Chapter: CHAPTER 13IRIS POVBumababa ang executive elevator, at sa bawat palapag na itinatalatag ng digital monitor sa itaas ng pinto, nararamdaman ko ang unti-unting pagbabalik ng normal na tibok ng puso ko. Wala na ang mabigat na hininga, wala na ang takot na baka sa susunod na sandali ay hilahin ako pabalik sa impiyernong binuo ni Tita Marissa. Tumingin ako sa repleksyon namin sa makintab na dingding ng elevator. Katabi ko si Razael na seryoso pa ring nakatingin sa unahan, ngunit mas relaks na ang kanyang tindig ngayon kumpara kanina sa boardroom."Ayos ka lang?" basag ni Razael sa katahimikan habang hindi tumitingin sa akin."Oo. Medyo nagulat lang ako sa kinalabasan," sagot ko habang dahan-dahang hinahawakan ang sarili kong mga braso. "Akala ko talaga magkakaroon pa ng mahabang sigawan o physical na sakitan doon sa loob.""I don't waste time on theatricals, Iris," maikli niyang tugon sabay sulyap sa akin. "Kapag hawak mo ang ebidensya, iharap mo agad. Mas mabilis, mas malinis. Ang mga taong tulad n
Última actualización: 2026-06-21
Chapter: CHAPTER 12IRIS POVNakatitig lang ako sa screen ng tablet habang dahan-dahang lumalamig ang mga kamay ko. Ang pangalang Donato Holdings Inc. ay parang isang malaking sampal na gumising sa akin mula sa panandaliang kaligtasan sa loob ng mansyon na ito. Nararamdaman ko ang mabilis na pag-akyat ng takot sa lalamunan ko, halos magbuhol ang mga laway ko habang pilit kong pinapakalma ang sarili ko sa harap ni Razael. Heto na naman sila. Ang bilis ng galaw nila. Hindi lang pala ako ang hinahabol nila, talagang buong kumpanya na ni Razael ang balak nilang lamunin nang buo."Emergency board meeting?" ulit ko, medyo gumaralgal ang boses ko kaya napahawak ako sa gilid ng desk niya para suportahan ang sarili ko. "Ibig sabihin ba nito, papapasukin na nila si Donato sa kumpanya mo ngayon?"Inayos ni Razael ang pagkakatayo niya, kinuha ang tablet mula sa harap ko, at seryosong ibinulsa ang kanyang mga kamay. "Mendoza is using the security breach issue na binanggit ko kahapon para takutin ang board. Ipapakita
Última actualización: 2026-06-21
Chapter: CHAPTER 11IRIS POVBumabantay ako sa bawat galaw ni Razael habang nakaupo ako sa sofa ng study room niya. Naka-wrap pa rin sa akin ang makapal na kumot na ibinigay niya, pero hindi niyon matanggal ang lamig na nararamdaman ko mula sa text message kanina. Tinitingnan ko ang screen ng monitors kung saan kitang-kita ang madilim na kalsada sa labas ng mansyon. Isang itim na SUV ang dahan-dahang umaabante, humihinto sa tapat ng malaking gate, bago muling uusad nang konti.Sila nga 'yan. Kabisado ko ang plaka ng sasakyang 'yan dahil 'yan ang madalas gamitin ng mga tauhan ni Donato kapag sinusundo si Tita Marissa para mag-casino."Sir Razael, gumagalaw na po ang SUV sa labas," biglang ulat ni Arthur habang nakatitig sa main gate monitor. Lumapit siya nang kaunti sa screen at may pinindot sa gilid niyon. "Mukhang napansin nilang may guard na naglalakad sa perimeter wall kaya umatras sila nang kaunti.""I-lock mo ang lahat ng auxiliary access points, Arthur," utos ni Razael nang hindi inaalis ang tingin
Última actualización: 2026-06-15
Chapter: CHAPTER 10IRIS POVBumababa ang elevator patungo sa 38th floor, at kahit nakuha ko ang unang USB mula sa opisina ni Mendoza, hindi pa rin humuhupa ang kabog sa dibdib ko. Pinupunasan ko ang malamig na pawis sa aking mga palad gamit ang gilid ng aking slacks habang nakatitig sa bumababang numero ng palapag. May iniabot sa akin si Damian na isa pang magkaparehong itim na USB drive mula sa kanyang bulsa."Ito naman ang para sa workstation ni Cruz," mahina niyang bilin habang inilalagay ko iyon sa bulsa ko. "Nasa control room na si Cruz ngayon kasama ang mga tauhan ko para sa inspection. Mas maluwag ang oras mo rito kumpara kay Mendoza, pero huwag ka pa ring magpapakampante.""Sana nga mas maluwag," bulong ko, pilit kong inaayos ang kuwelyo ng aking silk blouse para magmukhang pormal. "Kasi parang mauubusan na ako ng hininga sa ginagawa natin."Huminto ang elevator at bumukas ang pinto. Kaiba sa floor ni Mendoza na tahimik at pormal, ang 38th floor ay mas buhay. Ito ang operations at IT security fl
