Prologo

DISCLAIMER —

  This is a work of fiction. The names, characters, businesses, places, events, and incidents are either the products of the author's imagination or used in a fictitious manner. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental.

Note: This story contains strong uses of mature languages and contents which are not suitable for young-minded readers. Rated 18+, read at your own risk.

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PROLOGO

"I pronounce you, husband and wife." Hindi na mabilang ni Bea kung ilang beses na siyang umirap sa ere habang tinitingnan ang pinsan niyang kasalukuyang hinahalikan ng asawa 'kuno' nito.

Palihim siyang siniko ng kanyang ina. "Could you please stop rolling your eyes, kasal to ng pinsan mo. Ayusin mo yang ugali mo Bea, ha."

She sighed. Bakit pa kasi siya dinala dito eh alam naman ng mama niya na bitter siya sa mga ganitong kaganapan.

"Magpapahangin lang ako sa labas," paalam niya at tinanguan lang siya nito.

She walks confidently, stomach in, chest out, with her head high. She wears her Gucci sunglasses as she walks outside the church.

"Kasal-kasal pa e maghihiwalay din naman," bulong niya sa sarili habang naglalakad papunta sa sariling sasakyan niya.

She was about to open her car when a baritone voice caught her attention.

"Hi," a baritone voice from behind spoke. Nilingon niya ito and saw a man smiling from ear to ear.

He's wearing a tuxedo, looks like he's a businessman. He has a pointed nose, pinkish and juicy lips, thick eyebrows, curly eyelashes, and his perfect jawline. Her eyes stopped when she saw a tattoo on his neck.

She don't like men with tattoos, for her it's dirty but with this man having a tattoo, he looks gorgeously hot. Malakas niyang ipinilig ang ulo niya bago tinaasan ng kilay ang lalaking kaharap.

"How may I help you, sir? Do you want a food? May kasal dun kaya doon ka humingi, kaya alis. Shoo!" Pagtataboy niya dito but he just give her a questioning look.

"You don't know me?"

"Mr. Whatever-is-your-name, I don't know you and I don't care. Allergic ako sa mga lalaking kagaya mo so, shoo! Alis, your wasting my goddamn time!" Pagkasabi ay agad niya itong tinalikuran at pumasok sa sasakyan.

Mabilis na pinaharurot ni Bea ang sasakyan niya papunta sa sarili niyang kompanya.

***

SHE'S NOT PLANNING to work on her own company but something happened. Their stocks are decreasing and they lost millions in just a week.

"Ma'am, the company's stocks are falling. We have to make an action now, if we don't..." halata ang kaba sa boses nito bago huminto sa pagsasalita.

"How much did we lost?" Napahilot nalang si Bea sa kanyang sentido.

"10 million po," magalang ngunit mababa na sagot ng sekretarya niya.

She took a deep breath and forced herself to shut her eyes for a while. Why is this happening to my company?!

Iminulat niya ang mga mata niya at tumingin sa sekretarya niya. "And why did we lost so much amount?" She tried to ask calmly.

"Ahm...there's a, ahm, a-ano po k-kasi—"

"What?!" She's getting impatient. Why is she stuttering?

"It's because of our staff, they didn't check it kaya mas lumaki ang nawala sa kompanya. Sorry po, Ma'am." Nakayukong sabi nito kaya kaagad niya itong nilapitan at hinawi ang buhok na nakaharang sa mukha niya.

"It's not your fault," malambot na sabi ni Bea bago bumuntong-hininga.

"Don't worry, I'll find a way." Dagdag pa niya.

Kaagad nag-angat ng tingin ang sekretarya niya sa kanya. "Pero Ma'am, matatagalan pa yun. Kapag hindi pa natin naibalik ang halagang iyon sa loob ng isang buwan, babawiin ng mga ka business partner natin ang mga investments nila. B-Baka ma bankrupt—"

"Sshhh! 'Wag ka ngang mag-isip ng gayan, I'll find a way, okay?" Tumango ang sekretarya niya. "And please don't tell mom about this, ayokong makialam siya." Muli itong tumango.

"Okay. I gotta go now, don't worry about the company. Tell the employees to go home and take a rest," sabi niya bago umalis.

***

NAPAPANTISKUHANG tumingin si Guy sa kanya. Hindi makapaniwala sa chismis na kanyang nasagap.

"Gago ka talaga, Qing. Ginawa mo talaga yun?" Hindi makapaniwalang tanong ni Guy sa kaibigan niya na kasalukuyang nakasandal sa swivel chair.

"That's the only way I can think of for her to finally get closed to me." Simpleng sagot nito na para bang wala lang ang ginawa niya.

"Ang sama ng ginawa mo, Qing, sa totoo lang. Kung ako siya, 'pag nalaman ko kung sinong may gawa nun—"

"She won't know," pagpigil niya sa sasabihin ng kaibigan. Magsasalita pa sana ito nang biglang bumukas ang pinto.

"Mr. Qing, the owner of Compassion Company is here. She wants to have a talk with you," sabi ng lalaking sekretarya niya at kanya lang itong tinanguan.

Nagkatinginan sila ng kaibigan niya bago siya ngumisi ng nakakaloko. Napailing nalang si Guy bago tumayo sa pagkakaupo sa swivel  chair na nasa harap ni Qing at umupo sa sofa na nasa gilid ng pintuan.

"Hindi ka lalabas?" Tanong ni Qing.

"Hindi, dito lang ako." Simpleng sagot nito bago nagpatuloy sa pagkain ng almonds.

Lumipas ang ilang minuto ay pumasok ang isang babae. She looks so stunning in that maroon dress of her. Ana niya sa kanyang isipan.

Umupo ito bigla sa bakanteng upuan na nasa harap niya at halata na napilitan lang siyang pumunta doon.

"Good Morning, Ms. Compassion, what can I do for you?" Qing asked in a not-so-serious tone. He smirked when he saw how Bea's beautiful face became more annoyed.

"Mr. Stranger, I don't know why I am here. Don't worry, I don't need anything from you, it's just my mother forced me to come here."

The smirk on his face disappears. He frowned at her.

"I thought you're here to tackle about your company—"

"Of course not! Sa tingin mo sapat na yung rason para pumunta ako dito? 'Tsaka di kaya kita kilala kaya bakit ako lalapit sayo. Ghad! Why am I wasting my time to you." Maarteng sabi nito bago tumayo at walang paalam na umalis.

Nakatunganga lang si Qing, hindi lubos maisip na palpak ang plano niya. She was supposed to ask for a help to him so that he and she will get along with each other and ended uo together, pero di iyon ang nangyari.

"Si Bea Compassion pala ang babaeng tinutukoy mo," nanunuyang panimula ni Guy habang naglalakad palapit sa kanya.

He rolled up his eyes in exhaustion.

"Ten million is just a cent to a person like her, you didn't check her background, didn't you?"

Mahina siyang umiling. "Ang tanga mo kung ganun. Mas mayaman pa yun sayo," sabi ni Guy bago tumawa nang makita ang miserable niyang mukha.

Wrong move, Qing. Sabi ng isang boses sa likod ng isipan niya.

"I better do that, man. Thanks."