"SHE just walked away? And you let her?" Danil couldn't believe what Vanluke was saying. They're on their way to a warehouse where the bastard contractor, his wife and his mistress are hiding like rats separating themselves from the crowded outside world.
"I did," Vanluke replied poker face.
"A girl head on rejected you still you're calm about it."
"I figured she would reject me. I would've been so disappointed if she agreed out of fear."
"What made you want her?" Danil is suspicious of his intentions.
"Dan, you were the one who told me she's the best fit criteria to be the new lady of Kromatova."
"Well I did mention she's a good fit to be in the family. I didn't say marry her."
Not in a million years will Vanluke admit to Danil that he has been dreaming of a naked Ara Villanueva beneath him, screaming and begging for his mercy in bed. He hasn't been able to have sex with anyone because he's exhausted himself fantasizing a commoner. His libido isn't going to let him rest until it gets Ara. A new taste, a new flavor he can keep all for himself. Plus a fit to be next to him, he realized.
"So how will there be a wedding if she's not into you?" Danil removed his black coat. Prepping to punch the lights out of the woman who brought them a great deal of loss in the industry of gun smuggling.
The minions opened the door for them revealing a scared to death contractor and two women. A same old drama people do when they suck up the juice of wealth illegally then regret it because they screwed up. All three of them are classically tied in chairs lineup to be beaten.
"I'm so sorry! It was because of them! They made me do it!" the wife screamed seeing how Danil removes his necktie and rolls up his white polo's sleeves up to his elbows. "Please, I'm begging you don't do this!"
Vanluke was served a chair to do the talking. "I have an important matter to attend to. Talk. One at a time starting with you, Pete." He was talking to the contractor.
"I-I'm sorry my wife leaked the information about the deal! I swear I didn't know it--"
"Ssh," Vanluke raised his left forefinger in the air to signal everybody shut upm "To hell with your excuses, Pete. You wouldn't be sitting there if you had nothing to do with this mess."
Danil wears a pair of black leather gloves.
Pete took this as a cue for him to be punched in the worst way possible. "I-I-I did know it! I didn't try stopping Ella because I thought I could get away with both the money and the goods!"
"I'm disappointed, Pete. I came to the Philippines because you requested for me to do the deal."
"I'm sorry! Forgive me!" crying disgustingly Pete knew his life was about to end. Danil was about to beat him when Vanluke signaled for him to stop.
"Although I'm feeling generous."
Pete's hopes were up. Shaking terribly.
"I won't kill any of you tonight. If it isn't because of your damn selfishness I wouldn't have met the future lady of my house."
"Thank you! Thank you! I promise I will never do it again!"
Vanluke to turn his focus on the silent mistress and the trembling wife. "You two. As punishment, you will be stripped off of any wealth. Find a damn job under the sewers. I'm not kidding. Pete, while living the second chance I gave you, deny these women the money they love so much. Don't help them."
"As you wish, Sir Kromatova! Thank you!"
"What?" Danil groans. "That's it? I brought my favorite gloves! At least let me use them!"
TIK tok… tik tok…
All that can be heard is the clicking sound coming from the wall clock in the vet's office. Ara's work has just finished. It's ten in the evening. All of her assistants had already gone home an hour ago. She's alone. Thinking about her parents' financial incapacity. The pandemic has been going on for a while. There's a virus lethal to human lives floating in the air. If one gets infected it has to be treated as soon as possible or that person will no doubt die.
Her clinic hasn't got a lot of patients lately. Her parents' sari-sari store can't keep up with the bills anymore. The money left in her bank account is enough for just the next three months.
She needs to find another job. She'll be deciding to close the clinic for a while. At least until the pandemic is gone. She already debriefed the details to her assistants and gladly they understood.
She went home after commuting past eleven in the evening. She slept the night calmly because tomorrow, she'll be job hunting.
In the morning, the first thing she did was to thank God for everything she has and provide her guidance when she goes out.
"Ara, may sulat para sa iyo," her mother came into her room delivering a white long envelope.
(Ara, there's a letter for you)
"Talaga po? Kanino po galing?" Ara accepted the letter. Upon opening it her left eyebrow raised.
(Really? Whom did it come from?)
The letter contained a job hiring advertisement from a resident doctor in a private hospital hours away from her city. The job description was all qualifying her. Not only is she a vet but she has experience being a nurse for humans during her fourth year in college. She has a nursing degree before deciding to enroll in a vet school.
