Siena preferred to enjoy her sparkling water rather than the night club atmosphere. She did not know anybody here, and was not interested in dancing or hanging around with someone.
“What so good about night club? There are so many other places worth to visit in Dubai,” she kept on mumbling to herself.
“Good evening,” a deep voice greeted from behind her.
She turned around her seat. Two men around their thirties were smiling at her. The first man was blonde and brown-eyed; the other was brown-haired and blue-eyed. They both wore fancy tuxedos, looking so glamorous.
“Are you alone?” asked the blonde man. “Seems like you’re new visitor. I’ve been to this club many times, but never seen you before.”
She could smell strong alcohol scent from their breath. Her instinct alerted her at once. “Well, I’m not alone. I come here with a friend, but she’s… in the toilet now,” she rep
Unable to close her eyes, Siena was still turning back and forth restlessly in her bed long after she lay down. Her thoughts just kept on drifted back to everything happened today. At one point, she was really upset because Alfonso ‘kidnapped’ her, forcing her to come to Dubai with him, while she and Damien had prepared all their plans well. On the other side, she was also wondering why Alfonso was willing to help her at the night club. He even beat up the jerk harassing her.“Should I thank him?” she murmured. The next second, she shook her head. “Hell no! He was the one who kidnapped me to Dubai! He also forced me to go to the night club!” she grumbled.However she could not deny that she was amazed by Alfonso’s strength and skill. She was born and lived in Japan until she was ten. That was the time when her own grandfather taught her Aikido. She continued to practice the skill to defense herself a
Siena and Alfonso were already in the private jet, preparing to fly to Spain. They sat opposite each other. The plane was waiting for permission from the authority to take off.Beep, beep!Alfonso answered his phone call, “Hi, Cutie Pie…. Yeah, I’m fine. We’re heading to Spain….”Siena rolled her eyes. Did Alfonso just say Cutie Pie? It had to be his lover calling, the blonde woman who looked like a Hollywood actress. Why did he call his lover with such a ridiculous name? It did not even fit his arrogant style! Covering her mouth with one hand, Siena tried to hide her laugh.Alfonso glanced over at Siena. Why was she laughing, what was funny?“Alright, I’ll call you later….” He hung up the phone.“What’s so funny?” Alfonso stared at Siena with serious expression.
Siena stood in front of Alfonso, preventing him from approaching Carla. Alfonso's eyes were still flaming with anger when his gaze settled on Siena’s face. Though feeling a bit terrified, Siena forced herself to be brave facing this bad-tempered man. “What did you say?” he asked. “Let’s not create a scene here,” she pleaded. “No, you said, you’ll go with me wherever I want to go?” Alfonso lifted his brow. Swallowing nervously, she could not take back her words. “Yes, as long as you won’t do anything stupid. Don’t you want to go to Castell de Bellver?” Alfonso seemed to ponder. “You’d better keep your word. Get in the car,” he instructed, but this time his voice softened. Alfonso shot a stare at Carla for a while, but finally he stepped in the car. Letting out a sigh of relief, Siena smiled a faint smile to Carla, and then she got in
Alfonso and Siena stood in silence on the castle tower. Alfonso felt as if a heavy burden was released from his heart. Why he chose to tell all his past to Siena, he could not understand either. But Siena was right, after sharing his problem, he felt much relieved.“So that’s why you were in bad temper ever since we arrived in this city? Because of the bad memory and the pain?” Siena broke the silence.Alfonso turned around and laid eyes on her. “For one reason, yes. Another reason was because I was upset. Of so many places in this world, why should Grandfather choose this city for leaving his asset, the place where all the problems started?”“Maybe it was the opposite for Grandpa. Maybe all he could remember of this place was the beautiful moments when he enjoyed the holidays with you,” she spoke gently.A frown settled on his face. “You
Alfonso and Siena were staring at the huge sycamore tree in front of them.“Did you or Grandpa write the text?” she asked.Alfonso shook his head. “As far as I know, the text was already there since the first time I came here. Grandfather didn’t know who made it either. But he said the text was to remind every human being who tended to be proud.”“So why did you bring me here?”“Because you said something about digging the floor. I remember, Grandfather and I used to play digging and hiding something here, in the ground under this tree,” he stated.Siena's jaw fell open. “Why not? We must try! Maybe Grandpa hid a message down here!” she sounded excited.Alfonso turned his head around, looking for something. He took a big tree branch from the ground. Then he started to dig the grou
