It was a brand new day. This debacle would come to pass. He must make his move now so that all this would come to an end soon.
He got out of his bed. He looked stressed with his ruffled hair and tired, droopy eyes. He yawned and rubbed his chin, feeling the stubbles of his beard.
It had been a long and lonely night. He had been used to having Reina in his arms.
Last night would be the last one he’d spend without Reina. That was his last thought before he turned on the shower, setting it on cold to shock and awaken his senses and his body.
========================================================
It was midday in Sherwin Xu’s office. Everything was going smoothly despite of what happened last night.
Sherwin looked unnerved in his dark blue suit. His hair was swept upward, his spectacles accentuating his looks and veiling his tired eyes. Even his shoes were handsomely brushed to a perfect shine.
“Jason, set me separate appointments with Drei Yang and Miss Jeri Stahl,” Sherwin called his secretary, not bothering to look up from his paper works.
Jason was a tall person, a bit chubby though. Some may perceive him as gay, but he is just…effeminate. He hesitated in obeying Sherwin.
“Uhmm… Mr. Xu, if you don’t mind, I don’t think it would be wise for you to do anything with the Yangs considering the…” he trailed off when Sherwin cast him a hard look.
Sherwin put down his pen and asked, “How long have you been working for me, Jason?”
Jason trembled visibly, “Four years, sir?”
“And in that span of time, did I ever discuss personal matters with you?” Sherwin had an annoyed edge in his voice.
“No sir,” Jason replied in a small voice, his face reddening in shame.
“Let’s keep it that way now, shall we?”
“Yes, sir,” he bowed a couple of times and reached for the door.
“And Jason?” Sherwin tried hard not to smile at his secretary’s red face. “Would you hand me the files on the Yang Conglomerate?”
“Yes, sir,” turned around, his voice trembled with fear.
========================================================
“Mr. Yang? Mr. Sherwin Xu is here,” Michy Lam announced, hesitantly opening the door.
“Send him in,” Drei Yang said in a booming voice.
“Yes, sir,” and the secretary closed the door to call the visitor.
Drei Yang stood up and piled the papers on his desk before walking around to meet Sherwin Xu.
His office was neatly arranged: files on the right part of the room, along with the other drawers, and on the left, was a couch and a coffee table with a crystal bottle of whiskey.
He was dressed in his gray dress shirt paired with a pair of black pants. His solemn eyes were now filled with anger and his lips were crooked, forming a fierce frown.
The door opened, revealing Sherwin Xu with a folder in his hand.
“To what do I owe this pleasure, Mr. Xu?” Drei Yang smiled sarcastically. “Oh wait… It’s you who actually owe me more than just something!”
He circled Sherwin like a hawk circling his prey.
“If I were not more dignified than you are, I would have beaten that pretty face of yours into a pulp,” he hissed.
“Spare me the concerned father speech, Mr. Yang. I’m here on business,” Sherwin was calm and composed, not a bit chafed by Drei’s words.
“Business, you say?” Drei’s dark brow rose. “Now tell me, what price did Reina pay for it?”
He looked at the folder and back to Sherwin’s face. “How could I forget? Media mileage of your sordid affair!”
“Mr. Yang, I would like to sit and take all your derision but I’m a very busy man. Now, if you would go through this contract and affix your signature we wouldn’t have to endure much of each other’s presence,” Sherwin said coolly.
“Now, if you really want what’s best for Reina, I suggest you sign that,” he indicated to the folder he threw on the table.
“I’ll come back for those… Let’s say four o’clock?”
With that, Sherwin left the Yang CEO’s office.
========================================================
A woman smoking inside a caf looked like she was waiting for someone. She kept scanning the crowd for a familiar face when a man entered and stood in front of her.
“You’re late,” Jeri Stahl’s delicate eyebrow shot up. She looked young in her black and white Escada suit and Ascot-styled hat.
“You’re early,” Sherwin replied with a smile.
“What can I say? I was quite anxious to meet my so-called secret partner who happens to be the same person who have ruined my Reina’s reputation beyond repair,” she glared at him, her voice dripping with sarcasm.
She crushed her cigarette. “Such a disappointment, Mr. Xu. With all your brilliance as a businessman you quite…how do you youngsters say these days? SUCK at the love department.”
She leaned over to stare at him intently. “While all the dark brooding dangerous appeal you have may be seductive, it is not enough to convince a woman to stay with you for life.”
“That is why I wanted us to have this meeting,” Sherwin informed her, lighting his own cigarette.
“Go on…” Jeri encouraged. “I would like to hear what you’re up to this time and not through the late night news. It has reached Thailand, you know.”
“Tell me, Sherwin, do you really hate my daughter that much for you to have carefully plotted her downfall?” Jeri looked him in the eye, searching for an answer.
