"Too bad," Cedric replied with a chuckle.Cedric only leaned back at the chair and rocked it, placing both of his hands inside his pockets as he poked his tongue inside his cheeks."Well, I've been missing our old gang, hm? How about that?""Cedric, let's not rush our commander." The man with white hair said."You mean... former commander, Asahi?" Cedric chuckled, ignoring the sharp stare from their former commander, Zacharias."Anyway, did Allura like the clothes I made for her?" Cedric asked."Who the hell is that?" Lazarus asked with a raised brow as he was resting back on the chair, placing his arm on the backrest while a cigarette was in his mouth."My slut," Dominic said with a lot of confidence as he stuck his tongue out with a pill and winked at Lazarus."You gay or somethin'?" Lazarus made a disgusting look on his face while Dominic immediately took it back and scoffed."Hell no—"Lorenzo clears his throat, cutting off and scolding the two."So, we got two childish fuckers no
I opened my eyes groggily as I woke up and the beam of sunlight was what met me. I stood up from the bed and noticed that I'm not in the living room anymore."Oh right," I placed my palm on my forehead. "I fell asleep on the couch last night."I immediately stood up and the cold contact on the floor almost made me jolt. I opened the door and what met me was a cold atmosphere. I walked through the hallway until I saw Leo walking up the stairs.He's wearing black sleepwear with tight sleeves that reveal his abs and muscles. It's my first time seeing him in this clothing since I rarely interact with him and he always wears suits. I had no idea he was so buff."Hi, good morning!" I smiled, but I was merely ignored."Dang, never mind." I rolled my eyes and walked to the stairs. "I even offered him my small left good morals."Leo stopped in his tracks and looked at me."Oh right, I think I AM blocking your way, MISTER." I sarcastically said as I exaggerated the words and moved out of his wa
Hours have passed and it's exactly 20:00.I'm inside Regio's limousine with them, on the way to a nightclub. They mentioned it was one of the Takahashi brothers' property, so safety is the least of their problems, but of course, they'll keep an eye out and won't let their guard down.Inside the limousine were Zacharias, Toshiro, Dominic, and the two Takahashi. The interior design of this vehicle is more than luxurious, with purple and red LED lights inside and a long table at the side with wines and beers, basically resembling a bar.And of course, the windows were tinted and all rolled up for some reason.I'm sitting in the middle of Dominic and Lorenzo. I'm quiet the whole time while they are talking about business stuff which I'm quite familiar with since I've been working in Regio as well, and Lorenzo trained me in his office.Talking about working with The Regio in the office, I almost forgot that Mask and the others had been left in the mansion. I honestly felt bad because I'm a
"Are you sure you'll leave Allura with Leo?"Dominic asked Lorenzo as they walked downstairs of the nightclub."It's just a matter of time. I know my brother well." Lorenzo said nonchalantly as they walked while his hands were in his pockets."The hell do you mean?" Dominic asked while they sat on the stool in front of the wine counter."May I have your order, sirs?" The bartender asked."We'll just order one glass of beer." Lorenzo said as he gave his card."Oh! It's you, Sir Lorenzo and Sir Dominic. My apologies, I wasn't focusing much." The bartender bowed frantically."It's fine, don't treat me as your boss, just treat me like a random customer." Lorenzo said, while the bartender nodded and smiled."Thank you so much, sir, for such kindness.""Anyway, about a while ago." Dominic mentioned."Oh, right," Lorenzo said as his hand went inside his pockets. "Wait."Lorenzo took out his phone and opened it, and then showed it to Dominic.Dominic's eyes widen and a wide devilish grin form
All merciless."Did Leo get too far? You're all ruined, darling." Lorenzo said as my chin was on top of his finger as he made me look up, even if my eyes were still covered.Only mumbled words came out of my mouth with uncontrollable sobs and hiccups from my cries."That was a fucking view." Dominic said, with venom laced in his voice."Huh...?" I muttered confusingly."Oh it is?" Leo chuckled."W-What do you mean?" I asked in a panicked tone. I have no idea what camera they are talking about. There are a lot of kinds, but a hidden camera? A CCTV? Even so, my brain is all in shambles from panic."Does it really matter, bothering your mind with all those questions, Allura? Relax." Lorenzo answered. "C'mon, talk." Leo commanded me.I refused to talk, feeling my ego getting crushed by these three men, making me furrow my brows, but I was cut off as I felt someone grab my wrist.I felt a hand lift me and my hands began to get clammy. I felt the person sit on the couch as he placed me on
"Good morning."I heard a voice as I opened my eyes slowly. My exhaustion from last night urges me to flatter it back again, but I felt someone tugging the blanket close to my chin as soon as I woke up."Lorenzo?" I muttered as my gaze cleared up and adjusted to the light.He was sitting beside my lying figure, and he was leaning on the bed's headboard with his other hand behind his head. He was shirtless, and his body tattoo glistened with the sun's rays from the wide window on the penthouse.A pained wince escaped my mouth as I tried to move my body, but all I felt was a stinging pain that shocked through every part of my body."Don't move. " He said as he moved to my side to reach something."Huh?" I blinked as I looked at my body and saw bruises and bandages, there are some large giant cushions, blankets, and pillows around me."You passed out last night." He said as he soothed my back."Oh," my face heats as I grow embarrassed and he noticed it."Why?" Lorenzo chuckled as he kiss
