To @mikanyuki, for one particular message that gives hope to my heart...
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~~~ CHAPTER 29 - FIANCÉE ~~~

Nigel and I were not talking as the private elevator carried us to the 9th floor where the social hall was located. We stood side by side and I still tried my best to not mind him.

The elevator door opened and I immediatedly headed out. Several people were visible when we reached the lobby. There were like four usherettes, five guards, and more or less six other people, probably employees or guests attending calls. I saw an information kiosk by the doorway to the social hall.

Everything in this area in this floor was carpeted. I was mesmerized with how everything in this building exuded wealth and power. You wouldn't believe that the President and CEO of this Corporation, owner of this building, was just residing in a modest condominium unit in the capital. You wouldn't believe how much Nigel had attained two years after his college graduation. You wouldn't believe that at his age right now, he was already earning millions, no, probably, billions... You just wouldn't believe...

When we appeared in the lobby, all people there acknowledged his presence. Some greeted 'good evening'; others greeted him 'Happy Birthday'. They also accosted me warmly and I managed to offer them a smile.

I heard one usherette whispered to her colleague, "That must be the señorita."

"Good evening, miss," they both said to me later, smiling.

Well, it was my first time to appear in this building... and right now, hearing them say that I was the young mistress of the corporation, I felt something was wrong. It just didn't feel right anymore.

"Good evening, too," I said anyway.

They looked at Nigel and they both giggled. He smirked at them.

What? Would even his employees act like lovestruck teenagers in front of him?

Brushing that thought in my mind, I noticed that we had finally entered the social hall. I felt my jaws dropped to the floor when I discovered how large was the hall and how many people were there. Instantly, flashes of camera flooded around when Nigel and I were finally in. He held my elbow and leaned to me as he whispered, "Smile, princess."

I faked a smile.

Well, it looked like I was going to see my face tomorrow on the front page.

I suddenly felt creepy thinking about seeing my face on the front page. Well, good luck to me.

An usher guided us to the presidential table. All eyes were on us. So, this was what we called limelight. This was his life. This was Nigel's kind of life. My knees trembled as I walked at the thought of Nigel's celebrity status.

He was still holding my elbow until we reached our table. Mommy Carol was already there waiting for us.

Flashes of cameras gleamed every now and then.

I was silent the whole time but, all the while, tried to catch a glimpse of him. I wanted to give the longest gaze at him to ponder if he really was the Nigelito Joaquin Sarmiento that I knew. My brain made me recall and imagine a simple boy, in backpack, walking towards the Forest Garden; a painter, in his painting studio, spending his Sundays in his sacred sanctum; a man, in simple tank top and sweat pants, promenading in the condo; a man, in suit, arriving late and exhausted from work.

I knew he was a big time.

I didn't know he was this big... as in this big.

The event was well-attended. I could estimate about two hundred people in the hall including the media men who were quite visible.

One wrong act tonight and everything would be noted in the morning paper. It was unbelievable.

Before the start of the giving of speeches and ceremonies, Nigel roamed around the hall to meet all the invited guests --- investors, celebrities, etc.

"Would you like to come with me and meet my guests?" he asked, whispering in my ear, before he left our table.

I shook my head mindfully. What for?

"Okay, just have fun here," he said.

He walked away and, again, my eyes never left where he was. There were a lot of sexy, sophisticated women around and everytime they came close to him, they immediately hugged and kissed him... at least, not on the lips...

What was the matter with me? Didn't I say to myself that I had already given up on him? So why was I acting so nosy about him or his actions or the people he was with?

What really is wrong with you, Althea? I scolded myself.

Mom said something to me and I turned my head to her. "Yes, mommy?"

"He looked anxious tonight," she said. "He isn't like that. He's always confident about things."

"He doesn't look anxious to me, mommy," I said, seeing Nigel currently surrounded by ladies in the hall. "In fact, he seems to be enjoying... a lot."

"No, a mom can feel her son. Trust me, darling. I know he is anxious about something. I just don't have any idea what he's up to tonight," mom said. "Excuse me, darling, I have to give a cue to the host to start the ball rolling," she said, standing up.

