I felt Adriel's hand on my waist as we walked towards the VIP area of the restaurant.

"Make sure na hindi ka madudulas kila Mama." Adriel warned and I just rolled my eyes as an answer.

"But seriously, you look beautiful tonight," He said in a manly way.

I'm wearing a knee length deep cross back dress in beige and paired it with a nude makeup. Adriel said that I should looked like a tamed woman. Dahil iyon daw ang tipo ng Mama niya at iyon din ang pagkakakilala sa akin. Hindi ko alam kung ano ang sinabi ni Mommy sa Mama ni Adriel at iyon ang pagkakakilala niya sa akin.

"I know right, and correction, I'm beautiful all day and night and not just tonight," Ngising sambit ko kay Adriel.

"Whatever." Hindi na ako nakasagot dahil iginiya na niya ako papasok sa isa mga VIP room.

Inside that room, I saw a man and woman who's about my Mom and Dad's age. Nakaupo sa kabisera ang lalaki habang nasa tabi nito ang ginang. A woman in late twenties on the other side of the man looks sophisticated in her black dress. Ganoon din ang babaeng katabi ng ginang. Bakante naman ang kabilang kabisera at ang tabi nito.

The servers are standing on the side of the room, waiting for command.

Nabaling ang atensyon sa amin dahil sa pagpasok namin ni Adriel.

The man smiled after seeing us, ganoon din ang Mama ni Adriel at ang katabi nito. Habang nanatili namang walang reaksyon ang babaeng nasa harap ng ginang.

Tumayo ang mga ito upang salubungin kami. Adriel nodded on his father and kissed her Mom's cheek. Ganoon din ang ginawa nito nang lumapit ang dalawang kapatid.

Matapos ang batian ng pamilya ay muling bumalik sa aking baywang ang kamay ni Adriel.

"You all know my fiancee, Lavinia Amherst," Adriel muttered in a manly way. Matigas ang bawat bigkas na nakakapanginig ng tuhod kung hindi ko lang kilala ang totoong siya.

"Babe, this is my parents. Jordan and Aleya Cervantes. My sisters Ate Andrea and Little Laine," Pakilala ni Adriel. Muntik na akong napairap sa itinawag niya sa akin.

"Kuya, hindi na 'ko little." Laine slightly pouted her lips na tinawanan lang ni Adriel.

I smiled sweetly as his Mom walked towards me, lumapit ito upang makipagbeso sa akin.

Matapos ay lumayo ito at inabot ang aking kamay. "It's nice to finally meet you, hija. I heard a lot about you from your Mom, Ladia." Mahinahon at elegante ang bawat salita nito.

"It's nice to finally meet you too, Ma'am."

Bahagya itong umiling sa aking sinambit. "Just call me Tita, as well as Jordan, just call him Tito since anytime you'll be a part of our family." I saw Tito Jordan nodded.

I smiled. "Okay, po Tita."

"So when is the wedding?" Tita excitedly asked at napangiwi ako sa aking loob. Maybe very soon but I'm not the bride.

"Mama, you're scaring her," Adriel said. I felt his hand on my back na para bang nakaalalay ito roon.

"Let's settle down everyone." It was his Papa, gesturing the table at agad naman kaming tumalima.

Adriel pulled a chair for me. Nang makaupo ako ay saka lang ito umupo sa aking tabi sa kabisera.

The servers walked near the table to get our orders.

"What do you want, Babe?" My brow almost rose up after hearing Adriel.

I scanned the menu before answering Adriel. "Hainanese Chicken Rice, that's all."

Narinig ko na iyon din ang pinili ni Adriel para sa sarili. Gaya-gaya 'to!

"I heard you're a model, good thing you're not on a diet." It was Tita Aleya after the servers went out to get our food. Maybe she heard what I've ordered.

"That was before, Tita."

Para naman itong nabigla sa aking isinagot. "Oh, what happened?"

"Its been a year since my last shoot, Tita. Hindi na ako tumatanggap ng project ngayon. I got busy managing our company since I went back to the Philippines. But if I have free time, I'll try modelling again."

"Well, you'll be married to my son soon. Papayagan ka kaya ni Adriel? What do you think son?" Bumaling ang ginang sa kanyang anak na nasa aking tabi.

