The Paintbrush Deal

CHAPTER 05

Hello! I have a Dreame account na po! Just search 'theashtone' on the app itself and give a ❤️ sa aking mga kwento. This story will also have advance updates sa Dreame version nito. In fact, the sixth chapter is now available on Dreame!

Some of my stories will get deleted na rin po dito, and you'll be able to read them sa Dreame lang. Sana po maintindihan niyo ang rason why I had to secure my stories.

Salamat po.

theashtone

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Elio's POV

Sa wakas ay malapit nang magtapos ang event. Tapos na ang dinner kanina pa. Nandito na kami sa kabilang hall kung saan katatapos lang ng auction para sa mga painting. Hindi ko na lang pinansin kanina ang auction dahil alam kong maglalaway lang ako sa dami ng perang maririnig ko. The guests are just roaming around and inspecting the paintings. Ako naman ay nagpakalayo-layo na mula doon sa Skyler pagkatapos ng dinner. Madalas ko siyang makitang may mga kausap.

Upon hearing his story and perfect childhood, mas lalo lang na tumindi ang inis ko sa kanya. His childhood is the complete opposite of mine. He has loving and supportive parents, and above all, he's rich. Kumpara sa impiyernong dinanas ko noon, nasa kataas-taasan ng langit ang buhay niya. More importantly, he's rich enough that he was able to pursue the thing that he loves the most. He doesn't have to work on a dead-end job in order to keep himself alive. He probably has enough money to support himself for the rest of his life. That just pisses me off.

Naglilibot na lang ako ngayon sa hall habang may dalang isang tray ng mga champagne. Kakakuha ko lang ng bagong batch ng mga inumin kaya agad akong nagpunta sa mga mataong parte ng hall.

"Hey, waiter."

Agad naman akong lumingon. I saw a guy smiling at me. Ngumiti naman ako bago ako lumapit sa kanya sabay baba ng tray na dala ko.

"Thanks," sabi niya matapos niyang makakuha ng isa. Tatalikod na sana ako pero tinawag pa niya ako.

"Hey."

"Yes, sir?"

"What's your name?"

Natigilan ako. "Elio, sir. Have a nice evening," sabi ko bago ako tumalikod.

"You're a cute one. Can I have your number?" tanong niya.

Habang nakatalikod pa rin ako ay nagpagulong ako ng mga mata, pero pagharap ko ay nagawa ko pa rin naman na ngumiti. "I cannot do that, sir. I'm sorry. It's against our protocol. Now, if you'll excuse me, I still have other things to do."

"I'll give you my number, then. Or I can wait for you outside after this," the guy replied. "I have a place."

I fought back the urge to kick his crown jewels. "So do I, sir. Have a nice evening," I said before marching away without even glancing back at him.

Sa dami talaga ng mga tao rito, ako pa ang napagtripan.

Iniwasan ko na lang ang lalaki hangga't maaari. That wasn't the first time that someone tried to hit on me while I'm doing my job. I have good looks, and I attract both men and women, pero wala sa plano ko ang pumasok sa relasyon o lumandi. I cannot afford to get distracted. Kahit gaano sila kayaman, wala akong pakialam kung habulin nila ako o ano.