CHAPTER ONE
1013 Words
"Find her! I am giving you 24 hours to find Anya. Or else you will face the consequences, Mr.Lo."
Simone massaged her aching nape.
Ah, she really needs a good massage right now in her favorite Medi-Spa.
The witch of a sister of her caused trouble again.
Hindi pa nakontento sa ginawa nitong panghihiya sa kanilang pamilya noong nakaraang taon na hindi pagsipot sa kasal nito.
Ngayon naman ay gumawa na naman ng kalokohan.
She joined an all -male motorcycle competition. Worst, ikinulong ni Anya sa isang hotel room ang lalake na competitor.
She already gave the poor man a huge amount of money as an apology. And he made sure he will not file a law suit againts her sister.
Wala siyang pakialam sa pera. She can earn it in just minutes.
What she's angry at is her sister's uncontrollable behavior.
Alam niyang sinasadya lahat ni Anya ang lahat-inisin siya at ang kanilang ama.
But he wants his Dad away from all of this. Matanda na si Don Philippe para sa mga problemang ibinibigay ni Anya.
She remembered her late Mom. Kung buhay pa sana siya, siguro ay hindi magiging sutil ang bunso niyang kapatid.
Nakaramdam ng hindi maipaliwanag na sakit sa dibdib ang dalaga. How she missed her Mom. Hindi na nasilayan pa ng knyang ina ang kanyang tagumpay.
A sudden, sharp pain in her left chest made her felt worried. Matagal na niyang nararamdaman yun although, she wants to be checked by their family doctor ay natatakot ang dalaga na malamang may malala siyang sakit.
No.Hindi siya pwedeng magkasakit.
Pero dahil sa kanyang kapatid na suwail ay magkakasakit nga yata siya...
A soft knock on the door brought back her senses. Inayos niya ang pagkakaupo.
Her assistant can't see her in this miserable condition.
Kilala siya ng lahat bilang prim and proper- walang inuurungan.
Untouchable.
"Come in."
Alanganing ngumiti si France, ito ang kanyang executive assistant. Apat lahat ang knyang mga sekretarya, but France is the best of all kaya ginawa niyang executive assistant. Though, they're not close...they are simply professional to each other. Ayaw niyang mapalapit ang loob niya sa ibang tao. Naranasan na niyang traydurin at talikuran ng mga taong pinagkatiwalaan niya. It will never happen again.
"What is it?" she asked. Her face void of any emotion.
Masakit pa rin ang kaliwa niyang dibdib.
But she managed to hid it.
" Mr. Saintclaire has been waiting for an hour, Ms. Laurent. You have a meeting with him scheduled today."
alanganing ngumiti ang babae.
Waring tinatantya ang mood niya.
Napamura ng lihim ang dalaga.
She forgot about it dahil kay Anya.
"Tell him to come back next week. And please cancel all my schedule today. I am not in the mood."
This rarely happen. Ayaw na ayaw niyang naka cancel ang knyang mga appointments. But today, she's not really feeling good.
Mukhang nagulat si France sa sinabi niya.
"Last week, he was here also. You told him to come back today. "
matapang na sagot ng sekretarya.
Yun ang gusto niya dito-straightforward.
Kahit ilag sa kanya ay hindi nagpapakitang-tao.
" Who is he anyway?"
"The owner of Saintclaire pHarmaceutical. He is here for the merging negotiation."
Oh yeah. If not for his father, hindi niya papansinin ang merger. But her Dad told her that it would be a wise decision kahit papalugi na ang kompanya. Because they own a very crucial patented medicine.
Ah, her Dad being a businessman.
" I'm not in the mood today. Tell him to come tomorrow."
tinalikuran na niya si France na halatang hindi nagustuhan ang sagot niya dahil napapailing.
"Miss Rivas."tinawag niya ang sekretarya bago pa man ito makalabas sa kanyang opisina.
"Hand him a coupon. He can spend the day in Playa Hotel for free."
Ang Playa Hotel ang isa sa pagmamay-ari niyang five star hotel sa bansa. May mga branches yun around Asia na pinamamahalaan ngayon ng isa pa niyang kapatid na babae.
Para naman hindi sumama ang loob ng lalake ay kailangan niyang bigyan ng pampalubag-loob.
_______________________________________
Luca was furious.
Halos limang oras ang hinintay niya makausap lang ang presidente ng Laurent Pharma.
"I'm sorry but the CEO is not available today."
Yun lang ang tanging sagot ng Executive Assistant ng CEO.
Well, he can't put the blame on her. She's just following orders.
So, the rumor is true.
She is ruthless.
An Ice Queen.
If not for his parents hindi siya uuwi mula sa Germany at iwan pansamatala ang trabaho para makipag-usap sa may-ari ng Laurent Pharma.
But he has to.
Papalugi na ang kompanyang itinayo ng Daddy niya. The reason is mismanagement. Masyadong nagtiwala ang knyang ama sa mga tauhan nito.
But he will not let it slide.
Paiimbistigahan niya ang mga taong responsable sa pagbagsak ng kanilang negosyo.
Well, he blamed himself for this
Dahil mas pinili niya ang kanyang career keysa tulungan ang kanyang pamilya sa pagpapatakbo ng kanilang negosyo.
But the job was not easy as he thought.
Masyadong mailap si Simone Laurent.
At mapagmataas.
Can't blame her
At a young age she is very successful.
Not only in the Philippines but around Asia.
He sighed and left Laurent building.
But as he is going to the carpark, a tall figure caught his attention.
She's wearing dark eyeglasses. Her hair was in a bun.
Nakasuot ito ng itim na business suit.
The color of her purse is black as well.
Malakas ang kutob niya na si Simone Laurent ang babae.
Nakita na niya ang larawan nito sa business magazine.
Pero hindi malinaw dahil hindi ito basta- basta nagpapakuha ng larawan- which is a mystery to him.
But her height and hairstyle says it all.
Gusto niyang lapitan ang babae at tanungin pero nagdalawang isip siya.
Susundan na lang niya ito.
Napabuga siya ng hangin ng makita ang sasakyan nito.
A 1962 Ferrari 250 GTO.
Kahit ilang taon siguro siyang maglalakad sa runway ay hindi niya mabibili ang sasakyan.
Tumigil ang sasakyan sa harap ng isang...Spa?
She cancelled the meeting dahil pupunta ito sa Spa?
Hindi makapaniwalang napasuntok na lang sa steering wheel ang binata.
- Writer
