Marina Gonzales carefully set down the tea tray on the small round table in front of her daughter and took her time straightening out the cushioning table cloth and unnecessarily set herself up to rearranging the delicate china cups and the accompanying serving plate of tiny square shaped, delicious looking biscuits."Tea..?" She inquired politely of the young lady before her, as though she were just another random visitor to be entertained and not infact, her very own daughter.Sophie stared at her mother for a moment and seemed to be realizing for the first time, how weird and unfamiliar Marina Gonzales looked. The paleness of her skin and the unhealthy pallor of her face, caused Sophie to worry.It seemed as though Marina had shed more than just a few light pounds in less than a week..? Or had her perceived deficiency endured for much longer than Sophie had taken care to notice..? Sophie wasn't sure. Everything just felt different, and it wasn't only her mother. It was the usual
Sophie was just about leaving, when her father arrived home and Although She had initially turned down her mother's invitation to stay for dinner, she now seemed to have changed her mind upon hearing of her father's return.Marina had earlier put out the invitation for Sophie to stay for dinner, but following Sophie's threatening announcement regarding her intentions to initiate a divorce, Marina had suddenly become anxious to see her daughter leave early to prevent her from encountering her father, especially after having tried and failed to turn Sophie's mind from her reinforced decision to divorce Dante. When Marina had gone to welcome her husband upon his return, she had taken note of his sour mood and thus, did not need a soothsayer to tell her that having Alonso listen to his daughter's version of a "breaking news", was going to be a terrible idea. Sophie was aware of her mother's anxiety at dinner and was merciful enough to spare Marina the trouble of weathering the storm tha
Gaius Castillo was finally back home after nearly two weeks of being hospitalized, and he was returning a totally different man from what he had been before. He looked frail and tired, bedridden as he was, and when he wasn't, he was restricted to a wheelchair. He seemed to have aged more than a few decades in the last week. Although he had only suffered a partial stroke on the left side, he was still barely able to move the functioning parts of his limbs, and he could only manage to utter a few words at a time, and they were mostly undecipherable at that. The talking tired him out faster than anything else, so Dante encouraged him to speak less by trying to preempt his needs and restricting visitation calls. His caretakers were also always available and on-hand to meet his needs and eradicate any difficulty.The doctor had said Gaius was strong and making good progress. But if this was progress, then Dante didn't want to know what retrogression felt like. Although Gaius had visibly
"I need You..." The words resonated in Dante's head. "Come find me" she had said. Dante didn't know what to make of Sophie's statement. She had dropped the call before he could ask any more questions. He wondered if she had been playing a prank on him, although his gut told him otherwise. If he wasn't mistaken, and as per the last report he had received from Jimmy Rogers, Sophie was supposed to still be safely tucked in her father's mansion. So What possible harm could have come to her under her father's roof? What manner of threat would she be facing that her father couldn't handle himself..? Although there was no denying that He had heard the urgency in her tone and had Felt the desperation in her words, Still, he knew not what to make of this new development.Why would she forward him a petition for a divorce only to call upon him to come and get her like a little lost princess waiting on her knight in shining armor..? What was worse, was that he actually felt a part of him gen
The moment Sebastian Castillo stepped into the confines of his father's private study, he felt that overwhelming burden that always overcame him whenever he was summoned here. The familiar oak panelling walls and the wooden furnitures with dark finishes that was supposed to emit a comforting atmosphere, only suffocated him. No surprise there, seeing as He had very few, if any, good memories of his time here in the past. His father, clad in a simple grey cardigan and cotton pants, was standing at the broad window, his hands crossed behind his back as he pointedly ignored his son's presence. But even with his back turned against his son, Sebastian still felt oddly intimidated by this man he had known all his life.It was the same stifling discomfort that could be likened to the feeling of being placed under a microscopic inspection. Like being summoned to the principal's office to face a charge of misconduct and having the principal look disapprovingly at you from the tops of his ridi
"What do you mean by he is no where to be found..?" Sophie had that slight tremble in her voice that signaled she was at the very edge of panic.Marko shifted his weight from foot to foot, trying to avoid the intense searching gaze of Sophie Gonzales. She had always had that intimidating look about her.That serene almost hostile air of an aristocrat who wasn't used to unpleasantness, but her emerald green eyes had never held so much fire as it did in that moment. Atleast not when directed at him.And he didn't blame her... Not really. She was living every bride's nightmare; a missing groom.To be fair though, she was taking this quite well for a woman In a situation like hers. Better than most. But what did he know..? She could be building up to an eruptive volcano for all her calm was worth; He didn't trust it one bit. And he was just so unlucky as to have to be the one in her direct line of fire. Damn you Sebastain! He cursed inwardly at the missing groom. Marko had been despera
