CHAPTER 1

DECLAN’S POV

"Kapag hindi mo sinunod ang last will ng Lolo mo, then you know the consequences. All the properties will be transferred to your cousin Hideo Laxamana, which includes Secret Cliente Resort. Even the position as COO of Laxamana Estates." Napahinto ako sa sinabi ni Attorney Hidalgo.

He doesn't need to say it twice. I heard him the first time. Pero itong si Attorney ata ang hindi nakakaintindi

"Secret Cliente is mine." Ulit ko.

"These papers are saying otherwise." Itinaas niya ang last will.

"Hell with that!" Gusto kong punitin ang mga papeles na binasa niya sa harap namin.

"Declan, calm down." Pumagitna si Crem, pinsan ko. "It's Grandpa's last will. Wala tayong magagawa."

Damn it, old man! You know exactly how I feel about marriages, and now you're rubbing it into my face?

"Secret Cliente Resort is mine. I don't have to prove it. It's mine. But if the old man wants me too, then fine. Marriage or whatever it is, I'll do it. Enjoy watching from hell, Grandpa." Ang mga huling katagang sinabi ko sa harapan ng abogado bago ako umalis sa loob ng opisina ni Don Carlos Laxamana.

I didn't even bother to wait for Crem. Mas malaki ang problema ko kaysa sa kanya. He's got everything figured out, while I have to fucking squeeze my last brain cells to come up with a plan.

I can't believe Grandpa did this. Wala akong pakialam sa ibang mga ari-arian niya, even a position in his company. I have the means to survive on my own dahil may mga sarili din naman akong properties. Hell, I care if Hideo gets his hands on his assets. He is legally adopted kaya normal lang na may parte siya, inalagaan niya si Lolo habang kami ni Crem ang humalili sa mga responsibilidad niya sa trabaho. But I will not hand him Secret Cliente! It's mine. I made it as it is. Ako ang nagpaunlad dito. Grandpa gave it to me when I was fifteen. Oo siguro nga it was verbally given to me, but everyone in the family has acknowledged that it belongs to me.

"Himala, you remembered to visit your old friend."

"I'm not in the mood, Leonel." Umupo ako sa sofa lounge for VIP.

Agad siyang sumenyas sa mga tauhan niya. He knows exactly what drinks I order everytime na pumupunta ako dito.

"Declan!" A blond woman wearing a sexy skirt and top joined me. She sat on my lap and snaked her hands around my neck. "What took you so long to visit?" She's a patron who frequently service me every time I go here.

"Miss me, Princess?"

"Yes," She grinds her hips on my lap and pressed her mounds on my chest. "And I missed this too. Do you want me to give you a head?" Mapang-akit niyang bulong at ngumiti habang unti unting bumababa ang kamay niya sa umbok ng pantalon ko.

"Easy." I warned and stopped her hand from moving.

I didn't come here for that. Not yet. Gusto ko lang uminom at magpalipas ng init ng ulo. Leo signaled her to leave. He does that kapag alam niyang hindi para magliwaliw ang pinunta ko dito.

"Then you know where to find me if you want to have fun." Kumindat siya at tumayo. I smacked her huge ass and squeeze it. "Declan!" She giggled before she ran off somewhere.

Leo owns this s*x club. There are already a lot of people screwing around. Dinig na dinig na nga ang ungol sa kabilang lounge kahit malakas ang music. Dancers at the stage pleasuring each other, men and women looking for someone to hook up. The club is doing great as usual.

"You seem to be in a bad mood. Hindi ka naman siguro gagawa ng gulo dito pagnalasing, di ba? Pero tamang tama ang punta mo. I have good items today." He winked.

I glared at him.

Leo is a friend that I've known for years. Dati rin kaming magkasosyo sa club na to but we parted ways. Isa sa hindi namin mapagkasunduan ay ang mga gimik na naiisip niya for this club.

S*x, alcohol, and women. Three of the things that I like. But that's it. I'm not into illegal substance and anything a like. So when Leo wanted to turn this into a haven of s*x and dr*gs, I'm out.

Tapos isama mo pa itong bagong pakulo niya na human auction that has been happening for 7 months now. What the hell is wrong with this dude? I won't be surprised if one day he'll end up behind the bars.

"I'm leaving." Sa bahay nalang ako iinom.

"Come on! Kakarating mo lang." The drinks he ordered already came. Kinuha niya ang bote at nagbuhos ng rum sa baso. "May mga magagandang babae na pagpipilian." Bulong niya na parang demonyong nanunukso.

