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Lahat ng Kabanata ng My Enemy Is My Lover : Kabanata 71 - Kabanata 80

117 Kabanata

Chapter 71

Rosa’s povIt was a whirlwind of activity since Rosa's Boutique blog launched. The days melded into nights as I bounced from meetings to creative brainstorms, and the inevitable crisis that is bound to occur with any new business. But, through it all, there was James.He cheered each of our little wins: from the first positive review to finally getting a reliable supplier. Whenever setbacks threatened to derail me, he was there with a level-headed pep talk or a silent word of comfort. Not that he needed to; I knew he cared — it was in the little day-to-day things, but James found a way of making these big gestures.So when one afternoon he waltzed into my office with a twinkle in his eye, I knew something was up.Leaning against the doorway, he said, “Rosa, I insist we have a romantic evening tonight.”I looked up from my desk, with an eyebrow raised. “Special, huh? What’s the occasion?”James made a shrugging motion, and his lips upturned into that innocent smile that flustered me ea
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Chapter 72

Rosa’s povThe usual flow of customers rummaging through racks, and the low rumble of my staff coordinating delivery off in the corner were always common signs of a busy morning at Rosa’s Boutique; another ordinary day. I had just finished serving the last customer of the morning on their way out as I remembered to take a breath, straighten my skirt and flick what hair I could back behind an ear.That was when I noticed it, a small brown box on the counter next to the register.“Who delivered this?” I asked, glancing around.Hannah, my operations manager, shrugged her shoulders. “No idea. That was only there this morning when I went in. No note, no return address.”Furrowing my brow, I grabbed the box and held it up in front of me. When she unwrapped it, it almost looked like a small package covered in brown paper, held together with twine and surprisingly heavy for its size. It felt... intentional, like a lot of care had been put into this.“Should I open it?” Not really expecting ot
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Chapter 73

Rosa’s povThe enigmatic presents had since turned into a ghost of my thoughts, an enigma I could never fully put together. Every object—exquisitely selected, unbelievably intimate—looked like it was imprinted with a secret code that, maddeningly, we could not decipher. I was both glad and not glad of the gifts, but I could not allow them to disturb me. Not now.Only days prior to the fashion show for the boutique, our biggest event yet. The stakes were high. It was more than just to be able to showcase my designs; it was about making Rosa’s Boutique a major player within the fashion industry.One evening, sitting in the living room with a notebook sprawled across my lap, I said, “James, could you help me out with the theme of this show?”James who had been scrolling through his phone looked up and raised an eyebrow. Q: "You don't care about the presents?"His question tugged at the unease I had tried so desperately to repress and I hesitated for a moment. But I found a way to force m
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Chapter 74

Rosa’s povJames, this can't be ignored," I said firmly. A fire lit in my heart, smoldering eradicated any uncertainty I had carried with me for the past few days. The enigma of the gifts had grown to loom over our lives—an unsolved riddle and an incomplete puzzle, eagerly waiting for all its fragments to be joined over blurry lines.James, who was sitting across from me at the dining room table looked up at me. His look was just as firm, his gray eyes slitting at me and giving a brief nod. “Agreed. Let’s investigate.”We started with what seemed to be the most logical first step: tracking where the packages had come from. So James was in charge of this little task, due to his network of contacts and expertise at booking things. He called the courier companies that had delivered the packages, but each lead ended in a cul-de-sac. However the trail grew cold before it even started, as not one of their records matched the descriptions for the packages and there was no return address.One
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Chapter 75

Rosa’s povAn employee at the antique shop leaned on the counter and nearly whispered. The shop was dimly lit in such a way as to add an aura of exclusiveness and secrecy.I have an idea of who sent the music box, he said and shifted his eyes between James and I.The air stilled, and I leaned closer without even thinking about it. “Who?” That piqued my interest, so I asked.The owner paused, perhaps deciding how much to give away. Finally, he spoke.“A high profile collector known only as The Patron.”“The Patron?” James said again, a furrow forming between his brows. He sounded doubtful, and his body stiffened next to me. “Who is that supposed to be? And what’s their motive?”The shopkeeper wiped his glasses and said shrugs. The only thing no one knows about The Patron is what his identity is.” They’re... an enigma. An aesthetic person, designer and talented individual. They like to support artists and creators—from the shadows. Rosa, somehow they had noticed your boutique.Greatly f
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Chapter 76

