PROLOGUE 2

Part II

"GOOD MORNING, I hope I didn't make you two wait for long." Klaus automatically raised his head to see the woman standing in front of them. She's wearing a white off-shoulder that shows her milky skin, and when he finally saw the woman's face, his breathing hitched and became ragged.

Who is she? That's the first question that popped into his mind. How can this woman be so hypnotizing and so stunning? But when he noticed her smile, he secretly rolled his eyes and get his attention back to his mom. TSS, a fake smile.

Nakita niya mula sa kanyang peripheral vision ang paglapit nito sa kanila na mas lalong nagpabilis ng tibok ng puso niya. Fuck! What's happening to you?! Palihim niyang saway sa puso niya. His heart is being weird right now, mukhang kailangan na niyang magpacheck-up sa doktor. It's scaring him.

LILITH tried her best to smile as she offers her left hand to the woman in her mid-fifties. She's hoping that her smile didn't fail or look like a fake one.

"Hi, Madame. I am Lilith Cortez, daughter of Don Hernando Cortez," she smiled even sweetly, but her eyes shouts boredness.

The woman smiled genuinely and sweetly and instead of shaking her hand, the woman stood up and hugged her. She was just rooted in her place, she can't even move to push the woman who is hugging her warmly. And somehow, she unconsciously hugged the woman back. Maybe because she misses those kinds of warm hugs.

Napakurap-kurap niya nang may biglang tumikhim mula sa kanyang likuran. Mahinang itinulak niya ang ginang na kayakap niya at tumingin sa lalaking tumikhim. The man who is wearing his annoyed face. She slowly walks in front of the man who is now standing in front of her.

Her face became emotionless as she offers her left hand to the man in front of her and introduces herself. In a formal way.

"I am Lilith--"

"Lilith Cortez, yeah I know," he cuts her off making her glare at him. She doesn't like being cut or interjected when she's talking.

The man gave her a smug smirk. "There, the real you is showing..." may ngisi sa mga labing sabi nito kaya mabilis niyang iniba ang emosyon niya sa mukha. "stop giving people a fake smile, it doesn't suit you---"

"Nikolaus!" Dinig niyang saway ng ina nito sa kanya but her face remains cold and emotionless. But the truth is, she badly wants to choke this son of bitch for saying that to her.

How dare he?! He is in her territory, she can easily send some assassins to assassinate this man! She has never been disrespected by someone in her entire life, just now.

Nikolaus blew a loud breath and shake her hand. "Fine. I'm Nikolaus Monroe Salvador-Florida, the owner--"

"-- owner of the Florida Shipping Lines which has many branches here and out of the country, the CEO of the Pharmaceutical Company here in the Philippines, and also running a dirty business behind the curtains," Lilith cuts him off and Nikolaus looked stunned for a minute making her smirk.

Si Lilith na mismo ang unang bumitaw sa pagkakalapat ng mga palad nila at saka tinaasan ng kilay si Nikolaus.

“Cut your tongue, Nikolaus?” Panunuya niya at lumingon sa ginang na nakamasid lang sa kanila.

She smiled as she guided her to the dining area. “let’s have some breakfast, Madame, as we wait for my father.”

The woman clapped her hands in excitement making her smile genuinely. She remembers her mother, always cheerful and sweet. Just like this woman in front of her.

“Yey! Thank you,” nakangiting usal ng ginang habang naglalakad sila papunta sa dining area. “ahm, can I, ahm, like…”

Lilith stopped to see the woman's face. Halata ang pag-aalangan sa mukha nito. Parang may gusto itong itanong sa kanya, she can tell it by looking at her face.

“What is it, Madame?” Tanong niya sa ginang.

“Can I call you sweetie? Or sweetheart? Or sweet?” Sunod-sunod nitong tanong na ikinangiti niya. This woman reminds her, of her mother. They are both sweet and soft.

“Anything you like, Madame.” Aniya sa mababang boses at saka nagsimulang maglakad.

