Breaking His Law (English)

Chapter 5 - Playboy

Even though my knees were shaking with nervousness, I tried to stand straight. I clenched my palms, hoping they would stop shaking.

It was as if he had hit me somewhere deep in my being. Now that he had wounds and bruises from what Dad’s men had done, and the anger in his eyes, I felt humiliated. I felt so stupid and f*cked up. I felt like I couldn’t look at him.

His eyes slowly lifted to meet mine while he rubbed his wrists, which were red from being tied up. His cold yet amused smirk remained... but there was anger underneath every look he gave. I knew he was angry at me. Angry at what was happening. Furious...

“Happy now? Did you tell your father you wanted this? And did you get it? What a spoiled brat that you are...” he said calmly, smirking.

I felt irritated because of my embarrassment. Of course, this shame, even if Daddy did it, is still my shame. Especially since I'm really the one to blame for all of this!

“Do you really think I wanted this? For your information, I don’t even know you! H-How am I going to tell my father to do this to you?”

The audacity. Never in my life had I told my parents that I wanted a man and asked them to do something about it. Heck, I am not a crazy, desperate woman!

He just smirked in response. He’s obviously arrogant. And his teasing eyes mixed with anger were irritating. What exactly did he want?

“How should I know? I don’t even know how crazy you are about me,” he casually replied, nearly making my jaw drop. He seriously believed I was obsessed with him? He’s the one who’s insane, not me!

“You know what, you’re a crazy man! Maybe you deserve this!” I blurted out in frustration, though I didn’t really mean it. I immediately regretted it when his gaze darkened, and his jaw clenched.

A wave of fear washed over me as he slowly stood up. And even though I was mad at Alfred, I suddenly felt like hiding behind him and ordering him to protect me from this man.

He shook his hands and looked directly at me. I averted my gaze. He’s tall. Yeah, I’ll give him that. And well... t-that’s all!

He was tall. I think the top of my head only reached his throat even though I’m tall.

“Why don’t you admit that you planned all this? Didn’t you? After all, we’re going to face each other. Why don’t you say what you want? So, we can end this nonsense once and for all.”

I looked at Alfred. He just shrugged his shoulders at me.

I sighed heavily and looked at him bravely, already filled with emotion. “How many times do I have to tell you that I didn’t plan this? I didn’t order anyone to do this to you. I didn’t tell anyone to get you and beat you up! Why do you insist on blaming me? Do you think I would be the one to untie the rope from your hand if I just wanted to do this to you?”

He didn’t answer. Instead, he stepped closer to me. I looked at Alfred again, but he took a step back and cleared his throat.

“You don’t know how I feel right now, Nathalia. Especially since you don’t know what trouble this has brought,” he said, his tone heavy.

I forced myself to shake my head. “I swear, b-believe me, I really didn’t—”

He grabbed my hand. I was hurt by the slightly tighter grip he had on my wrist.

“You think I’m going to believe you? You’re a brat and a rebel—”

“Y-You don’t know me!”

“Heck, yeah! So now I’m going to get to know you. Isn’t that what you want? This is what your father wants, right?” he said, breathing heavily and heavily before pulling me closer.

“Let me go!” I ordered.

The guards only stood and watched, not even bothering to step in. They’re all traitors! Every single one of them!

I tried to pull my wrist back, but he held onto it tightly. I glared at him, but he only smirked. He was so close, leaving me no space to breathe as my chest tightened.

“Why don’t we taste each other again? So, you can satisfy yourself and cut this b*llshit?” he whispered, which made me madder than I already am. It seemed like my restraint had been broken, and I pushed him away. I slapped him as hard as I could. The force of it seemed to echo in the quiet surroundings.

We both froze. He clenched his jaw, still gripping my wrist. When our eyes met again, he paused as he noticed the anger and tears in my eyes.

Silence reigned around. I trembled with anger but chose not to answer.

Why are they all... the same?

His palm slid down to my waist and fell to his side. I turned my back on them all and tried to walk away.

They’re all the same. Daddy, even Mommy, that guy, the friends who pretend to be good and the people who pretend to admire me, but in reality, they are just waiting for me to fall and lose everything.

I stood dumbfounded in front of the vanity table while the make-up artist was busy applying make-up to me. The other one was busy curling my long hair.

“You’re really beautiful, Miss Nathalia. Have you ever thought about going into acting like Ma’am Thaliana?” the hair stylist asked, pertaining to my mother, who used to be a successful actress in the country.

I smiled and pulled myself out of my deep thoughts. “Uhm, maybe not... I just want to model and that’s it...”

“Oh, really? That’s a shame...”

“Why not? It seems like there’s no problem if you become an actress. You have a lot of connections. Maybe it's not that hard to get into showbiz,” he added.

I smiled again even though I felt a little shy. I expected her to say that I have potential in acting. I've done a few roles but not yet in a major role.

The make-up artist noticed that I was alone, so he just signaled his partner to stop.

I have a shoot right now for a fashion magazine. I’m wearing different clothes. I don’t know how I managed to still do my job even if I’m not okay. Even if I am tired, and I want to take a break, I can’t.

Besides, this is the reason why I’m working hard. To earn a career that I can proudly say I deserve.

“Great smile! More poses!” the photographer said, and immediately started taking the photos.

When we checked the photos, they complimented me on how good I looked. They praised my sparkling eyes with my perfect smile.

I thanked them. Just a few words and I was ready to go down. I was wearing a dress that was just the right length. It hit just below my waist. I paired it with my black heels. My long hair flowed in waves, tied in a half-ponytail with a black ribbon.

