Chapter 2

Chapter 2

I swallowed hard.

I didn't see anyone inside the helicopter like I'd expected. I thought I'd see some old pervert. Two men dressed in black brought me here, and all that I could do was lift my feet to get on board. My nerves were almost sky-high. Why? Because this was my first time riding helicopter in my entire life. couldn’t tell where this anxiety was coming from. It was overwhelming. I felt like I'd almost lose my breath at any moment. I grabbed the handle with my trembling hands, feeling like my knees could give out at any second.

"W-Who is about to sit beside me? I am scared!" I blurted out as soon as I sat down. I already felt dizzy even though we were still on the ground and hadn't lifted off yet.

"Just relax, Miss Sabiana. I'm just delivering the money to Miss V,” one of the men said, but it did nothing to ease my nerves, my fear.

I felt like my vision would arken any moment. I watched as the man left, carrying an attaché case. He didn't take long. He returned quickly, without the case. I knew it held money, he said he was delivering it to Miss V.

I looked around again, feeling that my tears were welling up in my eyes. They wouldn't stop falling. I felt like I might die the moment this helicopter took off. The man got up in the helicopter and shut the door. My entire system went into panic mode again as the pilot started pressing buttons, and I felt the helicopter slowly lift off from the rooftop.

Oh God.

I froze, clutching the metal

handles. My back went rigid, and my breathing stopped. I couldn't handle my fear. My vision started o fade. I became more anxious, and everything around me slowly disappeared amidst my blurred vision.

LENNOX

I calmly exhaled the cigarette smoke while gazing out the large window, standing in front of it. I couldn't sleep. I hadn't been able to since the bidding earlier started. My entire system felt like it was being turned inside out. I couldn't explain how I felt after seeing her again.

The last time I saw her was seven years ago, before she disappeared from my life. I thought she was already dead. I had given up and lost the last sort of hope, searching for her. That was also the last time I saw her father, Federico, moment before I could turn over Sabiana to her biological father. But, I found out that Federico himself had accompanied her to the elite club lately. Rebecca said there was no coercion involved. Sabiana had supposedly decided to participate on the auction and wanted to sell herself. I will find out the truth. If I discover any lies, I'll kill Federico and Rebecca with my bare hands.

The woman I bought has always been mine ever since she was a little child. When she was kidnapped, I nearly lost everything. Her father was furious at me. He thought I was lying when I said Sabiana was missing. Maybe Federico found Sabby and took her away from me for good.

I was a very busy man. Even at twenty. This was already my life. I was hardly ever home. Things only got harder when my younger brother ran away, refusing the fate of inheriting the businesses Dad had established.

As the eldest, I took on the responsibility—no, not just responsibility. It was a heavy burden placed on my shoulders as the head of these businesses. It was so hard at first. I had to annul my marriage because of it. Isaved her from misery. And 500 million for an annulment wasn't that much. Claudia accepted our separation in exchange for 500 million pesos.

"Boss," I heard my most trusted man, Cezar behind me.

I immediately turned to face him, stubbed out my cigarette and tossed it into the metal bin.

"Where is she?" I asked right away. Jesus. I haven't seen her in thirteen years. I'm so excited to see her now, close enough to stare at her face and see how she has changed.

I was stunned when I saw Steven carrying a small woman's body. Her head and arms were hanging limp. A white robe covered her petite figure. And seeing her in that state made my jaw clench in anger.

“What the hell happened to her? Didn't I make it clear? I didn't want a single scratch on her. Why is she unconscious?" I angrily asked Cezar.

The thought of Rebecca immediately crossed my mind.

"Boss, she fainted when the helicopter took off. We don't know why, but she was crying

nonstop. She has a pulse, and we’re sure she's okay. She probably just needs to rest," Cezar

explained immediately.

I was just staring at Sabiana. I wanted to touch her, but I couldn't bring myself to take a single step closer. I settled for gazing at the young girl I once knew when I was twenty-three. Her mother, Henrieta, was twenty-seven at that time. Henrieta and Sabiana were with me for a year since that day I met them, and I was in the process of an annulment back then. During that time annulment was new in the Philippines. I thought it wouldn't be easy, but thanks to money, the certification of nullity took only about three years and finally had it in my hands…

FLASHBACK-

I COULDN'T accept what I discovered about my father. In my search for his love, I had followedbhim secretly, only to discover something else I never imagined. And when I confronted him, he didn't even deny it, in fact, he asked me if I could one day replace him and become his heir.

God.

In shock, I immediately left, and now, here I am, driving with no direction in life. I don't know if I'll go home or what. My father watched one of his men kill a man just in front of him. God. Right in front of him. There wasn't even a hint of shock on my father's face, like he was used to seeing strange things like that.

My mind was wandering as I drove. This was the first time in my life that I had seen someone directly killed. Damn. This will haunt me for the rest of my life. That man had been tied up, hands bound behind his back, begging for forgiveness. By the look in his eyes, he looked at my father in the highest regard. The man pleaded to him father for another chance. 

And that sound—the gunshot and it almost shut down my entire system. I immediately whispered, “Daddy.” 

I slammed on the brakes as I noticed the traffic light had turned red, but I was still speeding. A woman and her child were crossing the pedestrian lane. 

