The meeting lasted for almost two hours.It was kind of grilling and drilling the young lady but she played cool and confident in front of them. Since she finished business administration before, she was able to express her insights whenever they asked for her opinions about the projects they were handling.During the process, nakikinig lamang ang dalaga at kalmadong sinagot ang mga katanungan ng mga nakakatanda sa kanya. Tommy was sitting beside her whispering his explanations from time to time to ease her curiosity and confusions. As he was appointed to be her assistant for the meantime by the Don, he tried to fulfill his task to make it easier for her to understand everything about the business ventures they were in. Numerous pairs of observing eyes were aiming at them from time to time but they both left them into oblivion. Tommy's gentleness towards Ruella didn't escape from those drilling gazes. They obviously looked like they had an ambiguous relationship in everyone's observa
Tumango na lamang si Emman sa kanyang narinig mula kay Tommy and thought to himself. 'Oliver, goodluck man! It seems that you got a dangerous opponent this time!'Tommy jerked on his seat when his mobile phone rang inside his pockets. He shoved his hand, fished it out and answered his caller right there and then. Ruella was calling…"Rue," He greeted gently as he aligned his phone in his ear. "Alright. I'll be there. Wait for me." He then dropped the call and stood up. "Mr. Velasco, thank you for the coffee and the chat but I have to go. Ruella needs me right now." He sounds somewhat anxious."Is there any problem?" Emman became anxious as well. He also stood up from his seat obviously getting concerned."Nothing. She just needs me right now." Pagkasabi ay nagmamadaling umalis na si Tommy sa kanyang office leaving him alone to analyze the situation but his mobile phone rang as well in his pockets. Oliver was also calling him…"Yes, Oliver." He groaned."Come to my office right now." H
Sa Kabilang banda, nagmamadaling bumaba si Tommy lulan ng elevator ngunit sa hindi inaasahang pagkakataon, ito ay tumigil sa kalagitnaan. Nagtaka siya at napatingala sa floor button indicator and he found out that he was stuck on the 20th floor of the building. Buti na lamang at dala niya ang kanyang mobile phone and he started to scroll down Emman's number to call for some help.Emman was currently in the CEO'S office facing his boss's unnatural interrogations."Tell me what you got." Oliver demanded as his eyes cautiously darted at the door of his private lounge. Just a couple of minutes ago, he called him through the phone but Emman got an urgent call from his mother so he only said something about Ruella's sudden call which made Tommy looking anxious that is why Oliver also came into Ruella's office to have a look and he found her looking extremely pale and sweating profusely while her eyes were tightly shut. He suddenly became worried about her and immediately carried her to his
Oliver watched Ruella while sleeping soundly with different emotions swirling in his heart. He dragged a single seater sofa to her bedside at marahang naupo. He reached out for her hand and kissed her knuckles lovingly."I'm so sorry if I made a terrible mistake by turning my back on you. I swear to you that that wasn't my intention." He whispered while displaying a regretful expression on his face. Tinititigan niya maige ang mukha nito at bumuntong hininga. He genuinely felt worried about her."You seem to have lost a lot of weight. What happened to you?" He continued to talk as he lifted his other hand to touch her cheekbones, trailing his finger on them.Ruella suddenly flinched at his touch. She stirred into another position and doved her face on the pillows, leaving him speechless.Oliver loosened his hold on her hand and stood up from his seat silently. He felt like he was being stabbed in the chest by just a single flinch from her. Even in her slumber, she clearly shows how much
The moment Ruella arrived at the mansion, pumanhik kaagad siya sa kanyang silid at nagbilin na huwag siyang istorbohin. She locked her door and took a quick bath to get rid of the stickiness of her body. After a few minutes, she wrapped herself with her black bathrobe and went to the corner near the window with a goblet and a bottle of wine clutched between her fingers. She was staring at nothingness for a long time as she sipped the crimson red liquid from time to time until she fully consumed the entire bottle.There were lots of thoughts that kept on swirling in her mind but the constant thought of her daughter was the strongest to make her tears slowly streak down her face. It was pouring like rain. No matter how she tried to wipe them, it still continued to stream. She closed her eyes and recalled the days of her pregnancy.After her third trimester, she roamed around and went to a baby's boutique. She bought anything she desired. Pagkalabas niya sa store, she accidentally bumped
Tommy and Ruella went to one of their clubs to have some fun with a black van tailing behind them."Tommy, I want you to call Emman Velasco and ask him out for a drink." Marahang utos ng dalaga.Tommy evokes a boyish grin as he speaks. "Got it. I owed him this morning and now I can finally pay the gratitude.""Emman is a good person opposite to his boss. He used to be my client's son. They're actually nice." Ruella narrated nonchalantly.Tommy nodded in agreement but then he recalled the bodyguards tailing them. He was confused and couldn't help asking his lady boss. "What's with the bodyguards? I thought you despised being treated like a high profile individual?" He joked."Dad, give them to me for my safety. I couldn't say no and you know him very well that he won't take no for an answer." She sighed in defeat. Watching the street lights fading from her sights she suddenly babbled something that made Tommy go speechless. "Why didn't you tell me that you've been watching me for three
