Mending Heart's Affliction [Phoenix Countesses: ETHEREAL MAIDENS SERIES I]

Chapter 26

Engr. Serrano

"Celeste, pasensya ka na sa hindi pagsipot ni dad. There's an emergency at Caza, and he's needed there."

Tiningnan ko si Rusty na prenteng nakaupo sa couch saka nginitian siya.

"Ayos lang. I still can't believe that you're the Mr. Serrano they've been talking about all along."

Nang matapos ang meeting namin ay sinundan niya ako sa opisina ko at pinaalis na ang assistant niya. It's the first time I've seen him in almost four years since I became Mr. Rafael Serrano's partner.

He's the man behind the successful building projects of the Serrano Group and SCC. He's a well-known and highly sought-after engineer, so he's not easy to find. He's also Mr. and Mrs. Serrano's eldest child and heir.

"You're surprisingly free right now, huh? Aren't you usually busy with these kinds of meetings for your Dad?" I sat in front of him, and then Paula arrived with our coffee.

"Thanks, Pau."

"Isang buwan akong naka-leave kaya nang pakiusapan ako ni dad, pumayag na ako. Gusto ko rin kasing makita ang industriya niyo." He chuckled.

"Your father is right about you. You're different from your two siblings. Anyways, you can discuss everything we talked about in the meeting with your father. Baka hindi ko siya ma-meet next week dahil opening ng isang bagong branch ng Ariah ang araw n iyon." I explained to him.

He just nodded and took a sip of his coffee while still looking at me.

I heard he's quite the ladies' man. It's pretty obvious since most engineers are known to be flirts. Plus, he's good-looking and wealthy. Sigurado akong maraming babae ang nagkakandarapa sa kanya, gaya na lang ni Arik.

That's why I won't be surprised why he's looking at me like this. It's as if he's undressing me with his eyes. Men, really.

"So, do you need anything else?" I asked him, glancing at my phone that just beeped.

May text doon galing kay Arik ngunit hindi ko iyon magawang basahin dahil sa lalaking ito.

"I heard you and Arik Rioflorida are officially together now. Totoo ba?" he asked, catching me off guard.

Nang tingnan ko siya ay doon ko nakita ang ngisi sa labi niya kaya natawa ako.

"Saan mo naman narinig yan? We haven't made it public," I replied.

"You know how our world works now, Celeste. There are plenty of pictures of you two online from the bidding in Aomori. There's also a rumor going around about you and Isabella Yuchengco. Hindi mo pa ba alam ang tungkol doon?" he said.

Nangunot ang noo ko. Si Isabella na naman. Kilala niya pala iyon?

"What rumors are you talking about?" I asked. "I'm not active on social media, so I wouldn't know."

"Look at this," Genesis said, moving closer to my side.

He showed me his phone, and there was an article he wanted me to read. After going through it, I couldn't help but laugh.

"It's obvious that Isabella is behind this," I commented, shaking my head. "I supposedly had an affair with Arik while they were still together? And that's why they broke up? How lame."

"Alam ko namang hindi totoo. I've known Isabella since college, and that's always been her character. Actually, I was surprised when The Yuchengco clan announced before that she would be the new heiress and that you were out," Rusty continued, still not leaving my side.

He kept reading the article, offering side comments every now and then.

Bigla ko na namang naalala ang confrontation na nangyari sa amin ng kanyang ama noong nakaraang araw. This must be what he was referring to. It's like Armando sought confirmation about the rumor based on what I told him.