Aaron was walking towards Kiel's office nang marinig niya ang pagdagundong ng boses ng kapatid mula sa loob ng opisina nito."This is not it! Are you dumb, Nica? I told you, it's a damn proposal!" singhal ng kapatid sa assistant nito. "Nananadya ka ba? I am not paying you to be just this stupid!" Ilang segundo lang, nakita na niyang lumabas sa opisina ng kapatid ang assistant nitong si Nica. The young lady was wiping her tears from her eyes before she walked towards her desk, which is now covered with piles of folders. Wala ang sekretarya ni Kiel na si Carmi. Nag-leave daw dahil sobrang nakagalitan nito noong nakaraang linggo.Actually, he is there to talk his brother because of that. Ilang reklamo na ang nakarating sa kanya nitong nakalipas na ilang linggo dahil sa masamang pagtrato ni Kiel sa mga empleyado nito. Hindi naman ito dating gano'n. Sa kanilang magkakapatid, ito ang may pinakamalambot na puso. Kaya nga minsan, inaabuso na ang kabaitan nito, hindi pa nito alam.But all of t
"Kiel? W-what happened to you?" nag-aalalang salubong ni Nicole kay Kiel. She gently touched the visible bruise on his jaw which he got from his brother. He hissed when pain instantly registered from the bruise."S-sorry," she said, withdrawing her fingers quickly from the bruise. "Just stay here. Kukunin ko lang 'yong first-aid kit," anito bago naglakad palayo.Kiel huffed and settled himself at the sofa in the receiving room. He looked at the ceiling of the Gonzales mansion. It was dark and gloomy. That used to house a bright grand chandelier that can illuminate the whole receiving room. Used to. The chandelier wasn't there anymore. Naibenta nang lahat ni Nicole along with other expensive things inside the mansion. What's left were just the recessed lights, emitting a soft light on specific areas leaving the whole place dark and gloomy... just like his life for the past three weeks since Lauren left. He realeased a slow breath when he recalled waking up that morning when Lauren
Hinayon ng tingin ni Lauren ang malawak na katubigan sa kanyang harapan. Riding the modern junk boat at Victoria Harbour was the calm she was looking for for the entire day. The night sky peppered with stars was picturesque from the deck where she was standing on. She had never seen such an amazing night sky in awhile. Or probably, she was just too distracted with her own troubles that she forgot to look up in for while and be enthralled with the beauty of the cosmos. The wind blew and she took a deep breath. Napatingin siya kay Tyler na noon ay pababa mula sa upper floor kung saan naroon ang iba pang mga turista na kasama nila sa cruise na iyon. Actually, it was Tyler who invited her to try the boat ride on the famous harbour. He was asking her the entire day what's wrong because she, according to him, looked flustered. She's not sad or anything. She was just thinking of a way how to tell Tyler about her situation. Because right now, it's the film that would greatly be affected when
"You two need to save your brother f-from that... that woman!" his mother said to Aaron as she paced on the floor of his penthouse.Bumiyahe pa ito mula sa Tagaytay upang personal na sabihin sa kanya ang bagay na iyon na para bang hindi pa niya ginagawan ng paraan ang tungkol kay Kiel. Well it's probably the intel that Kiel was seen frequently at the Gonzales mansion again that made his mother dash her way to him."What do you want us to do, Mom? Malaki na 'yang bunso ninyo. If he chose to be with Nicole what in the damn fck could we do?" reklamo ni Joshua. Kasama itong dumating doon ng kanilang ina."Joshua, language!" mataas ang boses na saway ng Mommy nila.Joshua huffed. "What? I cannot think of any other adjectives that best describes Kiel's situation right now!" pagrarason nito, umiling bago naglakad patungo sa bar at nagsalin ng alak sa crystal glass.Nasapo ng kanilang ang ulo nito. "Why can't you two see my point here? Your brother needs guidance right now."He released a slo
