PERSISTENT STRANGER.

I WAS STARTLED from sitting in front of the vanity mirror when my phone on the cabinet rang. I quickly picked it up, thinking it was Aina or Aunt Roma calling, but Kade's name was on the screen.

My brows furrowed. I don't remember saving his number in my contact list.

"Kade." I coldly greeted as I answered his call.

"Yes, Clarity. It's me. Your handsome suitor." I heard his laugh on the other line.

"What do you need?" I asked nonchalantly.

"Get down. I'm here outside your mansion."

My nose wrinkled. "What are you doing outside?"

"Have a guess," he thriftily replied.

I stood up and peered at him from the double-glazed window of my bedroom. I saw him leaning on the side of his car with a hand plunged in his pocket while the other was holding his phone to his left ear.

"I can see you from here."

My brows automatically raised when Kade even waved at me. He's grinning broadly as he glanced at the window where I was peeking.

How did he know that I'm watching him from the window?

I put on a robe before I went down. It's a peach silk robe that reaches between my knees. I also wear a pair of pink flip-flops. I tied up my somewhat messy hair as I walked down the stairs.

Kade's grin widened when he saw me walking towards the gate.

"What brings you here at this time?" I calmly asked as I opened the gate and got out from there.

He moved away from leaning and walked towards me. "I just wanted to say hello."

I frowned. "Really, Kade? We last saw each other last night." 

"Exactly my point. It was only last night that we saw each other, but I missed you right away when I was in Aurora."

I was silenced by what I heard. I glanced to the side and rubbed my arm while feeling the sudden fluttering of my heart.

"Speechless?"

I got goosebumps all over me when his hot breath struck my cheek.

I felt we were just an inch apart, so I slowly turned to face him. His serious face greeted me as his eyes focused on my robe-covered shoulder.

I pursed my lips until I heard him speak.

"Let me check your wound." His hand slid down on one of my robe's collar, pulling it down to expose my shoulder, which made my eyes widen!

I'm not wearing any bra under my black pajama tank, for Pete's sake!

"What do you think you're doing, Kade?!" Flinched, my loud voice echoed as I abruptly shoved his hand away.

Kade gaped at me, baffled. "What's wrong with you? I'm just checking to see if your wound is okay."

"You just can't do that." I snapped. I crossed my arms, blocking my chest as I hugged my own body.

"Do what?" Clueless, there's a trace of irritation in his voice. 

I stared directly into his intense eyes. "You can't just approach and touch women's clothes like that."

His lips parted slightly. His previously irritated and confused expression was gradually replaced by a sheepish smile. He raised a hand to his neck and cleared his throat.

"Ah! I'm sorry. I didn't mean to." He smiled apologetically.

I stared at him intently. "If you only came here because you were concerned about my wound, you shouldn't have bothered. I'm alright, Mr. Montalvo. It's nothing serious. You may go now."

"That's not all I came here for. I also wanted to ask you something."

"Ask what?" I monotoned.

"Are you free tomorrow night?"

"I don't know. I have a lot of appointment meetings tomorrow." I answered lamely.

"Meeting even at night? You're such a workaholic." he commented, shaking his head.

I sighed exasperatedly. "Yeah, I'm a workaholic so I don't have time for this kind of conversation, so if you don't have anything else to ask other than my wound and if I'm free tomorrow...I'll go in—"

"7:00 pm. I'll pick you up at your office."

"I haven't said yes yet, Kade."

"And you think I'm just going to let you say no?" He gently bit the corner of his lip.

I swallowed. I don't know why my throat suddenly went dry from what he did. The way he bit the side of his lips in a sensual manner makes me think that he's trying to seduce me.

 Isn't he or I am just assuming?

"You're not saying anything. That means you're okay with it." Kade declared, jolting me back to my senses.

"I haven't said anything yet that I agreed to it. I didn't even say yes to you." I stared at him, frowning.

He shook his head. "Sometimes 'Yes' is unnecessary. Alright, I'm leaving. Goodnight, Clarity."

