HER MIND WAS all over the place after she kicked him out. Just like that. Such valuable person, her choice of words surely made him feel useless. Amari and Kolthon didn't question her decision.

Mabigat ang pakiramdam niya nang pumasok siya sa trabaho. Even when her so close acquiring the Lim's company, she felt something was missing. There's a hallowed part inside her.

Her cousins were surprisingly quiet, too. Hindi na ulit nagparamdam ang mga ito sa kanya matapos niyang pagbantaan ang mga ito.

The Lim's were also silent and did nothing to protect their reputation. Her plan was to silently acquired the company, not to leaked the problems they created years ago, such as embezzlement.

"Reporters are flocking in front of their company now." Amari informed her. Pinakita nito sa kanya ang balita na naka handa na ang warrant of arrest para sa bata at matandang Lim.

Mapait siyang natawa nang mabasa 'yon. "You know what, Amari? Ngayon ko lang naisip na pwede rin 'yang mangyari sa akin at sa mga pinsan ko."

Pinagsiklop niya ang mga kamay at ipinahinga ang mga siko sa lamesa niya. One day, one of their subordinates might betray them. Hindi nga lang tungkol sa pera ang kaso nila. Taking down companies and doing underhanded, dirty methods, would probably the reason of their imprisonment.

"That... is impossible to happen, ma'am. You worry too much." Amari genuinely smiled at her.

This woman really tolerate whatever she does and even stayed loyal to her. Pasimple siyang nailing bago niya itinali ang buhok niya. It's getting longer, she needed a cut.

"Anyway, here's the key for the unit you requested. Your brother said it's not necessary, may unit na raw itong inuuwian."

Her lips formed in to an 'O'. "He might be using my mother's old unit..."

Kinuha niya ang susi kay Amari. She's starting to calculate in her mind how much she'll spend to buy new furnitures, at kung magkano ang ibabayad niya sa anak ng Tito Castiel niya. That brat won't work if there's no compensation. Lahat naman sila ay mukhang pera.

"The room is already clean. I already bought a bed and design it to your liking, pwede mo na 'yon gamitin. If you like, of course." Amari said.

Tumango lang siya bilang sagot. It's already late and she wanted to rest as soon as possible. Amari didn't say anything when she clocked out and leave to visit Zayndrei's unit one last time.

Besides, kailangan niyang kunin ang maleta niya sa kwarto nito. But as soon as she arrived, she saw Zayndrei unpacking her things. Her face remained poker. Even when their gaze met.

He looked at her with his bloodshot eyes. "Are you going to... leave me?"

His voice cracked at the end. Ayze simply nod her head and answered, "Yes."

Umawang ang mga labi nito dahil sa sagot niya. Hindi ito nakasagot. But he's still neatly unpacking her things, binabalik 'yon sa closet nito. Zayndrei was kneeling down.

"You... walked away from me. Twice. And now..." He trailed. Tumaas ang isang kilay niya sa narinig. He's counting, huh?

Hindi ito nagtanong kung bakit ito natanggal sa trabaho. Zayndrei probably know what made her mad. Real mad that she couldn't even get a hold of herself. Nawawalan siya ng kontrol sa sarili niya. One more push, and they're all done.

"I did something unforgivable... I'm sorry, hm? Just don't... don't walk away from me. I'll do better, Ayze. Don't leave, hm?"

Marahas siyang napansinghap nang lumapit ito sa kanya at basta na lang ito lumuhod. Holding her legs, his forehead was resting against her feet.

"Zayndrei. Tumayo ka." Pilit niyang tinatanggal ang pagkakahawak nito sa kanya but he's too stubborn!

"Don't leave, please? I have my reason, please? Don't..." Natigilan si Ayze nang mapansin na may luha na pumapatak galing sa mga mata nito. He's crying... "Wala kang dadalhin sa mga gamit mo. Walang aalis... Ayoko."

The rage she's feeling beats the love she has for Zayndrei. Nagkibit balikat siya sa lalaki, sinamantala nito ang bahagyang pagluwag nang hawak nito sa mga binti niya. She walked out of his unit emotionless.

