Lexie’s Point of ViewAt dahil kung hindi ako magpapakabisi, baka humantong na naman sa ibang bagay ang gabi namin, I quickly busied myself with the task at hand.We got to work, carefully hanging the portraits in their designated spots for the upcoming exhibit. I handed him a pair of gloves and started unboxing each painting one by one. Maingat kaming naglalagay ng mga artwork sa wall, making sure they wouldn’t get any dents or scratches. Each frame was fragile, and the last thing I wanted was to accidentally damage any of the pieces."Careful," I reminded him softly, glancing over my shoulder. My stomach twisted with nervousness. Damn. Bakit parang isa ’to sa pinaka-stressful na bagay na nagawa ko sa buong buhay ko?I was adjusting one of the frames when I suddenly heard the faint sound of a door unlocking. Napakunot ang noo ko."Can you hang that over there?" I asked Drew, pointing toward the far end of the hall. "I’ll just check something… I think I heard someone unlock the door."
Lexie’s Point of View"Yeah. Actually, I had an interesting conversation with her kanina," I added, giving him a playful look. "Curious ka ba?"His lips tugged into a wicked smirk. "Should I be worried?"Nagtagpo ang mga mata namin, and he held my gaze with that signature playful expression. Tumayo ako nang tuwid at nag-cross arms, pretending to be serious."So, kelan mo balak sabihin sa’kin?" I asked, raising a brow."Sabihin ang alin?" he feigned innocence, pero kitang-kita ko ang subtle twitch sa labi niya."Na sikat kang photographer," I challenged. "Akala ko ba hobby mo lang ‘yun? Pero bakit parang libu-libo pala ang presyo ng isang shot mo?""Ah…" Napakamot siya sa batok, halatang guilty habang nagkukunwaring abala sa paglalagay ng frame sa dingding.Napairap ako. "Aamin ka ba o hindi?"He let out a soft chuckle, but he didn’t meet my eyes. "Hindi naman sa hindi ako aamin," he replied casually. "Hindi ko lang kasi iniisip na ‘famous’ ako gaya ng sinasabi mo. Hindi ko gets kung b
Lexie’s Point of View"Why are you staring at me like that?" Drew’s voice was low and husky, snapping me out of my daze. Tumigil siya sa paglalagay ng tamad na halik sa leeg ko at nagtaas ng kilay habang nakatitig sa akin.Nasa balcony kami ng penthouse ko, malamig ang simoy ng hangin na dumadampi sa hubad naming balat. I was comfortably perched on his lap, suot lang ang isa sa mga shirt niya—at wala nang iba sa ilalim. Samantalang siya? Naka-pantalon lang, topless, at ramdam ko pa rin ang init ng katawan niya mula sa kanina naming pagtatalik.Napangiti ako habang palihim siyang pinagmamasdan. Sa hindi ko maipaliwanag na dahilan, I had developed a habit of wearing his clothes after sex. Mas komportable akong gumagalaw sa bahay kapag suot ko ang damit niya kaysa sa sarili kong mga damit. Siguro dahil nananatili ang amoy niya sa mga ‘yon—at gusto ko ‘yun."Earth to Lexie..." he teased, snapping his fingers near my face.Napangiwi ako sa kalokohan niya, but I couldn’t help but smile. Dah
Drew scoffed darkly, his lips twisting into a mocking smirk. "I highly doubt that."I let out a dramatic sigh, giving up on the idea. "Fine," I muttered with a half-pout. "Hindi na kita pipilitin if you don’t want to display your works sa gallery namin. Besides, may point ka rin naman. You’re a private person, and your family is already wealthy enough that you don’t need to sell your art for a living."Nagkaroon ng katahimikan sa pagitan namin. I felt him take a slow, deep breath, as if he was contemplating something big. Then, with a casualness that was almost too deliberate, he spoke. "What will you say if I agree to your proposal?"Nanlaki ang mga mata ko. I sat up straight on his lap, my heart thudding wildly. "No way!" I blurted, barely containing my excitement. "I thought—""Of course," he cut me off with a devilish glint in his eyes, clearly amused by my reaction. His lips curled into a wicked smirk. "I want something in return."Napasinghap ako, narrowing my eyes suspiciously.
