THE BREAK. AT THE COMPANY.The news had gone viral about the controversies in the Ramirez family; the reoccurring deaths, capped with Brandon’s arrest for an alledged murder of his father, caused a stir in the company, and the major shareholders pushed for a change. The meeting was graced by all the dignitaries, including Torillio de Guzman and Andallio. "Please be calm; everything is under control. We will choose a new president, either by voting or seeking Brandon’s approval; we all know Don Soriano handed it over to him," Esmeralda said, trying to calm the uproar. "How long will we wait for an ex-convict to come rule us, or do you think we are fools?" one of the major shareholders said to her. "Speaking for my own company, standing as their representative, I think I agree with the idea of voting in a new leader," Aliaana uttered savagely making a fool out of Esmeralda by mimicking her. "Agreed, we’ll vote…" Esmeralda voiced her frustration after being forced into
AT TORILLIO’S MANSION. "Torillio, what do we do?" Aliaana asked him worriedly as she paced to and fro in his living room. "Keep my name out of your mouth; we have nothing cordial in common; you’re an ordinary worker to me," Torillio replied icily. "I’m sorry, sir," she replied hesitantly. Torillio took his blunt from the table and lit it. "Go meet Brandon, get some words out of him; I don’t mind losing the billions I invested.""What! Are you serious?" Alianna yelled abruptly, cutting off his words. "Yes, I want affiliates with Gold Inc. Prime; that’s the only way," Torillio replied. His assistant walked in with Arturo, ushering him to sit far away from Torillio. "Excuse us," Arturo uttered. "No, she stays, my old friend," Torillio replied, blushing."Fine, you saw what they did to me?" Arturo asked him painfully. "No, I saw what you did to yourself; no wonder your father never accepted you. I guess you’re only good as a bodyguard, Arturo," Torillio replied bluntly.Arturo
AT BRANDON’S MANSION. Esmeralda was sipping on the hot coffee Marcellus served her when they got to Brandon’s mansion after leaving the company.“What’s on your mind? You’ve been silent since we arrived?” She dropped the coffee on the saucer. “I should leave now; if there are any more updates from Brandon, let me know so I won’t be out there like a fool,” she replied lightly.“Is it about him?” Marcellus asked her.“About what?” she asked absently. The motorcycle that double-crossed Torillio’s car with the man that seemed so familiar was Madrigal, and it took a toll on Esmeralda when she saw him.“We both know the rider was Madrigal, and you’re looking for him; should I speak with him?” Marcellus asked. “No, I can find my way with things; I’ll get to him,” she replied. Marcellus held her hands, smiling at her. “He’s no longer on our side; Torillio is his new boss; do you think we can still bring him back?” “Madrigal is an adult; if he chose to change sides now that Brandon
AT THE COMPANY. Gold Prime Inc. had a full day, as many lawsuits were filed against them. Marcellus and the whole team were worn out working and attending to all the problems that came up with recent announcements. Nathalie felt concerned for him as the issue was confidential and no one outside their team in the company was working with them. "Where’s that bit**, Esmeralda? Isn’t she supposed to be here to support you?" She asked, dabbing the sweat that trickled down from his face. "I don’t know why I haven’t heard from her; did you see her this morning?" he asked, still typing on his computer. "No, I think Estrellia did; she hasn’t checked back in either," Nathalie responded. She called Estrellia through her phone, and she answered. "End the call; I am already in the building, almost at your office," Estrellia replied hastily. "She said she’s almost here," Nathalie relayed to Marcellus. "What a coincidence," Marcellus responded. Estrellia walked inside the office just i
AT THE GLASS HOUSE. Andallio couldn’t sleep; he kept rolling from one end of the bed to the other, snickering up in the bedsheet, unable to wrap his mind around a closure. He stood up from the bed aimlessly, took out his phone, and found his way to the terrace."Now that I have what I want, there is a shaking in the family, exposing lots of our allies, and it’s not an inside job; who would dare do this?" Andallio asked him. Frequent arrests have been made in connection with his allies in the family, and no one has an idea who was pulling an attack on them. "Hey! Go wake Fredrick up; I did give him freedom just so he could sleep away his time," Andallio said angrily. His assistant woke Fredrick up; he was annoyed but had no other choice but to yield to Andallio’s call. "You called for me," he said to him when he got to the terrace. "Did you see what happened to the small fries on our side of the family?" Andallio asked him. "That’s what happens when the mighty ones fall;
AT TORILLIO’S MANSION. Madrigal slowly took to the stairs, taking every step with a depressed feeling and a hurting heart. "Will you walk faster? It’s not as if we got into a fight." Aliaana asked him briskly. Madrigal kept walking slowly until they got inside Torillio’s mansion. "Look at you two; where have you been?" Torillio’s aide asked them rudely, tossing Madrigal on his abs violently. Madrigal also pushed him in a rage. "Calm down, really?" Aliaana yelled, pulling Madrigal back. "I always thought you were some cool-headed man; what’s up with you?" she asked him angrily. "Go tell Torillio that we want to speak to him," Madrigal said to the man aggressively. He left them and went for Torillio. "Can we have a word together before he comes?" Aliaana asked, pulling Madrigal to a corner inside the mansion out of everyone’s view. "What do you have to say? I won’t hide anything from him," Madrigal uttered immediately before she could say anything. "Will you listen to me
