Even at the business of the night, Essi still had protected Oneil. How can he not look at her after what she had done? He cannot even tell the reason for admiring her at this moment.
“Do you have something to say?” Essi asked while looking around. She was waving at those greeting her.
“Nothing,” because where can he begin? “Are they your friends?” he asked.
“I don’t know. Just keeping polite. Maybe they know me.”
“It seems like everybody likes you and they want to meet you.”
Essi shrugged. “It’s impossible. Everyone has a critic.”
“You’re right,” Oneil uttered, still negotiating i
The schedule of Gwyneth’s flight is already set. Oneil’s house is unlike any other day. It is messy for business. Housekeepers are walking back and forth, preparing meals and sharing the hectic day that their boss also has. They are also excited as Oneil for receiving a special guest. “Wow, you prepared all of this?” Essi commented while looking around, finally realizing that the rest house is owned by Oneil. The French interior didn’t fail to match the modern touch. The table before them offers many platters of savory delicacies and recipes. “This is for Gwyneth, right?” “Nah, he’s trying to make an impression on you,” Gwyneth inserted while rolling her sleeves in front of a dim glass wall. She made a lot of pictures posing with her reflection then sighed. “I can’t believe that I have to wear simple clothes. The sense of fashion has gone away from me.” “You still look good, though. Just pair it with a yellow vest, it will make a difference,” Essi suggested.
The defective red light of the boulevard blares intensively. It didn’t matter as vehicles are taking the intersection at their own discretion. Victor’s car is remaining on the side of the lane, waiting for the trailer truck to finish crossing. Traffic congestion has become a convenience for Essi to look back at how things have gone into trouble. But the splatters of raindrops against the window and the persistent glint of the red light hint to her that there is no other way to find out what happened but to visit the world that her youth has forgotten about. She made sure that Victor was not looking at her. Yet her secretary knew what she was planning and advised her to not look at the comments. Essi nodded before skimming the post. The post declares that Essi took Oneil away and it ruined Marika. This kind of malicious content is nothing new to Essi. However, it is amplified by the promises of technology and the intrigue of the people. Marika had revised so many stories and
Events are all fast-paced that Gwyneth cannot grasp it to the summarizing effort of her conscious. She arrived at the airport of Bordeaux with a bunch of men, all to weird for her to even recognize. They told her that the Mercators purposed them to fetch Gwyneth. The young lady cannot protest because her family immediately contacted her with a plea that she must tell nothing but the truth. She watched the road that they are taking and found out it heading towards the mansion of Oneil’s family. She cannot even joke around because everyone of them are in their gloomy faces. Right after they let her sit, they bombarded her with many questions. At first, it is about the possibility that Oneil indeed cheated. But later on, it is about what Essi might have done to the point of haunting Oneil’s past lover to secure her relationship with their son. “This is not impossible given that Oneil followed Essi to the Philippines. He probably did that to stop her from antagonizing Oneil’s pa
Essi has always been good at this, to make you feel guilty even without doing anything. But none of these events were products of her manipulation, neither did she apply any tactics at all. She did nothing but forget to take care of herself. She did nothing but fear the night sleep because of the dread of what must be done on the next day. The news about her roadside injury is but an additional devastation, an optimum riff off of the two families’ talking game. If it were not for Gwyneth who sought her to ask forgiveness, they wouldn’t find out what happened to her. She is confined in a hospital. Curtains are her partition from the people discussing among themselves how they must deal with the issue about Oneil. Essi chose to keep her eyes shut while imagining that the words of their conversation are but low background symphonies of the orchestra in her mind. At first, her heart was beating along with the sweet imagined music. But its violent rhythm took over at the
Essi woke up at the crisps and careful scratching of stickers from hardcovers. The noise came from Victor who silently spends his time clearing the hardcovers of each book on the coffee table. She knew even the slightest sound since it is her same habit to keep the books clean after a distracting price sticker was attached to it. She didn’t call him. Essi’s eyes are on Victor’s company, the men in suits whose likes were probably tailing her grandfather somewhere not far.“Are you hungry? What can I get you?” Victor asked after having the sense that a pair of eyes is watching him.“Why are they here?” Essi replied with another question. She didn’t dislike them. She just knew that they were probably here to implement her grandfather’s prohibition --as if she would disobey him.“Mr. Arlelle wanted to make sure that you are safe. That is why they are assigned here,” Victor said while stacking the book
The Mercators have returned to visit Essi. Anyone concerned, and passersby who have other purposes in the hospital can comprehend that most of these non-immediate Mercators will just stir another incessant blame game and ignorance to solutions at hand. Victor has thought it well to impose his autonomy for the sake of the patient in room 802. “Mr. Arlelle has instructed me to only allow two persons to visit Essi in a day,” he said while standing between his men. Due to his notice, the other Mercators have to set themselves aside. They needed to let Oneil’s parents face Essi by themselves. They pleaded to hear some thoughts but the men reminded them to keep things negotiated inside and remain undistributed to other people. The men immediately closed the door as they entered. Madame Latifa steps forward while pressing her fingers on her purse. Her eyes are on Essi who didn’t notice her yet. She made another step that caught Essi’s attention. Essi
It was not by the engagement plan. It has nothing to do with external influences. It was right from Oneil, from his own desire to tell it to her. It was due to his fear of losing her. And by that, they do not need to worry anymore about what will happen before the long set date comes or defer. They can do it on their own: as they liked and as they wanted. Their families had arranged a long time interval for the two to know and adjust with each other. But it was Oneil now, who decided to do it. And Essi cannot answer. She is in disbelief. She is perplexed by the knowledge that sanctions are still around them. The Mercators are still in their unforgiving stage. The Paulssons have a different look at Oneil, more on grimacing at him as a weak man. Essi remained without words when he said it. “I can wait on your decision. Take this as my own proposal, not drafted by our parents. This is my own desire to be with you.” Essi does not know what to do. She’s afraid tha
There are many ways that people can say they are okay. Essi has recovered her health. But she still doesn’t feel good. She will have the need to face herself to the Paulssons and she does not have the right to plead to her family to excuse her. Essi intended to focus herself on the tablet with the aim of keeping up with her business. Her mind is already gearing back to the systems of her company and how she can help PHYGIN while Oneil is away. “Essi, you should take a rest first. You just got discharged. Don’t get yourself too busy.” “I can’t,” Essi replied while her eyes were fixed on the large screens to skim many emails and appointments. “Your father has dealt with them. He explained that it will be a private matter that we will not discuss with them.” Essi stopped from her work and glanced at her mother. Is she telling the truth? Essi had it hard to believe because the Paulssons are known to be passionate about knowing the business of their
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?”