Chapter 2

Chapter 2 

Terms and Conditions

Elena stormed out of the boardroom, heels clicking loudly on the polished marble floor. Para siyang bombang handa nang sumabog. Marriage? Contract? Adrian Velasco was out of his billionaire mind.

“Mrs. Velasco?” she muttered under her breath, halos mabulunan siya sa tinawag nito sa kanya. “As if. Ano ‘to, teleserye?”

Pero kahit anong sarcasm ang itapon niya, the words stuck to her skin. Marriage. Shield. Brother.

Paglabas niya ng building, sunod-sunod ang notifications sa phone niya. Missed calls from Marco, three text messages na galing sa kanyang editor, and one unknown number that simply said: “Think carefully. Time is ticking.”

Her stomach dropped. Wala pang isang oras mula nang makita niya si Adrian, pero parang buhay niya ay biglang nasa chessboard na. And guess what? Adrian Velasco was already moving the pieces.

Inside Velasco’s office, Adrian sipped his espresso calmly, as if he hadn’t just proposed one of the craziest deals in Philippine business history.

“Sir,” marahang sabi ng kanyang secretary, “was that wise? Proposing marriage to a journalist? To thee Elena Vargas?”

Adrian didn’t look up. “Wise is relative. She’s the only journalist na hindi nagpapasuhol at nagpapasilaw sa pera. Which makes her reliable.”

The secretary hesitated. “Or dangerous.”

A faint smile tugged at his lips. “Dangerous can be useful too.”

Kingabihan, Elena sat in her small apartment, staring at Marco across the dining table. Her younger brother, fresh from another ‘business meeting,’ halatang pagod na pagod. Pero kahit anong pilit niyang pagtatanong, he just shook his head.

“Wala ‘to, Ate. Don’t stress.”

“Marco,” giit pa niya, “sinabi na sa akin ni Velasco na may utang ka sa maling tao. Is it true?”

Napatigil si Marco. “What? You talked to him?!”

Elena leaned forward, voice sharp. “Sagutin mo ako.”

Marco sighed, burying his face in his hands. “Fine. Oo. But I can handle it.”

“Handle it?” Elena snapped. “You’re drowning, Marco. And guess what? He’s using you as bait to trap me.”

Marco looked up, guilt written all over his face. “I’m sorry, Ate. Hindi ko ginusto na madamay ka sa gusot ko.”

Elena’s chest tightened. Ito ang weakness niya. Hindi corrupt officials, hindi mga powerful billionaires, but her family. For them, she’d risk everything.

Kinaumagahan, Bumalik si Elena sa Velasco Tower. Determined, pero kinakabahan. She found Adrian waiting in the same boardroom, hands clasped, calm as ever.

“Bumalik ka,” Adrian said, smug.

“Don’t flatter yourself,” Elena shot back. “nandito ako para makipag-negotiate.”

Napataas ang isang kilay ni Adrian. “Oh? And what are your terms, Mrs. Velasco?”

She slammed her notebook on the table. “First of all, wag mo akong tatawaging ‘Mrs. Velasco’ unless may papel na sa korte. Second, kung papayag ako sa kontrata, I keep my freedom as a journalist. I write what I see, kahit ikasira mo pa.”

Adrian smirked. “Fair. Anything else?”

“Yes. Marco stays out of your dirty games. You touch him, deal’s off.”

For a moment, Adrian’s expression softened, barely noticeable, but there. “Noted. Sinabi ko naman sa’yo, I'll keep him safe."

Elena crossed her arms. “Now, it's your turn. Ano naman ang makukuha mo sa kabaliwang ito?”

Adrian leaned forward, voice low. “A wife who hates me is still better than a thousand enemies circling me. With you by my side, the vultures will hesitate. They know you’ll expose anyone the second they make a mess. Magdadalawang-isip silang kalabanin ako.”

Elena stared at him, half-annoyed, half-impressed. “You’re insane.”

“Brilliant,” Adrian corrected smoothly.

Naghari ang katahimikan sa kanilang dalawa, heavy but charged. Finally, Elena exhaled sharply.

“Fine,” sabi niya. “Isang taon. After that, tapos na. No strings, no tears, no fairy tale.”

Adrian’s lips curved into that dangerous smile again. “Careful, Elena. Fairy tales have a way of sneaking in.”

“Not in this lifetime,” she muttered.

But deep inside, as they shook hands to seal the deal, Alam ni Elena ang isang bagay lang ang sigurado. Ang buhay niya ngayon ay nagmistula nang isang babasaging slamin.