"Henrietta, this is Enzo. Enzo, this is my beautiful granddaughter, Henrietta."
"Beautiful is an understatement to describe how exquisite you are, Henrietta." Inilahad ni Enzo ang palad para kamayan ang dalaga. Henrietta shook his hands. She can feel the warmth and how Enzo tightens his grips on her hand.
She force a smile at him. Hindi siya natutuwa sa lalaking 'to.
"Come on, come on. Dito kana sa tabi ni Henrietta," yaya ni Helen sa binata. Agad namang umupo si Enzo sa tabi ng dalaga at tumango sa mga naroroon.
Vincenzo De Luca. Yep, Henrietta knows this man. Sino ba naman ang hindi nakakakilala sa nagkokontrol ng ekonomiya ng A capital? If her family was among the aristocrats then the De Luca is on the top chain. Hindi lang tumatakbo sa negosyo ang connections nito, maging sa pulitika at military ay mayroong De Luca'ng naroon. But Vincenzo De Luca is the son of the main branch of De Luca clan.
Enzo took a zip on his wine before twirling it in his hand. He can smell a vanilla perfume from the woman on his side. He feels intoxicated, nakakaadik ang bango nito which is new to him. Hindi naman siya madaling ma-attract sa babae and he hates women. Pero sa babaeng 'to iba. Anyway, he didn't mind it and let himself enjoy the party.
"S-sister.." Santi saw the man who walked at Henrietta's table. Gosh! This man is really handsome! Daig pa si Luciel. Since engaged naman si Henrietta kay Luciel, wala namang masama kung angkinin niya ang lalaking katabi nito.
Henrietta mentally rolled her eyes. Alam niya na ang moves ng stepsister niya. Stupid! Did she really think a De Luca would fall to her bait-baitan effect? Especially Vincenzo De Luca?
Hindi niya alam kung saan lumipad ang utak ni Santi. Hinayaan niya na lamang ito dahil ipapahiya lang nito ang sarili niya.
"Yes?" Henrietta asked without glancing at Santi's side. Dumating din naman kaagad si Luciel na kanina pa missing in action. Yeah right, nagpalit pa ito ng damit.
"Hi, babe," Luciel greeted and was about to kiss Henrietta's cheeks nang umilag ito. Luciel stiffened but smiled anyless. Hindi niya alam kung bakit ginawa iyon ng fiancée at hindi niya iyon nagustuhan. Umupo siya sa tabi nito at tiningnan si Santi na nakatayo pa din.
"Santi? Bakit nakatayo ka d'yan? Come on sit with us," yaya ni Luciel. Ayaw niya naman na mapagod ang sikretong kasintahan at mapahiya sa maraming tao dito sa selebrasyon.
He averted his gaze to Henrietta, "Bakit hindi mo niyaya ang sister mo maupo?" he asked, a little bit accusingly. It causes misunderstanding to people around them. Parang pinapalabas nito na walang pake si Henrietta sa sister niya.
'Sister? Never!' Henrietta scoffed silently.
"Hindi naman dito ang assigned seat niya, hindi ba? And can't you see na okupado na lahat. Ano makikisiksik?" balik na tanong ni Henrietta na nakapagpatahimik kay Luciel. Tama nga naman ito. May kani-kanilang assigned seat ang bawat bisita. Namula ang mukha ni Santi sa pagkapahiya. 'Damn it! She really hates Henrietta to the core!
"Ah, gusto ko lang sana batiin si sister. Pasensya na sa istorbo, babalik na ako." Bago pa tumalikod si Santi ang tiningnan niya sa gilid ng mata si Vincenzo umaasang maawa ito sa kanya but to her disappointment, hindi man lang ito lumingon sa kanya.
Vincenzo's lips held a small smile pero agad ding nawala. 'Interesting.' It seems that the rumors about Henrietta were all false. Hindi ito ang babaeng naririnig niya na sinasabi ng ibang tao. She's a devil but she's more than that.
Santi went to the kitchen and spike Henrietta's drink na i-dedeliver ng waiter. She smoothly done it without alerting the staff around. Kilala naman siya dito at walang makakapigil sa apo ng Vanderbilt. Pagkatapos ay ibinulsa niya ang ebidensya at umalis ng nakangiti.
Ibinaba ng waiter ang baso na naglalaman ng wine ng mga bisita sa table na kinauupuan ni Henrietta. Luciel immediately grab a pair of glass wine and give the other to Henrietta.
Henrietta knew about it but she will just go with the flow. Sige magsaya sila pero nasa kanya pa rin ang huling halakhak.
She smile at Luciel, then drink her wine. Napatulala pa si Luciel nang ngumiti sa kanya ng matamis si Luciel pero agad ding natauhan nang makita ang masamang titig ni Santi sa kanya.
"You good, babe?" tanong ni Luciel at inayos ang buhok ni Henrietta. Tumango lang ang dalaga at uminom pa.
The environment around them become cold. Parang may masamang hangin ang dumaan sa kanila.
The assistant saw how the boss change his usual self. He knew na na-bad vibes na naman ito. But to who? Wala naman siyang matandaan na nakaaway nito then his eyes fixed on the woman beside his boss. Hindi kaya ito? Ayaw na ayaw pa naman ng boss niya na may nakakatabi o nakakasalamuha na babae.
-----
Nahihilong lumakad si Henrietta sa taas. Damn! Hindi niya inaasahan na gano'n ang epekto ng drug na inilagay ni Santi. Seems she became careless! Kailangan n'yang maligo, she needs a cold bath right now!
"Are you okay, babe?" tanong ni Luciel na agad sinundan si Henrietta sa taas. Of course, kailangan niyang maihatid ang dalaga sa kwarto kung saan mawawasak ang reputasyon at dignidad nito.
"I'm dizzy. Kakaibang alak yata ang nainom ko," inosenteng sagot ni Henrietta pero ang mga mata niya ay malamig na nakatitig sa sahig.
Luciel scoop her, "I will bring you to one of the rooms here. Magpahinga ka muna," saad nito at dumiretso sa isang silid. Hindi na umangal si Henrietta at hinayaan na lamang ang lalaki kahit nandidiri siya.
He gently put her down and stared at her face. She's gorgeous, lalo na kapag intoxicated. He bends down and kisses her forehead. "Sleep," he said, bago umalis sa silid. Henrietta's face frowned in annoyance and disgust.
Pagkalabas ni Luciel ay nakita niya si Santi na naghihintay sa gilid. Santi grabs his neck and kisses him passionately na sinuklian niya naman.
"Let's enjoy the show," sambit ni Santi at ngumiti ng nakakaloko. They both went down the stairs not noticing the man at their back staring at them in deep eyes. Sa likod nito ay ang assistant na nabigla sa nakita. 'They have an affair?!'
Vincenzo looked at the room where Henrietta was in then ordered his assistant without glancing at his back.
"Get me the key to that room."
-----
© _eysteambun
BINABASA MO ANG
Henrietta's Blade
Romance"Divide your enemy so you can reign approach." Upon rebirth, she returned to the time when she was twenty-four years old. As she recalled the torture she had through, memories filled her head. Smarter, feistier, and more daring! She became the cold...