Suspecting nothing she went off the location to apply for the job not mentioned in the ad.
Upon arrival, her smile faded off. It wasn't a commercial building nor a hospital. It was a mansion somewhere in Tuba, Benguet. Her heart suddenly beat fast. For some reason she was nervous to go inside. There weren't any people outside the mansion. She paid the taxi then pressed the doorbell button at the left side of the tall black iron gate. That's when the familiar balck three-piece suits appear at the other side of the gate. "Oh shit," she mumbled. They were the same men that kidnapped her days ago!
"Welcome Miss Ara. Your employer awaits you inside," says the man on the right. The one on the left was silent and looking around as if there were guns pointing in their direction. Ara thought it was not impossible that people were watching them from the bushes.
She was ready to run away.
"Miss Ara, please call me, Fedor. My companion here is called Czar. We will show you the way."
She shook her head. "You've got to be kidding me!"
Fedor smiled. "The area is guarded by Sir Vanluke's hired security force. They received orders that upon your arrival you are not allowed to leave may they use diplomatic persuasion or a little force."
She sighs hard. She couldn't help cursing under breath. She wiped her face with her palms. "Damn it. Why am I not surprised?" She mumbled walking past the gate.
"THIS is abduction, Vanluke Kromatova!" greet Ara to Vanluke once she stepped in the visitor's lounge.
"If this is abduction I'll make sure you develop Stockholm syndrome," he retorted.
"Using a false advertisement to attract me into coming here is punishable by law!"
"I know the doctor. The ad is true. That's why you're here."
Ara's lips twitch angrily. If this is one of his ways to trap her then there's no reason for her to stay. She spun her heels towards the door. She marched past his men not giving a damn. She needs to get away as soon as possible. If fear gets over her it'll be the end. Vanluke is a dangerous man indeed. He had her walk straight into his den! There's no guarantee she can get out alive if trapping her here had something to do with witnessing 'that' night.
Czar stepped into the entrance/exit door. Blocking her only escape. "Miss Ara, don't make Sir Vanluke angry."
She bit her lower lip. Preventing the tears pooling in her eyes to fall. She didn't want to show weakness. She has to be strong. She breathes in all the courage she can. "Let him be angry. If he's planning to kill me might as well die urging freedom. Remove yourself from the door, Czar." She laughed at her own ridiculous act.
"I can't do that Miss Ara," he replied emotionless.
"Miss Ara," Fedor calls her from behind. "We beg you. Sir Vanluke is already facing a lot of problems in the industry. He needs someone to take care of him while he rests."
Ara, doubtful, faced the pleading middle aged man. "Which part of him needs caring? As far as it looks he's healthy as a horse."
"You don't understand Miss--"
"Leave it, Fedor." Vanluke's monotonous voice echoed in the entrance hall. Fedor and Czar stood up straight doing their best not to meet the eyes of the tiger ready to pounce at anyone.
Ara did the same, not meeting his gaze. She's afraid that if she meets his grayish eyes, her knees will tremble to fall. Her heart's beat was faster than earlier.
"Ara, let's continue our conversation in my study, shall we?"
Ara felt it. The authority in his voice. He wasn't asking. He was commanding her to follow him to his study. Immediately she made her decision. She will play along with his acts until he reveals what he truly wants.
His study is very different from what she sees in Russian movies. It was not filled with books but with nothing. In the dark navy blue motif study only the thick mahogany table is there and a few file binders arranged above it. Walls have expensive Russian paintings. The themes are like slavery, landscapes and people doing their own businesses.
What kind of person is Vanluke Kromatova? She thought idiosyncrasy.
