"Hello Jill?"
Wala pang ilang segundo na nag-ring ang phone sa kabilang linya ay narinig agad ni Vladimyr ang magalang na pagbati ng sekretarya sa kanya.
"Yes madam?"
"May empleyado ba tayong Montero ang pangalan?"
"Yes madam, he is the General Manager of our ECC. And also one of our Investors on few businesses." Deretsang sagot ni secretary Jillian sa kabilang linya. Napangisi si Vladimyr sa narinig.
"Quite wise…" Her inner self says.
"Why madame?" Jillian cut her thoughts. "—is there anything wrong?" Halata boses nito na alam na ang gagawin pero naghihintay pa rin ng instructions sa kay Vlad.
Jillian is a 25 years old woman who became Vladimyr's trusted secretary, that Atty. Jeus Enriquez preferred.
Masipag at alerto ito magtrabaho tulad ng gusto ni Vladimyr. Tinuruan din niya itong maging matapang sa pagharap sa nagmamataas na board members at client.
Kaya naman kapag may pinaasikaso sya kay Jillian, inaasahan na ni Vladimyr ang tagumpay.
"Fire him right away," Vlad instructed her secretary.
"Yes madam."
"And also, terminate their contract to all ECC's projects."
"Right away madame."
Hindi na hinintay pa ni Vlad makasagot si Jill at ini-off na niya ang phone niya sabay ngisi sa babae.
She then took out a pad of blank cheque. Write a hundred thousand amount on it and went back to Jasmine.
She slapped the cheque on the girl's face with a certain force.
Sa lakas nito, marahas na pumaling ang mukha ni Jasmine at napa-upo sa sahig.
Agad na dumugo ang labi nito habang bakat ang palad ni Vladimyr sa pisngi at halos mangiyak-ngiyak sa gulat at takot.
"That's the payment." Vlad said. " Sinobrahan ko na. Baka kasi kailangan mo yan in the very, very near future." She wickedly grins at the girl who is still in shock.
"At least you can manage to buy a pair of clothes worth 100 per piece on the street?" Vlad let out a sympathetic chuckle. But end up looking sarcastic.
Tumalikod na si Vladimyr para umalis. Naiwan na nakatulala si Jasmine at Lucien habang namamangha na nakatingin kina Vlad.
Jasmine startled with disbelief at what just happened. She desperately fell to her knees on the floor seeing everything disappearing in her visions.
All they had.
All she has.
Just because of her improper deeds that leads to her family's dark ending.
Naluluha na nag-angat ng tingin si Jasmine sa mag-iina na papalayo.
Asking herself if it's real, asking herself.
"Oh my god…did I just offend the most powerful woman in Southland?" She mumbles as her tears begin to stream down her face.
Hindi makapaniwala si Lucien sa mga nasaksihan sa restaurant kanina.
Para itong bombang sumabog mismo sa mukha niya.
Hindi maitatanggi na kaakit-akit ang perpektong kagandahan ng Ex ng kapatid niyang si Luvien. Para siyang isang diyosa na bumaba sa lupa.
"Maganda nga, mayabang naman at napaka arogante…kababaeng tao napaka mapagmataas…" Lucien sneered disappointedly.
"Ibang-iba ang ugali nito sa mga kuwento ni Luvien noon. Na si Vladimyr ay isang mabait at makonsiderasyong babae, kaya minahal ito niya ng husto…mukhang pakitang tao lang lahat ng pinakita niya sa kapatid ko, at ito ang tunay niyang ugali."
"Maling mali na kahit sa huling hininga ni Luvien ay ang babaeng ito pa rin ang tinatawag niya. Kahit pa nagawa siya nitong ipagpalit sa ibang lalaki. Ang babaeng iyon pa rin ang hinahanap niya…"
Mariin na naikuyom ni Lucien ang kamay, sa tindi ng galit na nararamdaman niya ngayon para kay Vladimyr. Gustong gusto niyang sagutin ito pero pakiramdam niya nanlalambot ang tuhod na tuwing magtatama ang tingin nila ng Ex ng kapatid niya.
