ログインCarina Lewis, the head of the department, has been a friend of mine since college. While she successfully climbs up the corporate ladder, I'm stuck being the workhorse at the bottom of the totem pole. When she's late for work, I sign in for her. When she messes up, I clean up for her. I'm happy to play along with her, of course. It's not easy to find someone dumb enough to be the scapegoat. One day, a billionaire investor shows up at the company's doorstep, and the senior executives instruct me to take care of him during his visit. This evening, when the rest of the office is empty, Carina takes my hand and tells me earnestly, "Bailey, investors like him are ruthless. You won't even know what's coming for you. An innocent woman like you won't be able to handle him. Let me, your best friend, test the waters with him first. Once everything is settled, I'll make you a manager." I nod sweetly in response. Hours later, I scurry over to the presidential suite at the hotel, where the billionaire investor is staying, and kick down the door. "Open up, Dal!" It's one thing for Carina to constantly take advantage of me, but how dare she dream of becoming my sister-in-law to steal half of my family's assets? That deluded pipe dream of hers will even make the marble statues in my family's garden roll their eyes.
もっと見る*ERINA ISABEL TUAZON POV
Isang malakas na sampal ang natanggap ko kay dad nang makita nito ang report card na inabot ko sa kaniya. Hindi na ‘ko nagulat kasi inaasahan ko nang mangyari ‘to. No’ng nakita ko pa lang ang grades ko kahapon, alam ko ng mangyayari ‘to kaya hindi na ‘ko nagulat na gagawin sa’kin ‘to ng tatay ko. “Filipino na nga lang ibabagsak mo pa?! Anong klaseng estudyante ka? Hindi ka ba pumapasok sa subject na 'yan, ha? Pinaaral kita sa mamahaling eskwelahan para marami kang matutunan tapos ito lang ang grades na ipapakita mo sa'kin? Do you really think na matatanggap ko 'yan?" Galit na sambit nito bago tinapon sa akin ang report card ko. Napayuko na lang ako at napapunas ng pisngi dahil tuluyan ng pumatak ang mga luha ko. Pinangako ko pa naman sa sarili ko na hindi ako iiyak, pero heto ako ngayon gabalde na ang luha dahil sa panenermon sa akin ng tatay ko. "B-Babawi na lang po ako, Dad. Second quarter pa lang naman po—" "I don't care kung anong quarter pa 'yan! Bagsak ka pa rin at hindi mo na 'yan mababago!" Putol nito sa akin. "Tsaka huwag ka nang magdahilan kasi kahit ano pa ang sabihin mo hindi ko tatanggapin 'yan. Ewan ko ba kung kanino ka nagmana? Kung nandito lang ang mommy mo, for sure hindi niya rin 'yan matatanggap," dagdag pa niya. Hindi na 'ko sumagot kasi kahit ano pa ang idahilan ko, mali pa rin para sa kaniya. Hindi na magbabago ang tingin niya sa akin. Mananatili akong bobo at walang kwenta sa paningin niya. Kung nabubuhay pa si mommy, maiintindihan niya 'ko at ipaglalaban niya 'ko mula kay daddy. Siya na lang ang nag-iisa kong kakampi sa pamamahay na 'to pero nawala pa sa akin. "Bakit hindi mo gayahin ang kuya mo? Matataas ang marka simula no'ng first year college siya, at tingnan mo siya ngayon malayo na ang naabot. Hindi na umaasa sa akin pero ikaw—" "Palamunin pa rin ninyo? Tama ba, Dad?" Putol ko sa kaniya bago nag-angat ng tingin. I laughed bitterly and harshly wiped my cheek. Ito ang pinakaayaw ko na marinig mula sa kaniya. Ang ikumpara niya 'ko kay kuya na parang hindi ako nagsusumikap sa pag-aaral ko. Ginagawa ko naman lahat pero hindi naman agad-agad naiintindihan ko ang isang lesson once na i-discussed ng professor. Hindi ako kasing-talino ni kuya pero kahit papa'no may natutunan naman ako. "Nag-aaral naman po ako ng mabuti, dad. Pero huwag niyo naman po sana akong ikumpara kay kuya. Magkaiba kami ng learning capacity pero nag-aaral naman po ako ng mabuti para maging proud po kayo sa'kin," umiiyak na sambit ko na ikinatahimik ni dad. Bigla siyang nag-iwas ng tingin sa akin at napahilamos ng mukha. "May isang beses po ba na naging proud kayo sa'kin? Na hindi lang si kuya ang ipinagmamalaki ninyo? Anak niyo rin naman po ako, ah .. pero bakit—" Hindi ko na natuloy ang sasabihin ko kasi napahagulgol na 'ko. Ang sakit kasi at nakakasama ng loob na ang sarili kong tatay ay kailanman hindi ako nagawang ipagmalaki sa ibang tao pero pagdating kay kuya, kulang na lang ipa-billboard niya sa sobrang pagka-proud sa anak. Pero pagdating sa akin, kinakahiya ako at kulang na lang itakwil niya. "B-Bakit parang .. hindi anak ang turing niyo sa'kin? Ni isang beses hindi ko narinig mula sa inyo na proud kayo sa'kin. Lagi na lang si kuya .. si kuya na lang lagi ang paborito ninyo! Paano naman ako, Dad? Anak niyo rin ako pero bakit kailangan ko pang bilhin ang atensiyon at pagmamahal ninyo?!" Sinigaw ko na ang sakit na nararamdaman ko. Hindi ko na kayang itago ang sama ng loob ko. Gusto kong ilabas lahat para malaman niya ang matagal ko nang kinikimkim mula sa kaniya. Ayoko na ng ganito, na lagi na lang mali ko ang nakikita niya, na parang wala akong ginawang tama sa pamilyang 'to."Alam ko naman na galit kayo sa'kin dahil sa pagkamatay ni mommy. Pero huwag niyo naman sanang iparamdam sa'kin na hindi ako parte ng pamilyang 'to."
