I was roaming my head around the place when everyone gave a knowing look at me. They knew already that I was the former Vice President in this company that's why they bowed their heads to respect me. What I found a little bit disturbing was that they seemed afraid as if they had been waiting for my presence for a long time.
"Good morning, ma'am, you look so lovely as usual," a receptionist greeted me for the second time. "Sir Neil, I mean Cal, has waited for you. He said you should come to his office to discuss some matter together."
"Okay, by the way, how everything's going here?" I asked them. I was not one of their bosses anymore but they were part of my memory as a VP. "How's the maintenance? Are they giving you enough salary?"
It's been years since I asked like this.
"Sir Cal is a great leader. All departments' liders are responsible as well. They give us salary appositely, ma'am. But the problem is that Sir Cal forgets some of the names of his emplo
"What happened to your face?!"I yelled in shock when Neil revealed his face full of bruises. I was torn between getting the medicine kit and asking him where did he get so much aches. At the end, I ran with all my best to get the kit so that I could help him. Once the kit was finally on my hand, I sat next to him and held his jaw.Regardless, he still looked like a demigod. No one could ever change my mind.When in fact, the blood in his face made him look like a bad boy who came from a ramble."You're so stubborn. Why are not you answering my question, hmm? What happened? I thought you were just going to your friend's house but look at you now," I mumbled, a cotton in my hand, and so I pressed it in his right cheek. "You need to talk or else I find a way for me to know what has happened to you.""You sounded like a mother. These bruises were just nothing but bruises. Stop worrying, can you?"
I balled my fists and my eyes shut in irritation. I walked off my desk and signaled Sydney not to move even for a bit. My system was screaming for anger -- for jealousy, perhaps. I was already frustrated after hearing the news that my secretary told me early in the morning yet Daniel, the most obnoxious man in the entire world, just worsened my headache."Where are you going?" Sydney inquired me before I could reach the glass door. "Please, don't hurt him, okay? He's my friend. He's somehow close to my heart even though he keeps bothering us. Please?" Her eyes were watering, making me realize that Daniel wasn't just a normal man for her.For some reason, my heart throbbed by the fact that I was not the only man in her life, that even though we were married, I still didn't have the right to control her life."Okay," I managed to answer, regardless deep inside I badly wanted to break that Daniel's hand until he knelt and p
Come here and talk to me if you don't want me to reveal your secret to the President of your family's company.I received that message hours ago, and until now I kept walking back and fourth while thinking for a nice idea or solution. I had this bad feeling in my mind that something bad was awaiting for me. Why did the sender of that message seem so knowledgeable about my life?I am sorry for what I did to your husband. I regretted for trying to kill him. It felt like I wasn't on my senses earlier. I am so sorry. I'll understand if you don't like to meet me anymore.That email came from my friend, Daniel. An idea popped up in my mind. Was he the one who just send a threatening message? He's the only one who knew about the sins I did to my husband.My hands trembling, I gathered my strength and sent a reply.Just stay away from me, Daniel. Are you the one who just sent a message t
A sexy music played, and men in their own seats whistled to appreciate the presence of the woman dancing in the dancefloor. Lights were starting to move side by side and back and fourth to make the place more appealing in the sight of everyone. I wasn't fond in any music but the one I was hearing now might be the reason for me to become a music lover."She's so sexy. No wonder why every man wants to take her," I heard a Chinese man whispering to his seemingly Spanish seatmate, causing me to ball my fist as though as she's my territory even though she even didn't know my name yet."Fuck you, all," I whispered in my gritted teeth and my eyes focused on the woman swaying her hips so deliciously. Even in this dark place, her exquisiteness was still shining like a beautiful star in the galaxy. She's wearing a wig that suited her white and vulnerable skin. She's wearing a black dress that didn't cover the majority of her thighs. There were even time that her undies showed ou
"You don't have to be jealous."Neil said after giving me a kiss in my cheek.Pouting, I gave him the bottle I was holding and my free hand raised to wipe the sweats off his face.Fortunately, we're still together until now. College life really wasn't a piece of cake but we still managed to have a communication. Our University now was having a festival and there were many sports being held to entertain students. Neil and his playmates won the game. And if you're asking me what's my contribution,I just transformed myself into a cheerleader earlier and yelled Neil's name consecutively to show my moral support."Mom keeps bothering me. She might already know that we're together," I said in my low voice because I knew he would not like our topic. "I mean, we both agree about our relationship but I fail to act like I am not in love when she's around. I am sorry.""Don't worry." He kissed my forehead, his breath so airy and by that it's obvious he's
