Lucas had been pacing back and forth inside his office. He was growing impatient each passing second of waiting that the moment Dana appeared in front of him, he didn't give the poor girl the chance to explain.
He viciously grabbed her arm and asked her through gritted teeth. "We're you really testing my patience, Dana?"
"They took the card from me," was all she said, wincing in pain but defiant. "I'm sorry if I caused you trouble again."
"You were hugging and flirting with your colleague. Do you think that's proper? Did I bring you here so you can seduce men?" He tightened his grip on his arm as the earlier scene flashed in his mind. "What a slut!"
He wanted to rip off that man's body with his bare hands. How could he? Really?
Danielle, the Billionaire Heiress, just got promoted to being an assistant to Lucas Del Fierro with no proper job description.Lucas was like a rich brat who wanted his every request to come to pass no matter how unreasonable it would be.'Why are you doing this, Danielle?'she asked herself while making a coffee for Lucas.She'd been asking herself the same question lately. She could go on with her life even if Lucas would not forgive her. But here she was, wasting her time on him when she could put it to other use.Say for example, find out what had already happened back home while she was gone. Did her Uncle tell everyone that she's already dead? Did her grandfather try to look for her?Then it hit Danie, why did her Uncle stop searching for her? He didn't get her body as proof that she was dead. Didn't he think that she might be alive?Danie didn't believe that Justus Williams would be that careless unless –"I
"We're about to enter the town," Lucas slowed down and pulled over on the side of the road. He looked at Dana in the passenger seat who seemed to be spacing out again. "Look, if you continue to act like that, just go back to the city."If only it wasn't their church anniversary the next day, he wouldn't come home with Dana today.He could've gone himself but he didn't want to leave Dana alone in the city with her current condition.Lucas knew something was wrong and he could feel that he's getting closer to accomplishing his goal. Very soon, Dana would be revealing her true self and there's no stopping it. He needed to be there beside her to make sure she would not try to fake it again.But she should act normal if he didn't want everyone at home to think that he's maltreating their precious Dana. Or else, they would not let her come back to the city with him. And he couldn't afford that. He could feel that the truth was about to set itself free.
"A person you might know?" Tabitha repeated what she said.Danie was forced to lie again.She needed to tell Tabitha something to ease her worries. Besides, she wasn't totally lying. She was not really sure if the man she saw was her Uncle. But when she told Tabitha about it, it was from the point of view of her fake amnesiac self. She supposedly saw someone she might know from her forgotten past."I'm not sure, Auntie. It's just that when I saw him, I suddenly felt cold. I was scared. But I don't exactly know why," she added."Could this be the person who was running after you?" the older woman worriedly asked. "Then you're not safe in the city anymore! I'll tell Lucas that you're not coming back with him.""No. No. Please, Auntie. Lucas doesn't know about it," Danie panicked. Lucas knew that would happen if she continue acting weird. That's why he specifically told her to pull herself together.But what could she do? She didn't realize that
"AUNTIE," Lucas acknowledged Tabitha. Jane's mother asked a little of his time to talk to him. "Lucas, I feel that Dana is not okay," she started while casting the latter a glance. Dana was chatting with his mother and his sister. "I'm afraid that something might happen to her in the city." "Did she tell you anything?" He felt a little annoyed that Dana still managed to let Tabitha know that she wasn't okay. Didn't she promise him to quit acting weird? "I promised Dana not to tell you. But I am really worried. If only she would listen to me, I don't want her to go back with you anymore," Tabitha held his hands. Worry was evident on her face. And he hated it that Dana was causing Jane's mother to worry like that. She's not even worth it. "But she's not my child, Lucas. I cannot do more than tell her to take care of herself." "Don't worry, Auntie. I -" "No, Lucas, can you please not continue with whatever you are planning to avenge Jane an
'Take today as a leave.'Lucas sent her a message shortly after she woke up. It was like he knew that she just regain consciousness.'Ace will be there to send you home.''Thank you, Mr. Del Fierro,' Danie messaged back. She wanted to say she can manage. But thinking about it, it was his fault that she was hospitalized again. He must pay for her bills.It was lunch time when Ace arrived."Were you able to call Mr. Leith?" Danie asked. This morning, she had asked him a favor to call the owner of Fleur on her behalf."I did. But I was just able to talk to his wife. She said that Mr. Leith was rushed to the hospital last Saturday. He's not yet discharged up to now," Ace answered."It's so hard to set an appointment with him," Danie was disappointed because she did her best in setting that dinner appointment tonight. Only to end up n
