The morning light was seeping through the window curtain when I woke up; that I looked around from the ceiling to the walls. I'm sure that I was on my bed and I saw some hospital equipment. My head still spinning but I stood up, walked slowly, opened the door, and sat in front of the door outside. I cannot tackle myself to walk alone."Anybody there!" I shouted that a male nurse came running towards me."Sir, why you don't call me first," the nurse said."Where's Edward?""I'll call him sir right away."The male nurse dialed a number on his cell phone," Sir Edward, the patient wants to talk to you. Can you come over here now?""Sir Edward's coming now...sir?""Okay, take me to the garden now.""Yes sir.""And don't forget to serve an orange juice...and the daily newspaper.""Alright sir got it. Want a wheel chair?""No, just help me...walk...""Okay sir, come."As we walked near the garden, I felt the sun's rays warming my skin and flesh. An invigorating freshness, after an emotional
In Dubai City, United Arab Emirates, I continued my successful business endeavors through which I molded my empire and siblings to the coming years of their lives. Beneath the success, I felt something was within my reach but cannot decipher what it was that in-store for me. The rigors of my undaunted dedication of growing made me continuously search for excitement and challenges in life. I never gave up hope even in the midst of my age; to help my children’s future. Looking at the glass wall of one of the famous buildings in Dubai where I viewed the city as the most modern metropolis in the world. “This is where I started with my dreams, really Dubai is the City of Dreams,” I thought. I fingered my modern-diamond-encrusted mobile phone, looked at it with excitement, and dial a number,“Okay, meet me at the Gold Souk in Deira, ten in the morning. I’m wearing blue jeans, a royal blue T-shirt, a black bull cap and a black men’s shoulder bag. Bye.” I returned the mobile phone to its cas
It was really a phenomenal adventure when dealing with this kind of journey. Even before, I thought that life in other cities were bound by the creation of non-sense people who divulged their lives in such a rubbish endeavor. Nonetheless, with my eager mind, I continued living as if I’m trying to find something that can booster my inner self. Instantly, this travel motivated me to gain access to the unknown. Really depressing but with my constant searching of the unknown I found it very refreshing.I could constantly receive enormous answers to why these people wanted to capture my senses, in a way that I could not fathom why I am doing this crazy thing. Since my way of dealing with people especially Americans conformed to my standard of knowing something different from my usual lifestyle. It’s not merely just to deal with them, but to encourage myself to know more about them.I knew where I stand because I am famous and a Billionaire...and getting bored without excitement.My past e
The route going to the Farm seemed a lifetime journey. The long road conspired with my thoughts to go on even though I knew from the start that this endeavor may or may not be of great help to me or Oliver. The excitement deep within me showed upon my movements inside the vehicle driven by Mr. Buckwell who gave us the brochure of Camp Peary.Camp Peary is an approximately 9,000-acre military reservation in York County near Williamsburg, Virginia. Officially referred to as Armed Forces Experimental Training Activity (AFETA) under the auspices of the Department of Defense, Camp Peary is widely believed to host the covert CIA training facility known as “The Farm,” a training facility for the Central Intelligence Agency, although this has never been formally acknowledged by the U.S. government. The portion of the original World War II Seabee base which is north of Interstate 64 has remained closed to the public since 1951. However, the roads and many structures of Magruder and Bigler’s Mi
Being real with people is the most effective way of gaining their trust. If they spot a fake, you’ve lost all hope and it’s time to move along to another mark. A fake interest is something like “oh neat” or “that sounds cool” (it’s ok to say these types of things but don’t repeat them over and over). It’s always important to interject with relativity “so that’s kind of like…” or “that reminds me of…” “is that related to…” things like this, making associations, connecting ideas. This keeps the conversation going. Never ever say “that’s weird” “I’ve never heard of that before” or anything that has to potential to shut down the flow of a conversation and lead to awkwardness or silence.Once contact and trust are established, it’s time to start planning ahead and execute with the best of your knowledge and skills. Always find options for what you’re doing. And, lastly, as what I’ve learned which stick on my mind, “Don’t get caught.”We’ve been transported back to our hotel suite after a m
The restaurants are also meeting places for North Korean intelligence officers and North Korean agents. Officials, businessmen, and overseas workers also frequent the restaurants to recruit targets for foreign intelligence services, including the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA), China's Ministry of State Security, and South Korea's National Intelligence Service, as well as other spy agencies.Around 7 in the evening, Oliver and I went to the Chinese Restaurant on top of Al Guhrair Center as scheduled. I told Oliver to go inside the restaurant alone, and I waited at the mezzanine floor where I purchased a cup of espresso coffee. Five minutes had passed, I received a call from Oliver telling me to come up, but I told him to change the meeting place that they should come down at the mezzanine floor."Okay Marco, I'll tell her. Wait for us at the coffee shop."I waited for almost 10 minutes when they appeared suddenly in front of me."Marc...hurry...come...quick...!" I stood up quickly,