Ayoko nang tumira dito, hindi ko na kayang tiisin ang ugali ng tatay ko. "Huwag kang mag-alala, Dad, mawawala na sa pamamahay na 'to ang nag-iisang palamunin ninyo," matigas na sambit ko at agad na siyang tinalikuran. Nagtungo na 'ko agad sa kwarto ko para ayusin ang mga gamit ko at makaalis na sa pamamahay na 'to. *WAYNE LOUIE ANDERSON POV "Sir, there are reporters outside your office. Should I let them in?" My secretary asked, but I didn’t respond. I simply nodded, and she immediately understood what I meant. It's still early, yet there are already reporters here to ruin my day. Why do I have to deal with issues so early in the morning? The endless attempts of people to destroy me never seem to stop. I stood up and immediately loosened my necktie. I could feel anger and stress building up again in my body because of those worthless people. Why does society have such kinds of people? Great at accusing others, but when I fight back, they beg like a helpless puppy. "Okay, everyone, listen up. I don’t want to repeat this, so pay close attention," I said as the reporters and media personnel started filing into my office one by one. Another day to clear my name from the ignorance of these foolish people. "I didn't do what they are accusing me of. I have not assaulted, harmed, or beaten any woman. Whatever news has reached you is nothing but lies meant to ruin my reputation. I work diligently and serve society with integrity. There is no solid evidence to prove that I am guilty, and my lawyer will make that clear to you. I have not done anything wrong, and I have never harmed anyone, especially women. You know me—I’m a businessman, and the only thing that runs through my mind is how to grow my company and help my employees. I work every day, so I have no time to do what they’re accusing me of," I said seriously, looking into the camera and letting out a deep sigh. I noticed that some agreed with what I said, but most of them seemed doubtful and didn’t believe my words. I understand, though, because I know that many of them harbor resentment towards me for having dismissed them from their previous jobs due to their smear campaigns against me in the media. But I don’t care, they deserved it because they chose to go against someone like me—a powerful man, the one many envy. No one will ever be able to bring me down. "How is it going?" I asked immediately when Deo answered the call. He's my right hand, the one I rely on for everything. I wanted to know who was behind the attempt to ruin my reputation. "Nahanap ko na, boss. Anak siya no'ng lalaking sumaksak sa'yo noong nakaraang linggo. Mukhang balak ka niyang gantihan," he answered, and I couldn't help but smirk. Idiot! She's just doing something that will only make things worse for her. "Ano ang gagawin ko sa kaniya, boss?" "Make her suffer, but don't kill her. I want her to be destroyed through the lies and accusations of the people. After that, visit her father and let him know what his daughter has done to me." I slammed my phone onto the table after our conversation, but I couldn't help but smirk at the thoughts running through my mind. No one can bring Wayne Louie Anderson down. Whoever tries to do that, I’ll take the first move. I will make them suffer until they beg me for mercy. No one can stop me. No one.Carina screamed and raged at the unfairness of the fate she'd been given. I walked up to her and looked down at the person I once considered my best friend."You're blaming the world for being too unfair? When you couldn't afford your college tuition, I used my allowance to cover it for you. When you couldn't find a job after graduation, I begged Dalton to get you into Lumina Corporation."All I did was set up a few traps to lure out the leeches in the company. Who knew you'd walk right into them and cross the line with me?"Although I didn't raise my voice, my words cut deep."I gave you countless chances. You're the one who drove yourself into a dead end. You don't just want a better life for yourself. What you really want is to be better than everyone else by trampling all over them, ruining them to bolster yourself."Carina stared at me in a daze, her lips trembling. She couldn't say a single word.I heard the sound of police cars and fire trucks arriving.Several police off