Nakangiti nga ito pero bakas ang lungkot, pangungulila, galit at iba pang emosyong di niya mapangalanan na pilit nitong itinatago sa mapanlinlang nitong ngiti.
At dahil mapanlinlang nga ang ngiti nito, sigurado si Lucien na paraan iyon ng Ex. ni Luvien.
"Siguradong iyon ang tunay niyang kulay."
"Na talagang masamang tao ito at 'di iyon alam ni Luvien."
Lalong naglalagablab ang galit sa puso ni Lucien para kay Vladimyr.
Naalala bigla ni Lucien ang mga anak nitong malalaki na. Sa tantiya niya, mukhang nasa 8 or 10 yrs old na ang dalawang batang may kulay ash brown na buhok.
Pero ang pinaka kakaiba sa lahat, ay ang naging pakiramdam niya ng mag tama ang tingin nila ng mga batang yon.
May kung anong puwang sa puso niya na parang napunan at ang sarap nito sa pakiramdam.
Parang gusto niyang hawakan ang dalawang bata at yakapin.
Hindi niya rin gusto ang ginawa ni Ms. Montero sa mga bata. Naiinis siya, to the point na gusto niyang ilayo ito.
Pero mas pinili niyang umawat nalang. Sana.
Sinara ni Lucien ang shower at lumabas ng banyo na walang anumang takip sa katawan.
Sa pagkakataong ito, occupied ng image ni Vladimyr ang isip niya. Ang maganda nitong mukha at ang mapula nitong labi.
"Nakaka akit..."
He shook his head to remove those crazy thoughts in his head. Feeling mad to himself and shameful at the same time.
Pabagsak na humiga si Lucien sa kama at napatitig sa kisame hanggang sa hilahin na siya ng antok.
"GOODNIGHT sweetie." hinalikan ni Vladimyr ang noo ng bunso niyang anak na si Gruzia at maingat na kinumutan ito.
"Goodnight mommy." tugon ng bata sabay akap sa paborito nitong stuff toys na froggy at pumikit.
Marahan niyang hinaplos ang buhok ng anak bago pinatay ang ilaw saka lumabas ng kwarto nito.
"Madame, the two asked to talk to you." Paglabas ni Vladimyr sa kwarto ng anak, iyon ang sinalubong ni Malia sa kaniya. Preferring for the two prisoners on the basement.
Tumango si Vladimyr habang nauunang tahakin ang daan papunta sa basement.
Nasa likod niya sina Lisa at Malia na naka suit at may dalang briefcase.
Pagdating ni Vlad sa basement, binuksan agad ng bantay ang pinto.
Pagpasok niya doon, naabutan pa niyang naka-upo sa sulok ang dalawang bihag habang naka-kadena ang mga kamay at paa.
Agad nagtaas ng sa kanya ng tingin ang isa. Bakas ang pagod at panghihina nito.
Sinensyasan ni Vladimyr ang dalawang bantay na ilapit ito sa kanya.
Kinuha ni Lisa si Vladimyr ng silya para may maupuan ito.
"Have you decided now?"
Nag angat ng tingin ang isa. At parang may gustong sabihin.
"Speak."
"K-kill us rather. T-they will kill us if you don't." nanghihina na sabi ng isa.
Napasandal si Vladimyr sa upuan. Hindi siya makapaniwala n iyon ang maririnig niya mula sa mga ito.
Nakakadismaya pero nananaig ang paghanga niya sa katapangan nito. Na mas nanaising mamatay na lang.
But she hid it.
She didn't show how sorry she felt for them. Vladimyr keeps her calm and strong personality and asks the other one.
"And you?" Baling niya sa isa pa.
"Do you choose the same path?"
Pinagmamasdan ni Vlad ang isa pang lalaki na sumulyap sa kasamahan. Saka tumango kahit nahihirapan.
