“I have checked it, Mister Garcia….”
“Check it again! It’s your job! Do you want me to teach you how?” Alfonso yelled into his cellphone held in his right hand. He was calling his lawyer.
“But the testament is undoubtedly legal. It had been registered by Mister Adalfo’s notary. Everything is in accordance with regulation, there is nothing else that we can sue –“
“Search for more! Anything that can be a flaw! If you can’t use the legal way, use other way!”
“But, Mister Garcia, I can’t go against the law –“
“AAARGH!” Alfonso roared in such a wrath, and slammed his own cellphone onto the ceramic floor, leaving it shattered in pieces.
The sturdy figure standing more than one point eight metres in height threw himself on a leather sofa behind him. The Hispanic face looked as if it was being shadowed by darkness; the flame in his grayish blue eyes was burning with intensity.
Not even once did he admit defeat to anyone, especially a petite young lady who was nobody such as Siena Mori!
A beautiful and sensual figure wearing an electric blue mini dress came closer, taking a seat beside Alfonso. She tossed her back-length blonde hair to her back. The wide-eyed woman wrapped her hands around his shoulder in an intimate way.
“Honey Bear, please stop being angry all the time…. That is the third cellphone you smash in only one month,” the woman whispered near Alfonso’s ear. She had a strong British accent in her voice.
“I might end up being insane because of that old man and that girl, Gloria…!” Alfonso growled. His pair of eyes stared fiercely at the front without focus.
The woman named Gloria Stevens caressed Alfonso’s cheek, making him turn around to face her. “It’s impossible you are going to lose to that girl, Honey Bear! She is just a twenty four year old girl, with no power or influence. While you? You are the great Alfonso Garcia, feared by all media….”
“But I’m not fighting against a media now! I can’t even do anything to this ‘out of nowhere’ girl…!” Alfonso snapped in a rage.
Gloria’s lips curved up into a playful smile. It was her daily routine to deal with her man who always got mad easily, and she knew exactly how to tame Alfonso.
“Do you know that Siena Mori was once a journalist, more precisely, a columnist?”
“Of course I know. She was once a columnist at Angels Daily. But ever since she inherited all Adalfo’s possessions, she immediately resigned from her job. Huh!” Alfonso huffed.
“Sure thing! Why on earth will she work her ass off, when she already gets everything from Adalfo? All the properties and the wealth that are supposed to be mine!” Alfonso cursed in a loud voice.
“Honey Bear….”
Gloria wrapped her hands around Alfonso’s neck. If only he could refuse, Alfonso would prefer not to be called by that silly name, making him look ridiculous.
But it was a sign of love given by his woman. Only God knew why she was so fond of the animal, bear.
“Just because Siena Mori no longer works as a columnist, it doesn’t mean that she doesn’t leave any trace of her work in media. From the television news I saw yesterday, it was said that she had worked two years for Angels Daily. And before she got into her career, she went to California State University in Los Angeles. There must be something you can find. A writing, thesis, column, anything, that you can use to threaten her, Honey Bear…,” Gloria uttered her idea.
Alfonso’s eyes widened as he stared the beautiful fair-skinned woman, whose face reminded him of the Hollywood actress, Margot Robbie. “And what’s your point?”
“Well…, find something that you’re good at, Honey Bear…. You’re a media critic; you’re the person who above all others know how to bring down someone via a media. That girl, Siena Mori…, it’s impossible that she had not made any mistake in the past. Ah, every journalist must have at least one…. It’s your job. Dig into her past, and threaten her with her mistake. That way, like it or not, she will have no choice but to hand over every possession of the old man Adalfo back to you, his true and only heir…,” Gloria stated with a smile of triumphant on her face.
Alfonso’s gloomy face suddenly started to shine a glow. His curled lips began to curve up into a smile. He grabbed his woman’s waist into his embrace.
“Gloria, that’s the most brilliant idea ever! You’re truly a wonderful and smart woman…!” he praised in a soft, whispering voice near Gloria’s ear.
“Ah, Honey Bear…. Haven’t I told you that I prefer you calling my romantic name?” Gloria whined seductively.
Alfonso smiled in amusement. Although Gloria might be a little bit ridiculous in giving a romantic name, but that was no longer a big deal, as long as she was smart enough to suggest him a brilliant idea.
That was the reason why Gloria was the woman who stayed the longest as his lover, compared to all his ex-lovers. He never had a passion for monotonous and tiresome woman.
“Cutie Pie…,” Alfonso called his woman.
He started to press his lips on his woman’s bare neck, continuing to kiss her in the same place until a moan of pleasure escaped the woman’s lips.
“Oh, Honey Bear…,” Gloria sighed, grabbed Alfonso’s body closer impatiently, and pulled him down so that his body lay on top of hers on the sofa.
“Can I ask for a prize for suggesting you that idea?” Gloria’s beautiful eyes blinked seductively, her fingers started to play on Alfonso’s shirt buttons.
Alfonso’s lips now curved up in a naughty smile. “Of course, Cutie Pie…. As many times as you wish, as long as you can balance my great desire…,” Alfonso whispered softly, while his fingers were busy exploring his woman’s beautiful figure.
Gloria chuckled. Her laugh soon began to shift into moan and groan full of pleasure.
The leather sofa in the luxurious apartment living room was a silent witness of burning passion between the lovers tonight, as well as the beginning of their cunning plan to trap Siena.
