PROLOGUE 1

His Possessive Wife

PROLOGUE

IT WAS A cold night in Russia, the breezing air from the open veranda touches Lilith's skin. She didn't even shiver as the coldness touched her skin, she's used to it. She's wearing a black blouse while sitting on her couch, facing the open veranda, while drinking a cold Americano latte.

"Really, Lilith? A cold latte for cold weather?" She heard her twin sister's voice from behind, asked in disbelief.

She didn't bother to glance to her, she just give her a simple shrug but was more on nodding. She felt her sister, Lily, sat down on the top of her bed, near her, as she sip her latte.

"You know, Lilith. You don't have to agree on Daddy's order." Lily said in a soft voice. "It's too much, you know. I know you want to make it up to him but, didn't you have already done too much for him?"

She finished her latte and faced her sister. She gave her a small smile, telling her that it was okay and there was no need to worry.

Lilith can see how Lily's eyes looked at her with pity making her open her mouth to talk.

"Stop it, Lily." She said in irritation. "I don't need your pity, I will still do it. No one can change my mind." She said. She won't turn her back like a coward. She already has decided and agreed to her father's proposal.

Lily sighed in defeat like she won't win on an argument with her twin sister.

"I just don't want you to be like me, Lilith. I am your elder sister-"

"You're just five seconds older than me, Lily. Don't act like you're much older than me." Lilith hissed and stood up. She wears her thick leather coat and was about to walk out in her room when Lily spoke again, making her stop.

"When is the wedding?" Lily asked and Lilith clenches her jaw as she turn her hand into a fist in irritation.

Ayaw niyang marinig o maalala ang bagay na yun. The word `wedding' is a nightmare for her, yet she accepts her father's proposal. She is about to marry someone she doesn't know to merge her father's business. She didn't even say anything when her father asked her, she just give him a simple nod, agreeing to her father's proposal.

As she turns her back to give a sharp glare on her twin sister, she saw Lily shrug.

"Next week, and please don't attend. It's not important anyway, it's just a fucking deal. I don't want you to see me in that day, saying `I do' to the priest when I really don't want to." And by that, she leaves Lily alone in her room and walked the path to her place. She needs a chill. I need to let this frustration out.

WALANG emosyon ang mukha ni Nikolaus habang kaharap ang ina niya sa hapag-kainan. Actually, wala siyang ganang kumain o kaya naman ay harapin ang ina niya. For sure, she already heard the news.

Tumikhim ang ina niya saka pinunasan ang sariling labi nito pagkatapos isubo ang steak na hiniwa nito.

"So." his mother thrilled and gave him a teasing smile. "my baby is getting married, huh?" Tudyo nito kaya napairap nalang si Nikolaus sa hangin.

"Mom, it's just marriage for convenience. Nothing more, nothing less," sabi niya na parang wala lang.

He didn't even know what's the face of Don Hernando Cortez's daughter that he is marrying. Hindi niya alam kung anong hitsura nito at wala siyang pakialam. He wants to marry Don Hernando's daughter to merge his business. Hindi naman siya naghihirap ng masyado para pakasalan ang anak nito, he just need some prrotection and more power on his other thing.

Mukhang hindi pinansin ng ina niya ang sinabi niya. "When is the wedding? God! I can't wait to see who's your lucky bride!" His mother chirped happily making him frown.

"Ma, I told you. It's just a marriage for convenience-"

"Shhh." his mother shushed him making him stop, making him frown even more. "so, when is the wedding, anak?" Tanong ulit nito.

He sighed in defeat. "Next week, Ma. And you don't have to-"

"Oh my gosh! I need to look beautiful for my son's wedding!" His mother cuts him off again and stood up, fixing her short and straight hair. Naglakad ito palayo sa kanya at siya naman ay mahinang napailing sa ina niya.

His mother suddenly stopped walking. Para bang may naalala ito. "O God! I have to book an early flight to." she turns her back on him and asked, "where is your `soon-to-be wife' lives? Gusto ko siyang makita at makilala bago ang kasal niyo." Bakas sa mukha nito ang excitement habang siya ay kahit katiting na excitement ay hindi niya nararamdaman. He feels nothing. Kasi alam niya kung bakit siya pumayag sa alok ni Don Hernando na pakasalan ang anak nito.

