05

05

Flashbulbs exploded like blinding strobes against the night sky as a fleet of sleek, multi-million-dollar hypercars pulled up to the grand entrance of the FitStar gala, where crystal chandeliers cast a golden halo over the crimson-carpeted steps. Wealth, power, and high couture collided in a breathtaking spectacle of velvet ropes, glittering jewels, and whispered corporate secrets. Every high-society figure, industry tycoon, and silver-screen icon stepped out under the ravenous gazes of paparazzi, each vying to own the spotlight in the year's most extravagant gathering of elite powerhouses.

In this playground of titans, every entrance was a grand statement, and every smile masked a high-stakes deal waiting to happen.

“Please be good with our guests in meeting them later, Rylle,” paalala sa 'kin ni Dad. Masyado siyang nag-aalala sa wala, as if namang manggugulo ako sa ganito ka-importanteng gabi.

“Be at ease, Dad. I'm not a slow-witted woman just how your two sons are,” malamig at walang-atubili kong pabalang na sambit.

Galit na tinapped ni Daddy 'yong tungkod niya sa marbol na sahig, forming a sharp crack that echoed over the background hum of the crowd. Sabay nagsalita, “You still don't have respect for your older brothers!”

Umirap ako, adjusting the lace strap on my shoulder. “As if they deserve it,” sarkastiko kong sabi. Then forced a smile for a stolen photo.

Napabuga na lang ng hangin si Dad kasi alam namin parehong hindi ako marunong umurong sa sagutan. He knows me well, kaya siya na lang ang tumigil sa pagsasalita at pilit na kinalma ang sarili.

“After the meeting, we'll be meeting Mr. Monti.”

Kaagad akong napatingin kay Dad sa sinambit nito my heart dropping into an uncomfortable rhythm. Sinasabi ko na nga ba! May kinalaman talaga rito ang pagkikita namin ng lokong iyon!

“I'll head out early, I have a board meeting to attend to,” reklamo ko, trying to keep the edge of panic out of my voice.

Not now, Dad. 'Wag muna ngayon, please? Wala pa akong ganang kausapin at kaharapin siya, lalo na't may ginawa na naman siyang kasalanan sa 'kin kanina!

“Arghhh!”

I lightly slapped my cheeks to wake myself up, desperately trying to erase the ghost of Caden's lips and the hot memory of his touch from earlier today. My mind was reeling, but Dad's worried, searching face was the first thing I saw when I tried to shake the sensation off.

“Are you fine, Rylle? Mukhang may bumabagabag yata sa 'yo,” tanong nito sa 'kin, his eyes narrowing in suspicion.

I just shook my head, keeping a tight, porcelain smile on my face. Kasi paano ko naman sasabihin sa kanya na kay Caden ako ngayon nagtatrabaho as an undercover spy? Hindi lang siya makakatulong sa 'kin.

And for Pete's sake, Sarena! Stop thinking about it!

Si Dad ang kasama kong maglakad papasok ng social hall. Marami-rami ring paparazzi at journalists, even reporters who took pictures for both of us, kaya mas naging malaki ang ngiti ko. I was confident. Mabuti na lang at may twist ang party! It was a masquerade theme, kaya nagagalak akong i-partner sa suot kong red gown ang isang red half-laced mask. It totally complimented my gown, kaya sigurado akong napapa-head turn ang lahat ng nadadaanan namin ni Dad na tables.

Inakay ako ni Dad sa isang guest table, and exact three personas were there. I must say na may mga edad na ang mga ito.

“Guten Abend, Herr Viennio Astio Pittiorei. Es ist mir eine Freude, Sie kennenzulernen,” I greeted formally.

Nakipag-shake hand naman ito saka bumati rin kay Dad, “Guten Abend, Fräulein Montero. Die Freude ist ganz meinerseits.”

Sumunod na nagpakilala rin 'yong dalawa, at wala akong masyadong narinig kasi may pumukaw sa atensyon ko kaagad. And it was the man on the other table! Nakasuot din ito ng mask na black with a touch of silver, paired with his limited tailored black three-piece suit. Hapit ang hubog ng katawan nito kaya masasabi mong may maipagmamalaki ito sa loob. Shit—! What are you looking at, Sarena! Focus!