The garden behind Adalfo Garcia’s luxurious house stretched wide, almost as a size of a football field. During his lifetime, Adalfo was very fond of gardening. There were different kind of trees and colorful flowers scattered symmetrically all across the garden. Adalfo hired a skilled gardener to take a special care of his garden. A greenhouse was built in the east side of the garden for plants needing specific care, especially Adalfo’s favorite flowers. Siena was watering the various plants in the greenhouse, when she came to realize that Damien Lambert had been suddenly standing behind her. When she turned around, the twenty nine year old lawyer was smiling at her. “It seems to me that you’ve made yourself at home, Siena…,” Damien greeted. Siena turned her gaze to the charming French descent man. His pleasant smile and his warm cho
Siena read the attachment of Adalfo’s testament for one more time. Every flower name written was found in Adalfo’s greenhouse, except for one. What was Drumbrazil? She creased her brows again. It was Saturday, one day after Damien handed over the testament, and Siena was in the greenhouse now. Determined to solve the riddle given by her adopted grandfather, she observed the flowerpot one by one according to its name written on the paper. She lifted the first stone flowerpot, it was Amaryllis. Was there a message on the bottom side of the pot? There was nothing. She turned the pot from side to side. It was clear, nothing written on it, except for the carving which was the part of the pot design. She exhaled sharply. Did she have to pull out the whole plant one by one, to see inside the pot? Was it possible that Adalfo h
“What are you thinking about?” Damien’s question took Siena back from her drifted mind. They were sitting in a limousine driving them to La Paradise Hotel. “Oh, nothing, I’m just –" “Are you nervous?” Siena bit her bottom lip. “Yes, a little bit nervous….” Damien stretched his right hand, took Siena’s hands and held them. “Don’t be nervous, you’re a brave girl. Besides, you look so wonderful tonight,” he praised Siena, who was wearing a cherry red midi dress with off-shoulder model. The dress clung to her body in all the right places, showing her beautiful figure, making Damien unable to turn his gaze away. Siena found it hard to respond. But something in Damien’s warm touch made her heart skip a beat. He was such a nice person, willing to acco
Alfonso and Gloria stepped into a white Audi car. Alfonso drove the car quickly, leaving La Paradise Hotel. After silence reigned for a moment, Gloria turned her face to Alfonso who suddenly became voiceless. “So that was Siena Mori? She looked so different tonight. Huh! She must have spent old Adalfo’s money to afford for expensive cosmetics and glamorous dress. But still, she looked so old-fashioned, not worthy to be a billionaire,” Gloria taunted. Alfonso remained silent. He rubbed his stubbly chin with his right hand, trying to take Siena’s image out of his mind. “Honey Bear…,” Gloria started whining again. Alfonso reluctantly turned his face to his woman. “I saw the way you looked at Siena. You’re not drunk, are you? Don’t tell me that you find her beautiful….” Alfonso chuckle
Siena zipped her suitcase closed. Everything she needed was already in the suitcase. Now it was time to prepare her sling bag. All she needed were her purse, passport, private stuffs, and the photograph of Adalfo and her mother which she always brought anywhere with her. In two more hours, Adalfo’s private jet would fly her and Damien to Dubai. Suddenly she heard the sound of footsteps approaching, as if someone was running to her bedroom. Knock! Knock! Siena opened the door. “Lucio? What is it?” The loyal butler was standing in front of her. His face somehow looked pale and sweaty. “Miss Siena…,” he stuttered. She creased her brows. “What happen, Lucio?” “Mister Alfonso Garcia is waiting for you in the living room.” &nbs
Flashback: Two months ago. Siena walked in a hurry along the pavement crowded by pedestrians, and entered a café at her left side. The glass wall café was dominated by soft pastel colors. It was just seven thirty AM, but the café was already crowded by customers enjoying their breakfast. “Welcome to Cheers Café!” a friendly voice greeted. “Good morning, Brian! My order, please…,” Siena replied, flashing a smile to the barista standing behind the counter. The man with oriental look was smiling warmly, forming a soft crease near his eyes. His lean body was just a little bit taller than Siena. His black hair and black irises typical of Asian combined with his chubby face made the man look warm-hearted and friendly. “Green tea latte, less ice, ready to go. You’re late
Flashback: Two months ago. Siena arrived at a tenth floor building locating couple blocks from Cheers Café. Angels Daily office was on the eighth floor of the building. Though it was just a small company, but Siena really enjoyed her job here. She also made a good living. Well, not a luxurious living, but the satisfaction was more valuable than the amount of her salary. “Siena! Hold the door!” A scream was coming from outside, when Siena was already in the lift. Siena immediately pushed the ‘open’ button. A girl at her age ran hastily into the lift, with a backpack on her shoulders, a paper cup in her left hand, and a plastic folder in her right hand. It seemed like she was having a difficult time to bring all her goods. “Thanks, Siena Chan! You’re the best!” the girl greeted, chuckling.
Flashback: A month ago. CRAAACKK!! Alfonso Garcia smashed his own cellphone onto his desk violently. It was not shattered, but at least the screen would be cracked. He was not even bothered anymore. The pain was suffocating him. He felt as if his heart was burning. He had just finished reading the article on Angels Daily column, nothing else but the article about Adalfo Garcia’s life story, his grandfather. He could hardly believe it, why would Adalfo willingly reveal his life story on a media like that? It was just not his grandfather’s common behavior. What made Alfonso enraged the most was Adalfo’s honest confession about how his grandfather had become the reason behind his parents’ separation. This was Adalfo’s confession: “It was I who should be bl