"Uh... yes, sure. No problem, Baba," I assured him with a small smile, trying to sound casual. "I’ll just take a few days off from the gallery.""Great!" His voice was filled with warmth. "I’ll be waiting for you here, louloudi mou. I can’t wait to see you again after so many months."I felt my chest tighten at the tenderness in his voice. "I miss you too, Baba. See you soon." My voice was barely above a whisper, my throat suddenly thick with emotion.As soon as the call ended, I slowly lowered my phone onto the table. Taking a steadying breath, I turned to face Drew—only to find him already staring at me with an intense, unreadable expression.He exhaled sharply, pushing himself off the table slightly, his arms crossed over his chest. "Well?" he asked, his voice low and a little impatient. "What did he want?"I offered him a small smile, hugging my midriff instinctively. "He wants me to come home to Greece this weekend. We’re attending a charity auction together. He’s planning to buy
Lexie's Point Of View"May problema ba, anak?""Hm?" Napalingon ako kay Baba na nakaupo sa tabi ko sa likod ng mamahalin niyang sasakyan. Pauwi kami mula sa charity gala. Kagabi lang ako dumating, pero hanggang ngayon parang jet-lagged pa rin ako—sanay pa rin kasi 'yung body clock ko sa oras sa New York."Bakit mo naman naitanong, Baba?""Parang ang layo ng isip mo simula nung umalis tayo ng bahay. May iniisip ka ba? Pwede mong sabihin sa'kin."I laughed at my father's worried expression. "Oh, I'm fine, Baba, you don't need to worry about me.""You sure?" tanong niya, nakatingin sa'kin na parang hindi kumbinsido."Yes!" I flashed him a grin. Nakakamiss 'to—'yung ganitong moment kasama si Baba. Simula nung lumipat ako sa New York para sa work, bihira na akong umuwi. Ilang buwan din akong wala, at ngayon lang ulit ako nakabalik."Tell me about your life in the US.""Pardon?" Napatingin ako sa kanya, medyo naguguluhan. Hindi ko in-expect 'yung tanong na 'yon. For a second, parang na-stuc
Lexie’s Point Of View It suddenly caught me off guard nang bigla niya akong yakapin nang gano’n. Unti-unti ko nang nakakalimutan kung bakit nga ba ako galit sa kanya kanina. Pero hindi pwede. Hindi ko siya dapat hayaan na makalusot nang basta-basta. Gamit ang natitira kong lakas, itinulak ko siya palayo. Kitang-kita ko ang sakit sa mga mata niya habang nakatingin sa akin. Saglit akong natigilan dahil alam kong ako ang dahilan kung bakit siya gano’n ngayon. Pero hindi ako dapat magpadala. Hindi ngayon. Kailangan kong linawin ang ilang bagay sa lalaking ’to bago ko na naman siya hayaang talunin ako ng nararamdaman ko. “Why are you acting like this?” tanong niya, frustration evident in his voice. I crossed my arms and glared at him. “Oh, so now you want to talk? Funny. Where was this energy earlier when you were glaring at me like I stole your million-dollar watch?” Sinalubong ko siya ng matalim na tingin habang nakapamewang. “You have some explaining to do, Drew. First, baki
Lexie’s Point Of View I swallowed hard, trying to push the thought away. No. I couldn’t be greedy. Alam ko naman kung anong setup namin, so I had to remind myself not to expect more. For now, I’d just go with it—enjoy whatever this was while it lasted. Wala nang isip-isip sa kung anong mangyayari bukas. I barely had time to gather my thoughts when Drew moved on top of me, pressing soft kisses on my forehead, cheeks, and nose before finally capturing my lips again. Pero hindi doon natapos ‘yon. His lips trailed down my neck, then lower, hanggang sa maramdaman kong nasa may dibdib ko na siya. My breathing hitched, and the lower he went, the more my body tensed. When he reached my stomach, that’s when it hit me—shit. I knew what he was about to do. “Oh, no. You will not—” “Shhh…” he muttered, cutting me off easily. His fingers hooked around my underwear, sliding it off smoothly before tossing it to the side like it was nothing. “Drew!” I gasped when he spread my legs apart. H
