Share
14. Not a chance.
Surprisingly, Miguel didn't confront Lara the next morning. Maaga raw itong umalis sabi ni Uncle George.
Lihim na nagpasalamat si Lara. Wala kasi siyang dahilang naisip kung bakit late siyang umuwi nang nagdaang gabi.Hiling na lang niya na sana ay hindi naman sa opisina siya nito sermonan.Pagkatapos mag-almusal ay pumasok na rin siya sa trabaho. Mabuti rin na hindi na gaanong namamaga ang mga mata niya. Mukha na lang siyang puyat at hindi dahil nag-iiyak siya kagabi."Lara, ipasok mo 'to sa boardroom," utos sa kanya ni Ashley na bahagya pang nanginginig na iniabot sa kanya ang isang folder.Napaangat siya ng tingin mula sa ginagawang report."Dalian mo," sabi pa nito.She sighed and accepted the folder. Nakasalubong pa niya si Leonie na yuko ang ulo pagkalabas sa boardroom kung saan ongoing ang executive staff briefing bago ang quarterly Board meeting mamaya.Dahil sa hitsura nina Leonie at Ashley, parang
Kaugnay na kabanata
The Billionaire's Kryptonite 15. Hearing problems.
It was Saturday. Lara's loneliness brought her to Lena's grave once again. Gaya ng dati, sumalampak lang siya sa harapan ng puntod habang kinakausap ang namayapang kapatid. "Hindi ko alam na kapag nagkita pala kami, aaraw-arawin niya akong pagagalitan. Am I a bad girl, ate? Did I fail to make him proud of me kaya ganito siya sa akin?" Tinuyo niya ang luhang nakatakas mula sa pagpipigil niya."Hindi ako iyakin, ate. Alam mo 'yan, 'di ba? Kahit hindi naman ako naalagaan ni Mama, it was fine as long as you're beside me. I miss you…" At gaya pa rin ng dati, hindi na naman niya namalayan ang oras. Nakatulala na lang siya roon dahil ubos na rin naman ang mga sumbong niya sa ate niya. Kaya naman nagulat siya nang maramdamang may kasama na siya sa loob ng mausoleum. It was Migo. Katatanggal lang nito ng sunglasses nito nang malingunan niya. At tila ba first time niyang nakakita ng gwapong nilalang, saglit pa siyang na
The Billionaire's Kryptonite 16. Birthday gift.
Migo was apologizing? Katapusan na ba ng mundo? Hindi makapaniwala si Lara. Napatingin talaga siya sa kasama na nasa daan na ulit ang atensyon. "What? Cat got your tongue?" tanong nitong panaka-naka siyang sinusulyapan. "I'm not sure if I heard you right," sagot niya na nasa mukha talaga ang hindi pagkapaniwala kay Miguel."I think I really need to tell Rosette to schedule you a visit to your ENT doctor." Napapailing pero natatawang wika nito. "I'm not deaf, Migo," pagtatanggol niya sa sarili. "Hindi lang ako sigurado. This is not you, aren't you always mad at me? Bakit ka nagso-sorry?" "What do you remember of me when you were young, Lara?" With that question, Lara's mind automatically wandered to sixteen years ago. "Hindi ako galit sa 'yo," patuloy nito nang 'di siya sumagot. "Hindi kita aalagaan nang mahabang panahon kung galit ako." She let him talk habang nasa nakaraan ang utak niya. Rememb
The Billionaire's Kryptonite 17. More gifts.
"Galing kay Migo ang lahat ng 'yan?" Hindi makapaniwala si Lara. It was already her birthday. Maagang dumating sa mansyon ang ilang delivery vans na naglalaman ng iba't ibang mga supplies para sa orphanage na pupuntahan niya mamaya. Siya ang nalula. Kasi marami na rin siyang pinamili nang nagdaang araw. Pero at the same time, she felt happier and more excited. Natitiyak niyang malaking tulong iyon sa orphanage na hindi naman ganoon karami ang benefactors. "Regalo raw sa 'yo ng asawa mo," nakangiting turan ni Auntie Rosette na kagaya niya ay abala dahil paalis na sila para naman sa pamamahagi nila ng cookies sa mga bata sa lansangan. This time, dinagdagan niya rin iyon ng packed meal mula sa isang sikat na fast food chain. Since Migo told her not to be frugal, she spent a huge portion of her savings for her birthday celebration this year. Nag-pack na rin sila ng groceries para sa mga less fortunates. "Wow! 'Andami!" aniyang
The Billionaire's Kryptonite 18. Wedding anniversary.
Nakapagbihis na si Lara. Habang nakatingin siya sa salamin ay hindi siya makapaniwala sa babaeng tumitig sa kanya pabalik. She had never worn anything fancy before. Kahit naman kasi lumaki siya sa guardianship ng bilyonaryo, she kept a low key life. Naroon kasi parati ang paniniwala niya na walang kan'ya sa lahat ng mayroon siya. Everything was Miguel's. Ngayon, pumayag siyang magbihis dahil unang-una, Migo said so. For a while, she returned to the old Lara who wanted to please him. Ayaw niya itong i-disappoint. Not tonight."I really look like you, ate," aniya nang matagalan ng nakatitig sa salamin. Hindi naman sa ayaw niya. On another occasion, she would be ecstatic to have grown resembling the sister she adored so much. Kaso, her face would keep reminding Migo of Lena. Hindi rin naman sa ayaw niya. She just thought she would not have her own identity in the eyes of Migo. Lara heaved a sigh. Sa halip na hayaang ilugay ang buhok niya na siyang laging ayos ni Lena noon, inipon n
The Billionaire's Kryptonite 19. Beautiful lady.