"It's fine with me as long as she's happy on whatever she's doing," Adriel muttered. Hinawakan pa nito ang aking kamay na nakapatong sa table at ngumiti sa akin. Galing ng acting ni Bakla! Mapapaniwala ka! I know deep inside he's calling all the holy.

"How's my son as a fiance, hija?" It was Adriel's Papa who asked.

I shifted on my seat before answering. "He's an ideal fiance, I must say."

Tito nodded and smiled. "Good thing that he is."

Well, good thing that I'm ready for their questions.

Our food was served after a few minutes. Kasabay noon ang pwersahang pagbukas ng VIP room kaya naman napunta roon ang aming atensyon.

An unfamiliar guy entered. Sa tingin ko at babagsak ito ano mang oras sa paraan ng paglalakad niya. His eyes were bloodshot and his black hair were disheveled.

Hindi ko napansin na napatayo na ang lahat at tila gulat sa pagpasok ng lalaki. Ako nalang nananatiling nakaupo kaya naman napatayo na rin ako.

"Who are you?" Hindi ko namalayan na nakalapit na si Adriel sa lalaki. Naroon na rin si Tito Jordan sa tapat nito. I saw Andrea walked towards the guy. Sa mga tingin nito ay alam kong kilala niya ang lalaki. Tita Aleya and Laine remained standing beside their seat with an eyes full of questions.

"What are you doing here?" Tila naramdaman ko ang panlalamig sa paraan ng salita ni Andrea.

"Hon, I'm sorry." Akmang lalapit ito kay Andrea ngunit agad itong pinigilan ni Adriel. I saw Adriel's cold eyes as he stared on the man.

"Adriel, I'll talk to him." Andrea informed. I saw Adriel hesitated ngunit sa huli ay binitawan din ang lalaki.

"Andrea." Tita Aleya called and Andrea immediately turned to her Mom. Pati ako ay napalingon doon, I gulped when I saw the way Tita Aleya stared at Andrea. Tila naguusap ang mga mata ng dalawa at sa huli ay tumango si Andrea sa ginang.

I walked towards the headquarters of Amherst. I saw a lot of men in black ngunit ilan lang ang pamilyar at ilan lang din ang nakakakilala sa akin kaya ang iba ay masama at malisyoso ang tingin. Mayroon ding mga babae sa headquarters ngunit mabibilang lang sa darili ang mga ito.

I saw a familiar man and approached him, if I am not mistaken, he's one of our Capos. "Is Lolo in his office?" I asked.

Agad naman niya akong nakilala. "Yes, Ma'am. Hatid na kita," Anyaya nito na agad ko ng tinanggihan.

"No need. Looks like you still have something to do." I glanced on his side where our other soldiers were in.

He nodded, both of his hands were in his waist. "Shipments, Ma'am."

I slightly nodded my head. "I'll go ahead," Sambit ko at nilagpasan na ito upang puntahan sa opisina si Lolo.

I remember the dinner last night. It ended peacefully. Well, not as peaceful as I expected because of Andrea's man. After Andrea leave to talk to her man. The Cervantes, they were calmed but I felt their tension. Adriel wanted to follow her sister but Tito Jordan told him to let Andrea handle everything. Si Tita Aleya naman ay hindi kumikibo ngunit bakas sa mukha nito ang galit at hiya sa nangyari.

Sa reaksyon ng buong pamilya ay masasabi ko na wala silang alam sa nangyari sa pagitan ni Andrea at ng lalaki kaya ganoon nalang ang pagtataka ng mga ito.

Tita Aleya was sorry for what happened. Hindi raw nila inaasahan ang nangyari at siya na raw ang humihingi ng pasensya. Sa totoo lang ay wala namang problema sa akin iyon.

I was back to reality when someone blocked my way.

"Miss, anong ginagawa mo rito?" It was an unfamiliar man. My brow automatically arched.

"Its none of your business." Si Lolo lang ang sadya ko rito at wala ng iba, hindi kasama roon ang makipagusap sa kanila.

"It is, kung ano sayo lalabas na 'ko ngayon din."

"If I were you I would fuck off specially if I'm talking to my future boss."

I rolled my eyes and he just smirked on what I've said. Nilagpasan ko nalang ito at laking pasalamat ko nang hayaan ako nitong umalis. I have no time for him.

I knocked on the door of my Lolo's office, hindi ko na hinintay na may sumagot pa roon at agad ng pumasok. Naabutan ko na may kausap na tauhan si Lolo ngunit agad na nagpaalam nang makita ako.

