THE PRESENCE of the cat made Ayze almost forget about her existing problem. Kage made her busy buying new stuff for her, from her clothes, toys, and even a new bed.

Masyado siyang nag-e-enjoy na bihisan ang pusa. She even bothered her Tita Sakki to made Kage a business attire, kagaya ng mga lagi niyang sinusuot kapag pumapasok sa trabaho.

Lagi niyang kasama si Kage kahit saan siya magpunta. She didn't even bother to buy a leash for her, karga niya lang talaga ito. Amari even bought a cat tower and placed it inside her office, ayaw niya na nawawala sa paningin niya ang pusa.

Her father was currently missing in action, so this was her filling that space— as a fur mom of Kage.

"Do you like it that much?" kausap niya sa pusa. Hindi na umalis si Kage sa cat tower nito kasama ang laruan na binili niya para rito. "You won't even sit on my lap anymore." She sulked. As if kaya siyang suyuin ng anak niya.

Kage made a cute sound and ignored her totally. Nagkibit balikat na lang siya at hinayaan ang pusa sa gusto nito, it's bad for her fur daughter if she kept on stressing her.

"Our lady boss is resting?" Amari chuckled when she saw Kage on her cat tower.

"Hm, she doesn't even want me to touch her." Sumbong niya kay Amari.

Amari smiled genuinely at her. Pagkatapos ay inilapag nito sa lamesa niya ang folder na hawak. Tumaas ang sulok ng labi niya nang makita ang laman nito, finally. Vane was done.

The Lim's company would never be a hindrance to them. It's now part of her empire. Their empire. It's much easier to acquire their competitors, than dealing with them head on. It's just a little tricky.

"You have a meeting later but your partner called and informed me that the old Marquez is now in your new company." Amari said.

"What is he doing there?" lumabi siya sa kausap.

"According to Mr. Faust, he's proposing to merge his company and yours."

Ayze clicked her tongue. How dumb. Were they desperate to climb the ladder again by using their striving business? Umiling-iling siya dahil doon.

"Kindly push back my appointments today, Amari. I'll meet that son of a bitch." Matamis siyang ngumiti.

"Do you need me to accompany you?" Amari asked.

Bahagya lang siyang tumango at tumingin kay Kage na nakatingin din sa kanya. Parang alam nito na aalis siya sa opisina niya. The cat went down from her tower and went to sit on her lap.

"Look at you, ayaw maiwan." Mahina siyang natawa at hinaplos ang ulo nito.

She picked Kage up and brought some of her treats. Si Amari ang may dala sa gamit niya habang siya naman ay bitbit si Kage, she's really enjoyed going out.

Lagi rin kasi itong nasa unit ni Zayndrei. Nagkaroon lang ng kalaro kung uuwi na si Zayndrei at kapag nandoon siya. She wanted to bring Kage with her but she doesn't think she has the rights to.

Malay ba niya na siya ang nakapangalan na nanay sa birth certificate nito?

Using the connection of their families. Madali lang para sa kanilang dalawa ni Sacxer na palaguin agad ang bagong business na itinayo nila. Sacxer was a genius when it came to liquor, and thanks to him, they managed to steal the Marquez's loyal reseller.

Nilibot ni Ayze ang paningin sa building nila, it was their small abandoned building, mabilis ang renovation na nangyari and used it as their temporary headquarter.

Amari gave the key to the valet and walked beside her. The atmosphere in this building was much better than she expected. Sacxer was good at leading.

Nang makarating sila sa floor ng office ni Sacxer, naririnig na niya ang boses ng matanda. Promising a good future if Sacxer approved to merge their company. Amari smiled at Sacxer's secretary, kaagad itong kumatok sa pinto and informed the people inside that she had already arrived.

"You may come in, ma'am." Yumuko ito sa kanya bago siya nito pinagbuksan ng pinto.

Ayze smiled upon seeing the old man.