Dante would never in a million years, have imagined himself in the sort of situation in exactly which he now found himself: Married to another man's wife.Well, technically, she was not Sebastian's wife_ Not legally anyway_ still..." Smile Querida.." Dante whispered fiercely through his teeth at his just proclaimed wife, who was still looking very much like a deer caught in headlights. She tilted her chin towards him in that elegant half-turn manner wherein she could see sideways without really turning her neck. She stared vacantly at him like someone in a trance."You have to show a bit of emotion if not excitement Sophie.. the people are watching" he reminded, as though she had completely forgotten they had audience. As if she could forget. She was very much aware of the congregation before her.All two hundred and some odd number of them, Expressing varying degrees of surprise and suspicion over the unpredictable twist in events which had resulted to the turn up of a completely
The wedding reception had scarcely begun, when Dante Castillo gave into boredom and started plotting the fantasy of his exit. Atleast, that, he supposed, was something he had in common with his new bride; The desire to be as far away as possible, from this elaborate spectacle they had unfortunately become an object of.It was a peculiar kind of torture, continually having to endure the patronizing manner and speculative glances on the faces of the wedding guests, most of whom were only seeking to glean some bit of gossip in the guise of wanting to say their congratulations. Their intrusive curiosity was amusing, if not annoying.It was therefore, no wonder why Dante had never cultivated any interest in socializing from the onset. He did not know exactly what people called him behind his back these days for his anti-social behavior, but he was sure that whatever it was, was worth the peace that came with exempting himself from their shameless subterfuge and vile gossip. The socialit
"I need You..." The words resonated in Dante's head. "Come find me" she had said. Dante didn't know what to make of Sophie's statement. She had dropped the call before he could ask any more questions. He wondered if she had been playing a prank on him, although his gut told him otherwise. If he wasn't mistaken, and as per the last report he had received from Jimmy Rogers, Sophie was supposed to still be safely tucked in her father's mansion. So What possible harm could have come to her under her father's roof? What manner of threat would she be facing that her father couldn't handle himself..? Although there was no denying that He had heard the urgency in her tone and had Felt the desperation in her words, Still, he knew not what to make of this new development.Why would she forward him a petition for a divorce only to call upon him to come and get her like a little lost princess waiting on her knight in shining armor..? What was worse, was that he actually felt a part of him gen
Gaius Castillo was finally back home after nearly two weeks of being hospitalized, and he was returning a totally different man from what he had been before. He looked frail and tired, bedridden as he was, and when he wasn't, he was restricted to a wheelchair. He seemed to have aged more than a few decades in the last week. Although he had only suffered a partial stroke on the left side, he was still barely able to move the functioning parts of his limbs, and he could only manage to utter a few words at a time, and they were mostly undecipherable at that. The talking tired him out faster than anything else, so Dante encouraged him to speak less by trying to preempt his needs and restricting visitation calls. His caretakers were also always available and on-hand to meet his needs and eradicate any difficulty.The doctor had said Gaius was strong and making good progress. But if this was progress, then Dante didn't want to know what retrogression felt like. Although Gaius had visibly
Sophie was just about leaving, when her father arrived home and Although She had initially turned down her mother's invitation to stay for dinner, she now seemed to have changed her mind upon hearing of her father's return.Marina had earlier put out the invitation for Sophie to stay for dinner, but following Sophie's threatening announcement regarding her intentions to initiate a divorce, Marina had suddenly become anxious to see her daughter leave early to prevent her from encountering her father, especially after having tried and failed to turn Sophie's mind from her reinforced decision to divorce Dante. When Marina had gone to welcome her husband upon his return, she had taken note of his sour mood and thus, did not need a soothsayer to tell her that having Alonso listen to his daughter's version of a "breaking news", was going to be a terrible idea. Sophie was aware of her mother's anxiety at dinner and was merciful enough to spare Marina the trouble of weathering the storm tha
