Novels by AraBella

“All right, don’t pick us. It’s your loss, not ours!" Evina gritted her teeth as she marched out of the Tech Studios parking lot.She has worked on this project for months. But the CEO of Tech Studios chose another company as their business partner. As far as she knows, the owner of that firm uses bribes to gain an edge above other tech firms.The sun outside was so scorching hot that one could fry an egg just by cracking it in the ground. But Evina didn't mind as she tramped on it."I hope all you greedy executives go bankrupt. Or better yet, you should rot in jail for the rest of your life!" she screamed at the top of her lungs before opening the door of her car with full force.*Screech!*

Gabriel’s eyes blinked rapidly as he gazed at his bride. His heart almost stopped beating.She looked exquisitely lovely in her dazzling white mermaid cut wedding gown, designed with pearls and choice gemstones. Her flaming red hair was neatly tucked under her veil.“You’re one lucky man, sir,” Paul whispered in his ear, making him nod in agreement. His eyes twinkled with an inner glow.He put his arms behind his back as he awaited his queen to come walking towards him in front of the aisle.As he did so, he drew in a deep breath. He could not imagine himself being wedded, and being much in love with his bride, like this.All his life he has dedicated himself to the company and for him, having a girlfriend, much so a wife, is an additional responsibility.That’s before he met Evina, the woman who made his heart live again.Now she was slowly walking towards where she was. Every step made his heart jump wi

After three months...Evina clutched her waist as she felt fluttery butterflies circling inside it. She bit her lips to prevent them from trembling.She didn’t know that this event would be this nerve-wracking. She thought that since they’ve been together through hoops, this wouldn’t be a stressful event anymore.“Relax, you’re ruining your makeup,” Maria scolded her as she checked her reflection in the mirror.‘Simon, remove your coat. That cake might spill on it. We don’t have a spare your size,” Maria turned to Simon, who was busy eating ice cream at that moment.Evina peeked at the window, her autumn eyes beholding the round tables with beautiful floral centerpieces. Some of the guests were already there.Gabriel must be in another room with his best man, Paul. Was he feeling the same way she was feeling right now?She felt her nervous sweat clinging to her white gown. She want

After three months... Evina clutched her waist as she felt fluttery butterflies circling inside it. She bit her lips to prevent them from trembling. She didn’t know that this event would be this nerve-wracking. She thought that since they’ve been together through hoops, this wouldn’t be a stressful event anymore. “Relax, you’re ruining your makeup,” Maria scolded her as she checked her reflection in the mirror. ‘Simon, remove your coat. That cake might spill on it. We don’t have a spare your size,” Maria turned to Simon, who was busy eating ice cream at that moment. Evina peeked at the window, her autumn eyes beholding the round tables with beautiful floral centerpieces. Some of the guests were already there. Gabriel must be in another room with his best man, Paul. Was he feeling the same way she was feeling right now? She felt her nervous sweat clinging to her white gown. She wanted to take it off, but her friends had a hard t

William felt like he had slept for a long time. His body was sore and he felt a sharp pain in his stomach.His face grimaced as he tried to recall what happened.He remembered going to Chairman Yang even with a gunshot wound. He didn’t want to fail him again.Fortunately, he reached there on time. But he couldn’t recall what happened after that. Everything was already blurred up.While he was contemplating the situation, he heard voices talking around him.“You should’ve bought grapes. You know, Dad doesn’t like peaches.”“There are no grapes in the store. Besides, I remember him eating this before.”“He just ate it because you forced him to. Don’t you remember?”He opened his eyes, so he could see them clearly. It’s Maria and Evina, quarreling over a basket of fruits.He lifted his hand. But as he did so, he noticed that there was an IV set attached

