* ¿Quién te crees?: Who do you think you are? * ¿Qué demonios estás haciendo?: What the heck are you doing?
Antonio's POV"Arrrghh!!" I growled in frustration, tugging my hair.I never expected that brat to be this smart. I thought voicing out our assumptions to him would make him confirm the accusation, but he hadn't fallen for the trap."Boss, a majority of our investors have withdrawn from the company. The board members are also leaving," Javier said, walking up to me."I also discovered someone is buying shares from the company at a fast rate. It won't be long before the company's value reduces to nothing. What do we do?"I was short of words. Everything was happening so fast, and I couldn't do anything about it."Dad, he said he's suing me for defamation," Elizabeth said, her face darkened as she stood rooted on the spot.The situation was traumatic for both of us. Our world seemed to be caving in and fast.My secretary, Elena, reported, "Sir, there's an email from a lawyer stating your daughter is to appear in court in two days.""The police are on their way. If they took you with them
Adrian's POVA female employee burst into the room, startling everyone."I'm sorry, Mr. Ortega, but you have visitors," she stated with bated breath."Who are they?" I asked, frowning."The CEO of Gerrovial Infrastructure, his daughter, and his assistant," she replied, stunning everyone in the room."Why is he here?" Daniel gasped in surprise."We don't know. I hope he's not here to cause any harm," Michael replied, his brows furrowed.I scoffed inwardly at their childish thoughts and said, "This is my territory, not his. I doubt he's here to cause trouble because he lacks the resources or power to do such.""What do we do?" Juan inquired with a cautious tone.'Good question,' I thought, deliberating on it momentarily."Usher them into the conference room," I ordered the female employee. "Michael, watch the meeting through the security cameras. Daniel and Joyce, you're coming with me."I took long strides out of the PR department, heading to the conference room as fast as possible to
Antonio's POVSelling my wife's legacy was better than having it shut down by the government. Logically, if Gerrovial Infrastructure were to go bankrupt, I would lose everything- my family, wealth, and freedom. I was going to jail anyway.I felt tempted to accept the offer. He promised a considerable price that would benefit both sides. I didn't want to believe his words at first, but Javier had signaled to me to listen to what he had to say.I was ready to listen to what he was about to offer, but my spoilt daughter had to disrupt the conversation at the most inconvenient time."Please, you can ask for anything in return, but not my mother's company," she stated, her eyes brimming with tears.I nudged her gently with a whisper. "Keep quiet, Lizzy. Let's hear what he has to say."She effortlessly ignored my warnings and approached Mr. Ortega from her seat."What are you doing?" I gasped in shock, staring at her in disbelief as she knelt before Mr. Ortega. Even Javier was stunned by her
ADRIAN'S POV"Sir, we should celebrate," Daniel suggested excitedly as soon as Antonio and the others left, his voice brimming with excitement."Hmph... Let's go back to the PR department." I stood up.We exited the conference room and headed for the PR department, where everyone stood, eagerly waiting for us to deliver the news."We've acquired Gerrovial Infrastructure," Daniel announced and half screamed, and immediately, the news was welcomed with rounds of applause and joyful cheers that reverberated through the room.It wasn't monumental, but it was worth celebrating."How about a celebratory party," one of the ladies suggested."Yes! Oh yes, please! It is an unwritten tradition here. We always do whenever the company achieves a new milestone," another lady squealed.Daniel giggled, his eyes holding mine, silently begging for approval. "I know you're eager to party and ease some stress, but we’ll need the boss’s go-ahead before we can indulge in preparations."Everyone's piercing
ANTONIO'S POVElizabeth and I jumped out of the car and ran straight into the hospital building. We didn't meet anyone at the reception, so we passed through the elevator and headed for the Intensive Care Unit, where Isabel was transferred."Where's Dr. Torres?" I asked, aggressively grabbing the hands of a nurse I had met on the way. She seemed to be heading somewhere.The nurse flinched with fear etched on her face, but I couldn't care less. The image of my wife was the only thing clouding my memory at that moment."Calm down, Mr. Goméz," the nurse said, trying to release her hands from my grasp."I want to see my wife," I yelled in frustration. I was called and told to come here urgently. Where's the doctor?""He's with your wife right now," She replied, shuddering.I released her hands and walked briskly to the ICU unit. We arrived in front of the room and saw a shocking scene through the glass protecting the room from outsiders.Dr. Torres and a team of medical staff surrounded I
Joyce's POVI was informed that the personal assistant of Mr. Goméz had arrived and was waiting for me in the meeting room."I'm leaving, sir," I announced to Adrian, who gave a slight nod with his eyes glued to his phone. The sudden news of the deceased's passing was shocking, but it was also expected.I picked up the necessary materials I'd need and stepped out of the office. The thought of Rafael popped up in my head. I felt the urge to check on him, but then I remembered I had a business to attend to.Adrian wanted the whole process of acquisition to end today.I pushed the door to the room and walked in to see a young man sitting on a chair. He was the same person I saw earlier today, but his appearance was disheveled."Hello, Mr. Javier. I'm sorry I'm late," I apologized politely, taking my seat.He was sitting before me so that I could see his swollen eyes."Are you okay, Mr. Javier?" I asked worriedly, but I didn't get a reply. His eyes seemed distant, his mind elsewhere.Relu