"Seems like you really chose your path…" Vlad chuckled and grins.
"You both amazed me..."
The two men glanced at Vlad, puzzled.
"W-what do you mean Madam?"
Nanghihinang tanong ng isa.
"Pinahanga niyo akong dalawa" napangiti siya. "May deal ako sa inyo.." Nag-snap si Vlad at pumasok si Malia para pakawalan ang dalawa sa pagkaka kadena.
"Palalayain ko kayo and uuwi kayo sa mga pamilya niyo with this…" Nag snap ulit si Vladimyr.
Pumasok naman si Lisa na may dalang briefcase. Binuksan nito ang briefcase at tumambad ang ilang bundle ng pera.
"20 million for the both of you." She said. "Pero mangako kayo na magbabagong buhay na kayo kasama ang pamilya niyo." She added.
Hindi makapaniwala na nagkatinginan ang dalawang lalaki.
"Kung sa ibang kalaban siguradong pinatay na nila kayo, una pa lang. Baka nga pahirapan pa kayo. Hindi ako ganun klaseng tao, mahalaga din sakin ang buhay. Handa akong palayain kayo para makapagbagong buhay.
"W-why…." One man asked.
"Why? simple lang, Everyone deserves chances." Simpleng sagot ni Vladimyr.
Lalong naguluhan ang dalawa. Nag-aalala sila na baka isa iyong trap.
Ganun pa man, wala silang choice kundi ang tanggapin ang alok ni Vladimyr.
"B-but the man you...you killed earlier?"
"Oh that man?" Vlad cackles in laughter. "Traitors don't deserve chances, they will only betray you over and over, whenever they get pressured." Ani Vlad.
"Ganito na lang, bakit di na lang kayo sumali sa grupo ko? And be one of my men?"
Pumitik si Vladimyr sa hangin at agad lumapit ang isa sa mga tauhan nya.
"Rico, how much is your salary?"
"I received hundred thousand monthly madame" Agad na sagot nito.
"Tell me, did I force you?" Tanong niya ulit habang nakatingin sa dalawa.
"No Madam. I work for you on my own will and I will serve you even if it costs my life." sagot nito.
"Okay, you can go back now"
Yumuko ang lalaki bago lumabas.
"Eh ikaw Danny, magkano sweldo mo dito?"
"I received a hundred thousand monthly madame and the same as Rico, I will serve you with all my life."
Napangiti si Vladimyr.
"Yes. Lahat sila hindi ko pinilit. They are free to leave the team if they like."
Napalunok ang isa at napatingin sa kasama. Naniniwala na sila. Di gaya ng ibang grupo kapag tumalikod ka. Di ka makaka-alis ng buhay.
Sa grupo ni Vladimyr, they still have their freedom hangga't di nila tatraydurin ang Si Vlad.
"Now tell me, do you like to leave and live? Or do you like to live and serve me? You choose."
Hindi maitago ni Vladimyr ang maaliwalas na ngiti sa mapula niyang labi matapos maging tagumpay ang pag alok niya sa dalawang bagong tauhan, na sumapi sa kaniyang grupo 'We can't deny that you are talented and have a stand for the word.' When the two realized that they also had no other misfortune but such a life, the two chose to join Vladimyr's group instead of returning to their former boss who did not care about them. That they are only seen as servants who should not be given value even if they die just to obey the command to them. Vladimyr's group is not like that. She, herself, who is their boss, cares about her men.
