GRAYSa pagdaan ng mga oras ay hindi ko namalayan na nakatulog na pala ako ang malamig na sahig. The cramped cell seemed to close in on me, amplifying the weight of my predicament. Nang umabot sa aking tenga ang ingay mula sa mga presong kasama ko rito ay nagising na rin ako mula sa aking pagkakatulog.I blinked my eyes open to find the faces of my fellow detainees hovering over me. They wore mischievous grins, their eyes alight with excitement. One of them nudged me, jolting me fully awake."Hoy, rich kid, gumising ka na! Pinagigising ka ni chief!" sigaw ng isa sa kanila na may kislap na kapilyuhan sa boses.I groggily pushed myself up, malabo pa rin ang isip ko sa pagtulog. Ang tunog ng mga susi na umaalingawngaw at ang pag-scrape ng metal sa metal ang siyang naghikayat sa akin na bumangon. Bumukas ang pinto ng selda, tumambad sa akin ang isang pulis na nakatayo sa harapan ko."Bumangon ka, Fiumara. Lilipat ka na," utos ng opisyal, ang kaniyang tono ay masungit at may awtoridad.

GRAYIsang linggo matapos ang kaguluhan, bumalik ako saglit sa Manila para huminga at ayusin ang ilang mga gusot— sa trabaho, sa negosyo, pati na ilang mga connection at endorsement na nanganib dahil sa kagagawan ni Edison.I was in the kitchen, sitting on the sleek island countertop, savoring the rich notes of my all-time favorite Filius wine as it danced across my palate. The deep crimson liquid cast a captivating glow against the pristine marble surface, a momentary respite from the harsh realities that consumed my world. It was in the midst of this rare indulgence that the intrusive ring of my phone shattered the tranquil ambiance.Sa isang kontroladong buntong-hininga, inilapag ko ang baso at inabot ang cellphone, ang malamig na haplos nito ay tila nagpapaalala sa bigat na sumasabay sa bawat galaw ko.Ang pangalan ni Talitha ang nagliwanag sa screen, na hinihimok akong sagutin ang tawag. Nag-aatubili, pinindot ko ang accept button at itinaas ang telepono sa aking tainga, ang akin

JESSICAMy heart raced with worry as I hung up the phone with Tali, Grayson's secretary. The news she had just delivered sent a jolt of fear coursing through my veins. Grayson, the man I loved and admired above all else, was in danger. Without a second thought, I abandoned my plans for the day and made my way to FiuScent.Grayson and I had been through so much together—his rise to power, his battles, and his triumphs. I had witnessed his coldness, his unwavering determination, and his strength. And through it all, I had been by his side, not just as a friend, or a business partner, nor as his personal lawyer but also as someone who is silently loving him from a far. The depth of my feelings for Grayson went beyond words. He was my rock, the one who understood me like no one else. I had seen the darkness that resided within him, and yet, I loved him fiercely. I admired his resilience, his ability to navigate the treacherous waters of his world with a cold resolve.So when I received

JESSICA Nagising ako nang tumama ang sinag ng araw sa mukha ko. Hindi ko pa maimulat anh aking mga mata dahil sa labis na puyat. Masakit ang buong katawan ko, lalo na ang parte sa pagitan ng mga hita ko. Dalawang beses na akong napapasabak sa gera, sana naman ngayon ay makapagpahinga na muna ako. Wala na akong lakas na gaya dati na kahit tatlo o apat na beses kaming magsiping ni Grayson ay ayos lang. Hindi na sanay ang katawan ko. Nang tumagilid ako sa kanang bahagi ng kama ay napag-alaman ko na wala na akong kasama. Grayson is nowhere to be find, his absence leaving a void in the room. But then, I heard the sound of running water coming from the bathroom, indicating that he was taking a shower. A mischievous thought crossed my mind, and a sly smile played on my lips. I decided to pretend that I was still asleep, curious to see what Grayson would do when he emerged from the bathroom. Ibinalik ko sa pwesto ang bedsheet pati na ang asul na comforter na nagsisilbing takip sa hubad

GRAYSONAfter leaving the lower deck, Jessica and I made our way up to the third floor of the luxurious yacht. This level housed the master bedroom, a space where I often retreated to when I needed a moment of solitude. Tonight, however, there would be no respite as I sat at the desk, facing the laptop that displayed scattered documents pertaining to the recent events.Habang pinag-aaralan ko ang mga impormasyon pumasok si Jessica sa silid, may dalang tray na may bote ng alak, dalawang wine glass, at isang plato ng pasta. Kilalang-kilala niya ako, alam niya na mas gusto kong magtrabaho habang kumakain at umiinom ng wine."Here you go," aniya nang ipatong ang tray sa bakanteng bahagi ng lamesa..I glanced up, momentarily distracted from the stack of papers before me. A small smile tugged at the corner of my lips as I took in the sight before me."Thank you," aniko na nay ngiti sa labi.Ipinagsalin ako ng wine ni Jessica sa wine glass. The deep red liquid cascaded smoothly, the aroma