Beneath Her | [R-16]

Prologue

NATALIE

"What can you say about your family background? Does it have anything to do with the success you're receiving now?" tanong ng isang journalist saakin habang may recorder sa harapan ko. I'm being featured in a magazine that I don't even like reading.

"Yes, but not entirely. My father has been business-focused even before I was born. They built an entire name of his own together with my late uncle, Steve Montenegro. As I am a Montenegro, I was surrounded with luxury the moment I was born until I grew up." I paused and took a drink because my mouth was running dry.

"But this is different. This was a project that is very dear to me. Special thanks to Ace Asuncia, who had been my trusted architect and best friend from the start." sabi ko at sinulyapan si Ace na nasa gilid ko lang.

"Together with my team, and the trust of my investors... Specifically Kim Sung Cooper, we made the resort possible on our own."

"Can we talk about your mother?" tanong niya. I paused for a while, not seeing the bullet she shot. Hindi ko naman mahindian.

"What about her?"

"We can move on if you want." mukhang narattle siya sa pagpalit ng mukha ko.

"No, you already asked. Might as well go on with it."

"What would you say to her if she could see you and your success?"

"My mother..." I thought of tita Aliya. "She was always there for me even if..." I paused, because I knew I had to be careful on what to say. "She was always there for me." I finished my sentence.

But I couldn't leave out mom. Mommy may not share the same blood as I am, but she gave me her heart and love. She is also my mom. "She was the parent that I had been close to up until now, which is crazy, since it's has been years since she passed. She taught me to just dream what I want to and not let my father pressure me into, uh, you know, joining the family business." I chuckled as I remember her mocking my dad's lessons about business.

"She..." they. "...encouraged me all through out." I swallowed a lump to stop myself from crying. I was talking about the both of them. Silang dalawa na inalagaan ako. My childhood wasn't that all shitty.

"So if she was here, I'd tell her I miss her, of course. I'd smile and whisper to her ear that I made it even though I wanted to give up more than persevering. I'd tell her I love her and I'd thank her for always being my role model."

"Your resort has been the talk of the town but they never really ask about who built it. What can you say about that?" maikling tanong niya.

"We've all heard the story, don't judge a book by its cover. I made the book, and I made the cover so it's only fair to also have a look at me, don't you think?" I confidently said as I crossed my left leg over my right.

"I guess now you should introduce yourself." ngiti noong babae at nilapit pa lalo yung recorder dahil sumandal ako.

"I'm Natalie Montenegro, 21 years old. I'm the owner and the interior designer of Pacifica Hillside Resort, the largest, most talked about as you say, here in Subic."

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Let me just clarify, you do not need to read Secret Seduction first to understand this book. Beneath her is not the second book of Secret Seduction. To all of my Secret Seduction readers, or Seducers if I may, this is the 2nd book of the Jaxavier Academy Series.

This is Natalie's story.