Because I couldn't say a word, Ms. Lalaine repeated her words, this time, she snapped her fingers right in front of my face, "Don't worry about the news, Ms. Elaine," she added, "You did the right thing protecting both of the boys and the corporation. Everything will be all right, okay?" I nodded to her in motion before grabbing the phone landline and leaning it closer to my ear. "Yes, Mr. Spencer? Do you need anything?" Breathing out his name made Dust and Jennifer drag their gaze at me. None of them, including Ms. Lalaine, reached out to me to ask about what exactly happened to, Dylan, our big boss, and how he ended up being admitted to the hospital because we kept it highly confidential. Perhaps they were all stunned and dumbfounded by the flash report interviewing me and Ghino regarding the incident earlier. I knew they had questions and concerns. So I decided to address them as soon as Dylan and I were done talking. "I saw the news, Elaine," his saddened utter
My bother was pretty convinced that Ghino's pre-wedding gift was given to me with intention. Brother Noah believed that this limited edition watch on my hand was built-in with a recorder inside it to keep track of our conversation. Good thing Ghino gave it to me three days after Mrs. Nacua got into an accident. Because if it happened before that, I might be swayed that his claim was true. I mean, with all the unfortunate and unresolved events that happened to us recently, one to mention was the mystery person or people behind Don Romualdo and Mrs. Nacua's sudden death, I'm not gonna say Brother Noah was simply making that up. He had a point and I am open to a million possibilities or "what ifs" in this kind of situation. After all, I haven't cleared out my suspicion of Ghino officially. So I took off the wristwatch and surrendered it to Brother Noah for him to have it examined as soon as possible. Then he set it in his pocket and left afterward, leaving me alone in
"If you keep doing this every time you miss me, I'd be glad to be your pillow, Elaine. You can lean on me every time the world is mean to you, do you hear me?" Dylan replied, his voice began to calm and sweet. Then he slowly linked his arms around me. "And I'm sorry. Truly am," he continued, "I knew you were saddened because of what I said earlier. I didn't mean to hurt you, okay?" Those kind words were reassuring me deeply so I nodded as the tears in my eyes began soaking his back. "Once we settled everything, Dylan, let's have a trip together. Just the two of us. Can we do that?" Dylan heaved a sigh, ejecting the cold and profound air that was stuck in his chest. "Of course, we can definitely make that happen, Elaine. Where do you want to go? Europe? Thailand? Or the Philippines? Name the country." "Switzerland," I whispered softly as we tightened each other's hugs, "They said that Switzerland was such a beautiful and peaceful country." Since I was a kid, I h
My conscience cannot bear the possible impacts of making the impossible possible. Two hours ago, Dylan and I agreed to be extra careful about our ill-fated relationship until we fixed everything around. We promised each other that we would not get caught either by Maureen or Ghino. But the very first thing we aimed to avoid happened right there and then. My heart and mind were delighted and grateful five minutes ago - that I spent my precious night with the man I love and care about the most. And that I got the chance to take a closer look at his innocent and good-looking face in the middle of his profound slumber. Nevertheless, I did not expect my excitement and happiness to put an end in the blink of an eye. "Please, I'm begging you, Maureen," I continued while rubbing her shoulder. "We both know Don Romualdo entrusted the corporation to your husband. Anything. Tell me what I should do for you to forgive him. To let this slide." Maureen removed my hands away from her by force.