"Allura..." Zacharias whispered as he looked at the person in the photo.Reminiscing memories was enough to make Zacharias tear up after some years. He was a man who barely cared about emotions anymore, sulking on his own, especially when the people around him were gone. He knew very well who he needed and what he had turned to, even he was scared of his capabilities. It was like he couldn't feel the limit and intolerance anymore, it was just pure void.Zacharias was about to drift off, especially as the rain started to fall, yet it took him hours to finally sleep.It was now the middle of the night.Until he heard his phone ring.Ring! Ring!Zacharias sighed as he grabbed his phone, and Lorenzo was calling."Zach-!" Gunshots "We need back- Fuck! " Lorenzo's voice was cut off and jittery. Zacharias heard gunshots and people shouting from the phone call"We've been ambushed!" Lorenzo groaned through the phone.Zacharias widened his eyes in anticipation, and his heart skipped a beat."S
"What the fuck?!"Dominic shouted as he saw the two familiar faces, especially Amanda Fierro.His stepsister.Amanda didn't waste time running to Dominic and kicking him straight in the head, making the man late to react."Dom—!" Leo was about to shout until he was grabbed by Raven from behind.Leo immediately looked back and kicked his hand away causing them both to stumble back, but Raven moved back and regained momentum, running up to Leo, who was also running up to him, and they both kicked each other, desperately trying to lock one other's joints, the two men's fighting style was almost the same.Members from Araoluwa started attacking the building as well and Regio started calling for more backups, hurling each other attacks, and the place was starting to get in chaos."Shit," Toshiro grunted as he slowly stands up from his collapse a while ago due to Raven's kick."This isn't the old times anymore." He gets a gun from one of their men who just came in time. "Pistols and physica
Any person would freak out if they see this church, even the village itself. Anyone wouldn't dare to go here. But Zacharias and Allura? Why would they be? This place is what they call a beauty, yet none of them admitted that. They kept it to themselves like a secret. Just like before. As to why Zacharias regretted things now. He was indeed too late. "Let's enter?" I asked. "Let's go to the garden," but a different thing was in his mind. "A garden?" I tried to remember what it was. "I'll be left here alone, Ms. Marin. I'll just be waiting here." Willbert said and I just nodded but kept I phone with me. As Zacharias and Allura entered the church, he opened the rusty wooden double door, directing them to the church's garden. There, it shows an old patio, a rusty table and chairs, a cracked small stone fountain, a fence filled with webs now, and those fairy lights still hanging on the tree's branches. My eyes widened as I remember all of these in one place. Why was knowing my p
"She'll never arrive ten minutes early." Toshiro said as he looked at his wristwatch. Zacharias and the others have been waiting inside the van for over thirty minutes. They complain about the time, but they're always too advanced of arrival. Just like any other business trip, they'd all gathered to check that place discussed in the meeting the other day. "Ms. Marin is here," Kanji said, addressing me... formally. "Just came in time." I thought as I greeted each of them and also introduced Willbert to them, the secretary. As Zacharias continued to attempt to avoid her, he couldn't help but notice this one new behavior she developed. Allura never arrive early yet late, but instead, she's always arriving at the exact time. He just gave me a nod and a formal handshake as I then walked out to ride in my car to just follow them to the place. "Now I know the reason why you kept on rejecting Dias Corporation's offer," Kanji muttered. As the van began to drive toward their destination
"Mom, I'm sorry, I couldn't convince that large company to continue the partnership." I said on my phone while I'm currently in my room, and Eri is out of town for business matters, so it's me who's handling the company for now. Eri kept silent for a moment, and my brows furrowed as I looked at my phone screen to check if the call has ended. "Mom? Are you still there?" "Oh, yeah. I'm still here," Eri mumbled, and her tone was monotonous. "Is everything alright there? I should tell Secretary Willbert to escort you there. I can handle the company here." I said, sounding worried. "No, it's fine. I've already spoken to the company you've been mentioning for the past few days, too." Eri said. "Really?" My eyes shone. "I'll surely give you half of my shares when we continue the partnership, but of course, I need to give an outlook to their employees first. We can't just trust the human resources team sometimes." Eri really had no energy left ever since that day Allura asked her abou