DREW’S POVI pressed my lips against hers again, stealing another kiss like a man starved. *God, I could never get enough of her.* *"Yes,"* I rasped against her mouth, my voice low and rough. *"And just so you know… that’s impossible."* Her brows furrowed slightly. *"What do you mean?"* she asked, her voice barely above a whisper. I smirked wickedly, brushing my thumb along her bottom lip. *"Simple,"* I drawled. *"We both have the same taste… in women."* She blinked slowly, clearly not following. But then, after a beat, her eyes widened in shock. Her cheeks flushed crimson, and she groaned dramatically, covering her face with both hands. *"Oh my god…"* she mumbled into her palms. *"I’m such an idiot. I can’t believe I acted like a jealous psycho."* I laughed, a deep, throaty sound, and gently pried her hands away from her face. *"Don’t you dare hide from me,"* I teased, planting soft kisses along her knuckles. *"I’ve missed you too much to let you do that."*
DREW’S POVI took a long swig of my drink, the burn of the alcohol barely registering anymore.No fucking way am I letting that happen.She was mine now.And I’d be damned if I let some other bastard take her away from me—especially my cousin.Luke will have to step over my dead body first before he gets Lexie back.I wouldn’t let go of the momentum I had with her. Not after everything.I had too much to lose now.I shouldn’t have let her in my life if I knew I’d be this terrified of losing her.No.I wasn’t backing down."Drew?"I looked up at the sound of her voice, instantly sobering.That soft, angelic voice I could recognize anywhere.Lexie.I blinked, my lips curving into a slow smile as she walked toward me. "Hey, beautiful," I greeted, my voice hoarse from the alcohol.Her brows furrowed instantly. "Are you drunk?"I quickly shook my head, but the motion made my vision tilt. Shit."No," I slurred slightly, forcing a grin. "Just… tipsy, I guess."Her frown deepened as she eyed
DREW’S POV"So, what’s the plan? You gonna drink yourself to death or are you finally gonna spill?"I shot Love a sharp glare as she slid onto the barstool beside me, looking way too amused for my liking. Her French accent was faint, barely noticeable now, but her smugness? Yeah, still there."Shut up," I muttered before downing another shot.Instead of being intimidated, she smirked and swirled her drink lazily. "You know, last time we talked, you were practically floating. Going on and on about how you finally had the girl you’ve been pining for all these years." She arched a brow. "What the hell happened?"I groaned, letting my forehead hit the bar with a dull thud. Tangina naman. Leave it to Love to rip open the wound I was trying to drown in alcohol.Just a few days ago, I was convinced I was winning Lexie over. Finally.Now? I was halfway drunk, seething with jealousy, and hating myself for it.Kasi yung interview kanina? It was a complete disaster.Seeing her with Luke? Putangi
### **Lexie’s POV** I glanced at my watch again. *Shit.* There was still time before the interview. I silently prayed that Drew would be late para hindi ako mapunta sa alanganing sitwasyon. I didn't understand why I was feeling on edge while waiting for Luke. *Baka nag-o-overthink lang ako,* I reasoned with myself. But just when I thought I could get away with it... *"Lexie. Sorry to keep you waiting."* Napapikit ako sa inis at napamura nang mahina sa isip ko. *Putangina talaga.* Of all the times, ngayon pa siya naging maaga. I slowly turned around and saw Drew walking towards me. His eyes were locked on mine, but there was a slight edge in them. *Great. Just perfect.* The last thing I wanted was for him to misunderstand the situation between me and his cousin. I forced a nervous smile. "You can pick the spot for the interview," I offered quickly, trying to avoid his eyes. *"I just need to meet someone first. It won’t take long, promise."* His eyes narrowed slight
Lexie’s POVIt had been a week since I started avoiding Drew.Yeah, call me stupid, pero wala akong pakialam. The moment I realized I was slowly falling for him, takot ang nauna. Takot na baka bumagsak na naman ako sa parehong bangin na pinaglaglagan ko noon.I had to remind myself: You’ve been here before, Lexie. You already loved one Veltrano and it nearly destroyed you.And now? History was repeating itself—with his cousin.It made me wonder if it was just some cruel coincidence or if the stars were just being assholes, making sure I’d fall for men who were related to each other.Pero bago pa mahulog nang tuluyan, I decided to protect myself. Before another Veltrano broke me.I had to. Drew never promised me anything. From the very beginning, this was just a no-strings, carefree affair. There were no talks of forever, no commitment, just fleeting moments in each other’s arms.And when he decided to walk away—which he eventually would—I’d be the one left nursing the scars.So, kahit
