F-orbidden Dalliance: Enemies to Lovers Romance ENGLISH

Chapter 1

― you want me to carry these

burdens for me to become

a better person?

“Stop that smug look, Kisu. Everyone’s aware this is an arranged marriage but you don’t have to look unhappy. You’re making me look bad.”

From the large plates carefully laid in front of us, I dart my eyes up to Leonid. Somehow, his words work like a wake-up call to me, along with it is the guilt.

We are both under this situation because of our families. Our fathers were colleagues before they decided to be partners in business. Our family is into financing while theirs is into construction, Leonid being one of their engineers. Both families don’t want any other families to take control of what they built for years. They only trust close friends and partners.

I’m aware of dad’s struggle to build our company and maintain its status in society. Being the only daughter, I was told from childhood how I would take charge of it when the time comes. Of course, I was excited about it but have gradually discovered what I really want.

I want to please my parents, but deep inside me, I want to follow my heart. Pursuing what I want abruptly becomes a difficult call. Especially because, in exchange, it is my relationship with my parents that is at stake. I never want to disappoint them.

Leonid is in the same situation. He is the heiress to the MHR cement and steel manufacturing company. His brother Henry, is too young, still a grade-schooler if I’m not mistaken. We don’t share childhood experiences, but we're aware we are under the same situation with our parents: one of their many achievements. Trophies to be displayed in public. Obedient children.

We know that as children, we are obliged to follow our parents.

He rolls his eyes and looks away from my piercing gaze. He had a girlfriend before the engagement announcement broke out. Without second thoughts, he broke up with the girl. I didn’t hear about it after that. Though it was quite surprising how he broke something that obviously was precious to him just like that.

He’s like: Oh, arranged marriage with the Villaramas? Okay, wait and I’ll break up with my girlfriend.

I can’t help but imagine myself being in his situation. If I were the one who had a boyfriend before all of these, would I be able to break it so easily? Would my boyfriend even allow it? I guess it’s luck I’m never committed, huh?

I sigh and absent-mindedly sip on my lemon juice. It’s a good thing I’m not committed. The situation will really be too chaotic for me. I praise Leonid at how strong and passive he takes the situation. He’s too selfless. I wish I could be as strong as him.

He stands, straightens his coat, and pulls on his collar. “Let’s greet the guests. We’ll stay here for another ten minutes then excuse ourselves.”

“But this is our… our party,” I reluctantly said.

He gives me a blank look. “We’ll tell them you’re tired or something. We can’t stay here with you looking like that.”

He offers his arm to me. We know there are eyes watching us. There are press and media to cover the event. I snake my arm around his arm and let him guide us towards the guests. This is more like a business to us than a marriage. There’s no emotion attached. Only about the figure we are creating to the public for our family names’ sake.

“You two look good together. I wish this was the wedding!” A lady with an emerald dress cheerfully greets us with that remark. I remember her with my mom when she took me to a meeting with her amigas. It was a monotonous meeting with everyone trying to convince the group how they are into the arts. It disappoints me how opulent groups take art for granted.

Leonid kindly smiles at her. I did the same out of customary respect. Growing up in this class of industry, and knowing the rank of the eyes constantly following our actions, I was taught to forever act with respect and in a ladylike manner.

It’s a good thing to have good manners and all. But it’s tiring at most times.

Two other men and women of her age join our circle. I can’t honestly tell which is and which is not sincere. Despite the different designs and colors of branded clothes, they are all similar to me. All made out of the same moldings. Same smiles. Same praises. Same voices. Same scrutinizing eyes. Nothing new. Repetitive. Sickening.

“You’ll make a perfect family. I can’t wait to see your children.”

My cheeks heat at how scandalous it sounds to my ear. I reminded myself that I should be natural no matter how I’m not used to it. Leonid caresses my arm and pushes me closer to him. The ladies gasp. Their faces turned red. The men in the group chuckle and put their arms around their partners as well. I give their playful eyes a polite smile.

After the announcement of the coming engagement to the public, Leonid and I make it a job to make an impression in front of everyone. It’s good for business. For people to see how the two families are getting along well. Good for future investments and lifetime partners. That was three years ago. The memory got lost somewhere in the back of my head. Even Leonid forgot about it and became serious with his then-girlfriend.

