TUMAAS ang kilay ni Jyrelle nang mabasa ang message ni Isabella habang kausap niya ang pinsan nito.

From: Mia bella

I'm sorry if hindi po ako nag paalam ng personal. I badly want to go home, right now Sir. I also want to take a 1 week leave. Enjoy your meeting with Ms.Fontanilla.

He sighed and dropped his phone, walang buhay niyang tinignan ang babaeng nasa harapan niya ngayon. They're not talking about their business anymore. She kept on changing their topic. Ang matini lang niyang nakakausap ay ang lalaki na kasama nito. But all he can grasp from him was one fourth of Fontanilla's empire businesses.

"Ms.Fontanilla, I want to know about your family business. Not that shit information you're feeding me right now." Jyrelle said rudely, so she can stop blabbering nonsense now. He have more important to do than to entertain her shits.

"Oh, my bad. Our family business?" She asked and he just nod his head. "Why are you so interested in our family business anyway?" Napahilot si Jyrelle sa sentido niya.

She's stressing him out!

The man apologetically looked at him and leaned forward to the woman and whispered, probably some words to enlighten this woman's head!

"I am a businessman and I want to invest or maybe merge my company with yours." Pinilit niya na pakalmahin ang sarili. Bakit ba kasi ito ang pinadala ng kumpanya nila?!

"Right, I'm sorry. Na di-distract kasi ako sa mukha mo, I mean I like you." She said and give him a flirtatious smile, she even bend over, showing off her cleavage.

"Ms.Fontanilla, hindi ako nakikipag biruan sayo. We're both wasting our time here, do you really know what kind of business your family have?" Jyrelle questioned. Her smiled faded. "Start now, I'm having a meeting after this." He glanced at his wrist watch.

Umuwi na ang secretary niya na dapat kasama niya sa meeting mamaya, was she sick or was it because of this woman?

"Well, our business was mostly in Hotel and Resorts... and..." She stopped and avoided his gazes. Seems like she's not familiar.

"Can I ask you a question?" He folded his hands together above his table. Her face lit up, napailing iling nalang siya sa reaksyon nito. Was she expecting something from him? Oh no.

"Yes?"

"Ano ang position mo sa company niyo?"

She smiled at him and answered him proudly. "I'm the Chief Administrative Officer, Mr.Clemente."

Walang buhay siyang natawa sa dalaga. He don't want to insult her but she's really wasting his precious time, this brat doesn't even know what she's doing. Wala nga itong alam kung ano ang mga businesses ng pamilya nito. And then, she seems so proud of her position? Jyrelle glanced at the man, napapahilot din ito sa sentido.

"Paano ka nakaabot sa CAO? I'm sorry for asking, I'm curious." This was getting interesting. Maybe he should thanks Ryker for giving him an entertainment, he needs it, lalo na ngayon araw dahil pagod na pagod na siya, and he's probably going to hell for enjoying this. That's for sure.

"My Mom appointed me, since I want a higher position." Malditang sagot nito sa kanya. He wanted to laugh his ass off now.

Jyrelle grabbed his phone and texted Isabella.

To: Mia bella

Are you familiar with your family business?

Seconds later she replied, 'yes' with full details that this brat can't even answer.

From: Mia bella

We have Chains of Hotel and Restaurants, Fontanilla's Resorts that spreads all over the Philippines . A financial company, I think partnership 'yon with my parent's closest friend and Malls. We have 5 companies before, that's what I remember.

He smiled widely, damn his darling was a badass!

"Kindly tell your mother that I want to meet her, I need to go. Nagsayang lang ako ng oras sayo." He spat and walked out. The man stood up and slightly bow his head.

Jyrelle don't have a lot of patience for a woman who knows how to seduce a man but can not even answer his simple question, that was a major turn off. The way she answered him earlier made him wants to laugh badly. She's so proud, no wonder Ryker labeled her 'brat'.

