I had to double-check everything. I took a deep breath and closed my eyes as I speak, “Where did you get this information?”

Nikka chuckled nervously at the other line but she managed to say, “I have a reliable source, Anna. Don’t you trust me? I wouldn’t risk my name for gossip!” She appeared defensive but Nikka has always been a topnotch journalist!

I arched my brows while I listened to her explanation because there’s a hint of nervousness and uneasiness on her voice but I couldn’t pinpoint what it was. “Of course, I trust you, but this article can ruin someone,” I told her but who I was fooling around when I recently ruined a politician’s name after I wrote something about his corruption.

“You’ll know what to do about it,” Nikka said and was about to hang up the phone but I managed to stop her.

“Why don’t you write the article instead? I can send everything I gathered during the interview to your email now,” I offered.

“My headache is still bad and I can’t concentrate. I already asked Samer to extend my leave,” she said, and then she thanked me before ending the call.

A few minutes before the call ended, it occurred to me that Nikka dropped Samer’s name casually. Or maybe it was only my imagination. Sadly, I turned to stare at my inviting bed but I couldn’t sleep just yet when I had an article to write.

It was around three in the morning when I finished with the article and emailed it to Samer for approval. My body was exhausted from everything and I just wanted a good night's sleep. I lay on my bed and stared at the ceiling when I contemplated calling Omar, but then, I canceled the idea because it wouldn’t change anything at all. I firmly believed that the public needed to know what’s going on with AZ’s new chairman especially when the company was listed on the Philippine Stocks Exchange. Before I closed my eyes, I knew that it’s going to be hectic in the morning so I turned off my phone as a precaution to block some unknown callers.

However, the man whom I fell in love with five years ago visited me in my dream. No, it wasn’t a dream but a nightmare and I woke up sweating! I checked the time and it was only five in the morning. My hands went to my eyes and rubbed them and it felt like there were sands inside it and I squinted them as I walked towards my working station.

After I sat down, I thought that I should wash my face first to see well. I turned on my laptop before I went to the bathroom. When I returned, I immediately checked our website to see the latest news, and I gasped for breath that the article I wrote a few hours ago hit the headlines, and I cringed after reading some of the nasty comments about Omar. I feel bad towards him and I bit my lower lip while I stared at my phone. I asked myself several times if I should call him or not, but in the end, I chose not to bother myself with his reaction.

The first article that exposed Omar’s sexual orientation received the nastiest comments compared to the scandal about AZ’s brutal exploitation of workers in Africa. When I wrote about him being a transgender, I wondered why I didn’t notice it before. I dated the man for more than three months and there was never a time when he acted differently.

He was all man to me, and I began to question my memory of him. Did I fail to notice because I was so in love with him? Was it the main reason why he wanted to abort our baby because he couldn’t be a father? Several questions ran through my head and I needed answers…immediately! Without any further hesitation, I turned on my phone but I realized that I didn’t have his number. I tried to call Alejandro but his phone couldn’t be reached either.

I massaged my temple and resumed reading the comment section. My name appeared countless times and I received praise from people who were quick to judge that a transgender couldn’t run an empire. I should be happy, right? But no, I wasn’t, and I felt guilty!

I decided to get a cup of coffee to relax my nerves and having a visitor early in the morning was unexpected. As I studied the other woman, I thought that she’s different from my mother’s friends. She’s stern, proper, and cool in her white suit! “Good morning, Ma.” I greeted my mother who prepared a cup for her guest and I smiled at the middle-aged woman.

“Hello, Anna. I am from AZ’s PR Department and I wonder if we can have a private conversation over something important.” She said.

From AZ? I was amazed by how fast AZ mobilized their people to control the damage, and it was kind of scary! “How did you know I live here?” The knowledge that my address was known to anyone at AZ terrified me. What if they would retaliate and harmed my mother?

“I got it from the Chairman,” she replied.

Even if the information was leaked by Omar himself, it was still scary! “Ma, can you excuse us for a moment? This won’t take long,” I said, and my mother nodded to agree. As soon as my mother was inside her room, I faced the scary woman confidently. “Should I be scared about your visit?” I didn’t sugarcoat the words which came out from my mouth and she was stunned by my bluntness.

“I meant no harm, Miss Anna. The chairman asked me if I could convince you to take down the article, as you well know, it caused great damage to the company and thousands of people are losing on their investment.” She explained and I understood why because I was into stocks investing too.

“How much did it drop?” I asked about the share prices of AZ’s stocks.

“It’s significant enough to worry the shareholders,” she replied without telling me the complete details.

“I’m only a journalist, Ma’am, and surely you will not blame me why AZ’s stock prices declined after the article hit the headlines.” I pointed out the fact that I had to do my job regardless of its effect. I couldn’t be biased over it just because thousands of Filipinos would suffer a loss!

“I understand your point but the problem is, you wrote it with malicious intent to harm our company, and we won’t sit still.” She announced. “If you will take down the article, we won’t press charges against you.” She added.

“Seriously, but on what ground? We got pictures to prove that AZ’s new chairman is a transgender!” I reasoned out but the darn woman from AZ’s PR only laughed, and her unexpected reaction infuriated the hell out of me!

She arched her perfect eyebrows and asked, “Are you sure that it’s the chairman? Did you check if the pictures were photoshopped or edited? How about the source? Is it reliable?”

While I listened to her rapid questioning, I was almost convinced that Nikka tricked me for some unknown reasons, but I hid my uncertainty from the other woman. She was so sure about something and she made me feel bad about myself and I couldn’t talk to her any longer. “Tell your chairman to call me, and I will only talk to him and no one else. Understand?” I tried to sound cool in front of the seasoned woman whose intent gazes made me uncomfortable.

“Okay, I will tell him.” She promised before our meeting ended.

Five minutes after the woman left, my phone rang and it was an unregistered number. Could it be possibly Omar? “Yes, hello?” I answered the call.

“It’s me,” he said.