Taming His Highness (Barcelona Series #1)

CHAPTER 5

“Ten million.”

He repeated. His voice cut through the room like steel. No hesitation. No negotiation.

Nakita ko ang palihim na ngiti ni David, marahil ay iniisip niyang simula na ito ng kanilang tagumpay sa binabalak na paamuhin at kontrolin ang nag-iisang Gael Alvaro Barcelona.

At mukhang hindi nga sila nagkakamali dahil nandito siya.

“Insane! That’s more than the current bid,” David said, as though testing if Gael meant it.

“I’m not here to test waters,” Gael replied, his eyes still pinned on me. “Ten million. Cash. Now.”

The men exchanged looks. They were irritated and resigned. No one dares to raise their hand.

Mas lalong nabuhayan ang awra ni David. “Ten million, going once…”

My chest rose and fell too fast. The heat in Gael’s stare was suffocating, but it was the kind of suffocation that made me want to step closer instead of walking away.

“Going twice…”

“Fifteen million!” The silver-haired man shouted.

What the f**k! Umawang ang aking bibig ng marinig ang halaga ng bid. Napatingin ako sa lalaking ‘yon na ngayon ay nakatayo na. Tumingin siya sa direksyon ni Gael at inangat ang basong hawak na may laman na whiskey, as if telling him that he’s not afraid to counter the offer.

“Omg, maa! Paldong-paldo!” sabi ni Candy na mahigpit ang hawak sa braso ng isang VIP.

“We’re having a great auction here for Miss Luna,” sabi ni David na halata sa boses ang galak at saya dahil malaki ang kikitain nila ngayong gabi.

He faced Gael with a smile, clearly calculating the situation.

“Going once…”

Umikot lang aking mga mata dahil hindi na ako natutuwa. ‘Di ko akalain na hahantong ang lahat sa ganito. I just wanted to be free, hindi yung mag bagsakan sila ng yaman para maikama lang ako.

I looked at him, waiting for him to talk. Ngumisi lamang siya at nilapitan ang naka silver na buhok. They are facing each other, towering the man with just a small space between them.

“Thirty million.” He said so calmly.

May narinig akong mura, ang ibang babae na kasama ko sa podium ay napasinghap. It is as if Gael just dropped a bomb and no one dares to touch or defuse it.

“Thirty million, going once?” hirit muli ni David at binigyang diin talaga ang salitang thirty.

“Going twice…”

Tahimik ang paligid, umigting ang panga ng VIP at ramdam na ramdam sa paligid ang tensyon. I doubt he can still top that up, but at the back of my mind what if he can?

Walang imik na umopo ang lalaking naka-silver na buhok. So, I guess Gael won the auction?

“Sold.” David’s gavel came down with a sharp crack.

Gael didn’t move toward the exit. He moved toward me. Every step was slow, deliberate, claiming the space between us as his.

When he finally stood close enough for me to feel the warmth radiating off him—

“Akin ka lang, Luna. No one else touches you.” He said in a low voice, enough that only I could hear.

Hindi ako nakapagsalita, parang umurong ang dila ko. Hinayaan ko lang si Gael sa bagay na ‘to.

Without breaking our distance, may kinuha siya sa bulsa na nasa loob ng kanyang jacket. Isang makapal na puting envelop at binigay niya kay David.

“Count it. I don’t have patience for paperwork.”

David opened it, did a quick glance inside, “With all due respect, Gael. Mukhang hindi naman ito—”

‘Di niya natuloy ang sasabihin ng bumukas ulit ang pintuan ng silid. May pumasok na dalawang lalaki, pareho silang nakasuot ng black suit at may dalang tatlong briefcase.

David smiled like a man who just closed the deal of the year. Inilapag ng dalawang tauhan ni Gael ang mga briefcase sa maliit na mesa sa harapan ng podium at isa-isang binuksan sa harap mismo ng mga VIP na naroon.

Agad na lumapit si David sa kanila. Malawak ang ngiti at nagniningning ang kanyang mga mata na parang nakakita ng paboritong pagkain.

He turned around and faced us again. “She’s all yours, Mr. Gael.”

Gael didn’t thank him. He simply took my hand—not rough, but not gentle either and guided me off the podium. Every eye in the room followed us.

