FRANK was thinking if he will tell Samantha everything about his secrets. When his wife and son Roberto was killed in the car explosion, he vanished for a year. He also spread rumors that Franco Ortega was also killed in the incident. His youngest daughter Beverly, orphaned at two years old was raised by his wife’s parent.When he resurrected, he became incognito and very careful. He transacted business online and made some slight changes in his appearance through plastic surgery. He became Frank Sevilla. In his absence he stayed at the hotel he inherited from his grandfather. That was the time he met Divina Montes and Samantha was born.He looked at Samantha and contemplate whether it is her time to inherit the organization. He sensed that she had the quality of a good leader. In her few months as Chief Executive Officer of the company, Samantha showed prowess in decision making. Decision making makes or breaks a leader. Poor decision went astray while good decision made it through.
MARISA was overwhelmed, elated and more than happy seeing her new face. She was even more beautiful now. The doctor had really done a miracle on restoring her damaged face. She cried and hugged Angelo with too much happiness.“I think this needs for a celebration.” Angelo suggested silently feeling overwhelmed too. The burden that was lurking inside him and the fear that Marisa could not make it suddenly disappear.“Ohh… honey. I am so thankful.” Marisa said with misty eyes and then turned around. “Thank you Doctor.”“Thanks the Lord ma’am. I am just his instruments.” The doctor humbly answered. “The miracle was from him.”Marisa nodded in silence. She believed the doctor. In her past reading of the holy bible she contemplated much about her past and she realizes how lucky she was. A blessing that she should share to less fortunate. She was so touched and now she had promised herself that she will do good deeds in the future.They dined happily that evening as a celebration. She now r
WITH so many things occupying her mind, Samantha was surprised to see Angelo Lopez in her office accompanied by her secretary Becky Sanchez.“He insisted Boss.” Becky reasoned.“That is okay, Becky. You can leave us now.”“You are very hard to find, Boss.” Angelo said mockingly. “Cannot reach your phone and the apartment was empty and no neighbor can tell where you transfer.”Samantha understood Angelo’s resentment. Because of the fast turned of events in her life, she actually forgotten about the man. Due to Franks advice she terminated her subscription with her old cell phone, instead she used burner phone. An inexpensive phone designed for temporary call. According to Frank it will be safer so that no one can track her. She forgot to inform Angelo about it.Also due to Frank’s insistence they already move to the mansion. Her mother resisted it at first but when she realized the gravity of danger to Samantha being Frank’s daughter she eventually obliged. She already realized by now t
Chapter 1- The Reunion It was almost dawn and the sun had already set in the western horizon. It was almost romantic background as the sea silhouette anchored ships in the harbor and the sky turned yellowish red. From a far, Moon Gate Hotel which was situated in the sea side is like a towering image that emits grandeur. Almost all forty floors were lighted as testimony that the hotel were fully booked.The grand entrance of the hotel was manned by uniform personnel and their outfit was tailored for the night’s gala events. The sixtieth birthday of Don Arnald Lopez. The infamous billionaire that touches almost all lives from all walks of life. He is the epitome of a man who rose from nothing to everything. From penniless to being a billionaire.The hotel valet is beginning to get busy as luxury cars begun to arrive. The arrival of cars is already the testimony that the events was not an ordinary one. This is already the expressions of wealth and the who is who in the high society.As gu
CHAPTER 2- The beginning“I was wondering, why did you introduced me to your Dad as your boyfriend?” Angelo asked as he opened the car door.It was almost wee hour in the morning when the party ended. Angelo drive back Samantha in her condominium in Makati. It was a twenty story building situated in the eastern part of the city.Samantha smiled before answering Angelo’s query. “Well i am just preparing them. Afterall, we are bound to that direction. Ain"t we?"Angelo laugh aloud. An almost evil laughter that is thunderous and echoed in the silence of the night.Samantha pout her lips and put her two hands in her hips as she begun to say something to Angelo but she was shortly cut by Angelo’s words.“And where did you got that illusion? We are friends baby. Don't try to destroy that friendship, Okay?”“Hayyy. You are so annoying. You must be thankful that of many suitors that i had, it is you i like and forced my self into.” Samantha said as she crossed her arms beginning to show her si
Chapter 3Being in jail is no walk in the park. Hardened criminal were caged like animals. Caged animals constantly fought for respect. Everybody wants to subdue each other. But Angelo learned the tricks early on. To be respected, you have to fought back.The first few days was a nightmare for him. Boredom almost crushed his sanity. Every punches he received in every fight almost destroy his limb and soul. He attributed his suffering to Arnald Lopez. His father that was never been. In his childhood he already despised the man.After that first meeting with his father’s wife and child, he tried to get back to the condominium and watch them from a far. Once or twice, he saw his father and the girl getting out of the car. The girl was well dressed and seems so happy with her father. Not like him. He usually suffered hunger in his childhood. His shirt and pants rugged and old. A total contrast.In Angelo’s mind, Arnald Lopez was a man without conscience. How can he dumped his mother and ma
CHAPTER 4DIVINA MONTES woke up that morning in a foul mood. Her head is aching and she was hungry and almost starved. Hang over caught her. And her feeling of being broke almost crushed her sanity. She lost a huge sum of money last night at the casino and the manager refused to loan her again because of big amount she owed. Her frustrations file up remembering the continuous losing in the casino. Because she could no longer play, she went to the bar and spent the whole night drinking.She forced herself to the kitchen. Took some medicine to ease the pain and swallowed it with water.“Hi mom? Drunk again?” Samantha greeted her mother with the usual dialogue. What is new after all, her mother is always drunk every night. Waking up sober is like raindrops at summer time.“How’s your father’s birthday?” Divina ask almost inaudible evading her daughter’s comment. “Owchhh. My head.”Divina hold her aching head while Samantha help her seat before she answered.“Well, he is looking for you?”