"Ah, Mr. Marquez... This is Ayrelle Zehra Clemente, she's actually my partner. The co-owner of Axer's winery." Sacxer even stood up to introduce her to him.

The old man grimaced in just a mere sight of her. Malamang ay kilala na siya nito, her name was tainted as a demon as soon as she took over her mother's position. A monster.

"Nice to meet you, Mr. Marquez..." Malapad siyang ngumiti sa matanda. She petted Kage's head to calm her nerves. Tingin pa lang, umiinit na ang ulo niya.

Nilibot niya ang paningin at nagtanong, "Your pet is not here?" Ayze was pertaining to Zayndrei.

"He's busy as we speak. As I was saying, don't you think it's good to mix my liquors with yours? It's going to be a blast." The old man nervously laughed. Tila nawalan ito ng confidence sa pagsasalita dahil nandito siya ngayon.

"It wasn't possible, Mr. Marquez. I've heard that your company is losing a lot of money, nakabawi na ba kayo?" Patutya niyang tanong sa matanda. "If you want, we could buy your company. Name your price."

"Is that an insult?" He scoffed.

Ayze continued to caress Kage's head. She apologetically smiled and said, "Oh no, of course not! I'm sorry if it looks like I am insulting you. I am just thinking about our business too, please don't be mad."

Nagtagis ang bagang nito dahil sa sinabi niya.

"Well, it seems to me that you're, I mean... your company is seeking for new ownership. We can do Horizontal integration, what do you think? Axer's company— our company, will acquire yours since sabi mo nga, pareho lang tayong malaking company." Ayze explained.

Hindi na maipinta ang mukha ng matanda dahil sa sinabi niya.

"You meant, you're going to increase your control over us?" The old man gritted his teeth.

Ayze sweetly smiled and answered, "Oh, you picked up easily! Alright, you caught me."

"Hindi ako bobo." Anito.

"I thought so..." Ayze smirked smugly.

"It was the same as buying my company." The old man sneered.

Hindi siya nagpatalo sa matanda. "Your company is faltering. It's a win for you and a lose situation for us. You're lucky I suggested Horizontal integration. Honestly, hindi 'yon effective."

"Then, why did you suggest it in the first place?"

Ayze scoffed. "Akala ko ho ba hindi ka bobo?"

"You brat!" The old man spat.

Sacxer cleared his throat. "Sir, I thought that your offer— your proposal, is tempting but that was before I knew that your company was losing money. I think, it is better to do what my partner wants."

Dismayado na umiling ang matanda. "Pag-isipan mo munang mabuti ang offer ko. Call me once you change your mind."

Tumayo ito at hindi man lang siya nito tinapunan ng tingin at basta na lang umalis.

"He looks desperate..." Sacxer commented.

Ayze corrected him, "He's really desperate."

Ngumuso lang ito at tinabihan siya para mahawakan ang pusa na nakapahinga sa mga binti niya.

"Are you co-parenting?"

"Ha?" Ayze asked, clueless.

"Since you're the divorce parents of this cat... So, co-parenting?" Sacxer mischievously smiled at her. Halata sa pagmumukha nito na inaasar siya. Hell, what's with the co-parenting? They always bring it up!

Inirapan niya lang ito at tumayo. "Tapos na ang meeting, babalik na ako sa opisina ko. I still have some appointments to attend to."

Tumayo si Sacxer at ibinulsa ang mga kamay nito. "Sure, go ahead. Alam ko naman tinatakasan mo lang ako."

She sneered at Sacxer and went back to her office with Amari and Kage. Ayze was surprisingly satisfied with the meeting with the old man Marquez, kahit wala naman itong ginawa kung hindi ang ismiran siya.

As a result, Ayze was happily humming as she reviewed every paper she needed to sign while Kage was resting beautifully on her lap.

ZAYNDREI HOLED himself inside his unit. He's busy trying to figure out what would be his next move. He needs to finish what he started once and for all. He's growing tired of it.