Marco Fernando Jr. sat in seat 4b looking out the window of the plane, watching it taxi down the NAIA runway. He couldn't believe that after two years of being away from their house that he would be coming back from Shanghai, China. He smiled and sat in his chair and lowered the belt attached to it. “Oh My Dear Philippines!” A few hours after the plane landed at noon he allowed himself to choose blue jean shorts and a white polo t-shirt, a pair of rust-brown men's sandals that he got from a shopping SM mall were on his feet. He wiggled his toes out of the sandals and looked down at his laptop. He plays a chess game on the internet. It was his turn. He checked exactly where he could move a pawn, just so he could enter his opponent's domain. After some decisive thought, he moved his pawn to the right of the third chess piece on the board. Marco Fernando Jr. went home to Bacoor City, Cavite where his mother's house is, near Molino Boulevard. Marco Junior walked up to his old house, l
Marco Fernando Junior lay in bed, thinking about all the things he had endured in the past two years. The passing of his mother, his own child was born and then also left this world, also passed away, painful. He remembered that he could not close his eyes at night during the first three months he was away in Cavite. Guilt, anger, pain and frustration were able to claim him during those times. In the ninth month, he felt the emotions go away one by one, until finally, he started working again, left the house where Norman and Anne were and got a home of his own.Two weeks after moving in Manila, he was going through his things and found a few things that Hershey had given him over the years. These items of memorabilia, held tightly to his heart, reminding him of a sentence he had written on his heart saying that he would come back one day for her. Although he wanted to go back, he wasn't sure if he wanted to see her or not. After deliberating his heart and mind, he bought a plane ticke
Zenaida hands me a black lace bodice. I start to get myself into it and Zenaida turns me around to fasten the row of hooks and eyes trailing up the back. I'm distracted by my hesitancy by the thought of Marco's face and all this lace. I smile. He'll orgasm on the spot. I'm helped into the gown by Zenaida and presented to the oversized mirror. 'Holy shit!' she exclaims and then slaps her hand over her mouth. 'I'm sorry. That was so unprofessional of me.' Holy shit, indeed. I turn slightly to view the back and gasp a little. It clings to every curve I have perfectly and skims the floor when I raise on tiptoes. The lining under the lace is matt, giving the delicate, intricate pattern a shimmery effect, and the deep neckline is perfect with the cap sleeves sitting just off my shoulders, revealing my collarbones. I hear Zenaida scuttle off and return. She kneels before me. 'Put these on.' she instructs. I pull my eyes from the mirror and look down to find a pair of black, sling-back Dior
AYAH ISABEL FERNANDO POVOur wedding is fast approaching created by our children; Marco Fernando Senior siblings from me and Danielle Gustilo. As much as possible I have to keep it in a low-profile event. But, my Billionaire husband wanted to be a well-known marriage of all time. Even my personal things, I want to be discreet. But, Marco accompanied me to the first-class shopping mall.My eyes are immediately blessed with masses of drool-worthy handbags, but I'm not given the opportunity to look. He walks with purpose and meaning as he drags me along behind him and when we get in the elevator, he presses the button for the first floor. I scan the store guide.'Hey, I want the fourth floor.' I would like to avoid the international collections of the first floor. They scream expensive, but he completely ignores me. "Marc?" I look at him and find his face is completely impassive as he keeps a firm grip on my hand. The elevator door opens and I'm pulled out behind him.'This way.' he says
I collapsed on the sofa when I got home. I need an early night. Tomorrow is a long day in Country Hills and I need to get in shape. My phone is ringing. I rolled my eyes as I looked at the screen, but it wasn't what I expected. This is Tom. I growled to myself. When will my phone ring and it's someone I really want to talk to?'Hi,' I moaned. 'Okay?' he greeted, with his usual confident tone.'Yes, and you?' I knew he was fine. I heard that he was out almost every night, making up for a lost time. Not that our relationship stopped him from living exactly what he wanted.'Everything is fine. I rang to greet you tomorrow. It's tomorrow, right?' I was surprised when he remembered. He didn't really have an interest in my career.'Yes, thank you. I was just thinking of getting an early night.' 'Okay, I won't keep you,' he seemed disappointed. 'I've boxed up your other stuff.''Oh, right,' 'There's no rush,' he added. 'If you're free sometimes, it's better to chase.'Do you like it? Catc
