Chapter 2

CHAPTER 2

MYCA'S POV

I thought there would be no more headaches in my life. I am already aware of how boring my life is to other people. I always work and work and all I think about is my resorts. If only work could get married, I would have already tied the knot. But life is not like that. I am trying my best to intermingle with everyone. That is the most crucial thing I need to learn for the sake of my business. So even though I don't want to socialize with others so that I can have a quiet life, I can't stop myself.

My face was cold while reading the feedback from our customers yesterday. Even if they left positive feedback and gave my resort a four-star rating, I can't bring myself to smile because of what happened a while ago. I didn't know what it felt like to be annoyed and embarrassed at the same time. I quickly grabbed my cell phone that was just on the side of the table and immediately changed my home screen wallpaper. Danger! I am not lending my phone to anyone because of my previous home screen wallpaper but I never imagined something like that to happen to me! That was a total embarrassment.

*knock* *knock*

I looked at the door when someone knocked.

"Come in."

Gigi entered wearing her cheerful face.

"Ms. Fortezo, the band you invited to play tonight has arrived," she said.

My face brightened at what she announced. Everyone will go wild tonight cause I just invited the top band in the Philippines with more than a hundred top hit songs. It will attract more people because my resort has a pub. This is normal but not every resort would likely spend money to invite a popular band to add more attraction to the resort's customers.

I stood up and fixed my laptop so I could go out and welcome them warmly.

"Has the room they will stay in been prepared?" I asked after straightening myself.

"Yes," Gigi replied.

I nodded and left my office. I feel a little light as I walk toward the lobby. It's getting a bit chaotic because of other people who want to take pictures with each Solstice Boyband member. But it didn't prevent me from drawing near to them. When Kenji, their leader, saw me, he stood up and walked twice to meet me. I know Kenji. He is my batchmate in college and he always visits my resort whenever he's got the free time. He was my first customer at my other resort in Palawan before their band became famous.

"Welcome! Thank you so much for honoring my invitation, Ken," I greeted them.

"Don't mention it. This is a good idea so we can relax. Good thing the manager didn't ask us to decline your invitation. I told him that you are a rising business tycoon and that we know each other," he answered and smiled.

I heard some people scream because of the thrill of seeing Kenji's smile. I scratched the back of my neck. We are drawing too much attention.

"Let me lead you to your room. You can rest first and you can also take a bath in the sea. You will still be playing music later that night so you better relax first." And just like I said, I led them to the room that was meant for them.

I just left them to have time to rest. I visited the tavern just kilometers away from the hotel. Good thing my staff is doing their job well. The positioning of the band is fine for later. I stayed a little longer there because I approached my acquaintances.

"You are a busy person, Myca. Sometimes I wonder how you survived to manage a resort by yourself. Don't you still plan to get married so that someone can help you manage your resorts?" said Vina, also one of the customers of my first resort.

I laughed at what she said. Even though I am managing two resorts at the same time, I never let myself think that I am having a hard time maintaining everything and that I need someone's help. I just enjoy what I do more than anyone else. I love what I am doing.

"Oh, Vina. I don't need a husband yet. I can manage my two resorts by myself. It's not the matter of how you are having a hard time dealing with them, it's how you manage your time and your business." I smiled at her.

She raised her glass of vodka as if calling for a toast. "You are amazing! Cheers to your persistent success!"

I chuckled. "Thank you, Vina."

It often feels good to talk to other people. Maybe that's why I'm used to patrolling every day to see if all our customers are doing well and if they're happy. Maybe one of the reasons why more customers come here, again and again, is because of the way I treat them. I am busy every single day. Only then do I have free time when I'm done looking at everything I have to monitor. Gigi also helps me and my finance assistants are good so I don't have that much difficulty with my work.

In the evening I made arrangements. I wear my comfortable attire so that I can join my customers in the pub and also accompany the Solstice Boyband too. Just outside, I could already see many people there, even though Kenji and his group hadn't started playing. The bartenders are busy serving liquor to the customers. I am wearing a white knot front top and a draped skirt. I just paired it with black flat sandals so that my feet wouldn't hurt in case I will think of dancing and keeping up with the others here. My long, straight jet black hair was slightly loose.

"Hello, mic test."

People made a noise because of what Ken did. Looks like they're about to start. I smiled and went straight to the side of the bar stool, a little closer to the mini stage where the whole band was standing. I laughed as I watched the crowd start to take their place in the middle to dance because Kenji was about to start playing for real.

"Ma'am, do you want to drink?" Fredo, one of my bartenders, who is next to me asked.

I looked at him and smiled. "Maybe I'll drink later," I answered even though I wasn't sure.

"No hard liquor, ma'am, okay? It seems that you are not used to drinking based on what happened in the past." He scratched the back of his neck.

I chuckled when I remembered what Gigi told me last week after my hangover. I'm not used to drinking. I only tried to drink a week ago because I was attracted by the smell of mixed smell of alcohol here in the pub. Gigi and I even had a headache because of what happened. I'm just halfway through the glass and I'm already drunk.