“Siena, open your eyes!”Panic was all Alfonso could feel. Did Siena get hit on her head when she fell down? What should he do?He looked up and down. The hillside was too high, it was impossible to either jump to the bottom of the hill or climb up. The ground on the hillside was too slippery, unstable, without rocks or plants to hold on to. Not to mention he had to carry Siena’s body with him.He was just about to reach for his cellphone, when suddenly there was a light movement on her eyelids.“Siena…!”“A-alf…? What ---““Oh, thank God you’re awake…!” He sighed with relief. “Don’t ever scare me like that anymore! Can you move?”Siena tried to move her legs. She grimaced upon feeling a sharp pain on her left ankle. “Ouc
Siena was startled seeing the man walking into the room. “Damien?”“Hi, Siena…,” he greeted.“How can you come here?” She could not hide the astonishment in her voice.“Didn’t you ask your pilot, Captain Hans, to tell me you’re going to Palma?” With a smile curved on his lips, Damien stood next to her bed.Of course she remembered. Before they took off to Palma, she indeed told the pilot of her private jet to call Damien, just to inform him that she was going to Spain. That was because Alfonso refused to lend her his cellphone.“Yes, of course. But I mean, how can you come to Palma? And how do you know I’m here in this hospital?”“Because I’m terribly worried about you, Siena…. Alfonso told Captain Hans last night you were being treated for in
Alfonso opened the door of his apartment unit with his access card. He bought a luxurious apartment unit in Beverly Hills since returning to LA, nothing else but to gain back his grandfather’s inheritance. With his wealth and influence, for him, buying a luxurious apartment was only a small matter. Moreover, the facilities were satisfying and located in a strategic place. So now, why was he feeling reluctant to return to his own apartment?“Honey Bear? Oh, I’m so happy you’re home…,” a soft voice instantly welcomed him when he strode into the living room.Gloria appeared in a sensual red mini dress, purposely dressed to seduce Alfonso. She knew her man loved red color so much. But there was something cold and passionless in his gaze.“Hi, Gloria…,” was his only response.“How are you, Honey Bear? I miss you so much….&r
“What does it mean?” Siena’s brows knotted in confusion. “But today is not my birthday.”Ah, it had to be a code, Siena thought. Alfonso intentionally played a prank on her right on their wedding day!She searched for a pen and started to scribble on the paper. “My birthday is on September 17th. Probably it’s the key to shift the letters. Hmm, let me try.”She wrote down her answer on the paper.HVCPAQFKXDR17917917917ICLQHXGRGEY“That’s odd. It has no meaning!” Siena did a double take at the result. “Or… I should shift the letters to left, not to right!”She scribbled again on the paper.HVCPAQFKXDR17917917917GOTOTHEDOCK&n
“By the power vested in me, I pronounce you husband and wife. You may now kiss the bride.”As soon as the pastor finished his sentences, Alfonso took Siena in his arms, caressed her cheeks blushing beautifully with the softest touch, and locked their lips in an affectionate kiss. All the guests were applauding and cheering for them.Everything ran according to Siena’s wish on her very special day. She did not wish for a luxurious party, expensive gifts, or fancy wedding dress like a Disney princess. All she wanted was to exchange their wedding vows faithfully and to have the people she loved around her.Once the wedding ceremony was over, Alfonso and Siena got hugs and kisses from Stefano, Carlo, as well as Irina who came all the way from Melbourne. Suddenly….“Siena Chan! Congratulations!” Who
Alfonso entered the bedroom with his face shining. Siena had changed into her nightgown and sat with her head leaning on the headboard. She turned her gaze at him instantly.“You look happy…. It seems like I don’t have to worry about anything you talked with Dad,” Siena said.Alfonso showed a wide grin on his face. “I have just got a Dad today.”Siena gasped. “Is that true? Dad has asked you to call him Dad?”Alfonso answered with a nod. “Yup!”“Oh, Alf, I’m so happy to hear that!” She opened her arms wide to hug Alfonso.Alfonso took a seat next to her and held her tight. “I can’t imagine I have a complete family now. I have a wife I love the most, a wise father, a freaky
