CHAPTER 1

Chapter 1

“IT WAS NICE TO FINALLY MEET YOU, Ms. Vasiliev.” The Chairman of the Perfecto Security Company said as they shook each other’s hands for a second. She just closed a deal between the company she’s been handling and to the security company who wants to merge with them.

She needed the most successful and trusted security company globally. Though she don’t give her trust easily, at least the background of the company and so as the people working on it are trustworthy and has clean record. They wouldn’t like what she can do if they try to betray her. She’s Elizabeth Stheno Vasiliev, the owner of the Vasiliev Emerald Empire, daughter of the most dangerous businessman and drug baron in Russia. No one would dare to mess with her.

“Prepare all the documents and files that I have to sign, Mr. Donovan, and let your secretary send it to my villa.” She said in a matter of fact as she bid goodbye and left the company.

“MOMMY, do we really have to go back to the Philippines?” Kaagad na tanong ng anim na taong gulang niyang anak nang makauwi siya galing sa kompanya niya. They are currently in their room, packing their clothes and some important things that they have to bring.

They are living in a six unit condominium, far away from her company and to her father’s mansion, for about seven years. Her father offered her to live in the mansion but she declined. Her son might be exposed to her father’s illegal deeds. Ayaw niyang malaman ng anak niya ang mga pinaggagawa nila ng ama niya. Her son is still young and innocent but too smart to understand what’s going on. She's been helping her father's illegal business for almost seven years because of the favor she owed to him.

“Di ba napag-usapan na natin ito, ‘nak?” she replied in a sweet voice. Tinapos niya ang pag-iimpake ng mga gamit niya at ng sa anak niya bago niya hinarap ang anak niya na ngayon ay nakatingin sa kanya, waiting for her to explain.

“Look, Ala, remember when I told you that I owe your Grandpa a very big favor?” tanong niya habang sinusuklay ang mahabang buhok ng anak. Her son nodded to her question and listened wholefully.

“He told me to make a deal with someone in the Philippines and I have to work hard to make it successfully. Hindi naman kita pwedeng iwan dito… you know how dangerous this place is, Ala.” Pagpapaintindi niya sa anak niya na kaagad naman tumango.

"And besides, your papa Greg misses you so much. Don't you miss him?"

"Of course, I do! But… you said that my father is there.” May pangangamba sa boses nito pero nanatiling kalmado ang mukha nito.

She caressed her son’s cheek and smiled reassuringly. “Don’t worry, ‘nak. Are you doubting Mommy’s ability?”

Doon napangiti ang anak niya at naglalambing na yumakap sa kanya. She hugged him back and rubbed her son’s back. Ilang minuto silang nasa gano’ng posisyon hanggang sa marinig niya ang mahinang paghilik ng anak niya. Maingat niyang inilapag ang anak niya sa kama at nakangiting hinalikan ito sa nuo.

“I will protect you, ‘nak. I won’t let that jerk get near to you or even know your existence.”

AS ELIZABETH stepped out from their private plane, she smiled bitterly as the memory of the past came into her mind. Mabilis niyang ipinilig ang ulo niya at hinawakan ang maliit na kamay ng kanyang anak. Her personal bodyguard took care of their luggages at maingat iyong inilagay sa likod ng sasakyan.

Pumasok sila sa itim Mercedes Benz na nakapark sa hindi kalayuan. She let out an exhausted sigh when she sat in the shotgun seat while her son sat on the passenger seat.

“Mommy....” pagtawag sa kanya ng anak niya na kaagad naman niyang nilingon mula sa likuran.

“Yes, ‘nak?” she asked and gave a gentle smile to her son.

“Are we going to live in Papa Greg’s house?” her son asked innocently.

“Nope, ‘nak. Mommy bought a subdivision few meters away from your Papa Greg’s house,” sagot niya.

“But I can visit him, right? May bodyguards naman tayo, and I can protect myself too against bad people, Mommy.” May pangungumbinsi sa boses nito kaya hindi mapigilan ni Elizabeth ang pagtaasan ito ng kilay habang may ngiti sa kanyang labi.

“You can?” She asked, teasingly. “And who taught you to protect yourself… physically?”