Última actualización: 2026-06-02
Chapter: CHAPTER 9IRIS POVGumigising ako dahil sa banayad na katok sa pinto. Pagka-mulat ng mga mata ko, sumasalubong sa akin ang liwanag ng umaga na tumatagos sa malaking bintana ng kwarto ko sa mansyon. Bumangon ako nang mabilis, hinawakan ang itim na USB drive sa ibabaw ng side table, at huminga nang malalim. Ito na ang araw ng unang misyon ko.Kailangan kong galingan. Buhay at kalayaan ko ang nakataya rito, hindi lang ang kumpanya ni Damian.Pagkababa ko sa sala, nakita ko na si Damian na nakatayo malapit sa dining table habang may kausap sa kanyang telepono. Naka-business suit na naman siya, plantsadong-plantsado, at seryosong-seryoso ang mukha habang may tinitingnan sa kanyang tablet. Nang mapansin niya ang pababa kong hakbang, ibinaba niya ang hawak na device."You're awake," bungad niya, sabay senyas sa bakanteng upuan sa tapat niya. "Kumain ka muna. We have thirty minutes bago tayo umalis."Naupo ako at kumuha ng sandwich mula sa plato. "Naka-ready na ba ang lahat? I mean, 'yung planong pagbi
Última actualización: 2026-06-02
Chapter: CHAPTER 8IRIS POVSumasara ang pinto ng silid ko pagkaalis ni Damian, at doon lang ako tuluyang nakahinga nang maluwag. Napaupo ako sa gilid ng malambot na kama habang hawak pa rin ang itim na envelope sa aking kandungan. Parang roller coaster ang takbo ng buhay ko simula kagabi. Mula sa pagiging takas patungo sa pagiging impostor, at ngayon—isang pekeng kasosyo ng isang bilyonaryo.Hindi ko alam kung mababaliw ba ako sa takot o magpapasalamat sa pagkakataong ito. Pero ang mahalaga, ligtas ako rito sa loob. Hindi ako makukuha ni Donato habang nandidito ako.Lumapit ako sa malaking closet kung saan may mga iniwan na namang bagong damit si Ricardo. Pumili ako ng isang komportableng oversized gray t-shirt at black sweatpants. Pagkatapos magpalit, pumasok ako sa banyo para maghilamos. Pagtingin ko sa salamin, mamula-mula pa rin ang mga mata ko mula sa pag-iyak kanina sa elevator, pero unti-unti nang bumabalik ang kulay ng mukha ko.Lumabas ako ng kwarto nang marinig ko ang mahinang katok sa pinto
Última actualización: 2026-06-02
My Father's Bestfriend
On her twenty-first birthday, Saskia Beaumont wanted one night of freedom from her toxic family. She sneaks into an exclusive, masked club and shares a wild, passionate night with a dangerous stranger. She thought she’d never see him again.
The next morning, her world shatters. Her late father’s will states that she cannot touch her billion-dollar inheritance unless she lives under the absolute control of a legal guardian for six months. Left penniless after her ex-boyfriend and stepmother steal her savings, Saskia is forced to move into the guardian's mansion.
There, she comes face-to-face with the billionaire tycoon, Evander Sinclair. He was her father’s closest associate—and he is the exact same man who owned her body the night before.
Evander is cold, strict, and demands total obedience during the day. But behind closed doors, the tension between them is electric. If anyone discovers their affair, Saskia loses her entire fortune to her stepmother, and Evander’s reputation will be destroyed.
They have everything to lose, but neither of them can stay away from the dark, forbidden heat between them.
