“Can you believe it? I was dumped! That bastard! Who did he think he is?! And Bi? Such a thick face!” Arianna blabbered. “How could they take me for a fool?!”“Wait, I’m really a fool, right? I did not notice until I saw the worst… I’m so pathetic.”Nagagawa niyang maglitanya kahit na alam niyang buhat-buhat siya sa likod nang kung sinong sumagip sa kanya kanina. She was a total mess now. But she didn’t care. Wala nga rin siyang pakialam na tila hindi mabalanse ng may buhat sa kanya ang lakad nito. She trusted him already that she thought even if she fell on the floor, he would tend to her. “I can’t believe it myself! Akala ko napakaswerte ko kasi may boyfriend ako at may best friend ako na lagi kong kasama… I made them live in my house! All this while, I’m keeping snakes unaware!” Arianna didn’t know what else she blabbered about. But the man was being patient with her. Kahit nang makarating sila sa isang silid, inalalayan siya nito nang magsuka siya ng wala naman. He tended to he

“Arianna, why don’t you rest first?” Si Bianca naman ang sunod na lumapit sa kanya makalipas ang ilang sandali. She even said exactly the same words as Dominic. “Hindi ako pagod,” sagot niya. Hindi naman talaga. Pero ang alam kasi ng mga ito, dumiretso siya ro’n galing airport. She did give them a wrong schedule of her arrival. Kaya hindi alam ng mga ito na dumating na siya kahapon pa. “I’m so sorry for what happened to Tito, Arianna,” sabi pa ni Bianca na ginagap ang mga palad niya. “We did our best. Pero hindi siya umabot sa ospital.” Anong sasabihin niya ro’n? Na hindi siya naniniwala na biglaan ang lahat? In any case, Arianna did not want to raise their suspicion.Sasagot sana siya kay Bianca, pero naagaw ng bagong dating ang atensyon nilang dalawa. If her eyes weren’t playing tricks on her, the man who arrived was the man from the airport yesterday. He was wearing white long sleeves and black slacks, and of course, sunglasses. Even so, his simple attire did not hide his obviou

“Mommy, can we go out now?” ungot ni Maliah pagkagising na pagkagising pa lang nito.Arianna was back in their hotel. Kaya naman sinusulit niyang makasama ulit ang anak na ilang araw niyang tiniis na hindi makita nang personal.“You can always go out with Tita Daisy, Maliah,” sagot niyang hinahaplos ang ulo nito. Maliah will be okay as long as she was not seen with her by either Dominic or Bianca. Hindi naman kasi niya kamukha ang anak. Pero syempre kapag nakita ito na kasama niya, it would easily be guessed na anak niya ito. Lalo na nga at limang taon siyang nawala. “But I want to be with you,” ngumuso ang anak niya.“We can’t be seen together yet, anak. But I promise you, once Mommy is done with the bad guys, we’ll go around together before we go back to the States.”“You are not changing your mind?” malungkot nitong tanong.“I’m sorry, Maliah. Babawi si mommy, okay? It’s just that now, it’s dangerous for you to be seen with me.”There was really no threat to her life for now. Bu

“A charity gala?” ulit ni Arianna sa imbitasyon ni Dominic sa kanya. Nasa opisina niya ang binata. “Yes, Arianna. Will you come with me?” Nag-isip siya habang tumitipa ng mensahe sa nakaopen niyang laptop para kay Robert. If it were only to come as Dominic’s date, then she’d pass. But if it could serve another purpose, she would surely take advantage of it.‘Find out if Mr. Miller will be at the charity event happening tomorrow evening.’“Do you mind if I give you my answer after I talk to my secretary about my schedules?” nakangiting tanong niya kay Dominic.“I don’t. Just give me your answer before noon tomorrow. Kapag hindi ka makakasama, Bianca is interested in going. The event will showcase unique jewels and art pieces. So I prefer my fiancee to be with me in the event.” “Okay,” aniya. He could bring Bianca instead and she wouldn’t give a damn. Wala na siyang pakialam sa dalawa. Bagay ang mga ito, parehong mga ahas.Tumayo na si Dominic pero hindi naman ito kumilos para umalis

Three days later, the auction items were still delivered to Arianna’s office. Pero nainis lang siya nang makita ang mga iyon. “Robert, send them back to Mr. Miller,” aniya sa assistant.“Ms. Lucero, have you given up on your plans?” Sa halip na tumalima sa utos niya ay usisa pa ni Robert. He even sighed like he was disappointed in her.“There must be some other way,” sagot niya. “How is it going with the acquisition of the smaller shares?”Umiling ito. By that, alam niya na walang progress ang backup plan niya. She had initially assigned someone to come to the other minority shareholders to buy their shares on her behalf. Well, hindi iyon pangalan niya sa ngayon, because like Alistair said, they did not trust her. Nainis siya lalo nang maalala ang lalaki. That night, they didn’t part well. Okay lang iyon dahil hindi na niya ito hahabulin para kumbinsihin na tulungan siya. He had made it as clear as day that just like the other shareholders, he also had doubts about her abilities.