Marahas kong inalis ang tingin sa lalaki, lalo na nang mahuli ako nitong nakatingin sa kanya. And he only give me, a sly smirked! Dammit!

I diverted my attention at hinarap ko 'yong mga soon-to-be business partners ni Dad at nakipag-usap in a foreign language habang si Dad ay natutuwa lang na nakikinig sa 'kin na nakikipag-salestalk.

When the deals were finally wrapping up, hinayaan ko na si Dad na mag-take charge at in-excuse ang sariling kukuha lang ng wine.

“Entschuldigen Sie mich bitte, ich hole mir nur etwas Wein,” polite kong paalam.

Tumango lang silang apat sa 'kin, kaya nakangiti akong umalis at naglakad malayo sa table namin.

Kaya na iyon ni Dad! Kaya aalis na ako.

“Hi?” Isang lalaking naka-white tux ang bigla-bigla na lang humarang sa 'kin. He was wearing a white mask and smiling at me as he offered a wine glass. “Drinks?”

“No, thank you,” buong galang kong sabi. Halata namang wala itong interes makipag-usap lang nang basta tungkol sa business kasi sa tingin pa lang nito sa 'kin, halatang iba ang hanap nito. At wala akong planong sabayan siya!

Sinubukan kong lampasan siya, kaso 'yong gago, naghahanap yata ng sakit sa betlog at pinigilan ako gamit ang braso ko.

“Opps? Sorry, I didn't mean to touch you, but if you'd care to tell me your name, I might consider letting you—Ahhhh!”

Ngumiwi ang lalaki nang napahawak sa palad nitong nakahawak sa braso ko after matampal nang marahas ang kamay niya.

“Back off.” Malamig na may pagbabanta nitong sabi. The man just glared at him saka inis na nagsalita.

“Who the hell are you? I'm not talking to you.”

He scoffed, saka ako nilingon ng lalaking biglang pumasok sa eksena. Nanglaki ang mga mata ko nang makilala kung sino ito. He's the guy opposite to our table a while ago! At siya rin 'yong tinititigan ko kanina na nahuli akong nakatingin!

“She's off limits,” he stated sharply.

“What's your relationship with her!?”

Bigla akong hinawakan sa kamay nito at pinagsalikop ang mga palad namin. His damn huge palm was engulfing my smaller hand, decorated with maroon fake nails.

“That's none of your f*cking business,” saka walang pasabi akong hinila paalis sa kanya. He literally dragged me out of there! At saan naman kaya ako plano nitong dalhin?!

“T...Teka lang! S-Saan mo ba ako dadalhin, huh?!” Bigla akong tumigil sa paglalakad kaya nahinto rin siya. Matangkad siya sa 'kin at malapad ang likod nitong napalingon sa 'kin.

“Somewhere inaccessible.”

Natatawa ako sa naging sagot nito. “So what am I? A valuable item not for everyone?! Ganun ba?”

His grip on my hand tightened. “If that's what you think, then so be it.” Handa na sana ako nitong hilahin ulit kaso pinigilan ko siya.

Puwersa kong kinuha ang kamay ko at buong tapang na hinarap siya.

“I don't fcking know you, kaya ba't naman ako sasama sa isang stranger? How the fck do I know you're safe to be with?” singhal ko.

Finally, hinarap niya ako. His dominant figure was more than enough to make me feel cornered, pero mabuti na lang at naka-high heels ako ngayon kaya 'di ako masyadong naalarma.

“I'm Caden, and I'm guessing this isn't your first time hearing my name, Ms. Montero.” A sly smirk rose up on the side of his lips. Mas kinabahan ako nang naglakad ito palapit sa 'kin, forcing me to take a couple of damned steps backward!

Finally, my back hit a cold wall, kaya mas tumindi ang kaba sa dibdib ko. Damn it! Na-corner niya ako.

He caught me by my waist while his other hand was on my chin, lifting my head up para tingnan siya nang diretso sa mata.

“Or shall I say... my fiancée.”

Wala sa sariling nakagat ko ang sarili kong mga labi sa narinig, and I saw firsthand how his dark eyes darkened as he reacted to what I did.

