Oneil has finally met the man that is always at the mercy of Estella Ingrid Paulsson. Just as Jillian tipped him, Victor has that long face that could intimidate others. His posture leads others to think that he must be Essi's bodyguard. He was wearing his cold expression. But when he heard Essi calling him, he smiled and immediately walked towards her.
"Did I make you wait for too long?" Essi asked.
"Just so-so," Victor replied while volunteering himself to help Essi with her bag and coat. Jillian nudged him that he should not do it since Oneil is around.
Oneil waited for Victor to give over Essi's stuff to him. But Victor insisted on holding it. He is in a pose to affirm his authority yet, Victor just passed by him.
"I don't think he would like that," Victor replied while covering Essi with his arm. It is a clear sign that Oneil shall not reign tonight for Essi's attention.
Notwithstanding, Oneil planned of pulling the chair for Essi within the g
Oneil committed himself to the tasks of supervising the progress of the anniversary preparation. All changes on the designs that he expected to be made throughout the week are visible. What he liked the most is the main entrance of the Grand Pavillon Mercator. The decorations are already set to enthrall and amaze the guests even just by passing through the halls of the conference dome. Walking past the halls, the large floor showcases the partner apparel shops that are almost on their completion stage of structuring their exhibition designs.Two weeks had already passed and Oneil couldn't deny expecting that Essi must have returned to help her friend. During these past few days, Oneil has placed his attention on nothing but to get the venue of the anniversary prepared more than ever. It is already on his priority list but his employees could notice how he wanted to accelerate the preparation. In their eyes, it must be because the chairman wanted Oneil to present how far he we
Essi has returned. She must have taken his challenge seriously that Essi went back to Bordeaux the next day. Oneil found this news out from Gwyneth when she was talking to Essi via phone. He didn't react when Gwyneth continued talking with Essi under the pergola where he also stayed for a coffee break. What made him almost fall out from his seat was upon knowing that Essi is not returning alone but will be with the debate team winner. It is Paco and his teammates, a group of learners from the Philippines who are honed to practice law and social research. Since the debate has many private sponsors, the team will enjoy great prizes and even a trip to Europe. They will enjoy Bordeaux for three days before heading to Venice.Gwyneth is excited to meet Paco again. She pleads for Essi to bring her with them even just for the second-day trip. Essi reminded that the team had hired a tour guide but Gwyneth insisted on at least joining them.Oneil intended to sit right next to G
Coincidences are but a hair's width in rarity to happen within the cosmos. With only Geovensia asking if Essi intended to send her staff to be part of Leal Vêtement”, Essi is in a space of no escape to admit it."I was trying to check if he would be annoyed by it," Essi's reason was rather on playing the waters to see if any of her moves would still make Oneil annoyed. But upon receiving the news on how Oneil got strict towards Leal Vêtement, her calculations are right. Whether she did something to Oneil or not, Oneil will still show up with a lot of questions towards her. "I have no choice. Wherever I go, he still reacts like that. I might as well just become more cooperative in these remaining days before the opening of the celebration."Geovensia nodded knowingly while looking at how Essi paints her ideas for the clothes. It is just the two of them inside the exhibition booth. Rain is outside to buy coffee for them. They may seem idle today but it
It is here, the most awaited event that Oneil has worked double-time with his team to prepare. He keeps on smiling with confidence. Along the seat of esteem arises his nervousness. It is not because of fright that he feels this way but rather on excitement. His grandfather has great expectations for the 50th-anniversary celebration of the Mercator Group. Oneil also values the event the most.He looks at his reflection with one of the great armors he has. It is a dark blue velvet suit specially designed by Mansha Amyrgia Santifaller for him. The lapel of his suit is shark fin grey. Wearing clothes as this has always allowed Oneil to live in the hall of the respected and the esteemed.It is typical for people to make way for him when he is around with this armor. But when he wore the same type last night after a meeting, it made one of Gwyneth's friends stunned to see Oneil. The boy seemed to know him well but Gwyneth stopped him from interacting too much with a busy per
The first four days of the celebration have gone really well. While everyone has their amazement on the level of preparation and management for the anniversary, Essi's sight is always on Oneil. Her eyes are observing him lovingly. In the image of him being a stern and authoritative managing director, she sees the traces of a sweet and caring man. Essi is glad to notice little things on Oneil. He is even wearing the duck brooch that should be seen as a cute ornament that delights the inner child. But as it rests on the suit of the managing director, it looks like a fowl in a ready hunt. It is still the same duck brooch and it's only Essi who could notice it."I can't clearly remember if that is the duck brooch he got from us," Geovensia is a master of design but she can deliberately forget the details of jewellery. "Maybe you just got it wrong because it's dark around us. We can't even see him clearly from afar."Essi cannot be fooled even by her night blindness. For wh
