Versailles Series Book 8: The Designer [COMPLETED]

PART II: CHAPTER 22

~ philip ~

"What's got you all riled up?" Natatawang tanong ko kay Damon. Nasa gym kami sa Versailles ngayon. We just had a kickboxing session. Tila may gigil ito ngayon sa session namin. He called me in today to spar with me. Looks like something happened.

"We finally cleared the air. She told me what she wants."

"Ah...well? Does Hera want to date you or not?"

Damon has been trying to date one of his best associates, Hera Marquez, for the longest time. I wonder how it turned out.

"She just wants me to be her partner in crime. Which is ironic because we're fucking lawyers but you get the irony in that right? But she told me she can't lose a friend and partner like me. And that she's not a girlfriend material knowing how busy she is."

"Sorry, man. Your so-called humour is the worst. But she has a point. Ikaw na rin nagsabi sa akin na buhay niya ang trabaho. I doubt if she has time to date."

"I like her, Philip. She's smart, witty, sexy, beautiful. And she likes my nephew. Jeremiah likes her too."

I've met Hera on several occasions. She also frequents the club as Carrie's advisor. Hindi ko naman masisisi si Damon. Hera, as the members describe her, is the embodiment of a sex god. An Aphrodite incarnate, smart and cold like Athena, and has a temperament like Ares. An accomplished lawyer like him would want a strong equal which is Hera.

Too bad she isn't interested in Damon who is the type of guy someone settles with. The guy has a booming law firm, a bank account that can last him a lifetime, and a GQ model face and physique.

"Maybe it's for the best, bud. Time for you to finally look beyond her."

"I know. So speaking of dates..." he smirked at me.

Yes, from the time my Lolo pushed me to start dating, I've been branded a good boy turned serial dater by the media. Even if I own the majority of the printed and digital entertainment dominating the market, small tabloids just can't stay away from me.

"I'm not bringing anybody to the Valentine's ball today. Remember the last time I did, she thought I was gonna propose. Fuck me. We haven't even been together for 12 hours and the whole time I've just spoken 10 words because she kept talking."

Natawa ito sa alaala. "I remember, bud."

Damon didn't bring any too because he has always wanted to bring Hera.

"So, you have anything to wear?"

"Can't I wear my usual tux?"

"Carrie said to be more creative than that. We're not attending a business meeting as she said. And you know what happens if you don't conform."

"I don't have any then."

"Mine is coming next week. You better head down to the boutique and get something then. Marceline should have some suits you can choose from."

I've never been to the club's boutique. I wonder if the shop has suits for my liking.

"I know that face. She surely has something for you. Marceline is always ready for this event and for last-minute customers. I know you're picky with clothes but she's good at what she does. Pretty too."

Umiling ako. His last remark wasn't needed. He could ask her for a date himself, not me. Tumango na lang ako. "Fine. I'll head down to shower then. I'll see you later at the bar."

Dumiretso na ako sa shower room dahil mukhang magpa-practice pa si Damon. I settled on a plain dress shirt and slacks.

I drove to the club's boutique. I was expecting it to be filled with people but it turns out empty. I anticipated people running about hurrying to get something before the most anticipated ball in the club.

The interior of the place is very modern and posh. There's a right balance of whites, blacks, and silvers. Flowers gave the corners some color which filled the air with its natural scent.

Sinalubong ako ng isang nakangiting babae. "Good afternoon, Sir Philip."

"I thought people would be here. For the ball, I mean." Nilibot ko ang tingin ko sa boutique.

"Ah, mabilis lang po kasi kami rito at may isolated rooms para sa clients. Schedule din po karamihan ng appointments. Buti po wala kaming schedule ngayon kaya maasikaso po namin kayo. Ano pong kailangan niyo, Sir Philip?"

"I need a suit for the Valentine's ball."

Tumango ito at tumipa sa tablet. Pagkatapos ay inabot sa akin iyon. "Mamili na lang po kayo sa catalog namin. Susukatan ko na lang po kayo mamaya kapag nakapili na kayo."

Kinuha ko ang tablet at umupo. "Sure, thanks."

Narinig ko ang papalayong yabag nito.

I nodded while browsing through the catalogue. There are good designs. I didn't expect them to have it in a boutique like this. I thought they mainly catered to women.

"I hope your nodding is a good indication that our designs are to your taste?"

Napatigil ako sa pagtipa. It wasn't the same woman who greeted me. This woman had a velvety almost sultry speaking voice. She sounded familiar too. Painfully familiar.

I gently looked up from the tablet and saw a pair of brown boots that covered her long and slender legs. She was perfectly shaped by her leather skirt. Her upper body was clad in a tight, white sleeveless turtleneck shirt.

When I looked at her face, I almost thought I was hallucinating. Or was I conjuring Grazie in my head? I had worse times but it didn't reach this point. I never saw Grazie's face on other women.

Her hair had a different shade of brown, lighter than I remember. But her brows, eyes, nose, cheekbones, and lips, is the similar. She looked slightly different from what I remember Grazie's face looked like. Her mole on the corner of her eye wasn't there. Is my mind playing with me right now?

She was standing at a distance from me. I looked at her eyes. She was smiling professionally like a staff to a client. There's no warmth or affection...or recognition from her brown eyes.

"Sir?" Tanong nito sa akin.

That's when I felt my hands were cold, shaking even. I might have been holding my breath too.

I want to call her Grazie but my mouth can't speak. Worry slowly traced her face but she didn't come closer. I took a step forward and she took a step back.

That's when the lady earlier came back.

"Miss Marceline, okay na raw po iyung gown ni Miss Dy." Sabi nito sa babae. Marceline? This is Marceline. But she fucking looks like Grazhiella. My Grazie.

"Oh...I should get back then." Binalik nito ang tingin sa akin. "I should get back. My staff should be able to attend to you, Sir Philip." With that, she smiled and left.

"Nakapili na kayo Sir?"

I was woken up from my trance. Was that even real?

"Is she the owner?" Tanong ko.

Tumango ito. "Opo, Sir. Siya po ang nag design ng lahat ng damit dito." Bumulong ito.

"She's Marceline?"

"Marceline Blanchett po." Tumikhim ito.

"Oh." Iyon lang ang nasabi ko. I can't wrap my head around the fact that a woman who looks like Grazhiella is here with me in the club.

"Kung wala po kayong mapili na design sa catalog, pwede naman po mag-design si Miss Marceline ng gusto niyo. Pwede po natin siyang kausapin kapag nakaalis na ang client niya sa VIP rooms."

I want to get one look at that woman again. This time, I'm not in some sort of trance or whatever. I'll look at her more closely. Grazhiella has been dead for almost a decade. I was there. I saw her body, cold, and lifeless. But I can't absorb the fact that she is a fucking carbon copy of my Grazie.

I nodded. "I want a custom-designed suit."

PART II: CHAPTER 23 >>

Catch me on my IG: https://www.instagram.com/mariecallie0219/