“Oh, great!” The woman chirped, “I’ll call you honey!” Palihim niyang kinagat ang pang-ibabang labi sa tinuran nito. It’s her mother’s endearment to her. Wala naman sa ibinigay na choices ang pinili ng ginang.

It must be faith. Mapakla siyang tumawa at mahinang tumango. “Yes, Madame. If that’s what you like.”

THE BREAKFAST is like a fiesta. There are many foods served, some of them are Filipino dishes and mostly are foreign dishes. They were sitting on an elegant and expensive-looking chair, currently eating their food.

Nikolaus’ mother is talkative, indeed. And just like now, his mother keeps on asking some questions to Lilith.

“So, what do you do for living, honey? Do you design gowns? Bake cakes? Oh, no! Do you do business?” Palihim na napangiwi si Lilith sa sunod-sunod na tanong ng ginang.

She gave her a simple smile and answer her question. “I hate designing, Madame. I don’t bake nor cook. I am sort of into business but not that really, and helping other people.” She said. That’s only the one-fourth of truth she can say.

“Awww, you’re such a kind-hearted woman, Lilith.” She praised her and she just gave her a tight smile. “I’m sure that your parents are very proud of you. Look at you, kind and---"

"Fake," napabaling siya nang biglang magsalita si Nikolaus. She was about to snap at him when she feel her father's presence from behind and spoke.

"And that woman you are calling fake, Mr. Florida, is my daughter. Watch your words, you're in our territory." May babala sa boses nito kaya naman ay ningisihan niya si Nikolaus at saka ibinalik ang atensyon sa kinakain niya.

Nawalan sila ng imik nang umupo ang ama niya sa silya at sumalo sa kanila. She just keep her attention on the food she was eating while her ears are listening and waiting what will her father said.

"Nikolaus Monroe Florida, meet my daughter, Lilith Cleopatra Cortez," pagpapakilala ng ama niya sa kanila. But her eyes remains on her food. Ayaw niyang makipag-plastikan sa mga taong 'to. Especially to Nikolaus who is starting to piss her off.

"and no, my daughter is not fake. She's genuine and caring," pagpapatuloy ng ama niya. Palihim na napaingos si Lilith. Lies. Lies. Lies.

"Yes, sir." Tanging naging tugon ni Nikolaus.

AFTER BREAKFAST, Lilith and Nikolaus were summoned by her father to the library, to discuss about their so-called wedding. Lilith sat on the long sofa occupied by her father's library. The library was huge and enough to be called a library for it is full of books and ledgers.

She wanders her sight around the library while her father is busy talking about their coming wedding. She doesn't really care kung bukas na sila ikasal, tutal sa Russia naman ang kasal nila, she or he can easily filed a divorce. Her father keeps on calling her attention to listen and she will just give him a simple nod before getting her phone from her behind.

She smiled when she saw many messages from someone. She was about to text him when she saw many popping messages when her father called her name.

"Lilith!" Her father called her making her look at him. "are you listening?" Kalmadong sabi nito at pasimple lang niya itong tinanguan.

Wala sa sarili na napatingin siya kay Nikolaus at nang mahuling nakatingin ito sa kanya, hindi ito nag-iwas ng tingin. He stares at her and she can read the emotion in his green eyes. Curiousity. With his face frowning, she can tell. Si Lilith na ang nag-iwas ng tingin at tumingin sa ama niya.

"Papa, I have to go." Paalam niya saka tumayo, she gave her father a simple bow and looked up. "Baby keep on texting me, I think it's urgent." Aniya sa seryosong tinig.

Her father nod and motioned her to the door. "Don't tire yourself, Lilith. Tomorrow will be your grandest wedding day." Paalala nito sa kanya.

You mean, the worst day of my life? Gusto niyang sabihin iyon sa ama pero pinigilan niya ang sarili at pinilit na tumango.

"I will, Papa. I won't disappoint you." Again.