Henrietta smiles at the camera and waves her hands. She looks stunning in that dress! Only a few people can pull out wearing that dress elegantly and gracefully. Sa suot niyang iyon ay kitang kita ang mala porselana niyang kutis at hubog ng katawan. Mas nakakadagdag pansin ay ang mahaba nitong binti.
Live on the screen, people flooded the comment section. Halos hindi na mabasa ang mga ito dahil sa bilis tumipa ng lahat.
Ilang sandali pa ang iginaya na si Henrietta papasok sa loob. Her grandma will arrive later at the backdoor. Ayaw kasi neto mag-aksaya ng panahon sa media. She doesn't want exposure.
Henrietta looks around the hall. Hinanap ng mata niya si Vincenzo pero hindi niya ito nakita. She caught a hand waving at her and saw Mikael not far away sitting with three people.
Lumakad siya papunta dito. Every time she passed by people would stare at her and even look back at her twice. Should she give a bonus to Faye for making her this glamorous?
Tumango siya sa mga ito nang makarating siya sa table. Napansin niya din si Santi at Luciel sa kabilang table. Unfortunately, malapit lang ang table nito sa kanila. It's okay, as long as she can stay on her kine and not messed up they can enjoy this event for the whole night.
Of course, Santi will behave this time. This is a rare opportunity for them. Kailangan nila makakuha ng connections.
A minute later nakarinig si Henrietta ng halakhak na pamilya na pamilyar sa kanya. Her grandma is here. Tumayo si Mikael at binati si Helen.
"Oh! I miss you, Mikael. How are you?" Mikael kissed and hugs Helen at pinaupo ito sa gitna nilang dalawa ni Henrietta.
"I'm fine, Grandma Helen. You're still beautiful, huh?" Mikael showed a light smile, not a fake smile.
Helen laugh. "Ikaw talaga! You always praise me."
"It's the truth," giit ni Mikael. He glanced at Henrietta who was busy swirling the wine in her hands.
"You okay?"
Henrietta looks at him while nodding. "Yep," she said softly.
After a couple of minutes, lumabas na ang pamilyang De Luca. The chairman was in front in the middle, looking so serious. On his left was Vincenzo's parents and on his right was Vincenzo and Vernon.
Ngayon na lang ulit nakita ni Henrietta si Vernon. She had no clue where this man is and she doesn't care.
Vincenzo is still the same. He was void of emotion na tila ba wala lang dito ang event na 'to. His eyes landed on her and smiled at her. She smiles back. They were good like before pero medyo hindi na siya dumidikit dito. She doesn't know but she feels that something has changed. Hindi niya pa rin nakakalimutan ang araw na 'yon. Ang araw kung saan natakot siya sa unang pagkakataon kay Vincenzo. She seems facing an unknown man right there.
She was back in reverie when he heard the claps of the guests. Napatingin siya sa entablado kung saan naroon ang Chairman ng Del Luca. Hindi pa din nawawala ang authority nito kahit matanda na and this is why she admires people like him, like her grandma. Iba ang charismang dala nito.
"Thank you everyone for coming here. This annual event was to celebrate the success of the De Luca Empire. From our ancestors to the newest generation, hindi ito natinag at mas lalong tumibay ang pundasyon nito sa industriya. At hindi magiging ganito if it weren't for the people behind it. All the staff of De Luca businesses. And of course, to my son and grandsons..."
Hindi na nakinig si Henrietta nang makita niya sa gilid ng mata ang pag-alis ni Vincenzo sa kinauupuan nito. Ngayon niya lang din napansin si Mariel na katabi ng Ingrid at nakangiti habang nakikinig sa speech ng lolo ni Vincenzo. Vernon, he was silent at hindi niya makita ang playful side nito at panakanang tumitingin sa kapatid nito. Hindi niya mawari kung ano ang iniisip nito ngunit parang may pang-uuyam sa klase ng tingin na pinupukol nito.