From the corner, Oliver's jealousy was getting out of control. He inhaled sharply, clenching his fists inside his pockets before he marched brusquely towards the dance floor. The crowd gave him a way enough to pass by. Seeing his murderous expression, everyone was distancing away from them and feigned to face their own businesses. He looked like he was about to strangle someone which also made them confused.Ruella's bodyguards slowly took a few steps towards them but she signaled them to stay out if it."Deputy CEO, can you be more rational to think of the company's reputation before displaying your private affairs like this?" Oliver spat accusingly.Ruella and Tommy detached their lips and darted their gaze at the furious guy."I'm not good at hiding Mr. Mitchell, perhaps you can give me some tips?" She grumbled sarcastically. "After all, you are good at hiding, isn't it? I would love to learn a few from you." She added with a hint of provocation.Oliver suddenly turned speechless a
Ruella rolled her eyes as she watched her nemesis losing her consciousness. 'How pathetic!' She thought as she cast a glance at Oliver who was currently frozen in his seat."Sofia!" Emman scrambled towards the woman laying down on the floor. He had an anxious look in his face opposite to the latter's boyfriend's showcased reaction.Tommy then stood up and went to Ruella's side. "I didn't know that she's so weak to face such a scene." He grumbled under his breath. He looked terribly amused as he watched the scene with interest.Oliver then stood up and took Sofia in his arms. He glared at Ruella before he laid her on the wide couch. "You intentionally did this, didn't you?" He accused furiously.Ruella rolled her eyes again. "I'm just being honest with her. I don't really like men who cheat on their women. It fucking disgusts me." Pagkatapos mag salita ay sumenyas siya sa isa sa mga babae and pouted. "Dear, you made her lose consciousness. You should do something to bring her back. Com
Ruella's eyes blazed with fury as she stood before Don Antonio, the revelation about the DNA test results kept messing with her head. "You knew all along, didn't you?" she spat, her voice venomous. "You know Sierra wasn't your real daughter."Don Antonio's expression remained impassive, but a hint of guilt flickered in his eyes. "I had my suspicions," he admitted. "But I need proof."Ruella's anger boiled over. "And what about my mother's death? she demanded. "Sierra's mother was behind it, wasn't she?"Don Antonio shook his head, his voice barely above a whisper. "I'm sorry, Ruella. I don't know. It didn't cross my mind that your mother's death was intentional. The doctor's findings about her death were just the same as your daughter's that's why I...""It's because my mother paid the doctor to give false findings," Sierra chimes in. "But she killed him after that to wrap everything up."Ruella's face twisted in rage. Facing Sierra, she spat, anger radiating from her voice. "You'll p
Ruella stared at Sierra, her eyes crinkling with amusement as she dealt with her inner doubts."No!" Sierra screamed, her face twisted into a snarl. She growled. "That's not true! I'm his daughter!"Ruella scoffed. Disgust was evident in her eyes as she retorted. "Well, that's what your mother said but who knows? A lot of possibilities could happen when Dad wasn't around."Sierra's face turned ghastly pale. Shame was eating her whole but she refused to admit it. That secret had long been forgotten since her mother died. She was sure of it since she promised to get rid of her biological mother to keep things wrapped between the two of them.Sierra was confident that Ruella knew nothing about her past and was just trying to manipulate her emotions. She rolled her eyes and spat. "I'm certain that I'm his daughter but how about you?""Oh, Sierra," Ruella said, her voice dripping with fake concern. "I'm a hundred percent sure of that since I've got a lot of people to prove such fact but lo
Several days later...Ruella's tires screeched as she took the final turn, her eyes fixed on the mansion where Sierra was detained by her men. Her heart was heavy, aching weight in her chest, still reeling from Tommy's funeral. She didn't just lose a friend but a potential partner, a brother figure, and most of all the possible father of her child. These realizations took a toll on her emotional turmoil causing her to lack sleep every night.She slammed the car door shut behind her and stormed towards the entrance, her anger and grief boiling over. The doors burst open as she flung them wide, and she strode inside, her eyes blazing with fury."Sierra!" she screamed, her voice roared off the marble floors.Sierra emerged from the shadows, a smirk twisting her lips. "Well, fancy meeting you again sister. Hows Tommy? Have you sent him my regards before burying him six feet under?"Ruella's eyes narrowed, her hands clenched into fists. "You're going to pay for what you did, Sierra!"The a
