“So, were you able to talk to her?” tanong ni Richard kay Zyrone. They were by the dining room and having breakfast. Last night he had to come to the mansion because his mother asked him too. He thought they will talk about something but it turned out, she and his father had another fight again. They had been like that for some time now—quarelling over big and petty things. And unlike before, his mother never backs down now to an arguments. In fact, she creates them most of the time, irking his father. Maybe that’s what working again did to his mom. His mother now owns a high-end clothing line catering to the elite class. And he must say, he likes this version of his mother now than before. Gone was the meek and always submissive Miranda Craig. She now speaks her mind especially when it’s against his father. Mas kinakampihan na rin siya nito ngayon kaysa sa Daddy niya. It seemed like his mother now lives and breathes to annoy his father. Kaya laging nag-aaway ang mga ito. How he wi
“What are you doing here?” kunot ang noong bungad ni Belle kay Zyrone. She swallowed hard as panic coursed through her. How in the bloody hell did Zyrone got inside their building? She instructed Maricel clearly, she won’t allow any communications from the Craigs reach to her! But then… She groaned inwardly when she realized her mistake. Si Maricel lang ang binigyan niya ng instruction and not the head of security in the building. She thought that blocking any form of communications with her would make Zyrone realize that she is not interested in talking to him by any means. For the last few days, she thought he already got the message. Maging si Maricel itinigil na rin ang pagre-report sa kanya tungkol sa pagtawag-tawag ni Zyrone sa opisina niya. That’s why she felt there’s no need to inform the security team about banning any of the Craigs in the building. She thought she had that all sorted out. Malay ba niyang pupuntahan siya nito mismo sa opisina niya! “I have been calling y
Belle cursed under her breath when she accidentally dropped her bag on the elevator's floor. Kusa niya iyong nabitiwan dahil sa dumulas iyon sa ngayon ay pawisan na niyang mga kamay. They had been stuck the lift for some time now kaya naman nagpapawis na siya.She knelt down on the floor annoyed. Isa-isa niyang pinulot ang mga gamit niyang nagkalat at gigil iyong muling isinuksok sa bag niya. Tumulong din si Zyrone.Ilang sandali pa nakita nito ang keyholder niya. He looked at it for a while before lifting his gaze at her. "Who's Lillie?" tanong nito.Kumurap siya, sandaling nag-isip. "M-my daugther," sabi niya bago marahang kinuha sa kamay nito ang gamit niya. He smiled, a poignant one. "How old is she?"Tumayo siya at muling bumalik sa puwesto niya, sa kabilang dingding ng lift, opposite Zyrone's. "S-she's two," alanganin niyang sagot. He doesn't need to know that Lillie is turning three in 3 months. Tumango-tango ito. Sandaling natahimik. "Just after..." bulong nito. Hindi siya
Wala sa sariling pinagmamasdan ni Belle ang mga nagkikislapang mga ilaw sa ‘di kalayuan. Mula sa penthouse niya, tanaw na tanaw niya ang halos kabuuan ng siyudad. Malapit nang maghatinggabi subalit masigla pa rin sa pagkislap ang mga ilaw—tila walang kapaguran.Hindi gaya niya, pagod, upos at nanghihina. She had been like that since Zyrone left her inside that lift. She needed a good minute or two to collect herself after their encounter. At nang makarating siya sa sasakyan niya, she just broke down and cry. She was so confused and hurt. Kung paano siya nakapag-drive pauwi nang nasa ganoong estado, hindi niya alam.She was so distraught. She never wanted to be near him. How much more to be stuck with him in the blasted elevator!Mabilis niyang dinala sa bibig niya ang baso ng alak na hawak niya. Gumuhit ang pait niyon sa lalamunan niya. But it was not enough to make her forget of the way Zyrone has affected her still.She was done with him. Zyrone was pain. And she should flee from hi
“How are you?” tanong ni Eliseo kay Belle. She turned to the car’s window and watched the road outside. It was Eliseo’s routine every day—to call her while she’s on the way to her office. Nasa Bulacan pa ito at talagang ine-enjoy ang pahinga nito. And she wants him to do so.In few weeks time, Eliseo will be turning 75. And she knew, her grandfather would eventually be too weak to oversee their company. Kaya naman talagang doble-kayod siya sa pagta-trabaho. Sa umaga, nasa PSC siya. Sa hapon naman, ang atensiyon niya nasa Prime Mall. She had a lot of things in her hands now. But that’s just how things should be.She’s now the Interim CEO of PSC. Things are different now. Kung noon, halos wala siyang ginagawa sa kompanya kundi ang mag-obserba o magbigay lang ng advice kay Eliseo, iba na ngayon. All things that needed decisions are directed to her.And she doesn’t want to miss anything that needed her attention in the company. Because only by making sure that everything is settled at w
Naghihimagsik ang kalooban na pinagmamasdan ni Belle ang proposal na nasa harapan niya. It was the proposal given by Zyrone to Mr. Padilla. Apparently, the Craigs had been talking to the Padillas about their proposal of renting a part of the property where the Prime Mall will be built.That was the reason why Zyrone met with Mr. Padilla yesterday morning. He presented the full proposal to them first because he knew if he’d come to her or to Eliseo, she’ll reject it right away. Of course she would! She doesn’t want him in her life, mapa-personal man o sa trabaho.And yet… somehow the jerk’s preposterous proposal made a way to reach her through one of the best business allies of Eliseo, Mr. Padilla.She released a slow breath, trying to calm her nerves.“The proposal is good, Isabelle. The Craigs are right that with this collaboration, we can maximize the location of the property. What do you think?” ani Mr. Inocencio sa kanya, isa rin asa mga board of directors.She's now in the confer
Belle anxiously looked at her reflection on the mirror. She was wearing her branded little black dress, diamond stud earrings and light make-up. She looked… perfect given the place and occasion where she’s going to. But perfect is so far from what she's feeling right now. Maybe because tonight, she will finally talk to Zyrone for one final time like how he’d put it in words. One final time, pag-uulit niya sa isip. Nang um-oo siya noong isang araw na payag na siyang makipag-usap dito, humiling siya ng panahon para paghandaan ang pagkikita nila. She wanted to compose herself and gather her wits. She wanted to make sure that she’d behave like how she’s supposed to—an ex wife who had been living the best days of her life since she’d left him. Because as she sees it and given the many chance encounters she had with him, her stupid heart is not over yet with Zyrone.And so she wanted to be sure that she will not expose herself when they would finally talk. She had rehearsed every damn sce
Nanlalaki ang mga mata ni Belle na muling bumaling kay Zyrone. “What did you do? Bakit mo inutusang lumabas ang bodyguard ko?” gigil niyang sabi. Panic now racing in her veins. Why wouldn’t she? She’s alone with Zyrone… again! “What is so with the private matters we will be talking about that--“ Mabilis na tumayo si Zyrone at hinawakan ang braso niya. Gulat siyang napatingala dito. “C’mon, let’s go,” anito bago siya marahang hinila patayo. Lalo siyang naguluhan. “A-anong let’s go?” “We will talk to some other place,” anito, habang hila siya patungo sa isang pinto sa dulo ng silid. Napasinghap na siya, lalong tinambol ng kaba ang dibdib. Anong pinagsasabi nitong mag-uusap sila sa ibang lugar? They agreed to talk there! Bakit ito nagdedesisyon nang mag-isa? But the more important question is, saang lupalop na naman ng Pilipinas siya nito dadalhin? “No! We will talk here!” reklamo niya, pilit pang piniksi ang kamay nito na nakahawak sa palapulsuhan niya. He didn’t reply, he just