I stepped out of the elevator after chatting with my friends. I told them to party with me at 10 pm.

Everyone agreed and said they were going. Today’s Friday and we don’t have a class tomorrow. That only means one thing! It’s party day!

While it was still around seven o’clock, I decided to walk around town by myself.

Somehow, my deep thoughts disappeared because I had already filled my schedule for today’s photoshoot. I went to a famous designer brand. I did some shopping and booked a hotel nearby.

I was too lazy to drive home and spend three hours there. Besides, the club we agreed on is just near my current location, so I decided to wait at a hotel.

I put on a new dress, a little make-up, and a pair of high heels. I was almost an hour late. I had to look for a new pair of earrings because I forgot my other pair.

I don’t need to limit my expenses. Our family’s damn rich. My dad, my mom, who has her own business, and Kuya Cielo, who also has many other businesses. I can’t name his businesses. He’s a ghost CEO who only shows up once in a blue moon for his business. He has a lot of connections, though. Better than what I have!

“Kuya, I forgot my earrings at home. I need to buy a new one. Please, can you order for me? I have no time... I’ll wait for it. Thank you, Kuya Cielo!” I voice-mailed him.

One hour later and I have the earrings I want. Easy!

I was so happy and seemed to be floating down the street from the club. I smiled at everyone I met, trying to convince myself and other people that I was happy.

“Guys! Have you been here for a while?!” I called to my female friends, smiling as I approached the table.

“Oh, wow! The princess is an hour late!” Jade said. Her loop earrings look good and elegant! Unlike her mouth. She has been like that since high school.

“We’re good, ah! Did you do that assignment?” Toshi put his arm around me.

I rolled my eyes and kissed his cheek. “Of course! My accounting sheets are more balanced than your life.”

“‘I’m not going to hit on my friend, Nat. You know that, right?” He looked at me with fake disgust, wiping his cheek.

“I know,” I smiled, not even offended a single bit. We’ve all been together since high school. They are my main circle and my closest friends.

And I know he’s into Sienna, one of our friends, too. Some of them are taking Architecture, Civil Engineering, and Mauve’s taking Nursing. I’m the one taking Accountancy.

“Ace, let’s dance! Mauve, Sienna!”

We went to the dance floor. But as the night deepened, Archie, also our friend, dragged Ace off the dancefloor when he was no longer the one dancing with her. The guy is secretly (clearly) in love with Ace.

Sienna is being teased by Toshi. The guy is so whipped for her since we couldn’t remember anymore.

It’s just us three, Mauve and Jade, dancing on the dance floor. Unlike Esekia and my other block mates, they don’t make me do wild things even though I’m so drunk. We’re all equally having fun without making any of us do stupid things.

Everyone’s cheering while we’re all dancing to the rhythm of the loud music.

As the night goes on, the whole place gets wilder. This high-end club is usually full of elites. I’ve seen and met many artists, showbiz personalities, and socialites because of clubbing, especially here around Manila.

The dance floor is getting louder. Every loud sound is getting more and more lively.

“Wait! My head’s spinning!” Mauve said as she left the dance floor.

“Hey!” I called her but she disappeared from my sight.

Jade is still dancing with the rhythm of the music. Some people approach her but whenever they see me, they just back off again. I was about to tell Jade that Mauve had just left but then someone else came up to her again.

We looked at the man, and then I recognized it as Eros Costalejo, a guy she surely knew.

He nodded at me and held Jade’s arm. My friend is already drunk, and she’s already dancing with just anyone else.

“I’ll take care of her. We’ll just talk,” Eros said seriously. I could tell he was not drunk. I had a feeling he needed to tell Jade something, and it was something serious.

I don’t know how they both disappeared. Jade had come back to herself and was rolling her eyes at Eros. I think they were fighting. Lovers’ quarrel, is that it?

I shrugged and just went to the counter for a cocktail. While waiting, I looked around. My eyes only stopped at a man sitting on the couch from a distance, in the dark part of the club where the club lights didn’t hit enough.

There was a small group there. Most were men. My eyes darted towards this man who was comfortably laying back on the couch. Next to him was a woman, her arms around him.

His other friends were talking to each other while others were with those females with them, but the man I was looking at was talking to the woman right next to him.

The woman whispered something in his ear. He chuckled. I swallowed. He whispered back to the woman, who blushed. That man was handsome. I won’t deny it. He looks nice. I can also see him smiling while talking to that woman. Not grumpy. Approachable and seems to be favored by everyone. He looks like he’s constantly playing and is never really serious.

I was looking at them, so I also witnessed how the woman sat on his lap to hug him. In the blink of an eye, they were already kissing.

My lips parted.

The woman held onto his shoulders while his one hand was on the woman’s waist. They were kissing, and their friends didn’t care, it seemed like they were used to it.

I kept looking at him even when the man looked my way, while kissing the woman on his lap, with the colorful lights of the nightclub. It wasn’t a smack kiss. He was enjoying it. Our eyes met, and I’m sure he saw me because there was a flicker of play in his eyes.

I don’t know if I was just dreaming, but I’m sure he knows I’m watching.

I kept looking at him, not looking away. My eyes followed his hand as it moved further up, just a little bit higher up to her breasts.

“Playboy,” I whispered to myself. And Dad’s even planning to marry me to that guy I don’t even know?

I smirked as I thought of something. I took my phone out, and then placed it in their direction.

Three clicks and I’m ready to go.

“Playing with me, huh?” I whispered and flipped my hair back as I marched away.