AT THE POLICE STATION.Olvido's eyes were heavy; fighting so hard to keep his eyes open but his eyelids closed, and he lost the war to nature. He fell asleep. Laying his head tiredly on the desk in front of him.Jordan Vera-Dona entered the room quietly. He took the paper from the desk, crossing his legs as he flipped through the pages until dawn, when Olvido woke up."Fuc* how long have you been here?" he asked anxiously. "As long as last night," he replied, checking the wrist watch on his hand. "6:00am" "Where is my lawyer? He should have posted bail for me. What’s going on?" Olvido asked, stretching out as he searched his body and the desk for his cellphone. "You can’t post bail," Jordan cut in. "Just get out of my face; I am not Brandon; when I have power, I flex it to the extreme," Olvido said to his face. "You’re here for protection; that’s’ why you can’t post bail," Jordan responded lightly. "You say what?" Olvido asked, laughing intently. "The police station, pr
AT THE PRISON. "Who was that young man? He looks so suspicious; why was he hiding his face?" Jordan asked Brandon curiously. Brandon left his seat beside Jordan and went to his bed without saying a word. "I get it; you don’t want to talk about it in private, huh?" Jordan asked. He joined Brandon in sitting on the edge of the bed. "Why are you here?" Brandon asked coldly. "You gave me an offer then; I’ll take it," he replied, grinning. "It’s gone; someone else took the offer," Brandon responded absently, coppering his body with the cover cloth. "Is it Major Bautista?""No, do you mean to say anything else? I thought you were here to tell me how you failed to keep Hailey in locks; it was so easy, but it slipped off your fingers. I brought her to you this time," Brandon asked icily. "Sit-up" "Come down," Jordan requested. Brandon grudgingly came down from the bed and returned to the table with Jordan. "I got suspended today; I’m sorry for not trusting you from the star
THREE YEARS LATER. Brandon brushed his long golden hair to one side as he carried a little girl with curled blonde hair in his arm as a young, tall boy stood next to him. "Mummy," the little girl said, forcing herself down into his strong arms to greet a woman who seemed to have attracted her attention. "Vanessa, we missed you." Brandon hugged and kissed her. "It was just three days; stop acting like I spent the whole year away, and it was fun—sure, you don't want us to come together with you?" she asked, leaning on his strong arms. "Take care of the kids; I need to go now." Brandon planted a kiss on her head. "Keep the family safe till Daddy returns!" he said, roughening the young boy’s hair. "Please be safe; we’ll be waiting for you at home." Vanessa kissed him, and he smacked her ass. "Stop—the children are here!" Brandon entered the garage at the back of the building. Dragging out a black power bike parked at the edge of the wall, he covered the helmet and start
BRANDON. "When we get to the glass house, go back to Manila and make sure none of our men are left behind; this is my home; I’ll be fine," Brandon said to the pilot. "No, boss, I’ll protect you with my life; Estrellia, Madrigal, and Nathalie are there; I can vouch they’ll protect Vanessa and our men," he responded baravely. "Then stop here; I want to go in unnoticed," Brandon commanded. He told the pilot the signal to give if he needed him to return for him. I discovered something strange and haven’t confirmed it, but right now you’re the only one I can trust. I am on my way from death to life, whatever comes up. At least one of us deserves to know the truth. Meet me at the glass house. The truth lies there. Brandon read the text. Olvido sent him the second time. He tried opening the gates, but no one was there, and he got in by himself, which was strange. The lounge room was also opened. He got in quietly when he noticed some movements. "Where are you, Olvido?" He
MADRIGAL. "How do I find her easily without getting spotted? Madrigal brooded, sreching, with his eyes all over the place as he hid behind a door. Leaving the room where Brandon was fighting with Frederick and Torillio was hard, but he knew he would be fine without him.A masked man snooping around for any intruder stepped into Madrigal’s trap. He zapped his neck from behind and slid him behind the door with him. "Sorry man—I need your uniform and this shady mask.""Vanessa!" "Vanessa!! Vaa—" "What are you doing here?" He alarmed, running to meet injured Brandon, forcefully dragging himself as he continued fending off RAD and Torillio’s men. "We walked into a trap; Fredrick is not RAD; Torillio was also fooled, and he’s fighting. I called our men; they’ll be arriving a bit late; they blew up my airline." Brandon’s breathing was over his chest. His leg was bleeding, and he tied it with a piece of cloth.Madrigal felt so much pity for him. He had gone through hell, and now w
