When I finished making coffee, I bid Manang goodbye and headed to the business room. It's only on the first floor, at the far end. Rozzean's house is quite large; there are so many rooms that you could play hide and seek here. With all the rooms, it seems like he wants a big family.
I knocked on the door.
"Come in."
When I heard Rozzean's voice, I turned the doorknob and entered. They were on one side of the room, with two long sofas and a coffee table in the middle. On the other side of the room, there was a long table where they would probably dine later.
I saw Rozzean, who was looking at a paper in his hand. He was wearing glasses. He looked different when he had his glasses on.
Damn. He is really handsome.
I turned my gaze towards Rozzean's visitor and noticed that he was an elderly man. I estimated he was in his late sixties. As I approached, I saw the old man looking at me. My eyebrows furrowed when he winked at me and scanned me from head to toe.
What the hell?
"Mr. Vidar, you can double-check the place if you want to make sure that--"
Rozzean paused mid-sentence when he noticed that his visitor wasn't paying attention to him. The old man was still looking at me!
I placed the coffee on the coffee table without saying a word. When I looked at the old man again, I realized he was still staring at me, or more accurately, at my... chest.
Okay. What is going on here?
I pressed the saucer against my chest to cover it. I admit that I've been quite blessed in that part, and this uniform was somewhat tight around the chest area.
"Mr. Vidar."
"Y-Yes?" he replied, turning his attention back to Rozzean.
But instead of responding, Rozzean turned his attention to me.
"You can leave now, Tali," he said.
"Alright, sir."
After leaving the business room, I quickly headed to the kitchen and recounted what had happened to Manang.
"I really saw it, Manang! He was looking at my chest," I pointed to my chest. "Sir's meeting partner is such a pervert!"
"Is that so? Oh dear, he's so rude, especially at his age."
I clenched my fists while narrating, still irritated by what had happened earlier. An hour later, Rozzean called Manang to bring the food to the business room.
When Manang and I entered, we saw Rozzean still conversing with Mr. Old Pervert.
"Okay, I'll just get the papers. I'll be back in a moment," Rozzean told Mr. Vidar before leaving the room.
Manang and I arranged the food on the table.
"Oh, Manang, I forgot to bring the spoons," I said.
"It's alright, dear. I'll get them."
I was about to insist on getting them myself, but Manang quickly left the room. I double-checked to see if anything else was missing from the table. There were glasses, plates, the main course, and juice for drinks.
"We just need some tissue."
As I was about to step out of the room to get but I was surprised to see Rozzean's colleague standing right in front of me. I cringed when I noticed him smiling at me.
"Do you need something, sir?" I asked.
He stared at me once more from head to toe and approached me with that creepy smile still on his face. I was honestly creeped out by him.
"How long have you been working here, miss? How much does Mr. Valleje pay you? Maybe you'd like to switch to my house; I can triple your salary," after he said that he looked at my chest part and licked his lips.
Gosh. He is a real perv! but what the hell this old man was saying?!
"Sir?" I asked, pretending not to understand.
"Excuse me, I need to go get some tissues."
But before I turned around I saw him stared at my chest again!
"You're playing hard to get."
Darn, I need to control myself. I have to remember that this is Rozzean's guest before I hit this older perv's face for his inappropriate behavior.
"I can pay you fifty thousand a month."
My patience was running out, but I had to endure it because this meeting was important to Rozzean.
"Sir, with all due respect, I am satisfied with my job here at Mr. Valleje's house," I bowed, "I'll pretend you never said those things."
I turned to leave the old man, walked towards the door, but was startled when I heard a loud smack, and before I could dodge his attempt, the old pervert grabbed my butt.
Sht.
I quickly moved away from the old man, still staring at me with a triumphant grin. He raised his hand, the one he used to grab my butt.
"You're so sexy. Even if you're ugly, it doesn't matter."
How dare he?!
"What did you just say?" My hands trembled, clenched into fists. I shot him a furious glare.
I couldn't believe it!
"What? Are you agreeing now? Fifty thousand a month, and I'll add more depending on your performance in bed."
I couldn't believe this old man's words! I couldn't control myself any longer. I swiftly approached him and punched him in the face.
"What do you think of me? You think I'm a gold digger who'll sleep with an old man like you who I think can't even get his dck up? I'd rather finger myself!"
He fell to the floor.
"Pervert! Pervert! Damn you!"
But I wasn't satisfied yet. I straddled the old man and started choking him. I was so enraged that I lost control. He grabbed my hair, causing it to become disheveled. I never imagined that this would happen in my life.