Bahagya pang yumuko ito nang tumapat sa akin.

"Sit down, hija," Sambit ni Lolo nang kami nalang ang tao sa kanyang opisina.

Agad akong tumalima sa gusto ni Lolo dahil mukhang mapapatagal ang aming usapan.

I sat down on the chair in front of Lolo's table while he's seating in his swivel chair.

"About the Ferrons," He started.

I frowned when I heard what he have said. "What about the Ferrons?"

"The Ferrons are one of the associates of Cosmos. Creed Ferron, your ex-fiance is one of the current underbosses of Cosmos. At first, I thought Creed Ferron is the Universe. Mali ang akala ko, he's the Night and not the Universe."

I know, muntik ko na iyong maisagot sa kanya.

What the hell? How did he know? Delikado si Creed dahil sa nalaman ni Lolo.

"M-may ginawa ka po ba sa mga Ferron?"

He frowned on my question but immediately answer it. "I abducted Ferron, ngunit walang nangyari dahil sa mga lintik na tauhan! Mga walang utak!" Mariing sambit niya. Nakita ko ang galit sa mga mata ni Lolo na para bang naalala niya ang nangyari.

Pinigilan ko ang sarili na mapangiti nang malaman na walang nangyaring masama kay Creed.

The thing is how did they abducted Creed? I mean, I know Cosmos and their ability. Hindi nila makukuha si Creed ng basta-basta lang.

"Paano nangyaring nakuha ng mga tauhan natin si Creed?" Hindi ko na napigilan ang sarili na itanong iyon.

Kumunot ang noo nito at puno ng suspetyang tumingin sa akin. "Why are you asking me that? Alam mo ba na parte ng Cosmos si Ferron bago ko pa iyon sinabi sa iyo?"

Agad akong naalarma sa tanong ni Lolo. "No! I mean, if he really is an underboss of Cosmos ay hindi niyo siya madaling makukuha."

Nakahinga ako ng maluwag nang tumango si Lolo na para bang kumbinsido sa aking isinagot. "Hmmm, ilang beses ko ng sinubukan na makuha si Ferron ngunit babae lang pala ang katapat nito."

My mouth fell open when I heard what Lolo have said. I don't know if I heard it right or what.

"A-gain?" Sa tingin ko ay mali ang pagkakarinig ko. Hindi pinansin ni Lolo ang aking tanong. Tumayo ito at nagtungo sa kung saan nakalagay ang mahahalagang dokumento niya.

Nang bumalik ito ay iniabot sa akin ang papel na kinuha mula roon.

I frowned when I saw Cerys on the picture.

"Anong kinalaman niya, Lolo?"

"We used her to get him. She drugged Ferron, malaki ang tiwala ni Ferron sa babaeng 'yan dahil iyan ang sekretarya at nobya niya kaya naman madali lang niyang nagawa ang iniutos ko." I tilted and slowly shook my head. Alam ko na hindi magagawa iyon ni Cerys kay Creed because I know how much she loves him.

"That was Cerys Fuentabella, right? Creed's secretary and....Uhmm girlfriend." Pinigilan ko ang sarili upang hindi mapangiwi nang sambitin ko ang huling salita.

"Yes, she is."

I shifted on my seat.

"Imposible ang sinasabi mo, Lolo."

"Totoo ang sinasabi ko. That woman, she have no choice but to follow my orders. I thought that woman is enough to know who the Universe is but I was wrong. That's why I want to talk to you personally."

Napakunot ang aking noo sa sinabi ni Lolo. Anong connect?

"You knew Ferron, you're close to him. Wrap him around your fingers like what you did six years ago." What the hell is he talking about?

Sandali itong huminto ngunit agad ding nagpatuloy. "Who's the Universe? I want an answer straight from Ferron's mouth."

What the hell? I would never do that! I mean, yes I want Creed back and I'll surely get him back ngunit hindi sa ganoong rason.

I gently massaged my temples out of frustration.

"And, when are you planning to take over the Amherst?" That's his main agenda.

"At the end of the year, I'll take over," Pinal na sambit ko. I know that day would come, pinapatagal ko lang iyon dahil ipinipilit ko sa aking sarili na hindi pa ako handa. But the truth is, I need to take over the Amherst, ready or not.

__________