"I'm not Yulia." He has to be smart about this. The woman in front of him was not his friend. He doesn't even know who it was. But he knows he won't be alone. By now, Georgina is working on his location thanks to his earing that she bugged. Binigay 'yon ni Luc sa kaniya noon at kahit naiinis si Vanessa na may suot siyang hikaw, nangatwiran siya na napakaliit naman nito at halos hindi pansinin. "Obviously. Care to tell me who the fuck are you?" Ngumisi ang babae sa sinabi niya. "On second thought, don't bother. I'm going to have to kill you anyway."Napatawa ang babae. "Careful now. You have nothing on you. Besides, is that how you want to repay the woman who saved your wife?"His face remained neutral. Ano naman ang pinagsasabi nito? Saved my wife? Nababaliw na ba ito? Kinidnap niya si Vanessa mula sa banyo tapos gusto niyang magpasalamat pa ako?"Do you not remember me? Not with this face, of course." She rolled her eyes."If you're wearing a fake face, that would mean you wanted t
NEW YORKVANESSA GORDANA DE LUNA'S MOTHER IS FUCKING DEAD. He just got off the phone with his half brother, Cam. Ito ang nagsabi sa kaniya na inakusahan ang kanilang ama na pumatay kay Valya— ang ina ni Vanessa. And now he's in jail for murder. Kakaunting panahon pa lang niyang nakakasama ang ama, pero hindi niya inasahan na ganito ang kahihinatnan ng buhay nila. Everything is a fucking mess."My apologies but I have to cut the meeting short," anuns'yo niya nang makabalik sa boardroom mula sa hallway. "I have a family emergency. Lorenzo will continue with the meeting." Tinapik niya sa balikat ang bunsong kapatid ni Lucian at tinungo ang pinto.When he left his position, sinalo ito ni Lorenzo. It's not like they have a choice, being born as a Profaci has responsibilities attached to it. He was waiting for the elevator when his phone rang. It's P from Italy."Kuya Kons, do you know if Lorenzo's busy? He's not picking up his phone." Itinuring niyang mga kapatid si Pietra at Lorenzo. He
Kons didn't want to talk to the woman either at bigo siyang bumalik sa upuan niya. Sa mga ganitong pagkakataon-- mas mabuting magkakampi sila and they can go on their separate ways after pero talagang galit ito sa kaniya. Sino nga namang babae ang matutuwa kung hindi sumipot sa altar ang groom niya? Kung natuloy ang kasal nila, may anak na kaya sila ngayon? There's no use thinking about it, pero may mga araw na sumasagi sa isip niya 'yon. Vanessa grew up in Russia at schoolmates sila. Likas na matalino ang babae kaya kahit mas matanda siya ng isang taon ay naging ka-eskwela niya ito. Hiwalay ang mga magulang ni Vanessa at ang ina nitong si Valya ay ninang ni Kons. Valya is friends with Alexander-- ang tiyuhin ni Kons at siyang nagpalaki sa kaniya, and Stan, who he later on found out is his real father. Matalik na magkakaibigan si Valya, Alex at Stan. Nasira lang ang pagkakaibigan ng tatlo nang may makilalang ibang babae si Stan habang engaged kay Katerina na kapatid ni Alex. Sa kabil
Winter is dreadful with those dead trees and some pine trees coated in snow. The bitter cold wind was enough to freeze anyone but people still came to pay their last respects. He could be wrong because their reasons could be something else too. Regardless, they showed up.Kons went to the funeral despite the murder case against his father. He had nothing to do with it. Kaya siya nagpunta ay para magbigay ng respeto para sa ninang niya sa huling sandali, at para na rin makiramdam kung sino ang posibleng may gawa ng krimen. It could be anyone. Ayaw man niyang aminin, nagpunta rin siya para bantayan si Vanessa. He doesn't like what he's seeing right now, pero wala siyang karapatan magcomplain. She can date anyone just like he did. Kons dated Taisiya for a bit but it didn't work out.Tahimik na lumuluha si Vanessa habang hinahagod ni Damien ang likod niya. Damien Quijano is one of the biggest movie producers in the Philippine film industry. He has Russian features too, pero lamang ang pa
