Chapter 4

XAVIEN'S P.O.V

NEXT DAY

Pagkagising na pagkagising ko ay agad kong inihanda ang sarili. I'm planning to go Zaino's funeral now at nag suot ng formal attire, naka slacks ako at long sleeve black polo, I unbutton the first three buttons of my polo so I would look hot. Of course, it's important to look hot.

It's 9:30 AM in the morning now, ilang minuto lang ang lumipas ay may kumatok sa office room ng Pavillion.

"Boss, it's me." boses ni Jared ang narinig ko kaya lumakad ako papunta sa may pintuan at pinag buksan siya ng pinto.

Jared look at me, nag tataka ata siya bakit hindi ako naka-suit which I always wear on work.

"Cancel all my schedules this morning Jared, I must pay Zaino a visit since I'm his friend, right?" Nakangisi kong saad.

"I understand boss, but.." Nag aalinlangang saad ni Jared.

Kumunot ang noo ko, "What?!" I yell at him.

"You have a meeting with Mr. Dreux this 10:00 AM sir Xavien, you have been declining to meet him since last week due to your busy schedule, if you're still going to postpose your meeting with him today, you might as well miss an opportunity to get him on your side." Paalala ni Jared.

Shoot, I almost forgot about Mr. Dreux, I've been trying so hard to approach him last month, but due to big and more important events I need to attend, I postponed our meeting twice. Buti nalang talaga at nandito si Jared para i-remind ako lagi.

"Ugh! This afternoon, I have a board meeting with the shareholders, am I right?" tanong ko at napamasahe sa noo ko.

"Yes, boss." Kumpirma ni Jared.

"If I may suggest boss, mamayang gabi nalang kaya kayo dumalaw sa lamay ni Sir Zaino? I'm sure few people will be there when it's morning, but later this evening, I think a lot of big guys will be there boss." suggest ng secretary kong si Jared.

Napangisi ako, he knows me well. Alam ni Jared na I want to be the center of attraction. Of course the more maraming tao ang makakapansin sa presence ko, the more they realize how close I am to the Mavros which is good.

"Well then, I guess mamayang gabi nalang ako pupunta doon to pay my respect." I said smirking.

Nagpalit na muna ako ng damit, my usual outfit in going to work. I attend my meeting with Mr. Druex this morning, I took my lunch and after, I attend the board meeting.

*FAST FORWARD*

Timecheck: 7:00 PM

Kasalukuyan na akong nandito sa kotse kinakalas ang necktie ko, hinubad ko ang suit ko at nag bihis ng black polo. We're now on our way to Johannes' Funerary to visit my dear friend Zaino.

After fifteen minutes, nakarating na kami and as expected there are a lot of people kahit nasa labas pa lang.

I smirk when I saw there are reporters infront of the exclusive entrance which is surrounded by the Mavros' bodyguards.

"Let the game begins." I said at sinenyasan si Jared na lumabas na sa driver's seat at pag buksan ako ng pinto dito sa passenger's seat.

May nakapansin atang reporter kaya agad na nagsi-takbuhan sa gawi ko ang mga ito, lumabas ako sa kotse at napatingin sa isang pamilyar na guard, naaninag niya ata na ako si Xavien Dawson, ang kaibigan ni Zaino kaya nagsi-takbuhan din ang ibang bodyguards para harangin ang mga reporters sa dinadaanan ko.

"Mr. Dawson, are you here to pay respect to Mr. Mavros?" panimula ng isang reporter.

"We want to hear something from you, Mr. Dawson. Please say something." dagdag ng isa.

"Mr. Dawson give us your statement, how did you feel upon hearing the news about Mr. Zaino's sudden death?" rinig kong tanong ng isang reporter habang nag lalakad ako papasok kaya napatigil na ako.

Bumuntong hininga ako as I made a long sad face,

"I.. I actually can't believe any of this. I was shock, I thought he just got himself injured a little from the accident. I thought it wasn't that big deal... Nagulat nalang ako.. Nabalitaan ko nalang na wala na siya. I felt so devastated, I don't know how to react. Zaino is such a good friend. I can't believe he's gone at a young age, he still have a lot of things he want to achieve but unfortunately he's not here anymore." Naiiyak kong pahayag sa harap ng camera. Well, totoo naman talagang nagulat ako, diba?

It's unfortunate that you have to die and ruin my plan like this, Zaino.

"Speaking of Mr. Zaino's future plan, what will happen to Mavros now that their successor's gone, Mr. Dawson? Do you know anything?" tanong ulit ng reporter,

Nag simula na akong maglakad muli as I'm not planning to answer that question. Because even I myself is hesitant to what I should answer.

Nang tuluyan na akong makapasok, binati ako ng iilang mga businessman, directors, and shareholders na kilala ko. May mga kilala din akong mga engineers, doctors, and lawyers na nandito ngayon at isa isa ko silang binati.

Dumeretso na muna ako sa kung saan nandoon talaga ang bangkay ni Zaino, and I saw Chairman Zack talking to someone else near Zaino's corpse.

I cleared my throat and offer a white roses to the dead, sinigurado kong mapapansin talaga ni Chairman Zack ang presence ko and as expected, nag wagi ako at napatingin siya sa gawi ko.

Dahan dahan siyang lumapit sa akin as I glance at Zaino's corpse.

"You're Xavien Dawson, right?" panimula ni Chairman Zack. I look at him right away at nag panggap na nagulat.

