Oneil is living in the feeling that Essi might come around anytime. Such a thrill, feeling chased and getting used to it. At first, it seems like running in circles. But later on, it has become part of his routine, a habit of his heart he cannot deny. He was waiting for her to be in the building. He got up earlier than usual. Arrived at his station at 6 AM. Prepared another cup of coffee in case Essi does not have one.
The building of Gautarza is unusually silent. With about 500 people as their staff, and a fourth of them are on the first day of the seminar series, something inside the building is indeed empty. But Essi is passionate about making her employees updated on skills and knowledge systems. She once mentioned to Oneil that a lecture on work management and the dysfunction of alienation brought her to this motivation. But, perhaps, what makes Essi’s fresh handling methods on the company effective is how she strategically chooses the opportunities around her. Her
From when did it start that Victor is suddenly losing details about Essi? He knew what she was up to and where she was heading. He knew her business and could feel her thoughts through her silence. But suddenly, he does not have any idea why Essi went out with Oneil without telling him the purpose. He should have received updates since he will be left to deal with those who might look for Essi. He cannot withhold information all the time especially if it is Arlelle Paulsson. Essi’s grandfather.Victor keeps on dialing Essi’s number while negotiating with time to be patient with him.“He is here,” Victor almost whispered when the other end finally responded. He gets secured to the assurance that Essi and Oneil are almost near to the building. Victor returns to Essi’s office where Grand Paulsson is waiting for Essi.The Grand Paulsson is in his typical corporate attire, a new hat, and a watch of a sky-rocketing price. He waits in sile
Essi returns to the scene that Mr. Arlelle’s hand is on Oneil’s shoulder. A sign of blessing and acceptance. But the old man leaves the words of challenge to Oneil.Essi’s grandfather has always been like that. His words may seem to be counterproductive. Yet, from it, Essi found stronger motivations.It is a call of duty, an intense heat of challenge for Oneil whether he should show up to the golf course with Mr. Arlelle Paulsson. The time is too short for him to think of anything else, be it dread or questions. Essi came in to disrupt the intense situation.“So what did I miss??” Essi asked as she closed the door. The clacks of her stilettos fill the sound of her walk while getting near to the two. “When would you like to play golf with Oneil, grandpa?”The old man returned to his seat without a smile. “I don’t think that it would be best for us to join the golf course,”
Gwyneth assumed that her task was already done. Anytime sooner, she might be able to return to Bordeaux to continue her equestrian passion. She keeps talking to Paco about the small little things happening between Essi and Oneil. She counts every interaction they have made the progress she had been longing to see. “Don’t you feel your heart fluttering too? They are sweet to each other,” Gwyneth said while returning the horse to the stable. “Just like how they are meant to be.” Paco is walking next to her, only silent and having thoughts afar off. He couldn’t keep up his attention to Gwyneth because of the sensitive request he received from her. He didn’t even notice that they were already in front of the grand gates of their ancestral house. “Why are we here?” Paco asked. “I told you, we will be buying some tickets for the two,” Gwyneth replied. She noticed Oneil always passing by in this street to look at the ancestral house. It seems like it has som
Planned things often do not happen. Their date at the Mariano Ancestral House didn’t go through. Puzzled by Gwyneth’s disagreement for Essi and Oneil to go there, Essi is running out of choices to spend time with the man. If she would say how worried she is that Oneil’s plan will not happen, Oneil might find out that Essi has been observing him these past few days. She can only have these kinds of secret thoughts while walking from her house to buy a late-night coffee mix to a sari-sari store. While waiting for the store clerk to give her the coffee mix, the electricity went out in the entire Bayanihan. It is all dark and night has become eerie at the people’s sound of awe. People are in a rush to plug out their appliances to avoid complications when the electricity returns. “Are you okay, miss? Please wait for a bit, we have to prepare the emergency lights,” the clerk said since he was still not able to find Essi’s preferred coffee mix. “It’s alright,”
Essi has liked the reflections of Oneil and herself on the surface of the dark waters. But she never thought that there is more joy in seeing her image in the eyes of Oneil, looking with care at her. His hands are in front of Essi, waiting for her to hold. It is time now to leave the boat that separated them for a while from the worries of life. Essi sets her feet again on the soil of the riverside. The sense of security accompanies her at Oneil’s reminder for them to get Essi home.While on their way, they saw the curfew station staying active with an emergency light at the corner of the street. Paco’s mother, Minerva, is staying at the station with her barangay volunteer vest. She has her friends at the station, spending their time for random conversations once more. They noticed Essi and Oneil turning to their street.“Essi?” Minerva recognized her after moving the flashlight towards them. “Where have you been? It’s dark now,&rdqu
Minerva has a cozy garden-themed house ornamented with string lights accompanied by simple music. Visitors are coming in and out. Some of them are wearing their casual dress and others are keeping it civil. As for Essi, she arrived at the event’s place with her green blazer and white wrap dress. She had no extra time to change her corporate attire. Now, she is earning people’s attention for wearing a rich woman’s dress, although she managed to purchase it at 50% off. People made way for her to get inside, stepping themselves aside while their eyes were on her. They are whispering if they are seeing it right. They thought that Essi was coming to crash the party. But she has a gift in her hand. Minerva has also greeted her and led her to a special table for Paco’s friends. The birthday boy and Gwyneth are nowhere to be found until they arrived with additi
She’s back. And Oneil only has conflicting feelings after knowing that. After all the things that were said to him, the insult before the flight, and the reality that Marika has still contested behind Oneil’s back, he is only doomed to feel no good. He seems to be someone getting weak again. But Oneil wanted her to return for he still has many things to ask. But he does not want to see the face that lied to him and is accusing him of cheating. If it was not for the necessity to deliver the empty bottles back to the store, he would have met her in an untimely manner. He is also worried that Essi might have encountered Marika. He took comfort from the news that Essi went home already. He walked back to his house and found a familiar figure. It was Essi, sitting on a bench. Her hands are folded against her chest. She is looking from side to side, waiting for someone. The street lamp near to her was the brightest among all the lamps around. Essi stands out among the nigh
The Gautarza Company Build has become the safe haven of Essi and Oneil, although this place was never new to them. It’s like a modern refuge place for perturbed ties. Without intending anything, their lunch feels more meaningful than the last time they had it. Victor arrives at Essi’s office, all glad that the food delivery has come for them. There is Jillian as well that carries more food packages, and Gwyneth to add the lunch enforcement. Essi left her station right away, revealing how hungry she already is. Oneil has already entered the scene and was waiting for Essi to take her seat first. The five started their delightful meal inside the office. It feels at home and without trouble. Essi was secretly looking at Oneil. But it was Oneil who looked after her and even added meat to her bowl. “Eat well. You have been working for a long while,” Oneil said. “How about me, cousin? I forgot to take my breakfast,” Gwyneth inserted while pouting her
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?”