A The Mark Of A Stallion Novel: SEDUCTIVELY YOURS (Published)

Chapter 9.1

Sa araw ng  launching ng kanilang bagong proyekto ay napuno ng mga bisita ang buong resort. As expected,  Punta Gallarte's hotel rooms were fully-booked.  Tanghali na ay patuloy pa rin ang pagdagsa ng mga guest.  Napuno ang mga restaurants, kiosks, swimming pools maging ang basketball, volleyball and tennis courts ng resort.  Everybody was excited to enter the  Santana ranch and had a chance to ride on its imported and expensive horses while  some were happy and contented watching the exhibitions of the country's  famous  equestrians.

Punta Gallarte's revenue suddenly soared high not only on the opening day but also on the succeeding weeks.  After long years, it had become  the talk of the town again in hotel industry not only in the province of Batangas but in the whole country.   Hindi maikakailang   tagumpay ang ideyang  ito ni Lei.

Ngunit kung meron mang hindi nasisiyahan sa tagumpay na iyon ng Punta Gallarte, iyon ay walang iba kundi sina Warren Santana at Naomi Santana de Vega.

 "Where have you been these past few days? I thought we have agreed to despise that bastard pero bakit tila  natutulog ka sa kangkungan? Ayan tuloy, naungusan tayo ng Zach na iyan," Naomi glared at her younger brother.  Kasalukuyan silang nagkakape sa lanai ng hotel. Inis na pinapanood nila ang hindi magkamayaw na mga bisita habang nasisiyahang pinapanood ang exhibition ng isang sikat na equestrian sa loob ng rantso. 

"Correction. It wasn't Zach's brainchild.  Si Azalea Alvez ang may ideya niyan, 'yung bagong Marketing Director," inginuso nito ang dalaga sa di kalayuan.  She was also in the crowd, watching the horseback riding exhibitions.

"Whoever," pumiksi si Naomi.  "Hindi dapat makabawi ang Punta Gallarte.  Dahil kapag nagkaganoon, siguradong lalong lalapad ang papel ng Zach na iyan kay papa. Who knows, one day he will also own the sugar plantations and the Santana Medical City, and if that happens, we will lose everything, everything, can you hear me, Warren?".

"Don't worry. I'll do something to get rid of that bastard.  Humahanap lang ako ng tamang tiyempo.   Pasasaan ba at mapapatalsik din natin ang Zach na iyan sa Punta Gallarte," Warren answered while tasting his Turkish coffee.

"So, what's your plan? Isama mo na din ang Azalea na iyon." she glanced at Lei, her eyes full of hatred and anger.

"Bakit naman?"

"I have a bad notion toward her. And I think  Zach likes her. I know her kind.  Kapag nagkataon, tuluyan nang mapapasukan ng mga hampas-lupa ang ating angkan.  According to what I have heard, she was only a fisherman's daughter.  Sinuwerte lang na nakapag-aral dahil matalino daw ."

"Really?" hinimas-himas ni Warren ang kanyang baba. "She's damn beautiful," malisyosong humagod ang kanyang mga mata sa kabuuan ni Lei.  She was stunning in her  white t-shirt, denim pants, boots  and  large hut to protect her face from the bold sunlight. 

"I know what's on your mind, Warren," she threw spiteful look to her brother.  "Por pabor,   don't push it through. A beauty like hers can be deceiving and dangerous.  Don't you dare repeat the mistake our father had committed. At iyon ay nang pumatol siya sa babaeng hindi natin kauri.  And  that's the reason why we are having this problem now, di  ba? The bastard son suddenly came from nowhere and shamefully claimed his inheritance."

Ngumisi ito. "Do you think Zach will take her seriously?"

"What do you mean?" tumaas ang kilay niya.

"Wala pang babaeng sineryoso ang bastardong iyon. He would take any poor woman to his bed, but not to his heart."

"You can't be sure."

 Warren laughed. "Don't you see that beautiful socialite?" ininguso nito ang tinutukoy. Isang mukhang mayaman na mestisa ang nakakawit sa braso ni Zach habang nanonood din ng exhibition.

