Chapter Two

Ella knew she was in trouble the moment she stepped out of his five-star suite of a bedroom. She couldn’t believe she’d just had a screaming match with a Vergara

.

  If he had asked her nicely, Ella would’ve done more than just pick out an outfit but no he had to go all Vergara on her as if she hadn’t had enough of their arrogance for one night. He had no right to insult her and that look of contempt in his eyes when he looked her over was nothing short of infuriating.

Ella had no idea how shaky she was until her knuckles had begun to hurt from clutching the envelope too tight.

   She inhaled and exhaled a shaky breath. She had been wearing her heart on her sleeve the entire time and was only grateful that her nerves didn’t give her away.

   ‘’Ella!’’

Ella’s head snapped toward the voice and she saw her best friend Lani jogging towards her.

When Lani finally got to her, she linked her hand roughly with Ella’s causing her to lose her balance.

  ‘’Do you have any idea how long I’ve been waiting for you?’’ she said slightly miffed.

   ‘’I’m sorry Lani, some really awkward situation came up and I was delayed.’’ Yeah really awkward Ella thought bluntly.

  ‘’Whatever. Since there’s a party going on why don’t we just hang around?’’ Lani whipped her long black hair backwards.

     Unlike hers, Ella’s hair was a deep shade of brown which she had suspended behind her head with a black ribbon. Lani chatted away as they made for the stairs.

     Both were slender and often disagree with each other sometimes but that didn’t affect their friendship at all. They both have the same family background except Lani’s mom was a mestiza, albeit Lani took only a tincture of her mother’s dark skin.

They’ve been friends for the longest time that Ella couldn’t remember exactly how they met.

    They exited through the back door from which they’d come only to be surprised by the number of guests arriving to the welcome home party of Dylan Vergara and his friends.

If he was that cool and sophisticated, Ella was curious to know about his friends.

   ‘’Whoa!’’ Lani cried bewildered.

   ‘’Yeah.’’

      Albeit Lani was referring to the heir to one of the largest fashion houses in the Philippines and second in Asia, the breath-taking Dominic Alvares, while Ella was reacting to the scene and expensive decorations.

   Dominic kissed Doña Bianca on both cheeks, who then proceeded to greet the couple beside him, and Lani assumed them to be his parents; it was no wonder he was so good looking.

    Lani clutched Ella’s arm as Dominic’s gaze met hers, ‘’what are you doing?’’ Ella had expected an explanation but when she saw them both mesmerised by each other, or at least Lani seemed to be, she sighed and shook her head.

   ‘’Geez don’t go crawling at his feet now.’’ she grumbled.                     

   Lani’s lips had begun to curve into a smile but soon twisted into a frown as he tore his gaze away. He was soon joined by Dylan and Ella couldn’t be more displeased. She realised only a short time later that they were both wearing the same outfit, a white Valentino tux trimmed with black satin and a matching bow tie. Ella’s brows knitted as she saw yet another dressed in the same outfit joined them—that was Bryan Cervantes the governor's son.

     Ella didn’t know what they were talking about but they looked amused and for some weird reason, she was unconsciously staring at Dylan when he smiled and that one-sided dimple showed up. He’s cleaned up real nice, his dark hair no longer a tousled mess but expertly styled, and his strong jaw was neatly shaven. He was tall, dark and devilishly sexy enough to…what? She'll not go there.

Ella saw him glance around before their gazes collided and he winked at her, surprisingly she felt her face heat up at the thought of being caught checking him out. Ella frowned and mumbled incoherently then she saw him smirk.

   ‘’Jerk.’’ She muttered.

    Then suddenly, his face became stern although Dominic’s and Bryan’s weren’t, they weren’t exactly pleased at whoever it was that they were glaring at.

Ella’s gaze shifted, at first she was surprised then grimaced with feeling.

     He was Jason Roxas, the second son of the well-known Roxas shipping and cruising empire. Ella hadn’t expected to see him after all these years. She had met him when she was five and her mother happened to be a live-in house maid at the Roxas villa.

Back then, he was a lonely seven year old boy who wished for nothing but to feel loved. Ella wanted so badly to be there for him, she wanted to be his friend and have him lean on her but whenever she tried to soothe him after his father's reprimands he always shoved her away, and tells her he’s fine.

