2

The atmosphere inside the executive boardroom of Hernaez Holdings Corporation was suffocatingly formal.

Floor-to-ceiling glass walls overlooked the Makati skyline, while a twenty-foot walnut conference table seated the company's board of directors.

No one dared to speak out of turn.

Not when Luca Elios Hernaez was at the head of the table.

His tailored charcoal suit was immaculate, his expression unreadable as he sat with one hand resting against his jaw.

The presentation continued.

"...Based on the fourth quarter projections, our expansion in Southeast Asia is expected to increase our annual revenue by at least twelve percent."

Marielle Fernandez, the company's Chief Financial Officer, clicked to the next slide.

"The projected operating cost—"

Click.

"The acquisition timeline—"

Click.

"...Mr. Hernaez?"

Silence.

Marielle frowned.

"...Sir?"

Nothing.

Every executive exchanged awkward glances.

Luca wasn't listening.

That much was obvious.

Instead, he stared at his tablet, reading the same email for what must have been the tenth time.

𝗦&𝗦 𝗖𝗢𝗡𝗦𝗨𝗟𝗧𝗔𝗡𝗖𝗬

We sincerely appreciate your confidence in our firm.

However, the assigned consultant, Attorney Natalie Ariana De Dios, has respectfully declined your proposal.

We regret to inform you that she has officially retired from contractual engagements.

His thumb hovered over the screen.

𝗗𝗘𝗖𝗟𝗜𝗡𝗘𝗗.

The word irritated him.

Luca slowly locked the tablet.

"No.

The single word was quiet.

But everyone heard it.

Marielle blinked.

"...Sir?"

He looked up.

"I said no."

Silence blanketed the room.

Evangeline "Evie" Hernaez, the youngest member of the board and Luca's younger sister, leaned back in her chair.

She recognized that look.

Someone had just bruised her brother's pride.

And that almost never happened.

Marielle cautiously cleared her throat.

"...Are you referring to the expansion proposal?"

"No."

"The acquisition?"

"No."

"The quarterly projections?"

Luca's gaze shifted toward his executive assistant seated near the end of the table.

"Sebastian."

"Yes, sir."

"Contact S&S Consultancy again."

Several board members exchanged confused looks.

"The same request?"

"Yes."

Sebastian hesitated.

"...Sir... they already responded."

"I know."

"They declined."

"I know."

"...Should I ask for another consultant?"

Luca's expression hardened.

"No."

"The same request."

"The same woman."

Another silence.

Even Marielle lowered the presentation remote. Evie rested her elbow on the table before smiling mischievously.

"Interesting."

Luca ignored her.

Sebastian looked uncertain.

"Sir... respectfully..."

"...Attorney De Dios has already rejected the offer."

"Then increase it."

"Sir?"

"Double it."

Sebastian quickly shook his head.

"They already refused after the revised offer."

"Triple it."

"The agency said the decision wasn't about money."

"Then make it about money."

Evie couldn't help laughing.

"There he is."

Luca looked at her.

"What?"

"The Luca Hernaez I know."

She folded her arms.

"You don't take rejection very well."

"It wasn't a rejection."

Evie raised an eyebrow.

"Oh?"

"It was poor business judgment."

Several directors subtly lowered their heads, pretending to review their documents to hide their amusement.

Evie smirked.

"So... someone actually said no to you."

"They rejected the proposal. They rejected you."

"Evie." He mumbled as a matter of fact.

"They rejected the proposal." She grinned wider. "She rejected you... No one separates the two."

A few muffled coughs echoed around the table.

Luca shot them a warning glance.

Instant silence.

Evie chuckled. "I've never seen this before."

"What?"

"You... .Being told no."

Luca calmly folded his hands.

"I simply require a wife."

"Exactly."

"So I'm acquiring one."

Marielle nearly choked on her own saliva.

Evie burst into laughter.

"Acquiring one?"

Luca looked genuinely confused.

"What?"

"You make it sound like you're purchasing another company."

"It's a contract."

"It's a marriage."

"It's temporary."

Evie shook her head, still smiling.

"You're unbelievable."

Luca ignored the comment.

"Sebastian."

"Yes, sir."

"I don't care what S&S charges."

"Yes, sir."

"I don't care how much they demand."

"...Understood."

"I want Attorney Natalie Ariana De Dios handling the contract."

Sebastian nodded despite his uncertainty.

"I'll contact them again."

Evie tilted her head.

"Can I ask something?"

Luca looked at her.

"Why her?"

The room suddenly became quiet again.

It was the question everyone had been wondering.

Why insist on one consultant?

S&S was known to have several excellent attorneys.

Yet Luca refused every alternative.

He answered without hesitation.

"Because she's the best."

Evie smiled knowingly.

"That's all?"

"Yes."

"No other reason?"

"No."

She studied his face for a few moments.

Then shrugged.

"Hmm."

She wasn't convinced.

Not even a little.

Because Luca wasn't the kind of man who chased people.

If someone declined his offer, he moved on.

Immediately.

He never negotiated twice.

Never asked twice.

Never insisted.

Yet here he was...

