Berta put her index finger on her lips to make a silencing gesture, then pointed outside the door, indicating to be careful not to be heard by Ivy. Ni hindi nila akalain na naroon nga sa labas si Ivy at “Bakit ka sumisigaw? I was just about to tell you, but you found out about it. Ni hindi mo rin sinabi sa akin na alam mo na pala.”Marahas na bumuntong-hininga si Elton at tuluyan nang naupo sa tabi ni Berta. Doon kinwento niya ang mga sinabi sa kanya ni Ivy sa text messages nito. Hindi na nagulat pa roon si Berta kaya sinabi na rin niya kay Elton ang nangyari.Inabot niya kay Elton ang cheque na binigay sa kanya ni Sebastian at sinabi kung para saan ito.“Just take out the money and put it in the company's public account. If you don't return the money to him, we have the right to take it. Let me report myself. Nakakatawa ang mga sinabi niya,” ani Berta at napailing na lamang dahil sa katangahang taglay ni Ivy. Maging si Elton ay natawa na rin habang si Ivy ay tuluyan nang umalis at bu
"Spectra is not as cheap as you."Natahimik si Ivy nang marinig niya iyon mula kay Sebastian. She had never been belittled so bluntly by a man. She had always been the object of men's pursuit since she was a child, but she was rejected repeatedly in the past two days, and the men who rejected her were all because of that ugly woman!Patuloy sa pagpupuyos ang kanyang kalooban at bakas na bakas sa mga mata niya ang galit na nararamdaman. Kanina niya pa minumura si Spectra sa kanyang isip, kung gaano ito kapangit, kabaho, kasama ang ugali—lahat na yata ng kapintasan sa mundo ay nasa babaeng iyon na! Paano nila nagagawang magustuhan ang ganong klaseng tao?Ivy was so furious, but she didn't show it on her face. She picked up the wine glass and gently touched it on Sebastian's glass."Mr. Villafuerte, happy birthday to me!" She tried to be lively."Happy birthday." Sebastian picked up the wine glass and took a sip. "Now you can tell me where Spectra is and who she is."Hindi sumagot si Ivy
Imbes na bitawan siya ni Sebastian ay mabilis na hinila siya nito papasok sa silid, tinulak siya sa kama, at agad na lumabas. He slammed the door shut and locked it from the outside.Nakahinga nang maluwag si Rosie, ngunit agad din siyang naalarma nang mapagtanto ang ginawa ng lalaki. Hindi siya makakalabas!Hindi na siya nagdalawang-isip pa at sinimulang kalabugin ang pintuan.“You, bastard! Open the door! Why did you lock me in? Condo ko ‘to at ikaw ang dapat umalis! Open the door!" paulit-ulit na sigaw niya.She was extremely anxious. There was a stack of self-portraits in the bag in the bathroom, and the portraits were of Rosie! Naroon din ang teddy bear niyang si Bam-Bam, at may mga litrato siya roon na hawak-hawak iyon. She was just drawing for fun at the time, and now she just wants to give herself a beating!"Shut up. I have something to ask you later." Sebastian's voice was hoarse as he was trying to suppress the fire in his heart.“Inuutusan mo ba ako? What a joke! Why shoul
"What should I do? I really have something urgent to do. Hindi kita puwedeng isama," namomoblemang sabi ni Elton.Kailangan na niyang magmadali upang hanapin si Spectra at ang Ivy nito ay pinipilit pa rin ang nais niyang mangyari. Naalala niya na nasabi sa kanya ni Spectra ang address ng kanyang condo unit, ngunit hindi siya sigurado roon. Malapit lang iyon sa kung nasaan siya ngayon. He just had to look up the properties that had been launched nearby five years ago and then go over and ask.But Ivy was not in his plan. It’s too far to send her back to the villa, and the round trip will take a lot of time!"Get me a room nearby, so I can have a place to stay. Can you pick me up after you finish your work?" Ivy demanded again.Elton sighed and just gave it up. “Fine. Let’s go.”Tingin naman ni Elton ay mas maganda ang ideya na iyon. Lingid sa kanyang kaalaman na may ibang plano si Ivy nang mga oras na iyon. Walang kahit na anong ID na dala si Ivy kaya naman napilitan si Elton na gamit
