Why does in every movement in her life, Essi has always been there? Her name sticks on to her decisions like a cursed Kanji paper that invites every little thing that is opposite to prosperity. While Marika silently dislikes Ethan Antares, that doesn't meant that she was not considering her father's plans. She was done at Oneil and has thrown him away from her plans --or at least as how she had persuaded herself. She implanted an assurance that at Oneil's knowledge of how many enemies he has, he might rather come back to her than rely to the timid, feeble, goodish-girl like Essi. Marika had been enjoying some days of her life without thinking of Oneil and Essi. And yet, they came again to her, especially Essi because of the man in front of him who seemed all to blind to recognize that Essi has no beautiful soul. "You like her?" Marika scoffed at Ethan. "You're making your enemies get easily pull you out of the match." "Essi is not my enemy. Maybe dad's. But I like he
She is always a cold lady at the sight of those who don't know her. But before Ethan could even know her name, he had already fallen in love with her. His stares are shooting heart-shaped sparkles while watching her taking steps down the stairs. Her black suit and sparkling loop earrings bring a fierceness of the tigress with her sharp eyes. His friends are already stepping back while she is getting near them. "Are you the next clients of this mansion?" she asked. None of the younger men could respond. Even Ethan was speechless that the beauty he wanted to meet again is standing in front of him. He knows that his friends are already blaring in red because of the shame that they have to stand at the main doors. But Ethan only stayed and prompted his friends to not leave him. Seeing that these people are probably aiming to waste her time, she glanced at her wristwatch and ignored them as she walked past them. But Ethan called her for a minute. "Can I ta
Youth can make someone more persistent than the rest of the world who do not know how it works. Essi should have anticipated that in the following days, she will see a young man, acting like a college junior following his senior. He is standing next to his sports car, carefully practicing how he must interact with Essi. Ethan has been warned about her strict yet graceful class of personality. But he didn't bother worrying if Essi would be displeased at seeing him or not. But he could at least try to do better. Ethan didn't notice Essi standing at the elevator door yet, regretting to head to the parking lot through another exit route instead of proceeding to the ground floor. It's the eighth day that Ethan has been doing this and yet, she didn't learn. But instead of going back to the elevator, Essi proceeded to her car as if she didn't know that Ethan was there for her. But the loud sound of her heels betrayed her silence. By the lack of sounds within the surrounding
A week of being apart from the company is a Persian shah’s strong and risky move of leaving his kingdom despite the fear of its destitution and impending insurgence. But this is modern times. And the advantage of Essi over a Persian shah is the security to delegate authority and secure the company’s operations even at a distance. What else should hold her back from going to Bordeaux? It’s the sanction. But it wouldn’t hurt if she would just try to check if he’s fine, right? “Or maybe as long as he doesn’t know that you are around,” Paco supported. The young man was never on bad terms with Essi after having a sudden light of hope in himself that he can retrieve their ancestral house. He has finally entered it but has no feeling of surprise or disappointment. As if the ancestral house was never a controversy, he leaned comfortably to the window and watched the scene outside. It is funny how Essi decided to take the premium mansion and settle here for a week wit
Brilliance combined with passion always brings out the best in Essi. The SPAC Meeting has but little significance to Essi’s entire plan. Everything that goes around her do not matter. Despite refusing to appreciate her surroundings and express the noticed changes in it, time is still slow. And what but a joke that other men was beguiled by her beauty when she didn't dolled up herself. She took a simple blazer, a spring blouse, and a sleek black pants. One among them courageously invited her for a dinner. “Since this is the culmination of the conference, may I have the honor to invite you then?" Essi accepted the invitation. But she cut the dinner short enough to halt further irrelevant intentions. “I’m sorry. But I really have to go. I enjoyed having dinner with you.” “How about I drive you home?” It is among Essi’s plans to look for an interval. This could be it. But instead of allowing him to directly bring her to Bordeaux, she still told hi
A day with Oneil is a prized possession that is worth all the toil. She has heard these lines so many times but when it keeps coming back, the words have gotten more serious than the last time Essi told her. Geovensia knew that she wasn’t sober enough last night to realize how her best friend did all these efforts starting from a six-hour drive, a lack of sleep, and full energy at the racecourse. Now, she has to help her by giving a massage. “Essi, how much do you take care of yourself in Bayanihan?” “I don’t know, I can’t remember,” Essi uttered. “Maybe barely.” Geovensia heaved for her. “Essi, I really hope that this man deserves you. You have been busy at your work. But you’re busier for him. You even forgot to take care of yourself.” She jumped out from the couch to look for hydrating sheet masks. After preparing, she carefully placed one for herself and then to Essi. Essi smiled at how Geovensia cared for her. “You’re really into beauty a
The touches of Gothic and Renaissance Period have kissed upon the walls of Porte Cailhau. Essi’s itinerary list was supposed to enjoy the known architectural glory with Oneil. But how can she enjoy this place of triumph and defense when all that her mind attunes to worry about was about the wish? Essi is farther away from Oneil. The man is behind her steps, not saying anything. They kept walking around, eyes on the shops, restaurants, and people on their business. For others, this day may be casual. But for the two of them, it is Essi’s second day of staying for Oneil. Hours have already gone past. But Essi seemed to not be enjoying the place around. “Are you tired? Let’s go to a restaurant,” Oneil said to her. “I’m not hungry,” Essi responded and looked up at the decades-old door. Bricks, faces, cone-shaped turret, and all of the wall’s features, Essi is still able to recognize Porte Cailhau’s essence. Victory is something that must be secured. And even at t
There is a painting in Fantasia Galeria de Aquitaine that captures every beholder to wonder why its classical anonymous painter named it The Weeping Lovers. Others theorized that there might have been a wrong transmission of the title. The interception of time accumulated the thoughts of people and inherited to the next generation a new title of the painting. Essi has the same questions. She couldn’t take off her eyes from the artwork. It is a good thing that they heard of this newly opened gallery. There were many hidden art treasuries in Bordeaux that begins to get uncovered. As for the center of their attention now, Essi could barely imagine the other message of the artwork. Not until she halted and realized some objects beneath the painted willow trees. “The painting cannot just be titled as The Weeping Willow. It’s beyond that,” she stated and was sure that Oneil was listening to her. Oneil glanced at her and waited for her reflections. “It is titled Weeping Lov
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?”