The next morning, amidst the hectic day in the office, my landline rang all of a sudden. I lifted the phone and clipped it in between my left ear and shoulder when my hands, eyes, and brain were preoccupied with the corporation's annual Financial Statements I requested from Jennifer and Dust the other day. Considering the ringing came from my landline, I expected the call to come from Dylan so I greeted him first, "Yes, Mr. Spencer? How can I help you? Or did you miss me already?" My sweet giggles were cut off when someone's female voice reverberated in my ears. "Honey, Elaine, this is me, your Mom. Your dad, John Dave, and I... We are in the lobby of the building where you are working. Can you pick us up?" I gulped right there and then as I removed the phone away from my ear. Everyone in the office was startled when the phone slipped off from my hand and fell onto my desk. "Are you alright, Ms. Elaine?" Jennifer asked as she frowned. Dust and Lalaine nodded their
"Are you all right, honey? You were a bit preoccupied since we arrived. Did something happen? Are you mad at us because we didn't inform you about our surprise arrival? We thought the two of you had discussed this the other day, that's why." Mom asked before she crawled her hand on my waistline. First of all, yes, I was not entirely fine. Something did happen even before they haven't arrived. I already expected this situation to happen but I did not expect it too soon. Am I mad at them because none of them inform me? Yes, I am, not only because I was guilty and worried for Dylan, but because halfway through, we were about to uncover the suspicious financial transactions in our annual Financial Statements. There was more to the story than meets the eye. I cannot afford that kind of fraud to keep going every year. I have to inform Dylan or Ghino about the case before it goes out of hand. But in order to do that, I have to study the case with utmost focus. With regard
In everyone's eyes, Maureen was like an angel befallen from heaven, bestowing us her inspiring life experience. What else should I expect from someone who loves nothing but attention? For Maureen, her noble image was the most crucial aspect that must be maintained in the meeting, considering she was married to the CEO of Spencer Group and Companies. She was otherwise known as the First Lady of the Empire. Maureen, in her current status, was either feared or well-respected by everyone around her now that a Spencer was attached to her last name. Either way, I'm not scared of her. Neither do I respect her. Well, I respected and even idolized her before, but after finding out her real color, everything changed in the blink of an eye. She was no longer worth my respect anymore. "Of course, there's no way our daughter would hate your idea, Ms. Maureen.", Mom replied on my behalf with a humble smile on her face. "After all, you and our daughter have been friends
The three of us fixed our eyes on the watch shortly. But it was not the watch that caused the commotion - the fact that they both lied to me was. If I didn't get the chance to hear the truth, I could have been fooled for the rest of my life. And I hated that. I hate myself for letting my guard down. "Explain to me what exactly, huh, Ghino?" I sassed furiously, "That even from the start, you couldn't trust me to be your wife, that's why you stabbed me behind my back, or because you had something to do with Don Romualdo's death? Which is which?" Ghino's frown extended from ear to ear. He was looking at me with profound confusion engraved all over his forehead, as though he was feeling skeptical of what was certainly going on. Brother Noah had his point taken. I was also convinced that he played dumb or innocent in this kind of situation to make sure his expressions and actions were conceivable and realistic - to continuously fool us until the very end of his story.
"What do you mean you sold everything in our store?" Dad, out of the blue, appeared behind Dylan. He was drunk and was even carrying a bottle of alcohol in his hand. Never in my life, I have seen Dad getting drunk. I heard John Dave came home from school earlier but he was alone. But now he came home drunk. And it made me worried, believing he would lash out at Dylan. "Look, Mr. Fisher." Dylan insisted, ignoring Dad's zig-zag pace and twirling head. "I sold everything in your store..." To our surprise, Dad furiously smashed the bottle of alcohol to the ground with no signs of hesitation even if the fact that any of us might get hurt by it. The shattered sound when the bottle broke into pieces reverberated in my ears. Nervousness shivered down my spine as I remembered the last time Dylan visited the house. Dad, because he couldn't hold onto his anger, pointed the tip of his rifle straight into Dylan's head at that time. I don't want what happened in the past to
One month later. In the middle of our journey back to the province, I put my hand on Dylan's thigh while he was driving to see his reaction. The trip back to the province will be boring so I decided to break the ice. "Uh-ah!" Dylan quickly blurted as though he already knew what I was trying to do. "What?" I asked him teasingly, pretending to know nothing. "Don't do it." He said. "Don't do what?" I asked again, but I was trying harder not to laugh at his expression. His eyes were still focused on the road. "Don't start something you ain't gonna finish ma'am." "What are you talking about?" For the third time, I asked him, and this time, I started to laugh at his partly irritated and funny reaction. My little plan somehow worked out. To tease him. To make him laugh throughout our entire trip. I crazily missed Dylan's smile that much. It has been a month since all our problems have been fixed yet I barely see him smiling. "You know dang well what I
The armored car roared down the desolate road, its engine humming with power. My heart raced, worries and fears cursing through my veins as I gripped the handrail tightly. Our eyes were fixed on the two cars ahead of us. The last image my eyes captured was Maureen and Bernard joining in one car while the rest of them used the other car. "Since when did you know about the truth?" Dylan asked, his voice started to get calm, but the speed of the car kept accelerating. I couldn't let go of my eyes to the road, but Dylan deserved to know the truth, so replied without looking at him, "Since last night. I caught Ghino - I mean, Bernard Scarlette, talking to Maureen over the phone. And I heard his confession with my own ears. He confessed all his crimes." "And they are going to pay for what they did to Dad and Ghino," he answered back with conviction. "I'll use everything to catch them even in hell." So he stepped onto the accelerator and sped up the car twice the spee