"Russia, Ma. Sabay na tayong pumunta doon, Ma, kailangan ko ding kausapin si Don Hernando." Pagod na sabi niya at nakita niya naman ang mahinang pagtango ng ina niya bago ito naglakad palayo sa kanya.

Napaisip tuloy siya. Ano kaya ang itsura ng babaeng mapapakasalan niya? Is she beautiful? Caring? Sweet? Loyal? Malakas niyang ipinilig ang ulo sa kanyang iniisip.

You don't care, right? Ana ang munting boses sa likuran ng boses niya. Fuck!

Malakas siyang napabuga ng hangin saka tumayo at nagtungo sa silid ng ina niya para magpaalam na uuwi muna siya sa bahay niya na nasa Hunky Village. Where only the hunk gentlemen lives, halos mga gwapo at mala modelo ang katawan ang mga nakatira doon, mga mayayaman at higit sa lahat ay mga babaero, maliban sa kanya.

Nikolaus knocked three times when he finally reached his mother's room.

"Bukas `yan, anak." Pasigaw pero malumanay na sabi nito. His mother is really sweet and calm, especially in her voice. He wonders if his soon-to-be wife is sweet and loving like his mother.

He slightly shook his head trying to set away those kind of thoughts. He twisted the doorknob and enters his mother's room. Nakita niyang nakaupo ang ina niya sa gilid ng kama habang may mga ngiti sa labi. She's even packing her clothes!

Napapantastikuhang napatingin siya sa ina niya na masayang nag-iimpake ng mga damit. "Really, Ma?" Hindi makapaniwalang usal niya sa ina.

His mother looked at him innocently and asked, "what? I can't wait to see my daughter-in-law."

Napabuntong-hininga nalang siya sa kakulitan ng ina niya. Kahit pa siguro sabihin niya dito na magpapakasal lang siya sa babaeng iyon dahil sa negosyo ay hindi parin ito titigil. She's even excited to see her while him, don't feel any excitement seeing that woman.

"Ma, uuwi na ako. Gabi na, I have to go back. My babies are surely waiting for me," paalam niya sa ina at tumango naman ito nang hindi siya tinitingnan. Napailing nalang siya saka hinalikan ang pisngi ng kayang ina at nagpaalam muli bago siya umalis sa mansion ng ina niya.

As he drives his black Porsche to his own home, his phone suddenly rang. He glanced to see who is calling him. At nang makitang ang ama niya iyon, hinayaan niya lang itong mag-ring hanggang sa tumigil ito. He can't still talk to his father like nothing happened. His blood is boiling in anger remembering what his father did to his mother.

He lied. Iyon ang ginawa ng ama niya sa kanila. And God knows how he hates lying. What's the use of lying kung malalaman din naman ito sa huli?

He let out a loud breath when his phone rang again. It's his father again, calling him. At wala siyang pakialam kung tumawag man ito nang tumawag. He's kinda thankful that his father let him inherits their wealth. Being a Florida is a blessing, that's what his friends thought. But when his father starts lying to the core, parang ikinahihiya na niya ang apilyedo niya. He always introduce himself to some individuals as Nikolaus Salvador instead of Nikolaus Florida. Salvador is his mother's maiden name. He rather use Salvador than Florida. Parang naaalala niya ang ginawang kalokohan ng ama niya sa kanyang ina kapag ginagamit niya sa pagpapakilala ang apilyedo niya.

He parked his Porsche on his own garage when he arrive on his villa. The gate is remote control, kaya hindi na niya kailangang utusan ang nag-iisang driver niya na si Kiko. Magka-edad lang sila nito, he gave him a scolarship for free but Kiko is too persistent to work for him. Kiko is living three blocks away from his villa, kaya tuwing may araw ay nasa bahay niya ito, inihahatid at sinusundo siya sa kanyang kompanya. At 'pag gabi naman ay nasa bahay pa rin niya ito, hinihintay siya para magpaalam na uuwi na.

Nang makapasok siya sa bahay niya ay tumunog na namang muli ang cellphone niya kaya naman ay naiinis niya itong sinagot nang hindi tinitingnan kung sino ang tumatawag sa pag-aakalang ang ama niya naman iyon.

"Leave the fuck me alone!" He hissed angrily making his voice echo in his whole house. 

He was ready to hang up the call when a baritone voice of a man, spoke in full of seriousness and authority.

"Is that the way you greet your future father-in-law, Klaus?" Malalaking mga matang tiningnan niya ang screen ng cellphone niya at malutong na napamura sa kanyang isipan ng makitang hindi pala ito ang kanyang ama. Fuck!

