"What the hell! You idiots! All I asked you to do was keep watch, and you couldn't even manage that?! Lucas, I'm not paying you to be stupid. Fix this right now!" This echoed throughout Governor Vergara's entire office as he spoke on the other line. Meanwhile, his board members quietly listened, fear evident on their faces. "Lucas, fix this! Don't call me until you've found her. I don't care if you need to add more men just to find her today! Lucas, put this in your mind! I don't want this day to end without you finding her! Clear?!" After ending the call, he immediately sat down in his chair and slammed his expensive phone on the long table, his fist following shortly after, causing his board members to flinch in their seats. "Everyone, get out!" he said calmly, but with a tone of authority. However, when he noticed that his words were ignored, his temper flared even more. This is what he hated the most: having to repeat himself. "I SAID, GET THE HELL OUT!" he shouted. His colleagues quickly stood up, hastily gathering their belongings, and scrambled to exit through the tinted glass door. Once the office was empty, he desperately ran his hands over his face, trying to calm himself, but it was impossible after what his butler-who had been tasked to keep an eye on the woman he was obsessed with-had reported. He picked up his phone and stared intently at the photo of the woman who had driven him crazy for so long. "You can't escape me, Eullah. You can't escape me! If I have to pay everyone in this world just to find you, I will," he whispered to himself. He's
Chapter 1 vacation in the province
Chapter 1
Manang!" I called out as soon as I entered the small house, hoping to catch the attention of the elderly woman busy sewing rags. She quickly turned towards me with a broad smile, pausing her work. I approached her and gave her a tight hug.
Mamang is not a relative, but ever since I was a child, she and Papang stood in as my parents. Since they were not blessed with children, they were overjoyed when I came into their lives. Mamang once told me that while they were on their way home from church, they found me crying and calling out for "Mommy." Out of pity, they approached me and asked for my name.
FLASHBACK
"Child, are you lost? What's your name? And why do you have so many bruises? Where did you come from?" the woman asked in rapid succession, concern evident in her eyes. Her husband quickly intervened, stopping her barrage of questions directed at the crying child.
"Ma, one question at a time. The child is just a kid." he gently reminded her.
"Mommy... mommy... mommy..." was all the child could say as she cried, looking around her surroundings.
"What's your name, child? Are you lost?" the woman asked again. The child innocently looked at her and wiped the tears from her cheeks.
"E-Eullah," the girl responded, bringing a smile to the woman's face, even though she ignored the other questions.
"What a beautiful name you have, just as beautiful as you." The child responded with an innocent smile before crying again. The woman quickly searched her plastic bag for food and handed it to the child to calm her down, which worked.
"Are you lost, Eullah? Would you like to come with us? Tomorrow, we'll look for your mommy again, okay? Don't worry, we'll find her no matter what." The child quickly nodded, making the couple happy.
"By the way, what's your mommy's name?" The child shook her head, which puzzled the couple, but they refrained from asking further, assuming the child remembered little besides her own name.
They took Eullah to their small home, fed her, cleaned her up, and dressed her before putting her to bed.
As the innocent child slept beside them, they couldn't hide their smiles as they watched her. They made plans for the next day. As promised, they went to the local police station the next day to report the lost child, hoping someone would come forward. However, weeks passed, then months, and no one came for Eullah. So, the couple decided to adopt her.
Unable to have children themselves, they were deeply grateful to God for answering their prayers by giving them a child.
They treated Eullah as their own, nurturing, clothing, and educating her from elementary school until now, as she entered college.
"How's Manila, dear? You didn't even tell us you were coming; I would've sent Papang to pick you up, and I would've cooked earlier." A wide smile spread across my face at Mamang's words.
"Mamang, I can handle getting home on my own, and I don't want to bother Papang, especially since I know he's busy. So don't worry about me, okay? Your beautiful daughter is home, safe and sound." I said, showing her my face and laughing, causing her to shake her head.
"Alright, go change, and I'll prepare dinner." I quickly nodded, stood up, grabbed my bags from Manila, and went to my room to change. I only brought a few clothes since I would only stay for a week before returning after the semester break.
After changing, I left my room to help Mamang prepare dinner.
AMBROSS POV
"Gov, we found her." I sighed in relief, feeling as if a weight had been lifted off my chest at Lucas's news from the other line.
"Good. Where is she right now?" I asked.
"She's gone back to the province, staying with the people who adopted her." I nodded as if he were right in front of me.