Essi had a headache the next day after the restoration. She held her while getting up from the upper bed of the double deck. "Why didn't Geovensia wake me up?" she said and was dismayed in herself too because her phone's alarm has been ringing for many times but she missed it all.Geovensia went out jogging with Rain. This girl must be having a time of her life as well that she shouldn't miss. Geovensia's note adds a postscript that Essi should lock the door before going out.While Essi is not naturally late yet for a Saturday outing, she didn't like it when her own mishaps would disrupt the system of her productive routine. Planning for a breakfast downtown, Essi proceeded out of the house looking casual with her knitted white blazer and black pants. Heels are always her friends even if she doesn't have any office work. It makes her feel good and focused on the task at hand. After breakfast, all of her tasks are ready to be done.But at the sight of Oneil
It is always the rain that has to stop Essi so that she cannot get away from Oneil. Her arms are getting drenched as she stays beneath the gate roof. She already pushed Oneil away. Isn’t it a pain to her esteem if she would return to the stone house because of the rain? Before she could answer that, Oneil already arrived and pulled her to his side. He used his hoodie to cover them and prompted Essi to run with him to the car.Their silence was a like a pause of an impending storm only to warn others that there would be a tumult to come. But this time, Essi and Oneil does not know what would it be. An argument? A range of questions to answer diligently? Or hesitance that had always reigned against them? Oneil answered the last question by giving the other hoodie to Essi.Essi muttered thanks. Her eyes averted Oneil. At least this will help her on enduring the intense silence between them. Ending up in Oneil’s car again a kind of prize that the event could af
Oneil must be in a good mood or maybe he is just a fool enough to not get hurt on the way Essi pushed him. Gwyneth could only look blankly at her cousin. In terms of feelings, Oneil could go to the extremes. He cannot even notice what he is doing.“You’re not tired from work?” Gwyneth asked when Oneil didn’t even reply to her polite evening greeting. He’s smiling a silly one while looking at his phone. He doesn’t even notice that he already placed the coat on Gwyneth’s head while Frederick is just standing next to him.“Sir, your coat,” Frederick called him again.Gwyneth gave it to the butler and followed her cousin. She’s trying to scrutinize this kind of joy rarely to be seen in her cousin’s face. He could never be this happy if it’s just business. Could it be about Essi? Gwyneth stopped her inner questions when Oneil halted in his tracks.“You were saying something?” h
Essi has always believed that meeting people like the Binici Siblings meant a good thing --that be it in business or social partnerships. But what Karina offers to her is quite different. Her words have stronger meaning underneath their simplicity as if Katrina had been always trying to interfere in Essi and Oneil’s lives. “So you people are just engaged. It means there is still a greater possibility for any of you to quit, right?” she asked Essi with a hint of excitement. Her words simply do not respect the relationship between the two. Essi chose to not pay attention to it. But Katrina was bugging her in another way by trying to set Essi up with Wyath for coffee nothings and casual dinner. “I do not have much time. If this meeting does not make any sense, then I won’t go, Miss Binici,” Essi declined. “My brother is willing to marry the girl he likes,” Katrina inserted just to make the phone call go on. “Really? That’s good for him then,” Essi commented but was about to excuse he
When everything got settled, she found herself already bringing the large paper bag filled with the three casings where the jewels in their trinket boxes are placed. Her chauffeur waited for her outside and walked with her down the stairs of the auction house. Her car is also set to conclude her night from the Legalion. But before she took a step, Wyath went to her again. “Essi, since it is rare for us to meet, may I ask for your contact number?” Wyath was implying the personal one. “Okay,” Essi said and gave him her number. “But you should also give yours since my phone automatically sets an unknown number as spam.” When they got done exchanging numbers, Katrina went to Wyath to remind him that they must go home now. “Essi, it was nice to meet you. We’ll go ahead for now,” Katrina bid and dragged her brother to their car. “Will you still proceed to the hotel madame?” her chauffeur asked. “Yes, you can also take your time to enjoy things around,” Essi grinned and reminded him ab
It is the actual bidding night. With the preparation of the lights and the friendly interiors of the Legalion Action House, Essi knows this night shall be friendly to her vision. She takes a simple white dress with puff sleeves and white heels. She takes a silk cloth as her headband. Her appearance for the night is elegance mingled with youth and enthusiasm.“Welcome, Madame Essi,” the guard said upon recognizing her card. “This way please.”Essi followed the red carpet leading them to the Jewel Auction Hall No. 1. It is her first time to join an auction by herself. Oftentimes, she would just accompany a family member when they would like to purchase something from the auction. She continued walking around and not recognizing any familiar faces around the auction hall except Wyath. Wyath quickly noticed her too when he turned around. He approached her with a smile. He even introduced his sister to her.“This is my sister, Katrina. She’s the reason why we’d like to buy some of the Maes