I nodded at her. Sometimes, I could feel that moms do complicate things for their children. When mom could have assigned someone to do the cueing, she instead made it sure to do it herself. She must be very excited for and proud of him.

Nigel was very lucky to have a mother like her.

My eyes seek again the man of the night and when I finally located him...

Okay, it happened again...

I just knew that something not good would happen in events like this!

Maria Stella, in a stunning black gown, was holding Nigel in the arm. They were about ten meters away from me.

So, Maria Stella was invited tonight!

Great.

Great.

Just great.

Wait...

Why was I acting jealous? Didn't I say I was over him already?

Then, without having me prepared, just like a freaking déjà vu, they kissed on the lips!

They kissed on the lips in the middle of all these people with media men observing his every move!

It was a sight that was no longer new to me. It was familiar, very familiar, to my remembering brain and my shattered heart.

"Ladies and gentlemen, may you take your seats for we are now to start the program," the host announced on the stage.

Everything around me was not clear anymore. All I needed to do was to get out of this place as fast as possible.

I shut my eyes.

Self-control. Where's your self-control, Althea?

So, yeah, the program was started. Nigel, both as handsome and as hypocrite as hell, sat at my side and acted like nothing happened and even smiled at me once in a while. I was curious deep inside where Stella was settling herself in the hall. My heart started to freak out again.

There were announcements, introductions, speeches delivered --- tribute to the outgoing CEO, tribute to the incoming one. These were speeches that I couldn't quite understand because of the freaking scene that Nigel and Stella just made!

Hello! This is not the first time! Why are you acting as if it's the first? Nigel will never change! Dont you ever expect!

Putting my elbows on the table, I pressed my forehead using my fingers.

I thought I had already moved on. That was what I thought... Well, now I realized, it was not that easy to move on... especially if the man that you tried to disregard had been your one great love since the very beginning...

"Are you okay?" Nigel asked me.

I didn't answer him but I just stayed on that position for a while until I calmed myself down a bit.

I then put my hands down on my lap.

When it was Mommy Carol's turn to give her speech, it was obvious that she didn't see the scene Nigel and Stella just created a while ago.

Mom was very jubilant on stage. She delivered a speech coming out from her heart as she told the audience how proud she was of the son who always exceeded her expectations and how she couldn't wait for him to fully run the Corporation as the new Chief Executive Officer.

Trying to ease my heaving chest, I excused myself to our tablemates and stood up silently from the table. Nigel, however, quickly grabbed my forearm. I cast him a glare.

We were in that position when I heard mom's introduction, "Everyone, I am now giving the floor to the new CEO of the Sarmiento Corporation, my jewel, Nigelito Joaquin Saavedra Sarmiento!"

Nigel had no choice but to go on stage now so he released my forearm. "Remain here, Althea," he said as he stood up. Then, he walked confidently towards the stage.

I didn't wait for him to say his first word on stage. I still pursued to go out from the hall to find a place where, perhaps, I could scold myself for acting like I was still jealous. I couldn't be jealous right now. I couldn't be.

I reached the doorway and two usherettes met me.

"Can we help you, miss?"

"I need to go to the washroom," I said, with the stupid thought in my mind that everything that happened now was like a nightmare in my past. It was like a repetition of history. It was horrible... and I felt horrible.

"Yes, this way, miss," one of them guided me the way.

♡♡♡♡♡♡♡

Control.

That was the key word.

I pacified and controlled myself. Yet, I wanted to knock my head on the wash room wall for realizing how everything turned out to be so ironic.

Control was Nigel's word... and I was using it to calm my shit down.

I left the washroom and went back to the hall. He was still speaking on stage. His voice with the use of the microphone was deep, well-modulated, and very appealing. "As the new CEO, I am committed to the success of the Sarmiento Corporation which has been my father's legacy. I know that dad wanted me to take the Corporation to its heights and I am here, together with all of you as we work hand in hand, to bring this company to feat and recognition not only in the country but in the whole world. Everything would be possible if we work hard together effectively. Your presence tonight is enough for me to tell your loyalty and support and I couldn't thank you enough for this."

I was now making my way back to the presidential table where mom was already seated when Nigel made an important signpost in his speech.