Marina Gonzales carefully set down the tea tray on the small round table in front of her daughter and took her time straightening out the cushioning table cloth and unnecessarily set herself up to rearranging the delicate china cups and the accompanying serving plate of tiny square shaped, delicious looking biscuits."Tea..?" She inquired politely of the young lady before her, as though she were just another random visitor to be entertained and not infact, her very own daughter.Sophie stared at her mother for a moment and seemed to be realizing for the first time, how weird and unfamiliar Marina Gonzales looked. The paleness of her skin and the unhealthy pallor of her face, caused Sophie to worry.It seemed as though Marina had shed more than just a few light pounds in less than a week..? Or had her perceived deficiency endured for much longer than Sophie had taken care to notice..? Sophie wasn't sure. Everything just felt different, and it wasn't only her mother. It was the usual
Alonso Gonzales was a fraud: in many ways than one could imagine. And Dante was only just beginning to realize exactly how crooked the man could be, when trying to find a means to satisfying his selfish needs. Alonso was a big shark, and he didn't care about what he had to gnaw into bits or destroy on his way to achieving his own ends. He would have been an unbeatable force in the business world, if only he had a little more sense and some basic amount of discipline and self-control. Especially when it had something to do with finance management. For that, Dante supposed, had to be the old man's Achilles heel. "What do you mean by it can't be done..?" Alonso asked of Dante in a tone that suggested he was highly displeased by the information he had just received. "Exactly what is implied Mr Gonzales!" Dante drawled emotionless as he observed Alonso with an air of infinite boredom. He was unmoved by Alonso's bruised sense of entitlement. "I want to speak with Gaius!" Alonso demande
The telephone had been ringing off the hook for the better half of an hour now, and Dante on his own part, had done his ultimate best to completely ignore it.He had toned the telephone down to a dull vibration after the first few rings, as he concentrated on finishing his latest analysis on another disheartening folio of Mr Gonzales' financial statement. So far, he had one word for it; "disastrous." Alonso Gonzales had obviously down stated the true nature of his financial ruin. It was indeed worse than Dante had Originally assumed, and as much as Dante faulted his father-in-law for his current state of ruination, he also had to admit that Alonso, regardless of being the spendthrift that he was, couldn't have dug such magnitude of deficit holes all around him, all on his own.The man needed to fire whoever had been placed in charge of his accounts all these while, along with his personal accountant. Infact, Dante would suggest that Elliot Castro, Alonso's financial adviser, be thr
Julia Guthram. She was the word on everyone's lips this morning. Dante stared dispassionately at the grainy photograph of a young beautiful woman in her early twenties side by side with that of a middle aged man, Robinson Guthram, who Dante vaguely recognized as a quite influential business Mogul in the real estate business. Their photographs was splashed on the cover page of New York's daily paper with the suggestive headline "Robinson Guthram confirmed deceased; A death worth a fortune." Alberto had brought him a copy of the morning papers earlier this morning and Dante was hesitant, but glad to admit that it was a relief to see another name other than that of the Castillos, taking over the scandalous headlines.Apparently, Julia, The young heiress whose husband had been previously declared missing following his mysterious disappearance, had turned up conclusively dead. Rob Guthram's demise had automatically reverted the ownership of his estate to his very much younger wife, much
Once again, Sophie was seated at the back seat of the Mercedes Benz, inwardly seething like a petulant child who had had her favorite toy taken away and refusing to talk to Dante the whole way home. This was to be her second trip to the penthouse in less than twenty four hours and she didn't relish the second time going anymore than she had the first time.It was embarrassingly provoking to think of the crude manner in which Dante had rudely come to collect her from her friend's place.Dante had stormed Janet's home, with Marko in tow, like an angry father who intended to confront and bring back home, his young daughter who had eloped with her lover.Sophie had done no such thing. She had simply wanted to spend the night with her maternal cousin and Friend. To be around someone familiar. Someone she could still trust. She didn't understand Dante's anger at all. Afterall, she had left him a note. But then again, maybe some one like him was incapable of comprehending something as bas
"Where are we heading to..?" Sophie asked of the elderly looking gentleman who had earlier received them_Dante and herself_ at the air space moments ago, shortly after their safe landing on the helipad.He had come along with Alberto Sanchez, Dante's much younger PR manager, and had introduced himself as Jethro Gibbs, Dante's professional Chauffeur. Jethro was quite a dependably agile sexagenarian, with a full head of silver tinted greying locks and an amiable smile that bespoke of a certain ancient, but once admirably youthful charm.He had an easy manner of speech that was placating and an air of assurance that was welcoming.Perhaps that had been the reason why Sophie had not been particularly difficult when he had directed her towards the black Mercedes which was to be their lift, right after Dante had simply instructed him to; "..take her home."Dante had said it then as though he were some weary guardian who couldn't wait to get rid of his infinitely troublesome ward.Sophie ha