I thought quickly. 'My car has new brakes. I forgot to remove my house key.'She accepted my excuse without further question. 'There's a spare door key in the pot by the kitchen window.' He ran back up the stairs and I followed, quickly opening a bottle of wine before rummaging through the fridge for something to eat. No one takes my wish. Wine will do. 'Yes, please.' Pearl came back into the kitchen. She's already jimmy-jammed up, and I can't wait to join her. I pour her a glass while trying to morph my face into anything other than the shocked expression that I know is still visible.'I'm going to change and call Mama,' I turned around, carrying my wine. 'I'll meet you on the sofa soon.' 'Cold,' I really need to talk to Mom. Pearl is my best friend, but you can't beat your Mom when you want comfort. Not that I can tell her why I need comfort. She will be afraid.After I put on my baggy pants and vest top, I lay on my bed and called my Mom Ayah. I called Mom Ayah Isabel when I want to
Stunned, I grabbed my clothes off the floor before running into the bathroom, closing the door behind me and flipping the lock. I leaned against the back of the door, almost naked, trying to control my ragged breathing. I looked up at the ceiling to stop my tears from falling. I am very disappointed in myself.I think I hear the sound of muffled voices coming from the room, and I try to steady my breathing so I can hear what's going on. But, nothing. No noise, no talking...nothing. Damn me for being half naked so I can't escape. Instead, I fled to the bathroom, hiding like a desperate tart. I am not comfortable with these feelings. I'm really ashamed of myself. I have been cheated on many times, and I have destroyed all the women who interfered in my relationships. Over many bottles of wine, I have condemned them, badmouthed them, and asked them for truly merciless vengeance. Now, I am one of them. I groaned, hitting the heel of my hand on my forehead. Crazy girl!When I heard the doo
He remained silent while I looked at him in shock, waiting for an explanation. I didn't get anything, except his intense green eyes staring at me from the other room. I felt like I was under a microscope, and that glass of wine was spinning in my stomach, twisting and turning as I moved nervously on my heels.'Is this some kind of joke?' I half laugh. I'm still waiting for clarity, but it won't come. I try to ignore the mass of beautiful people and frantically search my brain for guidance or instruction. It is useless. I'm not blind I'll happily volunteer that I've imagined his chest, more than once, and it's beyond even my highest imaginations and expectations. This man is beyond perfect. What will I do?He just stood there, head slightly bowed, staring at me through his long eyelashes. His eyes were piercing me, his mouth, and I could see the rise and fall of his incredible chest. There is some serious meaning; not too big, just clean...cut... perfection. If he's wrecking fully clot
"Yes, and I want to talk to you personally. Are you available tomorrow afternoon or evening?""Sister, you know that I am very busy with my job, very important or just a bonding moment?""This is very important, regarding your brother Marco Fernando Junior and your grandfather. Well, as for me, it is very important because of your inheritance. Are you interested?"Shaira Rose Fernando listen very carefully when she heard the word, inheritance. "Well, of course, I am interested to know my status for the inheritance.""Okay then, what time and place we will meet? Well, I suggest Le Jardin, a French Restaurant in BGC Taguig? We had the place on our own when we had lunch there, a dreamy place at the penthouse of W5th. Modern yet classic, I must say the irony blended well. Romantic but not boring. Complimentary slices of bread and small appetizers were served and the timing of every food we ordered was well observed (appetizers - mains). Also, there's a wine cellar where they keep some of
'Soon.' he whispered. It is a promise. He let go of my stiff thigh and got up. 'Nice to meet you, Pearl.''Hmmm, you too.' she answered thoughtfully.He stepped towards the back of the bar. Good God, he walks with purpose and it's sexy as hell. I closed my eyes to collect my mind, which was currently scattered all over the bar floor. It is absolutely hopeless. I turned to Pearl, finding the accusatory bright blue staring at me as fangs had sprouted.Her eyebrows hit her hairline. 'Fuck me, that was intense!' she spat on the table.'Was it?' I start pushing my sandwich around my plate.'You better stop with the blah-fucking-zay shit now, or I'll shove this fork so far up your ass, you'll be chewing metal. What question are you thinking?' Her tone was fierce.'I don't know,' I turned away from her. 'Attractive, arrogant and has a girlfriend.' I try for vague.Pearl let out a long, over-amplified whistle. I haven't experienced that yet. I heard about it but I didn't witness it.''What are
I turned to Herman's office to ask if he had notified Mr. Montero of the change in arrangements, but then it rang again, stopping me in my tracks. I sighed and connected the call. If Herman hadn't advised him, I would have. And if it doesn't fit, it's bad luck. I was making a mess of convincing myself that I passed on the contract because Herman was better suited for the project. I know damn well that's only half the reason'Hello.' I say, stamping my foot a little for sounding apprehensive in my greeting. I aimed for sure and confident.Shaira Rose?' His husky voice had the same effect on my fragile senses as it had on Friday. But at least on the phone, he doesn't see me physically shaking.'Who is speaking?' There. That's better - professional, businesslike, and firm. He laughed a little, and I completely passed out. 'Now, I know you already know the answer to that question because my name came up on your phone,' I cringed on the spot. 'Trying to play it cool?' Oh, the proud ass! H