Until they reminded us again. Our reaction was as if we’re only hearing about it for the first time. Blindedly, we continued with the act. With the whole world as our audience. Or if this is merely acting. This can be our training ground so it will all be natural in the near future. Smoothly as if real.

Maybe we can fool ourselves, too. What an achievement.

I wonder why no one ever notices how pretentious our relationship is. People will see what we want them to see and therefore believe what their eyes heed. It should be an effortless task for the two of us. But considering how our future is at stake, how we are going to fake everything until the end, is considerably difficult.

Disregarding your true feelings is always a struggle.

I don’t want to get married. I want to be free. I want to learn more. I want to do more. But only I know about those ‘more’.

“Kisu,” dad’s voice comes from behind us. He receives greetings from our circle. He greets everyone back but as I get to watch him closely, I notice something off. He gently gets a hold of my arm and motion for us to come with him. Leonid excuses us from the group.

“I didn’t know your father invited Mr. Racini,” dad said adamantly, his teeth grinding together.

Leonid looks around, his face is stoic and calm. “I’m sure it’s just for formality, Tito. But I don’t know why he’d be really here.”

“You’re right. For him to be here is risky. I hope it’s something else and not about our business.”

“Charlie,” Tito Thomas joined us at the table.

“Tito,” I accepted his hand and raised the back of it to touch my forehead. He smiles at me, the wrinkles under his eyes become visible. His eyes drifted from my dad to his son, and back at my dad.

“Thomas, what is this?” Dad started, unable to control his resurfacing disappointment. “What is that shark doing here?”

Tito Thomas’ face crumples as he shakes his head. “I sent his secretary an invitation for formality since all the investors received one. It would be too suspicious not to give him an invitation.”

“I know about that thing, but why would he bother himself going here? Are you sure he’s not up to something? What if he has taken an interest in our company?”

Tito shakes his head, confident that nothing like that is the reason for Mr. Racini’s appearance. He has a guess of the real reason but he is not able to say it to my father. The aforementioned intruder walks to us in a deliberate but suave manner.

“I’m here to congratulate the couple.”

It’s an automatic response to swallowing hard. My knees go weak. I shiver at the chills on my back. I was grateful for Leonid's arm that moved quickly to keep me upright . He asks in a whisper if I’m okay but I barely hear his voice. I can only nod for an answer. I mimic the action of the two elders in front of us. I looked up at the cause of the sudden tension in the air.

“Mr. Villarama… Mr. Pascual.” Mr. Racini held out his hand. Confidence oozing from the tip of his perfectly styled hair to the sole of his shoes. Dad straightens his posture and is the one to first accept the hand. Then Tito Thomas. Leonid accepted it, too. “Congratulations.”

“Thank you,” was Leonid’s formal reply.

Two weeks. Two weeks later and we’re standing face to face with each other. Only now we’re not alone. We have everyone as our audience. And we’re not the main character for those spectacles.

No, the main protagonist here is none other than him. The only elusive Mr. Racini taking his time to congratulate someone who’s not even as important as the ink of his pen.

It feels like a long time and, honestly, nothing to me now. Especially after how he sees me as nothing like before. We see each other at events like this but this is the first time he has approached my dad. On my peripheral view, I see the curious gaze of the people. A flash of camera lights from the dark corner. The press doesn't mean to take a shot, but their instinct clicks it anyway because it’ll be a big scoop.

“We don’t do business with sharks.”

I remember dad stating with gritted teeth during the dinner of two families for the engagement. Daddy hates the thought of Leonid’s family still connected with Mr. Racini as the man is the biggest shareholder in MHR. Dad is worried of Mr. Racini taking interest in the whole business. Ours might be in danger, too.

“He has no interest in constructions,” Tito answered and sipped on his wine.

“Yet…” Dad enunciated and narrowed his eyes. “he invested too much in your company.”

Tito’s face turned sour but quickly dismissed whatever thoughts occurred to him. “You should not worry about anything. It was a long time ago, and I can’t just kick him out of my company with those shares. He doesn’t want to sell them, anyway. But that kid knows nothing but to bet to show off his money and power. He will have nothing to do with my business.”

