PROLOGUE

"Hi, may I speak to Matteo?" I asked the woman in front of the information desk while placing my Gucci sunglasses inside my Hermes bag.

I just arrived from Italy and went straight here to Vitale Resort, not because I want to but because I need it too. I felt tired and starving but I don't have cash with me, also no place to go.

The receptionist sarcastically smiled at me before she called someone. "Ma'am someone asking for Mr. Vitale, should I let her in?" she asked. She stared at me from head to toe then talk to the other line again. "Hindi po ako sigurado Ma'am, pero mukhang mamahalin ang isang 'to... Alam n'yo na, magpapakamot!" I rolled my eyes as I heard what she said. Akala niya yata ay hindi ko naiintindihan ang mga pinagsasabi niya?! Masyado siyang halata para pagtsismisan ako! Like hello, mukha ba akong babaeng magpapakamatay makita lang si Matteo? Pwes... Tama sila! Slight lang naman!

"Mr. Matteo's secretary asking for your name Ma'am." Muling saad ng receptionist sa akin. Ngumiti naman ako sa kaniya, kahit na nga ba mangali-ngali ko ng sabunutan ang buhok niyang mukhang nakapamada!

"Laira Alastair," I answered using my Italian accent. Napansin ko pa ang bahagyang tingin na iginawad niya sa bag ko bago muling tumingin sa akin.

"Do you have any appointment with Mr. Matteo Ma'am? His secretary wasn't allowing someone to enter inside Mr. Matteo's office if-"

"Look! Just tell me if Matteo's inside or not?! I don't care about what his secretary told you, all I wanted to know, is if he was there or not?!" I shout. I already lost my temper because of that fucking secretary and these freak! Kay aga-aga pinaiinit nila ang ulo ko!

"Ma'am mapilit ang isang ito! Mukhang atat na atat makatikim!" She lowered her voice and slightly cover her face while talking to her 'Ma'am' like duh! Ano namang pakialam ko sa kanilang dalawa?! Tumingin din siya ulit sa akin sabay ngiti na para bang hindi niya sinabi ang mga nasabi niya na sa lintek na kausap niya! Lakas pum-lastik! "Ma'am just wait for Miss Andrea, she'll be here any moment." Inirapan ko siya bago tumango bilang sagot at tinalikuran na siya.

While I'm waiting for that Andrea, I look around the place. It was clean, amazingly beautiful and of course, all the types of equipment inside looks expensive. I also saw the wide blue ocean that wanted me to swim to my heart's content. But still no! I don't want to live here. I prepared city than the island.

"Miss Laira Alastair?"

Napataas ang dati ko ng mataas na kilay ng bumungad sa akin ang babaeng nakasuot ng dress na halos lumitaw na pati buong kaluluwa niya! Is she the secretary? Hindi siya mukhang secretary sa'kin kun'di pugitang tinubuan ng mukha! Amoy na amoy ko pa ang lansa niya sa totoo lang!

"I'm Andrea Sober, Mr. Vitale's secretary. Do you have any appointment with him?" Muli niyang tanong na may halong kaplastikan.

"Nothing," baliwalang sagot ko naman bago tumingin sa wristwatch ko.

Alas otso palang ng umaga pero pakiramdam ko ay tanghaling tapat na ng dahil sa pag-iinit ng ulo ko sa dalawang babae ngayon sa harap ko! Ang isa ay intrimitidang pugita habang ang isa naman ay janitor fish, na siyang alagad ng lintek na pugitang Andrea!

"Sorry about that Ma'am. But Mr. Vitale won't accept someone specially those who have no appointment with him." she was about to turn around and left me but stopped as she heard me saying something.

"Hindi ko naman kasi kailangan ng appointment para lang makita at makausap ang ASAWA ko!" She immediately turned her head on me while the receptionist's eyes were widely open, then covered her mouth with her hand. Edi nawindang ang katawang lupa n'yo pati na rin ang kaluluwa n'yong naliligaw ng landas?! Kung tinrato sana nila ako ng maayos, edi hindi sana lumabas ang sungay ko?!

"Pardon Miss?" giit pa rin ng pugitang si Andrea. Hindi pa yata siya makapaniwala sa mga sinabi ko. Anong gusto niyang pruweba? Marriage certificate naming mag-asawa para lang maniwala siya? Kung dala ko lang sana, baka naisampal ko pa sa kaniya!

"You heard me loud and clear right? But seems like you don't hear what I said, fine! I'll say it again na lang!" I stared at her with my brows up then smirked. "I'm Matt Theodore Vitale's wife, Laira Alastair Vitale. At dahil pinipigilan n'yo akong makita at makausap ang asawa ko..." I stopped for a moment while looking at her from head to toe, then back to her face again.

"Edi i*****k mo sa matris mo!" I smirked. Hindi ako mababansagang 'La Tigra' kung wala akong pangil at kukong mistulang patalim bruha ka!

After I said that, I immediately turn around and was about to leave. But I didn't expect the two reporters to appear in front of me and take a photo of me without my permission. Like what the hell?!

"Can you say your name again Ma'am?"

"You said, you were Mr. Vitale's wife right?"

Flashes of cameras were kept on blinding my eyes while these reporters won't fucking leave me alone! This media sucks! I'd rather stay at home than face these annoying paparazzi!

"Ma'am Mr. Vitale was on the line, he wanted to talk to you." I immediately get the phone to the receptionist, while the guards were kept on repelled those reporters.

"H-hello Matt." I strumbled. I started to get nervous as I say his name again. I was the only one calling him by his first name. I cleared my throat before I start talking again. "There were reporters here and asking for my n-name," I said, almost whispered. 

"Give back the phone to Alice." Tumango naman ako na para bang nasa harap ko lang siya at nakikita ang ginagawa ko. Kaagad ko ring binalik ang telepono sa receptionist na Alice pala ang pangalan.

After a minute or two, Andrea and the two guards accompanied me to where my husband's office was. It had been three years since I left, and now here I am again... Trying to hide the nervousness I felt to someone I loved for so long. Was it still the same? Does he still want me to be his mistress and not as a wife?

When I saw the signage on the door that says 'Office of the President' I take a deep breath and composed myself. "Here we go Laira, kaya mo yan! Tao pa rin naman yan... Sadyang masarap lang pag tinikman!" I whispered to myself.

Andrea opened the door and went inside that made me want to stamp my feet! Hello, I'm the legal wife. I should be the one who went inside beside my husband first, not that octopus! While Matt was standing and facing the glass window as I went inside his office. Then Andrea whispered something on his ears, and sarcastically smiled at me before she leave us. I stared at Matt's back imagining the hardness of his broad shoulder, down to his sexy ass. He was still looked hot gosh! Does he still taste good? Goodness! What em I thinking?!

"Really? I still looked hot?" Suddenly he turns around, facing me now. But I got confused, did I say that out loud?! "Do you want to taste me?" He smirked then walk near me. I did say that out loud! What the hell!

He pulled me closer to his body while gently lifting my chin. And even without my permission, he kissed my lips, put his tongue inside my mouth, and give me a breathtaking kiss. My gosh! Kung ganito naman pala ang pa-welcome sa akin ng maharot kong asawa, edi sana matagal na akong umuwi sa kaniya! Ngunit matapos ang makapanginig tuhod niyang halik bigla siyang nagsalita dahilan upang manumbalik ang nakaraang pilit kong iwinawaksi sa aking isipan.

"Benvenuto nella mia giungla La Tigra!"

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