CHAPTER 1: Meet Romano "Ram" Santiago

-=Ram's Point of View=-

I couldn't stop the wide grin from appearing on my face. I mean, who wouldn't smile when you beat your mortal enemy?

I just beat my biggest rival in almost everything, may it be with business, sports, or even an auction event of antiques that was held in Makati.

Jeffrey and I were rivals, and I think this rivalry started way back in college when we were schoolmates.

I always make sure to come on top, be it in academics, sports, or even with women.

I admit there were times, that I courted whoever Jeffrey liked just to piss him off, which led Jeffrey to do everything just to beat me, but so far, he didn't succeed even once.

I'm not sure when it started, but ever since I was a child, I always wanted to have control of everything in my life, I always wanted to be one step ahead of everything.

I didn't want to be told what I needed to do because I wanted to have the power to make my own decision.

I want that feeling that I could control the people around me without breaking a sweat. Maybe it's just me, maybe I want to have full control of everything, and that power comes with being rich.

Whoever said that money can't buy you happiness doesn't have a clue about how it feels to be wealthy.

At the age of nineteen, I managed to build my own business without any help from my dad and managed to earn a million dollars from my business, and now that I am twenty-five, the business world sees me like an assassin, and my competitors are always tired when dealing with me.

When my dad retired and handed me the family business, I decided to merge the company I created with our family's businesses because I thought it would be easier for me to handle the businesses that my dad, and I owned. After the merger, I was considered one of the most promising billionaire businessmen not just in the Philippines but in all of Asia.

I woke up from my short trance when a familiar song popped from the radio in my car.

I'm on my way to my condo unit, which is in Bonifacio Global City in a famous tower in Taguig.

Makati is close to Taguig, so there was no need for me to drive quickly; I simply savored the sensation of victory while enjoying the ride.

I couldn't help but sing along to the song currently playing on the radio, which is Hall of Fame by The Script.

I felt like this song was actually meant for me.

You can be the best

You can be the King Kong banging on your chest

You can beat the world

You can beat the war

You can talk to God, go banging on his door

You can throw your hands up

You can beat the clock (yeah)

You can move a mountain

You can break rocks

You can be a master

Don't wait for luck

Dedicate yourself and you'll find yourself

When the song was interrupted by an incoming call, I was annoyed, but when my girlfriend's name appeared on the head unit, my smile deepened.

"Hi, hon, did you miss me? I'm already on my way," I said while smiling seductively and thinking about my beautiful and sexy girlfriend.

We've been living together for almost a year now, and actually, Janice is one of the best things that came into my life.

She's an international runway model, she comes from a respected and well-known clan in the country; and, more importantly, she's so beautiful and sexy that most men envy me.

"I'm leaving you," she said.

It took me a full minute before it finally dawned on me what she said, which led me to be confused.

I didn't expect to hear this from her, especially since I know how much she loves me.

"No, you can't," I said, feeling at a loss.

"Damn it, Ram! I have no choice!" She exclaimed, frustration in her voice, and before I could reply, she immediately hung up.

I sped up my car just to get to our place as soon as possible.

I will stop her from leaving me, and what Ram wants, Ram gets, and that's how I have been since I was still a child.

It didn't take long for me to arrive at the condo building, and just right on time, I saw Janine walking out, pulling her suitcase.

The moment my car stopped and I got out, I saw Janine looking at me, and I could tell that she was suppressing her feelings about our pending separation.

"Please don't leave," I said, holding her hand.

"I'm so sorry, Ram; there's nothing I can do; dad threatened to disown me if I didn't agree to marry the guy he wanted from me; he wouldn't leave me a single scent," she said sadly as she looked at me.

I silently cursed when I heard that; it's already the modern age for such a thing as an arranged marriage.

"Does it matter that he disowned you? You shouldn't worry if your dad has no intention of giving you anything," I said.

I can provide for her; heck, I can give her anything she wants!

I noticed how her eyes lit up after hearing what I said, and I couldn't help but feel hopeful because of it, but I didn't expect what she said next.

"Are you going to marry me?" She asked, looking so happy.

When I said that I could give her anything, I meant that I could give her anything that money can buy, but marriage was far from my mind when I thought of those things.

I really like Janine, but marriage is far from my mind right now. I am satisfied with our arrangement right now.

"We're still young, Janine, why should we rush into getting married?" What I meant was, I could provide you with anything you need," I said.

I could clearly see the disappointment on her face, obviously, that is not what she expected to hear from me, but what can I do? I'm not really ready to settle down yet, and truth be told, I didn't think I would be settling down in the near future.

Marriage is just a piece of paper for me, which reminds everyone that you ended your freedom.

"Tell me, Ram, do you love me?" She asked, her gaze fixed on me.

I'm at a loss for words when I look at her; I didn't know how to respond to her question, and when I remained mute, she chose to ask another one.

"Did you even love me? Just even a bit, Ram?"

I stayed immobile as I continued to gaze upon her lovely face; the anguish in her eyes was evident.

I honestly don't know how to answer that because I never believe in love. For me, love is a silly thing that people use in their imaginary worlds.

"I... like you," I said, and I couldn't help but cursed because I'm not used to stuttering, I don't stutter!

I didn't know how long we were standing in that position, looking at each other's faces.

"Goodbye, Ram," she whispered, eventually removing her hand from mine.

She continued walking away with her bag behind her without looking back.

My eyes were glued to her, until she arrived at a waiting car that I hadn't noticed earlier, and I was stunned when I saw the man walking out of the car.

"Hi, Ram!"

Jeffrey was the one who got out of the car, and he was smiling and looking happy.

When I looked at Janine, I could tell that she was uncomfortable, and the thought that occurred to me after seeing Jeffrey in this location did not sit well with me. My eyes darted back and forth between the two of them.

"What the hell are you doing here, Montebon?" I asked coldly.

Montebon is Jeffrey's surname.

Instead of being intimidated, his grin became wider, and I resisted the urge to strike him so I could wipe it off his face.

I did not want them to see that the truth in front of me was affecting me.

"I'm just here to pick up my fiancee, let's go, Janine," he said, looking possessively at her.

I could tell from the way she looked at me that she was hoping for me to do something, maybe even fight for her, but I didn't even move an inch and watched as they both got into the car and drove away.

"The fuck with this!" I angrily muttered, because for once, I didn't know what to do.

I would be lying if I said I didn't feel anything after Janine left me. We've been living together for almost a year, but that pain was overpowered by a different emotion.

I was pissed because of Jeffrey; my ego couldn't accept the fact that I lost my girl to him.