He spoke with such a crystal clear voice that it was not impossible for me to hear everything, "Speaking of your valued presence, ladies and gentlemen, tonight, with your attendance, I'm going to introduce to you the woman who has always been behind me all these years. As much as I want to keep my lovelife private to everyone since this lady is not used to the limelight and she has kept her silence in the sidelines, I just feel like it's now the right time to reveal her to all of you because... because she's very special to me."

Oh, no! He was to introduce Maria Stella now as his girlfriend, or worse, his fiancèe! Or probably, he was to propose to her now! She must be somewhere in the backstage and got herself ready to show herself to everyone once he would call her name.

I stood rooted on the carpeted floor and uttered a silent prayer to God to make me strong in this announcement that he had to make. So this was the important announcement that he told me beforehand.

God, please, don't make me collapse right now...

"Tonight," Nigel, still with the microphone in his hand, continued speaking as he was heading now to go down from the stage, "on my birthday, I would like to introduce to you..." he said, then he cleared his throat in the middle of his speech as he was now going towards our table's direction, "I'd like to introduce to all of you, my fiancèe, my future bride, Señorita Althea Ruiz."

It was just right on time that he mentioned my name when he arrived where I was standing.

Instantly, when he stood before me, he held my left hand.

The moment that I heard my name, my head started to spin! I wasn't able to move a bit! My heart pounded like there was a madman inside my chest beating a drum crazily.

I heard murmurs around and I saw flashes of camera lights.

I stood so unexpecting of what had just happened. I couldn't move even a tiny portion of my whole body. I felt like everything in me was paralyzed.

What did he just do again? Did I just hear him introduce me to everyone as his fiancèe? and I was special to him? Very special to him?

There were gasps in the crowd.

This looked like a paused movie scene.

I didn't know how I looked at this moment. I wished I could see my own face right now. I wanted to see how stupid my face had become.

Then, there were flashes of camera lights again.

Oh, God. Be careful what you wish for. Tomorrow, I would definitely see my face on the front page.

Despite of the clicking of cameras, I remained not moving and stared at Nigel.

Was this man in front of me the great Nigelito Joaquin? This might be his clone I was seeing right now. Normally, the real Nigelito Joaquin would yell to my face that the engagement was one big illusion and that he would make sure that marrying me would never ever happen one hundred and one percent sure!

Before I could say something to him to protest, Nigel gripped me in the waist.

"Let's make the engagement official now, princess, by sealing this with a kiss," he whispered to my ear and then he captured my mouth with his, amidst the gasps of the crowd and the flashing of camera lights.

Oh, no! I was doomed tonight.

♡♡♡♡♡♡♡

"Finally!" mom exclaimed happily as she hugged me and Nigel after that kiss... long, sweet, and tender kiss.

Huh? Did I just describe it as...?

Was I in my sound mind right now?

Everybody in the hall cheered and clapped their hands.

Nigel was clasping my hand the whole time after that. For a lot of times, I tried to pull it away from his. For a lot of times, I failed. He was gripping my hand like he was afraid to lose me. It was like I was brought to my fantasy world again.

With the serving of cocktails and while the socialization was still going on, Nigel brought me to his business associates and introduced me personally to each one of them.

"She's beautiful," an old man, who was almost balding, told Nigel.

"You're one very lucky man, Mr. Sarmiento," quipped another.

Nigel, who was encircling his left arm around my waistline, gave them a proud grin. "I am very lucky indeed," he stated and jerked his head to face me. There was pride and triumph in his handsome face as he said to me, "I indeed possess the most beautiful girl in the world."

I was silent all the time. I didn't join in the conversations. I was like a robot trying to move whatever the controller wanted me to do... but a mute robot. I was physically present but mentally absent.

All the while, I was gauging Nigel's actions and movements. People said actions speak louder than words. With that, I tried to observe every little quirk he was making as I tried to decipher everything that just happened tonight.

What was all this for?

Was this for a show only?

But, if this were only for a show, what would he get out of this?

I was very much confused.

Yet I felt, for the first time after we had the biggest fight, that there was still hope for my love for him.