"Where's Leon?" Kaagad na tanong ni Vlad sa guard na bahagya pang nagulat sa pagsasalita niya. Kasunod ang pamumutla at pagpapawis nito dahil sa kaba. Kilala ng guard si Vladimyr bilang prankang tao. Ayaw nito nasasayang ang oras niya lalo na kapag importanteng bagay. Dagdag pa ang nakaka kaba na katangian nito na palaging pinapaalala ng boss nila sa kanila na mga dapat gawin kapag nandito si Vladimyr. "M-madam..." Nangangatog na sambit nito. Napailing na lang si Vladimyr dahil sa ikinilos ng guard ni Leon. "Never mind." Hindi na inintindi ni Vladimyr ang guard. Nag-alala siyang baka maihi pa ito sa sobrang takot. Dumer
'It's simply too difficult to manage with this kind of existence.' 'There is no secure haven for you or your family to live in peace. 'Even the air you breathe could be tainted with a toxin that could kill you. 'However, you can't always conceal in order to stay secure.' 'To deal with these threats, endure, and conquer, you must be astute.' Tibayan mo ang sikmura mo at tatagan mo ang loob mo. Or else you'll end up vanquished, terminated. Dead.' "LISA, find an escape." Kalmado na utos ni Vladimyr kay Lisa noon ay nakatuon ang buong atensyon sa harap ng laptop at walang tigil sa pag ta-type. Habang naghahanap ng tamang daan kung saan pwedeng takasan ang mga sumusunod na sasakyan ng mga kalaban sa kanila. Binigyan ng tipid na tango ni Lisa si Vladimyr bilang tugon sa utos nito habang nakapikit naman si Vladimyr na halatang nag iisip ng malalim. Ngunit batid ni Lisa kung gaa
Even though there are only five men left, there are still a number of them hanging around, looking for an opportunity to attack. These men are determined to apprehend all three of them. They are far too consistent to fulfill the order. Pero, hindi iyon mapapayagan ni Vladimyr, wala sa hinagap ng mga ito ay magaganap ang plano ng mga ito na pabagsakin siya o mahuli siya ng ganun kadali. She won't be the boss if she can be easily captured by these amateur thugs they sent. Hawak ang dalawang baril. Vladimyr glances out from her hiding location, loaded with a bunch of shots, to see whether there is an opponent waiting for them to emerge. There are still a lot of them out there, so she can't afford to be negligent. Vladimyr is aware that it is still unsafe for
"Ethan tracked my location." Agad na sambit ni Vladimyr matapos niyang marinig ang tunog ng received call tone mula sa kabilang linya. Ibig sabihin na-receive ni Ethan ang call niya matapos ang ilang ring nito. Habang dinig ni Vladimyr ang hindi mabilang na yabag na paparating sa direksyon ng pinagtataguan nilang tatlo, ay naghihintay pa rin si Vladimyr ng sagot mula kay Ethan sa kabilang linya. Pero may ilang segundo na ay di pa rin sumasagot si Gen. Smith. Vladimyr turned into a total abashment for a second, as she tried to speak again just to clarify her suspicions. Ethan would immediately answer the call if 'he' saw it, but if not,this is what will happen.
Hindi alam ni Vlad kung darating si Ethan agad, pero nasisisguro niyang darating ito. Kilala niya ang ugali ni Ethan. Pagdating sa mga importanteng bagay, hindi ito nagdadalawang isip kumilos sa abot mg kaniyang makakaya. Sinipat ni Vladimyr ang isa pang baril na hawak niya. May ilan pa itong natitirang bala. Sapat pa para protektahan ang sarili at kasama niya, ng sandaling panahon. Muling ibinalik ni Vladimyr ang magazine ng baril at ikinasa habang alerto na nakamasid ang kaniyang mga mata sa paligid. Ayaw niyang maupo nalang doon at maghintay sa wala. Habang tumatakbo ang bawat minuto, lalong nanganganib ang buhay ni Lisa kaya kailangan niyang maka alis sa lugar na ito agad. Hinubad ni Vladimyr ang kanyang suit saka pinasuot kay Lisa, dinampot niya ang isa sa mga baril at walang pag aalinlangan lumabas mula sa pinagtataguan nilang tatlo.