Everything went so fast until I noticed some guards that I was unfamiliar with. I bet they were Marcus'. I got nervous by the fact that they cornered us yet our guards were outside and probably had no any idea that we were trapped here.But, Neil, who's now stranding so brave, just walked using his casual steps as though as he's just in a meeting facing all the board members. One of Marcus' guards, looked at me for a long moment. He might notice that I assembled his boss' face.Salvena, as what I knew from the start, was our relative, though I was trembling everytime I was around them. The fact that they loathed us for being their biggest competitor, was also enough for me not to trust their actions."You should walk off, Marcus, or else I'll call our securities!" I tried to warn him, but he just threw a smirk and sat in my swivel chair. His eyes were roaming around the place, and he's making a sound by tapping his free finger in the top of my desk."Why
The cafeteria I expected to be full since it's break time was consumed by one customer only, and that's Neil, who's now making a sit in his VIP chair. Many waitresses ran towards him, giggling. But Neil's strange reaction caught my attention. Wearing my normal smile, I walked closer to him."Are you okay, Sir?" I asked, and a waitress asked my order, but since I was focused on Neil's impending response, she just stood near me and waited for my order. "Did Marcus tell you something earlier?"My hand was shaking and there was already a lump in my throat that kept blocking my airway. No, this couldn't be. The deal between me and my cousin had not ended yet, which meant I still had time to finish my task. Though Neil's current reaction made me think negatively. His eyes were so dark and they almost screamed for bullets. No wonder why some employees never dared to greet him because it was obvious he's having a hard time.When mom was still here, Neil was not like thi
"We had an agreement, right? So why did you tell Neil about that German?"I was now facing Marcus, the bastard, feeling so faltered knowing all my plans were all worthless. All the times that I tried my best to calm down seemed like a garbage in a trash."I told you, cousin. I don't like to wait. What I mean in giving you a chance to do what I want you to accomplish is to do it within a day but you seem to forget our deal."You really are unclear. Of course, preventing that important negotiation will take a very long time to accomplish. How can I make Neil to do me a favor to me if he cannot even remember me?"Well, what can I do now? I already told him about this USB?" He raised something in the air, and I balled my fist in irritation. In too much emotion, tears were already pooling in every corner of my eyes. Some customers loooked at my direction, and a kind kid also managed to hand a handkerchief
Mom and I were finally okay. She asked for my forgiveness even though I never loathed her. For all the bad things she had done to me, I still loved her. Nothing could change that fact."What is the name of this place once again, Mom?" Kyra asked curiously as she roamed her eyes around the place.A smile touched my lips. "Azucalda."We were safe to live not worrying about anything. Ambrosia's family were now settled in jail. Daniel, also, already found his life, the woman who would change the fake romantic love he felt towards me. "This is where we belong, Kyra. Be comfortable in this place, because starting from now, we will leave here, we will start new memories," I hugged her."When Dad will come back?" she asked me out of the blue. "I mean, we have been already waiting for years! Last night, Dad and I talked, but since this morning, he never texted me anymore. I am worrying, Mom! What if he alread
"If I could just turn back the time."I was used to say that statement to myself. Days and years without Sydney, I realized life was hard without her. Though I had no choice, I could not get her back because I had no right. I hurt her. I should face the consequences of my actions."Sydney has a daughter, Auntie. And she is now currently studying. She is an academic achiever," Marcus informed me. Marcus was one of my enemy before even though we were blood related, but as time gone by, we became close and decided to help each other."I have a granddaughter, then..." I whispered using my weak voice. That meant that Sydney was pregnant during the moments she was not in this country. That meant she lived without my guide. That meant she raised my grandaughter alone. "I have remembered what you told me before. You told me she has a business in this country, right?"He nodded. "She owns a grocery."&
We still lived in the same house, and I witnessed how they both loved each other. But I never liked that."Auntie Trinidad, I successfully closed the deal," Neil announced to me. To my delight, I smiled. "Thanks to Sydney, though. He pushed me to work hard."I heard a lot of news from work, especially from company employees. Because Sydney and Neil worked often at the same time... they also went home together so that caused surprise to others."I know they are both married," Marcus threatened me. This businessman had never really changed. Still ruthless. There was no sanctification. Even so, I still treated him well because we were just relatives. I know he was not gay to spread the word."Just do not let them know." I got up. I would have planned to build a boutique. Because since I was a child, that was really what I wanted to have. Now that Neil was taking care of the company, maybe
