Restraint Heart (Eligible Heiress #1)

Prologue

I opened my eyes as I felt the stream of sunlight that touched my cheeks. Walang anu-ano akong bumangon sa pagkakahiga at nag-ayos for my morning run.

I wore my black running shorts, black running shoes and a grey hoodie.

It's like I'm on a loop, doing the very same thing everyday. Go for morning run, set my playlist on repeat, and run the same route to and from my pad.

I never looked at the people I passed by or came around. I am not interested in making small talks or s**t like that. Time is money and money is power.

As I opened my front door, I quickly removed my hoodie and heard a rustling noise coming from my living room.

"Hey, handsome. Have you seen my underwear? Hindi ka na nag-stay sa kuwarto kagabi after that amazing...." A seductive, flirty tone of a woman greeted me in my living room.

"Nope. And I do have a room to sleep in. If you're done fixing yourself, you can show yourself out." I answered in a nonchalant manner.

She swayed her hips as she walked to where I stand and lifted her index finger from my cheek, down to my bare chest.

I didn't flinched, she does not affect me and she's no different from the other women I bed. I just stood straight looking at her while waiting for her to move and get the hell out.

"You can keep it." Sabi niya saboy abot ng kanyang underwear sa skin. "A remembrance from me." kindat niya.

"Tatawagan mo naman ulit ako, hindi ba? I enjoyed last night." Dagdag pa niya nang hindi siya nakakuha ng sagot mula sa akin.

"I don't do a do over. It is a one night thing. You know where the door is, you can leave." Sabay noon ang pag tanggal ko ng daliri niyang nakadikit sa aking dibdib.

Now I feel disgusted. Hindi ko alam ang pumasok sa isip ko kung bakit dinala ko siya rito sa aking pad.

"f**k you!" she spat on my face.

"Yeah, I did. Last night." I stressed. "And that's all you're going to get. Now leave!" I said in an irritated, angry voice.

Galit na galit ang mga mata niyang nakatitig sa akin pero pagkatapos ng ilang segundo ay kumaripas din siya palabas ng aking pad.

Yeah, typical morning.

Showered and dressed in my dark blue three-piece suit and black necktie, I drove my black Lamborghini to work.

Arriving a few minutes at my building, my employees greeted me good morning as I walked pass them. All I did was just nod at them, some I just ignored. It has never been a good morning for me.

"Good morning, Mr. Hidalgo! I put the papers on your table that you requested sa finance department and also contracts that needed to be signed." My assistant's modulated voice echoes across the hall tailing me to my office.

"Thank you, Prescott. Anything else?"

"Ah yes, Mr. Hidalgo. Pinapatanong po ni Mr. Ortega if makakapunta kayo sa opening ng bar lounge niya tonight?"

I sighed as I remembered na ngayon pala ang opening ng bar ni Mason.

"Yes, tell him I will be there." I answered.

I won't hear the end of it from my dear friend kapag hindi ako nakapunta. Free booze is not bad, plus I think I will need it tonight.

I faced the view from my office looking through the floor-to-ceiling windows covering the external wall of my office. From 20th floor, this view gives me the feeling of exquisite feeling of empowerment. I am at the very top and I take pride on the empire that I built throughout the years. At the age of 34, I can say that I'm a coveted billionaire.

Some would say wala na akong hihilingin pa dahil lahat nasa akin na. But why do feel na may kulang? There is this hollow space ready to be filled with I don't know what and it's bothering me for the past few months since that girl. That Pride and Prejudice girl.

I saw my reflection from the window smiling like an i***t and I suddenly pursed my lips.

"Idiot." I muttered to myself.

Hours pass by and I didn't notice that it's already time to swing by at the lounge of Mason for the opening night.

Pasakay na sana ako ng kotse ko pagkahatid ng valet sa tapat ng building nang may narinig akong tumawag sa aking pangalan.

"Enzo, wait!" A very familiar voice called me.

Napalingon ako sa bandang kanan ko, and there I saw the woman I thought I will spend the rest of my life with.

Mabilis siyang naglakad papunta sa akin and looked at me longingly.

"What are you doing here? I thought you're in New York." Gulat kong tanong sa kanya.

"Well... I was. But I'm back.. for good." She smiled at me.

That smile that got me from the start. That smile that makes my heart beat fast. That smile I thought I will see every morning of my everyday for the rest of my life.

"For good?" I asked a bit hesitant.

"Yes. Can we talk over dinner?" She smiled again as she looked at me in the eye.

Hindi ako nakasagot agad. I want to talk to her and ask her things, but I can't ditch Mason. She can wait. Like she said, she's here for good.

"I can't today. I'm running late for an event."

"Oh." Bigo niyang tugon. "Maybe I can join you? Wala naman akong gagawin. Kung okay lang naman sa'yo. Saan ka ba pupunta?" she asked.

Kahit gaano ko kagusto na makausap at makasama siya, kailangan ko ng umalis at ipaalala sa sarili ko na matagal ng tapos ang lahat sa amin. Wala ng kami at hindi na magbabago 'yun kaya wala na akong ibang nagawa kundi ang umalis sa harapan niya.

"Maybe next time, Cassy. I'm really running late."

Mabilis akong tumalikod sa kanya pasakay ng kotse at dali-dali kong pinaharurot ang sasakyan ko papuntang lounge.

