Isang ngiti ang nasa labi ni Javier nang dumating siya sa opisina kinabukasan. Habang nagkakape at kumakain ng almusal na inihanda ng kasambahay niyang si Leigh, nag-isip siya ng plano kung paano aakitin ang sekretarya niyang si Miss Ella Stanford. A lively sense of anticipation tingled through his body as he swung the door open, fully expecting Ella to be at her table. Pero agad iyong nawala nang makita na wala ito. Wala ang brown coat nito sa hanger at malinis ang desk, parehong-pareho ang itsura nang huli niya itong makita noong Friday.Nasaan siya? O baka naman dahil sa excitement ay mas maaga siyang dumating.Tiningnan niya ang relo sa braso. Labing-limang minuto pagkalipas ng alas-nuebe. Hindi siya maaga, si Ella ang late! Ni minsan ay ‘di pa siya nauna rito. Palagi itong on-time. Sobrang nakakainis ngayong araw na hindi ganoon, lalo na’t nag-

Ella Stanford looked up as Javier left his office, shoving his phone and wallet into his pocket. Without even looking, she knew where he was probably heading. She refrained from sighing. It did not take a genius to know that her boss was on his way to meet his lover, London Star. Every day it was the same. The phone call he had received before lunchtime would determine who he would be spending his lunchtime with. Either his family (either his older brother, Thornton, or his youngest sister, Clara, or on a rather rare occasion, his mother) or his most recent lover. Most of the time, it was the latter. Since evidently, London had called merely fifteen minutes ago, it had been determined that he would be spending his lunchtime with her. And if she was right, they were probably going to go to a restaurant in a five-star hotel around the area and once the lunch was concluded, they would retreat to a suite and ravish each other for desserts. “I'm going for lunch." He looked over the cont

"Damon did offer to come with me," started Ella, a little unsure whether she had to tell him the truth. It would be very embarrassing indeed to acknowledge that she had a friend who pretended to be her boyfriend. She was not sure she could bear him knowing. She would die if she saw him giving her a mocking smile or any snide remark. Although she would soon leave his company, she wanted to leave with her dignity remain intact. "But I do not want to trouble him." Javier frowned. A few lines formed on his forehead as his eyebrows joined in the middle. "Why not? He is your boyfriend. If I were him, I would insist on coming." "He-" Ella swallowed convulsively. "Well, Damon is a dear friend and I am sure he is busy with work. It is Monday after all." "Friend?" Her boss's face looked every bit confused. His brows shot up, and his eyes widened. He almost looked lost. "Did you two break up?" Instead of answering his question, she seized the moment to sip her mocha and then busied herself

"Darling, you simply must show me your dress! I know it is my wedding but I want to see yours anyway," said Damon cheerfully as he clapped his hands, showing how impatient he truly was. Ella took a deep breath then put her hands up. "First of all, please do not be mad.""Oh, I do not like the sound of this," commented Damon under his breath. "Just think of it like this, it is your wedding so you should be the focus. All eyes should be on you. The spotlight is yours so it is only right if I wear whatever dress that fits regardless of how they look. It is not important," dismissed Ella with a shrug. "It is important when Javier Freaking Summers will be there with you!" protested Damon, eyes widened in disbelief. "Could you please stop calling him that?" She lowered her body and sat on the edge of her bed. "He is still my boss." Then she recalled her resignation letter and added, "well, at least for the next two and a half months.""Fine. But show me your dress."Ella stood and walked

C H A P T E R 1 9 : H I S F A M I L Y Ella decided that it was quite easy to see where this party was heading. She snatched a glass of champagne off the table as Javier and she walked past it and gave a vapid smile in return for the scowl one of his uncles had given when she was being introduced. Although Javier seemed oblivious, it was easy to recognize the disdainful expression of snooty contempt. She knew full well that she was not the same as the rest of the people here, and they clearly realized it. She did not have money or own a company or even have expensive jewelry other than the ring Javier had given her while the rest of the women were wearing pearls, diamonds, and other precious gems. She was a hard-working woman who had to scrape some months just to pay the exorbitant rent on her apartment. She stood out like a sore thumb. And they knew it just as well as she did. More than once or twice, she could feel their eyes on her, their gazes openly evaluating her before the