Bound by Bullets and Vows

CHAPTER 8

“YOUNG LADY, is this real?” hindi makapaniwalang tanong ni Artemis habang inaabot kay Reese ang ilang dokumento na kailangan nitong pirmahan.

Tumango si Reese.

“You and Alaric Volkov really had an engagement?” tanong pa ni Artemis.

Muling tumango si Reese. She signed the document and gave it back to Artemis.

Tinignan niya ang oras sa suot na wrist watch. Five more minutes before the press interview. Nasa isang kwarto siya kung saan ay katabi ito ng hal kung saan magaganap ang press.

Nagsalin ng tubig si Artemis sa baso saka ibinigay kay Reese.

“Thank you,” wika ni Reese at uminom ng tubig. Ramdam niya ang kaba sa kaniyang dibdib lalo na at hindi naman siya sanay sa ganitong mga interview.

Artemis slightly bowed her head.

Sumandal si Reese sa kinauupaung sofa. She crossed her legs and closed her eyes as if she were meditating.

“Young Lady, it was still unbelievable that the President of Volkov Empire is getting engaged.”

Gumuhit ang ngiti sa labi ni Reese. “Hindi ba kapani-paniwala? There are a lot of things that are unexpected to happen.”

Napatango na lamang si Artemis bilang pagsang-ayon.

ALARIC offered his arms to Reese as they stood in front of the double door. Humawak naman ang dalaga sa braso niya.

The bodyguards opened the double door for them.

And as they entered, flashes of cameras welcomed them.

Napatingin si Alaric kay Reese nang maramdaman niya ang paghigpit ng hawak nito sa braso niya.

He looked at her with her silver mask gleaming under the lights. Reese doesn’t look nervous, and her posture is flawless.

She will become my wife, Alaric thought. Kapagkuwan nagbawi siya ng tingin. This is just a partnership. Why would I have that kind of thought?

Napailing si Alaric. He already had someone in his heart, and he vowed to be loyal. But he was still getting married to someone else.

Alaric let out a small sigh and stepped forward. Tumuntong siya sa may platform at hinawakan ang mic na naroon. “Thank you for coming on such short notice,” he said. “This alliance between Volkov and Rourke has been discussed privately for years. Today, it becomes official.”

He paused, then turned slightly toward Reese. “Reese Sinclair and I are formally announcing our engagement.”

Napuno ng bulungan ang buong silid. Then the camera flashes.

Hindi nagsalita si Reese at hinayaan niya si Alaric na sumagot sa mga katanungan. She didn’t need to. Her presence alone shifted the air inside the room.

“This union strengthens both our companies,” pagpapatuloy ni Alaric. “And sends a clear message… any threat against one of us is a threat against both.”

Agad namang nagtanong ang mga reporter. Alaric answered those who questioned that it only mattered.

Until Reese finally spoke. “This engagement is a matter of mutual consent,” she said. “Our priorities are stability, security, and the protection of what we’ve built.”

Tumaas ang sulok ng labi ni Alaric. So, this is what the heir of the Sinclair Industry carried? Aside from being brilliant at designing weapons, she can make people shut their mouths because of the authority that was being carried by her voice.

Hindi niya namalayan ang sarili na nakatitig na pala siya kay Reese. And that moment was captured by one camera. Instantly, the cameraman who took the picture saw the intimacy between the two—that’s what he thought.

Pagkatapos ng announcement, umalis na si Alaric at Reese. As they leave the room, Reese felt Alaric’s hand hover near her back in a respectful way.

As soon as they entered the car, Reese coughed.

“May sakit ka?” tanong ni Alaric.

Umiling si Reese at hindi nagsalita kaya sinalat ni Alaric ang nuo ni Reese. Mainit ito. “May lagnat ka.”

Reese just closed her eyes.

Alaric looked at Julian. “To the hospital.”

“Yes, Boss.”

Hinubad ni Alaric ang suot na coat at ipinatong ito kay Reese. For a moment, he couldn’t help but stare at Reese. At the same moment, he felt like he had seen Rica’s face on Reese.

