Chapter 3

Hindi alam ni Eloise kung ano’ng pumasok sa isip ni Estevan at bigla na lamang siyang isinama nito.

One moment they were just sitting in silence after discussing the terms of their so-called deal, and the next thing she knew, he was telling her to come with him. At bago pa siya makatanggi o makapagtanong, nasa loob na siya ng sasakyan nito, heading somewhere she never expected.

“To a dinner,” iyon lang ang sinabi ng lalaki. Walang dagdag na paliwanag, walang pagkakataon para mag-back out.

Habang binabaybay ng sasakyan ang private road papunta sa isang napakalawak na property, doon niya lang tuluyang na-realize kung saan siya dadalhin.

A massive gate, trimmed hedges, warm yellow lights peeking through tall windows. It all screamed money, heritage, and a kind of prestige na hindi siya kailanman naging bahagi.

The Foreman estate.

Pinilit niyang kontrolin ang mabilis na tibok ng puso. She straightened her dress, checked her reflection through the tinted car window, and then took a deep breath.

Holy shit! She cursed in her head.

“Just smile,” ang tanging bilin ni Estevan sa kan’ya bago sila bumaba ng sasakyan.

Pagpasok nila sa loob ng mansion, she felt small. The place was elegant and definitely intimidating.

Marble floors, towering ceilings, and chandeliers na mukhang mas mahal pa sa buong apartment unit niya. She didn’t belong here, and she knew it.

Kahit ilang beses na siyang nakapunta sa mga event sa hotel, iba pa rin ang presensiya ng bahay na ’to—tahimik pero mabigat. Parang hindi ka basta p’wedeng huminga kung hindi ka kabilang.

But Estevan didn’t seem to care. He placed a light hand on the small of her back and whispered close to her ear, “just keep up.”

At tumango lang siya, masking her nerves with a soft smile.

“You’re early,” bati ng isang babae mula sa itaas ng engrandeng hagdan. The woman looked like she was in her mid-sixties—elegant, poised, and dressed like someone who carried the Foreman name like armor.

“Mother,” tugon ni Estevan, then turned to her. “This is Eloise.”

She smiled politely, just enough not to look intimidated.

“Ah. So you’re the girlfriend.”

Hindi niya alam kung may halong tuwa o pagsusuri ang tono ng ginang. But before she could respond, another figure came walking down the hallway.

“Bro,” bati ng binatang naka-itim na long-sleeved polo..

Elias Thorne Foreman.

Magaan ang ngiti nito, pero matalim ang mga mata. At sa sandaling nagtagpo ang kanilang paningin, may dumapong kakaibang kilabot sa katawan ni Eloise. Hindi dahil sa kaba, kundi dahil sa isang pakiramdam na hindi niya agad maipaliwanag. Pamilyar. Pero hindi dapat.

“Nice to meet you,” Elias said, extending his hand.

Pinilit niyang ngumiti habang kinakamayan ito. “You too.”

Pero sa paghawak niya sa palad nito, may dumapong malamig na pakiramdam sa batok niya. Para bang may gustong ibulong ang instinct niya na mag-ingat. Na may mali. Pero hindi niya alam kung ano.

He smiled at her again, polite and smooth, like he was the kind of man who knew how to charm every room he walked into.

Bago pa siya muling makapagtanong sa sarili, isang boses ang sumunod—malalim, may bigat, may otoridad.

“Estevan.”

They both turned around. At nakita niya ang isang lalaking may baston, maayos ang postura kahit halatang may edad na. Ang bawat hakbang nito ay may dignidad, at ang bawat tingin ay parang may hinuhusgahan.

“Father,” sagot ni Estevan, bahagyang tumango.

“This must be the young woman.”

Eloise offered a slight nod. “Good evening, sir.”

Pinagmasdan siya nito mula ulo hanggang paa—hindi bastos, pero hindi rin komportable. “Good evening,” tugon nito, bago tumalikod para pangunahan silang lahat sa hapag.

As soon as she sat at the table, she felt eyes on her—evaluating, dissecting. The mother was composed but curious. The father was calculating. Elias was smiling too easily. Whereas Estevan was watching everyone, as if weighing every breath in the room.

“So, Eloise,” panimula ng ginang habang nagbubuhos ng wine. “What do you do?”

“I work at a small café downtown that I own po. I also manage part of the books,” sagot niya nang kalmado. “I’ve always loved numbers.”

“Simple,” puna ng matandang Foreman habang maingat na isinandal ang baston sa gilid ng mesa. “We need more people like that. Focused. Hardworking.”

Napatingin si Estevan sa kan’ya, and she could feel a subtle sense of pride in his eyes—like she passed an invisible test.

“And how did you two meet?” tanong ulit ng ina ni Estevan habang nagsisimula nang kumain.

“Through her cafe, I once went there,” Estevan cut in before she could even say anything.

Mabilis ang tingin sa kan’ya ni Elias, parang gusto siyang basahin. But then she ignored it.

Tumango lang ang ginang, pero hindi nawala ang pagsusuri sa mga mata nito. Meanwhile, Elias kept observing her from across the table, every now and then taking slow sips of wine, eyes were unreadable.

“So,” sabay tingin ni Elias sa kapatid. “You’re serious this time?”

“Why do you ask?” balik ni Estevan, calm but guarded.

“Well, she’s here, isn’t she? That’s new.”

The table fell into a brief silence. The tension was subtle but alive—like two lions pretending they weren’t in the same territory.

Eloise tried to look calm, but deep inside, she was watching every word, every glance. Parang may laro sa pagitan ng magkapatid na hindi niya maintindihan. May saring galit na hindi nila binabanggit, pero naroroon sa bawat linya ng mukha nila.

Habang kumakain, ramdam niya ang ilang tingin na pilit tumatagos sa kan’yang balat, lalo na mula sa magkapatid.

Elias looked friendly and approachable, always smiling at the right time, always saying the right thing. But underneath that charm, she could feel the tension. Like he was testing her every move.

Estevan, on the other hand, stayed quiet…too quiet. His eyes kept darting between her and Elias, as if he was waiting for something to happen.

Sa gitna ng tahimik na kainan, biglang tumayo si Elias at kinuha ang isang wine bottle.

“More?” tanong nito sa kan’ya.

She nodded. “Thank you.”

Habang binubuhusan siya nito ng wine, nadama niya na parang may mas malalim pa sa simpleng galang. Hindi niya alam kung paranoia lang ba ito, pero ramdam niyang may tinatago si Elias. O baka siya lang ang masyadong alerto.

Either way, hindi siya basta-basta magpapakampante.

There was something off about Elias Foreman. And the more she stayed around this family, the more she realized that maybe—just maybe—she was stepping into something far darker than she expected.