CHAPTER 3

Chapter 3

IBINILIN ni Elizabeth ang anak niya kay Greg kasi may conference meeting pa siyang dadaluhan. A meeting between the partnership and investors under her empire. As of now, she already has three business partners and ten investors. Mahirap kasing maghanap ng makapagtitiwalaan business partner.

She’s now heading to her main firm in the Philippines, driving her white mustang. Habang nasa byahe siya ay hindi niya mapigilang maalala ang usapan nila ng kanyang ama. Her father wants her to capture Alaister, dead or alive. That was supposed to be her mission but she decided not to accept it. Ewan ba niya, hindi niya kayang gawin iyon sa lalaki.

“We have a deal, Elizabeth. Either you capture him, or I’ll execute him. You choose, Elizabeth.”

That’s what her father said earlier before ending the call. Kailangan niyang paganahin ang utak niya at mag-isip ng paraan kung paano magagawa ang misyon niya ng hindi sinasaktan ang lalaki. If she captures him, her father will surely use him as bait against his father, Don Diabolos Romano. And if she doesn't, her father will kill him.

She sighed deeply as she parked her car in the parking lot beside her firm. Lumabas siya mula sa kanyang sasakyan at taas nuong pumasok sa firm. Everyone greeted her good morning and she nodded in response. Today, there will be an investor who wants to buy ten percent shares from her company. Of course, she won’t agree to it. Kailangan niya lang pakinggan ang rason kung bakit gusto nitong bilhin ang shares ng kompanya niya. She wants to see if that investor can convince her.

Kaagad siyang dumeritso sa fourth floor, where the conference hall is. Nang makapasok siya ay kaagad sumalubong sa kanya ang labing dalawang mga tao na prenteng nakaupo sa kani-kanilang upuan. Mukhang kanina pa ito naghihintay sa kanya.

“Good Morning,” bati niya sa mga ito nang makaupo siya sa head seat. Ang mga ito naman ay nakaupo sa magkabilang gilid. “Shall we start?”

“We’re still waiting for the investor who wants to buy some shares in your company, Miss.” Her secretary informed her.

She nodded and smiled at the investors and business partners who’s looking at her, waiting for her words. “Okay, we’ll wait. I’m giving that investor five minutes—“

“No need.” A man’s voice echoed inside the conference hall as the glass door opened. Pumasok mula roon ang taong hindi niya inaasahang magpapakita sa kanya.

“WHAT the hell are you doing here?” Iyon kaagad ang bumungad sa kanya nang makaupo siya sa dulo ng upuan ng boardroom. Nag-angat siya ng tingin at sinalubong ang nakakamatay na tingin ng babae.

A proud smug smile appeared on his lips when he remembered what his private investigator. The owner of the most successful trading company here in the Philippines is no other than his ex-girlfriend, Elizabeth Stheno Vasiliev. Hindi siya makapaniwala na gano’n na ang narating nito. She’s too far to reach. An independent woman who holds power and authority doesn’t need someone to depend on.

“I want to buy ten percent of your company’s share, Miss CEO.” Simpleng tugon niya at ramdam niya kaagad ang tensyon na namuo sa loob ng conference room.

Tinaasan siya ng kilay nito at pinagsiklop ang magkabilang daliri habang matiim na nakatingin sa kanya. "May I ask why, Mr. Romano?" She asked, diniinan nito ang pagkakasabi sa apilyedo niya. There's no use of hiding his identity. Alam niyang pinaimbestigahan din siya nito.

He gave her a shrug. "I just want to," sagot niya.

Elizabeth gave him a deadpan look. "Then this meeting is done, I'm not selling my company's shares to you." Seryoso nitong sabi saka itinuro ang glass door. "Now, get out, Mr. Romano… before I lose my patience."

Natatawang napailing nalang si Alaister sa tinuran ng dalaga. He didn't know that his presence was enough to pissed this beautiful woman in front of him. "If I bought ten percent of your sales—"

"Which is not going to happen—"

"Your company will earn billions in just a month, by just my name alone, your shares will multiply. Am I right, Mr. Fontanilla?” Aniya at sinulyapan ang isa sa mga business partner ng babae.

Mr. Fontanilla looked hesitant as Elizabeth threw him a deadly glare, it’s like she’s telling him not to agree on what he said.

Alaister chuckled. “Come on, Mr. Fontanilla, just tell her your findings if I bought ten percent of this company’s shares.”

“T-That’s true, Miss Vasiliev. Your c-company will earn a lot of benefits once Mr. Romano buy some of your company’s shares.” Segunda nito kaya mayabang niyang ningitian si Elizabeth na ngayon ay salubong ang magkabilang kilay habang matalim siyang tinitingnan.

Sometimes, he wondered why this woman hated him. Wala naman siyang ginawang masama dito. He even loved her but she just left him and came back, hating him to the core.

“It’s a no for me, Mr. Romano.” May diin sabi nito.

“Why, Miss Vasiliev?” Nanghahamong tanong niya.

“Because I said so,” simpleng sagot nito.

