MAVIS forced herself to not be scared. Mr. Dela Vega might give her a memo just because of her “sleeping”.

“Mr. Dela Vega, I conducted a research about the land acquisition that you are doing in Palawan—”

            “We. You’re part of the company now, right? Why do you still address our projects as if you’re not?” he asked with a raised eyebrow.

            “Okay. We.”

            He nodded. “What about it?”

            Mavis massaged her temples because she was suddenly feeling a pain in her head. “The Venturillo family is well-known in Palawan. They’re a very traditional family. They really love Palawan, most especially Mr. and Mrs. Venturillo. Based on their pictures showcasing the natural beauty of Palawan and how they’re helping to preserve it, I’d say that maybe the reason that they rejected our offer is because of the plan that our people are presenting to them? I mean, the design of the hotel is too urban for a natural beauty like Palawan. It can come off a little less homey. Maybe that was the impression of the Venturillo with the plan of the hotel.”

            “How did you do your research?” he asked her curious.

            “Facebook,” she simply answered.

            “We’re aiming for a budget hotel, Miss Policarpio. Our plan and goal is to build a minimalist, clean and safe hotel to stay at. It’s not a luxury hotel,” Mr. Dela Vega reasoned.

Mavis remembered him saying to find a new location for their new budget hotel or add an offer with the Venturillo.

            “I know, Mr. Dela Vega. It’s just maybe the Venturillo’s doesn’t want the new budget hotel to feel like the metro. Maybe we needed to personally approach them—”

            “Our people are talking to them personally,” Mr. Dela Vega reasoned once again.

Mavis’ headache intensified. Maybe it was wrong for her to open the subject right now.

            “No. That’s not my point, Mr. Dela Vega. What I meant was, maybe we need to hear their opinion as well about the project. They might be feeling that we’re just there purely for business. That we’re just going to pay them money then after that it’s done. Maybe they wanted us to be considerate. Of course, that land was with them for a long time. They will look forward to having the hotel there. We often have a hard time letting go of something that’s been with us for a long time. Maybe, we should ask for their opinion or their own terms,” she explained.

            “You’re looking at this too much, Miss Policarpio. It’s just another business dealing. For sure, they’re just looking for a much bigger offer,” he said.

Mavis can’t help but feel disappointed. Of course, he’s a businessman to the core. So she didn’t say anything furthermore and she just prayed that they’ll land in Baguio sooner. Believe it or not, she fell asleep because of the stress that was brought by her conversation with Mr. Dela Vega. She was awakened by a tap on her arms. They’re already in the helipad of the Crimson Crown Hotel in Baguio. 

            They went straight to the kitchen so that Mr. Dela Vega can personally inspect there. He’s really hands on with his businesses. If it were a different CEO, they might’ve let the people under them handle the issue like this.

            He might really be a control freak, Mavis said in her head.

            But her stomach was already having hunger pains. She can already hear its growl because of hunger. She wanted to steal a steak and eat it on the spot in the kitchen.

            Mr. Dela Vega was in the middle of his own investigation—his version of “grilling” in the kitchen with the service staff of Crimson Crown—when they received a call from Mr. Castillo. The guy that was hospitalized because of food poisoning earlier has eaten the salad and steak from the Crimson Crown. But according to the investigation of the police and the hospital, it was because of the fresh strawberries from a farm in Baguio that the guy went to early in the morning. They had just harvested it when the guy immediately ate it. The farm is temporarily closed so that there wouldn’t be more victim of food poisoning.

            If Mavis thought that they can be at ease now, she thought wrong, because after the investigation, Mr. Dela Vega asked for a meeting with the hotel managers. And she thanked the heavens so hard when she made it through the meeting, most especially when Mr. Dela Vega requested for them to eat before going back to Manila. 

            She wanted to celebrate but then, she felt the life of her snuck out of her body. Everything went black.

THIS woman’s going to be the end of me, Rush thought while staring at the sleeping Miss Policarpio. She fainted after their staff meeting in the Crimson Crown. They immediately brought her in the nearest hospital. According to the doctors, the reason why she fainted was because of fatigue. Lack of sleep due to shifting work schedules and poor diet.

