The CEO Who Claimed The Runaway Bride

Hindi maramdaman ni Auri ang pisngi sa lakas ng sampal ng ina pero hindi 'yon sapat para manatili s'ya sa presens'ya nito. She would have slapped her back, but Selene was still her mother. Auri left the bedroom the grabbed her purse and car keys at the coffee table as soon as she got downstairs. Sumakay s'ya ng kotse na walang destinasyon. Ang naiisip na lang niya ay makalayo sa bahay nila at bahala na kung saan s'ya mapadpad. The Velvet Lounge was just recently opened by her friend, Lira. She was not able to attend the opening of her bar because Damian was not feeling well at ayaw nitong papuntahin s'ya na hindi kasama. Nagtampo si Lira dahil doon pero hindi rin s'ya nito natiis dahil makadalawang araw ay iniimikan na rin s'ya nito. She promised to visit the bar soon, but tonight, she needed a distraction from the chaos at home. The Velvet Lounge was making the waves. Narinig niya ang mga kasamahan sa trabaho na pinag-uusapan ang bar ni Lira at puro papuri ang mga ito. Hindi iisan

Auri woke with a violent throb behind her eyes, the kind that made the world tilt even before she opened them. The sheets beneath her were soft, cool, and unfamiliar. She blinked hard, vision swimming, and pushed herself upright.She wasn’t in her condo or a hotel.The room was modern, minimalist, and smelled faintly of cedar and expensive linen. Floor‑to‑ceiling windows framed a breathtaking view of Taal Lake, the morning sun spilling gold across the water. A sleek staircase led down to a living area she didn’t recognize.Her heart lurched.Where the hell am I?She pressed a palm to her forehead, trying to piece together the night before. Whiskey. Too much whiskey. Ian’s voice. His steady hands. His eyes that looked like they could see through her.And then—Heat rushed to her cheeks.“Oh my God,” she whispered, mortified.She looked down at herself. She was wearing a large white shirt—definitely not hers—and nothing else. Her hair was a tangled disaster, her mascara smudged, her lip

Auri was horrified. Automatic ang reaction n'yang damputin ang maliit na piraso ng tela sa desk ng lalaki pero mas maagap ito sa kanya. "Hey! That's mine.""Haven't you heard the saying, 'finders keepers'?" Ian didn't smile but he wanted to. Gusto niyang makita ang magiging reaction ni Auri sa pagkikita nilang muli. The look on her face says it all. Akala ng babae ay hindi na sila magkikita pang muli. Cupid must have taken a pity on him dahil kahit hindi ito mahanap-hanap ng imbestigador niya ay kusang gumawa ng paraan ang pagkakataon para magkrus muli ang kanilang landas. "I was looking for that and I couldn't find it. Give it back." May kasama ng taray ang tono nito. Ian found it cute."I'll give it back but not today."Napabuga ng hangin sa inis si Auri. She didn't think the man she slept with that night could be this annoying. And the worst part, boss niya ito! Mukhang hindi rin naman nito ibibigay ang panty niya at gusto lang mang-asar kaya naghanda na s'ya sa pag-alis."Did I

Lira arrived with so much food and Auri was not sure how they're going to eat all of it. Alam na nito ang tungkol sa ginawa ng Mama niya and Lira was upset pero wala itong sinabing masama laban kay Selene. She has always been a good listener and Auri appreciated her more. "So, what are you going to do with the extra room?" tanong nito habang kumakain sila sa dining room. 7:30PM na ngayon at kalat na ang dilim sa labas. The village is pretty safe. May guard house sila at palaging may bantay doon. Hindi rin ito basta nagpapapasok ng sasakyan at ugaling magpaiwan ng driver's license kung wala sa logbook. "Iniisip ko pa. Office space sana pero sayang naman 'yong gamit sa loob.""Right. Just sell the mattress and give the curse to someone else. Extra money din 'yon." Napatawa si Auri sa sinabi ng kaibigan and it didn't take long for Lira to laugh as well. Totoo naman 'yon. Plus she hates throwing away stuff lalo na kung wala namang sira. Mas mabuti na 'yong pagkakitaan o kaya naman ay

Tumanggi si Auri pero likas na makulit si Ian kaya napailing na lang s'ya at sinabi ritong sundan ang kotse niya. It didn't take long for them to reach her house. "Hindi pa ako nakakapaglinis kaya pasens'ya na," wika niya rito nang buksan ang pinto. Ian helped her carry the painting supplies, and he wondered why Auri was saying hindi pa ito nakakapaglinis. The place is spotless. Wala nga s'yang makitang alikabok. Gusto niya sa babae 'yon malinis sa bahay dahil reflection 'yon kung gaano ito kalinis sa katawan. Other men is probably okay with the mess, but not him. He likes organization and minimalism. "Upo ka muna. Gusto mong tubig?""I'm okay. Thanks." Hindi kaagad naupo si Ian sa sofa. Lumapit s'ya sa estante na may mga display. There was a couple photos of Auri. Graduation noong kinder at college. He wondered what she looked like noong elementary at high school. Bukod sa ilang litrato ni Auri, walang picture ang mga magulang nito o kapatid. Sa bahay nina Ian, isang malaking por