CHAPTER TWO: THE NIGHTMARE BEGINS

I woke up gasping for air as I screamed at the top of my lungs. Damn it! Since yesterday, after we met, I started having nightmares again. Damn him! Why do I have to meet him again? Why can't he just leave me alone?

I decided to start my day. It's already five in the morning so there’s still time to take a walk. I need some air. 

I put on my sports bra and leggings, and put my playlist in the shuffle. Since I came back here, I never went outside—except if it's important, of course. I'm scared that our paths might cross again... I’m still not healed. Though… Pampanga isn't that wide so there’s a big possibility that we would meet. But as much as I can, I will avoid that to happen.

Running around the park felt as If I never left. Pampanga stayed the same and I’m not sure if it’s a good thing or a bad… 

…

It was around 7 o’clock when I reached home and got ready for work. I need to be back at the company to catch up. Staying in Australia for a few years made my company almost collapse and I can’t let that happen again. 

I had just realized that escaping won’t do any good for I have left others to suffer due to what happened. I was so selfish to think that I can escape the past when there’s still people here left unhealed.

My phone rang. Celine, my secretary, is calling.

“Yes? Hello?”

“Hello, Madame! We have a VIP coming today,” she informed.

“VIP? What time?”

“It’s them, Madame, in thirty minutes. They wanted to talk to you when they found out that you came back.” I nodded as if she could see me.

“Okay then.” I ended the call, grabbed my purse, and entered the car. What are we going to talk about? Those old men were such a pain in my ass.

I arrived at the company at eight-thirty and I was informed that the VIPs were already in the conference room, waiting for me to arrive. I went straight to where they were and made sure to glance at everyone’s face. Some were shocked while some stayed blank upon seeing me walk in. Wow, so they were already expecting me, huh?

I saw Celine sitting on my secretary seat, facing her laptop, and didn't notice me. A guy nudged her by the arm and smiled at me as I walked towards my seat.

“Oh, madame! You’re here!” I nodded at her and sat. I turned to the ‘VIPs’ and asked,

“I heard you were here to see me. What do you want?” I demanded. One of them gulped but tried to hide it. 

"We want you to be removed from your position." A smirk formed on my lips upon hearing his shaky voice. I rested my chin on the back of my hands with my elbows up on the table as I lean towards them. I smiled.

“Remove? Who? Me?” I scoffed. "And who's going to replace me, huh?" I asked sarcastically and rolled my eyes. The guys glanced at a woman on one side of the room who was smirking at me.

“Me,” she confidently said. I turned to her and fixed my posture as my laughter filled the whole room, making her lose her grin. “Why the hell are you laughing? I'm not joking here!” She glared daggers at me as I continued to laugh hysterically. 

“Oh really? I thought you were! You still did not change, Carmen. You’re still obsessed and jealous of the things that I have.” My brows arched as my mouth turned into a pout, mocking her until I saw the rage in her eyes. She gripped the pen she’s holding and was about to stand up when the guy beside her stopped her. 

“She’s right, Madame A. She’s going to replace you,” the guy beside me spoke. I stopped my drama and sat still as the smile on my face vanished and was replaced by coldness.

"Tell me all your possible reasons on why you all want to replace me?"

"Because you are unable to do your job as the CEO of this company," a woman spoke.

“Claro is right. You've been gone for years and forgot about your company. Do you even know that we almost went bankrupt?” another spoke, and their complaint followed.

"I'm not giving up my position!" I said and without another word, I left. I can hear them calling my name but I did not dare to look back. Those fuckers! How dare they!

I started the engine of my car and drove back to my unit. Wine was the first thing I remembered and I drank as much as I pleased. I had just come back and this is what they’ll give me?! Heck no!

…

The loud ringing of my phone woke my senses up as I answered the call without bothering to see who it was.

"Hello?"

“Hey, Tati! Did I wake you up? Your voice is hoarse,” Molly’s familiar high-pitched voice spoke from the other line.

"Why'd you call?" she gasped exaggeratedly that made me roll my eyes.

“Why? Am I not allowed to check how my best friend's doing?” I can sense the sarcasm in her voice and even though I can't see her face, I know that she’s smirking.

“What do you want?”

“Nothing. I just heard that they wanted to replace you?”

“Mm. How did you know?”

“Sources,” she chuckled. "Anyway, can you make it to the celebration?"

“Yup. I've missed enough parties,” I yawned as her scream filled my room. Damn. This woman’s always screaming.

“Yey! Thank you! Looking forward to meeting you!” I ended the call and got up. My headache due to the wine, I guess? I shrugged my shoulders and made a little something to eat and drank painkillers before facing my laptop to check the company’s sales over the past few years. I need to know the reason for it to go bankrupt.

My company has other branches in different countries so how did the main branch almost go bankrupt? AT Printing Company is known to be the best printing company in the world. We always have the best! So how come? I don't get it!

I didn't realize that it was already three in the morning as I immediately felt thirsty upon seeing the time. I went to the kitchen to get some water when I heard a crash in the living room. My heart raced in shock as I went towards where the crash came from when a silhouette of a guy appeared in the floor-to-ceiling curtains of my living room and split seconds later, the lights went off.

Fear crept inside of me as I thought of the silhouette. Who turned the power off? Am I being robbed? I remembered putting a small flashlight on the drawer beside the door and started walking towards it but due to the darkness, I stumbled upon a glass vase that fell on the floor and made a loud sound. 

The flashlight was so small and the battery was running out making it produce an extremely weak light—too weak to help me see clearly. Nevermind. With the small light I have, I walked towards the kitchen as fast as I could to get a knife. I need to make sure that I am safe in case something’s happening out there. 

I felt someone’s presence behind me as I immediately swung the knife at them but it hit no one, but the wind. Damn! He's fast! Or maybe he has someone with him?

Anger rose within me and tapped on the wall to look for the switch. It didn’t take long but as I saw the light, I felt something hit my head. I wasn’t able to react as my knees weakened and I fell on the floor, seeing nothing but darkness once more. To whoever’s invading my personal space, I’ll search for you… and make you pay.