Naiwan silang dalawa ni Vanessa sa study at umalis na ang abogado. They have three days to decide. Kung ano'ng gusto ni Vanessa ay 'yon ang gagawin niya. She's angry. Ramdam niya ang galit nito. Kanina lang sa libing ng ina ay umiiyak ito pero ngayon, Vanessa looked like she's about to explode. "Let me know what you want to do and I'll support you." She scoffed. "Funny how you could say that. We won't be in this stupid room having this conversation if you—" Hindi itinuloy ni Vanessa ang sasabihin. But Kons knew what she was going to say. If he showed up to their wedding day, walang magiging ganitong kondis'yon si Valya. "I just don't understand why we need to get married," frustrated nitong wika. Hindi alam ni Kons kung siya ang kinakausap nito o hindi. Maybe he is just voicing out her frustrations."If she's here, I'd ask her," wala sa loob na sambit ni Kons. Sinamaan ni Vanessa ng tingin si Kons. He was out of line and Kons knew it. Gusto lang naman niyang pagaanin ang lahat ng
Hindi kaagad nakapagsalita si Kons sa pagkabigla. He is pretty sure he heard her right. Pero suot pa rin ni Vanessa ang singsing na bigay ni Damien— how ironic is that? Balak ba niyang mamangka sa dalawang ilog? Kons doesn't share. "What did you have in mind?" It was safe to ask then make a comment that would make him look like a fool. At this rate, time is precious and he doesn't have time for games."I was thinking we can get married before the time is up. I am not in a rush to get my inheritance. We are just going to make sure that it doesn't go to charity." Kumunot ang noo ni Kons. "I am still donating— but I am not giving everything. My mother worked hard for it, and she told me it's all for me.""Point taken. Until then, what?" "I was thinking we'll just stay as is until then." Vanessa sipped his wine and looked into his eyes. Hindi niya mabasa ang gusto nitong laro. "So let me get this straight. You're agreeing to marry me but the wedding won't take place until before the ye
Kons woke up when he heard the announcement. Malapit na silang maglanding. Bukod doon ay ngalay na rin ang braso niya. Nakatulog sa pagod si Vanessa at nakaramdam siya ng awa rito nang makitang kung saan-saan napapabaling ang ulo. Nagkaroon si Kons ng pagkakataon na mapagmasdan ng malapit si Vanessa. How he was able to stay away from her all these years was unknown to him. Hirap na hirap siya nang una pero kalaunan ay nasanay din siya. At ngayong magkasama na sila, hindi niya hahayaan na magkahiwalay pa sila. Of course they still have to do ‘the talk’. But that’s the least of their worries right now. “Babe, wake up,” bulong niya kay Vanessa. Umungol lang ito at nanatiling nakapikit. Her lips looked inviting. Hindi niya napigil ang sarili at pinatakan ito ng halik sa labi. Whether she was dreaming or not, Kons felt happy that she responded. Pinalalim niya ang halik hanggang sa pisilin niya ang isang dibdib nito. His hand managed to undo the buttons of her dress at habang pinagsasaw
"Get your stuff and we'll come back for the rest of it tomorrow," wika niya kay Vanessa.She wasn't finish picking up the papers. Napakaraming papel ang nagkalat. Sana lang ay walang nakuhang importanteng dokumento ang mga nanloob. Ang driver na sumundo sa kanila ay katatawag lang at sinabing aakyat na para dalhin ang bagahe nang pigilan niya. He used the washroom earlier kaya hindi kaagad ito nakasunod. He's now waiting for them at the parking lot."Ha?" Tumigil si Vanessa sa ginagawa at hinarap siya."We can't stay here tonight and I need to keep you safe." Napailing si Vanessa. "Can we please not argue about this? You need to put this place up for sale too. Who's your realtor?" Napahilot si Vanessa sa sentido. "Teka nga. Bakit napunta na sa bentahan? I can't just sell this place.""Why? Sentimental reasons na naman?" He didn't mean to sound like an arrogant asshole pero ganito na siya kahit noon pa. He is not afraid to hurt her feelings kung totoo naman ang sinasabi niya. "Did Dam