"ANO ang mapaglilingkod ko sa inyo, Mahal na Prinsipe?" Tanong ko sa binata pagkapasok ko palang ng kotse nito na nakaparada sa tapat mismo ng main entrance ng unibersidad na pinapasukan ko.

The car revved up and it moved when he gave a nod to his driver. I scoffed from what's happening.

"Uy, bakit umaandar ang kotse?" Medyo natataranra ko nang tanong rito.

I have two more freakin' classes!

"Kasi may gasolina?" Pilosopong tugon nito sa akin na kinabusangot ko.

"Tanga, Diesel. Anong gasolina?" I interjected. "Hindi pa tapos ang klase ko, Monterverde! Kapag ako na-late!"

"Just don't attend or finish your classes, Serena. I need your help." He seriously replied while still looking outside of his window.

Medyo natigilan ako sa paraan ng pagsagot sa akin ng binata. It seems like he just cracked a joke to lighten up the mood or patched it with his true mood.

Ano kayang nangyari? Bago naman ako umalis kanina sa opisina niya ay nakita ko pa itong okay naman. What I meant would be he's serious in terms of his work. Halos hindi na nga lumalabas para mag-lunch man lang. He's busy having meeting with his marketing team for their proposal to the International export group. Kung seryoso siya sa mga ganoong pagkakataon, nakakapagtaka lang na tila mas may iseseryoso pa pala ito.

"What kind of help?" I asked instead while still looking at him. I waited for him to answer, rejecting the fact that he would look at me but it never happened.

I supposed that he didn't hear what I have just asked. I pursed my lips then I just looked away as well.

If it's something about business, I can help. Pero if tungkol sa sarili nitong lovelife ay aba, wala akong matutulong sa kanya. I know he's still on the transition of being single again from being taken away with her ex-girlfriend— Yvonne.

"My sister..." napagawi bigla ang aking tingin sa binata. "... she's in the office."

Iyon lamang ang sinabi nito na waring may gustong ipahiwatig. Hindi ko malamang kung ano'ng trip niya but I remained silent.

"Your sister? Who?"

"Adrianna." He replied.

Hindi ko napansin na nanlaki ang aking mata sa narinig. "Adrianna? As in The Adrianna Monteverde-Smith?!" Hindi ko napigilan ang hindi mapataas ang boses sa excitement.

"Seems like you idolize her." He therefore concluded the sudden jolt of enthusiasm from me.

"Who wouldn't!" I retorted back as if he's not proud with her sister.

Her sister is a well-known idol in the Fashion Industry. Siya kaya ang tinitingala kong modelo in the fashion world at sino rin ang hindi matutuwa? A Filipina who has been a permanent model in a well-known fashion magazine and famous botique based in America. Kahit na lumipas na ang mga taon, her timeless beauty brought her stardom on its peak even until now.

And she would be having a chance to finally meet her, like oh my god!

"Me." Troy replied that caused me to stop from imagining things how would I greet her without showing my fangirl side.

Troy's face is screaming disgust and hatred.

"Why?" I couldn't help myself but to ask. Hindi sa pagiging tsismosa ano? I just want to know the depth of his stone-cold reaction towards her sister.

"To summarize? She's a monster. Don't ask more."

Naumid ang dila ko sa sinagot nito. Hindi ko alam kung sinisiraan niya ba ang kapatid nito pero his reaction and current mood states otherwise.

When we got off from his car, I'm just assessing his mood from his behind. Kasama na naming naglalakad ang ilan sa mga department heads ng kompanya and I think para silang sasabak sa giyera dahil halata sa itsura nila ang pawis at takot.

Does Troy's sister really that monstrous? I don't feel anything right now but excitement. Like hello, ma-me-meet ko na ang idol ko so that's fine.

Pagbukas palang ng pintuan ng board room ni Troy ay doon ko na na-gets ang gustong ipahiwatig sa akin ni Troy.

A woman is currently on the loose and continuously shouting with some employees.

Namukhaan ko agad ang tatlong empleyadong pinapagalitan ng kapatid ni Troy.

Those are the Marketing Strategic Team na sina Eloy, Marga at Janus.

