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
A sound of the earth being tilled, a farewell of the wilted leaves, and the sprinkling of waters against the sunlight, creating iridescent overlays on the garden Essi is working on. It is another work in silence, where deliberate freedom of her reflections comes away from considering that today is Oneil’s flight with the Mercators. She keeps on sweeping the leaves without noticing the arrival of her guest. She almost shrieked on seeing Paco’s face behind the chicken wire.“Gwyneth’s flight is at 3PM,” he stated after greeting her a good morning. “How about going with me to see her off? In that way, you can see Oneil.”Essi refused. “Oneil’s family will have a separate flight. They will take a private plane while the other Mercators join the commercial flight.”“Wow, how do you know that?”Paco asked while getting inside the lot. He sat next to Essi, already starting to rid the weeds.
He can only look from afar and stay behind while his friend deals with sadness internally. Her professional smile may tell the investors that she is glad and cheerful. But it cannot lie to him. He can only stay to make sure that she has support. No, it doesn’t matter to him if she could notice his simple gesture or not. Essi keeps up her strength amid a friendly meeting with a group of stockholders, the league that she was considering joining while aiming to diversify her personal investment portfolio. Essi could notice Victor staring at him, with a worried face. She never watched him smiling. He may beam at her but that’s a different thing from his usual expressions. His long face has intimidated the kids roaming around the restaurant. One kid has spilled his glass of water next to Victor. Victor wanted to help already standing up with the charging of his leather boots. But the little boy cried, frightened by Victor's military gesture. Mannerism and military training combin
Everyone who knows Essi very well can be confident of the reality that it is impossible for her to just settle in the Bayanihan Town without another purpose. This is not because Oneil seems not too important for her to even take the course with a single goal. The reason is obvious. She is a Paulsson and she is trained by Mr. Arlelle to focus on other possibilities while facing such an ordeal. Unlike her grandfather, she couldn’t handle it perfectly yet. Her purpose to see business and investment prospects in Bayanihan Town was compromised in her pursuit for Oneil. Yet, although Oneil has returned to Bordeaux, she didn’t place it in her mind to think about this plan until the time would say so. However, as her parents returned from roaming around the barangay, her purpose is now reviving in itself, calling for Essi to suspend her sentimental flashbacks with Oneil. But Essi would refuse. Her eyes would rather focus on staring at the festive drone show than to give her consciou
Essi has a crazy idea. Who would believe that she can think of that? She had just thought about it well after noticing how Victor would somehow look after Jillian. He does it better now than the last time that he would just reply in short words. Maybe, this is the fruit of relentless pursuit. Victor would now even consider having dinner with Jillian after work. So when Victor asked Essi if she would like to join them, she politely declined. “You can go ahead, I’m fine here. Bodyguards are everywhere anyway,” Essi assured after telling him that she can wait for her. “My work’s done, Victor. You don’t have to worry about anything here. You two can enjoy your dinner date.” “If you need anything, just call me,” he reminded Essi before leaving. But Essi only giggled after noticing how clumsy and excited Victor was. He excused that he was just hungry as if Essi would buy it. After Victor leaves, her bodyguards in their suits are surrounding her closer than
She’s just a kid and everyone is old enough to allot more patience to her. But sometimes, she is more aggressive. Essi almost ran out of ways and negotiations in herself to remain tolerant. She must not drive out that girl from her house. The best thing that she can do is to excuse herself for work. Paco followed her towards the car, still surprised that Essi’s guards would allow him to talk to Essi. They kept talking inside the car about the young racer.“Isn’t it weird that she is still angry at me for winning the race?” Essi cannot recall any reason for Charlotte to dislike her that much, Charlotte is making ways to annoy her.“Maybe you have done something against her.”“We only met at the racetrack,” Essi defended immediately. But she halted after recalling how Charlotte was hateful about rich people.“She hates you because you have money?” Paco can somehow catch up with the logic beca
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?”