Chapter 1

Chapter 1: Encounter

"Ma'am, our sales have increased seventy percent this year. Congratulations!"

I looked at them and smiled. "Let's congratulate ourselves because I'm not the only one who should be celebrating. Because of all of you, this business won't be consistent."

"Does it mean, based on what you said ....." They looked at each other so I just shook my head while still smiling.

"Okay, I'll treat you all this time. Where do you want to go?" I asked and they all screamed because of that.

I've been running our family business since I graduated with a degree of Civil Engineering. I focused on our family business because it has collapsed so much since all the clients pulled out their investments. All that has happened since the one who manipulated them was the famous ex-senator De Guzman. But so far, nothing has been an obstacle for us when he became imprisoned. He urged himself to be killed and he left this world completely. Happily married on the other hand is my best friend, Kira. She married my brother. Fate is really playing with us. My brother who doesn't pay attention to women and has a bad temper will fall in love with my best friend? It's hard to believe but that has already happened.

Like I said, I'm going to treat my employees to the restaurant they want to eat at. But it turns out that they want to hang out in a bar.

"Ma'am! Let's dance!" my secretary, Aileen, shouted and I laughed.

"Go ahead. I won't restrict you anymore. But y’all should think that there are still limits. Don't get wasted because you still have jobs in the next few days." I said they shouted.

That scream was accompanied by the loud music of the sound system here in the bar. I see a lot of other people here are now drunk, still dancing, and just enjoying themselves. Good for them, I think they deserve to have fun despite the amount of problems they have been experiencing so far. As for me, I don't have a problem anymore. Before, I was being so anxious and I was really in too much pain when we lost Kira. We’ve done so badly that pushed her to go abroad. When I was in college, I could hardly focus on my studies because of worrying about her. But still, I managed to graduate in my course and it went well. So far, I am content with the things I have. Family, work, business, money ... Maybe I don't have anything to look forward to.

"Ma'am!"

I looked at Limuel. We were actually shouting in conversation because of the loud music.

"When do you plan to get married? You're already twenty-nine!"

I looked at him blankly when he said that. How many times has anyone asked me that? They are always interested in when I will have a boyfriend and worst, get married. Kira has been asking me too on when I'm going to plan to marry someone. I think she was just teasing me because she went ahead of me to get married.

"I don't need a husband anymore, Limuel. I'm very content right now with what I have."

"What?!" he shouted and he didn't seem to hear what I said.

I think they are all like that when I say that. Even though we weren’t in a noisy place, they seemed to be deaf to me saying that I didn’t have to get married anymore.

"Just dance on the dance floor!" I shouted and I saw him laugh. See?

I was the only one left at our table. I went near the counter first to see the bartender there. I was amazed at how dedicated the man was to mixing drinks.

"Having a decent job made everyone feel content."

I looked at the man who suddenly stood beside me. I couldn't see his face very well because it was so dark and the lights were still moving. I'm not interested in him either. I just sat across the counter and ordered a drink. I prefer the pink wine that me and Kira were always ordering. I really missed our bonding time. They also have a baby now so she can't enjoy things like this anymore.

"How much is this?" I asked.

"I'll pay for her drink." I immediately turned to the man next to me again. Because of the light coming from here from the mixing of drinks, I could already see his face.

"Why would you pay for my drink? I can afford it." I told him and took out my wallet as well but it seems like my hand holding my wallet stinged when he placed his hand there. What the?

He smirked. "Don't be stingy, Seraphrim Bautista."

I was shocked when he said my full name. He took that opportunity to pay for my drink.

"How did you know my name?" I asked.

"Because I just know." he said and took the pink wine then presented it to me. "Shall we drink?"

I couldn't stand what he said. He's dangerous, I feel like it. So I chose to just leave and go back to our table. I caught up with my employees there who were back from the dance floor.

"Ma'am, where did you go?" Aileen asked me as I sat down.

"Just there, rest room." I said and she nodded.

"Did you know that there’s a handsome famous man here? He seems to be in the Forbest rank as well because he’s rich." We looked at Will when he said that. "It was said that he was a Japanese billionaire and then he actually came here to greet his friend."

"What does he look like? Is he really handsome?" Kath asked so Will pulled out his phone. He typed something then presented his phone with a flashed picture on it.

I was surprised to see the photo of the man I had talked to earlier.

His name was Rye Fujisaki, the famous Japanese bachelor and a billionaire in the Philippines.