In the local adaptation of What's Wrong with Secretary Kim?, Paulo Avelino plays the role of a handsome and narcissistic vice-chairman of a major company who thinks his life is perfect until his longtime secretary (played by Kim Chiu) decides to quit her job which compels him to try his best to make her stay. As they go through a series of misadaventures, they end up falling in love with each other.

READ: Kim Chiu to Paulo Avelino: “Aalagaan kita”

After working with Kim in the teleserye Linlang last year, Paulo said getting the chance to work with Kim again was the deciding factor for him in joining the project and he is looking forward to collaborating with her again in the future.

“As of now wala pa (kami movie), but if ever there’s going to be an opportunity to do a movie with Kim, of course I’ll be happy to do it. I’ll be happy to collaborate, or even co-produce it,” he said.

In real life, Paulo shared why he can understand why it’s not hard to fall in love with someone in the workplace.

“For me it’s always better to be professional. I know in some cases, nagkaka-in love-an talaga or you can’t help but to fall in love with someone at your workplace. But maybe just choose an appropriate setting or area. I always want to be professional when I’m on the set and when I’m working. It’s true na may nagkaka-in-love-an talaga and it can’t be helped especially if you’re with the same person eight hours a day with the same person. It could happen. If we’re speaking as our characters, it’s a different thing. Medyo ibang level si BMC kay secretary Kim,” he explained.

READ: Kim Chiu weighs in on having an office romance: ‘Hindi naman maiiwasan yung ganun’

Playing a narcissistic but lovable character was a challenge for Paulo who admitted he could not be any different in real life.

“Actually he’s very different from me as a person. Because first of all, wala akong idea sa corporate office setting. Second is hindi ako ganun ka-narcissist like BMC. But the nice thing about the creatives and direk Chad (VIdanes) is they tried to ground it and make it as realistic as possible, yung character ni BMC. So yung narcissism niya medyo over the top pa din pero hindi naman sobrang over the top like the original. It was grounded even more para mas maka-relate din and hindi um-OA sa panlasa nating mga Pinoy. GGSS pa rin pero hindi naman sobra sobra,” he explained.  

The What’s Wrong with Secretary Kim? actor also talked about finally being able to work with one of his closest friends in showbiz, Jake Cuenca.

“The nice thing about working with Jake is that he’s very professional and he’s always straight to the point with his character. He knows his character well so it’s just like a light switch. He can turn it on or off so there was no problem. It’s actually an honor that I got to work with Jake for a longer time,” he said.