CHAPTER 5ARNALD Lopez huge office was located at the penthouse of Lopez Enterprise at the thirty fifth floor. The building was situated at the center of Makati business district. Arnald business operations was housed and consolidated in this building. This serve as his fortress of his business empire that almost occupied a small pie of every industry. He practically owned shares in every leading industry.Angelo looked around as they and Samantha stepped out of the elevator. He was quietly impressed by the office interior which was almost parallel to many other offices abroad.Not for long, I will crash your empire, Arnald Lopez.Arnald greeted his daughter and Angelo, pleasantly but less warm. He talked to Angelo for a while.“So you are into import business?”“Yes sir import and export.”“Maybe we can have a drink sometimes. Maybe we can discuss business.” “That would be great sir. How about tonight at my yacht.”Arnald shake Angelo’s hand firmly and the later poster meaningful smi
WITH so many things occupying her mind, Samantha was surprised to see Angelo Lopez in her office accompanied by her secretary Becky Sanchez.“He insisted Boss.” Becky reasoned.“That is okay, Becky. You can leave us now.”“You are very hard to find, Boss.” Angelo said mockingly. “Cannot reach your phone and the apartment was empty and no neighbor can tell where you transfer.”Samantha understood Angelo’s resentment. Because of the fast turned of events in her life, she actually forgotten about the man. Due to Franks advice she terminated her subscription with her old cell phone, instead she used burner phone. An inexpensive phone designed for temporary call. According to Frank it will be safer so that no one can track her. She forgot to inform Angelo about it.Also due to Frank’s insistence they already move to the mansion. Her mother resisted it at first but when she realized the gravity of danger to Samantha being Frank’s daughter she eventually obliged. She already realized by now t
MARISA was overwhelmed, elated and more than happy seeing her new face. She was even more beautiful now. The doctor had really done a miracle on restoring her damaged face. She cried and hugged Angelo with too much happiness.“I think this needs for a celebration.” Angelo suggested silently feeling overwhelmed too. The burden that was lurking inside him and the fear that Marisa could not make it suddenly disappear.“Ohh… honey. I am so thankful.” Marisa said with misty eyes and then turned around. “Thank you Doctor.”“Thanks the Lord ma’am. I am just his instruments.” The doctor humbly answered. “The miracle was from him.”Marisa nodded in silence. She believed the doctor. In her past reading of the holy bible she contemplated much about her past and she realizes how lucky she was. A blessing that she should share to less fortunate. She was so touched and now she had promised herself that she will do good deeds in the future.They dined happily that evening as a celebration. She now r
FRANK was thinking if he will tell Samantha everything about his secrets. When his wife and son Roberto was killed in the car explosion, he vanished for a year. He also spread rumors that Franco Ortega was also killed in the incident. His youngest daughter Beverly, orphaned at two years old was raised by his wife’s parent.When he resurrected, he became incognito and very careful. He transacted business online and made some slight changes in his appearance through plastic surgery. He became Frank Sevilla. In his absence he stayed at the hotel he inherited from his grandfather. That was the time he met Divina Montes and Samantha was born.He looked at Samantha and contemplate whether it is her time to inherit the organization. He sensed that she had the quality of a good leader. In her few months as Chief Executive Officer of the company, Samantha showed prowess in decision making. Decision making makes or breaks a leader. Poor decision went astray while good decision made it through.