Evina didn’t know how she made it back to the Chairman. Her lids were already swollen from crying.She was about to go to the Chapel of the hospital and pray all night for God’s extension of life for her father. But she wanted to say goodbye to the Chairman first, out of respect.“It seems that you’re finally reconciled with the Chairman, Dad. After twenty long years. And you still have a lot of time to spend your years together,” she mumbled to herself.“You can drink up all night, share your family stories under the night sky. Then we, your children, would scold you both and make you come to bed like you used to do to us when we were young,” Evina rattled on while laughing at her imagination like a crazy woman as she dragged her feet back to where she left the Chairman.To her surprise, she didn’t just see the Chairman with his guards. There were three other people with him.“Evina,” Mar

Nakangiti si Julio mula tenga hanggang tenga habang hinihintay nila ang tugon ni Mr. Zheng. Nasa boardroom na siya at ang iba pang executives, kasama sina Gabriel at Evina. Lahat sila ay nasasabik na malaman kung sino ang nanalo ng hinahangad na proyekto.Sa kanyang ginawa, kumbinsido si Julio na ang Ming’s Group ang mananalo sa bid. Medyo nagulat siya na makitang nagtatrabaho pa rin si Evina kay Gabriel. Alam niyang matalino si Gabriel para malaman ang ginawa niya. Napahawak si Julio sa baba habang nakatitig sa dalawa. Nakikipagkwentuhan lang si Gabriel sa ibang executives. Si Evina naman ay nakatitig sa kanya. “Magandang araw sa inyo! I’m now ready to announce the company that we would work with,” bati ni Mr. Zheng sa kanila, na ikinagagambala ni Julio sa kanyang obserbasyon. "Kung hindi tayo, I'm sure it's either the Ming's or The Elysian's," narinig niyang nag-uusap ang mga ito. Ang iba ay nagsasaad din ng kanilang sariling taya para sa nanalo. Inamoy ni Julio ang matami

"Gabriel," Isang halinghing ang kumawala sa mga labi ni Evina habang binibigkas ang pangalan ng kanyang boss. Namumuo ang butil ng pawis sa kanyang noo habang nasasarapan sa ginagawa niya sa kanya.Pabalik-balik ang ulo niya sa pagkahibang. Hinawakan ng kanyang mga daliri ang kanyang puting kumot hanggang sa maabot niya ang kaniyang sukdulan.Makalipas ang ilang minuto, huminahon ang kanyang katawan at bumalik sa dati nitong kalagayan. Habang nangyayari iyon, bigla siyang bumalikwas mula sa kanyang kama. Lumibot ang mga mata niya sa paligid niya. Nakahiga pa rin siya, at 5am pa lang ng umaga. At walang Mr. Yang."Panaginip lang," sabi ni Evina at nayuko ang kanyang mga balikat. Hindi niya alam kung dahil ba sa natutuwa siya o dahil disappointed siya.Alam niyang kailangan niyang layuan ito, gaya ng ipinangako niya sa kapatid na si Maria. Ang orihinal niyang plano sa pagiging executive assistant ay para lang kumita ng pera para sa kanyang pamilya. Ayaw niyang mainvolve sa kahi

Sa loob ng isang linggo, nagtrabaho sina Gabriel at Evina sa paggawa ng panukala na mas mura at mas siguradong lalago kumpara sa Ming’s Group. Si Evina ay nagmungkahi ng mga paraan upang gawin ito ayon sa kanyang nakitang karakter at motibasyon ni Mr. Zheng, ang may-ari ng Gentech Project. Sa kabilang banda, tinarabaho ni Gabriel ang pagputol ng mga gastos at pag-improve ng iba pang mga mapagkukunan upang gawing mas cost-friendly ang plano kaysa dati. Sa kanilang pagtutulungan, nagpuyat sila sa opisina. Ginamit din nila ang sabado at linggo. Habang ginagawa nila ito, nagsimula silang makilala ang isa't isa, ang kanilang mga gusto at hindi gusto, kung ano ang nagpapasaya o nakakalungkot sa kanila. Naging masiyahin si Gabriel at naging mas malaya na magpakita ng kanyang tunay na emosyon. Kasabay nito, si Evina ay nagsimulang makinig at magpasakop sa isang may awtoridad sa kanya."Tama ka. Ire-revise ko po ulit sir. Just give me a few minutes,” tumango si Evina pagkatapos niyang p