"What are you doing?"Danielle almost lost her balance when Lucas appeared out of the blue. She was trying to walk without her crutches while leaning her hand against the wall for occasional support."Aren't you supposed to be resting?" he asked again. Apparently, the real owner of her unit barged in again without knocking first. Lucas looked like he came straight from the office as he was still wearing his suit."I'm exercising my legs," she answered, a matter of fact before reaching for her crutches again. "What brought you here, Mr. Del Fierro?""I brought you food. Thought you might be too weak to go out and eat. Turned out, you're good as new," he shrugged his shoulders as he put the paper bag of take out food on the table."Is this your way of saying sorry?" Danie felt a little happy in her heart. But she maintained a poker face as she said those words."I know how to recognize my mistake, Dana. And I admit that this
"When would Mr. Leith be available then, Mr. Yu?" Danie called Fleur's office but was only able to talk to the owner's right hand man."As per his wife, he's still recuperating. But don't worry Dana, once he gets back to work, I'll inform you at once.""Thanks. I would really appreciate that, Mr. Yu --""Wait, wait. I thought I've already made it clear to you. Drop the formalities, okay? Just call me Winston," the arrogant man on the other line said."I'm sorry if I keep forgetting, Winston," she answered. The truth was, she wasn't comfortable talking to him. He's way too arrogant. But she didn't have much choice as he's the only person who could help her get an appointment with James Leith."When are you going to let me see you? I'm totally in love with your voice. I bet you're d*mn beautiful and sexy-- "Winston was still blabbering something but Danie's attention was no longer with him. Lucas Del Fierro was standing in front of her table
"Dana, I'm running late. Could you please call Mr. Leith?" Drew called to ask a favor. "Just keep it quiet so the CEO won't know, okay?""You're putting me into trouble. Why do you have to be late today of all days, Drew?" Danie complained but she already grabbed the directory to look up for the number of James Leith."I know, I'm sorry. Emergency at home," Drew seemed to be running. "I'll owe you this one. Got to go."Danie sighed. She was calling Mr. Leith's direct number. Hopefully, he would be the one to answer and not Winston Yu.The phone was not picked up on her first attempt. But she should try again or else, if the Fleur's owner doesn't show up again, Drew would have to explain to Lucas.Fortunately, the call got connected on the second ring.It was the wife of Mr. Leith, she told her to wait because the man was still getting dressed.So, she patiently waited. While waiting, she was doing a final checking of Lucas' schedules
Finale"Danielle, what is wrong with you?" Myrtle was complaining again for the nth time. "Do you ever plan to be in a relationship with Lucas?"It had been a year and everyone's waiting impatiently for Danie to bring her status with Lucas to the next level. Especially Myrtle, who claimed her nine year relationship with Dr. Levi was going nowhere until Lucas got married first."Come on, you and Levi can always go ahead first," she rolled her eyes.Truth was, she was taking her sweet time with the courtship stage. Lucas was the best suitor ever. Not that she had past experience to compare to, but Lucas was simply incomparable.He was
LXVDanielle felt like her whole world was crushed into pieces when she saw that Lucas' body was already covered with white blanket.She couldn't breathe. Her heart was bleeding. She could feel the pain as if her heart was being torn literally and her blood was gushing out like a fountain.Why? Why did everything have to end that way?Was she a bad person? Why was it so hard for God to give her just this simple happiness she found in Lucas?"Lucas!" She cried. She wanted to hug his body, but she didn't want to accept that he was already gone.They were just minutes awa
LXIVShe didn't mean to fall asleep. But when Danielle opened her eyes again, it was already the next day.She was still at the Del Fierros. She used the same room as the one she used three years ago. Maybe she felt so at home or maybe it was the fact that she traveled hours to get there again or it could also be because she had been restless the last few days that she easily drifted off to sleep.When Danielle got up from her bed, she saw her bag carefully placed inside the room. She didn't remember bringing it when she and Tabitha went there hastily yesterday. Perhaps Tabitha brought it last night.She stood up and found something to wear before heading to the shower. While taking a bath, she couldn't help but be nervous.Was Lucas back home?He should be.Although nervous, she was also excited to see him. She prayed to God that everything's going to be fine when they face each other again.
