Charlie kept shifting on her seat. Bakit hindi? Aside from the fact that she's tensing because of Gael's presence smothering her still despite him eating silently beside her, it was the first time in weeks that another person, aside from her bodyguards and Gray and Jasmine, learned about Gael's return. Well, they're not romantically involved anymore but still... Gael wronged her. Her family will go after him now that he's back. Lalo na kapag nalaman ng mga ito na ito ang nasa likod sa tangkang pagpapabagsak sa SSL. Her family will retaliate, she's sure of that. That's why she's been keeping the truth about Gael's return. Gusto na niya sanang umiwas sa gulo. But Eric Samaniego is a family friend. He has worked closely with her family before and is still close with her parents even now that he has retired from intelligence work. She's sure one of these days he will talk to them and then... there will be more chaos again. She will be forced to answer the endless questions inside her
"Thank you for the dinner, Gray and Jasmsine. It was nice talking with you too, Sir Eric," ani Gael bago bumaling kay Charlie. His eyes bore instantly on her and she cannot look away. Aside from the natural pull his gray eyes had on her, her mind was preoccupied. Iniisip niya ang sinabi ni Jasmine sa kanya that Sir Eric is theorizing that someone might have deliberately fed Gael false information to make him hate her and put her family in a bad light. Kung totoo man 'yon, sino naman? Did their enemies try to use Gael against them? Her father have gained several business rivals in the past. But they were just healthy competitors, trying to do their business. Hindi rin niya maisip na pakana na naman iyon ng mga Mondragon. They don't play that way. They attack head-on. So, who?"Hindi ka pa sasabay? I can drive you home if you'd like," pukaw ni Gael sa kanya maya-maya. Kumurap siya mabilis na hinamig ang sarili. "Thanks for the offer but I-I'm good. I have my bodyguards with me," ani
"Charlie, are you even listening?" anang Grandma Liza ni Charlie sa kanya. Mabilis siyang nag-angat ng tingin sa kanyang lola na noon ay kasama niyang nag-aagahan sa family house nila sa Tagaytay. That's where she spent her weekend. She wanted to be away from the city for a while. Away from all her cares. Away from Gael. It was a beautiful Sunday morning. But she doesn't feel beautiful at all. She looks like shit and still feels conflicted. Why wouldn't she? She just learned that her stupid heart still loves Gael. How could she do that? How could her stupid heart do that? Hindi man lang ba siya nadala? Gael is her family's enemy now. Were his threats not enough to make her unlove him? How can she fall for him again-- the man who abandoned her for money? The cause of all her heartaches?She released a slow breath and collected her thoughts. "Sorry, Grandma. I was thinking about... What's your question again?" aniya.Her Grandma studied her face for a while and reached for her han
Puno ng kaba ang dibdib ni Charlie habang pinagmamasdan niya ang floor counter ng elevator. She was on her way to Gael's penthouse. Doon nila napagkasunduang magkita ngayong gabi para sa pag-uusapan nila. She wouldn't want to risk seeing him again outside, not with what she's about to do. Hindi rin naman ito pwedeng pumunta sa bahay nila or kaya sa penthouse nila sa SSL. There wil be prying eyes all over them-- eyes of people who are loyal to her family. She also drove there alone. She wants tonight's business be as private as possible.Bumaba ang tingin niya sa envelope na hawak niya. Humigpit ng hawak niya roon. She doesn't know how Gael will react on it but she knew now what must be done.And that is her doing the right thing for her and her son. Nang bumukas ang pinto ng lift, she was met by a small hallway that would lead her to the penthouse 's door. She took a deep breath and stepped out of the lift.It's now or never, she thought. Tahimik niyang binagtas ang hallway hang
Gael was staring blankly at the document in front of him. He had been staring at it for the last hour and yet he doesn’t seem to comprehend any single word written on it. The past three days had been the same. Pumapasok siya sa Crown Bank subalit lumilipad ang isip niya. He cannot think straight nor function well when his mind was preoccupied by Charlize. His thoughts are always for her, most from the night he insulted her. He knew he shouldn’t have said what he said. But he was angry when he served him their divorce papers. Kung bakit, hindi niya alam. Sa totoo lang, marami na siyang hindi alam at hindi maintidihan pagdating sa sitwasyon nila ni Charlize. For the past five years of his life he lived and breathed with only one thing in his mind, ang pabagsakin ang mga Sandejas dahil sa kasalanan ng mga ito sa kanya. He still wanted that. His mind was still set on bringing justice to what happened to his T’yo Berting—to him. But his heart, his damn heart doesn’t seem to agree wit
"Are the documents I've asked you to prepare now ready?" tanong ni Gael kay Hugo. Magkapanabay silang naglalakad ng assistant patungo sa opisina niya sa Crown Bank. "Yes, Sir. It's already in your office," mabilis na sagot nito. "Good. What about that thing that I've asked you to do?" aniya alanganin. Alanganing umiling si Hugo. "She said she won't see you anymore, Sir. And that's final," anito sa mababang tinig. A slight shot of disappointment rose from his chest. He'd been meaning to talk to Charlize for days now, subalit ayaw na talaga siya nitong kausapin. Kaya naman si Hugo na ang inutusan niyang gumawa ng paran para sa kanya. But even that, failed.He knew she has every right to be angry at him-- he's a damn confused jerk who cannot control his emotions when it comes to her. But... he really needs to talk to her, even for one final time. Nagpasya na siya, sa itinakbo ng mga pangyayari sa nakalipas na ilang araw matapos niya itong insultuhin nang huli silang magkita, alam na
"To what reason do I owe you this visit for, Ms. Schulz?" seryosong tanong ni Charlie sa babaeng kaharap niya.The woman was wearing a black tailored dress that perfectly hugs every curve of her body. Her blonde hair was shorter than from the picture Gray had sent her when she had Gael investigated earlier. The woman stands statuesque in front of her in the middle of her office, looking at her with controlled fury in her eyes.This is the woman Gael loved, she reminded herself. The woman whom he'd get to spend the rest of his life with. The woman who will take her place in Gael's life.A wave of hurt rose from her chest. After all these years... after everything... in the end, she will still lose Gael. The woman smirked. She remained unfazed though and maintained her eye contact. "I don't have all day," seryosong pukaw niya sa babae na sigurado siyang minamata siya nang palihim kaya kanina pa ito tahimik.The woman forced a smile. " You know my name. I'm sure you know by now who a
Charlie nervously walked over at the makeshift stage where all the new members of the business circle will be inducted... by her. Out of all people, siya pa talaga ang napili nilang tawagin para mag-induct sa mga bagong members ng grupo! When will fate stop making her a joke? There are more well-deserved people in the crowd to do that. Why does it has to be her?! She took in a sharp breath and collected herself. Tapos na, natawag na siya. She has to do what she needs to do. Get this done and over with then you can get the hell of here, she convinced herself. Uncle Nate, the son of Mrs. Cobarrubias, took her hand and helped her climbed up the makeshift stage. Once there, she quickly get done with the task nang hindi siya tumitingin sa mga bagong miyembro ng grupo. Kaya lang nang magsimulang kamayan ng mga officers ang mga new members, she was forced to do it too. That’s when she saw Gael. He was wearing a blue suit that perfectly accentuates his well-built frame. He wore his d