They say everything that was done in haste will go to waste.Ever since he saw a glimpse of her, everything felt like reverting from the start.Last week, Friday night, the same exact night where he saw her again. No, he couldn't be mistaken. It was really her.He's at his firm's office, sitting in his office while gazing outside the glass window from the fifty-seventh floor."Sir Sano," one of his employees called.Expecting to sign a fresh set of documents on his desk, Zacharias turned in his chair and tapped his desk."Toshiro, just place them," Zacharias told in almost a whisper."How's your medication?" Toshiro was actually about to ask this. Not bombard Zacharias with tons of paperwork again.Zacharias just nodded and rubbed his eyes as he yawned. "It's alright.""Alright? I've heard from the doctors that you've been skipping your medication." Toshiro said."Then I'll take one today. You can go now, thank you." Zacharias simply said."Wait. Have you told Kanji about the new part
"More?"The bartender asked as I was getting myself wasted on the bar's counter."One more shot," I groggily said as my head was lying down on the counter.The bartender looked at me cluelessly at my state. "A heartbreak?""Hell? Fuck no," I scoffed."My bad. Usually the customers who get wasted, slumping themselves down on that counter are going through a breakup. I believe it's a curse now." He joked."Well, I am not. Just fill my glass up... Goddamn," I grunted as I clank my shot glass on the counter."Alright, alright," the bartender said as he hurriedly filled my glass up. I grabbed the glass from him, and he's just standing there as I gulp the shot of gin straight."Ma'am, seems like your phone has been ringing for minutes now," the bartender said as he noticed the constant dings and rings on my phone beside me.I raised my head lazily as I checked my phone with my squinted eyes.74 missed calls from Erianne Dhiore59 missed calls from Zane WilbertAnd more missed calls from my
"It's impressive, Madame Allura, the company in the meeting a while ago backed out of their contract."Secretary Zane Willbert said inside my office, and he's also the secretary of Eri."Yeah," I simply replied while I was busy signing the files."Uhm, do you know that company has been pestering us for almost a month? They kept on insisting on pushing this future plan of theirs and the partnership." Zane informed."Why am I only informed now?" I stopped with my work and looked at him."Madame Dhiore told me not to inform you since she wants the higher positions to handle this. She didn't want to add up more work for you." Zane said."Next time, tell her to have her inform me of every audit that takes place within the company." I commanded."Yes, madame.""Also, madame. Since you refused that company's offer, do you want to move forward with the next company?" Zane asked as he took his iPad out to list information."The background of their company?""They're also a company that focuses
"Madame Allura!"I woke up the next morning feeling nausea washing over me. As soon as I got out of bed, I heard frantic knocks on my door and someone calling me.Fixing my hair and appearance for a bit, I opened the door since it seemed like the maids were calling me in a rush."Secretary Willbert Zane has been calling you. Eight o'clock is close, and you're going to be late for your supposed meeting, madame!" The maids shouted."Fuck," I cursed under my breath."Tell Secretary Zane that I'll be there in thirty minutes," I hurriedly added as I closed the door and proceeded on getting ready.After forty minutes of getting ready, even if I'm told that I'll be finished within thirty minutes, I quickly prep myself and ate at least small portions of breakfast before going out of the house."Ah shit, mom will kill me." I thought. I know that my stepmother Eri is the one that holds the highest position in the company, and of course, there will be times when she needs to take her role. She m
Ten years later..."The rise of Dias Corporation! Cheers!"The workers of Dias Corporation clanked their bottles as they commemorated a special day for the company inside a restaurant."Madame Marin... All of us look up at her hard work." Eri's workers said with genuineness."I never doubt how I grew my daughter. She deserves the position in my company." Eri said as she sipped the glass of wine.After being admitted to the hospital ten years ago, Eri immediately entered my name in her company. Of course, it wasn't that easy. I had to attend therapy, take my prescription every day, and take extra lessons.It was like I was at university again, studying business courses for a brief period of time but also needing to join the civil service and earn a degree in business management to secure the position. Even though Eri, my stepmother, had to cover all of my expenses, it wasn't simple to attend classes while still keeping up with my health."Cheers to Ms. Allura Marin, our general manager
They say, at the end of the day, it's the people who are capable of achieving their wants, dreams, and affords that will only survive.And years later...It's only those people who are sane, and who still have a space in mind for serenity.They think it's okay to survive in this world, but what's engulfing them is the feeling of dread and loneliness as they grow old.It was a mixture of emotions, honestly. It's overwhelming."Kanji, how was it?" Toshiro asked as he entered Kanji's office in his firm.The two knew it was best for the group to disband. They felt like it was the best option. It's a horrendous era for them, and they have to end it.Kanji didn't notice that he was dozing off, so Toshiro had to call his attention thrice. "Kanji?""O-oh," Kanji shook his head. "Sorry, what was that?""I said, how's the convention, a while ago?" Toshiro asked."Ah, it's alright. Just a few errands here and there," Kanji replied as he placed his phone on his office table while turning his phon