"Hi. Mabuti at nakadalo kayo, old woman," ani ni Vincenzo nang makarating sa pwesto nila.
Inalis ni Vincenzo ang inis nang makita ang suot ng asawa. Too much skin! Who bought this dress?! Alam ng maraming mata ang titingin dito pero pinili pa din nito ang ganitong suot.
He moved at her back and gave her a squeeze in the shoulder.
"You're not cold?" he asked.
"I'm fine," sagot ni Henrietta. Nakalimutan ata nito na hindi dapat ito kumilos ng ganito dahil walang alam ang karamihan ng tao sa relasyon nila.
Helen, knowing that people eyed the two with confusion and suspicion, clears her throat and smiles at Vincenzo.
"Hijo, baka mapagkamalan ng iba ng may gusto ka sa apo ko. Ikaw, ah~"
Vincenzo smirks. "Who would not like her? I'm sure maraming umaaligid sa apo mo, old woman." Then he looked at Mikael with disgust and hate.
Mikael smirks back. Pinagseselosan pala siya ng asawa ng kaibigan niya. He darkly chuckles when Vincenzo glares at him sharply.
He stood up, raised his glass of wine and said, "Congratulations on your success, Vincenzo. I will surely enjoy the event," ani nito at ininom ang alak.
Hindi nakaligtas sa pandinig ni Vincenzo at Henrietta ang meaning sa sinabi ni Mikael. Sa ilang years niya na sa negosyo at industriya, sa dami ng nakilala niya of course, malalaman niya ang ibig ipahiwatig ng salitang 'yon. But what was up to? May mangyayari ba?
Vincenzo tense for a moment before gradually goes back to his usual self. Siniguro niya na nasa patrol ang lahat ng bodyguards nila at binabantayan ang lahat ng tao na pumapasok sa loob o lumalabas. No one can enter the premises and cause chaos tonight. He is sure of that kaya hindi siya natatakot kay Mikael. This man is an ant in his face! How he wants to strangle him if he is not his wife's friend... but he can do that too.
Yumuko si Vincenzo sa tenga ng asawa. "I have to go. Enjoy the night, wife." Gusto niya pa sanang halikan ang pisngi nito ngunit hindi niya gagawin iyon lalo na kung wala itong pahintulot ng asawa. Kahit naman kasal sila ay hindi naman sila totoong nagmamahalan. Baby steps until she became his. May progress na ang relasyon nila makukuha na niya ang loob ng dalaga.
Soon the awaited event is about to start. Tumaas ang lolo ni Vincenzo sa entablado.
"Tonight, I want to make this event a special one for my grandsons. I will announce who I will give the shares and other assets under my name to my grandsons and family."
Isa ito sa pinakahihintay ni Vincenzo he was greedy for power and wealth at ngayon nga ay makukuha niya na ito. He eagerly listens to his grandpa's speech at mas lalong lumaki ang ngiti niya ng sa huli ang karamihan ng shares ay ibibigay sa kanya. The shares are very important to him.
".... Lastly, the mansion in Switzerland, two ships, De Luca Real Estate, and the forty percent of my shares under my name will be given to Vi—"
Malakas na bumukas ang pinto ng hall at ang ilang bodyguards ay tumalsik ng ilang metro dito. An evil smile skips on Mikael's lips. 'Finally, the party has begun.'
A man stepped forward with his hand on his pocket followed by six men in black. The man was tall, mas matangkad ng konti kay Vincenzo. He was surrounded by cold air and his presence was shouting dominance and power. All of the people had a shocked expression when they saw his face.
The man said in his cold voice, "I'm not late, am I?
The moment the man appears, Henrietta feels like being struck by thunder. Hindi siya makagalaw at bumigat ang kanyang paghinga. She couldn't move her eyes from that pair of dark orbs and her heart was beating loudly.
'Why the hell does he look like Vincenzo?!'
-----
© _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...