Leer
Chapter: CHAPTER 12SASKIA POVThe elevator ride back to the top floor felt twice as long as the ride down. The air inside the metallic box was thick and suffocating, completely dominated by Evander’s silent, freezing rage. He kept his eyes fixed on the digital floor indicator, his jaw clenched so tightly that a tiny muscle kept jumping near his ear."You did that on purpose," Evander said, his voice a low, dangerous rumble that cut through the hum of the elevator.I didn't turn my head. I kept staring at the silver doors, my hands clasped tightly in front of my blazer. "Did what on purpose?""Defied me. In front of the staff. In front of him.""His name is Julian, Evander. And I didn't do it to defy you," I said, finally turning to face him. "He has the financial records we need to bury Victoria. Am I supposed to tell him to go away just because you don't like the way he stands near me?"The elevator doors slid open with a soft chime. Evander didn't answer. He marched out into the executive corridor, hi
Última actualización: 2026-06-21
Chapter: CHAPTER 11SAKIA POVThe elevator ride down to the main lobby was dead silent. Evander stood beside me, his hands clasped loosely in front of him, staring straight at the shiny metallic doors. His posture was stiff, completely detached. Looking at him now, nobody would ever guess that his mouth had been burning against my skin just minutes ago.When the doors slid open, the quiet atmosphere of the upper floors vanished.The ground floor lobby was crowded. Victoria stood right in the center of the polished marble floor, looking entirely in her element. She was flanked by two men holding large professional cameras and a woman holding a digital voice recorder with the *Financial Chronicle* logo printed on the side. A few security guards stood a few feet back, looking nervous and unsure of whether they should intervene."Ah, there they are," Victoria announced, her voice carrying beautifully across the wide room. She didn't wait for us to approach. She marched right up to us, her heels clicking aggr
Última actualización: 2026-06-15
Chapter: CHAPTER 10SASKIA POVThe metallic click of the lock sliding into place sounded like a gunshot in the quiet room.I stood by the small glass table, my breath hitching as Evander turned around. The cold, calculated CEO who had just dismissed a junior lawyer was gone. In his place was a man whose dark eyes burned with a dangerous, volatile heat. He crossed the room in three long, predatory strides, stopping so close to me that I could feel the tension radiating off his chest."You smiled at him," Evander said, his voice a low, rough growl that vibrated through the small space between us.I forced myself to stand my ground, tilting my head up to meet his fierce gaze. "He's trying to help me, Evander. He actually found proof that Victoria is stealing from my father's accounts.""I don't care what he found," Evander snapped, his jaw clenching tightly. He reached out, his large hands gripping the edge of the glass table on either side of my hips, effectively trapping me against it. "I told you that my
Última actualización: 2026-06-02
Chapter: CHAPTER 9SASKIA POVThe door to Evander’s private office closed with a solid, heavy thud, shutting out the murmurs of the executive hallway. His office was twice the size of the boardroom, dominated by a massive wall of glass that looked out over the skyline. It smelled like cedarwood and cold air.Evander walked straight to his desk, tossed his leather folder onto the surface, and unbuttoned his suit jacket. He didn't sit down. He turned around and leaned against the edge of the desk, crossing his arms."You need to control your temper in front of the board, Saskia," he said, his voice flat and authoritative.I walked over to the leather chair opposite him but didn't sit. I kept my hands clamped tightly onto the backrest. "My temper? Evander, they were trying to take away my voting rights. Victoria was practically handing them the knife to cut me out. Was I supposed to just sit there and smile?""No," Evander said, his dark eyes locking onto mine. "You were supposed to let me handle it. That
Última actualización: 2026-06-02
Chapter: CHAPTER 8SASKIA POVI checked my watch, keeping my eyes fixed on Evander as he walked toward us. "It's exactly 9:15, Mr. Sinclair. The meeting starts at 9:30. Technically, I'm fifteen minutes early."Evander stopped right in front of us. His dark eyes didn't look at my new tailored suit or my hair. Instead, his gaze dropped to the small space between Julian and me, then slowly drifted to where Julian’s hand was still hovering near my elbow from our conversation. The air around us became incredibly heavy."In this building, being early is being on time. Being on time is being late," Evander said, his voice flat and dangerously quiet. He turned his eyes to Julian, narrowing them slightly. "And you are?"Julian cleared his throat, adjusting his glasses. He didn't back down, but I could see his chest rise with a nervous breath. "Julian Vance, sir. Junior legal counsel for the Beaumont estate. I was just briefing Miss Beaumont on the agenda before she heads inside.""Mr. Vance," Evander repeated, t
Última actualización: 2026-06-02
Chapter: CHAPTER 7SASKIA POVThe smell of freshly brewed coffee and fried bacon filled the bright, sunlit dining room. It was a sharp contrast to the heavy, suffocating darkness of Evander’s bedroom from just a few hours ago.I sat at my usual end of the long mahogany table, nursing a cup of black coffee. My wrists still felt faintly warm where his fingers had pinned them against the door. I adjusted the collar of my white silk blouse, making sure the small, faint bruise he left on my shoulder was completely hidden.Footsteps echoed from the hallway, firm and measured.Evander walked in, fully dressed in a flawless, three-piece navy suit. His hair was perfectly styled, his jaw clean-shaved. He looked every bit the powerful, untouchable billionaire tycoon. The raw, growling man who had crushed his mouth against mine in the dark was gone.He didn't look at me. He simply pulled out his chair at the far end of the table, sat down, and opened the morning paper."Good morning, Mr. Sinclair," I said, my voice
Última actualización: 2026-06-02
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