Carina's predicament was simply an act of divine justice.Just then, my phone rang with a call from an unknown number. When I answered it, Carina's hoarse voice came through the line."Are you satisfied now, Bailey? I lost everything. My entire life has been ruined! You won. You get to be the high-and-mighty heiress, watching me get trampled into the ground like some pathetic rat. I bet you're thrilled to see this, huh?"As she screamed hysterically into the phone, I heard police sirens in the background. I figured the debt collectors must've drawn the attention of the police, who'd taken her back to the station yet again.I calmly replied, "I didn't ruin your life, Carina. You did. If you'd treated everyone fairly and hadn't been greedy for things that weren't yours, you'd still be a department head at Lumina Corporation right now. You did this to yourself."There was a brief silence on the other end, but Carina soon snorted."Hah! Stop acting like a saint in front of me, Bailey
"I made sure they gave you the right amount of ice, too. I went downstairs to get it just for you," Jessica added.Her hands trembled as she held the coffee out, too scared to lift her head. The others behind her quickly chimed in."Ms. Scott, it was that bitch Carina who forced us to pick on you before.""That's right. Truth be told, we've always admired you for being extremely capable!""Please give us another chance. From now on, we'll be your most loyal employees."I didn't take the coffee. Instead, I walked over to the couch and sat down."You're saying you had no choice, huh?" I remarked before scoffing. "Yesterday, when Carina told me to redo the document, one of you said I was just coasting in the company."When she told me to get her coffee, one of you also kicked a trash can to my feet and told me to take the trash out while I was at it."Jessica's face went pale, the coffee cup shaking in her hands. "Ms. Scott, I… I just lost my head for a moment and—""Enough. Drop
The next day, on the top floor of Lumina Tower, I sat in the large executive chair, spinning a fountain pen between my fingers.There was a knock at the door. Lionel Chase, the head of security, rushed in, drenched in sweat."Ms. Scott, Ms. Lewis is causing a scene down in the lobby. She demands to see you and says nothing's going to stop her."I raised a brow. Shouldn't she be in police custody right now?I figured Felix Turner, her fiance who worked as a lawyer, must've spent a fortune to bail her out."Let her come up."Five minutes later, two security guards escorted Carina into the office. She looked nothing like her former sophisticated self. Her eyes were sunken, and her hair disheveled.The moment she saw me, she broke free from the guards and dropped to her knees in front of my desk."Bailey, please withdraw the charges. I'm begging you! Felix broke off the engagement after he found out I'd offended Scott Group. He only helped me this one last time so that I could meet
"Get lost," Dalton commanded without wasting any more of his words.Carina's face went ghostly pale, her eyes reddening instantly. "How can you humiliate me like this, Mr. Scott? I'm just trying to do what's best for the company and—"Dalton slammed the door shut in her face, causing her nose to a
Dalton Scott, the billionaire investor that Carina Lewis spoke of, was lounging in the hotel room with a glass of red wine in hand.Startled by the sound of me kicking the door open, he nearly spilled the wine onto the carpet. When he saw it was me, however, he set the glass down on the bar in anno
The arrogant smile on Carina's face stiffened before morphing into a look of pure disbelief.The USB drive slipped out of John's hands, clattering onto the floor.Grasping Dalton's hand, I used his support to get back on my feet before brushing off my knees.Looking at the stunned Carina and John
Dalton walked in, dressed in a perfectly tailored black suit and flanked by a team of bodyguards. His arrival drew everyone's attention.Carina's eyes lit up. She swiftly put on a pitiful expression and hurried forward to greet him."You're finally here, Mr. Scott. I'm so sorry about this. There's






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