Chapter 1

(ZARA'S POV)

Huminto ang van na sinasakyan ko sa entrance kung saad may red carpet,

"Are you ready, Zara?" Tanong ng manager kong si Kim habang ang make up artist ko ay ni-re-retouch ang make-up ko.

"Whatever." I rolled my eyes at kinalas ang kamay ng makeup artist kong lalagayan pa sana ako ng foundation ulit,

"Ano ba, gagawin mo ba akong harina?!" Hiyaw ko dito at sinamaan siya ng tingin.

"A-Ay sorry po, Miss Zara." sagot nito.

Akmang bubuksan na ni Kim ang pinto ng van pero pinigilan ko ito ng makita ko ang pag dating nila,

"Wait." saad ko.

Nakita kong lumabas sa kotse si Daddy na naka tux, at pinag buksan ng pinto si Mom na naka-formal dress, sa nakasunod na kotse, bumungad ang nakakatanda kong kapatid na si Zaino, wearing a suit.

"Zara tara na, nandyan na ang parents mo!" Sermon ni Kim.

"Fine. Let's go." Naiirita kong saad, binuksan naman ni Kim ang van at ang atensyon ng media na nasa pamilya ko ay napatingin sa akin.

Lumabas ako sa van, at na expose ang designer's bodycon blue long dress ko.

"Here comes our lovely Zara, the living princess goddess of the Mavros." rinig kong anunsyo ng host ng programa.

"KYAAAAH ZARA!"

"WE LOVE YOU, MISS ZEE!"

"ZARA! ZARA!", rinig kong hiyaw ng mga fans kong pininipigilan ng mga bodyguards na makalapit sa akin.

*click click*

Nasisilaw ako sa bawat flash ng camera sa gawi ko, pero pinilit kong ngumiti ng matamis at kumaway-kaway sa paligid habang nag lalakad ako sa gawi nila Dad.

"Live here in ZM News, matutunghayan natin ang pag dating ng pamilyang Mavros sa 25th anniversary ng Mavros Group of Corporation dito sa ZCorp Convention Hall kung saan gaganapin ang press conference na inihanda sa atin ni Chairman Zack Mavros." I heard from the billboard above about the news.

Nang makalapit na ako agad akong nakipag beso beso kay Dad and Mom habang suot naming apat ang mga malalapad naming ngiti.

"Sweetie, I'm glad you came on time." Panimula ni Mom at niyakap ako,

"Hi mom, Hi dad." magalang kong bati sa kanila.

"Hey sis, looking good." dagdag ni Zaino at hinalikan ang kaliwang palad ko.

"Mr. Zaino, Ms. Zara, kindly look here." biglang singit ng isang photographer, hinila naman ako ni Zaino palapit sa kanya at inakbayan ako sa balikat, sabay kaming ngumiting dalawa sa picture.

"Such a lovely siblings. Siguro close talaga kayong dalawa ni Miss Zara, Mr. Zaino?" tanong ng isang reporter.

"Of course, I love my sister so much, kaya for those whose planning to come near Zara, kailangan niyo munang dumaan sa akin ah." birong warning tone ni Zaino habang nakaharap sa camera.

Tumawa naman ako at hinampas siya, "Zaino.. Stop being overprotective, baka hindi na ako makapag-asawa dahil sayo." biro ko din at natuwa naman ang mga nakapaligid na reporters sa amin.

"Zaino, Zara, let's go. Excuse us, ladies and gentlemen." tawag ni Dad, nag simula ng harangan ng mga bodyguards namin ang mga tao especially reporters na ang daming kung ano anong tanong, at nag lakad na kami papasok sa convention hall,

Nang makapasok na kami sa exclusive waiting room para sa aming apat, bumuntong hininga ako kasabay ng pagka wala ng mga ngiti ko sa labi.

"Okay, show's over." Saad ni Zaino at nag lakad sa may swivel chair para umupo.

I rolled my eyes, para namang gusto ko ding makipag plastikan kasama siya.

"Zaino, move. That's my chair." pag papaalis ko sa kanya sabay turo ng may sign na 'Zara'.

He raised one brow to me, "And so? Everything in here is mine, little sis. This is a Mavros Property, so your chair is mine." sagot niya.

Hindi ko nalang siya pinansin at pinatawag ko kay Kim ang make up artist ko para i-retouch ang mukha ko. Simula ng inanunsyo ni Dad sa public last year na si Zaino ang tagapag-mana ng Mavros Group, lumaki na ang ulo nitong kapatid ko. Well, kung masama ang ugali niya dati, mas sumama pa ngayon. I owned 15 percent share of the company, and the rest will all be Zaino's. Unfair? Yes, but I can't do anything about it. And besides, I am contented with everything I have now.

