I held his gaze for a long while, and that was enough to tell him I needed more explanation. But before he opened his mouth to speak, the door creaked open, revealing the waiter with a tray in his hand.
Mr. Mori gestured for him to come over, and he stepped inside, placing our food on the table.
“Let me do it,” Mr. Mori said, dismissing him with a hand wave. And the waiter hurried out, closing the door gently.
Mr. Mori placed a platter of dried beef tapa, poached eggs, and some fruits and veggies in front of me. Next, he carefully slid the cup of steaming coffee beside the plate.
“Let’s discuss over breakfast,” he said, handing me sachets of brown sugar. “I’m not sure if you like this, but I like caffe lattes.”
“No problem with me.” I took the sachets from his hand, tore a pack open, and mixed its contents in my steaming cup. The heart design of the latte art instantly dissolved into the c
There must be a deep reason why he wanted to topple the CEO of Kim Yuan’s Microelectronics. From what I’ve heard, it was a huge company with several branches across Asia. I knew it because the company where I was working ordered products from them. I cast a discreet glance at Mr. Mori. Then, when I saw that he was finishing up the food on his plate, I took my free time to look up on G****e the name of the CEO of Kim Yuan’s Microelectronics. And my mouth hung open as I saw his name on my phone screen. Kim Mori. This couldn’t be a coincidence. I glanced at the man in front of me, and I saw some features about him similar to Kim Yuan’s CEO. “A relative?” I asked. I was never good at holding back my mouth. “Cousins.” “Oh, why do you have to compete with a relative instead of helping each other?” “He screwed me up. And as I said, I am already walking on a thin thread until it breaks.” He smirked, looking
My hands trembled as soon as my eyes reached the bottom of the page. My secretary took the tab from my hand, perhaps afraid I would drop it on the floor. Every mysterious word James told me before was all coming back, worsening the tumult I felt inside."This is a huge investment, James. Are you serious about your offer?" I recalled him asking this. I couldn't believe he would drop a business to a stranger easily, knowing he had given it a huge chunk of his time."Of course!" he answered seriously, making me frown in disbelief. "In the name of friendshipI had with your dad, and also because that wealth doesn't matter anymore."I then understood what he meant because, like dad, all the energy he spent on his businesses dissolved like bubbles as the government confiscated or closed them. And my dad was a businessman all his life, only that he linked himself with people who enjoyed doing things that were against the law.I even couldn
I took the earliest flight to Japan after the talk I had with the private investigator Menchie had hired. Even before his investigation started, he already knew so many things about him. That was enough to raise my hope of seeing James again. All I wanted to do was talk to him, know his current situation, and how I could be of any help. Unfortunately, I couldn't go to his family since they didn't know about me. I could neither meet any of his friends since he kept me away from them. In short, we lived in a different world that only the two of us enjoyed. Whoever he was in real life, I was sure he was the complete opposite whenever he was with me. I saw a kind and romantic person in him, loving me despite the short time we knew each other. I was happy with him despite not seeing him often. And that was the first time in my life that I didn't feel lonely after dad had passed away. I went down to the hotel lounge three hours after I checked into the Imperial Hotel. I was in awe of the
While sitting down on my couch facing the outside view from my suite, I decided to fly to the Philippines. According to Mr. Banzon, Mr. Kim Mori spent most of his time in the country because his wife's heart was in Cebu. It was perhaps because of the trauma she got in Japan that Mr. Kim Mori agreed with her. Taking her back after her traumatic incident only proved his genuine love for her. How I wish everyone could find his fulfillment in love just like these two, no matter how long the journey would be. Mr. Banzon told me that Mr. Kim Mori even made Kim Yuan's Microelectronics - Cebu Branch his base, taking all his best designers and tech geniuses with him. It was so heartwarming to know that he did it all for a woman. Booking an early flight that night, I arrived at Mactan International Airport before the crimson hues of daylight made streaks across the night sky. I didn't book a room in a hotel ahead of time, thinking that getting a room was never a problem in Cebu. I proceeded
ZED'S POV My three-year run away to other countries got wasted after a wild moment with Yen. If I already had enough trouble getting her off my mind before, that multiplied after I gave in to my intense yearning for her. Yet, I know I must stop before everything gets out of hand. A knock on the door jolts me out of my thoughts. I look up, thinking it's just the staff banging his vacuum cleaner on the door. But another louder round follows. I draw out a deep breath and then exhale before I force myself out of the chair. Walking to the door, I open it wide. And to my surprise, Ella's face greets my eyes. Then, perhaps noticing my expression, she smiles and says, "I told you I'd be back for dinner." "You have money. Is there a problem?" I frown. She shouldn't have come back for unimportant matters. "Yes, but-" Ella stops, her face turning pale. "But?" "I just want to have dinner with you, if you don't mind." I sigh, running my fingers through my hair. I'm sure she's not too stupi
I smile at Yen and Kim as if they aren't the ones who break my heart. Seeing them happy together reminds me of how miserable I have been since three years ago. However, I don't want them to see how wretched I am because pride is the only shield I have in this battle. I don't need their pity — it's eating up my self-worth. "Come on, Zed! We have lots of things to catch up on," Ara exclaimed, her beautiful eyes as big as the round LED light above us. I shake my head, annoyed at how spineless Ara seems. As Yen's best friend, she's a witness to all of our emotional struggles, but now she's acting like she has forgotten them all. I even ran away — she knows that — because it's just impossible to heal and move on while they are around the corner. Kim used to be our neighbor, so when Yen moved in with him, I almost went crazy. It's because I knew that in that other house, Yen was there in another's arms. "Dear, do you mind if we join them?" I tell Ella, pulling the edge of her shoulder c
Yen's POV "I'm only offering this if Zed and you are in the marrying stage." My eyes pop wide for a second. I don't understand why Kim brings this marriage thing up. I am already so sick of putting up a fake façade before these two men, and yet he worsens the situation. Just a few hours ago, I had been a whore and one hell of an idiot. I could have run away the moment I realized Zed was not himself. He never forced on me before, but his changed behavior towards sex made me curious. Despite the lust burning in his eyes as he devoured me, I saw desire. Desire to make me his again. But I realized that was all a presumption. Zed has already moved on and is now in love with Ella. I don't understand myself. I know I should be happy for Zed because I am happy with Kim. Yet, the way Zed laughs and smiles at Ella reminds me of how he treated me like a fragile princess before. He makes me feel so special. And that is something Kim can never do, although he loves me in his own way. "Are we,
"Congratulations!" I tell Ella as I stand beside her at the sink. My wish to be alone for some moments got denied when she followed me to the bathroom. She smiles, but her brows raise as she looks at me. "On having a baby." She throws me a quick and confused stare. My brows also pull together, wondering what is in her mind. "Oh, that. Thank you. I thought you meant Zed and me,” she says, tilting her head into a radiant smile. She speaks with such elegance and gracefulness that I feel inferior to her. Oh, heavens! She's confirming it. They're pregnant! “That one also. I was worrying for him back then. I was kind of guilty,” I pause, trying to find the right words. I'm sure Zed has confessed everything about us. “But some things just happened beyond our control. So, seeing that he’s happy now makes me breathe freely again.” “We all fail in life,” she says, holding my gaze; her interlaced hands suspend under the faucet, “but what’s more important is we move on.” “Right,” I smile,