"Ginamit ako ni Julio?" hindi makapaniwalang sambit ni Evina. Hindi niya alam kung ano ang magiging reaksyon niya sa mga sandaling iyon. Ramdam niya ang bawat himaymay sa kanyang kalamnan na nag-aapoy sa galit kay Julio. At gayundin sa kanyang sarili dahil sa pagiging mapaniwalain sa kanyang mapanlinlang na mga pakana.Gayunpaman, naawa din siya kay Gabriel. Dugo at pawis ang ibinuhos niya para sa proyektong ito. Gusto niyang ipagtanggol ang sarili. Pero alam niyang ang katigasan ng ulo niya ang dahilan ng kaguluhang ito. At gusto niyang aminin iyon."Humihingi ako ng paumanhin, sir. Dapat nakinig ako sa'yo noong sinabi mong layuan ko siya," yuko niya. Hindi nag-react si Gabriel.Naramdaman naman ni Mr. Gu na parang kailangan nila ng privacy. Yumuko siya sa kanilang dalawa at sinabing, “Titingnan ko lang kung ano ang magagawa ko. Excuse me, ma'am at sir." Silang dalawa na lang ngayon ang nasa opisina. Pero hindi pa rin nagsasalita si Gabriel. Para siyang na-freeze sa kinatat

Kinabukasan, excited si Gabriel na pumasok sa trabaho. Sanay siyang mag-isang makipaglabanan ng utak sa iba pang mga executives na namumuno sa paglago ng ekonomiya ng bansa. Pero ibang kaso kahapon.Si Gabriel ay sumipol habang inaalala kung paano humakbang si Evina para iangat ang The Elysian Inc sa pedestal habang ang mga executives ay umaawit ng papuri sa kanilang pangunahing kaaway. Dahil sa mahusay na kasanayan ni Evina sa pakikipagrelasyon, tila binago niya ang kanilang direksiyon mula sa Ming's Group tungo sa The Elysian. Ito ay kapaki-pakinabang dahil ito ay dumaloy sa aktwal na pagpupulong, kung saan ang tenga ng Direktor na namumuno sa Gentech ay pumalakpak sa pagkakarinig kung gaano kaungos sa iba ang The Elysian Inc. Mayroon na silang pahiwatig na gagawa sila ng isang matalinong pamumuhunan kung pipiliin nila ang kanilang kumpanya.Naalala rin niya kung paano sinabi ni Evina na siya ang kanyang “gem”, at hindi siya ang nakahanap siya, pero baliktad.Parang ang corny ng

Humugot ng malalim na hininga si Evina pagkatapos niyang humigop ng milk tea niya. Dumadagsa ang mga manggagawa mula sa opisina patungo kung nasaan siya ngayon. Tila kagagaling lang nila sa nakakapagod na bahagi ng araw at kakain na ng kanilang meryenda sa hapon. Malapit lang ang tea shop sa building kung saan sila nagkaroon ng meeting para sa Gentech. Nanatili siya habang hinihintay si Julio, nang hindi nalalaman ng kanyang boss. Ilang oras ang nakalipas, pumunta si Evina sa banyo habang nagpapatuloy ang meeting. Sa panahong iyon, nilapitan siya ni Julio at hiniling na makipagkita sa kanya. May ipapakonsulta daw siya sa kanya patungkol sa kapatid niya.“I would hit two birds in one stone,” tiniyak ni Evina sa sarili kung bakit siya nanatili. Magagawa niyang maghiganti. Kasabay nito, matutulungan niya ang kanyang boss na magkaroon ng dagdag na kalamangan laban sa kanyang karibal. Hindi binanggit ni Mr. Yang na si Julio pala ay si Julio Ming, ang nakatatandang kapatid ni Julia