The Boss lead Samantha to a sitting room after they eat. It was a huge room with no windows but well lighted. There was a steel framed working table and a sofa. Aside from collection of antiques, the room was almost bare. No pictures or paintings hanged. Only a brown painted wall with high ceiling.The Boss took a bottle of wine and pour it into two wine glass and handed Samantha the other one which she eagerly took. She badly needed a drink after the incident of gun fire and surprises that had happened. Her adrenaline was still up and she wanted to eased a bit.“I know you are surprised seeing me here.” The Boss said after he emptied his glass. “I think we have to be introduced properly. I am Franco Ortega. But to you and your mother I am Frank Sevilla. I am sorry that I did not introduce you myself earlier. I have reasons.”“So you knew that I am your daughter all along?” Samantha said sounding like a statement of annoyance.“Yes. Since you were born. I was in the hospital when you
AS they speed away going to the office’s direction, Constantine eyes was wary and wandering. He was looking at every direction of the road. The bodyguard seated at the front also do the same. Samantha was sitting at the back and trying to relax but she could not. She sensed something was up to. The way Constantine and the other bodyguard was acting made her nervous. She touched the gun on her bag and adjusted her bullet proof vest.Samantha was thinking about her daughter and was almost tempted to make an order to turn around and go back. Constantine had fill her in about how dangerous Marisa Madrid’s family. An old mafia family that made things done by violence and guns. She glanced back and saw the other car following them. It was part of the three car convoy. Their car was in between and the first car leading them was speeding constantly.As they are about to cross the bridge, there was an explosion in front of them. The first convoy was almost hit and then there was another explos
Marisa Madrid was sleeping in her hospital bed. Angelo was staring at the woman who was fully bandaged on the face with broken nose and gunshot wounds on the right cheek. The wound was not fatal because it exited the soft skin of the jaw but the doctor said that it will need longer therapy to restore both the skin and the broken jaw.Marisa also suffered fractured bones and limbs. Other than that she was already out of danger and the good thing is that the baby was not affected. Angelo got a mixed emotion about what happened. He learned that Marisa provoked the fight but he could not imagine that Samantha was now capable to break somebody’s limb. What happened to the sweet soft woman that he used to loved? It seems that something had turned out within the woman that made her a killer.Marisa moved and open her eyes. She was wary at first but when she saw Angelo sitting beside her bed she started to mumble incoherent words. The bandage and the wounds made her difficult to talk.“P-Plea
ONE morning Constantine her driver/body guard handed her a bullet proof vest before they left the apartment.“It’s a vest. Like mine. Please wear it.” Constantine slowly said while helping Samantha unwrapped the black jacket like vest.“You are scaring me Constantine. Why am I supposed to wear a vest like this?” She said, starting to feeling nervous.“Protection Boss.”“Oww. Another threat I guess.” Samantha said to lighten the mood and then added a joke. “Or maybe we are going to a raid or something.”Constantine help Samantha with the vest and asked after. “Is your gun with you?”“Yeah of course.” She said touching her bag.She remembered Brenda’s word. “Don’t let yourself a willing target. Always carry your gun with you wherever you go. Consider it your best friend that you cannot live without.”“Let’s go then.” Constantine said and started the car.AS the car drove to the office direction, Samantha could not help but think. She never dreamed of a life like this. What she wanted wa
Divina was silent during breakfast and Samantha decided to respect that silence too. She was light headed that morning because of lack of sleep. As she watched her mother silently, Samantha was almost tempted to ask her who was her real father again but she had a second thought because Divina had answered that already and firmed in her conviction that Arnald was her father. Samantha had a second thought about it and she knew that asking will bring her nowhere. Now she realized how distant was Arnald to her and her mother in her growing days. She never remembered that the man had spent longer hour for her even during special occasions like Christmas and birthdays. She outgrown the thought that maybe Arnald was just a busy man.After high school she was sent to America to study college. It was Arnald’s idea and her mother could not say no but cry.Well maybe her mother was still expecting a second chance between them and Arnald like she was silently hoping for the second chance between
Divina remembered that when she confronted Arnald about the blind item, her husband did not confirm nor denied. She was so hurt and devastated. She loved her husband but she reached her limits. Like a scorned woman seeking for vengeance her first impulse was to self-distract. She began to socialized with old friends to forget but the pain always remained.She started drinking heavily and going out every night with old friends. Rich and adventurous friends who eventually taught her to gamble in the casino. Gamblers always had its beginners luck but it doesn’t last that long. House always wins and Divina had already been addicted to it. She lost heavily. She had almost dried her own savings, pawned all her jewelries but could not have the nerve to tell Arnald and ask for more money.The Pharmaceutical Company was now converted into a corporation from single proprietorship. As corporation it has a separate entity from the owner’s and she could not withdraw money without asking permission