My eyes narrowed as he swiftly turned his back on me. He opened his car's door and went right in without glancing at me.

"Why do you even ask when at the end you're just going to decide it with yourself?" I whispered, annoyed as I watched his car drive away.

* * * 

I STEPPED OUT of the bathroom wearing a robe. I had just finished taking a shower, so I'm wiping my wet hair with the towel hanging over my shoulder.

I strode back to the bed and faced the full-length mirror on its side. I gathered my wet hair to my right shoulder and carefully took off my robe. Now I'm seeing my reflection wearing a tube bra and cycling.

I winced as my eyes darted to my shoulder with a wound as long as my index finger. I sighed. Now I have two marks on my body. One on my side has a vertical scar and one on my shoulder that I acquired almost three days ago.

I moved away in front of the mirror for a moment to get the first-aid kit from the cabinet. I brought out a cotton ball from there that I put betadine on it and gauze, then I returned in front of the mirror.

My jaw clenched as I covered my wound with a bandage. I even shut my eyes in pain when I accidentally pressed a finger on my wound.

I was just about to finish what I'm doing when I suddenly heard a knock outside my room. I grabbed my gray pencil skirt on top of my bed and ignored the knocking. I don't lock doors since it's just me, Manang Alice and Raki are the only ones in the mansion, unless we have visitors.

A few seconds passed when the door of my room opened.

"It's just 6:00 o'clock in the morning. You took a shower so early, sister." Footsteps followed Raki's voice as she approached me at my spot.

I put on my skirt before I faced her. "I'll have to go to Casa early, I have a lot of things to attend to today."

Raki's forehead wrinkled. "Work again."

I just shrugged at what I heard. I know Raki is getting frustrated since I have been continuously working for a month...I'm almost neglecting her. I spend most of my time in the office than here in mansion with her. It's not like last month before peak season when I would take weekends off from work to bond with her. Unlike now, Janna is always with me, whether on weekdays or weekends.

I put on my full corporate attire before I came closer to her. I brushed off some of her baby hair hindering her forehead and touched her chin. I lifted it so we could stare directly at each other's eyes.

"I'm really sorry if I've been busy these past few weeks. But I promise when the resort's peak season is over, I'll make it up to you. I promise that we'll be having a one week bonding." I sincerely smiled.

Raki held onto my wrist. "Really, Ate Clari?!" She exclaimed with her sparkling eyes.

"I promise." I smiled.

Raki almost hugged me with joy. If I hadn't pointed at my hurt shoulder, she might really have done it. I'm just being careful, since Raki can move rashly sometimes. It's troublesome if she accidentally touches my wound again.

"Does your wound still hurt, sister?" She asked after a few minutes.

"Not much anymore."

Raki stared at me doubtfully before shrugging her shoulders. "By the way...is it true that Ate Star will be Mrs. Gallon's replacement?"

I slightly raised an eyebrow after I heard Raki. "Where did you hear that?"

"Janna told me."

"Yes, Star is the new HR Manager." I confirmed. "We'll be holding a welcome ceremony for her today." I glanced at my wristwatch when it beeped.

"That's great! So I can go to the resort more often since Ate Star is there." Raki stared at me with a big smile. "Can I go to her welcome party, sister?"

"No. You can't." I abruptly said.

"But why?" Raki asked as she pouted her lips.

I gave her a serious face, even crossed my arms over my chest. "Today is your quarter exam, right? You can't be absent just for that welcome party. Your studies must be your top priority. Understand?"

"Understood." Raki sighed in defeat. With the straight face I gave her earlier, she already knows that she can't oppose me and insists on what she wants.

"Alright, sister. I'm going downstairs to take a shower." She just said after a few seconds, even though I knew it's against her will before she turned her back on me.

I followed her with my eyes. I sighed before I spoke. "You take your lunch at the resort. I'll just ask Silas to pick you up."

Raki quickly turned to me. The gloomy face she had before she turned her back on me was already lit up.

