Novels by Ivrdna-

Chapter 15: The President Will See You NowJanine stood in front of the mirror, her hands trembling slightly as she zipped up the back of her blouse. It was her best one—plain, cream-colored, with sleeves she had ironed three times to make sure they stayed crisp. She paired it with a dark skirt that hugged her waist just right and low heels that she rarely wore. Today, appearance mattered.She applied a light layer of foundation, concealed the dark circles under her eyes as best she could, and added a gentle swipe of peach blush to her cheeks. Her lips were a natural pink, slightly dry, so she dabbed some balm on them. No lipstick. No bold colors. She wasn’t trying to stand out—just appear composed and professional.She gave her reflection a nod.“You need this job,” she reminded herself. “And maybe… maybe he won’t even recognize you.”That thought was her anchor, the only thread of courage holding her together. Surely, a man like Theo Guevara wouldn’t remember a single night. He was

Chapter 14: Nowhere to RunTheo stood by the tall glass windows of his office, the skyline of the city stretching endlessly before him. It was already late, but he hadn’t left work. The lights from the buildings flickered like stars in a man-made sky, and in his hand was a glass of aged rum—his third for the evening.With his free hand, he pressed a button on his desk phone.A moment later, his assistant’s voice came through the intercom. “Yes, Mr. Guevara?”“Is everything taken care of?” he asked in a cool, even tone.“Yes, sir. Everything is set according to your instructions. Every establishment she worked at—terminated her contract as ordered. No traces were left behind.”“Good.” He raised the glass to his lips and took a slow sip. The amber liquid burned slightly as it slid down his throat. “She can’t run from me now.”“Yes, sir. Shall I proceed with the next step?”“Already done. Make sure tomorrow’s meeting is flawless.”“Understood.”Theo ended the call and returned his gaze t

Chapter 13: One More StepJanine sat in the cramped kitchen, the events of the previous day replaying in her mind like a cruel loop. Four jobs—gone. No warnings, no explanations. Just cold, indifferent dismissals. She gripped her coffee mug tighter, willing herself not to cry again. Her siblings were still asleep in the next room, and she couldn’t afford to fall apart—not now.After finishing a small breakfast of rice and leftover egg, she cleaned up quietly, careful not to wake anyone. She took a long shower, letting the water wash over her face as she tried to compose herself. When she stepped out, she dressed in the neatest clothes she had—black slacks, a white blouse she had ironed last night, and her low-heeled shoes. She pulled her hair back into a ponytail, light makeup on her tired face, and tucked her worn-out resume into her old leather folder.“I can do this,” she whispered to her reflection. "You can do this!" With a deep breath, she stepped out of the house and into the

Chapter 12: Strings AttachedThe sun had barely peeked over the horizon when Janine stood in front of the bathroom mirror, brushing her hair into a neat ponytail. Her eyes were hollow, dark circles heavy beneath them, but she forced a small smile as she passed by her siblings who were already up tending to their mother.“Take good care of Mama today, okay?” she said, grabbing her worn-out bag and slipping her ID lanyard around her neck.Sheila gave her a reassuring nod. “Don’t worry, Ate. We got this.”Kyle walked up to her with a serious face. “Take care of yourself too, Ate. Don’t skip meals again. Eat lunch on time.”Janine rolled her eyes, offering a teasing smile. “Opo, Kuya,” she joked, mock-saluting her younger brother.But Kyle didn’t laugh. He just stared at her with silent concern. Janine sighed and waved him off. “Fine, okay. I’ll eat. I’m going now. Bye!”She rushed out the door, hoping today wouldn’t be as heavy as the last. Saturday meant weekend shifts—nonstop—from one

Chapter 11: The Distance Between UsThe days passed with Janine forcing herself back into routine, though her body hadn't completely recovered. Her limbs were still heavy with fatigue, and every now and then, her vision blurred from exhaustion. But she pushed forward, knowing no one else would carry the weight if she faltered. Her mother was still in the hospital, the surgery now scheduled but only partially paid. Kyle and Sheila had school, and rent was again nearing due. Every peso counted, and every second of rest felt like a luxury she couldn’t afford.But even as she tried to keep her world spinning, something gnawed at the edges of her thoughts—him.Theo.She didn’t want to think about the man she had given her first night to. The man who, for some reason, kept appearing in her life like an unsolvable puzzle. The same man whose touch still haunted her dreams and whose voice lingered in her mind more than she was willing to admit. What was he doing at that café? Was it coincidenc

Chapter 10: Running AgainThe moment the door shut behind Theo, Janine swung her legs off the hospital bed and scanned the room in a panic. Her heart pounded, and every inch of her body ached, but none of it mattered—not when she knew she had no money to stay even a minute longer in this room.She quickly slipped back into her uniform, biting her lip as the dizziness threatened to pull her back down. But she fought it. She had no choice. The remaining money she had—what little was left—was already set aside for her mother’s medications and her siblings’ food and school needs. There was no room for herself. There never was.Without alerting the nurse, she quietly slipped out of the room, clutching her small bag as she made her way down the corridor. Every step felt like she was dragging chains behind her, but she kept moving. Her only goal: get out before someone stopped her.Outside, the sun hit her face and made her squint, her skin clammy with sweat despite the early morning breeze.