CHAPTER 2

Damian's POV

Sa mundong ginagalawan ko, respeto ang puhunan. Hindi pera, hindi koneksyon, respeto. At sa larong ito, ‘yon ang pinakamahirap makuha, pero pinakamadaling mawala.

Power is the language.

And I speak it better than anyone else.

Araw-araw, gano’n na lang ang takbo ng sistema ko. Every meeting is calculated. Every word, weighted. Every silence, meaningful.

Hindi ako lumalapit kung hindi kailangan. Hindi ako nagpapalapit kung hindi kailangan.

Because in my world, proximity is vulnerability. And vulnerability means weakness.

Ang mga tao sa paligid ko, partners, board members, investors. They all wear masks. I can read them even before they open their mouths. But the one thing I never let them read… is me.

Pagdating ko sa opisina, tahimik lang ang paligid. Glass walls. High ceiling. Minimalist interiors. Walang kalat, walang ingay. Lahat organized exactly the way I like it.

I built this empire from the ground up. Walang shortcut, walang tulong.

Habang ‘yung iba pinanganak na may apelyidong binabayaran ng respeto, ako pinaghirapan kong itayo ang sarili kong pangalan—Cruz.

May kakayahan ang pamilya ko ngunit ayokong humihingi nang tulog sa kahit sino... kahit sa pamilya ko.

Lumaki ako sa pamilyang kailangan perpekto ang lahat. Bawa't kibo, bawa't galaw, kailangan mong bantayan. Lahat nang salitang lumalabas sa bibig kailangan pinag-isipan nang maayos.

Every scar, every sleepless night, every betrayal. Lahat ng ‘yon, naging gasolina para makarating ako rito.

Damian Cruz.

The youngest billionaire in the country.

The man everyone either fears or envies.

Habang nakatingin ako sa salamin sa likod ng mesa ko, ramdam ko ‘yung tahimik na paligid. Pero sa likod ng katahimikan, may mga alon din. Hindi ko lang pinapakita.

Tahimik kong binubuksan ang tablet sa harap ko. May mga bagong proposal, partnership offers, mergers. Pare-pareho lang naman lahat, mga taong gustong makisakay sa lakas ng pangalan ko.

Gano’n lagi.

Hanggang sa kumatok si Clara, ang assistant ko.

Soft knock, then her voice. Always careful, always respectful.

“Sir,” sabi niya, bahagyang sumilip sa pinto, “someone called—she’s asking to meet you urgently. Hyacinth Liana Monteverde. From the Monteverde Group.”

For a second, tumigil lahat.

Hindi dahil sa kumpanya.

Kundi sa pangalan.

Hyacinth Liana Monteverde.

Ang pangalang hindi ko kailan man naisip na lalapit sa akin. Hanga ako sa tapang at talino nyang taglay. Ngunit hindi ko kailan man nilapitan o kinausap. Dahil pinangangalagaan ko ang pangalan ko.

And in that single moment, kahit hindi ko gustuhin, nagkusang magsalita ang puso ko.

I looked up slowly, keeping my face unreadable. “Did she say what it’s about?”

“She said it’s important. Personal and corporate,” sagot ni Clara, medyo alanganin. “Should I—”

“Set the meeting,” putol ko. “Today. Three o’clock.”

“Yes, sir,” sagot niya bago dahan-dahang isinara ang pinto.

Pagkasara ng pinto, sandali akong natahimik.

Tahimik na parang may biglang nabasag sa loob ng isang perpektong tahimik na kwarto.

Hyacinth Liana Monteverde.

She shouldn’t even be here. Not after all these years.

Kinakabahan ako ngunit matagal ko na itong hinihintay na pagkakataon. Hindi dapat ako magpadala sa emosyon at kailangan kong panatilihin ang aking pagka misteryoso.

I closed my tablet and leaned back, staring at the skyline outside. The city glowed in rhythm. Slow, steady, obedient.

But her name…

It didn’t belong here. It belonged somewhere else, somewhere softer, quieter. But I guess I should grab this chance.

I know her, She knows me. But we never exchange conversations. The way she used to look at people with that calm curiosity, as if she could see through noise and still choose to understand. She had that quiet strength, the kind that didn’t demand power but radiated it anyway.