"This sucks..." bulong niya sa sarili.

She placed her fist against her chest. The way her heart beats hurt her little by little as she walks away from his unit. Alam niya sa sarili na hindi na siya babalik dito. Not until she solved the problem with that bitch.

EARLY IN the morning and her office turned into a total disaster after hearing the news from Kolthon, Zayndrei's secretary. Kahit anong bato niya sa mga gamit sa loob ng opisina niya, hindi pa rin siya kumakalma.

Ayze's anger cannot be measured after hearing the news that Zayndrei was now working under that Windelle's company.

"That fucker! He has reason? For hell I care!" sigaw niya at binato sa pader ang vase na nahawakan niya.

It wasn't enough. Ayze was craving for more pain. The pain she's feeling, coming from her chest was not enough. She needs more.

Kinuha niya ang tasa na naiwan sa lamesa niya at binasag 'yon sa mismong kamay niya. It stings, she saw how the shattered pieces of the glass plunged her palm, kung paano umagos ang sarili niyang dugo. Her hands were shaking a bit.

Nagulat si Ayze nang may humawak sa kamay niya at basta na lang siya hinila papunta sa cr sa mismong office niya. It was Vane, her brother, and he looks more livid that she was.

"If you're this mad, come and find me. I am willing to be your fucking punching bag, Ate. You don't have to hurt yourself for that fucker!" Vane hissed.

Halata sa mukha nito na galit ito, pero sobrang gaan naman ng kamay nito habang tinatanggal ang mga bubog sa palad niya.

"Vane... I love him." Ayze blurted out.

"Hush, I know. It's obvious." Tinapos nito ang paglilinis sa palad niya bago 'yon nilagyan ng betadine at binalot sa gauze pads. "I don't care if he's Tito Zayvin's son, Ate. Mark my words. I will kill him myself if this happen again."

"Kapag nangyari 'yon hindi na kita kakausapin. Sisirain ko lahat ng mga gitara mo."

"Ayos lang sa akin. You can destroy them all, just don't hurt yourself, okay?" marahan nitong hinaplos ang kamay niya. He sighed heavily. "I've heard you're trying to acquire Lim's company. Leave that to me, ayusin mo na kung ano man ang problema mo sa lalaki na 'yon."

She's too close to acquiring that shitty company but got distracted. Tumango lang siya sa kapatid niya. Right now, she's not in her right mind.

Amari went in together with the janitors and asked them to clean her office. Dinala muna siya ni Amari sa mismong pwesto nito while waiting for the janitors to finish tidying up her office.

Her Tito Zayvin was now fixing his son's mess. He's doing everything he could do, para lang makabawi sila. Her Tito Zayvin was known for a fair and square fight, pero hindi siya, hindi ang mga Clemente.

Her eyes were dead. Nakatulala lang siya habang umiikot na sa mga utak niya ang maari niyang gawin para bumawi sa nagbibigay ng sakit ng ulo sa kanya.

She's planning to stop once Zayndrei lost his position. Pero masyado na siyang pinikon ng dalawa.

She couldn't accept it. Her ego won't let her.

Ayze spent her time researching Windelle's company. Her company was in the liquor line... Indeed, it was possible for her company to invest or get them as their main supplier for liquor for the hotel's bar.

"Why did he decline her... if he's still going to help her?" nalilito na tanong niya sa sarili.

Nang makita niya ang hinahanap na planta, she immediately used her connection to look for someone whom she could trust and bribed to do her biddings. It wasn't hard, especially if she has money.

"Five hundred thousand, is that enough?" tanong niya sa lalaki.

Alanganin itong tumingin sa kanya. Ayze sighed and explained her side kahit na ayaw niya.

"Don't worry. My men will make sure na walang masasaktan sa mga kasama mo sa trabaho. I am not like your boss. Siguraduhin ko rin na pagkatapos mo rito, hindi ka nila mahahanap, if you need a job after this... I am willing to give you one."

