SHATTERED LOVE

CHAPTER TWO

Two days later, after Keith made a deal with the Hernandez Empire group, he'd make sure that Elena Hernandez would be in his care. According to the marriage contract, they will live as spouse for six months only. It will be enough for Keith to finish his mission to Madeline Queen, a multi-billionaire old woman who works for the CIA and NSA as a chief director, and his handler. Keith Blackwood has a lot of dark secrets, and the old woman knows it all, including his dark past. He's been a member and operative of the Elite Intelligence Consortium for the past ten years, a joint organization of the CIA and NSA for multi-billionaires across the globe. That's why he has lots of enemies, the only person that keeps him going now is Elena. He's been in love with her for the past seven years, and no one knows it except himself.

For the past 5 months, he managed to be friends with her family. He did everything he could to surpass her grandfather's standards. Keith knew how Roberto Hernandez played his cards. Hindi ito basta kumukuha ng isang investor o partner in his business kapag ordinaryo bilyonaryo ka lang. You need to earn your reputation, not only in the business world but also in the black market. Keith's thoughts were suddenly interrupted by the sound of his intercom ringing in his office, he picked up the receiver but did not speak.

"Mr. Blackwood, it's time for the board meeting." Miss Valeen told him in a tone of manner.

Hindi niya sinagot ang kanyang secretary, sa halip binaba na lang niya ang receiver at tumayo na sa kanyang swivel chair. He wants this board meeting to be over soon because he wants to see his wife when he gets home. Keith never gets tired of seeing her beautiful angelic face, for the past two days he didn't attempt to sleep beside her, even though it's part of the contract. Para sa binata ay sapat na sa kanya ang makita ito araw araw sa kanyang private mansion. He has no plans to deepen their relationship further, it will be much better because Keith doesn't want to involve her in his personal life, and Elena will just be a big hindrance in his mission that he's going to do.

During the board meeting, Keith and his board of directors talk about a lot of issues in the airlines, how to improve their services, and the other customer's feedback about delays and baggage handling issues, including cost management with rising fuel prices and operational expenses. A few minutes later, Keith received a text message from his security, he said that Elena never got out of her room during lunchtime. According to the butler, she is not feeling well. Kaya dinalhan na lang siya ng pagkain sa kanyang sariling silid. Even though Keith worries about her, he manages to control his emotions. Elena is just part of the deal and his operation, kaya dapat lang na hindi siya masiyado magpaapekto. After the board meeting, Keith received another call from Madeline Queen in his office, she knows his private line number, so it's easy for her to contact Keith immediately.

"How is it going, Mr. Blackwood? I heard that you are officially married to Elena Hernandez" pagbungad kaagad sa kanya ni Madeline sa kabilang linya.

"Madam, everything is going well. You have nothing to worry about, the legal department is preparing our joint business contract and it will be ready next week," he answered her directly in a gentle manner.

"Good, but be careful Mr. Blackwood. Remember that Mr. James Hernandez is still watching your every move." her voice was calm but Keith knew that Madam Madeline had given him a warning.

Hindi naman nagtagal ang kanilang usapan, dahil pareho busy si Madam Madeline at Keith, they were both handling their own business affairs. Kaya pagkatapos nila nag-usap ay nagdesisyon na si Keith na umuwi ng mansyon.

Upon Keith's arrival at the mansion, he immediately asked his security how Elena was, and he said that she was in the garden, reading a book, and started to feel better after sleeping for almost two hours.

The garden is adorned by vibrant flower beds that dot the landscape, busting the kaleidoscope of colors, from delicate roses to vibrant tulips and serene lavender bushes. He saw Elena sitting in the gazebo, she was wearing an off-shoulder dress color white, and she looked demure and elegant while reading her book, but he did not approach her. Instead, he just turned away and decided not to bother her. But when he is about to walk away he does not expect she would call his name.