ANDALLIO. “You’re uselss, you’re fat and dumb”“You can’t even lift yourself and you think I need your help?” “You’re a failure! You failed at everything,” “Get out of my head!” Andallio wailed smashing the glass of liquor in his hand against the telivison screen in his room. He walked down to the swimming pool at the lass house. “It is over, I won, they’ll kill theirseleevs and destroy it all—and me Andallio Ramirez will become the owner of it all,” He mused with a smile and leaped inside the pool. The perfecet plan crossed his mind after his call to Brandon. Torillio and Arturo would become a menace to him in the future if he helped them get what they wanted form Brandon. Fredrick was also he sore he was planning to remove at all cost. When he was calm form the drugs he gave him, Andallio made him an irresistible offer. The revenge he has always wanted to have on Brandon for dragging the face of the Silverrio’s in the mud and running his family. Fredrick’s ego
BRANDONThe call with RAD seemed so unreal and strange. Brandon needed more answers. "How did she end up with him?" He asked his team to work hard to track down the number. They were back at the mansion, but he didn't stay."Where is Esmeralda?" Is she in the mansion?" he asked Natahlie. "Yes boss, I guess they’re packing, but they haven’t left.He raced up to his room to get the original documents from his safe. "Do you think she’ll talk if we give her?" Madrigal asked him closely, knowing how important it was to his plans. "My child, I need to confirm if it’s true; I can save Vanessa, but if he’s really pregnant, the babay might die; you know RAD, he’s brutal; I’ll do anything to save my child," Brandon responded, picking it up and closing the safe. "Esmeralda, come; we should have a word before you leave; your mother can leave," Brandon roared. Esmerald didn’t respond; she kept rolling her travel bag behind Hailey. "Look at this—you want it right?" Brandon wiggled the
BRANDON. "Did you meet him?" Brandon rused out ot meet Brandon who was dresched and walking slowly in the rain. "Yeah, and I told him to watch out for me. I'll hit him with every inch of my strength," he holererd lifitntg his heart in his voice. "I won’t let Lamar’s death slide, they knew he was coming for me, they killed him right before me and I couldn’t do a thing," Brandon packed his hair with his hands and faced up to the rain. "Your days are numbered, he viled, taking the lead inside the PROVOCATOR;s night club. He returned ot the VVIP spot with Madrigal. " Zino—call him up, to meet me here, I’ll pay whatever ti cost to bring him out of whatever hole he’s stuck in," Brandon graved his voice sild with anger and an itch for revenege. "I have given the orders boss, you should change your dress and take a rest," Madrigal uttered inconveneitnly. Brandon’s rage has never been this great. He went out of hi reach to forcefully meet with RAD even though they stope
ANDALLIO. "Ouch—" Andallio exclaimed, playfully squezzing his face in mess. He rewatched Lamar’s death clip again and again with no remose but a broad, domineering smile on his face. " This is what will happen to anyone who goes against me, I can’t wait to see Fredricks’ reaction when he watches this—" he chocked, laughing. Where's the tape?" he asked worriedly and the gave it to him. Lamar was so close to handling it over o him and he ad ot take aderastic step to get him out. " Pople will do anything for money, do you believe that my last minute genius plan wanst a oart of my plan?" he asked his men beaming with pride. " You’re an ultra genius boss; Lamar outsmarted us, he didn’t had over the evidence o Bardon at his house but insisted on a meet, if Brandon had come ealier we would have sabotaged all your plans," one of his men responded telling him the truth he loved to hear. "Yes, I save you all again; your head would have been off your body if it went bad,"
TORILLIO. The thunder struck strongly; the cloud was darkened, and it rained heavily. Torillio lurked on the balcony on top of his house looking at the other houses in the street and the lightened up neighborhood. " I used to enjoy these," he whispered, puffing out smoke. "That phone, I found with Anton, Olvido's right-hand man, the one I almost got framed for him murder, linked with RAD, the phone repairer was found dead and the phone is missing, you caused it, I couldn't monitor him" "Arturo—you made a stupid mistake. Do I have to do everything for you?" he asked him insignificantly. Arturo was drenched, sitting in the rain. "Sorry about that. It's all gone now. Whatever happened with RAD and Anton, I think you should let it go; The girl is safe, and with me, did you take care of Olvido?" he asked him, rolling up another stunk of weed. He looked up to see Arturo, as he didn’t give a response to the question he asked him. "Cat caught your tongues, old friend? Do you rem
BRANDON.Brandon stuck his hand out in traffic. It was raining under the cloudless, serene sky. " It looks so peaceful—the kind of life I cherish is near, I can feel it," he said to Madrigal, sitting next to him in the driver's seat. "Yes Brandon—about that man, Lamar, don’t you think he’s dangerous? I didn't want you to see him," Madrigal streched adjusting his seat to fit his back, as the lane they were on wasn't moving.Lamar had met them at home earlier, before they set out. He claimed to he came there to deliver some packages to Hailey but she wasn't home. He then went ahead to ask Brandon’s men that he seeked audience with the boss." I don't think he is—and he looks familiar I just can’t fugure it out," Brandon responded as he gleaned over the car’s window. " Jordan, don’t you think he’s hdidng something? He just menstioned only Hailey—I know she’s connected to RAD but do you think he would send that much men just to defend her?" Brandon questioned him. The thouts