Astonishing Us

XL

RIDGE

I feel like all of my blood rise up to my head after I stepped foot inside the lobby of my company. It was in chaos.

Everyone is panicking and it is because a hacker got into the company's system and stole some confidential files. Files such us my Investors files, my plans and etc.

Gritting my teeth, I pulled one of my employees through his coat's collar as I snatch the phone he is holding and give him my briefcase.

I stared at the screen of his phone for a second before I took a deep breath and sigh, he was about to email another security company to secure the database of our company to save the other files from any hacker hired by the competitors.

I shook my head and dialed a number through his phone. It's Andrew's he is an FBI agent and part of Axel's brotherhood.

"Andrew Ruiz speaking-"

"It's R. Haden's CEO, Ridge Haden Montegara. I need a hand; can you track the hacker who broke into our data base? Revise the files he has stolen, and strengthen the security code to secure our data base, send me your price, I'll send it immediately," I said and end the call.

I gave the phone back to my employee and walked towards the presidential elevator, bumuntot naman sa 'kin ang empleyado ko na may bitbit ng briefcase ko.

I left my phone at the condo in rush on my way here, reason why I couldn't contact my Bubbles. My stress reliever. I took a deep breath once again but this time blows it out slowly to calm myself out and it immediately worked when Aether's gorgeous face popped into my mind and the Idea of our first anniversary entered my mind too.

We will be celebrating it in two days, now. A soft smile crept to my lips and of course it did not escape my employee's eyes.

"Thinking about Ma'am, boss?" he asked softly at me that widens my smile.

The publicity might not know about us yet, but everyone inside my company knows about us and I appreciate everyone for keeping it inside the company for the mean time.

"Yes, because she's the only one who has the power to calm me down in this kind of moment and of course the only one who can relieve all the stress I am feeling," I answered as I leaned my back on the cold metal wall of my presidential elevator as I put my hands inside my pants pocket.

I miss her. She'd been in Thailand for almost 6 days now...

I looked at Marco when I felt his stare at me.

Smiling he nodded his head like he is agreeing on what I have told him, na kinalambot ng pagkakangiti ko.

"Oo nga ho, Boss. Naalala ko noon kapag may mga bagay na ganitong nangyayari sa kumpan'ya kahit ang Mama n'yo ho hindi ka mapakalma sa galit mo, mas nakakatakot nga ho 'yong panahong kapag pumupunta ang mga naging girlfriend n'yo sa ganitong panahon dahil mas Lalo kaiyong sumasabog sa galit. No offense boss, pero mas gusto namin mula ng si Ma'am Aether na ang girlfriend n'yo."

Tumunog ang bell ng elevator na kinalmado kong kinatayo at kina-alis sa pagkakakahilig ko mula sa malamig na dingding ng elevator.

I looked outside the elevator and walked past by Marco before I opened my mouth to correct his words.

"Fiance, Marco. She's, my fiancé."

I WAS SITTING at my swivel chair as I am reviewing the left files and our company's database to check everything and know if any other important files have stolen when some idiots barged inside my office. Hawk sat over the edge of my office table, Devyn on the Visitor's chair in front of me and Daxon who laid over the long sofa in the lounge of my office, I sigh and throw my bored eyes at them.

Daxon shrugged and closed his eyes, as Hawk grinned at me and Devyn hand me over my phone, I asked him to get at the kitchen of my condo. Inabot ko iyon ng hindi inaalis ang tingin ko sa kanila.

"What the fuck are you two doing here?" Tanong ko kay Daxon at Hawk na 'di naman kasama sa pinakisuyuan ko.

Daxon opened his eyes and pointed his finger at Hawk. "Natutulog ako, ginising n'ya ko kailangan mo daw ng kasama kasi may problema ka." sabi nito saka bumalik sa pagkakapikit.

Nakataas ang isang kilay na tinignan ko si Hawk.

He shrugged and hand me a USB, "I'm not as good as the FBI agent of the PMM brotherhood but I was able to break in his system for a couple of minutes and took back some files, I am not just sure if what all I got is yours, because he was so fast on kicking me out, and I have told my best agents to prioritized securing your company's database than any other clients, because hello, how dare you pay for that FBI agent and forgetting that your friend is the CEO of one of the best security company in Asia."

Slowly my raised brow dropped as my eyes looked at the USB, he is handing me, I shook my head and chuckle as I get it from his hand. Maaasahan din talaga ang mga 'to kapag kailangan.

"Thank you. Anong kapalit nito?" Tanong ko ng nakangiti.

Nginisian n'ya ko saka umiling. "Ako bestman- I mean wala- pero best man talaga- wala talaga, Promise."

Nailing na lang ako sa kaniya saka binalingan ang phone ko ng umilaw ang screen non.

My face darkened as my eyes went sharp when I read the email from anonymous sender. It was a picture, picture of a woman underneath a naked guy and the woman has Aether's face. I gritted my teeth as my grip on my phone tightens.

"Bro? Why?" pareho at sabay na tanong ni Devyn at Hawk habang naaninag ko naman si Daxon na napaupo mula sa pagkakahiga. Hawk was about to take a look at my phone so I closed the screen and shook my head clenching my jaw.

I know it's edited. I know every inch of Aether's body but it is disturbing me, who will sent me those? when only few people- trusted people knows about my relation with Aether? I know its edited but it's hurting me, it sending me sharp pains through my heart and chest, I felt a hard lump on my throat. when my phone vibrated and beeped, sign for another notification.

Madilim ang anyong ini-angat ko ang phone ko para tignan kung ano na naman ang na-receive ko ng kusang lumambot ang ekspresiyon ko sa mukha ng mabasa ang chat ni Aether.

Bubbles<333:

'Hi handsome baby, I feel like something is happening to you, is my big baby fine?'

'I hope you are; I am sorry baby got to go, shoot. I love you; smile don't scare people around you 'kay? I love you'

'I love you so much, Ridge. Mwaa!'

Reading her last chat made my cheeks burnt.

"Dude... Ridge's Bipolar..." Hawk mumbled.

"So unmanly, Bro... He's blushing..." Daxon commented

"That isn't normal right? I mean galit s'ya kanina... Tapos ngayon kinikilig na s'ya mga Bro," and Devyn asked that made me sigh.

"It's normal if you know what's love," sagot ko bago umikot ang mga berdeng bilog sa mga mata ko sa hangin.

Napahawak ako sa baba ko bago napatitig sa icon ng emails sa screen ng phone ko.

I'm still bothered and hurt with that disturbing edited photo.

___

THENAUGHTYGRAY