Chapter 1

I am Samantha Perez. 

I have big dreams for my parents. I want to be rich, so I applied and started working at a casino in Makati. That’s where I met the man who would steal my heart—and eventually break it. His name is Gabriel Bustamante, son of a wealthy billionaire. Handsome, strong, and a bit of a bad boy—he loved casinos. I’ve always been picky with men and never allowed myself to be fooled… but somehow, he was the only one I ever fell for.

This is where my story begins.

“Samantha, the boss is looking for you,” one of my co-workers called out.

“Erika, just tell him I’ll be there later. I’m finishing something,” I replied.

“Hey, did you know the boss has someone with him—and he’s handsome,” Erika teased. 

But I wasn’t interested.

“Ugh, come on. I’m used to seeing faces like that every day,” I answered, unfazed.

Then suddenly, my boss walked in, and with him was a tall, handsome, and well-built man. I froze. I couldn’t stop staring at him as I cleaned the glass in my hand.

“Samantha, this is Gabriel. He’s the son of the casino owner's friend.”

“Hi, Samantha!” Gabriel greeted with a wink.

It took me a while to respond.

“Hey! He said Samantha!” Erika nudged me.

“Ah—hello…” I finally said. Then he took my hand and kissed it. I quickly pulled it back, my cheeks turning red from what he just did.

“By the way, Miss Beautiful, my name is Gabriel,” he said charmingly.

I pretended not to care.

“You heard that? Gabriel,” Erika whispered.

“Yeah, I heard him earlier. The boss’s friend,” I muttered.

“Oh, Samantha, take care of Gabriel later and give him a beer,” the boss instructed before leaving.

“Yes, Sir...” I replied. Erika couldn’t help teasing me.

“So busy, huh? LOL! Not too busy for someone handsome!”

“Be quiet, Erika! Someone might hear you—it’s embarrassing. Okay, fine, he is handsome. I just thought he’d be like the other guests we have here. Their faces get boring after a while.”

Meanwhile, Gabriel and his uncle were having a conversation while being given a tour of the casino.

“Tito, I like Samantha,” Gabriel said.

“I knew you’d say that. A lot of guys like her, but she’s picky. And it seems like she might like you too. But Samantha’s not like the other women here—she has big dreams for her family and doesn’t easily fall for men. She’s tough. One time, a guy tried to take her out—she beat him up,” his uncle shared.

“Really, Tito? Maybe I want to get beaten up too!” he joked.

“Are you planning to court her?” his uncle asked.

“Not yet, Tito. It’s too soon,” Gabriel said with a grin, and they both laughed.

“You haven’t changed—you’re still the same troublemaker Gabriel I know,” his uncle said.

“Looks like I’ll be coming here more often. Maybe I’m the one she’s waiting for,” Gabriel said.

“You’re still such a womanizer,” his uncle teased.

“Just a little. I’ve changed… a bit,” Gabriel laughed.

“Son, I have to go now. Just enjoy and play around here as much as you want. Samantha finishes her shift around ten. Sometimes she stays late if it’s busy. Alright, I’m off,” his uncle said as he left.

“Ah, sir… here’s your beer,” I called out to Gabriel while he was playing.

“Samantha, why’d you leave? You just wanted to come closer to me, didn’t you?” he teased playfully.

I smiled a little. 

“Excuse me! I only came here because your beer was getting warm. I’m a cashier, and since it was taking you too long to show up, I brought it here,” I explained.

“You don’t need to explain, Samantha.” He smiled again.

“Why are you smiling like that?” I asked as he took a sip of beer.

“Nothing. It’s just… you’re beautiful. Being grumpy doesn’t suit you.” 

I raised an eyebrow and walked away.

“I feel something strange… something different…” I muttered to myself.

“Shhh! Be quiet, Erika. He might hear you and think I like him!”

“Well… don’t you?” she asked.

“No! I’m not that easy. Just because he’s rich, handsome, and everything I’d want in a guy, doesn’t mean I’ll just fall for him. No way!”

“You’re such a good girl,” Erika smiled.

“Let’s clean up so we can finish early and go home,” I told our coworkers.

“No one’s coming home with you, right?” Erika teased again.

Right on time, it was ten o’clock and Erika had finished her shift. Gabriel, who had noticed I was getting ready to leave, went out and waited for me in his car. When he saw me walking out of the casino, he called out to me.

“Samantha! Samantha!”

As I walked, I heard someone calling my name. I looked around.

“Samantha! I’m here!” Gabriel waved from his car.

“If you think just because you have a car I’ll go with you, you’re wrong!”

“I just want to take you home. It’s late and there’s no one around—it’s dangerous,” he said.

“I’ll just walk and wait for a ride,” I replied.

As I walked, Gabriel suddenly got out of the car and followed me. Then he suddenly picked me up and carried me into his car.

“Is this a kidnapping?!” I shouted.

“How could I kidnap you? Do you even have money?” he laughed.

“Maybe you’re a rapist!”

“Do I look like a rapist? I just want to give you a ride, Samantha. Don’t flatter yourself.” 

He seemed a little annoyed.

“Fine. Just take me to Quirino.”

“You’re kidding. That’s just around the corner!” he laughed, realizing how close it was.

“Do you rent there?” he asked.

“Yes. We’re actually from Cebu.”

“That’s far. Alright, we’re here.” 

He didn’t even open the door for me.

“You went through all that trouble to drive me… should’ve just let me walk.”

“See you tomorrow night, Samantha.” 

I got out without replying.

But when I lay in bed, there was a strange giddiness inside me. I kept imagining his face, his body… even the scent of his cologne that had rubbed off on my clothes.

“I wonder if I’ll see Gabriel again tomorrow…” I whispered to myself, before finally drifting off to sleep.