ESMERALD."It almost feels so unreal," she whizzed as Brandon gave them their own proof of the feigned treaty they signed. She bewailed his newly found strength and the overconfidence he had in everything. Not even Vanessa’s presence kept him away. He acted like she wasn’t even thereafter they returned to the table. "He's back like she didn’t even threaten not to ever show up; I guess he felt she was joking!" she marveled. Esmeralda excused herself after the party, uninterested in the food. Her head was heavy, and her mind was clouded. She craved alcohol and wanted to drink without anyone stressing her out, like the guard at the gallery. "I can’t even smoke," she brawled, wavering into the mansion. "Get me something strong!" she ordered the maids passing by. " Ma’am my shift is over and—" the maid complained, and Esmeralda stood up against her. Scared to death, the maid franked out yelling. "Relax, I am not hurting you," she said, joining her palms in a harmless plea."Yeah
AT THE JEWELRY STORE. Levitating his mind on the solemn music that resonated in the arena from the sonogram gramophone, Torillio fixated with his eyes closed, smoking his blunt, as he planted himself blithely on the glass shelf that once beheld his treasured jewels. "Boss, don’t you think the loud music will draw the neighbors or even the police’s attention to us?" One of his men asked worriedly. "This fight is against the family, not the police; keep calm," he grudgingly answered, puffing out smoke with his eyes still closed. "Let me know when he gets here," he gleaned as he put his feet to sleep on the shelf. "I think he’s here, boss; you can’t sleep now; you were miserably up all night," another guard spoke up. "Let him in; I am up!" He jumped down from the glass shelf. "Ouch—I almost hurt myself," he dusted the cloth, ripping off the seal with caution rope tied around the stuff in his way. " Old friend! Artur0!!!" He roared, shaking hands with him. He invited him o
AT DON SILVERRIO’S APARTMENT. The sky was clear and almost sunset when Brandon and Madrigal stepped out of the mansion; they got to Don Silverrio’s very early. " My father is sleeping; go back!" Fidellin scored rudely as he ordered his men to kick them out. "Did you make her run away!" he flared asking Brandon. He had just gotten off the call from Esmeralda about Vanessa." What do you mean? I don’t understand it," Brandon asked him, humbly resting on the door. "Hey—who’s at the door? Why is there so much noise?" Don Silverrio yelled from the window in his office. " Hey partner—you wouldn’t let me in; should I go back?" Brandon asked, yelling in response. " How dare you threaten an old man in his house? You’re despicable, Brandon!" Fidelin arched bracingly. "No! Come up, please," Don Silverrio commanded. Fidelin was forced to open the door for the both of them. "Find your way!" He walked out on them violently. "Funny—is Vanessa really not the boss? How will you spea
AT THE GLASS HOUSE. "He really tried to make me bow to Brandon again!" Fredrick frowned deeply in thought as he grilled the meat they were going to eat. "Look at him, using me like a slave when I have the words that could send him to the floor where he belongs," he groaned, galling at Andallio vilely. He was chewing on the grilled meat alongside the bit** frolicking with him on the seat."You just wait until I get what I want—I’ll put you where you belong!" he breathed. " Hey—you’re burning it already! Is your mind here?" Lamar slapped his hands and took over. " Ain't you weak and beaten? I don’t care, bro, just get out." Fredrick pushed him. Lamar lost his balance as his wounds still hadn't healed, and he fell to the ground." What the hechk? Can’t you guys see I am having fun? Get out of here!" Andallio yelled at them. He ordered his chef to take over from Fredrick. " You’re so useless, what about the elder? How many more times do you need, huh?" Andallio asked him b
GOLD INC. PRIME. BRANDON. "Is Esmeralda at work? She left home very early; our men followed her but the house she went to was empty," Brandon asked Madrigal worriedly. "Boss, Vanessa will be fine. She must just be going through a lot; Esmeralda was meant to have brought her there," Madrigal responded, looking through the window. "Hello, is Miss Isagani at work?" Brandon called her office. "She came hurriedly and left the same way." What are you up to Esmeralda? Please don’t do anything stupid. Brandon pondered. He took his cellphone and called Vanessa repeatedly, texting her to call him when she didn’t respond. "What if someone has her? Let’s connect the dot, I don’t want to take any chances," Brandon said to Madrigal. Marcellus joined them on the table, holding a face with a light happy face. "What’s with that face man? The last time you were grumpy as hell, I told you to trust me," Brandon said to him mockingly pulling his cheeks and scattering his newly gel
AT GOLD INC PRIME.Olvido lodged in Don Soriano’s old office, which was no longer in use. Stuffing himself with drinking and sulking in No one knew he was there because he pretended to leave last night and came after changing his mind about not accepting Brandon’s invitation. "What is it worth?" Olvido asked himself. He turned down Brandon’s invite to the party. He knew it was nothing but a mockery. "I murdered Dawson for the DEV RIDDER," he arced, tears stuck at the back of his eyelids. He came back to the family because his mother (Gwendolyn) wanted it. She wanted Don Silverrio to accept them, but he wasn’t the issue. The problem was with Grandma Pillar. She never wanted them. "What if she was protecting me from all of this? Slowly, my death would roll in," he corked. Staring blankly at the bottle of alcohol in front of him. "If I hadn't suspected Herveaux before his death, we would have been partners, but he kidnapped me; I can’t let that slide, and he abused my mother," he
AT THE HIDEOUT. A well-furnished double-detached building in a serene and reserved area. Beautified with flowers and a cool wave of clouds hovering around it. A small town with little population that is as peaceful as it appears. "What’s on your mind, old friend?" You haven’t uttered a word since you returned," Arturo said to him. He took out a can of chilled beer from the freezer and threw it at him. Torillio watched it fall to the ground without catching it. "Childish? You could have just told me you weren’t interested; clear that!" He commanded the guard. " Esmeralda suspected me, but I was able to perfectly confuse her," Torillio uttered, getting up from the stool he was resting on and sleeping face down on the sofa. "You have her hands tied; she can’t go against you; Esmeralda was going to use her, you know—we got luckier," Arturo replied, opening his own can of beer. "I don’t think Esmeralda wanted to use her against me; it’s just not like her; don’t get me wron
ON THE ROAD. Brandon heeded Madrigal’s advice, and they went to Torillio’s apartment. They knew that since his jewelry store was locked down; he hadn’t been seen publicly since then. They got to his mansion, but his men reported him to have been out. After waiting a long time without seeing him, Brandon believed that they would return the next morning. They had some extremely important matters to attend to."The Elder, I have a feeling our competitor Don Silverrio was talking about is Fredrick," Brandon said to Madrigal as he was driving out of Torillio’s mansion."Why, boss? The last time they met, they were at each other’s throats. Do you think he’ll give him that spot?" Madrigal replied interrogatively." Yeah, it’s his son no matter what; we should hang around here; if he doesn't give a call when it’s past midnight, we'll go in," Brandon said to him as he pulled over in the park near the Silverrio’s mansion. " It’s just 10:00 p.m., boss; do you think we can stay idle for two