TAPPING HER pen against her table, Ayze was wondering what made Zayndrei's busy these past few days. Ilang araw na itong hindi umuuwi sa unit nito, ever since that day she woke up without him by her side.

She's thankful that he's not beside her that time. Namula ang buong mukha niya nang maalala ang pinaggagawa niya noong lasing siya.

"May meeting ka sa isang CEO after lunch and a reporter wanted to meet you, too."

"Reporter? Bakit daw?" kunot ang noo na tanong niya.

Lately, walang reporters na gumugulo sa kanya. Although, lagi siyang laman ng mga news at fashion magazines. Her style was their type despite of her bad reputation.

Amari looked at her iPad and her brows furrowed. "There's no specific reason... Should I cancel it?"

She waved her hand. Honestly speaking, wala siyang pakialam. If they're going to do a simple interview then she'll welcome them, but if they're going to pry about her personal life, Ayze would probably kick them out.

Ayze wasn't the type to move first but Zayndrei was testing her patience. Hindi na siya makatiis kaya tumawag na siya sa sekretarya nito. Which happened to be her loyal secretary, too. Kolthon was her spy.

"What made him busy, Kolthon?" She asked. Her voice was demanding for an immediate response.

[Can't talk. Sorry.] Kolthon answered. Almost a whisper.

Zayndrei must be around him. Bago masagad ang pasensya niya sa kakahintay, Kolthon send a message to Amari's personal number.

"He sent me a message, here," binigay ni Amari sa kanya ang cellphone nito.

Ayze boredly looked at her phone and read his message. It was a detailed report.

From: Kolthon

He's staying in the Resort to fix some mess. One of the hotel rooms blew up and is currently under investigation. As of now, he's formulating a strategy to strengthen the Resorts security.

From: Kolthon

He's not sleeping nor eating properly, ma'am. He also asked me to keep this a secret from you. Miss Windelle was also visiting him nonstop since that incident happened, offering help. I was surprised when he accepted her offer. I'll watch him from now on, ma'am.

Humigpit ang hawak niya sa cellphone ni Amari. Ayze gritted her teeth, nandilim bigla ang paningin niya sa nabasa.

Amari immediately went to her side, kinuha nito ang cellphone sa kamay niya at hinagod ang likuran niya.

"Please, calm down, ma'am... Take a deep breath, ma'am." Amari instructed her.

"Cancel my appointment, Amari. May pupuntahan ako." Mabilis siyang tumayo at kinuha ang susi ng motor na nakatago sa parking area ng building.

She called Arki and informed him that she'll be visiting the shooting range today. She's seeing blood and it wasn't a good sign. The last time she craves for it, someone made her a fucking monster.

"You look livid. What's up?" Arki asked. Kinuha nito ang helmet niya at ito ang nagdala.

Arki escorted her. He made her wear a headphone and let her assembled the gun she'll be using. May mga lata at bote na nakatayo sa malayo.

The gun she's holding was loaded. Mabilis niya 'yon kinasa at mahigpit na hinawakan ang baril. Hindi alintana ni Ayze ang bigat. She aimed for the can and bottles. Sunod-sunod niyang pinaputok ang baril na hawak niya.

Aside from playing guitar, holding a damn gun was one of her stress relievers. Especially, when she's damn mad.

Nang matapos siya, mabilis niyang tinanggal ang headphone at sinuklay ang buhok gamit ang mga daliri niya.

"Is there a problem?" Arki carefully asked him.

"Yes."

"About Lim's?" tiningnan siya nitong mabuti.

Umiling siya.

Arki slowly nodded his head and smirked, "It's about that guy, then?"

"Hm-mm, I trust him. I'll give him the benefit of doubt."

She was her man, after all.

Ayze was monitoring him. His steps on how he'll regain the money the company losses. She was meeting every CEO that was part of her mother's empire, except for Zayndrei. Hindi talaga ito nagpakita sa kanya.