Windelle doesn't really care about their company. As if she wasn't weeping and begging for his help in the past. It seems to him that she had another goal when he accepted the job she offered, and that was to keep him by her side.

Pagod na siya sa kakatanggi sa babae. She's always using the reason of him, helping her before. Gusto na niyang sabihin dito na ginawa niya lang 'yon noon para tantanan nito si Ayze. And that she shouldn't use that as an excuse to control him, dapat nga ay nagpapasalamat ito sa kanya.

Zayndrei was already losing his patience. Thanks to his father, the company he was holding dearly before prospered right after he left.

The old Marquez was now keeping his tab on the new winery. Gusto nito na gumawa siya ng paraan para mapasok nila 'yon. Zayndrei was not dumb to go there and get killed by Sacxer.

Instead, he prepared a proposal and asked the old man to present it to them. It was a foolproof proposal but after knowing Ayze was the co-owner of Axer's winery, hindi 'yon basta-basta makakalusot.

"Damn..." He uttered when pain strikes again on his head.

Doon niya lang pinagtuunan ng pansin ang isang bote ng whiskey na malapit na niyang maubos. Nagsalin siya sa baso niya at pinulot ang papeles na nakakalat sa sahig.

He couldn't function if there's no alcohol in his system.

His head throbbed badly. Nasapo niya ang noo at hinilamos ang mukha. He needs to get himself together.

Zayndrei believed that he was really losing his mind when he saw Ayze sitting in front of her, nakataas ang isang paa nito habang tutok ang mga mata sa screen ng laptop na gamit nito. She's always like that when she's working at home.

Sunod na dumapo ang tingin niya sa higaan ni Kage. She's now at her mom's place. Pinadala niya 'to doon dahil hindi niya ito mabigyan ng pansin, he's always at work, only leaving enough water and food for her.

At least, with Ayze, sigurado siya na alagaan na maayos ang pusa niya. She's always looking for Kage. Dinaig pa siya nito na may-ari.

"I missed them both..." He uttered under his breath.

His head was throbbing real bad but he managed to get up and picked his phone to call his secretary. He lost his job because of him, kaya sinama niya ito sa paglipat ng trabaho.

"Sir?" Kolthon answered.

"Hey, can you give me Ayze's address?" paos na pakiusap niya sa sekretarya niya.

They both knew na dapat wala na silang connection sa dalaga. Especially because of what happened between them. The riff he already expected. Ramdam ni Zayndrei ang pagdadalawang isip nito na ibigay ang address ni Ayze.

Kolthon has still contact with Amari, Ayze's secretary. Kaya madali nitong nalaman ang unit ni Ayze.

"I am not going to do anything stupid, Kolthon. I just need my cat back." He sighed. "I promise, susunduin ko lang si Kage."

He heard him sighed heavily. Napipilitan na ikinanta ni Kolthon ang address ng building at unit ni Ayze sa kanya. Zayndrei didn't forget to thank him, of course.

Kaagad niyang inayos ang sarili. Nagpalit siya ng damit, he brushed his teeth, and sprayed his perfume all over his body to get rid of the liquor odor.

"I want her back too..." Aniya.

Zayndrei swear that he was sane when he drove to Ayze's building. Parang pansamantala na nawala ang alak sa sistema niya. He was driving carefully.

Mahina siyang natawa nang makarating siyang buo pa ang katawan at wala kahit anong gasgas sa harap ng unit ni Ayze. He pressed the button and knocked on her unit's door.

Halos mamugto na ang kamao niya sa kakakatok sa pinto pero balewala lang 'yon sa kanya.

"What the hell?" Ayze exclaimed when she saw him. Karga nito ang alaga niya. "Bakit ka nandito?"

He smirked. Damn, he missed that lovely attitude of hers.

"I am here to pick up my daughter, Kage. And... to see you, Ze." 

☕