He can only look from afar and stay behind while his friend deals with sadness internally. Her professional smile may tell the investors that she is glad and cheerful. But it cannot lie to him. He can only stay to make sure that she has support. No, it doesn’t matter to him if she could notice his simple gesture or not. Essi keeps up her strength amid a friendly meeting with a group of stockholders, the league that she was considering joining while aiming to diversify her personal investment portfolio. Essi could notice Victor staring at him, with a worried face. She never watched him smiling. He may beam at her but that’s a different thing from his usual expressions. His long face has intimidated the kids roaming around the restaurant. One kid has spilled his glass of water next to Victor. Victor wanted to help already standing up with the charging of his leather boots. But the little boy cried, frightened by Victor's military gesture. Mannerism and military training combin

Essi has a crazy idea. Who would believe that she can think of that? She had just thought about it well after noticing how Victor would somehow look after Jillian. He does it better now than the last time that he would just reply in short words. Maybe, this is the fruit of relentless pursuit. Victor would now even consider having dinner with Jillian after work. So when Victor asked Essi if she would like to join them, she politely declined. “You can go ahead, I’m fine here. Bodyguards are everywhere anyway,” Essi assured after telling him that she can wait for her. “My work’s done, Victor. You don’t have to worry about anything here. You two can enjoy your dinner date.” “If you need anything, just call me,” he reminded Essi before leaving. But Essi only giggled after noticing how clumsy and excited Victor was. He excused that he was just hungry as if Essi would buy it. After Victor leaves, her bodyguards in their suits are surrounding her closer than

Bringing Victor was supposed to have an ally in case her parents would insist on taking Charlotte into the House of Paulsson. But Charlotte took him wrongly as if he has a secret relationship with Essi. “I’m sorry, I’m just surprised that you allow yourself to be surrounded by men when you already have a fiance.” Charlotte speaks as if she is already old enough to initiate this kind of conversation. Having this kind of participant within the discussion somehow reminds Essi why elders would rather wish that the young ones have their own circle and not mention controversies with irresponsible words and heavy intentions around them. “We’re dealing with things professionally here. So I don’t see any reasons why I have to set him out of the picture.”  Essi glanced back at her parents. “Ma, Pa… you know how straightforward I am in discussions. What kind of refusal do you want me to say?”  Charlotte wimped to gather other people’s attention

She always knew something about Essi. And looking back, she knows that Essi was telling the truth. She didn’t bother herself to reveal it on her behalf. The truth came out anyway, although it is late for Bayanihan. All that she have to do is to avoid her and do her own business. But things are inevitable redirecting her towards Essi. She keeps pushing Essi away. And yet, Charlotte cannot believe herself that she have to find her again. “I know that you have done much to my family. But why are you doing this? You know that we are not in good terms.” She made herself bold enough to enter Essi’s territory with her school journalism asset. Charlotte is aware that security inside the Gautarza Build is stringent. Getting allowed to enter might involve Essi’s approval. “What do you really want? And why are you doing this?” Essi decided to play with her for a little while. “Because I’m a businesswoman. I’m doing it for profit. And helping your family promises me a great retu

The Mariano Ancestral House is but a world well-hidden. The gates are nothing when the people themselves restrain their brothers from seeing it. Essi could only wish for Paco to see it again. His pictures all around here. He looks like a fine prince carried as a small lad in silk blanket over the arms of the king. Enrico Mariano is never forgotten in this place. Minerva is the princess. Her portrait reveals authority that radiates whatever is her manner of clothing. Whether she would wear a royal jewel gown or a law-enforcing neon vest over a dark cotton shirt and cold pants, she still looks the same. Their ancestry is well-illustrated inside the grand palace of the ancestral-tourism land. Some are genealogies and some are fabled deeds. Nevertheless, their memories are kept here. “Paco, everything in that place is beautiful. You should have seen it,” Essi said while brushing the back of her horse. “Your family is there.” “You know that we are keeping ourselves from it.” It was an imp