“Do you feel elated that you have succeeded humiliating her far more than she ever had shamed you?”
Sherwin avoided her gaze, “Miss Stahl, I…”
Jeri smiled smugly. “I hit a nerve, did I not? You don’t need to answer that, Sherwin. I just want you to think about it.”
Jeri smiled a genuine smile. “Now what was it you wanted to talk to me about?”
Sherwin felt confused at that smile, as if she knew something. “I want to transfer my ownership from Bliss to Reina’s name.”
“You do know that this dissolves our former agreement and forming a partnership with Reina requires her signature,” Jeri’s face was a mixture of surprise and disbelief.
“I think Reina would agree to it,” replied Sherwin curtly.
“Just be sure to know how to approach her with this, let’s say, monetary reward. Considering the recent events, Reina might take it as if you’re compensating her for her services.” Jeri smiled at the look of utter disbelief that flashed on Sherwin’s face.
“You don’t intend it to be such but it would appear as such,” she explained further. This young man before her could be so clueless at times.
Jeri shook her head and started, “Now, where do I sign?”
========================================================
“Signed, sealed, delivered,” Drei Yang handed the documents to Sherwin.
“You do know that this means Reina holds the controlling interest for YC,” Sherwin informed him.
Drei slowly nodded his head, “I don’t mind that one bit. She has proven to be quite capable of surviving the corporate world. Had you not…”
“I will do things right by her, Mr. Yang,” Sherwin cut off Drei, assuring the old man.
“It’s about time you should,” Drei shook hands with him.
========================================================
He put a finger on his lips, motioning Reina’s secretary to be quiet. He had been planning for this since last night.
In his hand was a bouquet of vanilla orchids, her favorite.
He was going to tell her he loved her.
He stood by the doorway and saw her facing against the door. He slowly and quietly and discreetly walked behind her.
She was breathtakingly beautiful. She was standing by the window with a pensive expression, the afternoon sunlight highlighting her feature, making her glow, making her look like she had a halo. She was so wrapped up in her thoughts that she never heard anyone enter her office.
“You’re so beautiful,” he breathed.
Reina turned at the sound of his voice; her face lit up and ran towards him, “Daniel!”
========================================================
Reina hugged the man before her tight. She never thought she would miss him so much.
“It’s great to see you!” Reina said happily.
“How are you, sweetheart?” A worried look was in his eyes as he stroked her face.
“Hey, I’m much tougher than I look,” she smiled broadly. “Don’t worry too much, okay?”
“C’mon, Rain! It’s me. You don’t need to put a brave front,” he smiled gently.
At that moment, Reina’s smile wavered and her eyes watered. Soon, she was crying all over his chest.
Daniel just held her and hugged her, coaxing her to let it all out.
“I’m so tired…” Reina said between sobs.
“This whole circus…I can’t seem to control…” she didn’t finish her sentence when she felt the need to cry again.
“Shh… It’s alright, sweetheart,” Daniel kept rubbing her back. “I’m here now.”
Reina cried and wept until she could not shed another tear. Her eyes were puffy, so puffy that she looked like she could not see. Her nose and cheeks were red, even her lips were swollen. She took a tissue from her desk and blew her nose.
“Thanks, Daniel,” Reina smiled up at him. “I needed a good cry and a shoulder.”
“Anything for the woman I want to spend my life with…” Daniel professed subtly, studying Reina’s reaction.
Reina stiffened at his words and stared at him through puffy eyes, trying to assess if he’s serious or not.
Daniel held her shoulders. “I love you. I realized it that night the bastard came to your apartment.”
“It hurt when you chose him over me. I tried to understand because I know you were just doing it for your company,” he told her in a very soft voice, convincing her.
“It killed me every night knowing that he was touching you.”
“But that’s over now. You don’t need him anymore. I’m here… Let me take care of you,” Daniel told her, persuaded her.
Reina felt her head spin. She felt weird. She was supposed to be elated. She had loved this man for quite some time now or does she still? Her tired mind was trying to process the information she was forced to accept. She moved away from him and sat on a chair. A perplexed expression was on her face.
She looked up at him, gazed into his eyes. She couldn’t feel what she felt before. The confusion that clouded her face went away as realization hit her.
Daniel knelt before her.
Her eyes widened.
She realized she loved another.
Despite all the pain and degradation she had gone through, she loved Sherwin, perhaps, she never stopped. He may be a damn bastard but she knew that deep inside her, she loved him… she loves him. And she knew that no matter how much Sherwin made her suffer, she couldn’t let him go, will not let him go.
Reina stroked Daniel’s face. “Daniel, I…”
Daniel saw the hesitation in Reina’s eyes. “You don’t love me…” he said glumly.
Reina cupped his face. “I did…”
Daniel removed her hands. “Did… Past tense.”
He stood up and smiled bitterly. “So this is how regret feels.”
…