"Nicole! Come down here right this minute!" gigil na sigaw ni Kiel sa sala ng mansiyon ng mga Gonzales.The house looked emptier than the last time he was there which was just a few days ago. But that's the least of his concerns now. He wanted answers, the truth, even if he had to choke it out of Nicole's lying mouth.Not for long, he heard footstep from upstairs. Maya-maya pa, sumungaw ang bulto ni Nicole sa may balustre ng second floor ng bahay."K-Kiel? What are you doing here t-this early?" anito, inayos ang pagkakatali ng roba nito bago naglakad pababa ng hagdan.He didn't wait for her to come to him. He just closed in the distance between them in a few long strides. Nang malapitan niya ito, agad niyang hinaklit ang isang braso nito. Mabilis na napaaray si Nicole. "K-Kiel, what's wrong with you? P-please let me go. Nasasaktan ako!" pakiusap nito habang patuloy ang pagpiglas. But he shrugged off her plea and tightened his hand around her arm, deep seated anger now coursing throu
"Boss, cut the brandy. Baka hindi ka rin kausapin ni Ms. Lauren kapag nakita ka niyang ganyan," ani Claine. They're now in HongKong. They went straight at Lauren's filming location. Subalit hindi niya malapitan man lang ang asawa. The location was heavily guarded. Kahit na nagpakilala na siya kung sino siya, the guards didn't let him through. He planned to be patient, wait till Lauren's work is over. But having a glimpse of Tyler from afar, getting too close with Lauren was more than enough for him to lose it. Claine had to force him back to the car and drive away.And now, he's at Gold Hotel's bar, killing time with his brandy as he awaits for Lauren's return. He downed the glass of brandy and asked the bartender for another one bago bumaling kay Claine. "C'mon, Claine. Get some drink for yourself. It's on me," alok niya sa bodyguard. Mabilis itong umiling, ngumiti ng mapakla. "Thanks but no thanks, boss. I don't drink while I'm at work."He chuckled. He was about to down the gl
Parang kandilang itinulos sa kanyang kinatatayuan si Lauren. She was too confused and freaked out by Ana's presence that she doesn't know what to say and even do."Ana, Ms. Lauren doesn't wish to be disturbed. Just go," ani Lyle, mabilis pang humarang sa pagitan nila ni Ana.Ana's eyes narrowed at Lyle before bringing her gaze back at her."You know full well that I won't do that, Carlisle," ani Ana, ipinagdiinan pa ang pagbanggit sa buong pangalan ng kanyang bodyguard. Her voice full of deadly threats and warnings. "Lauren is still family to me. You know how I protect my family fiercely."Lyle huffed. "Ana--""I wish to speak with you, Lauren. Before I break Lyle's nose," Ana declared, determined. Her eyes never leaving hers."You cannot force my ward to speak to you," si Lyle ulit, hinawakan na sa braso si Ana. Lalong namula ang mukha ng babae, nagngitngit. Tiningala na nito si Lyle. "Unhand me at once, Mr. Samaniego! Or I won't just break your nose but also the two balls dangling
Malakas ang pagkabog ng didbib ni Lauren habang nakaupo siya sa table malapit sa makeshift stage. She's waiting for Ana to come back from wherever she has gone to para makapagpaalam na rin siya agad."Hey are you okay?" pukaw na tanong sa kanya ni Tyler who was already enjoying his wine."I am. I'm just... looking for Ana," aniya.Tyler's brows furrowed. "Joshua's wife? Why?""Gusto ko nang umuwi," sabi niya."What? Kadarating ko lang," reklamo nito."Right, you were late. Nauna akong dumating when I've clearly told you to be on time," sagot niya, may halong gigil. She asked Tyler to accompany her at the event. It was a favor he agreed to do in exchange for her 'consideration' to sell a few stocks of NTS to him."I'm just getting started with the wine, Lauren. I've yet to enjoy the real booze," anito, muling sumimsim ng wine.She rolled her eyes. "It's just booze. Bibilhan na lang kita."Tyler chuckled, marahan pang pinisil ang tungki ng kanyang ilong. "That's so sweet of you, Lauren