"What a shame."A man leaning back on the couch with his other leg on top of the table, a cigarette between his index and middle finger as he blew a puff of smoke. He ran a hand through his black, slicked-back hair, pushing up his glasses as he gazed through the projector screen."Mr. Lazarus Suarez, there's still no strong evidence." A worker said."Get out." Lazarus pointed at the door."Sir—""Get out before I pull my gun out." "Please give me one more chance—"Cedric clicked his tongue as he shot the wall with a gun just beside the worker, scaring him.The worker immediately opened the door and left the room after that."Back to the topic." Lazarus flicked the cigarette and stepped it on the floor."Lazarus," suddenly, Asahi barged inside the room and the two men turned their heads to him.Asahi threw a file containing documents on the table, and Lazarus grabbed it as he read the contents."A what? An update? For fucking what?""Didn't you remember your pledge back then?" Asahi s
"You know what? Fuck it." After hours of contemplating in my room, I ripped off my plain white t-shirt in front of the mirror and left my bra on as I threw the shirt in the basket. I roam around the room to find some garments while I'm only in my bra, the scars, and bruises from that other night are still on my skin. Yeah, those men still weren't home until now, but I can barely give a single fuck about it now. It felt like centuries inside the mansion all alone, wandering around, then going back to my room, then just some few bodyguards of Regio and workers looking at me as if they were guarding me. Even so, I decided to go out today. I'm now dressed up in a dress, and a leather jacket in case. I just applied some concealer on the marks even though it's barely covering. I packed the essential things in my small purse, and most importantly, I brought a gun with me. "Smells like rags and cigs." I coughed as I opened my window, noticing that the flowers are slowly dying outside in
"What the fuck are you all doing here?" I groaned as I stepped back. "No no, darling, we shall ask that question. What are you doing in here?" "Fuckers," I immediately turned my heel as I unlocked the door, wasting no time. It was no use as I felt some men grip my arm as they drag me away from the door. My eyes widened as I try to push them away and kick my legs as they carry you. "Get off!" "Let me handle her." Then, Zacharias walked to my side and grabbed my wrist. "You also!" I shouted at him as I yanked my wrist away from his hand. Zacharias grabbed my wrist again and pulled me out of the VIP room, leaving the other men behind as us two walked to a certain area. I kept on pulling myself away and even tried punching or kicking my feet away from Zacharias' hold, but it was all useless. He pushes me inside an empty room as I hit the wall. I grunted as I turned around to him. I admit that I feel a little scared by Zacharias' impression now, but I would never show it, especiall
I hurried out of the nightclub gasping for air, tears streaming down my face. My mouth was gaping open as I tried to hold back my sobs. The rain outside wasn't helping, and I could feel my body trembling from the cold, bringing goosebumps on my skin and dry lips. I can see my breathing in the air as I exhale. I ended up in a narrow alley off a street, and I leaned against it, my knees bucking as I placed my weight there. Fatigue and exhaustion caused me to almost collapse, but luckily, I placed my palm on the wall. My fingertips gazed at my lips as I remembered what happened a while ago inside the nightclub, notably the words I hurled at Zacharias. "Live forever with that guilt until you fucking die, Zacharias Craig." The question is, do I deserve any of the men? Rather, do all of them deserve me? "Mom Eri... Azazel.." It hits me, and I weep as I realize that the two people I'm looking for aren't with me. It's just me, even if I've beaten my chest, slapped my face, yanked my ha
"Eri— J-just Eri..." I sighed as I spoke with the receptionist at the counter since I'm now in the hospital and I didn't hesitate to go when those men gave me permission. Still, I'm wary of my surroundings, fiddling with the hem of my shirt and gripping the strap of my bag while I take deep breaths and shake my hands. "Relations?" "I-I'm her daughter." The receptionist raised her head from the computer screen and papers. She raised her brows and noticed my state. "Are you okay, ma'am?" "Yes," I frantically nodded. "M'kay, proceed to room 106." The nurse said, still not fully convinced. "If you wish to check your blood pressure and heart rate, feel free to coordinate with the nurses at the other counter." "N-no thank you, I'm fine." I quickly muttered, then just walked away. I stepped into the elevator and ascended to the hospital room level. I went out as soon as the door slid open, and the corridor appeared to be empty. My heart was racing as I walked into the room at a quick
"So, we finally met, Allura."The man told in front of me, and I had to step back as he stepped toward me. I kept the sharp vase pointing at him just in case. "Who the hell are you? Answer me!""I believe that knowing my name is unnecessary." Lazarus yawned.Then, he took a step closer to me as he grabbed my wrist, but I quickly averted it away and kicked his stomach, then hits the vase to his hand.Lazarus groaned from the cut on his arm, making him irritated. "Never knew this weak woman bitch could fight."My\chest flared at his words, prompting me to sprint over to him and grab his arm, twisting it behind his back before kicking his stomach violently with my knees. I grab the back of his head as I slam his forehead into the wall, a crack forming on the wall, "Whoever the fuck are you, I know you're bad news.""Damn you! Fuck!" He groaned in anguish as he gripped his wounded forehead, and he dashed up to me, grabbing my shoulder and pushing me against the wall, but I seized him as w
"Bring her in the trunk."Lazarus commanded the three men as soon as he heard the news.Asahi grabbed Allura's arm as he carried her unconscious body. The others opened the door as they inspected the hospital hallway, seeing no one is around."Tell the men to block the CCTVs lurking around." Lazarus told."Go," he added as a signal, then Cedric, Haru, and Asahi, who was carrying, were the first to proceed in the hallway, going straight to the hospital's basement.After at least some minutes that felt like an hour, the men finally arrived in the parking lot basement, where their black van is parked."Bring her inside, make sure no trails are left behind." Lazarus told, then they went inside the vehicle.Cedric, who was driving, instantly revved up the vehicle. Lazarus is in the front seat, followed by Haru and Asahi in the van's backseat, where they tied Allura's body and put tape over her lips."Where will bring this Allura?" Cedric asked in a slightly irritated tone. "What will we do
Zacharias didn't waste any time running out of the building to get to his vehicle.Instead, Zacharias chose his motor over his car since it has greater speed and resistance on the slippery road. The weather and ambiance are ideal, with raindrops steadily trickling. Zacharias then rides his matte black motorbike which he usually uses for situations like this."S-someone!" Meanwhile, I'm still going around the forest, struggling to keep my breath as my body feels shaky, and the drugs I was forced to take a while ago still have effects on my body.I got the walkie-talkie with me, and I've been hitting the various buttons repeatedly in an attempt to reach the other line. My fingers slid clumsily over the buttons, wishing that someone would answer."P-please... someone answer..." I thought, maybe no one would answer the walkie-talkie, no one probably remembers me, maybe even Regio.I felt worn out, nauseous, fatigued, cold, and exhausted while trying to find my way out of the forest, and
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