"D-Dana?" Jio couldn't believe his eyes when he saw who their visitor was. For half a minute, he was just staring at Danie with wide eyes."May I come in, Jio?" She asked, smiling at the boy who visibly grew several inches taller since the last time she saw him."Dana, are you really here?""Who's that, Jio?" Tabitha's voice echoed from the kitchen."Mom!" Jio called. "It's Dana!" He excitedly ran to his mother and forgot to let Danie in who just helped herself in.For one whole year in the past, she lived in that house."What?" She heard Tabitha asked Jio."Yes! Mom, Dana is here. Come and see, quick!""Auntie," Danielle called Tabitha who seemed to not believe Jio so she was not coming out to see her.In less than two seconds, Tabitha came out from the kitchen. She held her hands over her mouth as tears began falling from her eyes."It's really you, Dana!""I'm sorry to visit only
It had been a week.Danielle hadn't returned to her usual self since coming back from the island. Even if she would deliberately busy herself with loads of work, her mind would drift back to the short-lived happiness she had with Lucas.Why was life so unfair? Just when she thought she would finally get a taste of true happiness, reality would come slapping her in the face.Did Lucas really love her? Why didn't he come to explain to her?'You left, Danielle,' her mind reminded her.Hadn't she left, would Lucas come to her that time to tell her it was her he chooses?But no matter what, the truth didn't change. He didn't try to explain because he chose Olivia.When James learned what happened, her Uncle couldn't help but roll his eyes at her."I already asked Lucas about that woman. He made it clear to me that they were not in a relationship. Oh please, Danielle, why did you leave him again
TMS LXI"What is the meaning of this, Lucas?" Hurt and devastation flashed in Olivia's eyes."Olivia?" Lucas looked confused. And Danielle interpreted that in a negative way.He looked like a boyfriend who was caught cheating with another girl.She felt like the happiness she was feeling just a few minutes ago was replaced by pain. So Lucas and Olivia were together? Her reaction made sense, right? Besides, why would Olivia be there if Lucas didn't bring her with him?"How could you do this to me?" Olivia continued. Tears were streaming down her lovely face. "Did you bring me here for this? What did I ever do to you to deserve this?"
The next thing Danielle knew, it was just her and Lucas standing by the seashore. She found herself staring at her feet which she had already freed from her shoes, enjoying the stroke of shallow waves. “So, this is the kind of life that you grew up with,” Lucas said after a short while of silence. His both hands were inside his pant’s pocket and his gaze was to the vast ocean before them. “If you meant luxury, then, yes. I was born with a golden spoon. Really, I’ve always gotten every material thing I wanted,” she answered, casting him a glance. Before they parted three years ago, they started having calm conversations like this. The most beautiful part was when Lucas said that he already forgave her. She could still remember how they sealed their friendship by shaking their left hands instead of their right hands that were both injured. She remembered the times when she badly wanted to stay with him but had no choice but to leave.
The following day, Danielle got busy sending off the VIPs. She hadn't seen Lucas yet and she wondered in her heart if he forgot that he promised to see her again. Although, she was also somehow thankful for the delay in confrontation."Are you leaving as well?" Danielle frowned at James and Myrna who looked like they're included in the first batch of guests to leave the island."I left loads of work in the office. It's probably piling up now," James answered."Aunt Myrna, why is Uncle so workaholic? And he won't even allow you to stay and relax here for a few days," she complained, hoping Myrna would back her up and then James would decide to stay."You know your Uncle. Work is his life. Let him be. Besides, I
The first time Lucas saw Dana, she was lying helplessly on a hospital bed. Tubes were connected to her body and her lower extremities were wrapped heavily in gauze. But he didn't feel an ounce of pity for her. All he wanted to do that time was to kill her with his bare hands.He hated her so much. He saw her as a curse. Yet because of his family, he still helped to keep her secret safe despite her unwillingness to tell him the truth about the accident.Lucas thought that he would never forgive her. But when he spent time with her, his heart opened up for forgiveness. And not only that, he feared losing Dana. That when her past caught up with her because of his wrong decision to bring her to the city, he willingly laid everything he had got just to keep her safe.In the end, his efforts were in vain as Dana decided to protect him instead. As a man who failed, it was a blow to his ego that in reality, what he had was not enough to make Dana trust him and sta