ESMERALDA'S APARTMENTHer eyes were heavy with the dark bags lurking beneath her eyelids, lashing the black eyeliners that smeared from her tears. Esmeralda was up all night drinking and drowning herself in sadness. She took her cellphone, which had been beeping for forever, and checked who was calling. Sylvester’s name popped up on the home screen, and she turned it off as soon as she saw it. "Not now, Sylvester," she said, pushing the cellphone away from her and dragging herself down to the bedroom. She crept down to the leg of the bed and drew out a briefcase. She sat with her back resting slantingly on the bed and opened the briefcase. "It’s still here; I am just overthinking things; why do I feel this hurt?" she asked herself drowsily. She rubbed her head sorely, like it could cure the migraine she was having. Esmeralda pulled out the gun, and the forensic results that confirmed it was her fingerprints. "No one can fool you just like that, Esmeralda. Think!" She smacked her
BRANDON’SMadrigal hovered around Brandon’s mansion, his hands on his back cracking his brain as he unraveled the heinous incident that just happened to him."Madrigal, don’t worry; my sources are investigating." Brandon consoled him and offered him a seat. Madrigal’s legs knew no peace; they trembled and were disoriented. Esmeralda wouldn’t inform the police, and no arrest would be made, but something else lingered on his mind."What if she thought I killed him?" His eyes flickered and clasped sadly as he asked Brandon. Everything with Nathalie was just a way to get to her and trick Torillio into believing that he was still on his side. He collapsed on the chair and took out his scavenging for any little tip or news about Sylvester, but the wildfire was about Torillio. "Why was Torillio even at your house? It’s confusing," Brandon gleaned inquisitively. Torillio came to his house to threaten and exchange words with him. He found out the truth about Madrigal’s involvement in his c
AT THE HIDEOUT. The hot, steaming bath shimmering with the sweet smell of cinnamon filled the air. Hailey walked in the bath with a white towel wrapped around her black hair with many obvious white strands. Her age was catching up with her. "Do you need help?" A masculine voice coerced, holding her hands up in the Jacuzzi as she got in and undressed. "Who must have thought you'd concede so easily?" She slid her hands down her cleavage sultrily as he handed her the cup of wine."Power is everything," she romanticized as he dropped the wine and foamed the lather in the bath."How did you do it?" He asked her directly. She was just about to be sentenced and, most likely, sent to jail for a long time. "Power, Jordan, power," she responded with pride as she scrubbed her body.Jordan Vera-Dona finally agreed to join forces with her after losing on all sides. His suspension was also never lifted, even after he fulfilled the due date he was given."There’s no Justice Jordan; it took you
AT BRANDON'S MANSION.The blaring sound of Madrigal’s car engine serenaded the gloomy day as the sun was setting. Brandon was strapped to the seatbelt next to him in the passenger’s seat."You really don’t have to come around, boss," Madrigal said to him. Brandon offered to ride along immediately after Andallio and Fredrick left. "See me as your brother." He patted him on the shoulder, relaxing his back on the chair."Thank you, boss, what do we do about Andallio? And Fredrick?" Madrigal asked with his legs hitting the acceleration and over-speeding with the headlights brightly on, even though it was in broad daylight."Andallio seems suspicious; I should have had our men follow him," Brandon said as Madrigal navigated through the cars on the road. Andallio had threatened him in his own house, and he also brought Frederick along. Whatever it was, they were the same, and Fredrick never agreed to it. They acted all strange and weird in their house."What do you think Fredrick was su
AT TORILLIO’S MANSION"Did you get rid of all the evidence?" Torillio barked. The goon involved in Sylvester’s murder had just returned after evading Madrigal’s chase."Yes boss," he squizzed. He dismissed them all from his presence with annoyance, still rambling, because no solution had come up for his store that was closed."I think you need to face Don Silverrio; he’s been in the game longer, and I’m sorry to say, he clipped your wings." His aide conferred heads bowing and jittering for what he might do in return."Arrrrh!" Torillio roared, plunging all the flower vases arranged in his sitting room. He clenched his fingers, pointing to his aide, but folded them back and mumbled incoherently. "I know what to do to you—" "I, Raul Torillio de Guzman, No one clips my wings; whoever dares will pay with his life!" He yelled, holding the guard down to a spot on the wall and breathing heavily as his anger increased."You! Open up another store; make it in Manila; I will show these people
The sky grew darker as the clouds gathered and became thicker by the second. The sun’s glow was hidden just like Esmeralda’s as she stayed in front of Sylvester’s open coffin. The air surrounding her grew with intensity, blowing everything that came its way and lifting her long mourning gown with the wave. The lighting streaked across the sky, illuminating it as her tears dropped. Slowly, the raindrops streaked down her body, and the coffin covered up her tears as she lifted her eyes up to the sky. "I am tired," she screeched as the raindrops increased their intensity. No one was in sight aside from her other bodyguard, who stood far off."You’re alone; no one came." A feminine voice echoed with a tender touch on her shoulders. "Vanessa?" Esmeralda responded quickly, looking over her shoulders to catch a glimpse of who just tapped her. "Hailey?" Her jaw dropped astonishingly when she saw her. "Yes, it’s me, and I have always been there for you, except when you needed me the m
GRANDVILLE RESORT. Madrigal mounted the porch of the mansion, talking to the picture of Esmeralda on his phone. It was Sylvester’s funeral, and he had no intention of attending. It will spoil their plans to get her to support them. He turned off his phone and went to the car they would be taking out to wait for Brandon.Brandon strolled down the stairs of his mansion with three of his giant bodyguards walking behind him. The beautiful green garden plants serenaded the passageway he went through, smiling as his hands scrolled the screen of the iPad in his hands."I love my new title, King," he rasped, smiling. The glass house was still not on sale, but there’s a desperate cry to take one more investor in, regardless of whoever it may be."I think it’s time to reclaim what was rightfully mine," he said, clasping his hands inside his pocket and handing over the iPad to one of his guards. "Is the car ready?" he asked, checking the Richard Mille wrist watch in his hands. "Yes boss, he
AT THE GLASS HOUSEANDALLIO. The formally glimmering diamond glazed light that beheld the beauty of the glass house was dim and vibrating as Andallio walked on the terrace, deep in thought as his fingers shivered around the glass of water he was holding. "Where have you been? Did you do what I asked you to?" He fluttered, asking Fredrick, who just walked in, missing his steps and reeking of alcohol. "Ohh—" he paused, thinking of the right words to reply, as he wasn’t too drunk to think.Andallio, impatiently waiting, swirled the remaining water in his glass over Fredrick. "I had my men follow you, and we didn’t see you do a thing, or did you?" He braked, grasping him by the hems of his suit."Are you thinking of selling me out? We’re going down together, and you know what? Only one can die: Andallio or RAD! You will be the only one losing!" He arced, marrying his itchy, angry fist on his face in rage. "I didn’t—" Fredrick haphazardly uttered it; he obviously didn’t expect the o
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