Simula

Kidnap the CEO

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[This is from Bryan's POV]

"Did you find her?" I asked when Maxim, my new secretary handed me the paper.

"Nasa papel lahat ng report sir," Binaba ko ang tingin sa papel. I scanned every pages. I was on the third page when I stopped scanning. Pissed off.

"I didn't ask for full details. I asked where is she? Specific, " I raised my voice in front of him.

I saw my cousin, Lance stood up defending the secretary, "Chill Bryan!" He laughed. "Kaya walang nagtatagal na secretary sayo dahil mainitin ang ulo mo!"

I glared. "This is not your f*cking business, Lance. Get out!" I said it coldly.

"Wuahhh! Ayoko nga? Hinihintay ko pa si Tricia eh."

I neglect him. I continued flipping the pages. The image of her is so f*cking d*mn it! "Call the investigator. I want to meet him right now."

"Yes sir. " He bowed before he leave. Lance stood up facing me. " Ang highblood mo naman CEO."

"Shut your mouth, Lance." He laughed again.

"Hindi ka ba sasama? Everyone is expecting you."

"Hindi."

"Come on Bryan! Mas uunahin mo pa yan kaysa sa family natin?" He crossed his arms staring at me. Napabuntong hininga siya.

"I want it to be done today." I said it in finality. Tinitigan niya ako. His gaze moved at the printed pictures on my hand.

"Forget her."

"No."

"Mahal mo?"

"F*cking no!" I almost laughed.

"Ba't di mo makalimutan kung di mo mahal?" Natigilan ako. I didn't love her. Even 1%. I just playing around to my advantage. Alam ko na may lagi ng sumusunod sa akin. Alam ko na marami na ang nagtangkang pabagsakin ako. But guess what? They didn't even succeed to their plan. It always been a flop.

"I can't easily forget enemies, Lance. "

"I know but is she doing well?" He glanced at the pictures. She was smiling . So, I guess, she's doing well.

"Maybe but I hope she's not."

"Bryan." His low voice makes my head lift up. Nakapamulsa na siya ngayon. Nagtaas ako ng kilay signifying that I want him to continue but he just let out of breath and said, "Nothing, I just call Tricia now."

I heard his phone rung for two seconds before Tricia pick it up.

"Saan ka?" I heard Tricia's voice on the phone. She's a friend of us. In business, our parents used to be friends. Kaya bata pa lang kami, pinapakilala na kami sa isa't isa.

"Nasa office ni Bryan. Eh ikaw, sa'n ka? Hinihintay ka na namin dito." I glared at him. I was not waiting.

"Wait. Nasa Salon pa ako."

"What? " He laughed. "Bilisan mo na diyan Tricia. Hinihintay ka na namin!"

"Duh. Whatsoever. Sige na Lance. Tawag ako mamaya, bye." And he hang up the phone. Tinitigan niya ang kaka-end na call. He blink his eyes twice. "Loko iyon ah. Kala ko ba excited." He muffle before facing me.

I was staring at my phone when someone message me.

From Tricia Elizabeth:

Hey! Are you waiting for me? Papaalis na ako ng Salon. Wait for me Bryan.

Me:

I'm not going. Enjoy the night .

I got a quick reply.

From Tricia Elizabeth:

What? My dad told me you're going to attend. Everyone is expecting you! Just come. Sabi ni dad may special announcement daw. Just come.

I was about to close my phone when she message again.

From Tricia Elizabeth:

I want to talk to you. Important.

I was about to type "I can't" when someone knocked the door. Nag-angat ako ng tingin.

"Come in." Maxim entered the office. Dala niya ang hi-nire kong investigator. "Good evening sir." He greeted me.

"Conference room," We both entered the conference room. Lance followed me but I had to stopped him. I looked at my watch. "Tricia will be here a few minutes. Ikaw na bahala sa kaniya. Be sure she will never know this."

Bumuntong hininga siya. Wala na siyang magagawa. I secretly investigating that girl . Only us should know about it. "Okay." He silently walked away and gave Tricia a call.

I seat at the center while the two of them was at my right and left side. Bruno, the hired investigator hand me the camera he just using. She was holding her younger sibling while her two younger sister was on her back, following her. Pinalibutan sila ng dalawang guard sa huli at dalawang guard naman sa unahan.

"Kanina pa ito sir sa airport." Aniya.

She's here? What the hell!

"What else?"

"Mukhang wala na siyang koneksyon dun sir."

"How did you know?" I asked him in return.

"Tinapon niya sa dagat ang cellphone niya kumakailan lang. She didn't buy new phone. Wala na ring mga gadget ang mga kapatid niya. Pati sa condo nila, wala rin. Hinatid sundo lang niya ang mga kapatid niya galing eskwela. Wala rin siyang ka-meet up maliban na lamang sa mga teachers at mga magulang ng estudyante."