“Si Lolo,” kaswal nitong sagot na nagpatawa sa kanya. “When you’re not around, Lolo taught me on how to defend myself. Like hitting the weaknesses and special nerves of the enemy but first, we have to think like a genius before we imply the move.” Seryosong paliwanag nito habang nakatingin sa taas na tila nag-iimagine.

Hindi mapigilan ni Elizabeth ang mapailing sa sinabi ng anak. She know that her father is teaching something to her son pero hindi niya inaasahang iyon ang mga itinuturo nito sa anak niya. Alam niyang matalino ang anak niya kaya mabilis lang itong matuto kung anuman ang ituturo dito. But then, maybe it's for her son's awareness. Masyado pa nga itong bata at inosente sa mga bagay bagay pero at least he's aware. Masyadong delikado ang mundong ginagalawan nila kaya hindi nalang siya nagkomento.

"So, Mom? Pinapayagan mo na ako?" her son asked, making her sigh in defeat.

"Ano pa ba ang magagawa ko?" She said and her son smiled widely.

Kahit halos pitong taon silang nanirahan sa ibang bansa, she taught her son to speak in Filipino. But whenever she's busy for almost a month, going to business trips, meetings, and other activities related to business, hindi niya namamalayang ginagawa na palang libangan ng anak niya ang pag-aaral ng iba't-ibang lenggwahe that even her can't understand. She have such an amazing son at nagpapasalamat siya at naiintindihan nito ang pagiging busy niya. Not all children can understand the sacrifices of a parent has made. And she's thankful that her son is an understanding one.

WHEN the car stopped in front of the subdivision she just bought, ipinahatid niya kaagad ang kanyang anak sa bahay ni Greg kasi nagkaemergency sa isa sa mga branch na under ng kompanya niya dito sa Pilipinas. Unang araw pa lang niya sa Pilipinas at problema agad ang sumalubong sa kanya. Great, just great. And as the owner of the company, she has to show up.

Nang makarating siya sa branch na sinabi ng sekretarya niya ay napabuntong-hininga nalang siya bago lumabas sa sasakyan. Isinuot niya ang aviators at taas nuong pumasok sa loob ng branch. Kaagad na sumalubong sa kanya ang sekretaryang si Hope at kaagad na nagpaliwanag.

“Ms. Vasiliev, there’s someone who wants to see you personally…” halata ang kaba sa boses nito kaya pinatigil niya ito sa pagsasalita.

She removed her aviators and looked at her secretary from the eyes. “Hope, chill. Take a deep breath before talking.” Kalmadong sabi niya saka ito ningitian.

Gano’n ba talaga siya kaistrikta at natataranta ang mga empleyado niya sa kanya. She never shows herself up to her employees in the Philippines or even in other countries. Sa Russia at Spain lang kung saan nandoon ang main at major empire niya.

Hope took a deep breath before talking. “Ms. Vasiliev, there’s this person who wants to see you and threatens me that if you don’t show up, he will sue the company…”

She sighed in boredom. “For what reason?” she asked.

“Peke daw po ang mga produkto natin,” sagot nito sabay napayuko.

She taps her secretary’s right shoulder. Nag-angat ito ng tingin at kinakabahang tumingin sa kanya. She smiled warmly at her. “Come on, bring me to that person and let’s see what kind of guts he has.” Tanging tango lang ang ginawa nito at iginiya siya papunta sa loob.

Even though this branch is just an extension of her company, malaki at successful naman ang mga shares at income nito. But this isn’t the first time that someone wanted to sue them. Sanay na siya sa mga issueng iyon. And of course, no one can bring her empire down. Maybe someone will dare but they can't.

“Andito na tayo, Ma’am,” anunsyo ng sekretarya niya at mula sa hindi kalayuan ay tanaw niya ang isang pamilyar na pigura na nakatalikod mula sa direksyon niya.

She shrugged and walked with poise towards the man wearing a business suit and prepared her smile.

“Good afternoon, Sir. My secretary told me about your certain issue, so I came here to settle this down. I don’t want this simple matter to become big.” She stretched her hands to offer a professional handshake to the man who’s wearing a black ray-ban sunglasses and a black mask, covering the half of his face.

The man stood up, making her look up. Hanggang balikat lang siya nito at amoy na amoy niya ang panlalaking amoy nito.

“Let me formally introduce myself to you.” She smiled professionally. “I am—“

“Eliza Villanueva… nice seeing you again, my love.”