"Do you want to have dinner with me?" She asked. Hindi niya namalayan na nakahabol na pala ito sa kanya.

"No, I am a busy person and I don't have a time for you. You may leave my building now, Ms.Fontanilla." Her mouth slightly parted, tila may gusto pang sabihin pero mas pinili nalang na manahimik at maglakad paalis.

"I don't want to see you again, Miss Xyl!" Jyrelle smiled sweetly at her as he watched the brat stomping her feet, at nakasunod sa kanya ang lalaki na tila ubos na rin ang pasensya para sa babae.

He sighed, hindi siya nakapag lunch dahil sa meeting nilang dalawa na nauwi naman sa wala. Hindi naman kasi talaga ito ang kikitain niya in the first place, but he don't have a choice since her mother was busy as fuck, according to her.

"Bud, hindi ko nakita si Isabella. Asan na ang magandang secretary mo?"

Nakasalubong niya si Light. He's fixing his tie while looking at him with curiosity, lagi itong nandito at natural na para kay Light na makita si Bella sa tabi niya or sa labas ng office niya dahil nandoon ang table nito. Then, realization hit him. She texted him a while ago if she can have a 1 week leave. Fuck it!

"Bud, cancel meeting natin ngayon. Okaya i text mo nalang sa akin yung kailangan kong bayaran. I need to go!" Jyrelle tapped his shoulder and ran as fast as he can.

Jyrelle slid himself inside his car, mabilis niya 'yon pinaandar. He's worried about her. Was she sick? Kaya ba ito naghihingi ng isang linggong pahinga? Who's going to take care of her? Wala. Nag-iisa lang ito sa unit. He tried to call her phone but he'll guess that she's ignoring it, because it was only ringing, she's not picking it up.

"Come On, Isabella. I'm worried as fuck."

Ilang beses niyang pinindot ang doorbell, pero hindi pa rin siya nito pinakbuksan. Jyrelle knew she's in her unit. And he doesn't know what's gotten into her, at bigla nalang itong umalis kanina sa office without waiting for him and asking him face to face for a 1 week break. Hell, he was starting to think that it was because of her cousin.

"Bella, open the door please..." He begged while knocking to her door but still no response. Dumausdos siya ng upo sa sahig at nahilamos ang palad sa mukha.

Jyrelle never felt so frustrated like this in his whole damn life! Ngayon lang! He waited for an hour thinking that maybe she'll open up the door for him and let him in, but he was wrong. Inabot siya ng dalawang oras na kumakatok at tinatawag ang pangalan nito sa labas ng pintuan ng unit nito, nabawal na rin siya kanina ng ilang kapit bahay dahil sa pagkatok na ginagawa niya. Pulang pula na ang kamao niya sa kakakatok pero hindi pa rin siya nito pinagbubuksan.

"Bud? Baka wala talaga si Isabella dito."

The security also warned him that's why Ryker Zion was surprisingly here now. He looks so worn out. Hindi siya makatayo sa kinauupuan. It's been a long time ago since he'd done this, walang buhay siyang natawa sa sarili. Pilit niyang iniiwasan ang ganitong pakiramdam, for years nagtagumpay siya. Naiwasan niya. He fucked woman who's willing to spread their long legs for him, without an attachment. Purong pisikal. Lust is their only connection. No more, no less. Maybe, sitting outside his unit, begging Isabella to let him in was his karma.

"Bud, I swear she's inside." Pamimilit niya. Wala itong ibang pupuntahan.

Ryker forced a smile at him and patted his shoulder, "hayaan muna natin magpahinga 'yong tao. Bukas, sasamahan ka namin ni Light dito." Tinapik ulit nito ang balikat niya at sapilitan siya nitong itinayo. Ryker was stronger than him. He have to admit that. He was a damn agent after all.

"Fine." Pagsuko niya.

