The Man Of Her Dreams (COMPLETE)

Chapter 34

Diadem gulped silently when Vince's hooding eyes bored at hers as he shoved his face closer to her. He was too close for comfort now, and suddenly, she found her tongue retreating inside her mouth.

Kanina nang pumunta siya rito ay handa siyang harapin ang lalaki at kausapin ito. Her dialogues were already properly woven in her mind. Pero ngayong nasa harapan na siya nito, lahat ng linyang memoryado na niya kanina ay bigla yatang nilipad ng hangin. His magnificent body just made her more uncomfortable under his penetrating gaze. Vince really had the body to die for. She couldn't help, but steal quick glances. Lean, ripped muscles abound in his chest, biceps, abs and...

"Diadem..."

Her eyes flickered and flew back to his face. She retreated a little, taking a not so comfortable distance between them, but enough to make her grope back her wits. Ang galing lang yata niyang tsumamba. He was sinfully flaunting his manly assets in a boxer shorts when she decided to see him in his teritory.

Parang gusto na lang tuloy niyang umalis at bumalik na lamang sa susunod na mga araw. Pero nandito na siya. Kailangang makausap na niya ang lalaki at makipagkasundo rito. Sa bawat araw na lumilipas ay bumababa ang stocks value ng GOC. Hindi niya kayang manood na lamang habang sinisira ni Vince ang buhay niya.

Dalawang linggo pa lamang itong naging Chairman of the Board ng GOC pero nakagawa na kaagad ito ng paraan para akayin sa pagkabankarote ang kumpanya. Kung hindi siya gagawa ng paraan ngayon, baka magiging huli na ang lahat. For the past days since she was hospitalized, she just stayed in their mansion and hid from Vince's menace. Pinayuhan kasi siya ng mga doktor na ilayo ang kanyang sarili sa kung anumang source ng stress na makakaapekto sa kondisyon ng kanyang puso. Rohan forced her to take a leave from work, just like what her doctors told her so. Isa pa, she also undergone series of tests so the doctors could further assess her condition.

Dalawang linggo rin siyang nakapagpahinga. For ten years, that was her first ever break from work. Iyong tipong wala siyang ibang inasikaso kundi ang magpahinga lamang. And it helped her a lot. But she was able to get her hands to a local newspaper this morning. And her world was shakened when she found out that the stock value of GOC plummeted for the first time in a decade. It stirred quite a buzz in the business world. And suddenly, she realized that she had to race with time to save the company from its impending doom. So she came up with a major decision. Kaya siya ngayon naririto sa harapan ni Vince.

"I'm waiting, Diadem. Say your piece now. I'm giving you five minutes," untag nito sa lumilipad niyang isipan.

Nahigit niya ang hininga. She took a deep breath to give her shaking confidence some strength. Buong tapang na hinarap niya si Vince pero nakikiusap ang kanyang mga mata. "I'm here to make a truce with you, Vince..." Halos ay walang boses na lumabas sa kanyang bibig.

"Say what?" Nagkasalubong ang mga kilay nito. But a hint of a smile formed in the corner of his mouth.

Muli siyang napahugot nang malalim na buntong-hininga. "Nandito ako para makipagkasundo sa iyo, Vince," sa wakas ay matatag na wika niya. "Please let's settle this rift amicably. Let's end this senseless battle-"

"Senseless?" He cocked his head.

"I mean..." her eyes flickered as she tried to grope for the perfect words. "Tapusin na natin ang away na ito, Vince. Nakikiusap ako. Let's give each other peace of minds. Please..." She heaved a sigh.

"You started this, Diadem," may igting sa boses nito nang magsalita. His eyes turned sharper.

"I know that I committed some things in the past, Vince," she said softly. "You know, I was hurt by the turn of events. But let's not talk about the past anymore. I'm here to make amends with you. I'm here to ask your forgiveness for all of the things that I did..." She was just so glad that her voice, eventhough a little shaky didn't forsake her. She was just so glad that she was able to say the words that she wanted to say. Pakiramdam niya kasi ay nanghihina siya.