"Argh! S-Stop--"
"I'm going to kill you! What right do you have to touch my butt? You're going to meet the evil and will rot in hell today!"
At that moment, I realized I had never been disrespected like this in my entire life. Nobody had ever dared to make such advances on me. I am Thaliana Tangi Dela Vezca, the only daughter of George Romualdo Dela Vezca, and anyone who dares to be disrespectful to me would face severe consequences.
"How dare you, you old man! You're trying to seduce me with your money? What if I slap you with a million? Shameless! When I get home, I'll hunt you down, you old man! What—"
"Tali!"
While I was hitting the old perv, I suddenly felt lifted off the ground. I looked at Rozzean's hands as he held me to keep me away from the old man. However, in my anger, I was still struggling.
"Let me go, Rozzean! I'll kill that old man! Who do you think I am, that you can buy me with your money?!" I exclaimed, pointing at the old man who was still coughing.
Damn, he was still alive.
"Excuse me! Yes, I may have a good body and an ugly face, but I have a brain, and I'm not cheap! You perverted old man!"
"Tali, stop!" Rozzean pleaded.
I was breathing heavily, brought to a sudden stop by Rozzean's shout. I hung my head, feeling distressed and on the verge of tears. I glanced at Manang, uncertain about how to handle the situation. I bit my lower lip in realization of the chaos.
"W-What happened here, T-Tali?" I looked at Manang with a trembling voice. My face was contorted in despair as the emotions ran high. I glanced at Rozzean, whose grip on my waist was firm, and he showed no intention of letting go.
"What happened?" he asked.
But didn't he plan to release me?
"Sir, I'm sorry—" Manang began.
"Mr. Vidar, I am asking you, what happened here?" Rozzean interrupted.
I froze. Rozzean's eyes were filled with anger as he looked at his investor, who was slowly standing up. The man's hair was disheveled, and his left eye, which I had punched earlier, was swelling and turning black.
I-I was acting in self-defense, right?
But it wasn't the fear of what might happen as a result of my actions that made me anxious. My heart was pounding, and my feelings were in chaos. Rozzean had emphasized that this was a crucial and meaningful meeting, and I had messed it up.
"Why don't you ask your maid, Mr. Valleje? And me? I will sue her—"
"What happened, Tali? What's going on here?" Rozzean's tone was anxious, and when he looked at me, I could tell it was different from the way he looked at Mr. Vidar. Now, he was gazing at me with a gentle expression.
"Mr. Valleje--"
"I am waiting for my maid's answer," he said when he look at the old perv.
I swallowed hard when Rozzean turned his attention back to me. His voice was calm as he asked me.
M-Maybe he wants to let me go for now, right? He's still gripping my waist, but at least he's not furious.
"W-Well, sir, I noticed that he's been looking at m-my chest then after a few minutes he offered me a job at his house as a maid, and he said he'd triple my salary. When I refused, a-and I was about to leave the room, I was surprised when he grabbed my b-butt."
I heard Manang gasp, and I could see the anger in Rozzean's face deepening. He turned to the investor again.
"Mr. Vidar."
"And you believe that maid over me, your investor?!"
I just kept looking at Rozzean. My lips parted when I heard his response.
"Yes."
W-What...
That made me look at him. He was so fast to answer like he's so sure. My heart beat faster.
"Now leave, get out of my house before I call the guards."
I couldn't believe Rozzean's decision. This wasn't what I expected him to say after everything that happened.
"You think highly of yourself, Rozzean! You will regret doing this! This will reach your father!" the old man angrily exclaimed before he stormed out of the business room.
The three of us were left in the room. I remained silent, still stunned by the old man's words.
"Manang, please follow Mr. Vidar to make sure he leaves my house."
"Yes," Manang replied.
When I heard the door close, I looked at Rozzean, who still had his hand on my waist.
"S-Sir..."
He glanced at me, and as he realized where I was looking, he released his hold on me. He didn't take his eyes off me; it seemed like he was examining my appearance.
"What else did he do to you? Did he hurt you?" he asked.
He didn't seem angry; he sounded... concerned for me.
I thought he might be upset with me because of what I did.
"S-Sir, I am so sorry..." I shook my head, worried about the important meeting. I was afraid my dad would be mad.
Instead of answering, I was surprised when he gently pushed my messy hair back. He tucked it behind my ears and wiped away my tears.
"Don't cry. I'll handle it."