Stone Cold ✔

Chapter 42: I lied to protect my love

Chapter 42

ACHILLES BUENAVISTA

Pretty Lady...

I'm going to win a girl who is as pretty as you.

Her name is Juno Althea.

You like her a lot, right?

She will be the most beautiful woman during my wedding day.

You'll be there, right?

I wish you could come.

I'm missing you so much, Pretty Lady... But when I'm with her, missing you is not sad anymore.

I like her a lot.

I like her so much.

She's the light on my darkest times.

She's the beautiful melody on my sad songs.

She stood up as my heaven when I lost you.

Daddy... make me the man you were when you're still persuading the heart of Pretty Lady. I'm just a young CEO with a little less power, so I'm begging you to make me as powerful as you were when you're still in this position.

This is the first time I have ever pleaded.

All I need is a bouquet of red roses and I'm all set ㅡ all set to show and to tell her the feelings I have been keeping inside for so long.

But just because of those red roses, I arrived late. Too late, that my love have been snatched from me for the second time.

She's gone missing again. And at this rate, my paranoia have taken me to a horror. My fear is blowing my mind and it causes my heart to be in a perfect havoc.

I have to do something. I have to protect my love just as how she protects me.

I only have one question in mind.

Where in the world did Damon Yoo take her?

She's missing for 18 hours now. Her bodyguards were found dead just right inside the Garden by the River Resort. How did Damon Yoo find out that Thea was there? Did he deploy some spy to watch her over?

"Mr. Buenavista, I think you're not focusing. How can we proceed to the next if you'll not give any feedback?"

"Mukhang wala sa meeting ang isip mo, Achilles. You should be telling us, rather than wasting our time here."

"We need your opinion, Mr. Buenavista, your lone presence here is not enough. Your silence is quite bothering."

I almost forget that I'm inside the boardroom. I was brought back to my senses and checked my phone for the Ninety-ninth time. I'm waiting a call or notification from the people I've sent to search for Thea. Unfortunately, there was none.

"Thea is missing." I unconsciously expressed out to the Board while staring blank on the surface of the table.

"Yes, but business is business, Mr. Buenavista. Just because one person is not here, it doesn't mean that we have to delay our meeting. She's just a Secretary, not a big deal to be discussed."

"Hindi mo ba narinig?" I gave a sharp gaze to Mr. Venturina. "I said, Thea is missing." I emphasized inside my teeth.

"We know. It's the gossip in the whole building of Hallsan Corporation. Juno Althea is missing. But is this the time to talk about something that isn't part of the business? Mr. Buenavista, let your Vesta Security Team work for that matter."

Heartless are this guys who can't show any concern for their colleague. I know, business is business. But Thea is also a part of this business. She's not just a mere underestimated Secretary. She's the COMPANY SECRETARY for goodness' sake!

"Isantabi mo muna yang pag-iisip mo tungkol sa pagkawala ni Secretary Villavicencio. We're still in the office, in the Boardroom to be specific. As the CEO, you should only be focusing on the agenda right now."

"Tama si Mr. Venturina." Mr. Galleon articulated. "Don't be pre-occupied about Juno Althea's case. Naiintindihan namin kung concerned ka sa mga tao mo dito, but come to think of it... Hindi naman siya dito huling nakita bago siya mawala. And in case she have gone for good, there's still a lot of people whom we can choose to be a qualified Company Secretary."

Everyone around me nodded, agreeing to Mr. Galleon, except Philipp. Philipp knows what exactly is going on in my mind.

"Please focus on our agenda now, Mr. Buenavista."

"How can I concentrate when the missing person is the woman I like the most?!" I vociferated as I stood up, slamming the table with my palms heavily.

Everyone became speechless and were so shocked.

They seemed to be seeing a ghost.

They looked so shocked as if the line I said is the biggest revelation I have articulated so far.

I stared daggers to each of the members of the Board. And the last person I took glance at is Allyson. Her eyes have grown wide. She must be very surprised, cause she really believed I told her a fact that I don't like Thea at all, when actually, I lied. I lied to protect my love.

I'm a bird and Juno Althea is my air. I can't fly without her. And as a bird, I have to protect my air from contamination.

Just as I'm about to undutifully dismiss the meeting, my phone rang. I immediately accepted the call seeing that the caller is Old Chief Salcedo. There must be a news about Thea from the Elite Force of Vesta Security Team. I didn't order them to move. Elite Force is under Tito Janus' control. I wonder if Tito Janus is already aware about what happened to his daughter, cause I preferred not to tell him unless I had the lead. Maybe he heard the news from the lower force.

"Sir Aki. Nakuha na namin si Ma'm Thea..."

My horror suddenly came to a pause, but for a mere one second only.

"Nabaril siya. Nasa OR siya at kasalukuyang inooperahan."