And I hated that it stayed with me.

Because I built this life to erase people like her.

The ones who made me feel things that don’t belong in my world.

I exhaled slowly, forcing my focus back.

This is business. That’s all it can ever be.

Three o’clock.

Tahimik ang paligid. Ang liwanag ng araw, dumadaan sa blinds, hinahati ang kwarto sa liwanag at anino.

Sa loob ng office ko, tanging tunog lang ng relo ang naririnig.

Suddenly, door opened, I didn’t look right away.

Pero alam kong siya ‘yon.

May kakaibang presensiya. Hindi maingay, pero ramdam ko yung kaba ko.

She stepped inside, and the air shifted.

“Mr. Cruz,” bati niya, mahina pero buo ang boses.

I looked up.

Hyacinth Liana Monteverde.

Hindi siya nagbago sa paraan ng pagdadala niya sa sarili.

Elegant, calm, pero may halong pagod sa mga mata niya.

May bahagyang panginginig sa kamay habang hawak ang strap ng bag, pero pinipilit niyang itago.

“Ms. Monteverde,” sagot ko, tinutok ang tingin sa kanya. “Please, sit.”

Tahimik siyang umupo, maingat, parang ayaw masira ang balanse ng paligid.

It’s strange, seeing this way. Mukha syang basag, pero hindi nya pinapakita. Pero ramdam ko na may bigat syang dala dala.

She was always poised.

Pero ngayon, may ibang bigat sa mga mata niya. The kind that comes from losing more than what money can replace.

“I assume this isn’t a social visit,” sabi ko, breaking the silence.

She nodded, inhaling deeply before speaking. “Our company is collapsing. Investors are leaving, debts are piling up. My father’s health isn’t good…” Tumigil siya sandali, halatang nilulunok ang emosyon. “I don’t know what else to do.”

Tahimik lang ako.

Sinusuri ko ang bawat galaw, bawat bitaw ng salita, bawat paghinga.

Hindi siya nagsisinungaling. The desperation in her voice is really unfiltered.

There it was, the thing I never thought I’d see in her eyes.

Vulnerability.

“I see,” sabi ko “And you came here because you think I can save you.”

“You’re the only one who can,” she said, without hesitation.

That honesty… that quiet courage.

Still the same Hyacinth Liana I remembered.

“I’m not a charity, Ms. Monteverde,” I said coldly.

“I know,” mabilis niyang sagot. “I’m not asking for pity. I’m asking for a deal.”

At doon ako bahagyang napangiti.

At least she knew how this world worked.

“Then let’s talk about what I want in return.”

Her eyes lifted to mine, careful, curious. “Which is?”

I leaned forward slightly, letting the silence stretch before I said it.

“Marriage.” I said, steady, deliberate. The word hung in the air like a blade suspended between us.

Napakunot ang noo niya. “What?!”

“Legal. On paper. Five years. No emotions, no attachments,” paliwanag ko, malamig ang tono.

Parang natigilan siya. “You can’t be serious.”

“I don’t joke about business,” sagot ko. I never did.

Tahimik. Ilang segundo lang pero ramdam ko ‘yung bigat ng katahimikan sa pagitan namin.

She was searching my face for a hint of mockery, maybe even humanity, pero wala. Hindi ko binibigay ‘yon sa kahit sino.

“Why me?” tanong niya, almost whispering. “Of all people?”

Tinitigan ko siya. Straight, no hesitation.

“Because you want me to save your company.” sagot ko, “and I need control.”

Napailing siya nang bahagya, parang sinusubukang unawain ang logic sa likod ng mga salita ko.

Pero sa mundong ginagalawan ko, logic is never clean. It’s built on strategy, not emotion.

Huminga ako nang malalim. “My mother is arranging a fixed marriage for me, many times” I said plainly. “A deal with another family. I don’t want it. I need a name that can’t be questioned. A woman who can stand beside me without losing herself.”

Nakatingin lang siya. May halong gulat, may halong kaba sa expression nang kanyang mukha

I could see it, how her pride fought against the reality swallowing her.

“So this is your offer?” she said softly. “You’ll save my family… in exchange of me?”

I nodded once. “Yes.”

Tahimik ulit.

