Taste of Wrath

Chapter 2

Present

•••

Philippines. Homeland.

The hellish weeks I spent in Madrid (which I extended for another week) really paid off. I closed another deal for an expansion of my business: the D&G Hotels. The deal was not easy; the new business partner seriously gave me a hard time until I finally earned his trust. That was a good shot, though. It was like a short reminiscence of the younger version of myself.

However, the victory was not the aftertaste for I am about to have the final taste of something bitter again. Of course, my brother's unlimited mouth that resembles a machine gun. Last night, he called me asking if am I still alive or what, but I just shut him off. He's always been like that.

“Where are you?”

Speaking of, I was on the phone with him. The plane has finally landed straight from Spain and I was now walking in the way towards the parking lot. For hours, I was sitting on the plane, so it was seriously exhausting.

“I'm already on the way,” I told Kuya Hadji. “Please refrain yourself from calling me from time to time. I appreciate it, but I am not really in the mood to argue with you.”

Before he could even response, I ended the phone call. I am so tired that I just want to lay on my soft bed which I purchased last week. Of course, I had Kuya fix that one.

Upon arriving at the parking lot, I saw Arthurious: a tall man with his signature black sunglasses on, black shirt and black pants, plus his pushed back dark raven hair—standing beside the car, obviously waiting up for me. He's a pilot and he also drives me around wherever I want to. However, he's not always available. But it was good thing that he's here today.

“Good thing you're here, Arthurious,” I greeted him. “Please drive me to my parents' house.”

I immediately noticed the disagreement on his face as if he grew tired of me addressing him with that name. Then he spoke in a low and deep voice, “You already know that Arthur will do.”

I nodded lazily. “Yeah. I prefer Arthurious, though.”

I heard him sigh as he opened the door for me. Minutes after, I was in the car with him. I leaned my back on the backrest and let my whole body stretch. I seriously just want to rest right now. Unconsciously, I made an eye contact with the enormous billboard pinned on a tall building. It was him. It was Zen Kaizer in his suit.

I know it had been years since the last time I had a short interaction with him and that was enough for me to conclude that he's already good himself. He's already a successful head of their construction company. Good for him.

“We're already here,” Arthurious announced.

I nodded and went off the car. But before that, I never forget to send my thank you to him.

“Anytime, Madam,” he said with a small smile and even saluted.

When I turned around to walk towards the main door, I spotted my older brother leaning against the door jamb with a playful grin on his face: revealing the cute hole on his right cheek.

“Good you made it through the night,” Kuya Hadji greeted me as he kissed my cheek. “Welcome home?”

I rolled my eyes at him, walked past him, took a seat on the red couch, and placed my Prada handbag on the glass table. “I am exhausted straight from the meeting, Kuya. Please do not annoy me for once.”

I caught a glimpse of his widening eyes. “I am being annoying? How could you!”

I blew a sharp breath and closed my eyes. “Please, spare this night.”