Zaino is only one year older than me kaya hindi na ako nag bother na tawagin siyang Kuya. Tsaka kahit kailan, we were never close to each other, I grow up without any respect on him.

"Ma'am, sir, please standby, the presscon will start 5 minutes from now." Briefing sa amin ng isang staff.

After five minutes nagsi-tayuan na nga kami at ng marinig naming tinawag na kami ng host,

"Let's welcome, Chairman Zack, Mrs. Mavros, Zaino, and Zara, the Mavros Family!" lumabas na kami sa waiting room at sinalubong ang nakakasilaw na liwanag mula sa mga camera ng reporters.

Umupo kaming apat at katapat namin ang host.

"Wow such an honor to meet in person ang bigating pamilyang Mavros. Hello, Chairman Zack, and to your beautiful wife, Mrs. Caroline." Panimula ng host.

"Hello, young man, it's such an honor to be here too. Thank you for joining the Mavros Group's 25th anniversary tonight." sagot ni Dad at ngumiti lang si Mom sa camera. Tse.

"Our pleasure, sir. Next is to the most hot and handsome heir of Mavros Group, Zaino! Wow, good to see you here dude." Saad ng host, mukhang magkakilala sila ni Zaino.

"Hi, Jeremiah. Hi, everyone!" bati ni Zaino.

"Next is to our very owned Queen of melodrama, Ms. Zara Hadleigh. Omg hi Zara, you're so beautiful in person, I'm a big fan of yours!" hiyaw ng host, bakit kasi lalaki ang host ngayon, malamang isa siya sa nabihag sa angkin kong kagandahan, lol.

I chuckled, "Hello po, thank you so much. And good evening, everyone!" Bati ko din at kumaway kaway sa paligid.

"So let's start, papasukin na natin ang mga well known reporters para masimulan na natin ang ating presscon ngayong gabi."

"I agreed to this presscon for a change, because throughout the years, we've always been throwing a party whenever Mavros anniversary is approaching, and now we would like to devote ourselves in providing people all the best that we can offer. I would like to thank everyone who's always been rooting for Mavros' undying success, for the people supporting my children, Zaino and Zara, we're not where we are today without the help of you people. Remember our motto in Mavros everyone? Our accomplishments are everyone's accomplishments." Introduction na panimula ni Dad.

As you can see, we are not just an ordinary family, Mavros Group of Corporation own a lot of businesses here in our country. We owned a clothing company, a department store, a law and accounting firm, a medical center, an entertainment industry for model, singers/dancers, and actors/actresses like me, a shoe factory and food company.

Pumuwesto na ang mga reporters sa mga upuan kaya nag simula na rin kaming mag entertain ng question.

"Chairman Zack, kailan niyo po i-ta-take over sa anak niyo ang buong Mavros Group?" unang tanong ng isang lalaking reporter.

"Hmm well we still didn't talk about it but most probably when I turned 60 next year, medyo matanda na rin ako at madali ng magkasakit. Mavros Group deserves to have a strong and healthy chairman for the next 50 years. Right, Zaino?" Dad answered and tap Zaino's back.

"Another question Mr. Zack, may big project bang paparating ang Mavros in partnership with Dawson?" tanong nito.

Natigilan ako at napatingin kay Zaino. Dawson Foundation, ito ang pumapangalawang bigating business establishment kasunod namin. The CEO of Dawson Foundation is none other than Xavien Kainoa Dawson, a young billionaire na mag-isa nalang sa buhay. He is a close friend of Zaino since college, I still remember him back when we were in college, he's a silent and mysterious type of guy who's always taking things seriously. Mag biro ka na sa lahat, huwag lang sa isang Xavien Dawson.

"Abangan niyo nalang po, I'm sure you all know that Xavien is my friend, a partnership and collaboration with Dawson will be a win-win situation for the both of us." sagot ni Zaino instead of Dad.

Well, halata namang sinadya niyang ipakalat na magkaibigan sila ng Xavien na yon dahil makakadagdag ito sa good reputation niya bilang tagapagmana ni Dad.

"Moving on to Mrs. Caroline, how are you feeling that your son will be soon the next successor of Mavros Group, madame?" tanong ng babaeng reporter.

"Of course I'm elated, Zaino has been preparing for this moment to come since he's still a kid. Zack and I thinks that Zaino deserves this." mahinhin na sagot ni Mom.

"How about Zara, madame Caroline? There are rumors running around that Ms. Zara just own a little share of Mavros group and you have a bad relationship, is it because she's an illegitimate child of Chairman Zack?" prankang tanong nung reporter. Natahimik ang lahat sa tanong ng reporter na iyon.

Palihim kong iniyukom ang kamao ko, how dare she mention that I'm dad's illegitimate child in front of everyone, especially we're on live now. I tried my best to act natural and just look at Mom.

