The cafeteria was not a place where silence usually stayed. It was always filled with rowdy and lively customers beside the good food they served. And despite the crowd, the two of them remained silent while staring at their unannounced visitor.It’s as if they’ve seen a ghost. Definitely not. No ghost was as handsome and as charismatic as the CEO of the Ferrer Properties. And he’s also holding his tray with the food he ordered at the counter.That’s new. Normally, Richard will be out of the office at this time of the day. Not that she had any interest in his schedule. But as far as Amanda knew, he’s not the person that stays inside the office because of various business engagements outside."Is this seat taken? He repeated the question. His eyes were definitely on her that Ananda felt embarrassed. She looked away so as to not get any more unnecessary attention.Alma cleared her throat and answered politely. "Yes, Sir."He took the space next to Alma, and she could tell that he’s glan
Keith set aside all the other files and took the one with the “Confidential” written in front of it. Hesitation stopped him from opening the folder. He can’t admit even in the eyes of his assistant that he was afraid to know the contents.“What are you afraid of?” A part of him asked. “Are you afraid to know the truth?”“Are you afraid to even acknowledge your wrong doing?”So Keith turned to Alan and asked. “So, tell me,”“What’s written in this report?”Alan was startled for a moment before giving him the details of the report. “You will find inside the folder the details of the sender of that particular parcel…”“The sender’s name is Mario de Guzman,” his assistant mentioned the name. Keith touched his chin, thinking if he’d heard the name or even familiar to begin with. But nothing comes to his mind. “We already checked the CCTV footage on that day. We saw a shady man that we think he is. But apparently, upon checking his ID presented on the branch, it was falsificated. And when w
Ah, why can’t these men give her the piece of mind that she ever wanted?Amanda was staring at the retreating back of Richard’s car before it lost in the corner. She decided to get inside of the house to make something to eat in the kitchen when he heard a familiar voice calling her name.She closed her eyes tightly as she almost forgot that Keith was inside of that car behind Richard’s. Amanda was fighting the urge to face him. It was always stressful and energy draining. And even seeing Keith alone makes her completely at lost and get furious easily.She can’t be dealing with him right now. Her doctor already advised her not to subject herself to any more stress for the benefit of her and the baby.“Amanda—”She never gets annoyed at someone calling out her name. It felt like her name had brought curse to her life. Kidding aside, Amanda turned around to face Kieth just this once. And the plan was to decline any of his attempts to get her back.Instead of turning him down, her eyes w
He wasn’t the jealous type of person. Or maybe he just didn’t acknowledge it yet.Keith was confident enough that all he possessed was his alone. Jealousy was never in his vocabulary—either in women and in material things. Everything was given to him on a silver platter that all he had to do was to choose among them which suits him best.But Amanda. She’d evoked something primitive inside of him no women dare to touch. He felt furious. He felt enraged. Then now, jealousy was sweeping him away. Keith gritted his teeth before taking all the gifts and stepped outside of his car.Then he called out her name. Keith was even frantic, wanting to know her relationship with that man. He could no longer deny the jealousy ripping her soul. No one dares to take away something, rather someone, he possessed.But then just one look at her and he was caught off guard. She was even more beautiful than those images engraved into his mind. Was Amanda this alluring in the past? And then guilt awash all h
Keith laughed afterwards. He had already lowered himself just so he can have her forgiveness and yet this was all he can get? He will be thrown out again like before. He’s starting to see the pattern now. Amanda was playing a dangerous game with him.She was traversing to this path where she thinks she had the upper hand. Well, hell no. Amanda should have realized she had no power over him to demand something like this. That she should be satisfied that he still wanted her in his life for those two things his grandfather had used to manipulate his life— their marriage and an heir only with the first wife.He raked his both hands through his hair before looking back to his naive wife. No matter how she changed, Amanda was still as naive as before. She hasn’t learned yet how life and business works. And to think that he had made the first move was a great deal that she shouldn’t have refused.“I was thinking it through,” he took a few steps forward slowly, like a predator to its prey. H
She didn’t usually wear make-up. She always likes her face to be bare minimum—a little bit of face powder and lip gloss and nothing else after. But today, Amanda opted to try to be different. And she used the make-up kit she hid in the closet for this occasion.It's a weekend and the last time Richard was with her, he invited her to attend the birthday of this special person. It will happen today, Saturday, at the celebrant’s residenceAmanda made a quick shower that morning and got another chance to see her growing bump in front of the mirror. It’s always a delight to see that her baby was growing steady and healthy inside of her. She always caressed her tummy along with telling the baby sweet things even until she fell asleep. The doctor had said before that the mother and the baby are connected not just physically but emotionally as well. And anything you feel, the baby will feel it too. And anything you say, they will surely hear it too.After drying her hair with a blower, she we
Amanda remembered the proposal like Richard had only proposed yesterday. It was ridiculous, she thought but he made her realize that with him by her side, anything was indeed possible. And the most interesting part was she could fight Keith and his lover heads on.She doubted the proposal, saying that it may cost her more than she can bargain for. No man would make such a gamble without sure returns, and Richard was a businessman after all. He sure would want something in return for his so called kindness. And even if he said sincerely that he just wanted to help and would not ask in return, she was hesitant at first.Yet it turns out that he uses his business minded skills on her so she could say “Yes”. That they should treat anything like a business deal if that’s what her mind will be at ease. And for the “payment”? He could have it after, no definite date.It was a risk, Amanda was well aware of the circumstances of engaging herself with his plans. But it’s her only way. There’s n
Even the dining hall was as impressive as the rest of the mansion. It was adorned with a grand piece of art in the middle of the wall and a classic chandelier on the ceiling. The long, burgundy drapes of the floor-to-ceiling window were pulled off, showing the majestic view of the outside.The food was already served to the long table. Then the butler called the attention of maids and lined up beside the entrance of the dining hall.Everything was perfectly made. But it’s just that the atmosphere had totally changed now that Keith and Sarah were already here. Amanda suddenly lost her appetite and just wanted to go home. Richard must’ve sensed her reluctance and grabbed her hand. He squeezed it lightly as if telling her that it's gonna be alright and that there’s nothing to be afraid or reluctant for.Why didn't it ring a bell the first time she heard the surname? And to think that Sarah shared the surname of the chairwoman hadn’t sparked the curiosity. It's only now that Shaina hugged