I"You can see your Ate Star anytime, but make sure you don't skip any classes." I continued. Don't also take too much of her time. Don't disturb her during her work hours. Okay?"

I'm not really jealous that she's gonna do that for Star. They're close to each other. At one point, the two of them seemed like real sisters and it's totally fine with me. 

* * *

WHEN I ARRIVED AT THE RESORT, I found Ms. Kalliope and other employees under his department in the function hall adjacent to the lobby area. Even the other staff are there too. I guess they are getting ready for the welcome ceremony.

Ms. Kalliope smiled at me as soon as she saw me. I was also greeted by the staff who were there who were even surprised that I'm really early today.

"Morning too." I greeted them back.

I roamed my eyes inside of the function hall. There's a mini-stage placed in the center. On the wall it occupies, is a big banner with Star's name on it. There are also small balloons surrounding the edge of the stage. There are also three to four tables in the room while the monoblock chairs are lined up in the back.

I arched an eyebrow, not for a negative reason. These employees are so appreciative. They really made an effort just to welcome one of their future bosses.

I turned to Ms. Calliope, who's waiting for my reaction. I smiled at her. "Wow! You guys are really great. I'm sure Star will be happy with his ceremony."

They all sighed in relief, some of them even clapped too. My positive comments about what they did gave them a smile of satisfaction.

I bid goodbye to them and left the function hall to go up to my office. Like what I always do, I'm going to check the emails and reports I left yesterday.

I dropped my bag on the couch as I entered my office. I went to my table and turned on the macbook. Its battery percentage is low, so I put it in the charger before I sat in the swivel chair.

One by one, I opened and replied to the emails that popped up on the screen. Some of it had an attached file so I had to read that first, causing me to spend a little more time inside the office. When I was sure I had replied to the emails I went back down to the function hall.

The number of staff I saw inside the function hall increased. Others had just arrived, even Janna, who was surprised to see me sitting on a single-seater couch near the door.

"Good morning, Ms. Clari. You were here earlier?" Janna asked curiously.

"Yes." I replied sparingly.

Janna gave me a nod before she excused herself. She walked to the seat next to me and slouched there.

Meanwhile, I silently observed the staff who had already taken their seats. Some of them are checking if the plan has been followed and if everything is complete before Star arrives.

The moment everyone has been waiting for has arrived. The previously noisy room filled with noise suddenly fell into silence as if an angel visited the place.

"What is this?"

Star's arched brows greeted us as she entered the function hall.

"Welcome ceremony." I answered her, causing her to turn to the side. Only then did she realize I was sitting near the door.

"What did you just say?" her forehead slowly wrinkled. 

I stared at her nonchalantly. "It's a welcome party for you."

Star gaped at me. She quickly looked at the employees who seemed disappointed because Star didn't seem to like what they did. I started to feel sorry for them, but seeing Star's sudden change of expression, restrained me from doing it.

"Wow! Not gonna lie but I'm flattered with the effort, really...thank you guys." Star's eyes sparkled genuinely as she gazed at the stage.

A little smile formed on my lips. I'm happy at the moment with the fact that the happiness written on her face is genuine. Star may be a spoiled brat, but she still knows how to appreciate everyone's effort.

* * *

"JANNA." I called my secretary, who quickly turned to me.

We're on our way to the ground elevator. The welcome ceremony for Star is over, so the staff are going back to their individual work, even Janna and I are going up to my office.

"What time is my meeting with Mr. Charbonneau?" I inquired, referring to our potential buyer at Mango Farm.

"And your meeting with him is at 10:00 am."

"And then?" I turned to Janna as we stopped in front of the elevator, waiting for it to open.

"After your meeting with him, you have a lunch meeting with Mrs. Danzell at Astoria Diner."

"What time?" I asked.

"That was exactly 12:00 noon."

I nodded. Finally, I'm going to meet Mrs. Danzell later for our meeting that was postponed due to the emergency and I had several appointments lined up before my next appointment with her. 

The elevator opened, so we started to enter. Janna let me in first before she followed me.