Astonishing Us

XXXVII

RIDGE

I'm biting my thumb's nail while I am staring at the screen of my phone— staring at my messenger paticularly to that woman's account.

I'm waiting, still waiting for her reply to the message I sent her couple of hours ago. I sent her a Frappuccino earlier this morning, as a peace offering after the words I spit out while talking to her the last time.

Napabuga ako ng hangin saka napa-angat ng tingin sa pinto ng opisina ko ng bumukas iyon.

Nakangising pumasok doon ang pinsan kong hilaw na si Hermes kasama ang kaibigan n'yang na pagkuhaan ko impormasiyon sa kung na saan si Aether.

It took me days to finally come up with a force and no choice decision to invade her privacy and pay for someone to investigate her whereabouts, after I got tired of manifesting for us to accidentally see each other again, and that is for two days until this morning.

Nakasimangot kong hinarap si Hermes pagkatayo ko sa swivel chair ko at lapitan sila.

Hermes chuckled at my expression. I remembered him being the worst in my cousins, aside from his cold personality his attitude is the worst of all, until he fell in love and there, he is now smiling every time he got a chance to, to the point that it's annoying now.

"This is Axel. He's the founder of the Brotherhood PMM, actually hindi sa kaniya galing 'yong info's, sa ka-brotherhood n'ya iyon, kanila Jander at Andrew," pagpapakilala ni Hermes sa kasama n'ya. Naglahad ito ng kamay na inabot ko naman para alugin iyon.

"Ridge Haden Montegara," pagpapakilala ko.

Ngumiti sa 'kin si Axel habang ang mga mata n'ya ay tila inoobserbahan ako ng todo, "You look like a real Montegara with your features," kumento n'ya.

Hindi ko pinahalata ang gulat ko at nagkibit balikat lang. My biological father isn't Montegara. I am just legally adopted by a Montegara after my mom get to married to one.

"I'm a psychologist and Medical Doctor. Here's my calling card if you need a help just call me, I'm friends with your cousins so friends?"

***

From: Axel D.

'The apple of your eye got recruited as an aspiring model, I heard the modeling agency is posting the teaser photos of that lady tonight. The name is JLflamme Modeling.

Nagparte ang mga labi ko ng mabasa ko ang iMessage ni Axel sa 'kin. I shook my head and took a deep breath before reminding myself that their brotherhood is as powerful as my Adopted clan Montegara so knowing such information is possible for them.

I continued signing some papers until I feel the urge to drink some coffee, instead of bugging my secretary I got up and walked out of my office with my hands inside my slacks pocket.

I was about to go to the elevator when my eyes caught the screen monitor of my secretary's PC.

it's her. I know that it is her despite she doesn't have any photos with her full face showing.

Naramdaman ko ang pagkagulat ng sekretarya ko ng tumabi ako sa kaniya ng upo at pinagkatitigan ang picture.

Tumikhim ako at tumayo ng tuwid, naalala kong naghahanap kami ng model para sa magiging billboard ng hotel and resorts ng aming kompan'ya.

"S-Share the post," pilit kong pagpapapormal sa boses ko.

"This model got a potential. Share it so the agency will know we are interested to know this model," I ordered my secretary and walked away like nothing happened but deep inside me I'm trembling as my heart is pounding at the moment.