CHAPTER 5: Valdez Begs

Odessa's new office was on the 40th floor.

Floor-to-ceiling glass windows overlooking the entire port — the same port where she used to arrange fish at 4 AM. The same port Marco's family used to own.

She was in a white power suit now, not red. Her hair tied in a neat bun. She looked like a CEO. Cold. Untouchable.

Lucian was sitting on her desk, watching her sign papers. He hadn't left her side since last night.

"Your 9 AM is here," her secretary said through the intercom. "Mr. Marco Valdez. He doesn't have an appointment, but he says it's urgent."

Odessa and Lucian exchanged a look.

"Let him in," Odessa said.

The door opened. Marco walked in.

He looked terrible. No expensive suit today. Just a wrinkled polo. His eyes were red, like he hadn't slept. Behind him was Lena, also looking pale and scared, holding a paper bag.

When Marco saw Odessa in that white suit, behind that huge desk, with Lucian possessively sitting beside her, he stopped breathing.

"Odessa," he whispered.

"Miss Dela Cruz," Odessa corrected him, not even looking up from her papers. "You have five minutes, Mr. Valdez."

Marco flinched. Lena nudged him.

Marco walked closer to the desk, his hands shaking. "Odessa... Miss Dela Cruz... please. We need to talk. The bank... the bank is taking our house. The fisheries... you bought it, but we still have debts. We have nothing left."

Odessa finally looked up. Her eyes were cold.

"You have nothing left? That's interesting. Because three years ago, I had nothing left. I was on a pier, in the rain, with my bag in the sea. Do you remember that, Marco?"

Marco swallowed hard. "I... I was wrong. We were wrong. Lena and I... we were jealous. You were always better. Petrus loved you more. Everyone loved you more."

Lena stepped forward, tears in her eyes. "Cuz, please! It was Marco's idea! He said if we get rid of you, we can have the market money! I didn't want to—"

"Don't you dare call me cuz," Odessa said, her voice sharp as ice. "And don't you dare blame him. You wore my dress that night, Lena. You kicked my bag into the water."

Lena started crying for real.

Marco did something no one expected. He knelt down. The great Marco Valdez, who used to laugh at Odessa, knelt down on the floor of her office.

"Please," he begged, his voice cracking. "Please forgive me, Odessa. I loved you. I really did. I was just... I was scared you would leave me for someone better. Give us back the fisheries. Give us back our house. I'll do anything."

The room was silent.

Petrus, who had been quietly sitting in the corner of the office — Odessa had invited him — stood up. He looked at Marco on his knees.

"Three years ago, you made my daughter cry on a pier," Petrus said, his old voice shaking with anger. "You called her a thief. You stole her future. Now you beg?"

Odessa stood up and walked around her desk. She stood in front of Marco, who was still on his knees.

She crouched down, so they were eye-level, just like Lucian did to her three years ago on that pier.

"Marco," she whispered, so only he could hear. "Do you remember what you said to me that night? You said, 'Let's see if your beloved sea will save you.'"

Marco nodded, tears falling.

Odessa smiled, a small, sad smile.

"It did."

She stood up and walked back to her desk. Lucian stood up too and put his arm around her waist, possessive, claiming her in front of Marco.

"Your five minutes are up, Mr. Valdez," Odessa said loudly, her CEO voice back. "My secretary will give you a list of low-paying jobs at the old fish market. If you work hard, maybe in ten years you can afford to rent a small room near the pier. That's more than you gave me."

"Odessa, please!" Marco cried. "You can't do this!"

"I can," Odessa said. "Because I own the pier now. I own the ships. I own the company that owns your house."

She pressed the intercom. "Security, please escort Mr. and Miss Valdez out."

Two guards came in and pulled Marco up. Lena was sobbing.

As they were being dragged out, Marco shouted one last thing. "Odessa! Do you still love me? Even a little?"

Odessa didn't answer. She just looked at Lucian, and Lucian kissed her forehead, right in front of Marco.

"And it's too late," Lucian answered for her.

The door closed. Marco and Lena were gone.

Petrus walked over to Odessa and hugged her. "Anak, I'm so proud of you. But... are you happy?"

Odessa looked out the window at the sea, at the port that was now hers.

"Not yet, Mang Petrus," she said. "But I'm getting there."

Lucian squeezed her hand.

"For someone who owns the storm," he whispered, "you still look cold. Let me warm you up."

Petrus laughed and left the office, giving them privacy.

Odessa looked at Lucian, her forbidden, possessive, dangerous man. The man who waited three years.

"What now?" she asked.

"Now," Lucian said, pulling her close, "we make sure no one ever makes you cry on a pier again."

Outside, the sea was calm. But inside that office, a new storm was just beginning — a storm called love.