"Yes, of course. She is Monique Ortaleza." tugon niya . "A famous equestrian from a prominent family in  Tarlac. A two-time Olympic gold medalist.  What is she doing here?"

"It's obvious that she got hook with our brother.   She liked Zach the first time that they had met, at  magmula noon ay naging regular guest na siya dito.  She would even  sometimes exhibit her horse riding prowess in public for free just  to get Zach's attention. And this  meant so much for  the resort. Isa siya sa mga naging add-on ng resort to Zach's advantage."

"And Zach likes her, too?"

"Physically, yes. Sanay na siya sa mga ganyang klase ng babae. And for the sake of his business, he would play her game."

Napapangiti na napatingin uli siya kay Monique.  Mukhang magagamit niya ito para sirain kung anuman ang posibleng mabuo sa pagitan nina  Zach at Lei.

"If Warren and I can't be happy with what is happening now here in Punta Gallarte, you two, have no right to be happy also," she whispered.  Naniningkit ang mga matang nagpalipat-lipat sa dalawang  nilalang na kapwa  walang kamalay-malay sa maitim niyang plano.

Lei knew what was going on  between Zach and Monique.  What she couldn't understand was the unexplainable pain inside her every time she would see the two clinging to each other.  Inis na inis siya  tuwing makikitang nakapulupot ang babae sa binata.

She knew damn well that she hadn't a single right to ask Zach about the real score between them even if he already took her sexually.  She was like crazy waiting for the admission of his true feelings to her.  Yes, she was falling for him.  And for heaven's sake, she was hoping that he was falling for her also.

But here's Zach, paying no attention to her as if she didn't exist. He was busy to his new fling, his new toy. Was it because  he was done to her already? Or he believed that whatever happened to them in the stable few weeks ago was but ordinary for him as a man? Or he just took advantage of her because she looked very vulnerable that time?   

A poignant realization stirred on her mind. Yes, she was hurting but she must try to understand and accept what was seemed to be clear now.   When Zach made love to her in the stable, it was purely lust.  Yes, he did it very passionately but that might be his style to lure a woman  like her.  In fact, after that incident, he never talked to her again, and she was wondering why Zach did not throw even a single glance at her during and after the launching of their project.

Was it really idiocy to expect that a man like him with his economic and social status would fall to an ordinary woman like her?  He never mentioned about his true feelings to her.  He didn't even say that he loves her during and after that hot encounter inside  the stable. Yes, he hadn't said anything since then and perhaps, he wouldn't.

Gayunpaman ay palihim pa rin siyang umaasa na isang araw ay kakausapin siyang muli ng  binatang lihim na itinatangi. She would patiently wait for him despite of his hot and cold treatment toward her.

 But days passed, Zach didn't show up.  Perhaps, he was too busy with  Monique Ortaleza.

Upang palipasin ang kalungkutang nararamdaman ay ginugol niya ang kanyang mga araw sa pag-aaral ng horseback riding  na wala si Zach.  Sa tulong ng ibang caretaker sa rantso na sanay ding sumakay sa kabayo ay mabilis siyang natuto habang unti-unti namang napapamahal sa kanya si Pandora.

She had acquired fondness  toward this beautiful Warm Dutchblood.  The affection was developed during the time when she was trying to heal her first heart break.  Ang hayop na ito ang nakasaksi sa kanyang mga lihim na pagtangis dahil sa kabiguan.  Sa mga araw na pakiramdam niya ay mabigat na mabigat ang kanyang dibdib ay sasakay siya rito.  Patatakbuhin niya ng ubod ng bilis na para bang kayang pawiin noon ang sakit na nararamdaman.

Pandora would not complain nor resist as if it already subdued to her authority.  Just like what she did with Zach when they were inside the stable.  She blindly obeyed him and lost her wit to grasp that he was already salvaging her reason and self-respect.

But her difference with Zach was that she learned to love and respect this lowly  animal.  Unlike him, who did not love her but only desired her. He, who only played with her innocent heart.

*Ugh, mukhang magkakaproblema si Lei. Unti-unti nang nagpapakilala ang mga kontrabida.  Will Lei be able to outwit them all or will she just sulk in her tent? Let us see...don't forget your votes and comments.  Thanks...dear readers!!!