Confidential

Chapter Fifteen

Sari stared at her reflection in the dark glass of the condo window, barely recognizing the woman staring back. Her hair was a mess, her eyes bloodshot, but it wasn’t fatigue that hollowed her out, it was pure, controlled fury. She’d spent the whole morning pacing, replaying every smug look and veiled insult from Matthew Elizalde the night before. She had offered a negotiation. He had answered with an amended lawsuit, delivered by Ardent Lex before dawn.

When Mariella arrived, Sari was already at the kitchen counter, coffee untouched, laptop open, reviewing the updated legal documents. The news had not broken yet, but the escalation felt like a ticking time bomb.

“Don’t read that legal garbage right now,” Mariella said, placing a hand on the back of the chair. “It’ll just piss you off.”

“Too late,” Sari said dryly, closing the laptop, her movements precise and tense. “The amended claim targets me personally, Mariella. He’s added charges of personal libel and harassment. He’s using my attendance at his club as leverage for his lawsuit. What is our move?”

“Our move is to prepare our formal response to Ardent Lex’s amended claim, highlighting the obvious malice and intimidation,” Mariella said, measured and professional. “And Sari, we need to tell your father about this escalation.”

“No,” Sari said immediately, her tone sharp enough to cut the air.

Mariella blinked, surprised by the intensity. “Sari, he’s the primary defendant. We can’t hide a personal charge like this from him.”

Sari pushed off the counter, turning away to hide the sudden vulnerability in her eyes. “I said no,” she repeated, her voice dropping. She took a deep breath, steeling herself. “Mariella, you don’t know. Last year, my father had a mild stroke. The doctors said it was stress-related. He’s fine now, he’s stable, but his heart can’t take another hit like this. I won’t risk him finding out I’m personally implicated, not until I know how to make this disappear.”

Mariella stared, shocked by the revelation. “A stroke? Sari, why didn’t you tell me?”

“It was kept private. I’m telling you now so you understand,” Sari continued, rubbing her temple. “Eventually isn’t now. For now, I want this contained. You, me, Joan, that’s it. No one else.”

Mariella slowly exhaled, her lawyer’s calculation momentarily softened by concern. “Alright. For now. But it’s ridiculous that you’re the one being painted as the villain. You came here to help your family, and he’s turned it into a circus.”

“I’m losing a battle I didn’t even start,” Sari gave a bitter, humorless laugh.

Mariella sat down. “You’re not losing. He’s just playing dirty. And if you let him get under your skin, he wins.”

Sari leaned back in her chair, running both hands through her hair. “Mariella, is there any way I can reach him directly? His personal line?”

“No chance,” Mariella said firmly. “He’s a high-profile client. All communications go through Ardent Lex. Even I can’t pull his number.”

Sari’s jaw tightened. “So, what? I just sit here and wait for him to attack again?”

“That’s exactly what you should do,” Mariella said carefully. “The first plan didn’t work, Sari. You can’t keep poking the bear. We draft the formal response and wait.”

Sari stood, her agitation a visible force. She walked over to the stack of files Mariella had brought. “Look, I can’t think straight here. I need solitude, or I’m going to smash this window. You need to get back to your office and start drafting our formal response. We need to look busy.”

Mariella narrowed her eyes, gathering her files. “That tone tells me you’re about to do something stupid the moment I’m out the door.”

“I’m going to strategize,” Sari corrected, her voice dangerously even. “Go. Handle the paperwork. I’ll call you later.”

Mariella sighed, recognizing the dismissal. “Fine. But don’t call him. That is a truly catastrophic idea, Sari.”

“I won’t,” Sari replied, voice clipped.

Mariella shot her one final, suspicious glance, picked up her bag, and left the condo.

The moment the lock clicked, Sari moved. She walked straight to her kitchen counter, her face set in cold fury. She took her and in there, stored Matthew's corporate direct line number she researched.

Her fingers hovered over the keyboard before she typed the number and hit dial.

The line rang twice before a polished female voice answered. “Good morning, Metroline Group. How may I direct your call?”

“Matthew Elizalde’s office, please,” Sari said, her tone clipped and professional.

“May I ask who’s calling?”

“Czarina Howard.”

There was a pause, then the faint click of the line being transferred. Another ring. Then another.

Then a voice, deep, familiar, and dangerously calm. “Elizalde.”

Sari froze for half a second, then straightened, forcing her voice steady. “Mr. Elizalde. This is Czarina Howard.”

A pause. Then a quiet, knowing chuckle. “I was wondering how long it would take you to call.”

“Don’t flatter yourself,” she snapped. “I’m calling because you’ve escalated a claim against my family’s clinic and added a fabricated charge against me personally.”

“I don’t fabricate, Doctor. I document.”

“Then your documentation is as flawed as your ego,” Sari shot back. “You think you can intimidate me into backing off? You’ve picked the wrong woman.”

There was a low hum of amusement on the other end. “You’re angry. I like you angry.”

“Good,” she said icily. “Because you’re going to hear a lot more of it.”

Matthew’s voice dropped, smooth and slow, the sound of a man completely in control. “You’ve got five minutes before my next meeting. Make them count.”

Sari gritted her teeth. “Five minutes is all I’ll need. I didn’t come to Manila to fight a billionaire’s tantrum. I came to clean up a mess. I gave you a chance to resolve this quietly, but if this is the game you want to play, fine. I’ll play it. But don’t underestimate me again.”

There was a pause on the line, followed by a soft, almost admiring laugh. Matthew’s voice was now a low rasp, cutting through the background static.

“You’ve seen nothing yet, Doctor. I want to see the absolute peak of your fury. That heat, that fight, I'm going to own it. Because we both know where this is heading, and I'll make sure you scream that lawsuit right out of your system when I'm balls-deep in you, and I will make sure that you scream as I f**k you in all positions.”

Sari’s breath hitched, not from fear, but from the searing, absolute nerve of the man. The phone was icy in her hand. Her face was set, every muscle rigid with contempt and furious determination. She hung up without another word, cutting the line dead.

The silence that followed was thick and humming, leaving Sari completely enraged.