PROLOGUE

PROLOGUE

“WHAT are you doing here, Bria?” he asked in a dangerous voice.

“Ano ba, Laurent! Bitawan mo nga ako!”

Pilit na inagaw ni Bria ang kaniyang braso mula sa lalaki. Nabitiwan naman siya nito. Iritado niya itong tiningnan habang nagsisimula na ring umakyat ang init sa kaniyang ulo.

Ang bwisit na 'to! Daig pa niya ang sing gaan lang ng papel kung hatakin siya nito. Hindi tuloy nakapalag ang pa-hard to get self niya.

Laurent's face reddened. Sheer anger was plastered on his face. Napabuga siya ng hangin at sinubukang ikalma ang sarili.

Breathe in, breathe out, Sabria. Tao lang 'yan, at dyosa ka.

Pero teka, bakit nga ba parang ito pa ang galit, eh siya nga ang naabala nito? She had no idea anymore how long she can hold herself together now that he's around her, stirring up some things that she shouldn't feel in the first place.

“Ang sabi ko, anong ginagawa mo rito! And with those clothes, really?!” pagalit na tanong ni Laurent habang iritadong nakatingin sa suot niyang spaghetti strap short dress na hanggang kalahati lang ng kaniyang hita.

“Ano bang pakialam mo kung nandito ako? Obvious naman siguro na dito ako nagtatrabaho.” Huminga siya nang malalim at pilit na kumalma kahit pa nag-iinit na ang ulo niya sa kausap. Gosh, ang wrinkles niya, naglalabasan! “Now that I've answered your question, can you leave me alone now? Coz if I were to be honest, ayoko nang makita ang pagmumukha mo," diretsahan niyang sinabi.

Napatitig ito sa kaniya. He chuckled lowly. Nakipagsukatan siya ng tingin kay Laurent. Amusement danced in his amber eyes while she was very sure that hers only reflected her annoyance.

Ang bwisit na 'to, pinaglalaruan siya!

“Now you’re saying that. Baka nakakalimutan mong ang pamilya ko ang nagpapasuweldo sa ‘yo, Sabria,” nasa tono ng lalaki ang pang-iinsulto.

Nagtitimpi siyang bumuntonghininga. Pumasok siya ngayong gabi sa club para mag-grind. Hindi ganito! Kung bakit naman kasi biglang nagpapakita ‘tong weirdo’ng si Laurent.

She knew him as that geek and nerdy guy who would prefer slouching with his dogs at home while reading books with thick pages - than here, partying wildly like those hot bachelors in town!

She hadn’t envisioned him going to a superclub like this to drink and party. Pero ilang taon na nga ba ang lumipas. Walo? Siyam? Sampu? She couldn’t determine when exactly were those times that she was well acquainted with him.

She rolled her eyes as her patience began to thin out. “Sir Laurent. Can’t you see? Wala ako ngayon sa pamamahay ng magulang n’yo kaya wala po kayong karapatang gawin sa ‘kin ’to. Hindi po ako nagtatrabaho sa inyo sa mga oras na ‘to kaya hindi po kita amo at hindi mo po ‘ko katulong.”

Ngumisi lang ito sa kaniya. “Really, huh? What will you do if I report this to our butler? It’s in your contract, right, our Queen Sabria? You can’t have any other job while you’re working in our mansion.”

Mabilis siyang natigilan. Awang ang labi ni Bria nang tiningala si Laurent. She felt as if a cold bucket of water had splashed over her.

Kumurap-kurap siya upang mas gisingin ang sarili. Gusto niyang maiyak bigla dahil shutakels! Nakalimutan niya saglit na konektado nga pala si Laurent sa pinagtatrabahuhan niya at ang malala pa, amo niya nga rin pala ito!

“L-Laurent, please. Please, ‘wag mo ‘kong isusumbong...” kabado niyang pakiusap.

Pinagdikit niya ang kaniyang mga palad habang nagsusumamong nakatingin kay Laurent. She saw how his smirk faded. Madilim ang mga mata nitong tinitigan siya. His jaw clenched.

“I have to report you. This is a breach of contract,” his voice was serious.

Mas nilukob si Bria ng takot. Naiiyak na siya at bahagyang nanginginig.

Girl, get a grip! You need to keep your job! Think of a way! Iyon na lang ang sinabi niya sa sarili.

Dahan-dahan niyang binaba ang sarili. She bent her legs and knelt down. Nakita niya ang pagkagulantang ng kaharap.

“Laurent, parang awa mo na. M-Mahihirapan akong maghanap ng panibagong trabaho kung matatanggal ako. Kailangan na kailangan ko ng pera, so please...” She sobbed.

“What the fuck, Bria?” gulat na anito.

Hilam na siya sa luha, pero tiningala niya pa rin si Laurent. “P-Please! Please, I beg you! K-Kahit ano gagawin ko! ‘Wag mo lang akong isusumbong...”

He only stared at her. Mas nag-alala siya dahil wala na itong reaksiyon.

A past memory suddenly entered her mind. That day when he told her that he doesn’t like seeing her tears. That he will never do something that will make her cry because he hates it when she's crying.

“Parang awa mo na, Laurent! Please... please, ’wag mo ‘kong isusumbong!” Naaalarma at paulit-ulit siyang umiling.

“Why are you... begging?” mariin nitong tanong.

His eyes were fiery and dark. Umigting ang panga nito. His disdainful glances made her feel a bit embarrassed. Tinungo niya ang kaniyang ulo dahil sa naramdamang pagkapahiya.

She once had... everything. Those women of high society that she served earlier... she was once like them. Now, the tables have turned.

She became a nobody the moment their family business failed and led to bankruptcy. She became pathetic in Laurent’s eyes because suddenly, she had to beg for mercy so she won’t lose her precious job that provides the food on her table.