Ang mga mata niya, parang may bagyong pilit itinatago. Pero kahit pa paano, may tapang. The kind of strength I respected, even when it was breaking.

Her voice trembled when she spoke again. “And what happens to my life outside this deal?”

I leaned forward, resting my forearms on the desk. “Be specific.”

“My boyfriend,” she whispered.

At doon ako tuluyang natahimik.

Boyfriend.

Of course. Someone like her would never be alone.

Calmly, I leaned back, expression unreadable. “Then break up with him.”

“Excuse me?” she said, half in disbelief.

“You heard me,” I said plainly. “If you want this deal, end that relationship. I don’t do complicated partnerships, Liana.”

She frowned. “That’s not just a business decision,” she snapped. “You’re asking me to throw away someone who’s been with me through everything.”

“You came here to save your company,” I replied, my tone even. “I’m giving you a way out. You can’t keep both.”

Her lips parted, frustrated. “You’re unbelievable.”

“I’m realistic,” sagot ko, malamig pero totoo. “There’s a difference.”

Nakatitig lang siya sa akin, parang tinataya kung hanggang saan ko kayang panindigan ‘yung mga salitang binibitawan ko.

Pero sa likod ng composure ko, may kumikirot na hindi ko maintindihan.

Hindi ko gusto ‘yung tingin niyang ‘yon.

Yung parang nakikita niya pa rin ako, kahit pilit kong itinatago kung sino ako ngayon.

“Why do you even want this arrangement?” tanong niya, halos pabulong, parang gusto niyang marinig kung may natitirang pagkatao sa likod ng bawat plano ko.

I looked at her.

“Because I don’t want love,” sagot ko. “I want order. And I don’t need a stranger pretending to be my wife. I need someone who knows what silence means.”

“Five years?” she asked, her voice softer now.

“Five years,” I confirmed. “After that, we go separate ways. You rebuild, I move on.”

“And if I say no?”

I smirked slightly, “Then your company falls. And your boyfriend won’t save it.”

Umigting ang panga niya. Kita ko kung paano siya pinipigilan na huwag sumigaw, huwag masaktan. Pero sa loob ng bawat segundo, ramdam kong naglalaban ‘yung puso’t isip niya.

“You’re heartless, Mr. Cruz.”

“I’m honest,” sagot ko. “And that’s better than false hope.”

Matagal kaming tahimik.

Ang tanging maririnig lang, ‘yung mahinang tunog ng aircon at tiktak ng orasan.

I watched her struggle. The flicker of hesitation, the collapse of pride, the way her fingers tightened around the strap of her bag.

That’s the thing about power, it isn’t about who speaks louder. It’s about who stays silent longer.

Finally, she exhaled, shoulders dropping slightly. “If I agree… you’ll help us?”

“Yes.”

“And you’ll keep your promise?”

I met her gaze, firm, steady, absolute. “Always. But the first step is yours—end that relationship.”

Tahimik siyang tumango. “Fine. I’ll try.”

That word—try.

It’s dangerous. It means she’s torn, but I’ll take it.

“Good,” I said, leaning back. “I don’t mix emotions with contracts.”

Tumayo siya dahan-dahan, inayos ang bag, at tumingin sa akin. The way her eyes softened, may halong lungkot, pero may dignidad pa rin.

Bago siya tuluyang lumakad papunta sa pinto, tumigil siya.

Tumingin siya sa akin nang diretso, ‘yung tingin na minsan mo lang makikita sa taong alam ang bigat ng desisyon niya.

“You think this deal makes you powerful,” she said softly. “But one day, Mr. Cruz… you’ll realize not everything can be bought.”

Then she walked out.

Tahimik ang opisina. Tahimik din ako.

The sound of her heels faded into nothing.

And for the first time in years, I felt something break the stillness inside me.

Hindi ko alam kung ano ‘yon. Galit ba, guilt, o ‘yung kakaibang kirot na dulot ng isang taong nasasaktan mo dahil sa desperasyon na gusto mong mapasayo.

Pero isa lang ang malinaw.

She walked back into my world thinking she was the one asking for help.

What she doesn’t know…

I’ve been waiting for this chance.

And now that she’s here—

I’m not letting go that easily.