"What are you talking about? Kung iniisip mong may nangyari sa atin nang gabing iyon, nagkakamali ka. Nothing happened between us. You were drunk and misunderstood..."Sebastian was relieved to see the woman trying hard to conceal herself. Alam niya sa kanyang sarili na si Ayanna ang mahal niya, at nawawala pa rin hanggang ngayon ang kanyang asawa na si Rosie. Although he did that kind of thing to Spectra, he really cannot take responsibility."I can give you any material thing. You can ask for anything you want. As long as it's not too excessive, I will agree to it." He wanted to erase the matter once and for all.Biglang nakaramdam ng kung ano si Rosie. Hindi niya malaman kung anong klaseng pakiramdam ito. Bigla na lamang siyang nawala sa mood at tila nagpupuyos nang husto ang kanyang kalooban. HIndi niya malaman kung ano ang dahilan—sa mga sinabi ni Sebastian na para sa lalaki ay pera lang ang katapat ng lahat, o sa katotohanang batid niya sa kanyang sarili na hindi sigurado si Seb
Ilang minuto pang nagdalawang-isip si Rosie nang marinig niya iyon. Marami pa siyang gagawin at ayaw niyang masayang ang kanyang oras para lamang sa ganitong bagay, ngunit hindi rin naman niya kakayaning iwanan na lamang ito pagkatapos niyang pagsinungalingan ito at nakakuha pa siya ng magandang deal.Rosie sat down again and sighs.“What is it this time? Sabihin mo na ang lahat nang sa ganon ay makaalis na ako.”"Alpha Enterprises and Nexus Ventures are now partners, but you suddenly intervened to sabotage them. Isn't that unreasonable?" tanong ni Sebastian sa malamig at seryoso nitong boses.She didn't expect him to suddenly bring up this matter. She did that to prove that she was not Ayanna and to prove her ability. Hindi pumasok sa isip niya na gagawin itong dahilan ni Sebastian para pasaringan siya at ngayon ay nadagdagan lamang ang konsensya sa kanyang puso.“What do you want to do then?” matapang niyang tanong sa lalaki kahit may kaba sa kanyang dibdib."This incident reminded
Rosie was very nervous, thinking he’s going to ask about Ayanna again. Although they talked about the company's development all night, Sebastian always suddenly asked a question or two about Ayanna.Mapipilitan na naman siyang magsinungaling muli dahil lang sa pagiging makulit ni Sebastian. Tell one lie and cover it up with a hundred lies! Kung anu-ano nang kasinungalingan ang agad niyang inisip bago pa man niya marinig ang tanong ni Sebastian tungkol kay Ayanna. In order to avoid being exposed, she could only give half-answers, which was extremely painful."Please don't tell anyone about our cooperation,” ani Sebastian.Umawang ang bibig ni Rosie at nakahinga siya nang maluwag. Lahat ng nasa isip niya ay naglaho na parang bula."Alright. No problem,” she replied.Rosie was just about to go out when she suddenly heard hurried footsteps outside, followed by a quarrel outside.Lingid sa kaalaman ng dalawa ay nakarating na si Elton sa unit ni Rosie matapos nitong hanapin ang address ng co
Nagpupuyos pa rin ang galit sa puso ni Elton habang inaalala ang mga napagdaanan niya para lang mahanap si Spectra, at ngayon ay tila mas pinipikon pa siya ni Sebastian. Kanina pa niya ito gustong suntukin muli pero hindi niya magawa!“Come here, you idiot,” Spectra ordered him and dragged Elton into the room.Doon niya pinakita ang malinis at maayos na silid. Hindi lukot ang bed sheet, tanging ang dulo lang nito dahil doon siya nakaupo nang matagal kanina. Sa tapat nito ay ang isang upuan, at sa katabi naman nito ay ang maliit na mesa kung saan makikita ang mga nagkalat na papel sa ibabaw nito.The computer on the table was still on, with a Word table listing the quotation on the screen. Tila biglang nahiya si Elton nang makita iyon. Spectra was right. They were indeed discussing work plans all night!Sumungaw ang pilyong ngiti at nagkakamot ng ulo na humarap si Elton kay Spectra. Hindi niya alam kung paano magpapaliwanag at babawiin ang kanyang naging reaksyon kanina.“Thank you for