He simply cleared his throat before speaking. "Sorry, sir. I thought it was--"

The man on the other line chuckled. "I'm just kidding, Klaus." Don Hernando said in humor making him breath properly. "anyways," naging seryoso ulit ang boses nito kaya naman ay naglakad siya papunta sa kwarto niya sa second floor at hinubad ang suot niyang sapatos. "I called you because I want you here in Russia by tomorrow. I changed the schedule of your wedding with my daughter. Hope you don't mind, I just want everything quick and fast."

Nikolaus just blew a loud breath and came to think of. Why is Don Hernando rushing their wedding? Is he that so eager to get his daughter married... for business? Alam kaya ng anak ni Don Hernando na gagamitin lang siya nito para lumago ang kompanya nila. The both families will get its own benefits.

Napahinto siya sa pagtatanggal ng necktie niya at nagsalita. "Okay, sir. I'll be there tomorrow morning to see your daughter, with my mother. I hope you don't mind, sir." Pormal niyang sagot kay Don Hernando sa kabilang linya.

"No, I don't mind," sagot nito saka niya tinanggal ang necktie niya at humugot ng malalim na hininga. "I am expecting you and your accompany here in Russia tomorrow. Have a good day--"

"It's evening here," he interjected.

"Oh, have a good night then, Mr. Florida. Bye." He then lay down on his soft mattress and blew out a loud breath in exhaustion. Looks like he will meet his bride sooner.

LILITH groaned as she hear the alert tone of her phone. She tiredly picked up her phone and answer the call without even seeing who the caller is. Only her father would call her early in the morning.

"Si, Papa?" She said hoarsely. She unconsciously looked as the wall clock in front of her. It's still 9 A.M, what could be the possible reason why Papa called me this early? Her day usually starts at night.

"I'm in Bogota, Lilith. And we have a visitor that you have to entertain," she silently cursed in her mind as her father starts on talking. She hates visitors!

"Papa, I'm in my home--"

"Then drive your way to my mansion," he cuts her off. "play nice, Lilith. Don't disappoint me."

She let out a forceful sigh. Wala din naman siyang magagawa kung tanggihan niya ang ama niya. She promised herself that she would follow all her father's command without any hesitation. Pero hindi kasali doon ang magpanggap siyang mabait at 'nice'. 

"May I know who are them, Papa?" She asked, trying to sound curious. 

"It's your groom, your future husband. He will come there to Russia with his mother, so play nice. Smile and be sweet, and wear something girly..." her face automatically crumpled on her father's command. Wala sa bokabularyo niya ang mga salitang yun.

She wanted to protest, but remembering her promise, she gulped and agreed. "Yes, Papa. I'll try," she said in a low tone of voice.

"Good. Now, I have to go, the plane will ascend at a very moment. See you in my mansion, Lilith."

Tumango siya. "Yes, Papa. Take care," she said then, her father hanged up the call.

Napatingin nalang siya sa kawalan habang iniisip kung anong gagawin niya kapag nakita na niya ang lalaking mapapakasalan niya. Though, she already saw him on the picture that was given by her father. Hindi niya parin mapigilan ang sariling isipin kung ano ang katangiang taglay ng isang Nikolaus Monroe Salvador-Florida. She knew his full name, she has made her own investigation.

Napag-isipan niyang tumayo saka pumasok sa banyo para maligo. It took her thirty minutes to get ready. She's already dressed up, wearing a dress, that her father told her to wear. She picked a white off-shoulder dress that is above her knee and hugged her curves. Her skin is exposed but she didn't bother the air hitting her bare skin, she just keeps on walking to her white Bugatti and drives her way to her father's mansion. She already has decided. She won't play nice but she can give them a fake smile, with that, she might look like a pleasant woman in front of them. She doesn't care if they don't.

NANG makababa si Lilith mula sa kanyang sasakyan ay inutusan niya si Percy, her personal butler, to park her Bugatti in the garage. Percy immediately followed her command as she have her way to enter the mansion of her father.

She can feel someone's presence from inside so she ready her sweet fake smile to the two voices she can hear talking from the sala. But when she saw the man, sitting comfortably on the long-leathered sofa, she was stunned for a while, seeing how gorgeous looking this man is. The picture that her father gave her didn't give justice to how jaw-dropping this man is. And he's going to be my husband?