Hindi porket mabait ka ibig sabihin okay lang sa'yo na tapak tapakan ka.Di ibig sabihin lahat ng foul na bagay palalampasin mo.Di ibig sabihin, ignorante ka at hahayaan mo lang sila na magpatuloy na saktan ka.There's always limitations to everything.Hindi bottomless ang pasensya.- Vlad---"Ang sabi ko naman sa'yo Sir Lucien kaya ko na mag p
Pilig sa kaliwa, pilig sa kanan.Lahat na yata ng sulok ng king size niyang kama ay naikutan ni Lucien.It was almost 3 am in the morning but still, gising na gising pa ang diwa niya.Napalingon si Lucien sa ilang boteng wine na nainom niya kagabi at isang boteng vodka para antukin pero ang naging ending,pumipintig ang sintido niya at sumakit lang ang ulo niya pero di pa rin siya dalawin ng antok.He was worried.Worried for the woman he should be hating!Pabagsak na muling humiga si Lucien sa kama. Kinuha ang malambot na unan sa tabi
When the two approached her, they immediately dressed her in white dress that the two was carrying, as if they did not care about her reaction. "W-what are you two doing?" Vlex hushed her which made her pressed her lips thin and just watch the two to what they are doing, cluelessly. Halter strap neckline and the trail is incredibly big and long. Like twenty meters long. "Just wear it sis, you should wear it." Vraq ordered her and she just let them. "Are you really going to dress me outside, Sis?" Vladimir ask with amusement. "Don't complain, okay." Vraq sneered. Vlex just laughs at her reaction. After Vladimyr put on the white gown, the two carefully arranged her long skirt as if she were a new bloomed white flower. "There, let's go sis." Vlex stated and the two holds her hand. Helping her to walk towards the center of the men holding their swords, up. Only now did she noti
“VLADIMYR! Vladimir f*CK where are you? ” full of frustration Lucien's call echoes as he went through all the corpses he could find around.He is sure this is the right direction. Includes Casper, Max and Asmodeus. They entered the Lutherford mansion because of the location they got with Max’s help."This way dude!" Max called as they rush towards the direction that the tracker was pinning.Lucien was going crazy with worry. What was going through his mind. Extreme fear engulfed him. Vladimyr was careless. He knew full well that it didn’t care what happened to him. If he only knew this was where it was going, he would make sure it didn’t take off. Even if a battalion of its personnel blocks him and he is ready to fight. Now, he feels he is so far away from her."Vladimir!" he called again as loud as he can.“This room—”Even before Max had finished what he was going to say, Lucien kicked the do
Vladimyr stood up from the spot she was hiding when she can't see any men standing, her brows met after seeing a number of dead bodies lauing on the hallway's floor. She disappointedly analyzes the dead bodies of the men laying on the floor filled with their own bloods and a gun wound was seen on their head. Vladimyr thought that it was from Lisa's sniper team.Vladimyr hurried to the target room but even before she could grasp the lock, a series of gunshots greeted her again from behind the door. She immediately jumped away from the door and hid on the side to avoid the raining bullets coming from the room.“You really are annoying Dela Claire! You have the guts to hunt me in my own territory huh? I won't let you get away! We will destroy you first! ” the woman furiously squeal from inside the room.After hearing those rants of the woman inside the room, Vladimyr couldn't stop herself from chuckling, “Are you surprised, Mrs. Lutherford?