Marga is now teary-eyed when they faced us. Si Eloy naman ay panay pahid ng panyo sa noo at leeg habang si Janus naman na itsurahing nerd ay kasalukuyang nakatingin sa sahig at malungkot na nakatulala.

"At last, the CEO is finally here!" Adrianna bombarded the whole room with her dominant and intimidating voice. "Kindly explain to me, Troy, why these people are still here in the office? Hindi ba pinasisante ko sila sa'yo noong isang buwan pa? Why I'm still seeing useless parasites?"

If I'm a normal person who didn't practice the art of deadma? I'd probably crying with blood by now.

Nakakatakot nga ang babaeng ito but I can't sense any shits on me right now. The excitement has been lifted. Maybe mamaya nalang siguro. Mukha ngang may kademonyuhan rin ang kapatid ni Troy.

Troy cracked his head from left to right. It only means that he's stressed.

"They are my employees, Ate—"

"You don't call me that here, Troy Davis! And what? Your employees? I'm still the acting Chairwoman of the Board and I have a say on every matter, Troy. Iyong tinatawag mong mga empleyado mo, sisante na sa pamamalakad ko." Masungit at matapobreng wika ng kapatid ni Troy.

"Adrianna, let me handle them—"

"Oh no, you don't say that again, Troy Davis. My trust in you in every aspect has been dissolved completely even before. Sa lahat ng ginawang katarantaduhan mo noon, tingin mo mapagkakatiwalaan pa kita? I don't even know why are you still here. Acting almighty to everyone, like you own the world. Tsk! You're incapable of handling this company. I'm just fulfulling my father's wishes that's why you are still here!"

Umigkas pataas ang isa kong kilay dahil sa mga sinabing kabastusan ng babaeng ito.

Now, I'm asking myself, bakit ko ba inidolo ang isang ito. But I shrugged it off, baka naman na-j-judge ko lang siya ngayon.

"Are you raising your eyebrow at me? You, woman wearing a cheap clothes?" Napatingin ako kay Adrianna when I think she's talking at me.

Umiling iling ako bilang pagsagot. Ayokong makabastos ng mas nakakatanda sa akin kaya ako ang mananahimik. Nagulat ang lahat nang bigla akong lapitan ng sikat na ginang.

Troy tried to stop her but her sister is already in beast mode that's why he just followed her from behind. The man is giving me a face gesture to leave.

Pero hindi ako umalis. What's the sense of running away—

I just found my sight glancing on the right side portion of the room. My head was tilted in the same direction while I felt the burning sensation on my left cheek.

Adrianna, the famous... just slapped me. She slapped me. Me. The Serena Gabrielle Fontanilla.

Malakas siya manampal, infairness. She made my blood boiled a bit. Iyon na nga lang, kahit na sinampal niya ako, ako ngayon si Serena Angeles at kahit sino pa man ako ngayon, hindi ako pumayag sa gusto ng Daddy ko na magpanggap para lang sampalin ako.

My hands are itching to slap her as well. Pero hindi ko ginawa. Ramdam na ramdam ko sarili ko na gusto ko siyang sampalin din. I would set aside the fact that she's older than me just to experience to slap her famous and branded face.

"Sino ka para pagtaasan ako ng kilay?" Tanong nito sa akin. I was just in the moment of facing her but I received another slap on my right cheek.

I saw Troy's rage and perseverance of helping me out but Adrianna's bodyguards are on the loose.

Gasped and scoffed enshrouded the entire room. I think normal sa kanila ang ganitong eksena kasi walang nangangahas na lapitan ako para tulungan. They're scared na baka sila ang sumunod na palarin ng literal na palad ni Adrianna.

"I did raise my eyebrow." I said murmuring. Mukhang matalas ang panrinig ng lola niyo.

"Ang kapal ng mukha mo at sumasagot ka pa! Ingrata!"

She was about to slap me again when I held her arm mid-air.

Nope. Once is still good but twice is enough. Kung normal na empleyado man ako katulad ng mga taong gusto nitong paalisin ay hahayaan ko siya na sampal sampalin ako, but I'm different.

"What I like about my eyeglasses is that, number one, hindi siya kaagad bumabagsak." Una kong sabi habang inaayos muli ang aking salamin na muntik nang tumilapon. "Number two, it has a built-in camera."