Kolthon was still hinting her about his whereabouts. At habang tumatagal, mas lalo siyang nawawalan ng pasensya sa lalaki.

The money the company losses, doubled— tripled even. Ayze balled her hand, habang pinapanood ang balita tungkol sa company na hawak ni Windelle. Matalino man ito sa kanya, alam ni Ayze sa sarili na wala itong kakayahan para i-lead ang mga tao.

The last time she heard news about her company, pabagsak na ito dahil sa kagagawan ng babae.

"Her company is surprisingly rising..." Amari commented. "You're not liking it, of course."

Tumaas ang sulok ng labi niya. Seems like the woman was taking advantage of what happened. She offered help to Zayndrei, and surprisingly accepted it. Wasn't it the other way around, who needs help, that bad?

Ayrelle Zehra: I need complete information about Windelle Marquez. What she's up to and what's her relationship with Zayndrei.

Arki: I'll ask, Kia.

Hindi na sila madalas mag-usap nor magkita ni Zayndrei. The last time they saw each other, lasing siya at hindi ito sa tabi niya natulog. Hell, they didn't even talk after and he didn't even bother to visit her like what he used to.

Amari was keeping her in place. Calming her down and driving her towards the Shooting range to relieve some stress. Inip na inip na siya sa pagbabantay sa lalaki.

He wasn't doing anything. And it was pissing her off. Big time.

"To Zayndrei's..." utos niya kay Amari na nasa driver seat.

SHE PERSONALLY visit Zayn. Kolthon wasn't outside his office kaya dumeretso siyang pumasok sa loob ng office nito. She dryly laughed when she saw the girl— she hated the most, inside his office. Nakaupo ito mismo sa lamesa ni Zayndrei.

He looked at her surprised. Namilog ang mga mata ni Zayndrei at mabilis na tumayo nang makita siya, namumutla rin ang buong mukha nito, na animoy nakakita ng multo sa kanya.

"Ayze... what are you doing here?" tanong nito at mabilis na lumapit sa kanya.

Pinagkrus niya ang mga braso sa tapat ng dibdib niya at tinaasan ito ng isang kilay.

"Am I not allowed here?" sarkastiko na tanong niya sa lalaki.

He bit his lower lip and avoided his gaze. Lumipat 'yon sa babae na nakatingin sa kanilang dalawa ngayon. She even crossed her legs and smirked at her. Ayze lips curled up. Bilib din siya sa tapang na mayroon ang babae.

"No, that's now what I meant. Nabigla lang ako..."

"Really, Zayndrei? Nabigla? Ilang beses na ba akong pumunta dito without informing you? Bakit ngayon ka pa nabigla?" ngumisi siya sa lalaki.

She boredly looked at the girl's direction. Mayabang ang tingin nito sa kanya.

"What's up? Meeting? Or... did I interrupt something?" bumalik ang matalim niyang tingin kay Zayndrei.

Napansin niya ito na lumunok dahil sa klase ng tingin na ipinukol niya sa lalaki.

"It's not like that. Ayze, please...? Let's talk outside?"

"Outside?" She uttered. Wala siyang buhay na natawa sa lalaki. "No fucking need. I'm just here to check if you're still alive..."

Lumapit siya sa lalaki at hinaplos ang pisngi nito. She smirked at him and whispered, "Stay alive, Zayndrei."

"No, let's talk. Please?"

"No need." Matigas na sagot niya.

Sinubukan nitong hawakan ang siko niya pero kaagad niya 'yong iniwasan at mabilis na lumabas sa office nito. Ayze saw Kolthon outside and bowed his head a little. Sa tingin pa lang niya, alam na nito ang dapat nitong gawin.

That woman was now getting on her nerves.

SOBRANG INGAT ng mga empleyado niya sa trabaho na huwag magkamali ang mga ito. Ayrelle Zehra was on her worst mood.

She was busy taking down Lim's company but hee plan changed because of what's happening to Zayndrei's company. Instead of taking it down, Ayze was now planning to acquire it.

