CHAPTER ONE

"LYRICCA Mae Dela Cruz, will you be my girlfriend?" It has been three years since Yves asked her that question in front of the beautiful fountain they both adored since their college days, and Lyricca still can't seem to let go of that precious memory.

Wala na kasi siyang iba pang hahanapin sa lalakeng ilang taon niya ring ginusto. Their love story even looked like those in a pocketbook.

Simula highschool ay may crush na talaga si Lyricca kay Yves, at senior high school naman sila nang umamin ang lalakeng may gusto rin ito sa kaniya. Buong college years ay nililigawan siya ng lalake at wala araw ang hindi nagpasalamat si Lyricca sa Itaas at ibinigay sa kaniya si Yves.

Masayang-masaya si Lyricca simula nang maging sila. Pareho silang na-busy sa mga trabaho, pero pareho rin namang gumagawa ng paraan para magkasama't magkausap. Isa kasi sa mga mahahalagang bagay na pinaniniwalaan nilang dalawa na kailangan sa relasyon ay maayos na komunikasyon. And for the last three years, they didn't have a problem about that.

Isa pa sa ikinatuwa ni Lyricca sa nobyo ay never siya nitong pinag-o-overthink, in short, he gives her proper assurance. Hindi rin ito nagbibigay ng kahit anong dahilan para magduda siya, dahil sa gwapo ng nobyo niya ay lapitin talaga ito ng mga babae, but he never once gave her a reason to doubt him. As he said, he is only for her and her alone.

Yves loved her as much as she loved him, and Lyricca? She could never ask for more.

"Seriously, bes, hindi ka pa talaga nadidiligan?" mahalay na tanong sa kaniya ng kaibigan niyang si Qwynie na nagpabalik sa wisyo niya.

Kusa namang umikot ang mga mata ni Lyricca saka naiiling na tinalikuran ito. "Hindi pa ako handa para doon, saka mabait at may respeto sa akin si Yves, kaya wala pang nangyayari sa aming ganyan."

"As in kiss kiss, hug, at holding hands pa lang?" parang affected na affected na tanong pa nito.

"As in."

"Ayy! You're missing life, bes! Ipapaalala ko lang sa 'yo, iha, mag-t-twenty five ka na next month, baka gusto mo nang ibukadkad ang iyong bulaklak."

Napailing na lang ulit si Lyricca. Halatang stressed ang kaibigan niya na para bang problema nito ang inirereklamo nito sa buhay niya. "Pareho kaming naniniwala ni Yves na mas magandang pagkatapos ng kasal ang bagay na ganoon. Hindi naman kasi kailangang madaliin, Qwynie," pagpapaliwanag niya habang inaayos ang mga papeles sa office desk niya.

Natahimik naman ang kaniyang kaibigan sa sagot niya. "At talagang ayos lang kay Yves 'yun? Ang mga lalake, bes, h*rny dogs 'yung mga 'yon."

Napangiti naman si Lyricca habang iniisip ang gwapo at parang perpekto niyang boyfriend. "Ayos lang sa kaniya." Hinarap niya si Qwynie. "Iba talaga si Yves, Qwy. Alam kong hindi niya ako lolokohin."

Para namang tuluyan nang sumuko ang kaibigan niya sa pangungumbinsi sa kaniya. "Hay! Lord! Anak Niyo rin po ako. Baka naman deserve ko rin ng isang Yves Cypriene Steele sa buhay ko." Nakapikit pa ang babae at naka-praying position nang tingnan ni Lyricca.

Mahina na lang siyang natawa saka napatingin sa isang picture frame sa desk niya. Sila iyon ni Yves sa loob ng Manila Ocean Park. Iyon ang first date nilang dalawa as an official couple. And it was a wonderful day.

Buong araw ay ibinuhos lang ni Lyricca ang oras sa trabaho. She was the head of the Marketing team in their company. Inalok na siya ng mga magulang pamunuan ang kumpanya nila kaya lang ay ginusto niya munang magsimula sa umpisa, lulubusin na niya ang pag-aaral sa pasikot-sikot sa kumpanya hangga't kaya pa ng ama niyang mamuno.

Her humbleness and willingness to learn and start from the bottom were the main reasons why people who work in their company adore and love her. Her jolliness and respectfulness then follow. And of course, the only heir of the DC Corporation's beautiful and sexy appearance was the cherry on top of those compliments.

