“So, how was the meeting with Mr. Jones,” anang Uncle Joshua ni Charlie sa kanya. Agad siyang nag-angat ng tingin mula sa kanyang plato, makahulugang ipinalibot ang tingin sa mga kaanak niya na nasa hapag. They were having dinner at his uncle’s house in celebration of her cousin Tala's graduation. Everyone from her father’s side of the family were present, except of course for her parents and her brother Caleb who was away preparing for his Accountancy Licensure Exam. Sa totoo lang, wala sana siya dapat doon ngayon. She’s still flustered from meeting Gael earlier that day. All she would want to do is to spend the night in her bed with the help of a premium drink to knock her senses off to sleep. But Tala’s graduation is quite a big event for the family. Paano, matapos nitong mag-shift ng course ng tatlong beses, her cousin finally got her degree. And soon, Tala will be moving to Italy for her masters in fashion design. Her heart felt a little heavy with the thought. Sometimes, she
“Coffee?” alok ni Jasmine kay Charlie na noon ay sapo-sapo pa rin ang nananakit na ulo. Last night she had one too many drinks while pouring her heart out to Jasmine. The brandy did its magic last night—make her talk and knock her off to sleep. ‘Yon nga lang, hindi siya sa bahay niya nakatulog. Natulog siya sa bahay nina Jasmine at Gray dahil sa sobrang kalasingan. “Thank you,” paos ang tinig na sabi niya matapos salinan ni Jasmine ng kape ang mug na nakasilbi sa harap niya. She took a sip of the hot beverage, wishing that it will take away all the effects of her stupidity last night. It was ten minutes past nine in the morning but she’s still there, in someone else’s home looking like a shit. Ngayon siya nagsisisisi kung bakit uminom-inom pa siya kagabi. Napakarami niyang dapat gawin sa opisina. Idagdag pa ang muli niya sanang pakikipag-usap kay Mr. Jones. Heck! It’s not even yet the weekend but she got wasted! What was she thinking? She silently cursed herself. What’s happening
The woman has been silent for a while now. Her beautiful caramel eyes staring at him were filled with confusion and fear. Gael smiled secretly. Good, he thought. She should really be afraid of me.This woman whom they say was his wife looks a little more matured now compared to the pictures compiled by his men. She still looked beautiful though, an air of effortless sophistication follows her-- a real billionaire brat. She looked so innocent then, breathtaking. No wonder he was smitten. Stupidly smitten. He knew now that she was never good for him. And he curse the day that she met her and her family.Nang magising siya sa isang ospital sa Germany limang taon na nakakalipas at ang tanging natatandaan lang ay ang kanyang pangalan at ng kanyang T'yo Berting, nakilala niya ang kanyang tunay na kapamilya, si Aksel Bernstein, ang lolo niya at ang may-ari ng Bernstein Industrial Technologies.His father was the old man's only son. But Aksel never approved of his mother who was from a p
Marahang dinala ni Gael ang baso ng alak sa kanyang bibig. Malalim na ang gabi subalit hindi pa rin siya makatulog o mas tamang sabihin na may gumugulo sa kanyang pagtulog. A woman. A woman's face to be specific. The face of Charlize Sandejas. Ibinaba niya ang baso niya sa bar counter at muling nagsalin ng alak doon. There's something in her that was haunting him-- a heavy feeling he cannot shake off of his chest since she met her accidentally yesterday. Was it her beautiful caramel eyes that mirrored the quick changes in her emotions-- from fear to defiance, from confusion to anger? Was it her wit in their verbal battle? Or was it that something else in her that he still doesn't know of?He scoffed and down the glass of drink in his hand. The woman was really something. But he must not be fazed. Si Charlize ang puno't dulo ng lahat. May kasalanan ito at ang pamilya niya sa kanya. At naroon siya para maningil.Limang taon niyang pinaghandaan ang muling pagkikita nila ng dating asa