Lexie’s POVBigla akong natigilan. I knew he was just teasing, but the way he phrased it made me feel like he was digging for something. I let out a nervous laugh. “Not exactly. I just needed some time away.” “Right,” he mused, but there was a knowing look in his eyes. “Well, whoever he is, he has an interesting taste in gifts. Ares, the god of war, for your boss? Sounds like a challenge.” Napangiti na lang ako, trying to play along. “Or maybe he just thought you’d appreciate something unique.” “Hmm. I’ll take that as a compliment,” he said, leaning back in his chair. “Anyway, I should let you get back to work. Thanks for the gift, Lexie. It was unexpected but… amusing.” I nodded, watching as he stood up. “You’re welcome, Mr.—I mean, tristan” He grinned before walking out of my office, leaving me exhaling in relief. That was close. “Anyway,” he continued, “the reason I came to your office is that I heard from Kimberly that you’re friends with Drew Spiridakou. Is that tru
Lexie’s POV That man had hovered the entire time, making sure I didn’t suddenly backtrack on our so-called agreement and start chasing after Luke again. Minsan feeling ko wala talaga siyang tiwala sa’kin pagdating sa pinsan niya. Kahit ilang beses ko nang sinabing wala na ‘yon, parang convinced pa rin siya na isang maling galaw ko lang, babalik ako kay Luke. “…Lexie?” Napatingin ako bigla kay Mr. Tristan, snapping out of my thoughts. I realized too late that I had zoned out. I forced a chuckle, shaking my head. “Ah, yeah. It was… eventful, to say the least.” Mr. Tristan chuckled, leaning back. “That sounds like a loaded answer.” “Let’s just say it wasn’t the peaceful vacation I imagined.” He nodded knowingly. “Family can be… unpredictable.” Unpredictable? That was an understatement. Kung alam lang niya. My trip home turned into an emotional battlefield, and Drew had been right at the center of it—watching my every move, making sure I didn’t slip up and
I took a sip of my iced coffee, refusing to acknowledge his presence. But even without looking, I could feel it—the way he kept glancing at me every now and then. It was annoying. Worse, it was making me feel things I had no business feeling. Habang nag-uusap si Dionne at ang kapatid niya, kunwari akong abala sa pagtingin sa tanawin sa harapan namin. Pero ang totoo? Every single word ng usapan nila, rinig na rinig ko. “That’s odd,” Dionne said, crossing her arms. “Who are you meeting today?” Drew shot her a glare. “Why are you being nosy today? Just a while ago, you were talking crap about me to your friend.” “I did not!” she huffed, looking offended. “I heard you, woman.” His sharp blue eyes locked onto his sister before shifting briefly in my direction. Napakabilis ng pag-iwas ko. No way in hell was I making eye contact with him. Alam kong kapag nagtagpo ang mga mata namin, mahihila na naman ako sa bitag niya. And I refused to give him that satisfaction. “Don’t mind my
Lexie’s POVDionne glanced around, making sure no one else was listening before continuing. “So, when he went home a few weeks ago, he was acting weird—always lost in thought, totally spaced out. I swear he was thinking about someone. Then, out of nowhere, he shows up here and actually attends the charity gala the other night? Like, hello? Since when does he willingly go to those things? And then—boom—he disappears again. He’s been acting suspiciously all weekend. I think he’s been bewitched by some girl.” I shifted uncomfortably in my seat, my heart pounding so hard I swore she could hear it. Did she know? No, impossible. Also, I knew for a fact that her brother wasn’t in love with me, so her assumption was totally off. I forced myself to act casual. “Y-You think?” “I believe so.” My mouth suddenly went dry. No one in our families knew about our secret… whatever this was. “Well, if that’s true, shouldn’t you be happy for him?” Dionne rolled her eyes before slamming her palm o