Ruella's eyes snapped wide open in shock. Her heart beating rapidly as she took in the scene in front of her.She thought that this could be her last. The end of her life and the baby in her womb but someone rushed to take the stab from her.Her lips trembled and fear crept within her. Tommy had come to save her."Tommy!" She mumbled, her voice barely above a whisper. "What... What are you doing?"Tommy's blood started dripping from his stomach. Clutching his wound, he forced a smile as he faced Ruella. "I told you. I'll always protect you, Rue."Sierra's aim at his chest stopped as soon as she realized that it was Tommy who rushed to aid Ruella. Her hands trembled and the knife fell on the ground. She rushed to check on him. Worry was etched on her messy face but his other hand stopped her from getting closer."Don't you dare get close, Sierra!" He warned, his face twisted murderously. Then he snapped his fingers, summoning all the men he had taken with him, and ordered. "Take this b
Ruella's gaze was locked on the figure. She forgot her surroundings as she walked through the crowd. Meanwhile, Oliver, who had seen the same figure, panicked. He rushed after her, but his face turned pale when she vanished. He scanned the area, but he couldn't find her anywhere.Oliver took out his phone and dialed Ruella's number, but he remembered that he had taken her mobile phone earlier. The mild ringing in one of his racer suit pockets proved he still had it since she had not taken it from him.He mentally cursed himself for taking her phone. If he hadn't done such a possessive stunt earlier, he would've been able to contact her easily by now. Feeling frustrated, Oliver dialed his subordinate's number, but nobody answered to his dismay. The ringing went on for about a few minutes and after what seemed like forever, he finally heard the voice he longed to hear."Boss," The familiar voice echoed."Why was Sierra here?! I thought I made it clear to you to keep an eye on her?" Ol
Oliver stared deeply into her eyes with undeniable desire etched on his face. "I swear," he grumbled. His voice turned huskier with each second. "My self-control was about to snap if you kept doing this, Rue."Ruella took a step back and blinked. It was not that she couldn't read his expression, but she was embarrassed to point it out. Her face reddened slightly as she looked away, trying to divert their attention from the thought they both had in mind."Why are you here, Oliver, and how did you know I am here?" She suddenly became curious, recalling that she hadn't told him about her joining this race."Dad called me," Oliver sighed. "I was supposed to take you home by now, but I know you'll refuse me, so I considered accompanying you instead."It was rare for him to be this considerate. In the past, it had always been her who used to yield over some things but now, everything seemed to have been changed. It amused her how the tables turned in her favor this time.She raised her eyeb
The loud screeching of his tires caught the massive attention of people heading in and out of the race track. Everyone looks at his car in awe. Their eyes focused directly on his windshield, trying to catch a glimpse of him but Oliver didn't notice this. His attention was solely focused on his phone."Come again, Uncle?" He asked, wondering if he heard him correctly since Sofia was in jail.Before this, he hadn't received any updates about her being taken to the hospital so how is it possible that she is out there fighting for her life? What happened?"Sofia is in critical condition," Mr. Castillo repeated, and since the police had already briefed him about Sofia's involvement in the incident, he also explained according to his knowledge.Hearing his subtle explanation, Oliver's face turned cold. He remained silent until the older man finished talking. Taking the details into consideration, he finally said. "I can't make it right now, Uncle. I'm busy but I'll be there as soon as I'm
In the race track, Ruella was summoned out of her team's private lounge for a quick interview, and out of courtesy for them, she agreed though she hadn't tried facing the camera. Wearing her signature sunglasses, she dragged herself out immediately.A lot of reporters came running as soon as they spotted her coming out. They look trailed and ecstatic at her fully geared-up appearance. She got most men's attention once she stood not far away from the race track.Her long cascading brown hair was blown by the impact of racing cars passing by adding a sense of amazement to everyone. They couldn't take their eyes off her. It was as if they saw a goddess descending from no one knows where."Miss Ventura," One of the reporters began to ask. "Since when did you start showing interest in car racing?"Ruella thought for a while before she answered. "Since I was fifteen."They all gasped, unable to believe her words. One reporter then came forward to ask her another question."The Annual Racing
"She never said anything about it," Oliver flatly replied. "I don't want to meddle in your affairs right now but you've got to get her as soon as possible," Don Antonio said hurriedly. "Her Aunt was freaking out right now!""Is that Oliver?" He even heard Aurora's loud voice in the background which meant that she was indeed throwing a tantrum. "Tell him to get his wife right now or I'll do it on my own!"Don Antonio sighed helplessly. "You heard her. You've got to hurry before she calls someone else to take her away from that race track!"Holding his phone, Oliver didn't know how to react. From the way Don Antonio speaks, he seems a little scared of Aurora which makes him quite baffled.His mind immediately wondered. 'When did he allow Aurora to boss him around?'After quite some time, Oliver's thoughts became steady again once the line was dropped dead and Emman's confused face came into his view.Startled, he blinked several times before he snarled. "What are you doing?""When are