Ang biglang pagbuhos ng malakas na liwanag sa kanyang kwarto ang nagpabalikwas kay Charlie mula sa kanyang higaan. The light coming from the windows of her room were blinding she wanted to throw an endless fit."What the hell!" gigil niyang sabi, marahas na itinakip ang mga kamay sa kanyang mga mata. "Yeah, exactly! What the hell, Charlie!" anang pamilyar na boses ng Uncle Joshua niya. She groaned inwardly and squinted her eyes to look at her uncle. Agad siyang napangiwi nang makita ang nakapamaywang na bulto nito sa paanan ng kama niya. He looked serious, ready to explode.Shit!"W-what time is it?" she asked in a hoarse voice, reaching for a pillow and hugging it tight. "Time to get your ass out of bed and go to fckin work!" singhal ng tiyuhin niya.The curse made her wince.Lalong nalukot ang mukha niya, yumuko at isinubsob ang mukha sa unan na yakap niya. Sanay siyang magalit ang Uncle Joshua niya. She had lived with it for the past five years while he trained her as the new CE
Gigil na nagmartsa pabalik ng kotse niya si Charlie. Hindi na niya alintana kung pinagtitinginan siya ng mga tao na nakakakita sa kanya dahil sa malakas na paglagatok ng heels niya sa lobby ng building. She’s so pissed she doesn’t care a bit what other people think. Paano, ni hindi siya hinarap man lang ni Mr. Reyes, ang may-ari ng New Edge Bank. Sinabihan lang siya ng secretary nito na aalis na ang amo nito at bumalik na lang siya sa susunod na linggo dahil may pupuntahan itong private meeting kanina lang lampas alas-kwatro na ng hapon!Inaksaya lang nito ang buong maghapon niya when she’s supposed to be out there, negotiating with other banks that could help them solve their problem!She huffed and walked over to her waiting car. Si Jacob ang nagbukas ng pinto para sa kanya. Habang papasok siya sa sasakyan, narinig niyang tumunog ang cellphone niya. She threw her handbag in the backseat and caught her head between her hands. She doesn’t need to look at her phone to know who was cal
Charlie kept on shifting on her seat. Truth be told, she was anxious. She had been there at the Gold Hotel’s restaurant for almost half an hour now subalit hindi pa rin niya nakikita ni anino ni Mr. Reyes. It was already past seven in the evening. Bakit wala pa ito roon? Nagkamali kaya si Gray? Her stomach churned at the thought. Buong araw na lang bang masasayang ang oras niya dahil kay Mr. Reyes? She heaved a sigh and took the wine glass on her lips. Pagkababa niya sa wine glass, muling lumapit ang waiter sa kanya at nagsalin ng alak sa wine glass. The waiter gave her a smile. He seemed friendly. “Can I ask you a question?” hindi na niya ito napigilang tanungin. Agad na tumango ang waiter. “Do you know where in your private rooms here in the restaurant could Mr. Reyes be?” She gave him a sweet smile and discreetly pushed some thousand bills in his hand. Kumurap ang waiter, pasimpleng sinilip ang laman ng palad nito bago alanganing nagpalinga-linga at bahagyang yumuko. “The meet
Panay ang marahang pagdampi ni Charlie ng cold compress sa ulo niya. She’s now inside Room 324, the room she booked. Doon siya dumiretso kanina habang kinakausap ng management ng hotel sina Mr. and Mrs. De Vera, including Gael, dahil sa gulong nangyari. She had minor cuts on her face and her head still hurts like hell. But aside from that, she was fine. The doctor the hotel management called made sure of that. Well, her ego was a little hurt for what seemed like an initially brilliant plan she had turned out to be not brilliant at all. Muli niyang idinampi ang cold compress sa ulo niya at pinakatitigan ang mukha niya sa salamin. She can’t help but curse under her breath. She cannot go home like that. She looks like shit. Sigurado magtatanong ang mga kasama niya sa bahay—ang mga katulong at lalo na ang mga bodyguards niya. She bit the bottom of her lip and rein in her tears. She can’t help but pity herself. She looks like shit and she still hadn’t talk to Mr. Reyes. She felt like a