            What the f*ck is she doing to suffer like this? Why is she not eating properly? Why didn't she sleep properly when we’re not taking up time in the evening?

Just when Rush thought that she’s been—so far—the best executive assistant he’d ever had, Miss Policarpio immediately became careless. He has no complaints about her but did she not consider that she should be physically fit in her work first and foremost? He can’t have a feeble EA.

            Rush didn’t think that he would feel guilty because of what happened to her. He was ready to give her a lecture later when he remembered something. She was from a graveyard shift. Miss Policarpio still wasn’t fully adjusted to a day shift and he insisted to Daena and David for her to start as soon as possible. That’s why she looked so pale.

He was hit with a pang of guilt.

F*ck!

            “I’ve already called Miss Policarpio’s siblings to let them know about her condition,” said by David who just entered the room. He placed the food on the bedside table of the hospital bed. “Should I arrange for a chopper pick-up for you? I’ll take care of Miss Policarpio.”

            Rush doesn’t know why, but he doesn’t like that idea. “No. Let’s go back to Manila together. By car,” he replied. He doesn’t want Miss Policarpio to be uncomfortable when they go back to Manila. And a helicopter ride will do just that.

            “What? Are you certain? The journey would be long—”

            “Arrange for a car, David,” he insisted. “Also, please tell Daena to schedule Miss Policarpio’s medical exam next week instead so she can rest first. Then, call Silver Palace and have them deliver two sets of breakfast every morning to my office starting Monday.”

            David wasn’t able to reply to him at first because of what he had said. He stood frozen in his place and he’s looking at him weirdly. “Are you sure?”

            “Aren’t my words clear enough? Do I need to f*cking repeat everything I say to you?” he asked in his cold voice.

            “No,” David immediately said, then grinned at him. “So, we chose well this time, huh?” he proudly asked.

            Rush breathed a sigh. “I think she understands me. It’s still early to say if she’ll continue to do that though.”

            In the span of two days, he’s been impressed by Miss Policarpio multiple times. But he still hasn’t fully believed the qualities she’s showcasing. She might be just efficient in the beginning then she would be lax when time passed. She showed no mistake in the span of two days that she’s been working under him. But there’s still a lot of room for mistakes. 

We’ll see.

---

From: Rush Dela Vega

To: Mavis Policarpio

Subject: Don’t be stupid

Miss Policarpio,

Don’t be careless. Remember not to sacrifice your well-being to be an efficient assistant. Part of being incompetent is not taking one’s own body into consideration. What do you think will happen if you keep on getting sick? I’ll suffer.

Rush Dela Vega

CEO, Dela Vega Corporation

---

From: Mavis Policarpio

To: Rush Dela Vega

Subject: RE: Don’t be stupid

Mr. Dela Vega,

            This is duly noted. My apologies for what happened last Friday. It won’t happen again.

From Mavis, with Love

---

From: Rush Dela Vega

To: Mavis Policarpio

Subject: RE: Don’t be stupid

What’s with your signature? And why didn’t you answer from your business email? I’ve been emailing you an hour ago.

Rush Dela Vega

CEO, Dela Vega Corporation

---

From: Mavis Policarpio

To: Rush Dela Vega

Subject: RE: Don’t be stupid

My apologies for that. I forgot to change my personal signature. And my business phone is off, charging.

Regards,

Mavis Policarpio

---

From: Mavis Policarpio

To: Nyx Agoncillo

Subject: FW: Don’t be stupid

Oh, my f*cking gosh! I haven’t changed my personal signature here while I was exchanging emails with Mr. Dela Vega. Sh*t on a stick! But read how he sounds so arrogant. He called me stupid! He talked about me being considerate when he doesn’t even know how to be one. He’s really the one who would suffer if I got sick, huh? Just a little bit more then he would have a place in my hate list.

From Mavis, with Love

---

From: Nyx Agoncillo

To: Mavis Policarpio

Subject: RE: FW: Don’t be stupid

I’m laughing so hard right now! 

Why do I find his arrogance adorable though? (SORRY)

x Nyx

---

From: Mavis Policarpio

To: Nyx Agoncillo

Subject: RE: FW: Don’t be stupid

I hate you!

From Mavis, with Love