Somehow, my heart was flapping and flapping just like that. I felt like I was on cloud nine, or over the moon, or in seventh heaven, or on top of the world! I felt like I was walking on air!

For a while, I forgot about Maria Stella... or my hatred towards him. All I felt was my love for him... which actually was never forgotten... because it just remained there in the deepest chambers of my heart.

♡♡♡♡♡♡♡

I was roaming around the hall and was holding hands with Nigel when I spotted Dylan on one of the tables. He was looking at me intently.

So, Dylan was also here. Probably, he was invited because he was a former intern here. I gave him a smile but he didn't smile in return.

Oh, Dylan.

I was certain that he heard Nigel's announcement and he saw the kissing scene a while ago. I knew he was hurt.

♡♡♡♡♡♡♡

After the exhaustive roaming around, I excused myself to go to the washroom. I just wanted time for myself, away from the crowd, to contemplate on all the things that had just happened. Nigel didn't excuse me immediately.

"We'll have a lot of talking to do after tonight's affair, princess. A lot of talking to do, okay? I've a lot of things to say to you," Nigel whispered to my ear. His arm was still imprisoning my waist. "I'll be the one giving you a ride later, okay? Mom can go home alone. Marcos will take care of her."

I didn't say a word. All throughout, I was never really speaking to him.

"So?" he asked searching my eyes. "Take a ride with me later, okay?"

I bit my lower lip.

"You're killing me with this cold shoulder you're giving me. I'm going to kiss you again if you're not going to say something," he said in a sexy tone, threatening me in the process, his breath sending chills to my neck.

"Jerk," I said the first word to him tonight, hitting him in the chest with my purse, but not hard enough. I even made a face at him.

He pinched the peak of my nose which, I thought, made me blush. "You're very cute like that," he said smiling so beautifully. For the first time in long years, I felt deep inside that Nigel was genuinely happy tonight.

Was this even true?

God, was this true?

"Flatter yourself, Nigelito Joaquin!" I said sarcastically but I couldn't help myself to return him a smile.

"Now, you're finally smiling. Thank you," he said excitedly and, unexpectedly, kissed me in the cheek.

I hit his chest with the purse again, still not hard enough. For the first time, he looked like an excited kid to me.

"Hit me again! You know what happens next when you hit me again with that clutch," he said, joking. His dark eyes glittered in happiness.

My brain processed something and it made me recall the rough kisses he gave me in the patio after I hit him in the chest with my purse. I felt the heat in my cheeks. "You bastard!" I said, not seriously though, as my knees shivered.

God, was I really in my fantasy world right now? Would somebody wake me up, please? Or better... would you NOT dare wake me up? I could go on dreaming like this... forever.

"Later, princess. Later..." he warned me, grinning confidently as he finally released me.

I rolled my eyes at him. He even grinned more. The jerk!

Leaving him, I stepped towards the washroom. At that time, as I was walking, my heart went bam, bam, bam like I was seeing fireworks everywhere around.

And it went on and on and on.

Bam. Bam. Bam.

Oh, love! What have you done to me?

♡♡♡♡♡♡♡

With my right hand on my chest, I looked at myself in the mirror. I wanted to feel what my heart was saying right now.

I was in the rebel mode during the past months. Perhaps, after this, I could finally return to my old self... hoping and believing in love.

Oh, my God! I was still blushing. My cheeks were red as ripe tomatoes.

The door behind me opened and I saw Maria Stella entered.

I was taken aback. She looked like a ghost in her black gown! So she was still here! She still didn't leave after the announcement. She must feel really, really bad right now.

I didn't turn around. I just met her gaze through the mirror.

She locked the door and grinned at me. Seriously? Why did her grin feel so creepy?

What was she up to this time?

She crossed her arms in her chest. "Fiancèe," she said.

I didn't utter a word. So now she knew what I was in Nigel's life.

"Althea Molina Ruiz," Stella spoke again, "foster daughter of Señora Carol Saavedra-Sarmiento and biological daughter of Adriana Molina, the Señora's bestfriend and former maid-servant."

Huh? I span around and faced her. "What do you want?"

She grinned again, and boy, was it irritating!