I saw how Adrianna flinched from my last words. I remained my stoic face. I didn't grin kahit na gustong gusto ko na. Smirking would only show the evilness and might cause for someone to recognize me as a Fontanilla.

A lopsided grin and smirk of a Fontanilla makes our clan be known as monsters of ruining ones reputation and a mark that once you saw it, you're the next victim of our ruthlessness.

"You stopped shouting? You stopped insulting me or us? Ano pong problema? Go on, just continue. I'm enjoying to be slapped by you. It's a great opportunity for someone like me to be slapped by the well-known superstar model, Adrianna Monteverde-Smith."

"You're bluffing." She replied with uncertainty.

Bakit yata tila nabahag ang buntot mo, Adrianna?

"See this small lense in between?" Turo ko sa aking salamin. "Have you seen it moves? Meaning, it's currently on the roll." Pagkukumpirma ko sa kanya. Ayaw maniwala kasi.

"Give me that." Tinangka niyang kunin ang salamin ko but I slapped her hands right away.

Most of them gasped from what they have seen. I just did that to her. Sorry, if she's a bitch. I'm bitchier.

"How dare you! Guards! Get the eyeglasses and destroy it!"

Lumapit ang dalawang malaking bouncer-like guards sa akin. Nagsilayuan naman ang mga Department Heads na nasa likod ko lang. Ayaw madamay sa ginawa kong panglalaban.

I need to fight for my own. And this should be something that Troy should do with his employees.

Troy's trying to get away with the other guard that stopping him of helping me. Nakikipangbuno pa ito but the guard who has been assigned to him is much bigger than him.

Pinagmasdan ko ang itsura ng dalawang guard na nasa harap ko. Tiningnan ko sila mula ulo hanggang paa. I looked at them as if I'm judging them with my own eyes. And I think my stares affected them because I saw how they stepped their one feet back. Nginisian ko silang dalawa and that made them even more intimidated by my presence. Gusto kong matawa sa kanila dalawa. I just stared at them but they already flinched. Mga mahihina.

I know how to fight. I'm a black belter in Jujitsu, Muai Thai and Taekwondo. I can fight them but I don't feel like of doing it. Besides, I need to give Adrianna a few dosage of her own medicine.

"Troy, I think this is the end of our contract between us and to your father, Alfonso."

Adrianna stopped from walking away from me and looked at me with her curious look. Iyong tipong parang tinubuan ako ng kabute sa ulo.

Troy has been deliberately fighting the bouncer-like guard.

I just can't believe what's happening. Seryoso bang ganito ang ugali ng Adrianna na ito na ultimo sa kapatid ay walang awa?

"What contract?" Takang tanong ni Adrianna.

"Anak ka ni Alfonso pero hindi mo alam ang mga pinapagawa niya sa kapatid mo?" I asked her with seriousness and using my condescending tone. "You said you're the Chairwoman but you don't even know that he sent someone to help Troy with his upcoming project?"

I saw how Adrianna hissed for a moment. Narinig ko pa ang bahagyang bulong. "That old man, he still really did that without my consent."

"As far as I remember, I was asked to help not just Troy but the whole company itself. Now, if I'm seeing this kind of treatment from their upper management, I don't think I want to spend the rest of my days working here. I would have to consult and check your organizational chart and Employee Relations as well. It seems like there's a lot of things that we should eliminate from this company. Human rights are not being served especially from the Chairwoman itself. Unjustice way of terminating people that against the Labor Code has been observed as well. Ayaw mo naman sigurong ako pa mismo ang magsampa ng kaso laban sa'yo?" Mahaba kong litanya na nagpatahimik sa lahat. Lalo na sa ginawa kong panghahamon sa pagsasampa.

Nangagagalaitin na tiningnan ako ni Adrianna. Her classic feature turned into medieval lady-warrior who's ready kill anyone.

"You can't do that. If what you are saying that you are the ones whom the company needs, I don't see any glamour in you to be respected. You look like a mere commoner and... you're throwing accusations and giving us malicious intent? You're nothing but a cheap advisor." Bawi nito sa akin na akala naman niya ay nakapuntos siya sa akin.

