At The ModernShe arrived ten minutes early at the restaurant but the client was already there. The man is punctual. However, Philip Coulter seemed to be… too Italian with those dark eyes, olive skin and high cheekbones. Hindi nalalayo ang edad nito kay Ale.“Good afternoon, Ms. Profaci.” Tumayo ito mula sa silya nang dumating siya. It was the staff who ushered her in that pulled the chair for her. “Good afternoon, Sir.” Sinadya niyang huwag idagdag ang apelyido nito. He can’t be Philip Coulter like he claimed. She had time to get a good look at the database. Tinawagan niya ang isang IT na nirekomenda ng Ate Georgina niya noon. “I hope you don’t mind but I ordered for us.”“It’s fine. I am not very hungry anyway.” Only Ale can order food and other things for her and she won’t mind. “Still tired from the trip?” Hindi niya sinagot ito. “Steve told me you just landed yesterday and you’ve moved overseas. Philippines, right? My mom is a Filipina.”He was being extra friendly and that’s

Hindi niya alam ang binabalak ng kapatid. P is amazing at what she does. However, Alejandro could have hired someone else to do the job. Imposible naman na si Gabriella ang may gustong kunin bilang interior designer si P. Malakas ang kutob niyang may binabalak ang kapatid niya at may kinalaman sa kaniya ang ginagawa nito. Nagpaalam na si P at pinatulog na siya pero heto at alas singko na ng umaga ay gising na gising pa rin ang kaniyang diwa. Hindi na siya makatulog kahit ano'ng gawin niya kaya pupuntahan niya si Taylor sa condo nito ng maaga. Doon na rin siya magkakape at bubulabugin niya ang kaibigan. He took his car keys and overnight bag that he prepared for the other day. Since it's still early, he didn't hit traffic and was there in less than twenty minutes. Usually, it's about a forty-five minute drive. "Ale?" Pupungas-pungas na bungad sa kaniya ni Tay. "What time is it?" Tinawagan niya ito nang makarating siya sa parking lot. Instead of buzzing him, he opted for a call to ma

Hindi niya alam kung paano natapos ang lunch na 'yon. The whole time, all she did was listen and nod. It was not like her to be quiet. Gabriella seemed to be enjoying the moment. Kwento ito ng kwento tungkol kay Ale at sa pamilya Gambino— how they treat her like a princess and... how they love her. Si Alejandro ang pumalit sa pwesto ng ama at isa na itong Don. At si Gabriella, bilang asawa ng isang Don ay may importans'ya. But she doesn't care about that. Ang gumugulo sa isip niya ay ang sinabi nito tungkol kay Ale. Inakala nito na ang boyfriend niya ang magpupursue rito. However, didn't Ale say he's not interested with her when they bumped into each other at the park for the first time? Ang araw na 'yon ay parehong araw na tumungo sila sa Pilipinas. It was around that time that the Gambino family was celebrating Alejandro and Gabriella's union. After lunch, she went back to the office pero hindi na siya sumabay kay Gabriella. Magnus was there to drive her anyway at out of the way a

"Oops!" Tor made a sour face."Ale's going to kill you for this," mahinang bulong ni Estefan sa kaibigan kahit narinig naman niya. "Ikaw muna. The dinner was your idea." Nagturuan pa ang dalawa. Kahit nagulat siya sa nalaman ay hindi naman 'yon sapat para maghurumentado siya sa galit. She is aware that Ale is just trying to protect her. Why he would not tell her about this though is beyond her. "So you do know Alessandro. Do you know about me?" Siniko ni Estefan si Tor. "Stop doing that. You're annoying," saway nito kay Estefan. "I sort of know about you. Ale called me a few months ago. He asked me about some medication but didn't mention your name, so I really hope you're the woman with him at his place that got sick. Otherwise, I'm a dead man." Tumaas ang isa niyang kilay. She had some laceration when Ale and her did it the first time. Nagulat na lang siya na may gamot kaagad ito para sa kaniya kahit hindi pa naman siya nagpapakonsulta sa doktor. Iyon pala ay si Tor ang tinawag

Ale didn't come home the next day or the days after that. Hindi niya alam kung saan ito tumutuloy. Ayaw niyang isipin na umuwi ito sa bahay ng mga magulang at nagbalik sa dati nitong gawain. She wanted to call Estefan or Tor to ask if he's with him but she quickly changed her mind. Kung ayaw nitong makita siya, then so be it. Hindi niya ipipilit ang sarili sa isang taong ayaw siyang makasama.She admits that she went too far. Pati ang nakaraan nito ay nabanggit pa niya. And yes, she was sorry but she will not apologize for speaking her mind. Alejandro got back to her and said that the agreement cannot be resolved. His father refused to. However, what he can offer was a truce. She would have immediately said no to the job upon hearing it but she was upset with her boyfriend so she told her client okay. It won't take that long anyway. Two months tops and it's done. The only thing that is bothering her is the fact that she'd see Gabriella more often. Isang buwan niyang hindi nakita si