For Alfonso, today had to be one of the most special days in his entire life. He had lost Siena for more than three months, struggling to survive with his broken heart, even enduring his life as if a zombie, his body was alive but his mind and his soul was empty.Those miserable days had passed. Now Siena returned to him. Even more than he dared to imagine, he got Siena back together with their unborn baby!“Don’t you want to eat, Cherry? I haven’t seen you eat anything tonight,” Alfonso spoke, looking worried.Tonight, their engagement party took place in the spacious back yard of the house. De Martini was a renowned and very important noble family in Siena City. No wonder the guests just kept on coming.Alfonso insisted that Siena sit on the sofa inside the gazebo throughout the party. He did not want her
“Good day, Mister Stefano.” Alfonso decided to greet first. “Carlo, Damien….” He nodded to the three of them.Stefano’s gaze fell on Alfonso’s and Siena’s hands holding each other. “Siena, you scared us to death. Did Alfonso hurt you?” Clearly Stefano ignored Alfonso’s greeting on purpose.“No, Dad. Alfonso will never hurt me,” Siena gave a quick reply. “Dad, please let us explain everything.”“I believe everything is as clear as crystal for me. You choose to hurt the heart of a very good man like Damien only to return to a man who has obviously hurt you before,” Stefano retorted in a stern voice.“Dad, it’s my mistake. Alfonso has never hurt me. I knew he had nothing to do with Gloria’s problem, but when he came
It took a moment for Alfonso’s words to sink in Siena’s mind. But all she could do was staring at him with her eyes wide opened and her jaw fell to the floor.“I beg you please don’t marry Damien. I want you to be mine only. Marry me, Cherry…,” Alfonso said it loud and clear, the words warming her heart.“Alf….”“Yes, Cherry?”“Did you realize you just asked me to marry you? In a locked garage where you have just kidnapped me right on the day I’m supposed to get engaged to Damien?”Alfonso seemed to ponder for a moment. “Well…, I could have done something more insane if you want me to. I could appear out of nowhere at your house and shout loudly to prevent Damien from putting the engagement ring on y
“You look as pretty as a picture, Siena,” said Viola, a woman around her forties who was Siena’s make-up artist today.Right now Siena was having her beauty treatment in a professional salon before her engagement party. At first she planned to do her own make-up, but Carlo insisted that she had to look special on this very special day.So she reluctantly went to the salon with Pino driving her here, while Stefano, Carlo, and Damien were preparing for tonight’s party in her house.“Don’t you think… it’s too much for me?” Siena hesitated as she saw her reflection in the mirror, since she never liked overdone make-up and preferred natural one.“Absolutely not. Your make-up is perfect for a very special occasion,” Viola convinced her with a smile.&
As Alfonso drove his car entering the front yard of his house, he felt suspicious seeing a white limousine car was parked at the public garden locating right across the house. Not many people would feel convenient to drive a limousine everywhere since it attracted too much attention. Who was the owner of the car, a Hollywood celebrity looking for attention on purpose?Alfonso strode into the house and came to a halt immediately as he scented an odd smell, the smell that reminded him of something familiar.He hurried his steps, his eyes searching everywhere until he finally saw what he had suspected before. Carlo was sitting in the family room of his house smoking cigar!“I believe it’s time for me to hire some bodyguards to keep my house safe. What do you think you are doing, barging into my house at your pleasure?” Alfonso sounded irritated.
Alfonso got out from his car. His gaze landed on Brian and Gloria sitting next to each other in front of their mobile coffee shop and staring at him with serious expression.“How are you doing, Alfonso?” Gloria greeted first, because Brian just remained silent.“Hi, Gloria. How are you and your baby doing?” Alfonso asked in return, standing in front of them.“We are good, though I feel I’m getting heavier day by day,” Gloria said and tittered at her own joke.“I think you seem more like a fashionable pregnant woman, Gloria,” Alfonso praised, but he glanced over at Brian.He said it only to give his support to Gloria without any intention to flatter. But he knew how possessive Brian could be. And he guessed it right, Brian’s expression cha