    Then, she didn’t understand why he always seemed so angry at everything until now; she realised that anger was the only way he knew to vent out his frustration.

Then five years ago when it had seemed too much to bear, he wanted to end it all. Of course his father didn’t know about it who knew how big the hell would have been. When Ella saved him from the cowardice means a term his father would’ve used had he found out about it Jason had mumbled that it was the only way he could stop his father from getting mad at him all the time.

  ‘‘He’s mad at me because I could never be like him, because I am not the person he wanted me to be. I was wrong to be the way that I am so I’ve got to end it now.’’ He cried as she cradled him on her lap. It was the first time she allowed her feelings for him burst out.

   ‘’And you think killing yourself would change anything? Your father is a fool for not seeing what a wonderful son you are and I’d be lying if I said I understand how you feel Jason because I don’t. As much as I want to I can’t. But I do know one thing for sure Jason, I don’t want you to die.’’

    Ella recalled that moment vividly. She’d known Ricardo Roxas to be a very strict disciplinarian who’s obsessed with perfection, he’s a hypocrite who thinks he’s never done anything wrong. He said he hated favourites but he’s made Andy, Jason’s older brother one without even knowing he was practising favouritism.

   As Ella studied Jason tonight, she could see the same unhappiness she’d seen in his eyes five years ago. But he had grown more handsome than the last time she saw him.

Ricardo Roxas seemed to be quite in a good mood tonight as he shook hands with Doña Bianca. Those two really do know how to keep face—one that everyone would see and think they’re genuine—but deep down, they’re rotten to the core.

   ‘’Come on let’s go and get something to eat, I’m hungry.’’ Lani interrupted her train of thoughts.

    ‘’Um…sure.’’ They both went back into the house.

       ‘’The nerve of him to show up here,’’ Dylan gritted in displeasure and was having a hard time curbing his anger. His fists clenched, his jaw tightened.

       ‘’Calm down Dylan.’’ Dominic soothed placing a hand on his shoulder, ‘’this party was made in our honour, don’t ruin the atmosphere by getting bogged down by Jason’s appearance.’’ Dylan visibly relaxed but his anger was still brewing.

    They in turn grabbed champagne flutes from one of the servers and took an empty table.

    ‘’What really happened in LA?’’ Bryan asked glancing from one man to the other. Dylan downed his champagne in one gulp before setting down the empty flute on the table covered with gold linen.

    ‘’Jason and Savannah, that’s what happened.’’ Dominic told him, a flabbergasted expression plastered on the former’s face.

     ‘’Really?’’ Bryan glanced at Dylan who snatched another glass and gulped down the liquid in a loud gurgle, intending to make himself drunk. But Bryan was too curious to notice. ‘’But the two of you are like brothers, how could Jason do such a thing?’’

    ‘’I don’t want to talk about it.’’ Dylan got on his feet grabbing another flute on his way.

Dominic shook his head and tsked, ‘’I don’t think there’s going to be any reconciliation at this point.’’

    ‘’Those two have been competing with each other since forever, I didn’t think it would come to a point where they’d be competing for the love of a girl.’’ Bryan said. ‘’Why did he have to go this far?’’

   ‘’That’s what I intend to find out.’’

    Dylan ran into Jason on his way to the villa. The two glared at each other as if they were going to go up in flames, Dylan’s annoyance only deepened.

    ‘’You’ve got some nerve showing up here after what you did.’’

    ‘’I was invited by your mother. Besides, this party is in my honour too.’’ Jason threw back confidently and that only made Dylan want to swing his clenched fist at him. Oh how he would love to rearrange the bastard’s face.

     ‘’If I were you, this would be the last we’ll see eye to eye.’’

     ‘’I’m not looking forward to it either,’’ Dylan’s fist tightened one could hear the knuckles crack; he was the one at fault and yet he could afford to be so pompous.

    ‘’The next time we meet, one of us will end up dead.’’ And with that last threat, Dylan walked past him but not without sizing his shoulder with Jason’s whose jaw clenched.

     He swallowed one more shot before disappearing into the building.