Pumayag ito sa gusto niya. He only planted the bomb inside the plant while her men made sure that no one will get hurt. Nag-iwan din siya ng initials sa tapat mismo ng planta nito. AZFC.

She wasn't satisfied so she blow up the place where they stored their liquors. Saka lang siya ngumiti nang ibalita kung gaano kalaking pera ang ang nawala sa kumpanya nito, and how were they slowly loosing their patronage because of the late supplies.

Ayze took it as an advantage. She made a partnership with Sacxer and opened the same business as Windelle's. Sacxer was genius and they got help from the elders, naging madali lang para sa kanila na mabuo 'yon.

"The incident happened twice and the Marquez's think this isn't an accident anymore. They are now pointing fingers to their respective competitors in the market. As of now, they're still investigating."

Ayze scoffed at the news clip Sacxer sent her.

"Ma'am, they are all waiting for you." Amari informed her.

Today, she was meeting the investors of Marquez's company. She managed to pull them out at once. It's all thanks to the reputation her father and Tito Laur had.

Ayze smiled at them sweetly. Wearing the innocent facade, sipping the tea that Amari served, engaging a conversation with them. The smile on her lips remained even after an uninvited guest appeared.

"It was you, right?!" galit na sigaw nito sa kanya. The woman was on the verge of crying, pinipigilan lang nito ang sarili.

"It was me? What?" inosente na tanong niya rito.

Galit siya nitong dinuro. "It was you who bombed our plant!"

Pinanatili niya ang inosenteng mukha. Alam naman niya, siya ang may kagagawan noon. Pero bakit siya aamin? A smirked crept up to her lips as she listened very carefully to her rants.

"Ano? Hindi mo ba maatim na nasa akin ngayon ang atensyon ni Zayndrei kaya ang kumpanya namin ang pinag-trip-an mo? Wala ka bang magawa sa buhay? We're doing everything we can to survive! What it is that you want, huh?!"

"Ibibigay mo?" hamon niya rito.

Sumenyas siya kay Amari na palabasin muna ang mga kasama nila sa loob. Hindi niya kailangan ng maraming audience.

"Ang kapal mo rin pala, ano? Those scums are part of our company! Ano 'yon? Pagkatapos mo kaming bombahin, kukunin mo ang mga investors namin?! You don't know anything about our business!"

"You're right. My knowledge is limited, pero kaya ko 'yon palawakin dahil gusto ko. I want to venture out, labas ka na roon." Mayabang siyang ngumiti kay Windelle. This was her... showing how powerful she was.

"You dumb fucking bitch!" Windelle hissed. Akmang lalapit ito sa kanya nang may braso na yumakap rito para pigilan ito.

Jealousy sipped through her. They're so close.

"You should at least put a leash on her, Zayn." She mockingly laughed. "Get her out of my face. This instant."

"I'll make you suffer, you bitch!" sigaw ni Windelle.

Her fist clenched. "Then, I won't stop until you're crawling on the ground. I'll make you suffer in more ways than one. That precious company of yours? Ibabaon ko 'yon." Ayze's gaze went to Zayndrei's. "I'll make sure you'll crawl back to me, Zayndrei."

"No!" Windelle shouted angrily. "You're his pet! Ikaw ang gagapang!"

Natawa siya na narinig niya mula sa babae. All these time, she really thought that she's Zayndrei's pet? Just because she was being obedient to him before?

"Oh really? I've already put a leash around his neck. If I ask him to stay, he'll stay. Be thankful..." Pinasadahan niya ng tingin ang lalaki. She's still mad. Now was not the time to retrieve her man. "You know me, right? Ilang beses ba akong napunta sa guidance na nandoon ka? Nakita mo ba ang mga gawa ko?"

Windelle was staring at her, confused. "Gawa mo?"

"Those brats faces..." matamis siyang ngumiti sa babae. "Those were my artwork. I painted their faces using their own blood. Now, leave my territory peacefully. Don't make any noise. Dahil kapag narinig ko ang boses mo, mas malala pa sa mga 'yon ang gagawin ko sayo."

☕