"Nigel already told me everything about you, Althea Molina Ruiz. He said you are the daughter of the palacio's former servant, Adriana Molina."

What was she trying to connote here? Why did she have to emphasize my mama's connection to the palacio as its former servant.

Of course, I knew who my mama was. She was an orphan like me, worked previously as a maid in the Saavedra mansion (mom's native home), and became Mommy Carol's bestfriend and confidante since their childhood days. When mom married the mature Federigo Sarmiento, she brought mama with her to the Palacio de Sarmiento as her personal assistant, also a confidante, while the former was still struggling with her arranged marriage to Señor Federigo, the Master of the Fields. Mama stayed in the palacio until Mommy Carol developed to love her husband, bore children for him, and even until his death. My mama was there for the Señora all the time.

Their friendship was the best of the bests. They had the kind of friendship that was long-lasting and eternal even after each other's death. If not, I wouldn't be under mommy's care right now. They became like sisters --- no, actually, more than like sisters. But they were separated when mama married my papa who was then a doctor volunteering in the village (La Carlota's) hospital for the poor.

My parents met one time in the village and as what mom said, papa was instantly smitten with my mama's beauty especially her captivating eyes. It was a whirlwind romance; they got married immediately; and then papa brought her to his province in the east, where they resided and mama bore me.

Yes, mama was a former servant, but Mommy Carol would always refer to her as her bestfriend, confidante, and even more than a sister. For mom, my mama was her soulmate.

Yes, my mama was a former servant, I knew about it and I was not ashamed of it. So what did it have to do with Maria Stella?

"Yes, my mama was a servant in the palacio. So what does it have to do with you?" I asked, severely desiring to know her answer.

Stella chuckled. "It doesn't have to do with me but it has to do with Nigel!"

Huh?

"Do you really think he will marry you? Do you really think he will marry a servant's daughter? Do you really think that he will give in to the craziness of his mother?" she asked as if she was mocking me.

What? I wasn't able to speak a word.

"Don't underestimate the leader of the Sarmiento Corporation to be that stupid! A union between a master and a servant's progeny will never be possible. You are too ambitious to believe that it will be possible! It will never be, Althea Molina Ruiz!"

I stood very shocked as I heard Stella's words. Did Nigel really tell all of these to her?

So why did he introduce me tonight to everybody as his fiancèe?

My knees weakened.

It looked like it was going to be another one-hell-of-a-confrontation with Stella...

I knew it was going to be a long night tonight.

"No, you are just lying. You are just making things up because you are jealous that Nigel finally introduces me to the public. With the presence of all the media men around, he wouldn't do such a thing. If he was just playing around, he wouldn't risk his reputation," I said, appearing strong and still hoping that what she just told me were all lies.

"You really are such a naive wretch!" she said, crossing her arms. "Everything is just for publicity because that was what the Señora asked from him! Do you really think his mother, Señora Carol, would give him the CEO title just like that? She is a cunning, deceiving woman who blackmailed her son to not give him the CEO-ship if he wouldn't give in to the arranged engagement!"

What? Mommy Carol had something to do with this? Did she really blackmailed her own son for me?

"But, after everything would be settled, once Nigel would take full control of the business, he would dump you like a garbage!"

Oh, everything that came from her mouth was just all too much!
 
"Still dwelling in your fantasy world?" She smiled again confidently. Maria Stella was handling this all too well like everything she said was the whole truth. Then, she glanced at my hands. "If he really was serious with this, why didn't he propose to you tonight in front of everyone? Why didn't he give you the ring? And why did he give it to me instead of giving it to you? Meaning. Nigel. Proposed. To. Me. And. Not. To. You," she said, still tauntingly, as she showed me her left hand.

In her ring finger, I saw a gorgeous diamond ring, too beautiful to look at that I actually dropped my jaw. It glistened under my gaze. It looked very, very expensive.

Proposed to her? Nigel?

"No, that cannot be!" I clenched my fists.

She laughed hard when she heard me. She laughed so very hard that she looked like a mad woman.

I stepped back and my butt touched the sink where I depended for support. If not of the sink, I would have collapsed right now.