Essi had a simple target in heading to Normandy. The Legalion Auction House announced its 25th jewelry auction. Essi was never attentive towards auctions. But this one sets a great importance in her agenda because it was the jewelry collection made by Maestro Marco. She had two important target items because of the discovery that she arrived upon studying the decoration and details on the jewelry portfolio of her grandmother Priscilla. Two pieces of jewelry are no more in the possession of the Paulsson household. It suddenly became included in the auction series of the Legalion because it is made by Maestro Marco.The first piece was dubbed as Ingrid’s because Essi’s grandfather had especially commissioned the jewel maker to make a bluebird-inspired jewelry as a ready gift for his daughter once she will be brought to the world. And yet the owner, continued sleeping.The second piece was a fancy yellow diamond about 80 carats filled with many more white diamonds on its side, forming l
Victor has to weigh many company concerns. First, for the Amyrgia-Gautarza. Second, to Essi’s Gautarza Company and third, to the Mercator Group. Concerning the first two, he can see the clear directions on how the owners would take their future paths. But for the Mercator Group, he couldn’t see exactly where it even errs or go on correctly.He became an instant breadwinner with a clear source of income because the other Mercators in their humble barn house have to lie low for a while. His great ally on the discussion for the Mercator Group was his father.“Our hope in raising this alarm is to the interim chairman himself,” Paulo said. “If only he could also be cooperative to us.”“I don’t see any reason though that he wouldn’t,” Victor stated. “That is why I talked to him about the deliberation of a new policy concerning the selling and purchase of shares.”“What do you see is the problem about the shares then?”“I see some problems of the old policy. It may allow the shareholders to
Sometimes, amid all trials, one couldn’t help but wonder how others felt for them. It was in Victor especially when he regarded how Mr. Arlelle must have reacted to the fate that chased the Mercators. Yet, hoping to be always in his favor, Victor could only remain in silent and work with perseverance. It must have been a good asset that he was not heard as a Mercator because no one would chase him in the hopes to scoop out a splice of an information that can serve a cup of tea. Victor was on his way back to Arlelle’s office, bringing the reports about the recent confirmations he received on his email. But while he was outside the office, he heard some key people of Amyrgia-Gautarza.“How come that you still keep him sir? Is he not a member of the Mercators? It is quite unsettling.”“How can I not when he is still officially a part of the Amyrgia-Gautarza? And what has he done then that he should be fired out?”“But he is a Mercator.”Victor couldn’t deny that maybe in the business wor
Because of the conversation Lady Imeldine and Latifa had in the dining room, Grant went to them with some mud on his jumper and polo. He was worried that Latifa cried again while no one was watching.A shine light hit his eye when he tried to look at what is on the table. He marched slowly until he could see what is inside the box.“Is this your last jewel that you would sell, Latifa?” he asked because he couldn’t recognize the jewel.It was pretty understandable. Because he was never able to see this ring right from its bidding and until his wife’s death. It was Paulo who kept it because Grant didn’t know about the many things that his wife bought.His daughter-in-law didn’t answer yet but his recognition was also now to the visitor. “Your highness,” Grant said. He bowed even lower because he is ashamed of his situation. Knowing that Lady Imeldine was a shareholder, it would be harder to explain his situation to the royalty.“Please, may you be comfortable in dealing with me for I am
It was surely a grave offense that Louis made only to stain the reputation of the house of the Emirvas. But Lady Imeldine couldn’t even make greater punishment against him by sending him back to their country because he would face more grievous repercussions from the entire royal clan concerning the ring. After all, she has compassion to this lad who was also alike to her, almost impossible to receive the crown. He is but a royal and yet has to live in a manner that could promote his name despite the absence of the crown.So Louis was grounded in the rest house and every inch of his move was under Lady Imeldine’s strict supervision. When he tried to beg to his aunt that maybe he could go with her to talk to Essi, she glared at him.“Isn’t it enough that you made a careless work here?” she snarled. “Louis! You even brought shame to our family in front of the Paulssons.”“I’m sorry,” Louis cried out barely having any sincerity since he said out of annoyance to his aunt’s endless squawk
When the prompt for writing kicks, it is sometimes hard to stop the feeling of typing it all. But when Essi got done, she was unsure on how she should continue her article. Because there was something missing about the details of the maestro. Until she remembered what Marco’s wife said when she asked why is it okay for them to look.“It’s just like our twins are also cheering for him.”Essi’s tears escaped from her eyes. Now she’s doubting if she should tell his story. She tried to call Oneil and glad that he had also picked up.“Why? Are you alright?” Oneil asked because it is still not yet 11PM. It means Essi must be still working for something. “But with all the curiosity that Essi has, she hesitated in asking.“Come on, you can tell me,” almost pleaded because when silence starts to answer, it means a bothersome case.“Did Sir Marco ever tell you that he would like some people to interview him? He’s quite famous as a master jeweler.”“You were inspired to write about him, is it?”