I continued scrolling the pictures. I stop when I saw her smiling . The f*ck! I hate it when she's smiling. How could she sleep peacefully at night knowing what she did? I stopped and gave back the camera back to him.

"Dismissed. Keep following her. For now, update me always. I still have to go. Maxim, lead Bruno out of the conference room."

"Yes sir." I stood up and eventually walked out of the room. Kinuha ko ang phone ko. I'm sure Tricia was waiting for me and Lance will be bad as hell. He don't want to keep explaining why I was on the conference.

When I'm back on my office, hindi nga ako nagkamali. She stood up and asked me questions,"You were at the conference again? Sinong ka-meeting mo? Lahat nga ng malalaking negosyante ay umattend ng party."

"Ganyan lang ang suot mo?" I stared at her from head to toe, not because her dress is bad but I know her especially when she will attend big parties.

"Hindi. Of course, I have one. Magbibihis lang ako ah!" She get her dress, nakapacked pa ito, umalis papuntang fitting room. Lance sighed. We waited her for almost half an hour.

"Akala ko ba hindi ka aattend?" Lance teased me. "I need to." I answered.

"Anong balita?" He asked. I was about to answer when Tricia goes out of the fitting room. We both exchange glances. We silent.

"I'm ready. Let's go!" We went out of the office. Tricia was wearing a black backless long dress paired with her black heels. When we were about to enter the place, I saw her folding both of her arms.

"Are you cold?" I ask her. She quietly gave me a nod. I gave her my coat. "Wear it." Lance was nowhere to be found. Only us in the hallway full of people in business industry. They both staring at us while I gave her the coat. It's nothing special. I heard the clicking of the camera in front of us.

Hindi ko alam kung saan ang pagtitipon tipon na ito. Mom and dad is here. Lahat ng mga CEO coming from different company was here. They both exchanging glances towards us.

"Bryan," Another CEO approached me. "How are you? You got a good pair." Tricia holds my arm when he said that. She smiled. "Hi, Mr. Leverico, nice to meet you." We stayed there for a few minutes until we move.

I saw mom and dad together with Tricia's mom and dad walked at the center. MC gave the mic to them. Everyone was busy when dad spoke.

"Good Evening, Ladies and Gentlemen." Everyone stopped at what they're doing to listen dad.

'I'd like to welcome sir William. Thank you for attending." My dad bowed and the rest of the businessman bowed to him. He's one of the most respected guest in business industry. Everyone wants to be his friend.

"As we all gathered here. I would like to make a special announcement. Son and Tricia come here at the stage."

I stopped. What? Wait? What happened? What will happened?

I feel Tricia's intertwined our finger. I glanced at her. " Any idea?" I asked her before going at the front. I don't know what the hell is happening here!

"Ikakasal na tayo, Bryan." Hindi siya makatingin sa akin.

"What?"

Before I could protest. Dad was calling us. All eyes were on us. What the hell is happening? I don't even know about it.

Ikakasal kami? What the hell!

When we were at the center, I glanced at the people in front of me. Nasa unahan ang mga malalaki at kakarespetong tao sa industriya.

Kakarespetong tao.

Iniisa isa ko sila but everything become numb when I saw her. What the hell! She' s here! For what? Halos natawa ako sa sariling pag-iisip.

She's wearing a red dress, holding a wine. What the hell is she doing here? May panibagong misyon ba? Ano? Ako na naman ba?

What the fuck!

" As you all know, my son and Tricia met 18 years ago. Her mom and dad is a great friend of us. Were planning to merge our business into one. We've been deciding it over and over again and yeah, both of them agreed and as you all know, both of them were so in love."

I didn't argued with my dad. I stared at her, watching her reaction. She is nothing to me now.

I didn't hear dad's word after. I was occupied with her. Nagulat na lamang ako when dad handed me the mic.

"Anything to say, son?" Tricia's mom and dad were smiling to us. Tricia's hold to me was so tight. We looked at each other. Bumulong siya sa akin, "She's here."

I heard people clapping and even show their smile to us. We're like sweethearts, whispering to each other.

Bumalik ako kay dad, ngumiti, neglecting her in front of me.

"Dad, kailan pa ang kasal?" I joked. Everyone laughed.

My dad laughed too . " You want now, son?" He laughed again. Natawa naman ang lahat.

I took a glanced at her again but this time, she's no longer drinking her wine. She didn't glance at me but I saw her in slow motion, wiping her tears.

"Yes dad."

She stand. Her chair made a noise. Everyone glanced at her. She didn't look. She went out of the party.