Dangerous Embrace

CHAPTER 2

Rios GROUP

THE BOARDROOM fell silent the moment Elliot closed the file. There were twelve executives in front of him, and no one dared to speak.

Elliot slowly removed his glasses and looked around the table.

“This report was due last Friday.” Aniya.

Walang sumagot sa mga ito.

“I don’t like repeating myself,” Elliot said in a calm tone, but that tone was enough to scare everyone inside the room.

Tiningnan niya paisa-isa ang mga ito.

Across the table, one of the executives nervously adjusted his tie.

Kilala kasi nila ang presidente ng Rios Group. Unlike the Chairman, Ashriel Rios, his son, Elliot Amir Laurent Rios, was strict on deadlines.

“We… we encountered a few delays, sir.”

“A delay,” kalmadong paguulit ni Elliot.

“Yes, sir.”

“So, you ignored my deadline.”

“N-no, sir. We were only—”

“You had seven days.” Sabi ni Elliot na siya ang nagpatahimik sa mga ito. “You had a team of fifty employees.” Dagdag pa niya. “And you’re telling me none of them managed to finish a report.”

They lowered their heads.

“No, sir.”

Tumayo si Elliot at inilapag ang folder sa mahabang lamesa. “Redo everything.”

“Sir?”

“The numbers don’t match.”

“But—”

“I said redo it.”

The executive swallowed hard. “…yes, Mr. Rios.”

Hindi na muling nagsalita si Elliot at lumabas ng boardroom.

Pagkalabas ni Elliot, nakahinga ang lahat ng nasa loob ng boardroom.

Elliot's assistant, Noah Castillo, caught up with him as soon as he entered the elevator.

“You scared them again, Sir.”

Tumaas ang sulok ng labi ni Elliot. “They asked for it.”

Napailing si Noah. “You just naturally do scare them.”

Elliot ignored Noah’s comment. Noah was already used to his silence. Since he started working at the Rios Group and became the president, they had worked together for six years, and Noah knew he wasn’t angry.

He just simply didn’t enjoy unnecessary conversations.

“Sir, you have a meeting with Senator Ramirez at one.”

“Cancel it.” Utos ni Elliot.

“He already confirmed, sir.”

“I didn’t.”

Tumango si Noah. “Noted, sir.”

“And move tomorrow’s meeting.”

“Reason, sir?”

“I’m having dinner with my family.”

Ngumiti si Noah. Hindi na ‘to bago sa kaniya. When it comes to family, Elliot will prioritize it first.

UNLIKE WHAT THE OUTSIDERS HAD BELIEVED, the Rios mansion wasn’t quiet. It was loud, full of warmth and lively.

Pagpasok pa lang ni Elliot sa malawak na living room, rinig na rinig niya ang tawanan ng kaniyang pamilya sa kusina.

Naglakad siya patungo sa kusina habang hinuhubad ang suot niyang coat.

“And there he is!”

Ellis, the youngest, waved dramatically. “The workaholic finally came home.”

“Speak for yourself.” Sabi ni Elliot. “Good thing you came home.”

Nagkibit ng balikat si Ellis. “I was planning to set up a branch of Laurent here in the Philippines.”

Elliot just shrugged. Kilala na niya si Ellis. And he wasn’t even sure kung totoo nga ang sinasabi nito.

Ashriel looked up from the newspaper he was reading. “Kumusta ang trabaho, anak?”

“Productive,” he answered simply.

Ellis snorted. “That’s Elliot’s way of saying he terrified another executive today.”

“I didn’t.”

“You did.”

His sister, Neriah, chuckled as she took a sip of juice. Halatang hindi ito naniniwala sa kaniya.

Ilang minuto lamang ang lumipas, dumating din ang kanilang Kuya Evron.

Katulad ng kanilang ina… Evron exudes the authority of being the Chief of Black Lotus. Though medyo nagbago naman ito simula nang makilala nito si Blythe, kapag ibang tao ang kaharap, nandoon pa rin ang intimidating na hitsura nito.

“Kuya,” tawag ni Ellis, “can you change your expression? Your expression right now, for me, was very uncomfortable.”

“At least you knew your brother won’t hurt you,” sabad ng kanilang ama.

Tumango ang kanilang ina bilang pagsang-ayon sa sinabi ng asawa nito. “Mission?” she asked Evron.

Umiling si Evron.

“Where’s my daughter-in-law?” Nylah asked. “And the kids?” she added.

“Susunod sila mamaya, Mom.” Tugon ni Evron.

Then their mother looked at Neriah.

Neriah let out a dramatic sigh. “My son loves his father so much. Umiiyak kapag hindi niya kasama si Lucien. Kaya ayon, kasama ni Lucien na dumalo sa isang business meeting. I was just hoping he didn’t cause any trouble.”

“Lucien was capable,” sabad naman ni Ashriel habang nakatuon ang atensiyon sa binabasang newspaper.

“Bakit kasi hindi niyo dagdagan para naman may kasama ka rin, Ate?” wika ni Ellis at uminom ng juice.

“Gusto ko pero ayaw ni Lucien.”

Tumawa si Ellis. “Siguro na-trauma na siya.”

Nagtawanan silang lahat.