"You are really a naive little girl, Althea Ruiz! Until now, you still hang on to your belief that Nigel loves you? You may be his mom's favorite but you will never be his favorite! For him, you will remain as nothing but a servant's daughter who has no right to become his wife!"

Control. Control, Althea. I was telling to myself. Be strong and don't you cry in front of this bitch.

"Nigel and I are engaged since two months ago. Are you surprised? He actually proposed to me two months ago. While your engagement is fake, ours is something that is true and official. With this ring, everything becomes official between the two of us!" she said triumphantly. "Well, why would he marry you anyway? He exactly know that you are an opportunist! You have been living already a princess' life, Althea Ruiz, so why would you still insist on marrying him? Isn't living in luxury enough for you? You still want to have the son so when the Señora dies, you are secured, fully secured? What a big shame!"

As of this moment, I really wanted to shove her face in a sink full of water. This woman had all it took to be considered the villain of the century.

I closed my eyes and prayed for self-control once more. But my mind had become really in chaos. I wanted to refuse that everything she said came from Nigel.

Nigel.

Why wouldn't he be capable of it? For years, he had been hating me... and everything that Stella said could be his reasons of hating me. So, now I knew, he thought I was only after of his wealth because I was just a lowly servant's daughter! Oh, why hadn't I learned about this since the beginning? Why? Why didn't he just tell me?

I would always be somebody who was low and inferior to him, too low for him! That was why he never really respected me and never even loved me!

Servant. Princess. Servant. Princess.

Oh, God! Now I knew why he had it as my nickname...

Two opposing terms.

Yes, now I knew why he had been calling me princess. It was a mock, a ridicule, a sarcasm... a contrary to what I was in reality.

I remembered it too well the first time that he ever called me that. During my thirteenth birthday, he visited me in the lagoon bank where he mocked me as he told me that I was busy tasting a time of my life while everybody in the palacio was busy preparing for my party! He told me those hurtful words because he couldn't accept the fact that a lowly servant's daughter had to act that way, to act like a princess when I didn't have the right to be one!

Hadn't I realize it that day?

Oh, why hadn't I run away that particular day?

And, my stupid heart even dictated me to beg to be engaged to him on that day! That was a big mistake, wasn't it?

Tonight, how could I believe immediately that he was true to his words and his actions? For years, he had been hating me and hatred couldn't be rid of in just a short span of time! His being such a lovey-dovey tonight wasn't making any sense, right? Because you couldn't just turn hatred into love that instant!

And how could I not believe about Nigel's and Stella's engagement? They even kissed in the hall in the middle of everyone like they didn't care at all.

Everything that I had just discovered was really, really, really too much! Weren't all of these enough to finally open my eyes? as in really open my eyes?

When I found the courage to speak, I finally said, "You can have him all you want, Maria Stella! You can have him, one hundred and one percent! I don't give a damn!"

Then, I rushed to escape from this place.

I vowed to myself once that I would no longer cry for the great Nigelito Joaquin but it looked like I had just broken the promise now.

I ran outside as tears generously flowed down from my eyes.

Just when I thought that I'd start to believe in love once more, I would be shattered again just like this!

When am I ever going to learn my lesson?

♡♡♡♡♡♡♡

A/N

Hmm, so... it wasn't a proposal, guys! It was just a mere announcement! Haha!

Oh, by the way, something about Althea's parentage is now disclosed... (for past reference, reread the introductory portion of Chapter 2 - Seventeen and Chapter 6 - Eighteen).

Ahh, I can't help it. I want to say this. Writing the next chapter will surely be very hard for me. Wish me luck though!

By the way, my dear readers, before some other things are revealed, if you are to choose from the guys, who do you think is the BEST man for Althea? Who do you think deserves her love? and WHY?

Sweet DIEGO?

Angelic DYLAN?

Persistent JAVIER?

Heartless NIGEL? 

Cast your votes and may the BEST man win!

LOL, I make it sound like a desperate election! Whatever, guys... hehe :)

Thank you, everyone, for your support! Don't forget to VOTE, COMMENT, and SHARE!

'Til next update on Saturday, same time,
(sapphiregirl22)  ~_^