I don't know if I still feel the same for her, but one thing is for sure is that something's changed since the last time I've seen her. Hindi na bumilis ang t***k ng puso ko nang makita siya, hindi tulad ng dati. My heart is calm and I'm not yet ready to open those deep wounds again.

'THE SOFT" ang pangalan ng bagong bar lounge ni Mason. It is located at the rooftop sa bago rin na tayong hotel na ito. It has a very opulent interior. The guests can either lounge indoors or enjoy the cool evening breeze on the outdoor deck, straight up offers the best of both.

While surveying the place, may naramdaman na lang ako na biglang umakbay sa akin. No one can just put their arm around my shoulders, except for one.

"Yo bro, Enzo! Akala ko hindi mo na naman ako sisiputin. Late ka." Bati ng aking malapit na kaibigan.

"I told you I'll come." Sagot ko sabay tanggal ng braso niya sa aking balikat.

"Yah, yah. Tara sa bar. Or do you like to see the view outside?" Taas na kilay niyang tanong.

"Sa bar nalang. I need some alcohol." I said at sabay kaming nagtungo roon.

Pagkaupo pa lang namin ay may inilagay na kaagad ang bartender sa aming harapan na isang kopita na may alak.

"On the house bro." tinaas ni Mason ang kanyang kopita sa akin at ininom ang alak kaya ganoon na rin ang aking ginawa para sabayan siya.

"I heard she's back, bro. Have you seen her?" May pagka kuryoso niyang tanong sabay tingin sa akin pagkatapos niyang uminom ng isa pa.

Iniwas ko ang mga mata ko at iginala na lamang ang paningin sa mga alak na nasa aming harapan. Kahit hindi niya sabihin, alam ko na kung sino ang tinutukoy niya.

"Yes." 'yun na lamang ang naisagot ko sa kanya.

I don't see any reason to explain anything to anyone. Isa pa, wala naman kaming napag-usapan na kahit ano.

"So... How is she? Narinig ko she is back for good. What do you think? Akala ko ba ang sabi niya hindi niya alam kung babalik pa siya rito sa Pilipinas? Ngayon for good na. Ang gulo lang. Hindi kaya...."

I look at him with irritation to cut him off. "Why don't you ask her instead?"

Hindi ko siya gustong pag-usapan at wala akong balak pag-usapan ang nakaraan namin ni Cassy. Hindi ako nagpunta rito para roon. Isa pa, matagal ko ng binaon ang mga alaalang meroon kami.

Mabilis naman na napalingon sa akin si Mason at sabay taas niya ng kanyang dalawang kamay sa ere. "Dude, take a chill pill okay? Nagtatanong lang naman. Ang init bigla ng ulo e." sabay iling niya. "Alam mo kung ano ang kailangan mo to calm your s**t down?" Nakangising sabi niya.

"What?" I answered in a not interested, lazy manner I can muster.

"You need to get laid. I know this chick bro... big..." inihugis niya sa kanyang dibdib ang nais sabihin "bangable."

Napailing na lamang ako ng nakangiti sa kalokohan ng aking kaibigan.

"I don't think I'm in the mood for-"

Napatigil ako sa pagsasalita nang nahagip ng paningin ko sa gilid ang isang babae na nakatayo sa may pintuan kung saan ang pasukan ng lounge. Mukha itong may hinahanap na kung sino.

Tinuon ko ang buong atensiyon sa kanya at bahagya pang humarap sa kanyang gawi. I tilted my head to her, she looks familiar. I think I already saw her somewhere. I think she's... No, that can't be possible. This woman I'm seeing right now is different. So much different.

She has her hair pulled up in a ponytail na may iilang hibla ng buhok na nakalaylay and she is wearing a black dress that fit snugly on the right curves of her body and shows a hint of her midriff, matching it with a black heels.

Hindi maliwanag ang lounge kaya hindi ko mapagmasdan ang kanyang mukha ng mabuti, but she has this aura of elegance in her that people will know na hindi siya basta-basta lang na babae. It's like she knows what she wants but don't know how to get it.

Sinundan ko siya ng tingin hanggang sa dumiretso siya sa isang sofa sa isang gilid sa malayong harapan namin, at doon tinitigan ko siya ng mabuti. Suddenly, nakaramdam ako ng kaba at napahawak ako ng mahigpit sa kopita na aking hawak.

Mason snaps his fingers in front of my face and I scowl at him. Anong problema ng lalaking 'to?

"Dude, Galaw-galaw baka ma-stroke." Nakatawa niyang sabi. "Sino ba 'yang tinitignan mo at para mo ng hinihimay sa mga titig mo? Mag-share ka naman, ikaw nalang masaya e."

Sinubukan niyang hanapin ang sinumang tinititigan ko pero hindi niya mawari kung sino at saan.

"f**k you, Mason! Wala kang pakialam!" singhal ko sa kanya dahil naputol ang malalim kong pag-iisip.

Tawang-tawa siya sa inasta ko sabay alis sa lugar niya. "Whatever, bro. Enjoy the bar, it's on me." Sabi niya habang papalayo.

Muli kong binalingan ng tingin ang babaeng pamilyar sa akin at nakita ko na may kasama at kausap na siyang isang babae at isang lalaki.

I can't be mistaken. She may look different but she is definitely The Pride and Prejudice girl I sat with at the coffee shop a few months ago.

I smile form on my lips.

It's her. She's here.