Adrian's POVI slowly opened my eyes to the harsh lights of my office, exhaustion clinging to me. My head was throbbing, and my body was stiff. I gently adjusted my seat, displeased that I had fallen asleep.It was then that I noticed the jacket draped over my body. My seat had also been made to lean backward. I had no memories of carrying out those actions before falling asleep, so I chose to ignore them.My gaze darted round the room, from Joyce's empty spot to the table clock in front of me.It was already 9 pm. There was definitely nobody left in the building.Groggy, I stood up from my chair and grabbed my jacket, ensuring I regained consciousness well enough.I passed through the elevator and got out of the building. James, my personal chauffeur, was already waiting patiently for me while leaning on the car."Good evening, boss," He greeted with a bow, his hands covered in gloves placed on his chest. "Are we heading to the penthouse?""Yes," I nodded in affirmation. He opened th
Joyce's POVThe morning was like every other: exhausted smiles, soggy cereals, and the frantic rush to get my little one ready for daycare on time.I made him use his face cap and rushed out of the house. It was already 8:30 a.m.; I couldn't afford to be late for the meeting. I boarded a cab, which took us right to Santoria Industries.The next step was to drop Rafael off at the daycare. Madame Pat greeted me stoically, and I smiled, trying to ease the awkward tension.""Good morning, Madame Pat," I greeted politely."Good morning to you, too," she replied flatly."I won't be late this time," I assured her.She ignored me and greeted Rafael with a smile. I watched him settle down before leaving for the office. I sighed in relief when I got there and noticed Adrian wasn't in by the time I arrived.The incident from last night flashed before me, and I tensed at the thought of him finding out that I was the one who had tried to make him a tad bit comfortable as he slept."I shook my head
Gabriel's POV "The operation was successful," Miguel announced with a sigh of relief, and my heart leaped for joy. "Does that mean they're on their way?" I questioned, my heart beating erratically with a strange mix of joy and dread. Miguel nodded affirmatively. "Yes, they are. The culprits are on their way to the station too. Why do you seem so... uneasy?" "It's nothing," I lied, my voice barely above a whisper. "I guess I'm just so happy that we came out on top." That was a big lie. The truth was I wasn't ready to see them. Not Joyce. Not Adrian. Not even Rafael. The thought of facing them, of seeing Joyce’s eyes—eyes that once held so much love but now only reflected betrayal—made my stomach churn. I wanted to be as far away as possible. Meeting me might ruin her newfound happiness and I didn't want that to happen. I wanted her to be happy while erasing every memory of me in her head. I had caused her so much pain. I had been a shadow cast over her past; I refused to b
Adrian's POV"We are?" Torres questioned, his face etched with shock as he stared at my computer screen with keen eyes. "How's that even possible?""Story for another day," I said dismissively, looking out the window. "It seems the men I demanded for are on their way. We should head there too.""Wait a minute," Torres raised a finger to stop me. "I think someone is coming heading our way."As if on cue, a shadow emerged from the dimly lit alleyway. Madrileño stepped into view, his dark clothing blending with the night, his tanned skin faintly illuminated by the passing streetlights. His expression was unreadable, but his purposeful stride spoke volumes."Why are you here?" I questioned with much curiosity in my voice and a frown on my face. "I thought we agreed on you leading the men.""I am leading them," Madrileno replied confidently. "I just came to let you know of something so that you can be prepared.""What's that?" I asked, refusing to beat around the bush. "Spill it out, so yo
Adrian's POV"Then we go after him," I said. "Let's head to the airport now!"Torres nodded, already speaking into the radio.He cocked his gun. "Time to end this."With that, We all rushed back and jumped into the van, peeling off into the night.I picked up the radio and connected to Miguel."Keep us posted. We're heading to the airport now," I stated."If we don't catch up with him now, we won't be able to find Joyce and Rafael," Torres sighed, revealing the bitter truth, his voice laced with discomfort and urgency as he looked out the window. "It might take years to find them if we lose this opportunity.""Positive thoughts and words only, Torres," I scolded, calling him by his name for the first time. I was annoyed with Daniel's close escape. I still hadn't come to terms with the fact that he had betrayed me after so many years of service to Santoria Industries.The fact that he knew everything about Rafael and Joyce meant he had been working with the enemy for years. Who knows? H
