LOGINWhile Karlo was cooking, I was secretly busy recording him. He has an apron now. The stove was busy producing fire in a frying pan for the chicken fillets and a pot for the mushroom soup. He would wash the ladles and small plates. Then wash the rag to dry off the sink.I’m supposed to do that because I am a woman, right? It should be my duty!I pouted profusely. My shoulders sank in dismay when I thought about being incapable of cooking. All my life, only maids or Mom would cook for me. They had initiated me to learn, but I didn’t. Was I busy with studies?Hmmm, I remember just saying excuses that I had parties and shopping duties with my friends.Right…I rolled my eyes at myself for being a spoiled brat.“It’s done,” Karlo suddenly announced.Before he could even turn around to face me, I stopped the video and hid it. He might think ahead of himself just because I like him. Tss.“I’ll serve it,” I said and stood from the stool.He looked at me while he was getting a bowl and a plate
I busied myself the whole day reading the manuals of my parents’ company in the living area. Karlo gave them to me before he left with Timothy. I asked Melanie to just prepare me snacks while I studied.Furniture business.Malls.Hotels.Haciendas.Real Estate.I am already aware of how wealthy we are in life. My parents raised me spoiled and gave me everything I wanted. But man, to be aware of the details of how we are rich makes me overwhelmed now that I have all of the manuals plastered on the marble table. One, two, three… twenty manuals. Twenty successful, big businesses… built by the lineage of my parents’ families.And what, I am supposed to handle all of these businesses? Of course, they have their investors, shareholders, and board of directors… but to initiate huge projects and approve establishments on my own makes me throw up.CEO all of this?!I don’t know if I am blessed or cursed. Or both?I already finished sixteen manuals when it was two pm. I took a break and did som
I found myself slapping my forehead when I woke up first thing in the morning. The kisses we had last night were the reason I also had trouble sleeping! “How could I even give in?!” I murmured and slapped my forehead hard unconsciously, making me groan in pain. “I know I like him, but do I have to be that obvious?!” That kiss… long, passionate kiss… “Aahhhh!” I screamed at the top of my lungs and started throwing all of my pillows across the room. “I’m so stupid!” “Madame? Are you alright?” I stopped throwing a tantrum when I heard a maid’s voice outside the room. My eyes closed tightly, frustrated even more. Clearing my throat, I answered. “Yes, uhhhh, I’m just rehearsing a drama that I… played back when I was in college!” I reasoned out. “You… you can go back to cleaning now!” “Okay, madame! Just please tell me later if you need anything!” I suddenly remembered asking, “Did Karlo go somewhere?” “I saw Sir Karlo in his business suit just a while ago, madame, and then
It was so nice to go home finally. The vast, white and black cream colored mansion filled my vision as our car went through the huge gates. The green Bermuda stretched in the front yard with the meticulously cut flower garden, where a gardener was trimming unwanted leaves from the small trees. I had to open the window to feel the fresh air and see the fountain at the center of the garden.“You like it?” I heard Karlo ask me.“Yeah,” I answered and smiled. “We’re home…”It’s been a year. Just a year, but it felt like I had gone through so much. How many more things and events will I encounter in my own home?The car stopped in front of the entrance doors. Several familiar maids approached us and started unloading our luggage from the back trunk. Karlo guided me to go outside the car, while Timothy helped the maids. Together, we tipped the driver who helped unload our luggage.“You must be tired. Just go to your room,” Karlo advised.“Okay,” I simply answered and turned my back.I don’
The familiar scent of Manila City filled my nose as we got to the exit of the airport. I looked around and saw a lot of busy people striding inside the premises, meeting their waiting loved ones, and loading baggage into the parading cars. Karlo and Timothy were the only individuals who were watching our family driver load our baggage. Karlo was trying to help, but he was talking on the phone, while Timothy was whistling and kicking invisible rocks. Shitheads.“I’m hungry,” I announced and crossed my arms. “I want to eat in a restaurant before we go home.”They all looked at me in confusion, but Karlo was the one who got alerted first and gradually hung up his phone. He nodded.“Okay. Then let’s finish this up.”“Yeah, I’m also hungry now; I could eat a whole cow!” Timothy exclaimed as he dramatically stretched his arms. “I think I’m going to have jet lag.”My cousin was the first one to get inside the car. Karlo attended to me and casually placed his hand on my waist, guiding me to g
I finished my MBA in the remaining months. We just celebrated for a day and then decided to book our flights back to the Philippines. Timothy stayed with us in the house for those months. He also trained me in some combat skills, while Karlo was the one in charge of shooting with guns.“I still can’t believe that we are all going home!” Timothy exclaimed from behind us. “You know what, Minerva, I can’t wait for you to train in the Red Cartel headquarters where you will meet the assassins your parents nurtured for decades!”“Timothy, you shouldn’t say that in public,” I said and turned my head over my shoulder. “You don’t know who is listening!”“Keep your voice down,” Karlo shushed, and even looked at me. “Rest well.”I felt my cheeks heating up because of the concern that seethed through his eyes. I cleared my throat before looking away. Stay strong, Minerva. He shouldn’t see that you are in love with him. Keep a straight face and pretend that everything is fine—-Before I could even
For a moment, I could not move as I watched Helen smirking devilishly and clicking the trigger. My life flashed before my eyes and my dead parents went through my mind. I just snapped back into reality when I felt warm hands wrapping around my body as the firing of bullets filled my ears. When I s
I did not even realize that there was media surrounding the entrance of the hotel. Their cameras blinded me, so I shrunk my eyes just so I could see clearly. The guards tried stopping them, but they kept capturing us, especially the other guests in front of us. “Mr. Rodriguez! Please let us have
“Dress up tonight. We are going to a party,” Karlos suddenly said in the middle of our silent dinner.“What?” I said and lifted my face after staring at my plate for a long time. “Party where?”“At Mr. Montero’s engagement party,” he said while casually forking the steak on his plate and chewing it
“I want to file a divorce.”Karlo Rodriguez had always warned me to never go inside his study whenever he is working. But now, I am standing in front of him, his table only barricading between us. He was filled with paperworks and currently manipulating his laptop.Despite the words that spewed out