So if Yves is the perfect prince of Steele Enterprise, Lyricca is the perfect princess of the DC Corporation. An indeed perfect couple in the eyes of everyone who knows of them.

They were even featured in magazines as The Perfect Couple of Asia last year, and that memory could always bring a smile to Lyricca's face.

All day, Lyricca focused her attention on her work until finally, it was time to go home, and as usual, her phone rang when she was in the elevator.

"Hey, handsome, just finished work too?" nakangiting bungad ng babae pagsagot ng tawag.

She then heard her boyfriend's chuckle from the other line. (Yeah, I'm on my way to you now. Wanna have dinner with me, mon amour?)

Lyricca had to bite her lower lip to stop herself from smiling too wide. "I would love that."

(Is there something my love craves?)

Napaisip naman siya. "Hmm... How about steak?"

She heard him hum at the same time the elevator door opened. (Steak it is. I know a place that serves amazing steak.)

Lyricca was almost at the main door when her eyes caught something that made her smile more. "Ang bilis mo naman atang makarating," she commented, her eyes still glued to the approaching car.

(Hmm? I'm still on my way, mon amour. The traffic got me.)

Napakunot naman ng noo si Lyricca. But that's his car closing in. Napatitig siya sa plate number. Oh... Not his. "My bad. May car din kasi na kararating lang and it has the same color, brand, and style, like yours." Mahina siyang natawa.

Lyricca also heard Yves chuckle before he spoke again. (Well, you can go back to the lobby first. I'm sorry for being late—)

"That's not your fault, love. Just make sure to stay safe, hmm?"

(I will. Thanks, love. See you soon. I love you.)

"I love you too. Bye." Finally, they ended the call.

Lyricca was about to step back into the building when the door of the car — the same one with her boyfriend — opened and a man went out of it.

Unang tingin pa lang ni Lyricca ay masasabi na niyang powerful ang lalake. He was wearing a three-piece suit, brown leather shoes, and black sunglasses.

His aura shouts expensive and authority, and Lyricca almost had a difficult time taking her eyes away from the man.

Is he new here? Perhaps a potential business partner? Lyricca just shrug at her thoughts. For sure, sasabihan naman ako nila Mom about it. Napatango na lang siya saka bumalik na sa lobby at umupo muna roon.

She chose to busy herself with social media, and of course, searching for newly opened restaurants and cafes in the whole world using her notebook. Until her eyes settled on a newly opened bistro in France.

Hmm... Nantes, France? Never really heard of me. She checked out the details of the bistro and was enthralled by it. I should probably ask Yves if we can go here sometime. Naalala niya kasing French ang nanay nito at baka alam ni Yves kung nasaan ang Nantes, France.

"Bistro V offers a lot of new cuisines with a perfect calming view."

Halos mapatalon si Lyricca nang may magsalita sa likuran niya. It was a very manly voice which happened to be owned by the gorgeous man from a while ago. "I... uh..."

"Thomas Valentin Devereaux," he offered his hand, "and you must be Lyricca Mae Dela Cruz." He sounded formal so Lyricca stood up and accepted his hand.

"Yes, I am. May I know your intentions?"

Thomas looked at her intently before speaking up. "I'll be a new investor in your family business. It's a pleasure meeting you."

Lyricca did not like the feeling of the man's hand on hers for a long time so she let go of it fast. "I see. I assume that you have discussed this with my parents."

The man nodded firmly. "They have accepted my offer." Thomas looked at his watch. "I must go now, I only wanted to meet the heiress of the DC Corporation. Thank you for your time. I shall take my leave."

Tumango lang din si Lyricca saka pinanood makaalis ang lalake. Wala namang kakaiba sa pakikitungo ng lalake sa kaniya dahil ganoon lang din ang iba pang mga investor o naging investor sa kumpanya nila. Laging kailangang magpakilala rin sa kaniya dahil binabanggit ng mga magulang niya sa mga ito na siya ang mag-ha-handle sa kumpanya a few years from now.

The only thing that did not sit well with Lyricca was the way the man looked at her as if he was staring into her soul.

Thomas Valentin Devereaux... She just shrugged and sat back down again, waiting for her boyfriend.

Lyricca had no idea that the man she just met... would bring a lot of trouble into her precious, seemingly perfect life.

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