"O-Oh where did you heard that from, Miss Reporter? No, that's not true. Zara has been with us ever since she's five, and I raise Zara as my own daughter, dahil wala naman akong anak na babae. I love her as much as I love Zaino." Denied ni Mom, lol she's such a bad actress, as an actress myself, halatang halata sa mukha niya ang pagsisinungaling nito.

Even though anak ako ni Dad sa labas, no one can messed up with me because I'm still a Mavros, except for Mom and Zaino who mistreat me when I was still powerless, but ever since I went famous, I don't let anyone stamp on me even them.

Napansin ko namang tinignan ako ni Mom as if she's telling me to agree to her.

"Mom's right, everyone. The four of us has always been so close, especially me and Zaino, right, dude?" dagdag ko at ngumiti ng matamis.

Matapos nun, marami pang mga tanong ang mga reporters kay Dad at Zaino tungkol sa kompanya kay nanatili lamang akong tahimik dahil hindi naman ako involved doon. Mga 20 minutes later ng biglang nag raise ng question para sa akin ang isang reporter,

"Ms. Zara, do you have any upcoming movies or series this year?" tanong nito.

"Yeah, actually we're working on something together with Director Jin." sagot ko.

"Speaking of Director Jin, may kumakalat sa social media na magkarelasyon kayo. Is that true, Ms. Zara?" dagdag na tanong nito.

Nagulat ako. What?! How come I didn't know about that?

Tumingin si Dad, Mom at Zaino sa akin. Sasagot na sana ako pero nag pakita ng stolen picture ang reporter kung saan nakuha doon ang mukha ko at ni Director Jin papasok sa isang hotel. Are you kidding me?! 

Nagsimulang mag bulong-bulungan ang paligid at napunta sa akin ang mga atensyon ng tao, nakita ko ring masama ang tingin ni Dad kaya nawala ako sa focus.

Sh*t.

~

(XAVIEN'S POV)

"O-Oooh, Xavien, t-that's it, harder p-please!" The girl that I don't even know it's name moaned when I move inside her fast.

"Yeah that's right, moan my name baby." I whispered huskily in her ears while I'm f*cking her real hard.

"Yes.. Oh god! Aaah Xavien I'm c*mming!" She exclaimed. I  f*ck her even hard and move as fast as I can, and when I felt like I'm also about to c*m I immediately remove my manhood inside her.

Instead of cumming outside her not so tight p*ssy, I turn, and placed my manhood on her mouth, demanding her to blow job me.

She follows, and gives me a mindblowing performance before I exploded on her mouth, "Aaaah f*ck!" I moaned as soon as I got satisfied.

"Hmmpkk--" my girl hissed, her mouth is full of my white juice.

I smirk and grabbed her hair, "Swallow it, you sl*t." Utos ko. Nilunok naman niya ito at napahiga kami sa kama dalawa, catching both of our breaths.

"Get out." saad ko matapos ang ilang minutong nawala na ang libog ko sa katawan.

The girl look at me with a disbelief look,

"What?! Xavien, I just got here. Let's have more fun--" Sagot nito pero binara ko agad.

"How much?" tanong ko.

"Excuse me?!" she yelled.

I get my wallet from the pocket of my pants, and throw her all my cash left in the wallet, I bet it's more likely P20,000 above.

"Will that be enough?" malamig kong tanong, looking at her blankly.

Naging maamo ang mukha niya at dali-daling kinuha ang tinapon kong pera sa kama. Tse, gold diggers.

"If yes, then get out." I added and stood up to wore my robe.

"Okay chill, till next time, baby." The sl*t said seductively while putting her clothes on, and she wink at me before leaving my room.

I'm here at a night club's private suite, masyado akong naging abala sa trabaho lately, and I miss having fun, so I went here so chill a little bit. Yeah, having a one night stand is my definition of chilling out.

I grab the TV remote on the table and turn on the television while I poured wine in my glass. Bumungad sa akin ang live press conference ng mga may-ari ng Mavros Group of Corporation,

[Miss Zara? May namamagitan ba inyo ni Director Jin?] tanong ng isang reported, mukhang nasa open forum na part na yata.

Zara, the famous actress, she's cute but too bad because she's an illegitimate child, I guess it's hard on her part knowing from what Zaino told me, they hate each other. It's funny how I watch them acting like a sweet happy family infront of the camera, where in fact alam ko ang tinatagong baho ng pamilya nila.

I stare at the four of them while I wiggled my glass of wine, especially Zaino, my plan is already perfect, kailangan ko nalang hintayin na si Zaino na talaga ang magpapatakbo ng kompanya nila, once everything is under his control, I can easily snatch away and manipulate all his investors, shareholders, and the board of directors because I'm successful and Zaino's friend, no one will be suspicious about what I'm going to do. I smirked.

