GET EVEN

CHAPTER ONE

Luminga linga si Gabriele Antonioni sa isang tila napakasikip na silid kung saan siya naroroon at pinipigilan ang sariling hindi antukin. He couldn't stand attending events where everyone drank too much, laughed too loud and tried far too hard to impress each other.

Gabriele knew he was what women considered a real catch. Isang walang kwentang magazine ang gumawa ng write ups at iniluklok siya bilang top one sa Manila's most eligible bachelors kasama ng kanyang litrato. Hindi niya ito nagustuhan at sinubukang ipatanggal ang pangalan sa article ngunit kinontra lamang siya ng kanyang abogado, spouting some crap about freedom of speech. Since the article was released, he was being approached by even more materialistic females.

The magazine listed his net worth as equal to the Sy, Gokongwei and Zobel De Ayala. Nabanggit din nila na ang kanyang physique. Tall, dark and handsome. He stood over six feet, with broad shoulders and muscles that rippled throughout his entire body. He hated gyms at pagjo-jogging tuwing umaga ang kanyang nakahiligan. Minsan ay pati sa gabi. Natuklasan niya noong bata pa siya that running is a great form of relieving his stress.

He knew the second best way to relieve stress was to take a woman to bed. The minute na makaraos siya ay aalis siya agad na parang walang nangyari. There were many women who tried to get him to stay but no one held his interest longer than it took him to button up his pants.

Pagkatapos madurog ang kanyang puso sa isang babaeng nagngangalang Destiny Rose, nawala na ang kanyang interes sa ibang babae. Napagtanto ni Gabriele na kapag nakapaghiganti siya rito ay saka siya lalagay sa tahimik. Yan ay kung may mahahanap siyang babaeng mamahalin at magmamahal sa kanya ng totoo.

Isang babae ang dumaan sa kanya na may masangsang na pabango dahilan para bumalik siya sa kanyang ulirat. Gabriele sighed as he grabbed a glass of wine from a passing waiter.

Ang ganitong klaseng pagtitipon ay tungkol lamang sa kung sino ang pinakamakapal na wallet at punong bulsa. The women were on the prowl and the men were fishing. He wasn't interested. Makakuha siya ng babae kung kaylan niya man gustuhin. He wasn't interested in superficial, wanna-be socialites.

He watched as a couple of ladies passed by, dripping in diamonds and low cut gowns. They were trying to catch his eye and normally he'd make their day by flirting a little, giving them the impression they stood a chance but today wasn't that day. Masakit ang kanyang ulo at naiinis dahil pinapunta siya rito.

"There you are, boy. Anong ginagawa mo at bakit nagtatago ka dito sa sulok?" Nakangiting bati ni Elias Antonioni, ang kanyang ama.

"I'm wondering why I'm here when I'd rather be home with a scotch and my feet up," walang buhay na sagot ni Gabriele.

"You're here because you received a request from your father. May mga bagay akong gustong i-discuss" Elias said in his no nonsense voice.

"And it couldn't wait until later?" pagtatanong ni Gabriele.

"Oh live it up a little. Palagi kang busy sa pagpapayaman eh. Maglibang ka naman kahit konti. Ang dami mo nang milyones sa bangko." biro ng ama.

"May time din naman ako para maglibang, hell I was in Milan last week."

"You were in Milan on business, that doesn't count," his dad told him, a bit exasperated.

"For me, the ideal time is mixing business with pleasure," Gabriele told his father, with a waggle of his brows. Both men relaxed.

"Seriously, Dad I do have a headache. Gaano ba kaimportante yung sasabihin mo at hindi makapaghintay bukas?" tanong nito. Once Gabriele had made his first million, dinala niya si Elias sa city at ginawang Chief Financial Officer ng kanyang corporation. Wais ang kanyang ama kaya napalago pa nila lalo ang nasimulan niya. His dad may have had several hard times while Gabriele was growing up but he was essential to Gabriele's company now.