I LOVE YOU GIRL....

His eyes raked over her, trying to see everything and anything there is to see from behind her desk.

​"Those hidden qualities. Do you think that dress you're wearing can catch Sandi's attention?"

​It was like Jackie's ear had been flicked. "I beg your pardon, Sir?"

​"That thing you're wearing," the man pointed to the girl's blouse. "It would probably look better if you just wore jeans."

​"But I am in an office. Don't tell me that you will allow informal wear inside the office."

​"If it looks better than the atrocity you're wearing, why not?"

​Atrocity! How dare he call her dress an atrocity! Jackie was overwhelmed with frustration.

​"You may be one of my employers, Engr. Afable," Jackie's voice finally trembled with anger as she spoke. "But that is no reason for you to have the right to criticize my clothing."

​"I am not criticizing. I am telling you a fact. A truth intended not to insult you but..

​...but because I want you to think about how you can improve your personality."

​Jackie was silenced because she realized her companion actually had a point.

​"Furthermore, I can't help but look because you are the secretary for both Sandi and me. And perhaps, it is my right to fix whatever or whoever is inside this office, isn't it?"

​"What I’m wearing follows the latest fashion trend."

​"Even if that is the fashion trend, it doesn't suit you. You are thin and tall. And then you wear a long skirt and a blouse with sleeves that look like you're about to fly away. The result—you are swallowed by the clothes. You disappear. When you walk, it's the clothes that are seen, not the person wearing them. Do you understand me, Jackie?"

​She nodded, but her hands were clenched into fists. She wanted to attack Jeslie at that moment and pull his hair out.

​"If you want to steal my brother's attention away from his fair-skinned girlfriend, you need to fix yourself up. I have a feeling...

​...that you are more beautiful than Viola if you are styled correctly," the engineer added.

​"You speak as if you're so handsome, Sir. You are far from your brother's personality."

​"I don't know why you are annoyed with me, when I only want to help you. I want to help you get closer to Sandi's heart."

​"And why would you do that when I feel like you don't like me?"

​"Because I don't want Viola Valdez for Sandi. I would much rather have you as my brother's wife than a scheming fortune hunter like that woman."

​Jackie was stunned. She didn't expect Jeslie's dislike for Viola Valdez to be that intense.

​"But before I can help you, you need a complete physical overhaul. To remove you as a candidate for Miss Super Baduy (Miss Outdated), you need to follow everything I advise you. Do we understand each other?"

​Jackie couldn't speak at first. It was as if she couldn't believe what she was hearing.

​A moment ago, she felt like throwing the file she was holding at him along with a letter of resignation. Her head was heating up too much.

​"Do you know that you've been holding that file folder tightly for a while now? I know you've wanted to throw that at me since earlier. It's a good thing you didn't. Because if you had hit me, I would retaliate, Jackie. Always remember that."

​"Well, you started it. You're too critical."

​"For my part, it's constructive criticism that you should understand. You can probably see yourself in the mirror. Like your hair, which looks so stiff and is always standing up. It's like you just finished watching a horror movie."

​"What can I do about it? I was born this way."

​"It's very easy to have that straightened at any beauty parlor."

​Again, she didn't speak. It seemed Jeslie knew a lot about "beautification." She wondered what his past girlfriends looked like?

​"You're wrong about the file folder. I had no intention of throwing it at you, but I did have the instinct to hurt you. And then just resign afterward."

​"But your heart will break if you do that because you’ll miss Sandi. He means everything to you, doesn't he?"

​She bowed her head as tears fell. "Yes."

​"Poor Cinderella. Here you are working while Viola has your prince all to herself."

​"That's hitting below the belt, Mr. Afable."

​"I hope Sandi never finds out about our conversation. I will have to talk to you again about when we should start removing Viola from my stepbrother's life."

​Jeslie went back into his office.

​Jackie closed her eyes as she remembered what she had almost done.

​Jeslie Afable was also her boss. He had the right to fire her from the job, and she would be gone from Sandi's life forever. Especially since...

​...it seemed Jeslie was the one with the major investment in the company's operating capital now, in terms of money and clients.

​She knew that if Jeslie fired her, Sandi would do nothing to protect her; he wouldn't oppose any decision made by his elder brother.

​Sandi truly believed in his stepbrother and regarded him with a kind of hero worship.

​Jackie wondered why Engr. Jeslie Afable hadn't liked her from day one when he arrived at their office to join forces with his stepbrother.

​When they met for the first time, she felt his hostility as he looked her over. He didn't even respond to the polite greeting she gave him.

​And his treatment of her became cold and bland, talking to her only officially when necessary.

​He was dominant and bossy, and the girl noticed he wasn't patient like Sandi.

​When Sandi returned to the office, Jackie was quiet. And it was obvious the girl was sad.

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