Alaister shook his head in disappointment. “Aren’t you being unfair, Miss Vasiliev?”

“Ako ang may-ari ng kompanyang ito, I owned this company. How dare you say that I am being unfair here! I will sell my company’s shares to anyone, but not to you.” Malakas ang boses na sabi nito. “You’re an asshole, conniving, and a liar jerk! Now, get out all of you. This meeting is done,” pagkasabi nito ay sabay-sabay na tumayo ang lahat ng tao sa conference room at nagmamadaling lumabas, maliban sa kanya.

“Ano pang ginagawa mo dito?” Mataray na anito habang nakataas ang magkabilang kilay na nakatingin sa kanya. “Get out, Mr. Romano, now!” Sigaw nito pero hindi siya nasindak. He even stood up and came closer to her.

Nakita niya ang pagkawalang bahala sa mukha ni Elizabeth pero ramdam niya ang kaunting kaba nito. He can see it, the way her breath hitched when he came closer. But she’s just sitting there, in her swivel chair. He smirked and bent over. Inilapit niya ang mukha niya sa mukha nito. Randam niya ang hininga nito na tumatama sa baba niya. It somehow awakens something inside of him.

“Nasaan ngayon ang tapang mo, Eli?” He said in a hoarse tone, exhaling a short breath on her face. Nang hindi nagsalita ang babae ay dumako ang tingin niya sa mapupula nitong mga labi at akmang hahalikan ito nang may isang kamay ang biglang dumapo sa kanyang kaliwang pisngi.

Mabilis siyang lumayo at malalaki ang mga matang tiningnan ang babae. “What the f’ck?!” he hissed at her. “What was that for?!”

Elizabeth stood up and glared at him. “Para magising kang g*go ka… baka nakakalimutan mo kung sino ako. Get out or else I’ll call the security.” Pagbabanta nito pero hindi niya natinag.

“Hindi ako lalabas dito hangga’t hindi ka makikipag-usap sa akin ng matino!” May diin ang boses na sabi niya.

He thought that buying her company’s shares would give him a chance to talk to her. Wala na siyang maisip na ibang paraan kung paano mapapalapit sa babae. He wants to earn her love again, he wants to own her, again.

“Wala tayong dapat pag-usapan, Alaister! If it’s about the company’s shares, it's done. I won’t sell my company’s shares to you and if it’s about our past, we're done too! Matagal na,” she yelled on top of her lungs and her face is now turning red, fuming mad.

Nameywang na tiningnan niya ito. “Then I’ll stay here. Hangga’t hindi mo ako kinakausap, I will continue pestering you.”

Elizabeth looked at her flatly. “Ah, ayaw mong umalis?” Tanong nito at tinanguan niya ito.

Elizabeth then picked her shoulder bag and put her sunglasses on. “Okay, ako nalang ang aalis.” Pagkasabi ay malalaking hakbang na nilisan ang conference room.

ELIZABETH was fuming mad as she left the conference room. Mabilis ang bawat hakbang niya hanggang sa makarating siya sa loob ng elevator. She blew out a loud breath and tried calming her nerves. Pakiramdam niya ay sasabog na siya kapag makikita pa niyang muli ang lalaki.

Nakakabuwesit! Galit na reklamo niya sa kanyang isipan. Nang bumukas ang elevator ay kaagad siyang lumabas at pumunta sa head ng security team.

“Good Morning, Ma’am.” Magalang nitong bati at kanya lang itong tinanguan.

“Manong, kindly ban Zacchaeus Alaister Romano from entering this company. Kapag nakapasok siya dito, rest assured that I’ll fire you and the whole security team. Understood?” Utos niya at kinakabahang tumango ang head ng security team.

“Good, now, continue on working.” Aniya at umalis sa security area.

She was about to exit the whole building when she spotted a black Chevrolet parked in front of the building. And there, a man standing six feet tall, resting his back on the hood of his car, wearing a black tuxedo and a black ray ban, welcomed her with a warm hug when he saw her. Salubong ang magkabilang kilay ni Elizabeth na niyakap pabalik si Greg. He’s too showy in public though she got used to it.

“I miss you, babe.” Biglang sabi nito nang magkaharap na sila.

Nanunudyong ningitian niya ito. “Ikaw ha, parang ilang oras lang akong umalis sa bahay mo ah… namiss mo na agad ako.”

Greg shook his head and wrapped his arm around her waist. Inilapit nito ang bibig nito a tenga niya saka bumulong.

“Your ex is looking, babe. And he looks livid, wanna tease him even more?”

Natatawang napailing nalang si Elizabeth at hindi na nag-abalang lingunin ang presensyang nasa likuran niya.

Greg then, who wants to anger Alaister even more, kissed her forehead for about five seconds before opening the car’s door for her.

“Let’s go, babe, we still have to do our sexy time.” Sinandya ni Greg na lakasan ang boses nito kaya alam niyang narinig ito ng mga taong nasa paligid nila ang sinabi nito. Wala talaga itong maramdamang hiya sa katawan kahit minsan. Maybe now, Alaister will leave her alone already.