PUMASOK si Helaena sa World Trade Center. Alam niyang nasa kalagitnaan na ang affair. Hindi niya pinansin ang mga taong nagsisipaglingunan sa kanyang direksiyon. She knew she caught their attention with the dress she was wearing. May napansin siyang nag-flash sa isang tabi---paparazzi.
She hated the lot of them.
Bukas marahil ay nasa isang tabloid siya, nakabalandrang mistulang isang bold star sa cover page. O kung taga-fashion magazine naman ang kumuha ng litrato ay malamang na magkakapuntos siya sa kanyang original designer gown that made all the contents of her wardrobe pale in comparison. She glided confidently through the crowd that seemed to part like a river so she could walk by. She fixed a sensual smile on her lips, never looking at anybody in particular.
The place was swarming with people: businessmen, politicians, celebrities, press, and spectators alike.
Nagkalat ang mga higanteng backlighted posters ng produktong ipinakikilala sa madla--ang Warlords--ang pinakabagong obra ng computer games genius na si Azul del Rosario. Isa na naman iyong modernong laruan na tiyak na kalolokohan ng mga kabataan at maging ng mga matatandang mahilig maglaro ng computer.
She wondered what her husband-to-be looked like. Probably a scrawny nerd with thick glasses and odious fashion sense. A geek and a fashion designer. She shuddered. They would look ridiculous together!
Lumapit siya sa isang babae na marahil ay usherette. "Miss, nasaan si Mr. Azul del Rosario?"
Medyo na-shock ito sa pagkatitig sa damit niya. Ilang saglit bago ito nakasagot. "Iyon pong nakatalikod na naka-navy suit."
She scanned the area.Natagpuan kaagad niya ang lalaking pakay niya. Nakatalikod ito sa kanya. He was very tall and broad shouldered. Hindi niya maiwasang hangaan ang magandang pangangatawan nito. His outfit hugged his lean muscular body to perfection. Umismid siya. At least, may taste naman palang manamit, sa isip-isip niya.
As if on cue, he turned around at may ibinulong sa katabi nitong lalaki na kung hindi siya nagkakamali ay si Dylan. Her heart seemed to drop to her stomach.
That was him! The man from Issabella's party!
Mabilis siyang nagkubli sa likod ng isang higanteng poster. Parang sasabog sa tensiyon ang kanyang dibdib. Calm down, Helaena. Oh, God, that man couldn't possibly be Azul del Rosario! Please, Lord, don't let him be the man I am supposed to marry. Not him!
Ilang minuto siyang nagkubli, pilit na kinalma ang sarili. Muli ay sumilip siya at pinagmasdan ang lalaki. He looked arrogant even from distance. Parang pag-aari nito ang mundo kung umasta. After all, the party was in his honor. At hindi niya dapat kalimutan ang dahilan kung bakit siya nagpunta roon.
Naroon siya para ipakilala ang sarili sa kanyang mapapangasawa, kay Azul del Rosario, ang taong nagpapahirap sa kanyang ama ngayon. If she hated him before ass the arrogant man who wanted to buy her sexual favors, she hated him thrice now for being the man who wanted to steal her family business! Na naging dahilan ng pagkaospital ng kanyang ina sa sobrang sama ng loob! No doubt na kinausap nito ang bangko para i-pressure ang kanyang ama na magbenta. Corporate blackmail!
They had been thrown into each other's path in the most bizarre circumstance, and it had been hell between them since then! Azul was insufferably arrogant, an honest-to-goodness son of a bitch if she ever knew one! Umusal siya ng paumanhin sa kung sino mang ina nito. Figure of speech lang naman iyon.
Wala siyang kaalam-alam na nakikipaghalikan na pala siya sa demonyong gustong sumulot sa kanilang kompanya! At sarap na sarap pa man din siya! It was too incredible to comprehend, Mapagbiro talaga ang kapalaran.
Pagkuwa'y nakita niya sa grupo sina Alexis Benedicto, Jonty Silverio, Nico Sanvictores, Lucky de Angelo, at Russel Valdeverro. Apat sa mga iyon ang minsang na-link sa kanya ilang taon ang nakaraan. My, my, ano ito? Reunion ng mga ex-boyfriends ko?
Gusto niyang matawa. Kung hindi nga lang nagkukukot ang kanyang kalooban sa galit sa lalaking umaapi sa kanyang pamilya ay talagang matatawa siya. Ah, well, it's time to complete my mission. I'll make this night the night that bastard will never forget!
Lumabas siya mula sa kanyang pinagtataguan at umiindayog ang balakang na lumakad siya palapit sa lalaking kanyang pakay.
All eyes turned to watch her.
BLUE SAW her suddenly appear the crowd like an ethereal vision in shimmering, liquid silver. She walked like no one he had ever seen, like nymph gliding voluptuously, sensually, her curvaceous hips swaying enticingly with each step she made. Her eyes were fixed on him. She was coming to him.
Pakiramdam niya ay huminto sa pagtibok ang kanyang puso. It was her--the woman who had been erotically haunting his dreams for the past days. His woman.
Balak talaga niyang hanapin ito nang puspusan pagkatapos ng takeover niya sa Worldnet, pero heto at ito mismo ang lumalapit sa kanya. So beautiful, so bewitching. He felt himself grow warm all over. His pulse quickened and coursed like liquid heat through his veins, making him feel alive and excited. He wanted her all right. He wanted her now, more than ever.