"Stay there. Keep an eye on her. Don't come back until she does. Is that clear?"
"Copy, Gov." With that, I ended the call and poured myself another glass of wine.
"I told you, baby, you can't escape me. You'll be mine. Soon. By hook or by crook!" I downed the wine in my glass, staring at an innocent picture of Eullah that I had taken myself.
"Five years, Eullah... I've waited five years for you. I think this is the right time to make my move and make you mine." I finished the remaining wine in my glass and slammed it onto the glass table once it was empty.
"Just wait for me, baby." I muttered with a mischievous smile before standing up and heading to the bathroom for a shower, feeling the heat of the alcohol in my body.
After a week-long vacation in the province, I returned to my apartment in Manila because tomorrow I'd be back to my reality as a diligent student.
I shook my head in disbelief as I noticed how dusty my room had become. I was only gone for a week, but it seemed like I had abandoned it for a month.
It took me almost an hour to clean my entire apartment. Exhausted, I collapsed onto my small bed, only to hear a knock at my door. I let out a heavy sigh of annoyance.
"Just when I was about to rest, damn it," I grumbled as I walked towards the door to see who had disturbed my peace.
A bright smile greeted me when I opened the door. It was Nanay Linda, the owner of the apartment I was renting. I quickly changed my expression from a frown to a wide smile, as her smile was contagious.
"Oh, Nanay, what brings you here? Don't tell me you're here to collect the rent? I paid you a month in advance, remember?" I joked, and she playfully hit my shoulder before handing me a bouquet of sunflowers. I looked at her in confusion, pointing to myself.
Nanay Linda nodded, "I found it outside your door. It seems to be for you because your name is written on it. There's no other Eullah renting here besides you." Though puzzled, I accepted the bouquet meant "for me."
Nanay Linda quickly left with a teasing smile but not before she playfully teased me, making me shake my head before entering and closing the door.
I brought the bouquet to my room and read the note attached.
"My Eullah? Did they just claim me? Is that even possible?" I muttered to myself, confused because I didn't know who had sent the flowers.
I smelled the fragrance of the flowers, lifted them into the air, and took a picture. This wasn't the first time someone had sent me flowers, but it was the first time they sent my favorite kind.
"This one has good taste. They know what I like." I said to myself before taking another picture of the flowers with a smile.
The next day, I returned to my usual routine. Classes in the morning, work at 3 p.m. I'm now at the café where I work, and as usual, it's busy with customers coming in.
"Eullah, prioritize table 6, quickly." I nodded to my manager and hurried to the table she mentioned. I pulled out my notepad and pen before asking the male customer for his order.
"Good afternoon, Sir! Can I take your order, please?" I asked cheerfully.
He cleared his throat and adjusted his polo, which puzzled me. He was wearing a white plain polo shirt, paired with black denim shorts that reached his knees, and simple white crocs. I couldn't fully see his face as he was wearing shades, but I could tell he was handsome. His sharp nose and fair skin were enough evidence.
"Miss." I jumped in surprise as he snapped his fingers near my face, bringing me back to reality.
I saw him smile briefly, but his expression turned serious when he noticed me looking.
I bowed and apologized for my distraction. "I'm sorry, Sir, can I get your order again?" Yes, again. He had already given his order, but I hadn't written it down. I wanted to kick myself for stuttering, but I tried to stay calm and smiled at him, hoping he wouldn't notice.
What's wrong with you, Eullah? You know he's handsome, but don't be a fool in front of him. He might think you're star-struck by his good looks. But he is handsome.
"It seems like you're physically present, but mentally absent, Miss-" he glanced at my name tag on my chest to read it, "Eullah." he continued with a playful smile.
I don't know why, but something in his voice and smile made my heart skip a beat when he said my name, causing my knees to weaken. The hell?! What's happening to me?
"I'm really sorry for my distraction, Sir. But I promise it won't happen again, next time." He smiled playfully and said, "Hmm, so there's a next time, huh?" I looked at him in confusion, but quickly nodded, albeit hesitantly.
"Yes, sir. But of course, it will only happen if you visit us again." He just nodded and repeated his order, which I quickly wrote down.
"One Sprinkled Coffee Latte, and One Choco Strawberry Cake. Is there anything else you'd like to add, Sir?" He shook his head, and I nodded before turning to face him again.
"All your orders have been
To Be Continued...
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