Dad was not convinced though. It was plainly visible in his expression. He badly wanted Mr. Racini out. In the following board meeting, he insisted Tito Thomas to buy out Mr. Racini. Dad is willing to lend Tito Thomas money to accomplish it, but it will be too difficult considering the man is one of the major stockholders.

His shares are not a joke. And as a matter of fact, he’s next to the Llamas’ family as owner. Tito Thomas is also certain Mr. Racini will gain most of the voting powers during the general meeting so he’s afraid to try their plans to throw him out.

He won’t be called shark for nothing. I can now understand dad’s fear of him. He has his own ways to keep things in favor of him. It’s obvious Tito Thomas doesn’t have a plan to execute their plan because he knows the end of it already. Dad is just in denial and wanting all the means to get Mr. Racini off their shadows.

For what reason? I have no idea but the man’s reputation in dirty games.

I start studying the ins and outs of the industry as per Leonid’s advice. Dad doesn’t know about it, yet. Based on the documents and articles I read. I randomly saw something about Mr. Racini being a ‘monster’ as the investor of multiple companies. And I don’t want to mention the rest of it.

“Are you okay?” Leonid asks for the second time as I turn rigid beside him. Mr. Racini has long left us but the after-effect of his startling appearance remains on me and my dad, who takes his drink in one large gulp. Tito Thomas joins him but he’s a little at ease compared to my father’s state.

I nodded to Leonid but my eyes were on Mr. Racini’s back. He’s speaking to the group of businessmen who meekly waited for him. Agitation is plastered on their distorted faces. Shaking lips move at an amazing speed as if the world will collapse in a second. Gaining ‘yes’, or a mere nod from Mr. Racini will be their only lifeline.

If I’m not mistaken, one of them is the governor in a province. He’s been around the news because their business connected commercial farming dropped due to pressing dilemmas in the varieties of crops.

“That’s Min Hugh Racini. You know him.” I nod to Leonid’s words. “He can be rude if he wants to. Don’t mind him.”

He mimics the movement of my head to reassure me my reaction is normal and that he understands. That’s when I realized what he meant. Mr. Racini didn’t greet me. He didn’t even throw me a glance.

“Your dad won’t introduce you to him. It’s not necessary. Tito Charlie doesn’t want you close to him.”

“What’s wrong? Is there a problem? You look pale,” dad promptly takes notice as Leonid leads me to their table despite his discomfort from a particular invited, but unexpected guest.

“I think she’s tired, Tito. I’ll bring her home.”

Dad nods and stands from his chair. “You should start planning to move into your new home together.”

Uncomfortable. Among the four of us, I am the only one who feels bitter about it. If Leonid feels the same discomfort, he makes sure not to give himself away. He’s always good at concealing his emotions. I started to know him better than the people around us. We both do.

“I told you they can stay in my son’s place temporarily. They will stay in their newly-built home with their family so it has to be planned well. They can start practicing being married in his bachelor’s pad.”

Practicing. That’s how they put this engagement. Practice for a forever agreement. The marriage.

No one commented, but dad deliberately nodded his head as if contemplating.

I doubt he’s had a hard time deciding for me. All the decisions in my life are decided overnight.

“We’ll go first,” Leonid excuses us again. We waited for their approvals before finally leaving. My mom and Leonid’s mom are with their colleagues in a private room. That’s why dad said he’d tell mommy we left already.

I didn’t see Mr. Racini before leaving the place, so I’m certain he left after his intrusion with us. It’s still odd why he bothered to attend here when he knew the invitation came for him out of business traditions.

I usually don't feel anything when he’s around. Even after what happened between us that very night, I don’t feel anything that might be a problem. I was certain and at ease knowing it will remain a secret.

But tonight, I feel something different. Something in my stomach. Off. Odd. Could it be butterflies? I shook my head the instant the thoughts came to me.

Perhaps, it’s the muddle of fear, worries, and anxiety. Before, my dad never had a conversation with him even as concise and plain as earlier. And that’s the problem because he walks to us without a genuine invitation. And it really scares me.

Leonid is silent as he drives me home. I feel guilty. He easily let go of his girlfriend for this situation. I don’t have excess baggage with me. I shouldn’t become problematic. I am becoming aware of how much trouble that one night’s mistake can make. Not only to me but to everyone.

I don’t want to regret my decision, but I really wish Mr. Racini would gladly be a professional as he is and mind his own business.