Nanahimik si Bria dahil ayaw na niyang magsalita pa at mas lalong maiyak. She already looked pathetic as it was and she wouldn't want to make it worse.

Laurent released a harsh breath. “For money, Bria? You’re lowering yourself, on bended knees, for that goddamn amount of money?”

Nagparte ang kaniyang labi. “Laurent—”

He sneered at her. Iritado ang mga mata ng binata.

He had a look of disbelief. ”Is that how much you’re worth? You can be bought with money? What the hell...”

Bigo siyang nag-iwas ng tingin. “Sabihin mo na lang na gusto mo ‘kong isumbong dahil gusto mo na ‘kong mawala sa paningin mo.”

Bria's face hardened. Marahan niyang pinunasan ang mga luha sa kaniyang mata at pisngi.

Blangko siyang nag-angat tingin. Suddenly, she realized that the situation was so out of her control. It occurred to her that the Laurent in front of her wasn't familiar anymore.

Why did she even begged him? She's certain that he’s still mad at her for turning him down years ago. Dahil ayaw niya itong pakasalan.

Malamang, galit pa rin ito sa kaniya at ang makita lang siya, kinakasira na ng araw nito.

Yeah, how stupid of her to think that if she'd begged, he’ll get over his anger and sympathize with her not to report her to their butler. Of course, he’s not stupid to do that! She must be insane.

Laurent smirked devilishly. “If that’s the case, then, how much? How much are you, Sabria?”

Kinagat niya ang kaniyang labi. Instinctively, she glared at him. Galit na siya pero hindi siya makapalag dahil alam niyang sa pagkakataong iyon, hawak na nito ang kaniyang leeg.

“How much? Five digits? Six? Seven? Tell me. Name your fucking price,” he mocked even more.

Nananakit na ang pareho niyang tuhod sa pagluhod ngunit hindi niya magawang tumayo. Another batch of tears threatened to fall from her eyes.

She hates him. She hates him with every inch of her!

She apologized to him already and it shouldn’t be a big deal to him now that they’ve grown up as adults, yet he’s still taking it out on her!

Hindi niya mawari kung sinasadya bang maging immature ni Laurent o kung ganito na ba talaga ito ngayon.

”Wala akong presyo, Laurent. Sige, isumbong mo na ‘ko. Wala akong pakialam,” matapang at mariin niyang sambit.

He chuckled. “Still acting high and mighty, huh? 'You really think you can survive with that attitude, signorina? You are as poor as a filthy rat right now. While me? I can buy you. Right here, right now.”

The corners of her eyes stung even more. She felt insulted. Pinigil niya ang pagpatak ng kaniyang luha. Her chest tightened but she chose not to dwell on it.

“I hate you. Hindi na ikaw ang Laurent na nakilala ko. You’re a monster. You’re a heartless beast,” she told him firmly with sharp eyes.

Marahang napawi ang ngisi ng lalaki. His face darkened. His jaw moved and she saw how his brown eyes glistened with a familiar emotion.

“It seems like you already forgot, Bria. The old Laurent died because you killed him. It’s your fault that he’s gone,” bitterness dripped on his tone.

Nag-iwas ng tingin si Bria. She wiped her tears again. Pinili niyang magpakatatag dahil alam niyang kung hindi niya iyon gagawin, maaapektuhan lang siya ni Laurent.

Ayaw na niyang magpaapekto ulit. She didn't want to feel him again, most especially that he’s being cruel and insensitive.

A shadow hovered around her. Gulat siyang tumunghay.

She found Laurent half-sitting in front of her. His deep amber eyes shun as if they were as bright as gold, making her feel uneasy. But what he did next made her gasp heavily.

He angled his dark face and moved it closer to hers. Their noses touched. Nanlaki ang mga mata niya pero hindi niya ito magawang itulak.

She felt his warm and rough hands on her arms, making their way up until he was gripping her shoulders. Tumindig ang balahibo niya. In an instant, everything in her paused. She could only feel his hot breathing which smelled like a mixture of mint and whiskey.

Nagmumura na siya sa kaniyang isip ngunit hindi niya magawang umusal ng salita. She could only let herself drown in bewilderment as their eyes locked.

“This is the new me. This Magnus... is bound... to conquer you,” may diin ang bigkas ng bawat salita.

He looked straight into her eyes, smiling like a devil with a piercing gaze. Kahit anong pilit niya'y hindi niya magawang iiwas ang kaniyang tingin dito. She thought of claiming back her power but it’s nowhere to be found. It’s as if... he had... absorbed it... from her.

Che cazzo!

She couldn’t believe that she's already utilizing her Italian language in her head!

Mas lumapit pa ito. Their distance made her hitch her breath. Halos hindi na siya makagalaw sa kaniyang posisyon. It's as if she froze right on her spot.

When she felt his breath near her ear, she sucked in some air. It tickled her... in a torturous way! Her hands fisted tightly as she tried to contain herself.

Get it together, please, Sabria! Prego! Please! She repeatedly reminded herself inwardly.

She felt his hand on her other ear, giving the lower part a slight touch. It sent shivers down her spine. He combed through her hair and pulled it a bit with one hand. Malalim siyang napalunok. Hindi pa nakatulong ang malalim nitong paghinga na sinasadya yata nitong ipadama sa kaniya. She didn’t feel at ease in all corners as goosebumps traveled on her skin.

When he whispered breathily, that's when her world stopped rotating.

“You don’t want me to report you? Then... Obey me as you should. Resign from this hell-hole club. Work full time in our mansion. And lastly... offer your body to me, Sabria. Give me everything I need, and you can freely keep your job in our house.”