ARA refused to sit anywhere. Vanluke can see her fidgeting. He smirked in his mind. Just like a commoner she does feel fear for her life. She knew she had to be strong despite the trap he did set for her. If he were not serious about getting her trust he would have already grabbed her. Taken her to his table. He will force himself inside her just for the sake of his physical desires. With the girl he’s been sexualizing in his mind in front of him like an open prey, his mind refuses to work. All he could think about is ‘when’ will he be able to feel her skin against his skin? How does she smell up close? Does she look just like how he perceives it when she’s at her limits? He can’t wait any longer. He must have her. Yet the feeling that gaining her trust is far more important than that. He must bear to wait. Although seeing how his reward is wrapped conservatively in clothes the more he hopes to unwrap it
ARA is not going to lie to herself. It's her fantasy to meet a brute man and make him humane. After meeting Vanluke, she doesn't know if she does want to anymore. It's scary being in the real situation. She'd never know when he'll treat her badly. She could end up losing her life. It's really lucky that she's still alive.Vanluke stared down at her. He knew she was telling a fact. He might or he will treat her badly if the time comes he's not fond of her anymore. He couldn't answer back. Because it's all the reason why he wants to get to know her better. To see it for himself if he's a hundred percent sure she's the one he will spend the rest of his life with. But…"You're right," he confessed. "Although I know for a fact that you're the first person I even thought of growing old with." It's embarrassing. Though, in order to g
IT'S Ara's third day staying at Vanluke's mansion. Last night was half regretful and half… wondrous. Since the kiss Vanluke seems to be always smiling mischievously at her. Unlike the other days today he's never busy. He's practically doing nothing. They had breakfast as usual. Danil had already left so they were alone. After that he invited her to the open backyard pool to spend the day in leisure.Ara couldn't stand his glances and awfully handsome smile. "You look like you've got a good night's sleep," she wasn't hiding her sarcasm because she's really pissed right now."What smile?" He denies with a big grin. His black polo shirt hugged the broadness of his torso. His wood color capri pants are screaming the deadly snake sleeping between his legs and she finds it hard not to notice.
"DANIL what the hell are you still doing here?" Vanluke hid no remorse for his cousin's comeback in the mansion. He thought he had left for good for Russia. Now he's joining the dinner table, flirting with Ara. The sour look on his face is clearly visible. He couldn't even touch his food knowing he could touch her so casually."I'm staying for a few nights. It's about work so I hope you understand," Danil explained but not removing his eyes from Ara like she's the most beautiful girl he had ever seen. He has her left hand imprisoned in his hands caressing it like a precious gem."I don't," he firmly said. "Keep your hands off her," he strictfully warned Danil between gritted teeth. Any moment he will pounce at him to personally rip him away from the girl he likes. "Damn it, Vanluke. Since wh
SOMETHING ticklish behind Ara's ear woke her up from her slumber. She's greeted by a handsome soft smile with a pretty white set of teeth. Grayish eyes peering down her morning face. Suddenly aware of her morning stars she covered her face. Her breath must have stunk too!"Why are you covering your face?" Vanluke asked grinning. Damn it, why does he look like a supermodel so early in the morning while she probably looks more like a zombie who just came out of a grave."I look ugly.""I know."She glared at him. Did he need to be honest? "I'm taking a shower.""Do it later. Let's stay like this all day." He wrapped his arms around her like she's some bolster
FIVE years ago Ara had decided to love an opposite sex. She met him in college. She gave him herself thinking she found the person she can spend her life with. Everything was fine. Everything was smooth. They faced ups and downs of a relationship. The challenges they came through made her think she found the right man. But it was all in her head. She ignored the signs. Until she was confronted by the truth that hurted her inside badly. He had someone else. If she didn't find out about the other girl she would look not only stupid but an idiot. She loved him for real. And he broke her heart. Not wanting to discuss nor fix it she never spoke of him again. Guilty, he refused to show himself in front of her again.Five years later she saw him again. Not in normal circumstances. She was behind worn out wooden boxes listening, watching quietly of what's going on in a storage room near the mansion s
20 years earlier… Vanluke, a name given to him by his mother. She was sweet, by the name of Dominika Acker. She was a woman who cared for her only son who grew up without a father. By day she takes care of him and everything else that normal people do. At night she works as a waitress in a club. "Mom, enough working in that place," he tells her over hundreds of times. Dominika smiled at her son. She put the kitchen knife down and a piece of onion. "Don't worry about me, Van. I can work fine." "No you're not!" His mother flinched. It was the first time in their lives he had raised his voice to his mother. Instant regret flashed on his face but he had to convince her. "I can work. You don't have to go
IT'S 1:05 in the morning. After locking herself up since afternoon, Ara felt hungry. No, she's not hungry just because she felt her stomach ache. It's her putting her fuzzy thoughts into binge eating. She sat open the big refrigerator. It showed her different kinds of food she can eat. Most of them are sweet. She took a liter of triple chocolate ice cream, chocolate bars, and a slice of red velvet cake. She ate them silently at the breakfast bar.Vanluke then appeared behind her. He took the spoon full of ice cream in his mouth that was supposed to be in hers.She stumbled on her seat trying to get away from him. He did not let her, though. He held her balance on the wooden stool. He pressed his waist between her thighs. His arms snaked around her back. Keeping her from escaping.