Thanks to that dumb man, talking to him wasn't that bad after all. She managed to penetrate their company and bought stocks. As of now, she still need a small part and voila, magigising na lang ang matandang Lim na siya na ang may pinakamataas na stocks.

That's how she works. And Ayze hates it when someone was trying hard to copy her style.

"Ma'am, your cousin is asking if you need a hand." Amari informed her.

Ayze shook her hand. Mabilis na nagtipa ang mga daliri niya sa keyboard ng laptop niya. She's been reading and understanding how's the Lim's company works. Their transactions and all. Recent and even their past.

"I am not some weakling, sabihin mo 'yon sa kanila. Don't get in my way, baka pati sila sunugin ko." Ayze smirked.

It was a joke. If it was a battle against her cousins, hindi niya alam kung sino ang unang bibigay.

"Kia is also waiting outside, ma'am."

"Send her in. Sa labas ka rin muna. Salamat."

Amari nodded her head as a response. Itinabi niya ang laptop at nakangiti na sinalubong si Kia nang pumasok ito sa office niya.

"Someone is in a good mood... Finally?" Kia laughed.

Umiling si Ayze. "What you have right now might put me in a bad mood... again."

"Oh well," Kia shrugged her shoulders and sat on the chair, in front of her table. "I'm not going to beat around the bush. That woman, Windelle, is not in a relationship with Zayndrei like what you think. Although, I've learned that she's been pestering him to give her a hand to manage her company or at least an investment will do."

"It's possible... I wonder what was Zayndrei's reason he didn't open it to me." Aniya.

"Simply because he, alone, is not interested in doing business with her. Alibi na lang siguro na hindi aligned ang business na hawak niya sa business ng babae." Kia shrugged. "And, Kuya knows how you love toying with other's company."

Inosente siyang ngumiti kay Kia. She flatly looked at her in return, convinced that her acting skills weren't enough.

"Moving on, the Marquez's want to acquire your empire— your mother's empire, Ate," ngumiti sa kanya si Kei at bumaba ang mga mata nito sa kamao niya. She was more than ready to punch her table. "You were so busy eliminating the 'crocodiles that you didn't notice them acquiring every small company you have."

Inilapag ni Kia ang folder sa lamesa niya. Nang buksan niya 'yon, nandoon lahat ng data about sa mga small companies na meron sila. Hindi niya 'yon masyadong naasikaso, because just like her mom, masyado siyang nakampante na ayos lang ang mga 'yon.

"Oh damn..." she uttered.

"Small companies were not enough to prosper their company, Ate. This is where the exciting part happens, they're now starting to acquire big companies and they started with Zayndrei's company. Windelle's old man thought that if his daughter threw herself to Zayndrei's, he'd willingly hand the company. How dumb, right?"

Tumango siya.

"As of now, Kuya Zayndrei isn't moving at all. I wanted to give him the benefit of doubt but... if this continues, then my hunch might be true."

"What hunch? Like he's helping them? Slowly?"

"Yes." Kia confidently answered. "Nasabi ba niya sayo na... si Windelle ang dahilan kung bakit sumabog ang isang room sa hotel?"

Nabura lahat ng emosyon na mayroon siya sa mukha. Ayze trusted him too much, huh?

"I've heard that Kuya did a separate investigation and found that Windelle was the one behind it. She paid someone to plant the bomb, noong sumabog 'yon may mga staffs kayo na na-injured. Kuya also compensated the dissatisfied customers. I am surprised, hindi ito lumabas sa balita... at mukhang hindi rin umabot sayo." Kei was watching her as she continued to feed her the information she needed.

Hindi siya sumagot. Nanatili lang siyang tahimik. Ayze's mind started planning her move on how to take that woman down. How to make her crawl and which of her places she should attack. Ayze planned to blow up her business right through her face.

Hindi siya aatake patalikod ngayon. Ayze will make sure that she'll work squeaky clean.

Ayze smirked evilly. "Kindly inform your brother... Zehra is going to clean up."

☕