"Don't worry. I kind of hate the bitter taste of alcohol. Maybe it's because I'm not used to drinking."

Fredo nodded and said goodbye to take care of other customers. I turned my gaze to the front. Everyone is dancing. It's good that they enjoy it. I stayed in my seat while watching the people go wild on the dance floor. A few minutes passed, and someone sat beside me.

"So this is where I can find you, huh?"

I was so focused on the people who were dancing on the dance floor that I didn't notice someone had occupied the seat beside me. I glanced at who it was and was surprised to see Farish smiling. My face got cold and I felt my blood boil immediately.

"What are you doing here?" I asked him coldly.

He smirked. "Is it bad for me to come here? Just by your tone, it's like you're pushing me away, Myca. This is a resort so everyone is welcome here, right?"

I tightly shut my mouth for a few seconds. It looks like this one is about to start messing up with me again. I will probably have nightmares tonight. I remembered again that our family gathering is coming up.

"Faris, I know you don't have time to hang out in a place like this, especially with a new project to manage."

He seemed amazed at what I said. I made him wonder. He might get it wrong but I only know that information about him because I have read it online. He is still a famous businessman throughout ASIA so everyone is interested in him and his business.

"Have you thought it all through?" he asked and I immediately knew what he wanted to convey.

It's about the wedding that will ruin my night now. I gritted my teeth to suppress my anger. Is there no end to this if I don't follow their wishes?

"We don't have to clarify anything. I made it clear to you at our last meeting that I don't want to and I won't agree. Unless you are that stupid to hardly comprehend a simple statement," I said firmly and coldly.

He didn't speak immediately. I thought he would try to argue with me. But he didn't speak. I repeated to him what I had said before and he also repeated what he had told me before that I would have a bad life if I did not follow our tradition. I was about to throw him another counterclaim but we were interrupted by someone who can't just seem to be happy on his own without stealing everyone's attention.

"Hi, Miss. Wanna dance with me?" Ian interjected in the middle of my conversation with Farish.

I would have been happy if someone else had invited me so that I could escape from Farish. But this man is also not funny! I glared at Ian. He just stood in front of me smiling from ear to ear. He just glanced at Farish as if he underestimated him that he couldn't even make me dance on the dance floor.

"Ian, let's dance more, please?" His three girls followed him and asked him to dance again.

My blood boils immediately. What the hell is this curse in my life? Why would I need to meet people like these two? They are a total annoyance in my life.

"Why, Ian? Do you intend to add me to the girls you collect? Just dance with a thousand dolls!" I snorted at him in annoyance and stood up so they wouldn't be here in my sight.

I went out of the pub wearing my irritated look. I stopped in the middle of my walk to take a deep breath and get some fresh air. I calmed myself before continuing to walk toward the hotel. But I was only a few steps away when someone suddenly stepped over me and made me face him.

"What?!" I shouted angrily at whoever did that to me.

I was stunned to see Ian standing in front of me. I lost my mind a little because I was so close to his body. There are only a few inches between us.

"Is that guy bothering you?" he asked me, apparently referring to Farish.

I tried to remove his grip on my elbow. He immediately let go of me as if he knew that I was allergic to what he was doing.

"No. Farish and I were just talking," I answered him.

Even though I don't want that man's presence either, I don't want to admit that to Ian.

"You know him?" he asked again.

"Yes. Why?"

"I thought he was trying to ruin your night."

I frowned. "What is that to you if Farish does that?"

He licked his lips. "I just thought I needed to meddle with your heated conversations."

"And why is that?"

He didn't answer me. I looked away. Maybe because he knew that I am Allison's best friend. He probably wouldn't do that if it was another woman. Maybe his reason is that he wants to get the girl's attention and make her dance on the dance floor.

"Did you follow me to ask about that? You're just wasting your time." I turned my back on him and continued walking.

I was about to be happy that he didn't talk to me again but I felt his presence. Is he following me? I stopped and looked at him.

"Why are you following me?" I raised my brow.

"Of course, we're going to the same destination— the hotel," he said and pointed to the hotel that is not far away from here.

I felt suddenly embarrassed because of it. Okay, he got the one point this time. It's embarrassing that I even thought he was following me. I gave him a hard face and continued walking. I just slowed down my walk to let him go first. But when I noticed that he wasn't even passing me, I looked at him again.

"Are you doing this on purpose?" I asked him seriously.

"No."

"You walk first!"

I can almost hear a cricket after the long silence enveloped us. Because we both fell silent after what I said. I can't see his full expression right now. We are in a rather dark part of the resort. The pub was built a bit far away so as not to disturb the people in the hotel when playing music.

"Why do you always sound angry when you talk to me?" he suddenly asked.

I didn't answer him at first. Why don't I say that I am mad at playboys like him?

"I'm really like this even with other people," I answered him after a few minutes.

"Do you have high blood pressure or do you always have a period?"

I was suddenly shocked by his question especially when he laughed out loud after that. I don't know about you, Ian! I wish your teeth would fall out so you can't laugh anymore!