"He sounds so serious about spitting his words a while ago, Amira. You can't have any romantic relationship, because you and him are not yet over. But you already said to me that you and him parted ways three years ago. Was that true?" Isaih asked, full of confusion written in his face."Why would I even lie to anyone?" I ask back in disbelief at his question."Then why did he say those words? It sent me away to my sanity—""Forget about it, Isaih. You should think about your job. What you heard is not important, so go away, and I'll be evaluating your cousin for Francine's position in the meantime. But remember this: don't expect too much from me. I don't care if she's your relative or whatever."He let out a wide smile. "I don't care about that either. I know how you work, Amira. Do all you want and need for her; she's an applicant after all."I didn't expect what Giovanni spilled out a moment ago. He's too serious, like Isaih said. When he asks me if Isaih and I are in a relationsh
"She's too far away from Francine, Amira. Why would you even let her in your company? She's a Mallari, Isaih's cousin, is that so?" "I didn't give her the position because of that, Zari. You're right, she's not even close to Francine's figure, but she's still got the skills I want. And it's not permanent; after Francine recovers from her trauma, I'll think of what place Annika should take. She can be my best asset too." "Best asset or best rival?" I stopped eating when I saw Annika trying to come close to Giovanni after Giovanni parked his car and went inside this restaurant. I look at them. Giovani's irritated face registers as he meets Annika at the entrance. In a glimpse, Annika circles her arms around Giovanni's arms and leads the way. It's been one week since I hired Annika as my temporary secretary. I reviewed her resume, even the little details she puts in it. She has a business management degree and has worked for a number of companies. She didn't even get fired once becaus
"Don't mind about what happened earlier, Amira. We both know that you work hard to have all this. You deserve this."I ignored Giovanni, who had been easing my mood. He must have noticed how quiet I was earlier.What came out of Ventura's mouth was like a dagger of truth when it hit me. A truth that woke me up. Can I really get here even without their surname, without my sister Fayra? Would I be at the top without a solid last name attached to my name?I smirked slightly in my mind. This is the very first time someone has pointed out my success, and he was able to distract my mind easily.I know my worth. I know that I did all I could to be in this place. I gave and sacrificed myself just to have this title bestowed upon me. I wouldn't be here if I didn't work hard. I may have climbed a ladder to be in this position, but I still work hard to leave a better legacy in the future."You gave blood, sweat, and tears. That Ventura just got out of his mind for pointing out the unnecessary t
"Can you keep it between us, Kuya? I mean, there's no evidence that Zarina has harmed me before. She's right by my side and helped your team to find me; you told me that when I woke up."My brother-in-law, Mateo, snorted and nodded. "I don't plan to tell anyone else besides you. Isaih, that's the only reason he's here to report something about Zarina. He doesn't know anything, nor does Giovanni; even what happened to you before he didn't know anything."I nodded. Apart from my family and the person who planned what happened then, no one knows. They did everything to keep the truth out of the media. It's something in my favor because, at those times, I was just starting out.I was also afraid because I couldn't face the public and look back on my experience at their hands. Zarina. Can she really do that to me? Of all the people, is she really capable of doing it?I can't believe it, and I never will. We have been under the same roof for a long time, but she has never shown me any harm.
"I don't need them in our company, Francine. As much as I know, they are the ones who need us. They need big names behind their projects; one of those is my family and the Vejars. Give them a message containing my response to their needs.""Alright, Miss. I'll inform you after this."I followed my assistant until my eyes could no longer see her. I let out a deep breath and massaged the bridge of my nose. I can't believe that those cheapskate will really want me to sign those papers of projects they proposed; as far as I know, that is bullshit. They want to construct new condo units near Makati at a low cost.What a damn businessman with their trashy proposal! If I'm not mistaken, it was a good project; my older sister, Fayra, approved that idea. But on my behalf, she assigned me to monitor what those cheapstakes needed.I studied the contract carefully. Even our recording session, because the company will release a lot of money by chance. Fortunately, I immediately found a loophole i
"You're really going to sue us, Ms. Fabian? As far as I know, you need me in this company. This is nothing without my presence."I was fascinated by the words of one of those stockholders who betrayed our trust and sabotaged us by giving our blueprints to our competitors and by holding most of the company's money in their own pockets. What a move."Look, Mr. Enriquez. This company doesn't need someone like you. You may be one of the billionaires out there, but your name is not known as mine. We both know that. Don't make table turns, sir. You are the one crawling to be here inside of my company, to be known and acknowledged by others, and so on to your company. Does it sound right?" I mimicked.His jaw clenched in an instant. I saw that coming, and I want more of it. I love it when I make them feel like they want to kill me. I wanted it when I saw how they wanted me out of this company. What a pathetic human being. They couldn't do that shit when my dad and sister were holding this l
I was half asleep when I heard the yelling of a familiar voice. It was not clear since I'm adjusting myself to not falling asleep for, I don't know, how many hours. I tried to open my eyes, but damn it, I can't move my eyes. I feel like it was tape or something. I breathe heavily and relax my body and my whole self.I was there, waiting for myself to open my eyes. When I succeed, my head hurts, and that makes me mumble for a bit. When I bit my lower lip out of nowhere, I wanted to shout in pain because it fucking hurt!That's when memories flash back to my mind.The gun.That's a bastard, Pablo.The scene in the company.And... And a man who I last saw.It was Giovanni Rossi.The one and only Giovanni Rossi.I was back to my senses when I heard the voices clearly from where I was. I tried to roam my eyes around and think of this room as somehow familiar to me, but I couldn't name it since I was worried about the voices."I'm going to kill that bastard! Ah, Fayra was fuming mad. She's
"Oh my god! You're still alive! It's been said that when the grass is really bad, death doesn't pick it up!"I winced at Zari's greeting. As soon as I entered the condo, her eyes were wide, obviously from crying, because her arrow eyes got even narrower. The tip of her nose is also red; she looks like a tomato brunette."You're wishing me to be dead?" I tried to act so serious.I saw how she was stunned for a moment with a gasp."Are you stupid? Are you saying that? I'm crying for you, because there might be no more demons in my life. Do you know how worried I was about you when I saw the news on television?! God, I almost flew to you, but I stopped by Isaih! That damn policeman—I almost hit him so hard because of his sudden appearance!"My mouth was wide open when I heard that."You're almost going to me?"She nodded. "I'm driving, crying." She then poked me with her teary, cute eyes. "I was close to your office, and I was about to go down when suddenly someone knocked on my window.