Her words sting if I'm a type of person who couldn't handle such insult. As expected, a bitch like her won't be threathened by just a simple challenge.

"Who are you then? A beast whose hiding behind a pure white lamb?" I reverted with such defiance.

"Serena! Stop it! You don't know what you are getting in to." Suway sa akin ni Troy na halata sa mukha nito ang takot at pangamba para sa kalagayan ko.

Natutuwa ako sa naririnig sa kanya pero na-d-dissapoint ako sa kawalan ng kumpiyansa nito sa sarili.

He's scared with Adrianna to the point that he's willing to shoulder the burden of all those people who have been mistreated by her evil sister.

Ngayon ko lang nakita ito sa kanya. At pakiramdam ko, ang sama ng ugali ko nang husgahan ko siya noong mga panahong ipinaliwanag sa akin ang kawalan ng tiwala ng ama nito sa proyektong makakatulong sa kompanya nila. Kung paano nahusgahan ng Daddy ko ang lalaking ito sa pagiging babaero na nagbibigay sa binata ng pangit na imahe sa ibang mga negosyante.

Mali ako sa inakala ko sa kanya.

Maliban syempre doon sa pagkababaero niya. No doubt tayo roon.

Mali ako na wala siyang puso dahil kulang lang siya ng mga taong susuporta sa kanya. I know that the plan that I have before I said yes to this is to find out what would be the possible reason kung bakit si Troy ang makakasira sa naging Treaty ng magulang niya sa angkan nito. I'll set it aside for now. Troy needs my support. Troy needs me.

I think I know now where did my Dad got his information about Troy's way of handling the company.

I looked at Adrianna. She's probably the sole reason why Troy has some dirt on his name in terms of handling this company. Kung kaya nitong ganituhin ang kapatid nito, malamang kayang kaya nitong ibato kay Troy ang lahat ng sisi sa tuwing nakakaranas ng suliranin ang kompanya nila. Kung ano man ang maling nagagawa ni Adrianna sa kompanya ay madali nitong maibubunton ang sisi sa kapatid na siyang nasalo ng lahat.

Ang kapal ng mukha.

I do not know what I'm getting in to? Then I'd loved to know it. Let's see how Adrianna can ruin my life.

Adrianna smirked at me and she showed her palm in front of me. "If I were you, listen to my brother. Give me that eyeglasses of yours and I would forget that everything happened. Those useless parasites will never leave the company anymore. Good deal, isn't it?"

Hindi ko napigilan ang hindi bumingisngis sa naging pagnenegosasyon ni Adrianna. My laugh enshrouded the whole room as if I've witnessed a comical scene that they shouldn't miss.

"Sorry, my bad. I just can't help myself but to laugh." Then one more giggle before I cleared my throat and looked at her as if I'm amazed from she had said. "I never laughed that way since the ages, Adrianna. Gusto kitang pasalamatan dahil roon."

"Do you think I'm funny?!" Nanggagalaitin nitong tanong sa akin. Her brows are now meeting in one line.

"Yes. Definitely!" I said with enthusiasm. Then I looked at her seriously.

"You don't use that trick on me, Adrianna. Hindi ako pinanganak ngayon para hindi ako maging pamilyar sa galawan na iyan. Are you watching too much dramas recently? Girl, you better stop that. You're nothing but a copycat." I mocked and teased.

She screamed at me as if hell would open with her thunderous voice.

"Huwag mong sabihin na hindi ka binalaan ni Troy, babae." Anito at nagpatiuna na ng lakad palabas ng kwarto.

Nang tumapat ang kabuuan nito sa aking gilid ay nagsalita ako dahilan upang matigil ito.

"It's Serena, Adrianna. If you would threat someone, make sure you know the name before you leave." Wika ko nang hindi siya tinitingnan.

"You're the first person who didn't even flinched at me." Komento nito sa akin na sa tingin ko'y magkahalong sarkasmo at totoo. "Sulitin mo iyang ngisi mo, Serena. It won't last forever." Dugtong pa nito.

"Your attitude won't last forever as well, Idol." I sarcastically emphasized the last word. "Sa edad mong iyan, your days are about to vanish. Hold it while it lasts."