Rosa’s povThe enticing whiff of lavender and freshly pressed linens welcomed James and me back to the boutique from the tranquil evening we shared. It was the familiar soft hum of the overhead lights, and the gentle clink of a bell at the entrance that had everything about this space a little lost in time but there was something foreign to this serenity tonight. It was like one of those eased moments that hangs over you before a storm goes off in the room.We slipped further into the heart of boutique, where the dangling chandeliers glinted against glass cases and dimmed an almost skeletal glow around us. That was when it caught my eye — a pristine package, neatly wrapped in paper, on the counter. The bow was crisp and elegant; it sparkled in the light, and the brown paper that surrounded it looked far too neat to actually be real.I had spoken, while all my hair stood on end and eyes went wide, with my mouth only letting me say the word "James," as I pointed toward that package.He
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Chapter 77

Rosa’s povThe package came as I was closing up the store for the night. Always wrapped perfectly — black paper, crimson ribbon that stood out against the muted streetlights. The card was placed perfectly under the ribbon, and I knew this person meant business because my heart sank.Oxygen Mask Mark II, I mumbled cautiously.James, who had come to get me, stood mute beside me. He didn't have to inquire, his face gave him away in a heartbeat.Open it, he said cautiously but firmly.Untied this ribbon in order to take the paper off, then I carefully unfolded it; There was a beautiful diamond necklace in one of them, and each time the light hit it differently, so that it flashed stunningly. It was something I had never seen before, the type of jewelry that screams money and class for generations.An envelope was tucked next to the necklace. I paused before snapping it open, my fingers shaking.The message was brief and direct:Dragon Miss, Arrive at Grand Hotel 17:00 Come alone."My voic
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Chapter 78

James’s povWhen Rosa walked out of the door to go meet The Patron at the Grand Hotel, a ball of anxiety lodged itself in my heart and twisted. I stood at the counter of the boutique and stared at a row of necklaces stacked beneath glass. All the logical reassurances I told myself—public place, quick meeting, Rosa could take care of herself—did nothing to quell the nagging fear clawing at my brain.The whole thing had been odd from the beginning. The strange gifts, the vague texts, the request for discretion—all of that felt like obfuscation, like something more deliberate. But I just couldn't get rid of the thought that Rosa was stepping into a trap.I started pacing back and forth, the gentle whir of the lighting system in the boutique mixing with the low hum of street noise, muffled but not inaudible. I saw the blood going from my body and I heard worst-case scenarios.What if The Patron was not all they said? What if this was a long con to control Rosa, an attempted exploitation o
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Chapter 79

James’s povRosa had eyes blazing at her recounting of every detail in her meeting with The Patron. As we sat across from each other in our living room that was beginning to warm up for the summer, I enjoyed her infectious energy, and how passionate and excited her whole being became when she mentioned her boutique. And it was moments like this that made me remember why I had fallen in love with her.She said it with conviction, "They have faith in the boutique, James!" This investment could be a game changer. Not just money—connections, mentorship, opportunities to grow in ways I never believed possible."I nodded, I let her words soak over me. I got her excitement, but I also realized that we had to tread lightly. We needed to be at the top of our game, above all that emotion.Rosa was holding my hands as she said, "We can make this happen.Something about her unwavering gaze drew me in. “I’m with you,” I said. "But before we make it an announcement of our own, let's do the work fir
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Chapter 80

Rosa’s povThe boutique had surpassed my expectations. It was not only the sales, or how people were reviewing my designs generously and demanding for more of them, it was a fulfilment that I have manifested what I had visualised. Each item in the boutique was a curated tale, and customers met it with excitement and dedication.Fluff James as my wingman and The Patron behind the scenes in his quiet authoritative way, my boutique was a household name. Fashion insiders complimented me and influencers wanted to work with me, while the industry started inviting me out as a rising star.But success, I discovered rather quickly, was a careful balancing act.The signs were subtle at first. Avoided stares, whispers at industry functions. Other designers who once greeted me with a smile barely offered curt nods.At the time, I shook it off as a lack of self confidence on their end. James shrugged, confident: “People are always talking.And then the rumors began in an avalanche.(Rolls eyes) as
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