Napakurap si Alaric at mabilis na umayos ng upo. Nahilot niya ang sentido. “What the hell am I thinking about?”

And speaking of Rica… “Julian, how was she?”

Bahagyang kumunot ang nuo ni Julian. “Sino, Boss?”

“Rica Agnes.” Mahina niyang saad.

“She’s safe, Boss.”

Alaric let out a sigh. Sinulyapan niya si Reese. Mukhang nakatulog ito dahil pantay na ang paghinga. "Julian, withdraw all the men that was protecting Rica. It was for the best if she didn’t get entangled with me.”

“Pero gusto mo siya, Boss? Why won’t you pursue her?” Julian said.

Umiling si Alaric. “Maybe, we aren’t for each other. You know our family’s motto. Men should be faithful to their wives even if there is no affection.” Aniya at sinulyapan si Reese.

Reese shifted, facing the car’s window. A faint smile appeared on her lips. This fiancé my parents found for me was quite reliable. She thought.

Hindi namalayan ni Reese na tuluyan na siyang nakatulog. At nang magising siya, nasa hospital na siya. Artemis was sitting on the stool beside her bed.

“Young Lady, you’re finally awake,” Artemis said with such relief in her voice.

Reese looked at Artemis. Agad siyang napatingin sa kaniyang kamay at napabuntong hininga na lamang. May IV fluid na nakakabit sa kamay niya.

“Si Alaric?” tanong niya.

“Kaaalis lamang niya, Young Lady.”

Tumango si Reese. “Artemis, prepare for me my dowry.”

“Dowry?”

“A key to the Sinclair System. And the shares that will be given to Alaric. I will give it to him after our wedding.”

Artemis slightly bowed her head. “Yes, Young Lady.”

Alaric Theo Volkov was a stranger, but her parents didn’t make the engagement ten years ago if it would harm her. Her parents might have their own reason. Just like her now, may rason siya kung bakit pumayag siya sa arranged marriage na ‘to. It’s not because of wealth or fame, but because she seeks protection. Many of them were now eyeing Sinclair Industries.

She needed Alaric Theo Volkov to protect her parents’ and her brother’s legacy.

MEANWHILE, at the Rourke’s Estate, Magnus took a sip of wine from his wine glass. Bumuga siya ng hangin saka ibinaba ang hawak na wine glass. The announcement of engagement between the Volkovs and Sinclair were all over the news.

“Sir, I didn’t expect that the Volkov and Sinclair had such an engagement,” his assistant, Leo, said.

“And it was made ten years ago,” sabi ni Magnus at sumandal sa kinauupuan. “Ten years of silence,” he murmured. “And she chooses him.”

Tumingin sa magnus sa screen ng kaniyang laptop. Reese Sinclair’s face was showing but hiding under the silver mask. Always the mask. Untouchable. Unreachable. The woman he had been preparing to corner, to claim through pressure and obligation.

“Sir, they moved faster than we expected,” Leo said. “But the acquisition is still possible. If we apply the right—”

“No.” Magnus raised a hand to silence Leo. “The acquisition just became a war.”

Kumuyom ang kaniyang kamay. His plan for years failed just because of the Volkov again. “Sinclair Systems was supposed to come to me willingly. Reese Sinclair should depend on me.” Tumalim ang kaniyang mata. “But Volkov changed the equation.”

“Sir, what should we do?”

“What can we do?” Magnus said. “Stick to the plan. The Sinclair System should fall into my hands, and not to others.”

Tumahimik ang buong silid.

Magnus closed his eyes. “Reese Sinclair and the Sinclair System are mine. I will do everything to have it,” he vowed.

For anything he wants, he would do everything in his power to get it.

But unbeknownst to Magnus, Alaric Theo Volkov has taken precautions.

The Rourke and the Volkov wanted one thing from the Sinclair.

At walang kasiguruhan kung sino ang mananalo sa kanilang dalawa. Both were determined to get what they wanted.

And the target—Reese Sinclair, had just made her move.