The Billionaire's Playmate

Thaliana Tangi Dela Vezca

can't believe what's happening. I really can't believe it. I was on Rozzean's lap. He was looking at me, his hands were on my back. We were looking at each other, and no one was speaking.

Is he saying that he likes me? That h-he fell for his maid?

"Did your voice escape you, Tali? Why aren't you speaking? And why are you looking at me like you can't believe it?"

His breath hit my face. It felt like I suddenly got dizzy, early in the morning, but this is how our scene started. Earlier, I was on top of him, and we kissed, and now he's not letting me go, holding me tightly with his hands. "Slap me, sir." I said in a low voice.

He raised his eyebrows at what I said.

It's just that. I can't process what's happening. Rozzean kissed me, indirectly saying he likes me. Now, th way he holds me, it's like he doesn't want me far from him. "What? What are you thinking?"

When I raised my hand to slap my own cheek, he caught it.

"Do you think you're dreaming?" he asked.

I really thought I was just dreaming. Even when I threw a shoe at him, the images of him just suddenly come out, and I'm drawn to them. I feel like this is fake too. "You're tempting me, this is just another dream!" I said. Remembering the hot night.

"Again? What are you saying, Tali? This is not a dream."

He said to me with a laugh. No?

Rozzean took my hand that he was holding and kissed its back. My lips parted when he looked at me.

"Don't you believe me? Isn't it unbelievable?" he asked.

It is! I am his maid!

"S-Sir..." I slowly shook my head.

Who would believe him? Who wouldn't think this is just a dream?

Rozzean is a freaking young billionaire.

Handsome, sexy, many girls like him. Our neighbor, who seems to have it all, is waiting for him and doesn't like any other guy. And now he's making me feel like he likes me? He likes me?

His maid who looks weird? His ugly maid whose mole is alive and moving?

"What's wrong with you?"

I quickly stood up and moved away from Rozzean.

"Tali-"

"Sir, are you playing with me?"

I asked him seriously. I still remember what he said in the kitchen that night. The night we ate together. He was so close to me, he even sniffed my neck. He hugged me so tight. So what if there's a kiss now? What's the difference? He is just testing me again!

"Why are you... wait, Tali, I am telling the truth-"

"Are you testing me again, sir?"

His lips parted and I continue to speak.

"For what? I already told you I won't like you. Isn't one month enough in your house for you to know I'm serious about my job?"

I'm going home. I've made up my mind, why is it suddenly become like this?

"Tali, look..."

He sighed and stood up. When he approached me, I stepped back.

"Do you think I would just kiss a maid? I'm not like that."

I shrugged. I didn't answer him.

"This isn't a test to know if you like me. I also want to clarify what happened that night. I wanted to say sorry. It was Maki's idea, actually." Maki? My damn cousin?

I can remember what That ass said. I should go home, and I won't regret it...

What the hell... does this mean she knows about this? Does she know that Rozzean likes me?

I slowly lowered my folded arms and looked at him in disbelief.

"I was out of control that night. I couldn't contain my emotions in the kitchen. I said that because I didn't want you to be surprised when you found out how I feel about you." Sht. My heart clenched. I-is he for real?

"Tali..."

Rozzean took a step, and I couldn't move right away because I was just staring at his face while he explained.

"It's true. I like you. Is that not allowed?"

H-He fckng likes me...

"Do you have a rule?"

"Do you have a rule that you can't like someone?"

I couldn't speak. I just looked at Rozzean while he was talking. This is what Maki meant. Sht. He knows that Rozzean likes me, that's why his words that day have meaning.

Maybe Rozzean's actions that day were different for a reason. My suspicions, my thoughts that he might be jealous, were probably true.

But, he can't like Tali!

"Sir, this is not why I came to your house. What I want is a job."

I saw his expression change. It became serious. I can't face him like this.

I looked away from him and continued speaking.

"Whatever you feel towards me, please forget it. I will only ruin your image. You're a respectable person, rich, handsome, and many beautiful and well-off women like you. Maybe you're just confused about your feelings--" "I have never uttered words I'm not sure of, Tali."

I looked at him.

He's serious.

"If you can't accept my feelings, then at least respect it."

I swallowed hard. He was always strict and I saw his angry side but this is the first time I see Rozzean got mad like this.

"If you don't have feelings for me, I'm not forcing you to like me. I just want you to know how I feel about you. I'm not asking for anything in return. Just let me prove to you that my feelings are genuine."