The next day, nasa tapat ulit siya ng unit ni Isabella. Hindi lang pala siya dahil imbes na si Ryker At Light lang ang kasama niya, sumama pati ang ibang mga bugok. All in all, there were fifteen men, na nakaupo sa sahig. Pinagtitinginan na sila ng mga lumalabas sa ibang unit, nakaharang na rin sila sa daan but who cares? Wala naman tao maliban sa kanila. At kasama rin nila ang anak ng mismong may-ari sa building.

"What's exactly happened, JV?" Tanong ni Yves.

"Isabella asked for 1 week break, and this dipshit is acting like that." Masama niyang tinignan si Light, he really knows how to fucking pissed him.

"Ang epal, Meralco!" Hinawi ni Castiel ang mukha nito. Ang kaninang tahimik ay biglang umingay dahil sa kagaguhan ng mga ito.

"Fuck you, Castiel! Stop fucking calling me, Meralco! I ain't Meralco! I'm Light!" He sang the last part which makes them shivered. Cringe. 

"Bud, nag hingi lang naman pala ng break e. Why don't we go home instead and drink?" Suggest ni Mikael habang naka-akbay kay Esel.

"If she's asking for a break then give it to her, bud let your secretary rest." Esel implied. Talking to him as if pinapagod at inaalila nito si Isabella sa trabaho. Well, pinapagod niya, pero sa ibang paraan.

"Oo nga naman! Makinig sa muntikan nating lawyer!" Alistair joked.

"Tarantado!" Singhal ni Esel at pinakitaan ito ng gitnang daliri.

Killian and Kade have their own world, no one can disturbed the two who's playing a game.

"Una na ako, emergency. Balitaan niyo nalang ako kapag nasa katinuan na ulit si JV!" Paalam ni Caleb.

Hindi nalang siya umimik kahit panay ang putak ng mga ito. Castiel was busy annoying Light, same with Mikael and Esel. While Ranger and Dylan was talking about Deilan's new resort. He sighed as he knocked on her door once again. But still no response.

They've been doing this for almost a week, minsan silang tatlo lang ni Light at Ryker, sometimes he's wondering why Ryker was in the country, minsan si Laur at Dylan ang kasama niya then when afternoon came bigla nalang ulit silang darami. Nasanay na nga yata ang mga nakatira sa floor na 'to na lagi silang nasa hallway.

"Mia bella.... Please open up? Are you avoiding me? What did I do?" He asked softly while knocking on her door.

"Bud." Tinapik siya sa balikat ni Light at ipinakita sa kanya ang phone nito. There was a message from Ryker and it bothered him. "Get her now."

"Mia bella. I'm tired of waiting, open this up or we're going to break this shit!" Sigaw niya na siguradong maririnig nito sa loob.

Hell, he counted 1 to 10. Kapag hindi pa nito binuksan ang pintuan sapilitan niya 'tong bubuksan. But to their surprise, the door slowly opened, and there's his Isabella. Kumunot ang noo niya nang may makita siyang gauze pad sa pisngi nito.

"What the hell happened to this?!" Jyrelle can't help himself that he shouted at her. Marahan niyang hinawakan ang pisngi nito, wala naman 'to bago sila mag meeting ng... tangina!

"Nasubsob lang.." Umiwas ito ng tingin sa kanya.

"JV, sa labas lang ako. Make it faster. Remember the text." Bilin sa kanya ni Light. Jyrelle nod at him and faced Isabella.

"I'm mad you know. How can you avoid me like that?" Jyrelle gritted his teeth.

"I need to..." She whispered. Yumuko ito at pinaglaruan ang mga daliri nito.

"Look at me, Bella." She raised her head but still avoiding his gaze. "I'm mad... do something." He said and slightly shake her shoulder. Hindi ito gumalaw kaya napabuntong hininga nalang siya.

"I'm sorry..." She whispered.

"Jyrelle! Make it fast, kung kailangan buhatin mo si Isabella gawin mo na. Ryker is waiting. They're coming..." He hissed.

"Pack your things. We're going to Lust Community."

☕