"Keith!" turning his back on her, he saw her walking towards him. Her face looks angelic and beautiful, and she walks gracefully and with confidence while holding her book. "What do you want to eat for dinner?" Tanong ng dalaga sa binata, bumilis ang tibok ng puso ni Keith, pero sa kanyang itsura ay hindi mo ito mahahalata dahil kasing lamig ng yelo ang tingin niya kay Elena.

"You don't have to worry about it, Elena. Our chef can handle it." that's all he said and nothing else, then he completely turned away from her and walked towards the living room.

Elena walked beside him but he did not look at her as he did not want to be bothered by her presence. Then she spoke again, and this time he could detect the enticing fragrance from her body. He could feel his hardness starting to get hard inside his pants. Alam ni Keith isa ito sa mga bagay na nahihirapan siyang i-control, lalo pa pag kaharap niya ang dalaga.

"Well, I'm sorry Keith. But based on our marriage contract, it's my responsibility to take care of you as your wife." Her voice made him feel a shiver, siguro kung pareho lang sila nasa ordinaryo estado at hindi siya si Keith Blackwood ay matagal na niya na-ikama si Elena at hindi na niya ito pinakawalan pa.

"Elena, our marriage is for pure business only. Don't forget that, besides we are not emotionally attached and I'm not planning to treat you as my wife either. You are just here because it is needed, it doesn't matter what the contract says. What important is we are living under the same roof." Keith explained to her, with a lack of emotion on his face. Elena just bowed her head and nodded. Pagkatapos ay tinalikuran na niya ang binata at lumabas muli ng living room patungong garden.

Hindi alam ni Elena kung bakit pakiramdam niya ay nasaktan siya, but she knows that Keith was right. Their marriage is just for pure business only, obviously, pwede naman niyang gawin kung ano ang gusto niya ng wala sino man ang nakikialam. That's why she decided not to bother him anymore, she saw how he looked at her like she was nothing but a stranger. Maybe Keith knew what she had been through seven years ago. Elena spent 6 months in a psychiatric hospital to cure her PTSD, one of the darkest and lowest points of her life, which she never wants to remember anymore. She started to feel anxious once again and could feel her heart beat faster.

Tumayo na si Elena sa kanyang kinauupuan, nagdesisyon na pumasok na lang muna ng kanyang silid, kailangan niya pakalmahin ang kanyang sarili. For the past few years, her anxiety has not easily dissipated. Kaya mahirap pa din para sa kanya ang magtiwala sa ibang tao. She approached Keith because her father had told her to do so earlier. They talked over the phone before James left for his business trip to Mexico. He told her that she needed to be close to her husband and spy on him because he didn't trust Keith, but Elena declined. James can't do anything about the business negotiation between his father and Keith, because Roberto possesses greater authority and power than he does within the Hernandez Empire.

" Elena, I know how hard this is for you, but you have to trust me on this," James said to her daughter, then spoke again. "This is for the both of us, I don't trust Keith Blackwood and know that he's up to something."

"Why are you doing this to me, Dad? Stop using me in your scheme! I don't care if you don't trust him because you never protected me in the first place!" Elena can't contain her emotions; she feels like she will explode. "Stop pretending that you care for me. You may be my biological father, but you've never been a father to me!" Elena began to cry after she hung up.

In Elena's situation, she knows that she can't trust anyone, after all, she's just part of the business arrangement between the Blackwood and Hernandez empire. Hindi malinaw para sa dalaga kung ano ba talaga ang nangyari pagkatapos magkaroon ng trahedya sa mansyon nila, at kung nahuli ba ang pumatay sa kanyang kapatid na babae at ina. She wants to know everything that happened after the tragic event, the only thing that Elena remembers was someone holding her right hand and she was covered in a blanket over her face while walking, so as not to see any more traces of the tragedy that happened in their mansion seven years ago. When she woke up the next morning in one of their resthouses, everything that had happened the night flashed back in her mind. Unfortunately, hindi kinaya ng kanyang utak ang trauma kaya napilitan siya ipagamot ng kanyang ama sa isang psychiatric hospital, at dun na din nagsimula mabago ang kanyang buhay.