Oh God. This wasn't part of the plan...

But he's so serious.

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He really fell for Tali Dela Cruz.

"Sir..."

"And one more thing, stand by your kiss to me. You don't like me, right? But why did you kiss me back?"

My lips parted at what he said. I didn't expect that. Yes, I responded, who wouldn't respond to his kisses?

"You kissed me back, don't say you just got carried away because I kiss well?"

T-That's true, but fck you, Rozzean! You're cornering me! Of course, who wouldn't kiss back? You are a hot billionaire, and you are fckng Rozzean Cyron Valleje!

I can't deny it. Yes, I like him. I have feelings for him, but the situation has become more complicated because of what I learned now, that he likes me too.

That he likes Tali, not Thaliana. How am I going to face him after this confession?

"S-Sir!"

He took a step, and I stepped back.

"Do you want me to repeat it?"

I couldn't speak; my gaze suddenly lowered to his lips, and I swallowed. I can still feel his lips on mine. But as I looked at his lips, it seemed like I wanted it again.

Sht. "Tali."

When I raised my gaze to him, he crossed the distance between us. He lifted me and sat me on top of his cabinet. His hands were on both sides of me. He looked up, and his eyes were serious as he stared at me. "S-Sir Rozzean-"

"I like you."

I felt like I stopped breathing for a moment when I heard what he said.

I can feel the sincerity in his words.

I don't care if you're a maid, I don't care what other people or even my family will say. I don't fckng care. What matters to me right now is what you're going to say, what's on your mind. I will respect whatever decision you make, Tali." I shook my head at him.

"Even rejection."

Rozzean... it shouldn't be like this.

He moved closer to me. I looked away because I couldn't handle his gaze, but before long, as I looked away, he held my chin and turned me to face him.

"Now tell me straight to my eyes that you don't like me, and there's no reason for me to continue my feelings for you."

I like you too, but... I don't like this, Rozzean.

I don't want you to like me as Tali.

I swallowed hard. I can't say that I don't like him. Even if I'm Tali, I can't directly tell him that I don't like him, especially with the way he's looking at me now. When I remained silent, Rozzean stepped back. His face had no emotion when he spoke.

"I'm sorry. Okay, go down now."

My lips parted.

"S-Sir--"

He turned away from me and then went into his bedroom. He closed the door without looking at me anymore.

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I got down from the cabinet. I held my chest when I felt a pang there.

I suddenly got scared of my situation now. Rozzean likes Tali. The way he looks at me, the way he expressed his feelings, and the expression on his face tell me that he's not lying.

I left his room, carrying the vacuum cleaner. I can't believe what just happened.

"Oh, Tali? Are you done cleaning sir's room?" Manang greeted me.

"Y-Yes," I replied.

I returned the vacuum cleaner to its place.

Throughout the whole day, all I could think about was what happened between Rozzean and me. He also didn't come down for breakfast and lunch. I kept glancing at the stairs because I was waiting for him. It was already two in the afternoon, and he still hadn't eaten.

"Why do you think sir hasn't come down yet?" Manang asked. We were in the living room, passing the time.

I sighed. I stood up, unable to wait any longer. I would prepare some food for him.

"Manang, I'll prepare some food. Maybe sir isn't feeling well. I'll just bring him some food."

"Oh, okay, that's a good idea--"

Manang paused when someone knocked on the door. I immediately went to open it.

I raised an eyebrow when I saw the visitor.

"Hello, Good Afternoon."

Klari.

I bowed to our neighbor.

"Good Afternoon, ma'am."

I looked her up and down. She's wearing a white top and a red skirt. It's not too revealing, just right.

"Do you need something, ma'am?" I asked.

But before Klari could answer my question, her gaze shifted away from me. She waved to someone behind me.

"Rozz!"

I quickly turned around. I saw Rozzean, folding the sleeves of his black polo shirt. He was dressed.

W-Where is he going?

"Manang Selya, I won't be having dinner here."

I swallowed hard. W-What?

He won't be eating here? I looked back at Klari. So she's here because...

"Let's go, Klari," he said to her.

I lowered my head as Rozzean passed by me. He didn't even look at me. As they walked away, I followed them with my gaze.

My eyes fixated on his hand touching Klari's waist.

I clenched my fists when I saw that.

Damn you, Rozzean. Just a while ago, you said you liked me, and now you're fckng touching another woman?