"Starting today, you are the only one I will love. Expect me to love you every day."I closed my eyes when Zimon, my husband, gently gave his tender kisses to me. To this day, I still could not believe it. We were married. We were officially legal.Our family welcomed us as well. Nothing could stop us from being together. We would also be able to form our dreams together, and one of them was having a child, or if possible ‘children’. We even wanted a girl to be our first child. But what the Lord gave us, we would wholeheartedly accept it."Zimon, here is your lunchbox. Please, do not stay up too late at work. I know you want to give us a very good future but we are already rich. I am not proud of our living condition, but I just hope you learn how to rest, okay?"That was really what I kelt reminding him of. Health was important so I wanted him to take care of himself. We would have a chi
How many times had I tried to love my child as much as many mothers like me love. But even so, I still could not bear to look at her without remembering what his Dad did to me and how he hurt me until I was exhausted.I could say that me giving her birth was the most important event in my life, but like I said, I could not... I could not afford to love her, because whenever I smiled at her, I felt like I just forgave her Dad right away. And for me, that shoul not have happened. No one could stop me...I did not know if my own child hated me. If she wanted to hate me until she voluntarily gave up, go on! I did not care. Even if it was bad in the eyes of others, I would do what I thought was good for me, for the comfort of my chest."Is the average yourself from studying? How dare you smile at me while you were showing this shit to me? How many times have I told you that this grade is not enough for me? You are stupid, really. I am still wondering why you ev
When we were at the venue, we looked around. Until the woman who invited us to be in here acknowledged us with a big smile. I immediately recognized her because of the sweetness of her smile. She talked to us and the other guests. I could say the event was really social and prepared for elites because you could just see from the guests' gowns that they were really expensive. Not to mention that Neil Sandoval was admired by many."Hi, there is still an empty table near the long table. Other guests also want to meet you. Because you know how much everyone admires you, Neil Sandoval," the woman praised him again.Neil was really grabbing attention now, not only because he was handsome in what he was wearing, but also because he looked like the girl he was holding so tightly. Just a look at them and you would know that they were blood related - the way they walked was similar.Anyway, he was no longer wearing jogging pants. Before we finally went here we also reserv
"Thank you, Sydney," said the one in front of me. Because of the bonfire, his eyes seemed to be on fire as well. You could even mirror yourself through those orbs. "I will be back. I will be back safe. I am not going to hurt myself."I knew. Because of Kyra, you would have even more reason to be safe forever. We both knew we could not afford to see Kyra struggling, so that was enough reason for both of us to make sure we were safe."Are you cold already? Do you want us to go inside?" he asked me."You? Do you want to?""Yeah, so that Kyra can lie down properly."I laughed and immediately stood up. We entered the house, and I helped him put Kyra to bed. Even though I was just helping, I could already feel the weight of my daughter."I'm leaving--"I stopped him."Just sleep here. It's okay with me."He was shocked. He looked at me with indescribable amazement in his eyes. "All right. But I will just sleep on the sofa so y
"You are really sweet, Dad! Mama must have sweetly answered you so you prepared all of these!" Kyra shouted happily at Neil. Neil, on the other hand, still looked serious, who also seemed to just chose to smile even though the truth was, just like me, he also felt a lot of embarrassment right now.Soon, the cold wind blew, and we all sat down to begin what had to begin."Kyra, darling, don't be surprised by what we are going to say but ..." Neil took a deep breath, and in the depth of it, I almost drowned. "I'm doing this for you, for your future and for your mommy's. I can't just be here forever and happy without worrying about of our business."Kyra fell silent. Her smile faded. She turned to me, and I averted my eyes. I had tears in my eyes now, and I did not want them to see me being emotional.Maybe it was just because I was so tired. Tomorrow, I would definitely okay again."Are you leaving?" My daughter's voice was full of fear. I also rarel
I almost kissed him. I meant, I almost kissed him! Marcus' appearance was really right so that Neil wouldn't think that only Azucalda would soften my heart and push me to kiss him. Goodness, I still had to control myself. It was not because I was happy with what he said that I would tolerate it. You were indeed a great fool, self."Oh, why did you two stop? Go on with what you were supposed to do and I will just quietly watch it." And as expected, Marcus never left us again. He would really use what he saw to make me die of nervousness. "It's a pity that Kyra did not see you almost kissing. I hope I was able to take a picture too!"Neil picked up some sand and threw it towards my cousin's face. I also wanted to keep laughing at him because his cheeks were red like a ripe tomato."Jerk! Get out of here! You have a business problem so prioritize that over messing with us here!" I told him. Really, right? His business was also in danger so that was what he should f