Lucien couldn't do anything when Vladimyr's car left him. Disappointed, he sat down in the gutter of the road and frustratedly rubbed his face by his palm. He couldn't do anything on Vladimyr's men when they pulled him away of their boss's car. Just one order from Vladimyr, they will obey her like just a flick of her finger.“Boss it looks like we just have to wait for her to come back." With the tone of disappointment, Casper stated.“No. We will not wait for her to return. We need to know where she is going. I have a strong feeling that she will put her life in jeopardy again. ”"But boss, how do we know?"Lucien looked up at Casper. He remembered a person that is close to him."We'll find a way to track her possible location." Lucien said looking at Casper. He then, hurriedly took his cellphone from his pocket and dialed his friend’s the number. After a while, the man's raspy voice answered."Luci?""M
Vladimyr's days have not been easy. She couldn't help herself from crying every time she remembered what happened to Luvien's disappearance, after ten years. When she is currently pregnant with the twins. Waiting and hoping that somehow they will meet Luvien again—or at least he would find her.Furthermore, she was always quiet, she's not talking to anyone. She always confined herself to the room and cry all her grievance. Apparently, regardless of what she does, everything seems hard to sink into her system. With everything she found out, her heart and mind can't easily take the truth. Every time she remembered those things about what the fake Luvien said, she couldn't help but sigh.Every day, she can't to focus herself on her work. If she wasn't busy, she would suddenly start crying on her desk, calling Luvien's name again. She feels the endless bitterness of the pain, she feels as if it never stops.She is drowning in pure loneliness and lo
“P-patay...n-na siya? P-paanong...” She couldn't believe it. She felt something hit her chest hard and affected her breathing. Her mind is screaming. No! “Why didn't I even know he was gone? Why haven't I even heard of it? No one even told me he's gone ...” Vladimyr uttered with disappointment and grief. She couldn't believe what Lucien had said, she doesn't want to believe it. Not, until she saw a sorrowful tears fell from his eyes. Those news immediatdly brought destruction to her soul, to her heart and to her only hope that one day she will meet her beloved Luvien again. He will have a chance to meet his children, the twins. And they can live together. That's her great wish. To let the twin met their father. But now the only wish she had will never come true. She thought then, when they met the Luvien she knew, it can lessened her worries for her children. If her time came that she's g
Vlad’s right brow twitched.She doesn’t even know about Luvien’scondition. He doesn't say anything to her about the sickness."He has a heart disease ...""What have I got to do with his illness?"“Listen baby I don’t mean to fool you. I didn't mean to hurt you I didn't mean to lie. Believe it. At first I wanted to retaliate against you because I thought you were the reason but many things happened that revealed in my eyes that you are innocent. That you know nothing of what is going on and you are a good person. Please ... Please believe me.I love you so much. ” Lucien begged at Vladimyr, trying to get closer to her but a sudden gunshots echoes the whole living room and a surprised gasp was heard behind him.Lucien automatically turned around and immediately widened his eyes when he saw to whom Vladimyr's gun was pointed.Lucien
Vladimyr moved the rocking chair softly and leaned back comfortably. She didn't go to the office today because she feels bad. So she chose to stay at her home first to relax. Vlad picked the glass of milk on the glass table then gulped a little. And the vegetable donut Lucien made for her and her kids before he went to work. She allowed herself to relax and indulge in the beautiful view from her green yard. Where you can see tall trees of various fruits, plants and colored flowers. The clear blue sky with a slight streak of haze. Vlad closed her eyes and feel the silence while she inhales the fresh air, filled with flower and fruits scent. She relaxed her self a moment, when she felt a presence came. It was smooth and quiet. "What do you need?" she asked in a plain tone. It was Malia, based on how she move quietly. “Madame, Mr. Mendoza and General Smith want to talk to you. ”
Vladimyr woke up early the next day. A warm beaming of morning sunlight that penetrate the thin white curtains came through and it awaken her from a her good sleep.Vladimyr push her self up to sat in her soft and heavenly comfortable bed. There's no sign of her beloved man beside her and she frowns."Where is he?" she roam her gaze around their room. To check if he's still there. But there’s no sign of ‘Luvien’Vladimyr got up from the bed even though she’s still drowsy. She went straight to the bathroom to check it. But the bathroom was open so she knew no one was there.Vladimyr sat up in bed again. She feels heavy now. She was dizzy and the bed seemed to be pulling her back. But, she didn’t want to go to sleep just yet. She has been like this for a few days and she feels even weaker. She breathed an airy sigh and starts walking towards the door with a heavy mood.