When Oneil finally got discharged from the hospital, the house that suddenly got strange though the same has welcomed him with all the warmth he seemed to miss for a long time. Jacques even met him at the door. His face is filled with surprise and relief.
Oneil nodded at him as a greeting. This young man has been antagonizing Oneil in all of his pursuits within his career. But Oneil never took him seriously. He’s just a kid who’s bound to learn more.
“How are you while I’m not around?” Oneil asked that surprised his cousin.
“Not that great,” Jacques was careful in his answer. Is he talking about the incident in Forestier Village? But these familiar words and the way Oneil would show a knowing smirk after that question brings Jacques to compare it with Oneil’s past attitude.
Oneil also got amused at Jacques’ response. Just like how he always do whether Jacques answered with fury, sarcasm or silence.
“You have grown up. That’s good. You’re not s
Everything is relatively peaceful. And such state is more dangerous than the knowledge of an impending doom. Gwyneth doesn’t know what’s her reaction to make. It’s hard to take Oneil’s recovered yet selective memories as worth to celebrate for. He has just returned to the frightening and cold version of himself. The very character that Gwyneth always tried to get along although he would scold her from time to time. But Gwyneth pities her cousin. He doesn’t know Essi has been the best part of his life. She is his new but better reason to be more efficient in work. Admittedly, Gwyneth knows that sadness has won over her dislike on the old version of her cousin.Gwyneth stares at the gift that Oneil placed in her desk. She could only laugh at herself because it was her spoiled attitude that prompted Oneil to always give her gifts after his work. She has gotten used to no more receiving it that it felt strange.She went towards his office. One
Oneil has a little prejudice on the person that they have to meet. If it is not for his cousin, he wouldn’t be agreeing for a meet up. Jacques modified his schedule and intended it to be in line with the dinner in the house of the Doltos. Oneil has to cancel his prior appointment since the new one reminds him to commit in business.“Where is that person we’re going to meet?” Oneil has already set himself to be impatient. His priced watch, the only article in himself that would make everyone around understand what kind of economic status he has, tells him that there is only a minute left before the sharp time meant for the dinner.“Hello, Oneil.”The greeting itself made Oneil to secretly smirk. Doesn’t this person know how formal and solemn this meeting should be? Her voice is not even familiar to Oneil. What makes her to deal with him casually? He lift his head to meet a woman with the glimmer of her eyes. Oneil nodded
Jacques has a history of pulling pranks on people. If shock didn’t flee from her, Essi might not be able to realize about such an irrefutable reality. What if Jacques just stirred the dinner scene by his mischief? In any case, why would Oneil collude with him? Not unless it’s Oneil’s idea too to get things disturbed. Victor once mentioned that Oneil was probably displeased about them being together. He might have intended their meet to pour those feelings. Unfortunately, Essi got irritated on him as well. She should have been more understanding especially when she sensed some flares of anger coming from Oneil. Essi convinced herself that if she can have a heart-to-heart talk with Oneil right away, this problem will be cleared out.She tried calling on him. Thankfully, he answered.“Oneil, can I have some time to talk to you?” Essi asked gently. “I’m sorry for what I did last night. I was just irritated. Can I make it up to you?
It is always in the dark busy highways that Essi could meet her saddest moments. But she didn't care about this traffic towards St. Tropez. Her schedule was supposed to guide her thinking. She must be attuned on participating to the culmination of the econ-conference. But she has been trained under pressure and can still think quick amid emotional turmoil only if she is already within that situation. The culmination is still far. Her car is quiet. The music didn't help but only remind her of Oneil. Is the future where there is no home? Everything around leads her to the memories of him. There's the mascot still giving out fliers along the streets. Oneil cannot choose her now not because he cannot remember, but because it is hard for Oneil to believe in her. Upon closing her eyes, she let the silence fight her misery. When she arrived in St. Tropez, she dealt with the guests and corporate personalities as if she's not having any thorns in her flesh. The success she had in the
Oneil couldn’t believe that Essi would just dive to the waters for a mere ring that she declared to be thrown away. What has gotten into her? She successfully drew him to follow her. From the dock, where Essi has actually managed to run and dive from it's nearer side, he joined the waters too. Fortunately, the luminescence of the moon penetrates through the water and makes the white clothes of the woman distinct in his sight. He swam throughout and took her hand. But she was trying to get away from him to go down. “Essi, it’s dangerous!” Oneil told her when they got both of their heads above the water. “And no way can we still find that ring now.” He kept holding Essi closer to him just to stop her. But Essi pushed him to escape from his hold. “Did I tell you to find it for me? I’m searching it on my own,” she replied while walking back to the farther part of the seafloor. She’s hoping that the ring would wink with brightness at her. The moon is helping her. But the
Oneil has been swamped with the need to check the details of the foundation. He is near to accurate. But the lack of information on how the Mercator Group started hinders him from his goal. It would be a shame to ask Grant when Oneil is the one tasked to supervise the entire program. When he decides to take a break, someone is looking for him. It seems like he couldn’t get busier today. His mind is already filled with thoughts about what he has done back then. He’s a perfectionist. That same reason should at least make him relieved that he didn’t do anything wrong. But now, he’s doing otherwise. It’s because of Essi. He must have messed up big-time to get tangled with her. He doesn’t have enough confidence in himself anymore to believe that he didn’t fail at some point. It’s because of Essi that he finds himself strange these days. He’s been trying to find himself and that is the least of all the things that the Oneil Mercator would like to do. He discovered many thing
There is something suspicious about where Oneil spent some of his money. Why did he purchase another house when he already has one for himself? All the documents are revealing his ownership of this property. He decided to visit the place only to meet the familiar silhouette of the woman he wanted to ask about the M&A. He was waiting for the right time to ask Essi because of the considerations hindering him. He cannot get impulsive on preventing the M&A without enough knowledge about it. “How did you get in here?” Oneil asked while trying to be calm. Every footstep he made towards her was loud enough to fill the hall. Essi didn’t startle. She turned around with a subtle sigh. She showed up the keys that helped her to enter. “You gave this to me so that I may come around.” “Now I see. I must have bought this for you,” he said coldly. His fingers were touching the tables smoothly. A speck of dust ended up in his finger. “Are you starting to get r
Another day has come in the house of the Mercators. As if the confrontation didn't happen, Grant keeps on inquiring about the progress of the anniversary preparation. Where there are discussions about the business, the others resorted to not meddling and let themselves only listen to the conversation. This is always how their breakfast goes anyway. They eat about the business plans and drink the market strategies. "All the target programs are going smoothly on their progress. But in terms of the foundational aspect, challenges are meeting our way." "And what you should do about that?" Grant asked a warning that Oneil should not ask for help from him. "We will solve it right away, Sir." How else should Oneil respond? He can't make war with the old man. Grant has been clear in his instructions that he would not stop Oneil on how he would handle the anniversary and he would not care about the outcome except to see it successful. It is also a sensible thing
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?”