Chapter 2

As a reward for his own achievement of becoming the new CEO of Dela Merzcid Real Estate Company, Alas decided to go bar‑hopping. He had been swamped with work the entire month, so he wanted to take a break from his responsibilities, even just for one night. After this, he would return to reality, facing a busy schedule filled with meetings and projects.

 

He chose the nearest bar so he could leave quickly once he was done. This was his way of celebrating his success — a dream he had carried since childhood: to one day take over his father’s position as CEO. And he had not failed; he had earned the very role he had longed for in the company his father, Eduardo, had built from the ground up.

 

The moment he stepped through the entrance, all eyes turned toward him, studying every inch of his appearance. He paid no attention to the stares. Naturally, heads turned — he looked incredibly handsome in his crisp polo shirt and well‑fitted jeans, radiating confidence and manly charm.

 

Women everywhere stopped what they were doing, whispering, gasping, and gazing at him in awe. But he met their looks with a sharp, unyielding stare, making them quickly turn away and go back to dancing on the floor. They shrank back, intimidated by his cold, stern expression — exactly how he wanted it. He felt uncomfortable being gawked at like that.

 

He searched for an empty table and chair, but the only spot that was not fully taken was right beside a woman who was clearly drunk. He had no choice but to approach her and ask if he could share the table. To his annoyance, when he spoke to her, she did not answer — instead, she kept murmuring another man’s name. Janus, he heard. He assumed it must be her boyfriend.

 

He ignored her and ordered a glass of tequila. As soon as the bartender handed it over, he took a long, steady sip.

 

It would have been fine, but the woman kept making noise, slowly fraying his patience. Still, he held back — he knew she might cause a scene if he tried to make her leave. Besides, he was the one who had asked to share the space, so he had no right to complain.

 

She was far gone, slumped heavily in her seat. Not wanting to cause a scandal or draw attention to himself, he decided to simply let her be — to cry and mumble and make a fool of herself right there in front of him.

 

“Janus…” she called out, reaching for someone who was not there. Alas shook his head, watching her like she had lost her mind.

 

“You — why are you here? After leaving me? Now you decide to show your face again? How dare you!”

 

Alas was taken completely aback when she suddenly shouted those words at him. He glanced around to check if she was speaking to someone else, but there was no one behind him — it was definitely him she was staring at. The hell? What is she talking about? he cursed silently.

 

He brushed it off, convinced she was just seeing things. After all, he did not know this disheveled drunk woman at all. He finished his drink and ordered another.

 

Then she stood up, swaying unsteadily and fumbling her way closer to him. Before he could react, she raised her hand and slapped him hard across the cheek.

 

Shock and anger flared through him. He narrowed his eyes and glared at her fiercely, but his harsh look did nothing to sober her up or stop her.

 

“How dare you! What the hell was that for?” he demanded, clutching his stinging cheek.

 

“That’s for leaving me for almost a whole year!” she slurred.

 

“Are you out of your mind? You’ve mistaken me for someone else — I am not Ja…Janus!” he snapped through gritted teeth, grabbing her arm firmly. “Have you lost your senses? None of the men here is your ex‑boyfriend. So please, wake up from this drunken nightmare, Miss.”

 

She did not listen to a single word he said. Of all the men in this place, why did she have to pick me to mistake for her ex? he thought, growing more annoyed. How pathetic.

 

“After everything you did to me, you dare pretend you don’t remember?” she continued, her voice laced with bitterness and mockery. Her hair fell messily over her face, completely covering her features, and she made no move to brush it away — making her look even more like a madwoman in his eyes.

 

Alas shook his head and let out a sharp, humorless laugh. He did not let her ramble any further. He grabbed her arm and pulled her out of the bar before anyone could recognize him. He could not afford to be seen causing trouble, not when he was the CEO of one of the country’s largest real estate firms — known and respected as a man of integrity and good character. He would never let this incident ruin his reputation or career.

 

When they reached the parking lot, he released her arm and faced her again.

 

“Are you completely insane? I don’t even know who you are!” he confronted her, as she stared back with a dazed, defiant smile.

 

“I am not. And you will pay for leaving me,” she whispered — and then her eyes rolled back, and she collapsed right into his arms.

 

He caught her just in time, saving her from hitting the hard pavement and getting hurt. He could not just leave an unconscious woman lying there in the parking lot, no matter how much trouble she had caused him earlier. His conscience got the better of him. With no other choice, he decided to take her to his private condominium unit so she could rest safely.

 

He got behind the wheel, started the engine, and drove off quickly.

 

She remained unconscious the whole ride, so when they arrived, he carried her all the way inside and gently laid her down on his soft, comfortable bed.

 

As he pulled back the messy hair from her face, he froze for a second, letting out a quiet gasp. This was not the wild, disheveled woman he had seen moments before. Beneath the tangles, she was breathtakingly beautiful — like an angel sent from heaven.

 

“Damn… she’s stunning,” he murmured softly, a faint smile tugging at his lips. “What a pity, Miss. You certainly did not deserve to be abandoned and treated like this by the man you’ve been crying over.”

 

He looked at her again, and a wave of pity washed over him. If I were your man, he thought, I would never leave you to hurt like this.

 

“Foolish girl,” he muttered, still gazing at her. “Why do women drown themselves in alcohol just because their hearts get broken? How utterly pathetic.”

 

Then she shifted slightly, and the hem of her dress rode higher, revealing her smooth, fair thighs. A sudden surge of heat rushed through his body, making his breath catch.

 

“Control yourself, Alas! What on earth are you thinking?” he scolded himself internally.

 

He shook his head hard to clear the inappropriate thoughts from his mind — this was wrong, and he had better leave the room before he did something stupid.

 

He turned to walk away, but a soft, warm hand suddenly wrapped around his wrist. She pulled him toward her with surprising strength, and he lost his balance, falling right onto her. His heart hammered against his ribs as he stared down at her, completely shocked.

 

“Don’t leave me again, Janus,” she pleaded, her voice soft and tearful. “I still love you — please, just stay with me tonight.”

 

“I… I am not Ja…Janus, Miss,” he stammered, trying to pull himself away.

 

“No, you are. I love you so much…” she insisted, her arms wrapping around his neck. Her words and the warmth of her body stirred something deep inside him, and he felt his body respond uncontrollably.

 

He cursed silently in his mind, fighting every instinct to kiss her right there and then. She is drunk, he reminded himself sharply. This is not right. I could do something I will regret for the rest of my life. Besides, he told himself firmly — this was impossible, because another woman already held his heart.