"C-Chairman Zack, I didn't notice that you were near." kunware kong panimula.

"My condolences about what happen to Zaino, sir. It really such a waste that he ended up this way." Nalulungkot kong dagdag showing empathy to his son. M

He smiled, "Zaino mentioned you a lot, Xavien. You two seems to be a close friend." saad niya instead of replying to my respect.

Zaino mentioned me to this old man? That foolish demon, he really did treat me as friend, lol.

"Yeah, sir. It's been an honor to have such a good friend like your son." I answered back.

"I heard you were helping him a lot with handling business, you were helping him with his last project right?" tanong ni Chairman.

I shyly smiled, "Yes, sir." tipid kong sagot.

"Hmm, Dawson Foundation, right? You're the second wealthiest guy in the country. How impressive, I don't know a young man like you is capable of doing all of that." Puri sa akin ni Chairman Zack

"Thank you, sir. Hindi ko rin po inakalang magiging successful ako ng ganito. Maybe because I want Madame Dawson to be proud of me in heaven." sagot ko. Yeah aside from the fact that I am not satisfied yet with my wealth is that I really want to prove that old woman who adopted me that I am worth it. That I deserve to be the one inheriting all her wealth.

" She surely is proud of you, young man. I wish I have a responsible son who thinks like the way you did." sagot niya at tinapik ang balikat ko.

Natigilan ako, how can he say that? Seems like he doesn't trust Zaino that much, huh?

Ngumiti nalang ako.

"So, excuse me first. I hope Dawson Foundation would continue helping the Mavros Group in the future. I will see you again, soon, iho." Paalam ni Chairman at tinuro ang isang lalaki na parang kailangan niya sigurong kausapin.

Lumakad siya paalis at nanatili ako ng mga ilang minuto malapit sa bangkay ni Zaino. Napa ikot ang tingin ko sa paligid, I think something's missing.

Napag desisyonan kong mag lakad lakad sa paligid, may mga umapproach din sa aking mga kakilala ko kaya nakipag-usap din ako saglit sa kanila.

After an hour, I was about to decide to leave when I heard something from the dark side near the dead.

May ingay akong narinig sa sulok kaya sumilip ako. To my surprise, nadatnan ko ang pag sampal ng isang babaeng may edad sa isang babaeng kaedad ko.

Kumunot ang noo ko habang sumisilip. Is that Zara Mavros?

"M-Mom!"

"How dare you come here as if nothing happen, you sly fox?! You killed my son, right?! You planned all of this so you would become the next heir of Mavros!"

Nanlaki ang mga mata ko sa narinig.

"What the hell are you talking about mom! Hindi man kami magkasundo ni Zaino, but I would never do that to him!" Pangangatwiran ng Zara.

And again... *SLAP*

"You wicked girl!"

Sinampal ulit ni Mrs. Mavros si Zara sa kaliwa, at *SLAP* sinundan niya ulit ng sampal sa kanang pisngi niya.

"How dare you covet my son's place? I will never let you take over the whole Mavros, tandaan mo yan. Baka nakakalimutan mo Zara? Pagkakamali ka lang ni Zack, kung tutuusin wala kang karapatang umapak sa teritoryo ko. You should know your place." Galit na galit na saad ni Caroline Mavros habang nakayuko lang si Zara at hindi na umimik pa.

Napansin kong paalis na siya at naglakad siya papunta sa gawi ko kaya agad akong nag tago sa likod para hindi niya ako makita.

Ilang sandali narinig ko ang pag sigaw ni Zara sa sulok,

"AAAAH F*CK!" Naiinis na hiyaw ni Zara. Lumabas siya and I saw her walk away papunta sa garden ng Johannes Funerary.

To my curiosity I followed her from a far... I saw her sit in the bench where it's not surrounded by any lights. Ayaw niya yatang may makapansin sa kanya kaya nasa sulok siya. Tinago niya ang mukha niya sa dalawang palad niya at yumuko. Siguro naiinis siya sa pambibintang ng stepmother niya sa kanya.

While staring at her bigla kong naalala ang sinabi ni Mrs. Mavros kay Zara at ang sinabi sa akin ni Chairman Zack kanina.

Then I suddenly came up with a new plan...

Of course, since Zaino's gone, the very first thing the Chairman would do is to pass the inheritance to someone related to him by blood.

If that so... He will surely make his daughter the new heiress of Mavros.

Zara will be the next successor of their business, and Chairman Zack wishes to have a son like me? I grin, my new plan is settled then.

I decided to walk slowly towards Zara. As I come closer, napansin kong mahina siyang humihikbi. So she's crying, huh?

I get my handkerchief from my pant's pocket, at ng sobrang lapit ko na sa kanya, I handed her my handkerchief in the air near her face.

"A beautiful lady like you shouldn't be crying in such a dark place like this. Why are you here alone? Your beauty should always seen in the spotlight, not here." Panimula ko at napansin kong napatigil siya sa pag hikbi.

Dahan dahang umangat ang ulo niya at gulat siyang tumingin sa akin. We were both looking straight to our eyes.

I immediately smiled sweetly and instead of giving her the handkerchief, my hand moves toward her face and I start wiping the tears falling from her face using my bare hands.

"Why are you crying, Zara?" I asked in a very soothing tone, she still look at me in shock and can't even utter a word.

I have finally came up with a decision, the only way to get them in my hands is to tame this woman right infront of me...

The heiress of Mavros should fall in love with me.

*smirks*

~