Lionel's POV"Ugh... You don't have to be so timid with me. I know what women like you are capable of," I scoffed, hoping for a reaction.Nothing. Absolutely nothing. She jus sat here like a statue. I cast her a side glance.She was sitting next to me with a stiff posture and a face void of any emotions. After my men caught her trying to escape, it was as if an icy shell had formed around her. She hardly spoke and rarely reacted to anything I said or was happening around her. Her questioning had ceased, and I couldn't predict her next move.It was disturbing. I exhaled through my nose, unsatisfied. Was she planning something? Had she truly accepted her fate? The fire in her eyes had become dull and unreadable. Her facial expression was indifferent like she had accepted her fate. I hated it. I wanted her to rebel against me. It was much more pleasurable that way. Her facial expression was indifferent like she had accepted her fate.Save for the small hum of the engine and the regu
Adrian's POV"You both made mistakes. You're both in the wrong," I rebuked. "You should work on yourselves instead of taking your anger out on each other. Don’t know how you plan to fix this mess, but remember—we’re all in this together. Whether you like it or not, we have a common goal."The room fell to a heavy silence. Gabe let his breath out in a slow hiss as he leaned against the warm sheets of the bed. Madrileño ran a hand over his face, still breathing sharp and unevenly. Part of me did think their little fight was somewhat amusing, but I needed to be the voice of reason here. I had to be the mature one."I'm sorry," Gabriel mumbled. Everyone turned to him in shock. Gabriel was not one to apologize. "I'm sorry I killed your child. I shouldn't blame you for my mistakes. I should have never gotten married to that bitch, and I'm going to keep on regretting it for the rest of my life."Madrileño’s jaw tightened, hands flexed at his sides. His lips parted as if he wanted to argue
Adrian's POVHaving this innate ability to sense danger, or detect a person's aura, is part of being a shrewd businessman, which not everybody could understand save the people concerned. It was an instinct sired from long years of high-stakes negotiations and betrayals, something that most people just wouldn't understand unless they lived in this world.Gabriel had it. So did I.And right now, every alarm inside me was going off as I watched him stare Madrileño down, his body rigid with restrained fury.The cell's air was thick with unsaid words and stress. Gabriel could already tell something was off with Madrileno. I could sense their mutual hostility suffocating the air between us.Madrileño was standing stiff, his jaw clenched tightly and Gabriel was seated on the edge of his bed with fingers tightly clenched into fists. Well, whatever their issues were could be sorted out after everything had been settled."So what exactly is it you found?" I asked, my expectant gaze fixed on Iva
Natalia's POV"What the hell is going on in this basement?" I grumbled, walking along the dingy hallway. Since I left Gabriel's mansion, I have gone into hiding, hoping the police wouldn't track me down. Anyway, I was hiding in the basement, but I kept having this feeling that something was going to go wrong.I hadn't seen Christina for days, not even Lionel. I made my way to the room Joyce was always held. My fingers hesitated on the rusted handle, a chill running down my spine.With a sharp push, the door creaked open, the sound cutting through the oppressive silence like a scream. Surprisingly,the chair was empty. Joyce wasn't where she used to be. The ropes used to tie her were dangling on the arms of the chair.“What the...?” I whispered, stepping into the room. My eyes darted around, searching for any sign of her but it was empty. I was stunned. I turned to leave and ended up bumping into someone."Ouch!" We groaned at the same time.I massaged my shoulders and raised my head
Gabriel's POV"Adrian is an ally now. Learn to respect that" I warned Ivan after Adrian and his friend had left."I know, but I'm finding it hard to do so" Ivan retorted. "Seeing his face reminds me of all the problems we faced in our company.""Those weren't his fault. We weren't competent enough" I explained. "We slacked off, remember?" The guilt gnawed at me, an ever-present reminder that I was part of the problem.Ivan sighed deeply. "Yes, sir. You're right," his gaze drifting towards the floor. "Good. Now, let's focus on finding the password to unlocking this file," I stated, my eyes on the computer.This was the first time I had actually laid a hand on it. She was always so very overprotective where her stuff was concerned, yet one more reason I wouldn't be trusting her anymore. I didn't."Check the hint," Ivan said, interrupting my thoughts.I raised an eyebrow in confusion. "What hint?""The hint below the password box," Ivan replied, tapping the screen with his index finger,
Joyce's POVThe ride was silent. The fact that he was so clingy, even after I made it obvious that I didn't want him close to me, was so annoying that I wanted to puke. I wanted to be out of that space as soon as possible."When are we getting there?" I questioned with exasperation."When we get there," he replied with a playful smirk, obviously pleased by my discomfort. "Do I irritate you that much? You should get used to my presence because you'll be seeing me for a long time."Thinking about it made my gut churn. I could feel the heat rising to my cheeks, an embarrassing flush of anger and helplessness. I frowned. "What happened to handing me over to Natalia after everything is over?"Lionel leaned back, a calculated look in his eyes. "I'm quite unpredictable when it comes to deals. She broke one of the rules I love dearly," Lionel replied, his tone laced with mockery like that of an evil villain. "Right now, I see no reason why I should keep my own part of the deal."This man was t