Huminto ito sa kanyang harap. Up close, she was breathtaking, her beauty mesmerizing, her sensuality smoldering. The dress she was wearing left nothing to the imagination. It was a slip of silver draping like silk over her body and secured only by very thin strings around the neck and the sides. The mounds of her full breasts were exposed tantalizingly. The skin of her shoulders and arms were smooth and creamy. Her navel was peeking seductively. And her shapely long legs were in view for all to see from long slits at her sides.
He felt a primitive possesiveness assault his consciousness it was almost violent. Gusto niyang hubarin ang suot niyang coat para ibalbal dito.
Damn, shameless woman! She was his, damn it! For his eyes only!
"Mr. Azul del Rosario," she purred.
"So, you did a little homework, sweety. I am flattered. Call me 'Blue," he said in a low voice.
Nakipagtitigan ito sa kanya, bahagyang nakataas ang noo at nakaliyad ang dibdib. She was wearing no bra. Her nipples were vaguely outlined. "Nice dress," he said through clenched teeth. That would be the last time she would ever wear a thing like that, he vowed. Unless they were alone.
She smiled like the seductress that she was.
"Thank you. I designed it myself."
Lumipat ang mga mata nito sa kanyang mga kasama. Lumapad ang mga ngiti nito at sa kanyang pagkamangha ay isa-isang binati at hinalikan nito sa pisngi ang kanyang mga kaibigan.
"Alexis, you're looking great!.. Jonty, still the champ, honey? How impressive... Russel, married but still gorgeous, hah..! Nico, I missed you... Lucky, kumusta na si Kate?.. Dylan, oh, Dylan, fancy seeing you
here..."
He looked at his friends with disapproval. Parang mga natuka ng ahas na nakatitig ang mga ito sa babae. Okay, they knew all her. Pero hindi naman nakapagtataka. She was very beautiful woman, probably some rich man's daughter. Siyempre, popular ito sa mga lalaki. But no more. From now on, she would be exclusively his.
Sa wakas ay bumalik sa kanya ang mga mata nito. Tiningnan siya nito mula ulo hanggang paa. It was a bold and challenging look. " Blue, tinatanggap ko na ang alok mo."
HELAENA saw his mouth curve with masculine satisfaction, flashing an arrogant smile. "Good. Hindi ka magsisisi, sweetheart." He drawled lazily, smiling wickedly.
That smile should be prohibited by law, naisaloob niya. It was too lethal for a mortal woman. Halos makalimutan niya ang sadya niya ngayon sa
lalaking ito.
"Really, huh?" Alam niyang ang tinutukoy nito ay ang alok nitong pagbili sa kanyang serbisyo sa kama.
"Really."
She tossed her copper- gold mane over her shoulders. Her gloved hands felt clammy. Ninenerbiyos siya pero magaling siyang magtago. She
flexed her fingers.
She flashed her most dazzling smile at him. That's right, look at me, damn you! "Congratulations on your new product, darling," aniya
"Thank you, sweetheart."
"May ibibigay ako sa 'yo, Blue," bulong niya rito.
"I want your name for starters and then we can move on to other things," he whispered back huskily.
His eyes twinkled, conveying a different message. She was sure it was sexual by the way he glanced down her chest, lazily surveying her assets na siya naman talagang gusto niyang mangyari kaya siya nagsuot ng ganoong damit. She wanted him to get distracted, to lose his guard.
Kaya hindi nito napaghandaan ang kanyang ginawa.
She pulled her arm back and gave him a full right swing that landed sickeningly on his left jaw. Parang nakuryente sa sakit ang kanyang kamay dahil sa impact ng kanyang suntok pero hindi niya iyon iniinda. Her eyes were busy taking in the whole scene.
Dahil sa magkahalong lakas ng kanyang suntok at marahil ay pagkagulat, nawalan ito ng panimbang at pasuray na bumalandra sa isang freestanding billboard na nakapuwesto sa likuran nito. Nabuway ang billboard kasabay nito at lumikha iyon ng malakas na ingay sa buong paligid.
Wala na yatang mas sasarap pa sa pakiramdam na makita ang kanyang mortal na kaaway na nakahandusay sa kanyang paanan. Namaywang siya at ngumiti ng palalo.
"Not so high and mighty now, are we, Mr. del Rosario?" she said in the sweetest tone she could muster.
Tumingala ito sa kanya. Halata sa mukha nito na hindi nito mapaniwalaan ang nangyari. He struggled to get up. Tinulungan pa ito nina Lucky.
Cameras flashed furiously all around them.
It was time to beat an exit. She tossed her hair back, and walked out from the commotion. She felt like floating on air with a mixture of triumph and nervous excitement. She had decked the bastard flat on the ground in public!
I did it! Yes!
IWINAKSI ni Blue ang mga kamay na tumulong sa kanya. Hinawakan niya ang nasaktang pisngi niya. Nakita niyang lumakad palayo ang babae, ni hindi nagmadali. Her hips were swaying confidently as she crossed the hall. She really thought she would get away with it, the bitch!
"Wow, Helaena Monserati is still hot as ever."
Nilingon niya si Jonty. "Ano'ng sinabi mo?"
Apolegetic na ngumiti ito. "Man, I didn't mean--"
Para siyang sinabugan ng bomba sa sobrang pagkamangha. "That woman is Helaena Monserati?!" bulyaw niya.
Nagulat ito, pagkuwa'y nailing. "Wow, pare, yeah! That's her. Your fiancee just walked out on you."
He shot after her like a bullet.