Reappealing a request that had already been rejected.

For a woman he claimed was merely "the best."

Evie looked out at the skyline before smiling to herself.

This should be interesting.

She had no idea that the woman her brother refused to replace...

Wasn't just the country's most sought-after contract consultant.

She was also the little red-haired girl who had once chased him around their neighborhood with muddy shoes, scraped knees, and an endless supply of laughter.

And the one name Luca had quietly buried years ago...

without ever realizing he never truly forgot her.

Sasga had barely taken a sip of her now-cold coffee when the familiar ding of her inbox echoed through her office.

She didn't bother looking immediately.

She already had a feeling.

Three...

Two...

One...

Ding.

Another email.

Sasha sighed before moving her mouse.

From: Executive Office of Luca Elios Hernaez

Subject: Revised Proposal

She closed her eyes.

"...Persistent."

Click.

The email opened.

«Good afternoon, Atty. So.

Mr. Luca Elios Hernaez wishes to formally resubmit his request for Attorney Natalie Ariana De Dios as the assigned consultant.

Mr. Hernaez is willing to renegotiate all professional fees and contractual conditions.

Kindly inform us of your firm's final requirements.

Respectfully,

Sebastian Cruz

Executive Assistant to the CEO»

Sasha let out a slow exhale before dropping her head onto her desk.

"Unbelievable..."

She reached for the intercom.

"Pat?"

A cheerful voice answered almost immediately.

"Yes, Ma'am Sasha?"

"Coffee."

"The strong one?"

"The strongest."

"...Mr. Hernaez again?"

Sasha blinked.

"...How did you know?"

Patricia laughed from the reception.

"Your face usually tells me who emailed."

"Do I look that obvious?"

"Very."

Sasha groaned.

"Bring coffee."

"Right away."

A minute later, Patricia entered carrying a fresh cup.

She placed it carefully on Sasha's desk before noticing the email displayed on the monitor.

"Oh."

"There he is."

Sasha pointed at the screen.

"Tell me I'm hallucinating."

Patricia leaned closer.

"Nope."

"Same assistant."

"Same request."

"Same consultant."

She looked at Sasha with sympathy.

"He really wants Attorney Natalie."

"He really does."

"And?"

Sasha reached for her keyboard.

"I'm rejecting it."

Again.

She began typing.

«Dear Mr. Cruz,

Thank you for your continued confidence in S&S Consultancy.

Unfortunately, Attorney Natalie Ariana De Dios has officially resigned from the firm effective today. Her decision is final and personal.

While we can confidently recommend several senior consultants with comparable expertise, Attorney De Dios is no longer available for contractual engagements.

We respectfully decline your request.

Sincerely,

Atty. Sahara Shanel So

Managing Director»

She read the email once.

Twice.

Then clicked...

Send.

"There."

Patricia smiled.

"Problem solved?"

Sasha laughed.

"I doubt it."

As if on cue—

Ding.

Both women froze.

Patricia slowly looked at Sasha.

"...No way."

Sasha stared at the screen.

Another email.

Same sender.

Same executive office.

Patricia burst out laughing.

"He replied already?"

Sasha clicked it open.

It wasn't from Sebastian this time.

It was much shorter.

Only one sentence.

«Then kindly inform Attorney De Dios that Mr. Hernaez does not accept her resignation from this matter.»

Sasha stared blankly.

Patricia covered her mouth to stop herself from laughing.

"...Can he even do that?"

"No."

"Legally?"

"No."

"Morally?"

"No."

"Emotionally?"

"Apparently."

Sasha pinched the bridge of her nose.

"This man..."

Patricia couldn't help herself anymore.

"He sounds offended."

"He is offended."

"He got rejected."

Sasha leaned back in her chair.

"That's exactly the problem."

People didn't reject Luca Hernaez.

Banks approved his loans before meetings even started.

Governments invited him to investment summits.

Companies competed just to earn five minutes of his attention.

Business magazines called him the country's most influential billionaire.

Women chased him.

Investors trusted him.

Executives feared him.

And now...

For probably the first time in his adult life...

Someone had simply said—

"No."

A knock interrupted their conversation.

"Come in."

The door opened, revealing Jas.

"Boss?"

"What is it?"

"Atty. Natalie is downstairs."

Sasha smiled.

"Good."

"She forgot a box."

Sasha's smile disappeared.

She instinctively looked at the glowing computer screen.

Then at the unopened reply from Luca.

Then back at Jas.

"...Don't let her come up here."

Jas frowned.

"Huh?"

"I'll bring the box myself."

Patricia raised an eyebrow.

"Protective much?"

Sasha grabbed the box from beside her desk.

"You two don't understand."

Jas folded her arms.

"Understand what?"

Sasha looked at the email one last time before turning off her monitor.

"I've spent years helping Natalie leave her past behind."

She tightened her grip on the box.

"I'm not about to let her past walk back into her life because one billionaire doesn't know how to take no for an answer."

With that, she walked out of her office.

Unaware that, at almost the exact same moment...

A black Rolls-Royce bearing the Hernaez family crest had just turned into the building's driveway.