Ella knew she was in trouble the moment she stepped out of his five-star suite of a bedroom. She couldn’t believe she’d just had a screaming match with a Vergara
.
If he had asked her nicely, Ella would’ve done more than just pick out an outfit but no he had to go all Vergara on her as if she hadn’t had enough of their arrogance for one night. He had no right to insult her and that look of contempt in his eyes when he looked her over was nothing short of infuriating.Ella had no idea how shaky she was until her knuckles had begun to hurt from clutching the envelope too tight.
She inhaled and exhaled a shaky breath. She had been wearing her heart on her sleeve the entire time and was only grateful that her nerves didn’t give her away.
‘’Ella!’’
Ella’s head snapped toward the voice and she saw her best friend Lani jogging towards her.
When Lani finally got to her, she linked her hand roughly with Ella’s causing her to lose her balance.
‘’Do you have any idea how long I’ve been waiting for you?’’ she said slightly miffed.
‘’I’m sorry Lani, some really awkward situation came up and I was delayed.’’ Yeah really awkward Ella thought bluntly.
‘’Whatever. Since there’s a party going on why don’t we just hang around?’’ Lani whipped her long black hair backwards.
Unlike hers, Ella’s hair was a deep shade of brown which she had suspended behind her head with a black ribbon. Lani chatted away as they made for the stairs.
Both were slender and often disagree with each other sometimes but that didn’t affect their friendship at all. They both have the same family background except Lani’s mom was a mestiza, albeit Lani took only a tincture of her mother’s dark skin.
They’ve been friends for the longest time that Ella couldn’t remember exactly how they met.
They exited through the back door from which they’d come only to be surprised by the number of guests arriving to the welcome home party of Dylan Vergara and his friends.
If he was that cool and sophisticated, Ella was curious to know about his friends.
‘’Whoa!’’ Lani cried bewildered.
‘’Yeah.’’
Albeit Lani was referring to the heir to one of the largest fashion houses in the Philippines and second in Asia, the breath-taking Dominic Alvares, while Ella was reacting to the scene and expensive decorations.
Dominic kissed Doña Bianca on both cheeks, who then proceeded to greet the couple beside him, and Lani assumed them to be his parents; it was no wonder he was so good looking.
Lani clutched Ella’s arm as Dominic’s gaze met hers, ‘’what are you doing?’’ Ella had expected an explanation but when she saw them both mesmerised by each other, or at least Lani seemed to be, she sighed and shook her head.
‘’Geez don’t go crawling at his feet now.’’ she grumbled.
Lani’s lips had begun to curve into a smile but soon twisted into a frown as he tore his gaze away. He was soon joined by Dylan and Ella couldn’t be more displeased. She realised only a short time later that they were both wearing the same outfit, a white Valentino tux trimmed with black satin and a matching bow tie. Ella’s brows knitted as she saw yet another dressed in the same outfit joined them—that was Bryan Cervantes the governor's son.
Ella didn’t know what they were talking about but they looked amused and for some weird reason, she was unconsciously staring at Dylan when he smiled and that one-sided dimple showed up. He’s cleaned up real nice, his dark hair no longer a tousled mess but expertly styled, and his strong jaw was neatly shaven. He was tall, dark and devilishly sexy enough to…what? She'll not go there.
Ella saw him glance around before their gazes collided and he winked at her, surprisingly she felt her face heat up at the thought of being caught checking him out. Ella frowned and mumbled incoherently then she saw him smirk.‘’Jerk.’’ She muttered.
Then suddenly, his face became stern although Dominic’s and Bryan’s weren’t, they weren’t exactly pleased at whoever it was that they were glaring at.
Ella’s gaze shifted, at first she was surprised then grimaced with feeling.
He was Jason Roxas, the second son of the well-known Roxas shipping and cruising empire. Ella hadn’t expected to see him after all these years. She had met him when she was five and her mother happened to be a live-in house maid at the Roxas villa.
Back then, he was a lonely seven year old boy who wished for nothing but to feel loved. Ella wanted so badly to be there for him, she wanted to be his friend and have him lean on her but whenever she tried to soothe him after his father's reprimands he always shoved her away, and tells her he’s fine.