Lara thought that after that night, mas magiging maayos sila ni Miguel. Pero ganoon pa rin. Formal ito sa kanya sa opisina. Para ngang mas pumormal pa.Hindi naman sa nagkaroon sila ulit ng pagkakataong makapag-usap, marami kasi silang trabaho nang sumunod na Lunes. Kahit siya ay hindi magkandatuto sa ginagawa. Pero ang dalawa niyang kasama, may panahon pang magflirt sa bagong dating na assistant ni Miguel. Lara remembered him to be Jaxen Gordon, ang lalaking dumating noon sa kasal nila ni Migo. He came from the US where he attended a two-week business summit on Migo's behalf. Kaya wala ito nang malipat si Lara sa pagiging secretary ni Migo. When he saw her kanina, hindi naman ito nagulat. But he politely smiled at her. Malamang alam nito ang bawat desisyon ng amo nito, her promotion included. Nang magkaroon sila ng pagkakataong saglit na makapag-usap na wala sina Leonie at Ashley, he addressed her as Mrs. Villareal. "Lara will be fine, Mr. Gordon," sabi niya."I cannot call my w
The Billionaire's Kryptonite 20. Sleep over.
"It's the company's anniversary this Friday, are you coming? What am I talking about, of course, you must come." Dinaanan niya lang si Jaxen pero nakadalawang pangungusap agad ito. She had just walked Wendy and Migo to the elevator. Ang babaeng magaling kasi ay inutusan siyang bitbitin ang bag nito habang naka-abrisete ito sa braso ni Miguel. Muntik na nga niyang ihampas iyon kay Wendy kung 'di siya nakapagpigil. Besides, Migo's eyes told her not to do anything stupid. "Hindi ka ba kasama sa "business party" na pupuntahan nila?" she asked him. Alam naman niya kung bakit kinakausap siya ng assistant ni Miguel.He was trying to pull her thoughts away from the couple who just left the office together. "Nah. But I'm following later. Mr. Villareal needs me to bring his gift to the host." "Bakit hindi pa dinala ngayon?""Para mabantayan ko sila?""No," she denied his guess. "I just thought it's fuel efficient." "Fuel efficient?" pumalatak ito. Malakas ang loob nitong buskahin siya d
The Billionaire's Kryptonite 21. Touched.
"You didn't come home last night." Lara read Migo's email message for her. She reviewed the time stamp and figured that he sent it first thing in the morning. Sa personal email niya syempre. He wouldn't dare use her company email. That would be too risky for their little secret.Hindi siya sumagot. Siguradong isa kina Auntie Rosette at Uncle George ang nagparating kay Miguel. She can't blame them. They're obliged to tell him her whereabouts. Lalo kung naghanap ito. Wait, hinanap kaya siya nito?Mabuti pala at hindi na niya binago ang unang paalam niya na kay Tasya matutulog. "Let's talk when I'm back."The way he was sending email messages, akala mo nagcha-chat lang. Hindi pa rin niya ito pinansin at nagconcentrate lang siya sa trabaho niya. Akala ba nito interesado siyang makipag-usap?Ha! Bahala ito sa buhay nito. "Lara, may attire ka na ba para sa anniversary?" tanong ni Ashley sa kanya, trying hard magtunog curious at hindi kumukuha ng maitsitsismis.She shook her head. Bukas
The Billionaire's Kryptonite 22. That promise.
The party had already begun. But according to his assistant, his wife hadn't arrived yet."Didn't she say she would attend the party?" Migo asked his assistant beside him. Hindi pa siya bumababa sa ballroom ng five star hotel kung saan nila dinaraos ang founding anniversary ng kumpanya. But he was joining them in a little while. "Yes, Sir. Do you want me to call her?" Jaxen answered. "Find out where she's at." Tinalikuran niya ito at dinampot ang black-silver venetian half mask niya at isinuot iyon. His upper face was completely hidden save for his eyes. While opting for a full face mask would have done the job to hide his face better, the half mask wasn't a bad choice either. Kung hindi naman siya kilala, hindi na rin siya makikilala. There's no deeper reason to his choice of anonymity. Or rather, to his decision of keeping a low key profile. He just wanted a private life. A life away from people who would do everything to destroy him. Just like what happened seventeen years a
Pinakabagong kabanata
- The Billionaire's Kryptonite FINALE
- The Billionaire's Kryptonite 85. Fated.
- The Billionaire's Kryptonite 84. A good reason.
- The Billionaire's Kryptonite 83. Finally.
- The Billionaire's Kryptonite 82. Taste of hell.
- The Billionaire's Kryptonite 81. In a flash.
- The Billionaire's Kryptonite 80. Warning.
- The Billionaire's Kryptonite 79. Fooled.
- The Billionaire's Kryptonite 78. Slipped up.