Patuya itong ngumiti sa kanya. He took a step forward. She felt her stomach lurch. "Vince please... tapusin na natin ito. Ayoko na ng away. Ayoko na ng gulo." She shivered when his hands cupped her shoulders.

"Ayaw mo na, Diadem?" His eyes became harder, his voice implied danger.

Napatungo siya. Hindi niya kayang labanan ang klase ng titig nito sa kanya. Humigpit ang pagkakahawak nito sa kanyang mga balikat.

"You surprised me, sweetheart," he snarled in a mocking voice. "Ganyan ka lang pala kadaling sumuko?" His eyes hovered around her face.

"I am asking for peace of mind, Vince. You see, I'm marrying Rohan, and I want to start a peaceful family life with him. You can be the Chairman of the Board. I won't fight anymore. But please, take good care of the company."

Mas lalong humigpit ang pagkakahawak nito sa kanyang mga balikat. Pinigilan niya ang sariling mapagibik. Mas lalo yata niya itong nagalit sa kanyang sinabi.

"To hell with you and Rohan!" he shook her. His eyes were filled with so much hate and disgust... and pain, too.

"Vince... please..." she begged. "Hindi na ako lalaban. Tatanggapin ko nang talo ako. Let's just stop this madness. Hindi ka pa ba masaya?" she asked in exasperation.

He smirked at her ruefully. Pagkatapos ay napailing. "Hindi pa, Diadem," he answered in mockery. "I haven't had my final blow yet. Nag-uumpisa pa lamang akong sirain ang GOC."

Pinanginigan siya ng mga tuhod sa narinig. God! Please forbid!

"Wala ka nang magagawa pa, Diadem. Nasa mga kamay ko na nakasalalay ang kinabukasan ng kumpanyang pinakamamahal at pinakaiingatan mo. I guess you know by now what will become of your dearest company in the coming days, right?"

Nakagat niya ang kanyang pang-ibabang labi. "Please, Vince, don't destroy GOC. Nakikiusap ako. Please... Hindi ko kakayanin iyon kapag nagkataon." Parang gusto na yata niyang pumalahaw ng iyak ngayon pa lang.

Natawa lamang ito nang pagak. "Mabuti naman at alam mo na ngayon ang pakiramdam na winawasak ang buhay ng isang tao, Diadem. Sana naisip mo iyan noong winawasak mo ang buhay ni Nanay Winona!" Biglang naging mabalasik ang pagmumukha nito. He looked at her with so much anger and hate in his eyes.

Napatungo lamang siya. "I am so sorry for everything that I did before, Vince. I hope you could find forgiveness in your heart for me," mahinang usal niya.

"Hindi ganoon kadaling magpatawad, Diadem! Not with the extent of what you did!" he snarled.

Kahit na gustong-gusto na rin niya itong sigawan ay minabuti na lamang niyang magpakumbaba. She was hurt, too! She lost her parents. Her family was ripped apart! At dahil iyon kay Winona! Kung may nagawa man siyang masama, iyon ay para ipaghiganti ang pagkawasak ng kanyang pamilya at pigilan si Winona na kamkamin ang kumpanyang pinaghirapang ipundar ng mga ninuno ng kanyang ina! Gustong-gusto niyang isampal ang mga iyon sa mukha ni Vince! Winona was a homewrecker! For crying out loud!

She wouldn't regret anything that she had done in the past. Pero kailangan nang matapos ang lahat ngayon. Kailangan nang matuldukan. She was at the losing end. And the only way to save GOC was to beg for this man to stop.

"What do you want me to do so that you can forgive me, Vince?" emotional na tanong niya. "Do you want me to beg? Do you want me to kneel at you? Please say so... I'll do whatever you want."

What she said made the furious expression on his face disappear. Naging matiim ang titig nito sa kanya. His lips curved in amusement and something else that made her nerves burn.

Nahigit niya yata ang kanyang hininga nang magsalita ito.