*knock knock*

"Sir, it's me." rinig kong saad ng lalaki sa labas ng room.

"Come in." tipid kong sagot.

"Sir, we need to go, maaga pa ang guest role mo bukas sa opening ceremony ng Quest Academy." paalala ng secretary at personal assistant kong si Jared.

Tumango naman ako at nag bihis bago tuluyang umalis sa night club.

~

(ZARA'S POV)

Tahimik kaming tumungo pabalik waiting room na exclusive para saamin matapos ang press con.

"Dad, about earlier I'm sorry---"

*slaps*

"Zack, oh gosh!" Hiyaw ni Mom na parang nagulat sa pag sampal sa akin ni Dad.

"Are you dating Director Jin, Zara?!" sigaw ni Dad. Kami lang apat ang narito sa loob dahil pinaalis muna ni Dad ang mga bodyguards tsaka ang mga tauhan ko din.

"Of course not dad! Seriously, ako? Makikipag-relasyon sa matanda?" pagsasabi ko ng totoo. Director Leonardo Jin is a 41 years old guy at may pamilya ito, are they implying that I'm a mistress? Hell no!

I look at Mom at nahuli ko siyang ngumisi sa likod ni Dad. Great, that means siya ang may pakana nito.

"If not, then you should have been careful Zara. You're an actress, you're a Mavros. And what are you two doing in a hotel, huh?!" galit na tanong ni Dad.

"It's just about my incoming project dad! You can talk to my manager and can check my previous schedules okay? We just talked in a private suite, hindi ko naman alam na may makakalusot na paparazzi, unless kung nandito lang sa malapit ang nagpakalat." sagot ko at tinignan si Mom.

Napahilamos sa mukha si Dad at kinuha ng phone niya, may tinawagan siya,

"Hello, william?! Bring down all the articles about Zara and Director Jin published online, okay?! I don't want to see any news tomorrow mentioning my daughter's name with that lowlife Director. Understood?!" galit na kausap ni Dad sa tauhan niya sa telepono.

" Let's go home." Mariin na saad ni Dad at lumabas na ng waiting room. Susunod na sana ako pero biglang nag salita si Mom,

"Zara, stop bringing shame to this family okay? Why don't you just get married? Para mawala na ang Mavros sa pangalan mo. Ugh,  a scandal with that old Director? How embarrassing, Zack must be really disappointed on you." saad ni Mommy sa akin.

I sigh, "I said that's not true, sino ba ang nagpakilala sa akin kay sa Mr. Jin na iyon in the first place, mom? Hindi ba, ikaw yun? Gusto mo bang sabihin ko kay Dad?" nakangisi kong sagot sa kanya.

"Zara, enough! Ikaw na nga ang gumawa ng gulo, ikaw pa ang may ganang mag tapang-tapangan? Come on, grow up!" Sabat naman ni Zaino. Here comes the mommy's boy na laging kumakampi sa demonyo ng nanay.

"Baka nakakalimutan mo, you should be always grateful, you're not here in this industry if it isn't because of us."

I glare at him, "Really, Zaino? Ano bang ambag niyo sa paghihirap kong makatungtung kung saan ako ngayon, pera?  And grateful? Of course I am, to Dad. Pero sa inyong dalawa? Dream on." Naiinis kong sagot at akmang aalis na rin.

"Ang kapal talaga ng mukha mo, ano? Lumalaki ang ulo mo dahil palaging nililigpit ni Dad ang kalat mo, just wait until I get full control of Mavros, Zara." banta ni Zaino.

Hinarap ko siya, "What will you do? Kick me out? Destroy my reputation? Then go! Nag salita naman ang only son ng Mavros na walang ibang ginawa kundi maging sakit sa ulo kay Dad." I said and rolled my eyes.

Tuluyan na akong umalis at dumeretso sa van kung saan nag hihintay yung manager ko.

"Ms. Zara, sa mansion niyo ka ba uuwi?" tanong ng driver ko.

Sinamaan ko ito ng tingin,

"Bobo ka ba?! Why would I go there knowing na may sarili akong apartment? Bring me home!" sigaw ko dito.

Nataranta naman ang driver ko, at nag simula ng paandarin ang sasakyan,

"Mukhang bad mood na naman." rinig kong bulong ng personal assistant kong si Jessi,

"Kailan ba yan hindi naging bad mood, Jessi?" bulong na sagot ni Kim, ang manager ko.

I glare at the both of them.

"Ay sorry." Nag peace sign pa si Kim sa akin.

Napabuntong hininga ako at pinikit ang mga mata ko, somehow I feel scared with the fact that when Zaino inherit the whole Mavros, everything will be complicated, Zaino is evil, baka mawala lang ang lahat ng pinaghirapan ni Dad. Hays.

~