Holy shit! I almost lost my soul as my senses snapped back to reality. The woman quickly shielded her child with her own body. I was so shocked. My eyes widened, realizing there was almost no space between her and my car, and I nearly hit them. They staggered back, trying to avoid the death I almost brought upon them. 

I immediately got out of the car, realizing my mistake. I was sorry for it. I admit it. 

“I’m so sorry,” I said frantically, holding the woman by the arm. “Please forgive me,” I added, helping her up. 

She looked at me, and I was stunned by her beauty. She wasn’t like the women I typically saw in my world, or our world—the world of the Montebellos. Her beauty was natural, despite looking poor. She wore a cloth over her head, perhaps to shield herself from the sun, and her daughter was wearing a hat. 

I glanced at the child she was protecting. Jesus. The child was even prettier. She had very warm eyes, looking so angelic, and I guessed she was about four or five. 

I snapped back to reality, “Please come with me so I can take you to a hospital or clinic. My car might’ve hit you,” I said, attempting to guide the woman. 

Horns blared from the vehicles I had put into inconvenience, causing traffic so I wanted to get the woman and the child away from here to ensure I hadn’t actually hit them. I was being paranoid. I had just witnessed a crime, and now I almost hit innocent people because I was lost with what I saw. 

“W-We’re not hurt,” the woman said softly. 

“Please. I insist. Don’t make me feel even guiltier,” I urged, sounding slightly irritated with nothing. 

Perhaps out of fear, the woman moved and brought along her child, who was carrying a bag. They each had a bag. 

I put them in my car, then got in myself and drove forward to a place where I could park. I immediately looked back at the mother and child in the backseat. The woman held her child close, her hand resting protectively on the child’s head. The little girl blinked her gentle eyes, looking harmless and afraid. 

“Are you sure you’re not hurt?” I asked again. 

The woman shook her head. “We’re okay, Sir. Don’t worry; you didn’t actually hit us. We can get out now.” 

I admired her. Even though she looked like she had no money, she didn’t take advantage of my confusion and concern. If it had been someone else, they might’ve pretended to be hurt and demanded money, or worse, threatened to report me to the police. 

Because of that, I felt a sense of pity for them. They looked like they had been kicked out of somewhere. I could tell the woman’s bag held clothes, as a few pieces were sticking out of her cloth bag. 

“W-Where are you heading, if you don’t mind me asking?” I couldn’t help but ask. I feel so responsible for such a reason that I don’t certainly know. 

“We’re looking for a place to stay since we were kicked out of our rented home. I haven’t found a job yet because no one’s looking for a housekeeper. No one wants me at the club anymore, so I couldn’t pay the rent,” she replied, and I was taken aback. 

A club? 

“I’m a GRO (Guest Relations Officer). Maybe you know someone looking for help. I can do any job. I’m desperate, Sir. My child needs food and supplies for school. If not, I can be a maid… I…I…” Her voice trembled, and she looked like she was about to cry. 

Her child buried her face in her mother’s chest, seemingly about to cry, too. 

Damn. I felt my heart being squeezed, and my eyes began to well up. They didn’t look like bad people; in fact, they both had such gentle faces. There was no doubt they were mother and daughter. And this woman didn’t look like a GRO. I’d seen paid women before. I’d been to high-class clubs, low-class ones, whatever—but this woman was dressed properly. She covered her body, didn’t wear any lipstick. Her face was completely bare. 

“To any friends of yours who might need a helper,” she continued, swallowing hard, “a laundress, a cook… anything… even an entertainer at home. Y-You… I-I can work for you, even if you don’t look like someone who would settle for a low-class single mother…” 

I looked at her child. This woman was directly selling herself to me, without hesitation. By the look on her face, I could see she was desperate to earn money to survive. 

“D-Do you have any ID or documents, birth certificate…?” I asked. 

“Yes, yes. I have a certificate, barangay and an ID, though I only have one. I also have a police clearance since I’ve been actively applying to be a housekeeper,” she replied quickly. 

“How old is your child? Is she your daughter?” 

She nodded and kissed her daughter on the forehead, “She’s over five, almost six, and about to enter first grade.” 

I nodded, “Have you eaten?” 

“We had porridge at a food stall. I’m Henrieta, and this is my daughter, Sabiana. I call her Sabby. Sir, maybe you could consider me for any job, even as a gardener or floor sweeper,” she pleaded. And maybe out of confusion or something else, I found myself nodding. 

It was as if I were hypnotized. I took Henrieta and her daughter to my house. There, Henrieta showed me her papers. They were seem authentic. 

“I need to prepare a contract, Henrieta,” I told her as we sat in the receiving area. 

She nodded, “Yes, Sir. Yes. For as long as you need. I will never mind,” she said, her eyes sparkling, which made me smile a little. 

I looked at Sabby. She blinked and looked shy, but despite her shyness, she managed to give me a very gentle smile. My heart melted. I had been married for three years, but we hadn’t had a child. Claudia was out of the country. That’s where she lived—traveling, sightseeing, shopping. I provided all of that for her because she got pregnant early, and her studies were interrupted. But unfortunately, we lost our child because of a weak pregnancy. Since then, I had never been able to get her pregnant again, as I had been very busy with our business. That was my indulgence for her, so it couldn’t be taken away. And in my desire for her to be happy and forget about losing our baby, I let her constantly travel abroad. 

And now, it seems that’s what truly makes her happy—not me anymore.