Everyone in the family knew what happened to Neriah’s husband when she gave birth.

Napailing naman si Elliot.

“How about you, kambal?”

Lahat ay napatingin kina Elliot at Ellis.

“What?” the twin asked.

“May asawa at anak na ang Ate at Kuya niyo. Kailan niyo naman ipapakilala sa amin ang aming magiging manugang?” wika ng kanilang ina.

Elliot and Ellis both looked at each other.

“Never met the right one,” Elliot answered as he pretended being busy on his phone. Kaya nawala ang atensiyon ng kanilang pamilya sa kaniya at napunta ito sa kakambal niya.

“Same.” Sabi ni Ellis.

“Nope. It’s not the same at all, bunso.” Sabi ni Neriah habang natatawa. “Torpe ka lang. Hanggang ngayon hindi ka pa nakakaamin.”

“Ate, hindi ako torpe. Kumukuha lang ako ng pagkakataon.”

Neriah scoffed. “Pagkakataon ka diyan? Tumigil ka nga, Ellis. Baka mamaya maunahan ka pa ng iba.”

Hindi na umimik si Ellis.

By then, their father’s voice was heard.

“Elliot, I have a charity event tomorrow afternoon. Ayaw kong pumunta, kaya ikaw na lang.” Sabi ni Ashriel.

“What a lazy chairman,” sabi naman ni Nylah.

Ashriel shrugged. “I love you, Mon Amour.”

“Love you too.”

Nagkatinginan silang lahat.

Kahit mga matatanda na sila, nakuha pa rin nilang mahiya kapag ganito ang kanilang mga magulang. Even though they were already old, their parents were still in love, showing affection to each other every day.

“Sige, Dad. Pupunta po ako.”

Tumango ang kanilang ama.

The Laurent-Rios foundation was organizing events almost every month—medical missions, scholarships, food drives, and livelihood programs.

Their father always reminded them that wealth meant nothing if it only benefitted to themselves.

It was one lesson that he would never forget.

THE FOLLOWING, tomorrow afternoon, the charity event ended later than Elliot expected.

Habang nasa biyahe siya pabalik sa kaniyang opisina, napansin niya ang isang bakery. Medyo malayo ito sa Rios Group, but he wanted to go in to… maybe, relax or breathe some air.

“Pull over.”

“Yes, Mr. Rios.”

Bumaba sa sasakyan si Elliot at sumunod naman si Noah.

The smell of freshly baked bread greeted him as soon as he entered.

The place was not that wide, but not small either. It felt cozy. There were warm lights, soft music and fresh pastries lined the glass shelves.

He ordered some and sat on the empty table to wait.

Abala si Elliot sa pagtingin sa paligid. But he turned around when a loud voice interrupted the peaceful atmosphere.

“Ano bang klaseng serbisyo ito ng bakery niyo?”

Lahat ay napatingin sa babaeng halatang may pera dahil sa klase ng pananamit at alahas nito. But it was flashy. She slammed a pasty box onto the counter.

“The frosting is uneven!”

Agad namang yumuko ang isang staff ng bakery na nasa likod ng glass shelves. “Pasensiya na po, Ma’am. Papalitan na lang po namin.”

Elliot stared at the woman who couldn’t have been older than twenty-five. She apologized sincerely even though the mistake was barely noticeable.

“Papalitan na lang po namin ng bago.”

“Bilisan niyo.”

“Yes, Ma’am.”

As she carefully carried the cake toward the kitchen, another employee accidentally bumped into her shoulder.

The cake slipped, and the box fell to the floor.

“I’m… I’m sorry.”

Bago pa man makapag-react ang lahat, dinuro ng matandang babae ang staff. “I knew you were incompetent.”

“Ma’am, aksidente lang po.”

“Don’t make excuses.”

The young woman lowered her head.

“I’m sorry.”

Tahimik na pinapanood ni Evron ang nangyayari. Nakatuon ang atensiyon niya sa staff. She never defended herself.

Not once.

She simply accepted every accusation as though she were used to it.

Maya-maya pa lumabas ang may-ari ng bakery shop at ito ang nakipag-usap sa matandang babae, pero hindi pinansin ng customer ang paliwanag ng may-ari.

“It’s not Isabelle’s fault, Ma’am. Huwag na po kayong magalit. Papalitan na lang po namin ang cake niyo.” Sabi ng may-ari.

And finally, the customer listened.

But then, as the owner turned away, she gently squeezed the woman named Isabelle on her shoulder in reassurance.

The gesture lasted only a second, but Elliot noticed something.

Relief.

Nagpasalamat na lamang ito sa may-ari ng cake bago nito nilinis ang nahulog na cake sa sahig.

Hindi namalayan ni Evron na nakatitig na pala siya sa babae.

“Sir?”

Noah’s voice pulled him back. “Your order’s ready.”

“Let’s go.”

Bago siya lumabas ng bakery shop, tumigil siya at tumingin kay Isabelle. She was smiling politely as if nothing had happened. For reasons he couldn’t explain, the image stayed with him.

He had met countless people throughout his life, but none of them occupied his thoughts after a single meeting.

Yet somehow… a quiet woman with sad eyes had done exactly that.

At hindi niya alam kung bakit.