"I'm not interested."

"Fine! Tatlo lang naman ang isusubasta e. Tapusin lang natin, then let's listen to whatever your problem is. Okay?" Sumenyas siya sa mga tao sa stage. The music and lighting automatically changed.

I didn't care. I started drinking without even watching. The last time that I saw this, mga babae din ang sinusubasta nila. Mga babaeng ang karamihan sa kanila binenta ng mga magulang para sa pera. Karamihan sa mga parokyano dito ay mayayamang politiko o kaya'y mga anak nila.

The club has strict regulations for 'what you see what you heard leave it here' if you want to continue being a patron. Kaya safe haven ito sa mga gustong magpakahayok sa laman at gawin lahat ng bisyo sa buhay. I poured myself another drink dahil abala sa panonood itong si Leonel.

"And the last one," Narinig kong sabi nung maghohost sa stage.

"Let go of me!" Sigaw ng babae.

Bahagya akong napatingin sa direksyon nito dahil parang pamilyar ang boses niya, pero hindi ko makita dahil nakaharang ang host.

"Ooooh, feisty!" He laughed and it seems he’s forcing her to the center of the stage. "Okay, simulan na natin! Let's see, hmmm, maganda at makinis. Siguradong masarap to." Tumawa siya. "Let's start with 1 million pesos."

"1.5!"

"2!"

"5million!"

Agad na nagkagulo ang mga kalalakihan at kulang nalang ay sumugod sa may stage para mahipuan ang hita ng babaeng sinusubasta na nakasuot ng maiksing bestida.

"Bastos!" Sigaw nito.

That voice. Pamilyar talaga.

My eyes narrowed at her when the host is no longer blocking the way.

"50 million!" Sigaw ko dahil medyo malayo ako sa stage.

Naibuga ni Leo ang alak na iniinom.

"55 million." May kumontra sa ibinigay kong bid.

"70 million." Sunod kong pusta.

"100 million." Challenge another.

Napatingin ako sa VIP lounge na nagsabi nun. I think that's a senator over there.

"200 million." I declared.

"Seryoso ka, Declan?" Gulat na gulat si Leo sa perang dineklara ko.

I don't get why he's acting like it's surprising. I have that much. Isa pa, 50-50 sila ng makukuha ng kung sino man ang nagdala sa babaeng yan dito, so what's the problem? That's easy money for him.

No one challenged me after that.

"Bring that woman to the VIP room." Utos ko kay Leo.

"Teka, are you alright? You look awful than earlier." Ani niya. "Lasing ka na ba?" He asked and looked at the bottle of rum na nakalahati ko na.

"Just bring her to the VIP room I'm using." Singhal ko at sinamaan siya ng tingin.

Siguro dahil sa takot ay mabilis pa sa alas kwatro niyang sinunod ang sinabi ko.

After a few more shots, I followed them. Bago ko marating ang VIP room ay may nadaanan akong dalawang lalaki and they are loudly talking about something, they even mentioned a familiar name.

"She's all yours." Ani ni Leo na nasa labas ng silid.

Napatingin akong muli doon sa mga lalaki.

"Sila nga pala ang nagdala sa babaeng yan dito. Bilisan mo nga pala para magkabayaran na." He reminded me.

Pumasok ako sa loob and found a blindfolded woman on the floor, her hands are handcuffed. 

Naalarma siya sa pagbukas ng pinto. "P-Please untie me!" She cried begging.

My jaw tightened seeing her up close. It really is her. After all these years, her features stays the same. Ang tanging nagbago lang ay ang taas niya, at ang umbok sa bandang dibdib.

"Is any one there? Please, pakawalan mo ko! This is all a misunderstanding, Sir. Bawiin nyo nalang po yung pera ninyo. Pinilit lang nila akong pumunta dito. This is kidnapping!" Paliwanag niya at hindi alam kung san titingin.

Kidnapping? Yeah, it's weird that the daughter of the prominent Mr. Lorenzana is here. Bigla nalang nawala ang pamilya nila in the elite world ten years ago and no one could tell where the hell they went.

But it doesn't matter. Ang importante ay nakita kitang muli.

'You little devil.'

I pulled the ribbon at the back of her head and the blind fold slide down her neck. Kumurap kurap siya ng ilang beses, adjusting her eyes to the new environment. She lifted her head and look at me, her eyes went round from shock and horror when she recognize who is in front of her right now. She stiffened and her lips fall open.

"It's been a while, Senpai." I smirked seeing the frightened look on her face.