How To Tame A Billionaire

Chapter 1

The Glass King

Kung may pinakamahal na gusali sa buong Bonifacio Global City, walang tatalo sa Velasco Tower. Forty floors of glass and steel, parang hinugot diretso mula sa sci-fi movie. At ang hari nito? Walang iba kundi si Adrian Velasco.

“Mr. Velasco, your eleven a.m. appointment is waiting,” sabi ng secretary niyang naka-all black, crisp at walang kahit anong smudge ng pagod sa mukha.

Adrian barely looked up. Nakasuot siya ng navy suit, perfectly tailored, parang lumabas sa cover ng Forbes magazine. His eyes, cold and calculating, scanned the holographic reports projected on his glass desk. Numbers, contracts, and stocks danced in front of him. Para bang siya lang ang may hawak ng lahat ng oras sa mundo.

“Let them wait,” Adrian replied, voice low, smooth, pero may halong authority that brooked no argument.

Sa labas ng opisina, naglalakad si Elena Vargas. Kung gaano ka-sterile at intimidating ang buong building, gano’n naman ka-determined ang mukha niya. Isang maliit na notebook lang ang dala, ballpen, at isang recorder na nasa bulsa ng blazer niya. Sa isip niya: Hindi ako nagpunta rito para magpa-intimidate. I came here to dig the truth.

Pagpasok niya sa boardroom, agad siyang sinalubong ng malamig na tingin ni Adrian. Walang salita, just a flick of his eyes, and the atmosphere turned heavier. Para bang sinasabi ng tingin niya: So, you’re the one trying to mess with me.

“Elena Vargas,” she said aloud, stretching her hand for a shake. “Journalist. The one who’s been requesting an interview for three months.”

Adrian didn’t move for a beat. Then, slowly, he shook her hand, firm, deliberate.

“I don’t usually grant interviews, Ms. Vargas,” he said. “But I’m curious. What exactly do you think you’ll find in my company?”

Elena smirked, raising a brow. “Depende. Kung malinis kayo, then nothing. Kung may tinatago kayo…” She leaned closer, whispering just loud enough. “…I’ll be the first to expose it.”

For the first time, Adrian’s lips twitched, magkahalong paghanga at pagkairita.

“Expose me, huh?” he echoed. “Sabihin mo nga sa akin, Ms. Vargas, are you here to expose me… or to marry me?”

Katahimikan.

Napakurap ng dalawang beses si Elena, iniisip kung tama ba ang narinig niya. “Excuse me? Did you just….”

“Yes.” Adrian leaned back, eyes never leaving hers. “Marry me. One year. Be my shield. Ang kapalit is that you’ll have full access to my life, my company, my secrets. Expose me if you can, Ms. Vargas.”

Elena laughed, halos mapailing at hindi makapaniwala . “Wow. Ang galing mo magbiro, Mr. Velasco. Pero sorry, ang balak ko lang pakasalan ay ang katotohanan.”

Pero hindi man lang kumurap si Adrian. Walang halong biro ang mukha.

“I don’t joke,” he said simply.

Biglang kumabog ang dibdib ni Elena, hindi sa kilig kundi sa kaba. Ano ba ang pinasok niya? She came here to corner him with questions, pero siya ang na-corner.

“Bakit ako?” tanong niya finally, crossing her arms.

“Because you’re the only one bold enough to stand in front of me without trembling,” Adrian answered. “The others? They want to please me. You want to destroy me. That makes you useful.”

Elena rolled her eyes. “Useful? Wow ha, thanks for the compliment.”

Adrian smirked. “Think of it as a deal. You need protection. Wag mong ipagkaila, Ms. Vargas. I know about your brother’s… associations.”

Natahimik si Elena. “What do you know about my brother?”

“Enough,” malumanay na sagot ni Adrian. “And enough to know that your enemies are circling him the same way mine are circling me. You want him safe? Pakasalan mo’ko. Simple lang.”

Nabigla si Elena. The room suddenly felt smaller, the glass walls pressing in. Her instinct screamed trap. Pero at the same time, naramdaman niya ang bigat ng sitwasyon. Her brother, Marco, was indeed in trouble. At alam ito ni Adrian. And now he was twisting it into leverage.

She straightened her posture, masking the storm inside.

“Let me get this straight,” sabi pa niya. “You’re offering me… a one-year marriage contract. Public, legal, with all the chismis and spotlight. In exchange, I get to dig through your secrets. And in the process, I magically become your human shield against scandal. Tama?”

“Tama.” Adrian’s gaze hardened. “And let’s be clear, I don’t lose.”

Elena huffed, half laughing, half in disbelief. “You don’t lose? Let’s see about that, Mr. Velasco. Kasi kung papayag ako…” She leaned closer, their eyes locking. “…I’ll make sure you regret underestimating me.”

For the first time, Adrian’s cold mask cracked into a small, dangerous smile.

“Challenge accepted, Mrs. Velasco.”