Then, she didn’t understand why he always seemed so angry at everything until now; she realised that anger was the only way he knew to vent out his frustration.
Then five years ago when it had seemed too much to bear, he wanted to end it all. Of course his father didn’t know about it who knew how big the hell would have been. When Ella saved him from the cowardice means a term his father would’ve used had he found out about it Jason had mumbled that it was the only way he could stop his father from getting mad at him all the time.
‘‘He’s mad at me because I could never be like him, because I am not the person he wanted me to be. I was wrong to be the way that I am so I’ve got to end it now.’’ He cried as she cradled him on her lap. It was the first time she allowed her feelings for him burst out.
‘’And you think killing yourself would change anything? Your father is a fool for not seeing what a wonderful son you are and I’d be lying if I said I understand how you feel Jason because I don’t. As much as I want to I can’t. But I do know one thing for sure Jason, I don’t want you to die.’’
Ella recalled that moment vividly. She’d known Ricardo Roxas to be a very strict disciplinarian who’s obsessed with perfection, he’s a hypocrite who thinks he’s never done anything wrong. He said he hated favourites but he’s made Andy, Jason’s older brother one without even knowing he was practising favouritism.
As Ella studied Jason tonight, she could see the same unhappiness she’d seen in his eyes five years ago. But he had grown more handsome than the last time she saw him.
Ricardo Roxas seemed to be quite in a good mood tonight as he shook hands with Doña Bianca. Those two really do know how to keep face—one that everyone would see and think they’re genuine—but deep down, they’re rotten to the core.
‘’Come on let’s go and get something to eat, I’m hungry.’’ Lani interrupted her train of thoughts.
‘’Um…sure.’’ They both went back into the house.
‘’The nerve of him to show up here,’’ Dylan gritted in displeasure and was having a hard time curbing his anger. His fists clenched, his jaw tightened.
‘’Calm down Dylan.’’ Dominic soothed placing a hand on his shoulder, ‘’this party was made in our honour, don’t ruin the atmosphere by getting bogged down by Jason’s appearance.’’ Dylan visibly relaxed but his anger was still brewing.
They in turn grabbed champagne flutes from one of the servers and took an empty table.
‘’What really happened in LA?’’ Bryan asked glancing from one man to the other. Dylan downed his champagne in one gulp before setting down the empty flute on the table covered with gold linen.
‘’Jason and Savannah, that’s what happened.’’ Dominic told him, a flabbergasted expression plastered on the former’s face.
‘’Really?’’ Bryan glanced at Dylan who snatched another glass and gulped down the liquid in a loud gurgle, intending to make himself drunk. But Bryan was too curious to notice. ‘’But the two of you are like brothers, how could Jason do such a thing?’’
‘’I don’t want to talk about it.’’ Dylan got on his feet grabbing another flute on his way.
Dominic shook his head and tsked, ‘’I don’t think there’s going to be any reconciliation at this point.’’
‘’Those two have been competing with each other since forever, I didn’t think it would come to a point where they’d be competing for the love of a girl.’’ Bryan said. ‘’Why did he have to go this far?’’
‘’That’s what I intend to find out.’’
Dylan ran into Jason on his way to the villa. The two glared at each other as if they were going to go up in flames, Dylan’s annoyance only deepened.
‘’You’ve got some nerve showing up here after what you did.’’
‘’I was invited by your mother. Besides, this party is in my honour too.’’ Jason threw back confidently and that only made Dylan want to swing his clenched fist at him. Oh how he would love to rearrange the bastard’s face.
‘’If I were you, this would be the last we’ll see eye to eye.’’
‘’I’m not looking forward to it either,’’ Dylan’s fist tightened one could hear the knuckles crack; he was the one at fault and yet he could afford to be so pompous.
‘’The next time we meet, one of us will end up dead.’’ And with that last threat, Dylan walked past him but not without sizing his shoulder with Jason’s whose jaw clenched.
He swallowed one more shot before disappearing into the building.
