Bound by Bullets and Vows

CHAPTER 11

SINCLAIR INDUSTRY CONFERENCE HALL

Sa totoo lang wala sanang balak si Alaric na pumunta sa Sinclair Company pero inimbitahan siya ni Reese. The topic of the panel was about cybersecurity and advanced networks.

Ito ang unang beses na umapak siya sa Sinclair. And he was amazed by the interior design of the building—glass walls, muted steel accents, and soft lighting designed to impress without distracting. The kind of place where power was discussed in careful terms and decisions were made long before anyone stepped onto the stage.

Tumaas ang sulok ng labi ni Alaric. Hindi niya alam kung bakit siya inimbitahan ni Reese pero hindi niya rin alam kung bakit siya pumayag.

As he entered the conference room, accompanied by Julian as his assistant s***h bodyguard, his presence didn’t draw attention the way celebrities did, but people noticed all the same. Bumaba ang boses ng mga ito habang nag-uusap at ramdam niya ang kanilang tingin na sumunod sa kaniya.

Hinanap ng mata niya si Reese pero hindi niya ito nakita. Ang assistant lamang ni Reese ang nakita niya pero abala ito sa pakikipag-usap sa mga tao sa loob ng conference room.

Then Artemis saw him.

Artemis excused herself and approached Alaric.

“Mr. Volkov,” Artemis greeted. “This way, please.”

Tumango naman si Alaric at sinundan si Artemis. Dinala siya nito sa upuan niya. Agad din itong umalis at nilapitan ang isang babaeng nakatalikod. And when the woman turned… his heart skipped a beat.

It was Rica, speaking to Artemis.

Rica Agnes stood near the podium. She wore a tailored blazer over a simple blouse with her hair neatly tied back.

“She’s the speaker?” her asked Julian, sitting beside him.

Julian followed his gaze. “Yes, Boss. Independent consultant invited by the Sinclair.”

Nanatiling nakatingin si Alaric kay Rica. Kumislap pa ang suot nitong bracelet nang matamaan ito ng ilaw.

Judging by Rica’s reaction, she doesn’t remember him. Pero ayos lang ‘yon sa kaniya.

But being invited by the Sinclairs, Rica must have caught the attention of the heir of Sinclair Industries.

Ang hindi alam ni Alaric, si Rica Agnes at Reese Sinclair ay iisang tao lamang.

Rica stepped onto the stage as the lights dimmed. The hum of conversation from the audience faded into attentive silence.

“Good afternoon,” Rica began with a clear and steady voice. “Today, I’ll be discussing modern adaptive networks—and why the next generation of security won’t be built on walls, but on intelligence.”

As Rica spoke, data flowed behind her. She talked about decentralized systems, self-healing networks, invisible defenses that adapted faster than attackers could learn.

At habang nagsasalita si Rica, napansin ni Alaric ang isang bagay. Rica and Reese spoke in the same manner and carried the same gait.

But maybe it was just a coincidence.

“Is this the person whom you talk about no connections to major networks?” Alaric asked Julian.

“Boss, I only followed your instructions not to dig deeper into her life. Just the basics. Pero tumira siya sa ibang bansa. Maybe, she really has.” Sabi ni Julian.

Alaric didn’t say anything. Some people are really good at hiding themselves. Julian found that Rica is a freelancer. Pero sa nakikita niya ngayon, he realized that Rica is never a simple woman.

“Security fails when it relies on visibility alone,” Rica said. “The strongest systems are the ones no one realizes they’ve already triggered.”

Natigilan bigla si Alaric. He felt the familiar tension coil in his chest. By the way Rica spoke, it wasn’t about theory. It was about experience.

Rica was questioned later, but she answered them effortlessly. She was calm while explaining, never defensive and never condescending. When a senior executive questioned the feasibility of her models, she met his gaze evenly.

That look… Alaric thought.

“You don’t need to believe me,” sabi ni Rica at ngumiti. “You just need to stop underestimating the people who were trying to break your systems.”

Natahimik ang conference room.

Sa sinabi ni Rica, wala ng sumunod na nagtanong pa.

Alaric found himself smiling, just slightly.

Pagkatapos ng session, the next one who surged with questions was the reporters who were also invited to that panel.

Naghintay naman si Alaric hanggang sa matapos si Rica sa pakikipag-usap sa mga ito. Then he approached her. Rica noticed him before he spoke.

“Let me guess,” she said as he stopped beside her. “You’re here to argue.”

“Actually, I’m here to listen,” he replied.

Tumaas ang isang kilay ni Rica. “I heard that the President of Volkov Industries never attends this kind of occasion, especially with many crowds.”

“My fiancée invited me.”

Napatango si Rica.

“But I can’t see her here.”

Rica cleared her throat lightly.

Alaric put his hands in his pockets. He studied her for a moment, and then his eyes caught her bracelet.

“Do you ever consider private work?” he asked.

“I prefer independence.”

Ngumiti si Alaric. “Everyone does,” sabi niya.

Nagkibit ng balikat si Rica.

“Young Lady—” Artemis called, but stopped herself when her Boss looked at her. “Ms. Agnes.”

“Where’s Reese?” Alaric asked.

Tumingin sa kaniya ang kausap. “She’s not here at the moment, Mr. Volkov. She had an important matter to attend to.”

Alaric let out a sigh. “So, this is what it felt like to be abandoned,” he said.

Kumunot ang nuo ni Rica. “You looked disappointed.”

“I planned to ask her out for dinner, but it looks like I have to eat alone.”

Rica stared at Alaric. Didn’t he told before that there would be no feelings between us? Why did he want to ask me out?

“By the way, I would like to invite you to my wedding,” sabi ni Alaric saka tumingin kay Julian.

Inilabas naman ni Julian ang isang bagay mula sa loob ng suot nitong coat at inilagay sa nakalahad na kamay ng amo.

Alaric handed Rica the envelope without ceremony. “I’m getting married.”

“I figured,” kalmadong sabi ni Rica. “I saw you buy the ring.”

Tumango si Alaric. Though he likes Rica, and she was one of the important people in his life now, because she was his benefactor. Wala naman sigurong masama kung iimbitahan niya ito sa kaniyang kasal. At isa pa wala namang namamagitan sa kanilang dalawa.

“This is the invitation,” Alaric said. “Private ceremony. Limited guests.”

Rica looked down at the envelope. Her thumb brushes the raised lettering. “I don’t know if I could come. I…”

“No pressure,” sabi ni Alaric. “I just want to invite you.”

Isang tango ang naging tugon ni Rica sa sinabi ni Alaric. Something unreadable flickered in her eyes. Their eyes met, and for a second, something unspoken passed between them. Recognition without context and familiarity without explanation.

Alaric inclined his head once before turning away.

Nanatili lamang nakatayo si Rica sa kinatatayuan hanggang sa makalabas si Alaric ng conference hall. The invitation was still unopened in her hand. Gusto niyang matawa sa kaniyang sarili.

Inside the envelope was the date of the wedding she was meant to attend as a guest to her own marriage.

Napailing siya saka tumingin kay Artemis. Ibinigay niya rito ang envelope. “Put it in my apartment.”

“Yes, Young Lady.”

Rica let out a small sigh.

Reese, Reese, you made trouble for yourself.