"Elaine, can you hear me?" Another voice reverberated in my ears all of a sudden. "It's me, Noah. Listen to me, okay? The result came out. And the man who killed..." "What the hell is going on?" The head of the mission cut off Brother Noah's words. "Stop intervening, Noah. Elaine is in the middle of her negotiation now. We can't stop now." he insisted before he ordered. "Cut off everyone's line apart from mine. God damn it!" "No. Let him talk first. It's part of my plan. I need some information from him," I begged without moving the corner of my lips, and my undivided attention was focused on those men in masks across from me. "Are you deaf or something?" one of the masked men yelled. "Bring us the money." "Elaine, listen to me. What I found out was fucking insane." Brother Noah continued, making it hard for me to decide whether to answer the kidnappers or wait for his confession. "Proceed, Brother Noah. I'm listening, but I can only give you two minutes. We d
I could not believe a murderer just passed through me and acted as if nothing happened. But how? How did it happen? Since when did he fabricate Ghino's face? What did I miss? How come I did not notice it when I got back to New York? Those were the questions that remained unanswered and were running wild inside my helpless brain. Right. I remember now. On the day I went back from Tennessee. The first place that I went to visit was the office. And he wrapped his arms around me the second he saw me. I noticed that his body lost body weight. Ghino, who is in his right mind, wouldn't lose body weight that much in just a month of me being gone. "Are just gonna stand there, Elaine?" The impostor asked again without looking at me. His eyes were fixed on the newspapers he was holding. "Right, Ms. Elaine. Have you forgotten anything?" Lalaine approached me and held my hand to check if something was wrong with me. "Umm... Yeah, I forgot to bring my phone." Luckily I alrea
That was one for a fact. Maureen had every right to debate with Don Romualdo's lawyers as it was completely ridiculous. I mean, who am I to the family? Mr. and Mrs. Spencer simply hired me to be Dylan's secretary, nothing more, nothing less. It also made me wonder why me, a mere secretary, instead of Ghino who comes from their flesh and blood. No matter how hard I tried to think of one good reason to support their claim, my brain couldn't get one. Neither Don Romualdo, when he was still alive, nor Dylan told me about it either. "Please, enlighten us, Attorney," Ghino asked, breaking the awkward stares between me and Maureen. Mr. Vargas then slid a piece of brown envelope across from us. I was about to reach out to it but Maureen preceded me. She checked inside and studied it for a few seconds. All of us, including Ghino, drew several long curved lines while waiting for the piece of paper to drop on the table so we could read it. Instead of waiting, I tried to read
Before that assumption happened, I mustered the courage and broke the silence, "My apologies, no matter how many times, I know, is not even enough to make you feel better. I cannot turn back time either. But it was not my intention to harm them. They were the kindest couple I have ever known my whole life." "But why of all the places had to be my parents, huh? He's a goddamn billionaire. You two could have rented an expensive hotel, run away to other countries, or buy a house. You two were old enough not to know how risky your situations are. Why?" "From the bottom of my heart, I'm so sorry about it, I really do," I replied, my voice barely above a whisper. Then I lifted my eyes to the ceiling to avoid the tears from pouring. "Dylan and I simply wanted to live a simple life, away from those who try to separate us." But no matter how hard I tried begging, stopping the tears from pouring, they were beyond my control. They flooded my cheeks like an open faucet with the ut
Dad and Mom were left with no other choice but to tell me everything Ghino told them earlier. It turned out that based on the police officer's assumptions, those people who killed Mr. and Mrs. Delaven might not heard the latest press conference I made. So they assumed that Dylan was kidnapped to ask for more from the Spencers instead of the five million dollar bounty. However, they advised us to keep an eye on our phones from time to time, believing the kidnappers, whoever they were, would call one of us sooner or later. But I couldn't wait for the kidnappers to call me. Waiting for an hour while doing nothing would be a nightmare for me. So, I asked Mom and Dad that I wanted to go to the farm ASAP to check it myself - to get anything - clues or signs, perhaps Dylan left something before he was kidnapped. At first, Mom and Dad highly disagreed as it was too risky for me to travel back to Tennessee that late. But I insisted and burst into tears because I needed to see M
"Let go of me, you fucking slut!" Maureen continued as she attempted to remove my grip. I know she was not the kind of woman who wanted to get beaten up by someone like me. She would rather use everything in her power to get rid of everyone who dared bark at her or cross her path. Just like what she did to me and Dylan. Maureen was definitely the perfect female version of the devil; arrogant, bigoted, close-minded, greedy, hypocritical, and all the negative traits in the world. She was comparable to a cute and lovely pup in front of you. But once you turned your face and back around, she shifted into a huge poisonous anaconda snake. She will use her tail to encircle your whole body, bite your neck until your blood floods the floor, gets numbed, and begs her to spare your life. That's what she really is. However, I already decided not to get stepped on by someone like Maureen. So I held her hands harder than she could ever imagine. She was about to use her left