The hallway outside the VIP suite felt colder, quieter. Gael didn’t say a word until we reached the underground parking, where his car waited like a predator—sleek, black, low to the ground. An Aston Martin, if I wasn’t mistaken.

Binuksan niya ang pinto ng passenger sit, “Get in.”

Nagdalawang isip ako. Hindi dahil sa ayaw ko kundi dahil may kakaiba sa kanya ngayon…mas nakakatakot.

“Luna.”

My name left his lips like a command, and I found myself obeying before my brain caught up.

Sumalubong sa akin ang leather seat habang siya ay umupo na sa driver’s side.

The low growl of the engine vibrating through my bones and the scent of him—woody, crisp, with a hint of something darker filled the enclosed space, making my pulse stumble.

Mahigit sampung minuto na ang dumaan, tahimik lang ako habang nagmamaneho si Gael. Inalala ko ang kaganapan kanina, kung paano nila ako pinag-agawan. Siguro kung sa iba pa ‘yon nangyari ay feeling maganda na siya dahil dalawang bilyonaryo ang gusto siyang makasama.

Ngunit para sa akin? I felt insulted…

“You look a little upset,”

I glanced at him. His jaw was set, eyes focused on the road, but there was heat simmering under the surface.

“Saan tayo pupunta?” I asked, my voice barely above a whisper.

Bahagyang umangat ang gilid ng kanyang labi, hindi ‘yon ngiti—more like a warning.

“Home.”

Mayamaya lang ay huminto kami sa isang glass-and-steel penthouse building, overlooking sa syudad.

Pareho kaming tahimik habang nasa loob ng elevator. Napakalapit niya sa aking tabi, animo’y ramdam ko ang init na sumisingaw sa kanyang katawan.

When the doors slid open, the scent of him was replaced by another—clean, expensive, faintly smoky. The penthouse was all sharp lines and glass walls, the city skyline spilling in like a living backdrop. Warm light pooled from recessed fixtures, leaving pockets of shadow that felt… deliberate.

Pumasok ako sa loob at pigil ang hininga dahil sa pagkamangha sa kanyang bahay. Buong sulok ata ay ninanakawan ko ng tingin.

Isang mahinang tunog ng pagsara ng pinto ang aking narinig.

“You’re looking around like you’re trying to memorize the way out,” he said, voice low and faintly amused.

Natutop ang aking bibig, ‘di ko akalaing napapansin niya ang aking kilos kahit hindi ko naman pinapahalata.

“N-Namamangha lang ako…” tipid kong sagot at nagpunta sa floor-to-ceiling window na kitang-kita ang siyudad ng San Matias.

“Why are you upset?”

“I’m not,” I replied without looking back at him.

I could feel his presence at my back, and my heart reacted violently to it.

“You’re lying, Luna. Iniisip mo ba ang naganap na auction kanina?”

Hindi ako sumagot, nanatili lamang ang aking tingin sa tanawin na makikita sa labas ng kanyang penthouse.

“Turn around.”

Unti-unti akong napalunok. I wanted to resist, pero para bang may hindi nakikitang sinulid ang humihila sa akin. Slowly, I turned.

Nakatayo siya roon, malapit lang, his gaze sharp, dark, and unyielding. Natanggal na niya ang jacket na suot at nakalatag iyon sa itim na couch.

Unti-unti siyang humahakbang palapit sa akin hanggang sa ang malamig na pader na gawa sa salamin ang humarang sa aking likod. I pressed back instinctively, my chest tightening.

“Bakit mo ginawa ‘yon?” mahina kong tanong. “Para ba insultuhin ako sa harap nila? Para ipakita na kaya mong bilhin ang kahit na sino… kahit ako?”

A flicker of annoyance crossed his face, pero agad din iyong napalitan ng isang matalim na titig. He leaned closer, his hand braced against the glass just beside my head, caging me in without touching me.

“You think I offered that amount to humiliate you?” His voice was low, controlled, but there was an edge that made my knees weak. “No, Luna. Ginawa ko ‘yon…dahil hindi ko hahayaang may ibang lalaking makakahawak sayo. Hindi ko hahayaang bastusin ka ng kahit sino.” His jaw clenched, eyes burning into mine. “I didn’t pay to own you. I paid to protect what I want… and what I want is you.”