To say Dylan was pissed off would be an understatement of the century. He actually saw red at the sight of Jason, sure he knew that this was a welcome home party for all four of them but he hadn’t expected his reaction to be this intense; almost feral even. He had wanted nothing more than to punch the arrogant jerk’s face. God he could feel the raging adrenaline coursing through his veins but he had managed to curb his anger or so help him God heads would’ve rolled. He almost took out his anger on an innocent maid who was only doing her job. He made a beeline towards his office and made an order of beer. With a strict do not disturb order Dylan shut the door and skimmed off his jacket which he threw
Growing up, Jason had been told that he was a good-for-nothing. That he couldn’t do anything right even if he tried. He had believed it. He exhaled deeply, he was sitting on the park bench after having left the party fifteen minutes ago without anyone noticing, or so he’d thought until he heard footsteps behind him. He knew that what he did wouldn’t go un-chastised by the boys and he had been waiting for a confrontation.So when Dominic appeared before him, he raised his head to meet the former’s disapproving gaze less contritely. Dominic tucked his hand inside his pants pocket as they continued to stare at each other, the tension between them cutting through the night.Jason waited for him to spe
Ella’s heart ached for the people who were once her neighbours and friends. Attending the mass for the dead turned out to be harder than she’d thought but she was glad to be there for them as they had for her whenever she needed some comfort. She gave the money she got from Doña Bianca to the living relatives as well as all the others who had no place to stay. At least all of them could get back on their feet again. The rest of the money she would use to pay off her father’s hospital expenses and pay off some of their other pending debts as well. Ella’s ride back home was silent. And because she was so distracted while thinking about Jason, she completely forgot about the disgusting smell the jeepney always had—the stench of dry sweat and stale tobacco.
She was the flower girl, how had he not recognised her? The concept had fazed him at first but then he decided that maybe because it had been a painful memory for him, one that he’d thought he’d never relive again but here it was, like a ghost from his past. He remembered that moment vividly but he couldn’t bring himself to think about it and now he wants to relive it but only as part of his revenge. Doña Bianca studied her son’s hard features from the dim-lit conference room. She knew that stony exterior all too well and deduced that whatever he was thinking couldn’t be anything good.In spite of herself she hoped to God it’s not about that woman he’s been digging into. Lately. The last thing she needed right now is to have the p
She faced him with a neutral expression. ‘’I’m not going to apologise to you, actually it should be the other way around.’’ She made a circular gesture in the air with her pointer. ‘’I can’t believe you’re still mouthy and defensive even though it might cost you your job.’’ Dylan was surprised that he wasn’t angry any more–amused maybe but not angry. ‘’I’m not afraid of you.’’ It was a lie of course because her insides were screaming murder. ‘’You dislike me don’t you? Why?’’
Ella huffed angrily, bringing her hand to her forehead to wipe the bead of sweat already forming. She stroked out yet another possible job vacancy which happened to be the last on her list. Her day just wasn’t going right but she wasn’t ready to grovel at Dylan Vergara’s feet yet. She needed a job badly and luck didn’t seem to be on her side at least not today. She warily folded the paper and shoved it into her tote then put her palm away from her forehead to shield against the glaring sunlight. She muttered something unintelligible and began to walk away.Ella yelped suddenly as a large hand close over her mouth. Panic jammed across her chest as she was hauled from the ground and shoved into a van. ‘’Let me go!’’ Ella fought madly
Ella ran with all the might her body could allow–not that she was athletic of course– her lungs and calves burned with a searing pain from exertion. Suddenly, she felt herself being hoisted up from the ground by strong masculine arms. She screamed at the top of her lungs, struggling, flailing her legs and arms frantically. When her assailant finally put her back down she twisted and without warning delivered a powerful kick to his shin. His grunt of pain echoed in the woods. ‘’What did you do that for!’’That voice! Ella’s eyes widened in apprehension, she knew th
The place looked like an abandoned warehouse. Empty sacks were littered all over the place not to mention the termite eaten planks propped against the wall. They found a rather cosy spot between the planks and a number of filled sacks.Ella’s eyes narrowed suspiciously as Dylan began to take his shirt off. ‘’W-what are you doing?’’ ‘’What do you think? Taking my shirt off of course, you should take yours off too.’’ ‘’No!’’ he raised a brow at her outburst. Ella cast her head down, her cheeks flaming when she realised the implication, she’d rather freeze to death than take her clothes off in fro