I put on a brave act saka tiningnan siya sa mga mata. Wala akong pake kung gaano kalapit ang mga mukha namin ngayon. “Who gave you the authority to corner me like this and act this close, huh?! We're not officially engaged! Kaya 'wag kang feeling, Mr. Monticello!” singhal ko. Parang sigaw ko na rin 'yung sinabi sa kanya. Pero wala itong planong magpatalo.

I gasped when he suddenly whispered right against my earlobe—his warm lips brushing the sensitive skin, almost kissing it. He inhaled deeply, drinking in the scent of my neck.

“I guess the rumors are true,” he whispered, his rough, deep voice sending a shiver straight down my spine.

Naiinis akong napahawak sa malaking braso nito nang walang pasabi nitong nilaro ang tainga ko, pulling the lobe softly between his lips. He wasn't just playing around; he was deliberately pushing my boundaries, igniting a dangerous spark inside me that I shouldn't be feeling. Why was he so damn good at throwing my entire system into chaos?! Kakainis! Pero ang traydor kong katawan, nagpapadala sa init niyang binibigay sa'kin!!!

“You really are hard to please, hm?” he chuckled, feeling my grip tighten desperately on his arm.

“Stop teasing me, you demon!” I hissed, my breath ragged. Gusto kong maiyak kasi hindi naman talaga dapat ganito ang nararamdaman ko, pero dahil sa kanya, unti-unti akong nawawalan ng kontrol!

Halos maiyak akong tumulak sa dibdib niya at galit na nagsalita, “You pathetic, arrogant jerk! You think you can tame me or make me bow down to you with pathetic tricks like this?! You don't excite me, Caden—you make me want to vomit!”

Saka ko ito tinalikuran para tuluyan na siyang mawala sa paningin ko. But I severely underestimated him.

“You—?!” Narinig ko ang pag-lock ng doorknob, kaya bigla akong mas kinutuban. Wala sa sariling nanginig ang buo kong sistema sa mga posibleng mangyari, pero mas nangangamba ako sa kung ano ang kayang gawin ng katawan ko sa ilalim ng hawak niya!

He grabbed me by my small waist, lifting me effortlessly, and forcefully dragged me into a dark, vacant room! The lights were completely off, at tanging kaming dalawa lang ang tao sa loob.

How come nagawa niyang buksan ang p***o ng room na 'to?! Is it possible na sa kanya ito?!

Naiinis akong tiningala siya. “Ano sa tingin mo ang ginagawa mo, huh??? Mr. Monticello?!!”

Napangiwi ako bigla nang walang pasabi niyang akong itinulak sa p***o. My back slammed hard against the wood, and before I could even process the pain, he hooked his hands beneath my thighs, hoisting my legs upward and pinning me directly against the door. There was nowhere left to run.

Sinuntok ko ito sa braso, pero parang wala lang iyon sa kanya.

“Put me down, demon!”

He smirked, his dark eyes glittering through the shadows.

“Demon? So that's my name to you now, hm?”

“You're fucking crazy!” sigaw ko saka sinuntok ulit ito, kaso hindi man lang siya natinag! Ako pa ang nasaktan kasi ang tigas ng dibdib niya!

“Call me crazy, and I'll gladly give you madness...” Sinunggaban niya ako ng isang mapusok at nagwa-walang halik. It was quick, sharp, and hungry before he pulled back just an inch, his hot breath fanning over my swollen lips.

“Right now, right here... I'll make you damn crazy, too.”

And he stole my mouth again. This time, the kiss went deeper, harder, and infinitely more intoxicating until every ounce of my resistance melted into thin air. He consumed my whimpers, his tongue claiming every inch of my mouth with an unyielding, possessive heat. I completely lost track of time and control.

The next thing I knew, Caden was carrying my weight, his hands burning against my bare skin. My gown had betrayed me the moment he lifted me up, the tight tube neckline slipping completely down my chest, leaving me half-naked in the dark. He buried his face between my exposed, aching breasts, devouring my skin like a ravenous beast ready to consume its prey alive, leaving me gasping and clutching his shoulders as the room spun out of control.