Danika’s mind was a jumbled mess as she roughly steer her car toward her boutique. Her encounter with Sia and the way she let loose of herself in front of Sia angers her. Is this how she’ll keep acting? Like a fish brought out of the water and has no power to move around.
Where did all her confidence go? Did it shrivel just because Sia is a powerful woman? Danika is never the type to accept weakness. She always love to stick her nose high and eyes ahead but bowing or willing herself at the cocoon of someone’s mercy was never her thing. That’s why she can’t stop mentally screaming at how she acted like a jellyfish.
As she mentally lash out at herself, her mind swerved to the mark on Sia’s neck.
“Did Lucas lie to me? Why do they have an indentation on their body at the same time?” She mused, swiveling the steering wheel. “Sure enough, Lucas’s marks were as a result of the retch but I can’t stop wondering if he played me.” She whisper-screamed.
Danika wants to distract herself from the boggling thoughts but it keeps sliding back into her mind. She flipped on her stereo and put on music to fill up the silence.
Minutes after her scattered thoughts relented, she rolled into the driveway of her boutique. She turned off the engine before gathering her bag and phone.
Painting her practiced smile on her face, she clenched out of her car and slung her bag on her elbow.
As she made her way into the boutique, the security stationed by the door fluttered the door open and a tall, hulk of a man pranced outside. His cap barely hid his face. So Danika was able to take in his perfectly pronounced jaws and thick brows. His tiny lips set in a straight line and his cheeks glints with pride as a smile crinkled them. The reflexive budge of his arms gave her a hint of his burly arms, given the way his shirt clung tight to his arms. Danika envisions how chiseled his V-line would be and the ironed-out hairs that mat his biceps down to his groin.
She shook her head at the thought and inwardly reprimanded herself for her last thought. But something about the man sends streaks of curiosity inside her. Unlike other guys she has seen, he carries himself with pride.
When her eyes crashed with the object of her thoughts, an involuntary smile slid onto her face. Beyond her expectation, the man offered her a grin too before moving toward the Uber parked in front of the boutique.
Snapping herself back to reality, she strutted into the boutique and beheld her staff ogling at the entrance, apparently at the same man she saw.
Isabel rushed toward her and spilled her greetings. Instead of giving her a reply, Danika reflexively asked the question on the seam of her lips.
“Who was that man and what was he doing here?”
The flapping of Isabel’s eyes is enough proof that the man put her in a trance too. She cleared her throat before whispering her response.
“He came to fetch a few clothes for himself I presume. You know shoes and an overall with facemasks. I think.”
Danika gave her a nod but Isabel pressed on with her words.
“I think he’s a spy or something like that. The way he acts is not genuine. I mean, he talks with a gruff voice just below a whisper and he barely holds eye contact with anyone. However, his overbearing looks cast spell on us.” Isabel said.
“Where’s his receipt? I want to see it.” Danika demanded.
Taking the order, Isabel crept to the counter and took the man’s receipt and handed it to Danika.
With a quick glance at the sheet, she saw the name Raymond and his contact number. For some unknown reason, she put the sheet in her phone’s pouch.
“You can go back to what you were doing.” She said to Isabel who obliged wordlessly.
Danika feels the need to keep the number, maybe she’ll need it one day.
**
Work at the office was quite jam-packed and Sia over-stressed herself to catch up on what she was missing. After discussing with Estrella about Perez LTD, Sia dedicated herself to reading the proposal the company sent.
From what she observed, they’re requesting for funds in a project that will benefit both companies.
Sia instructed Liam to schedule a meeting with Perez LTD which she’ll attend not as the CEO of Monson group but rather as a representative.
She wants to see the prissy man Estrella was referring to. Not that she’s interested in him or anything but the description of what Estrella gave her is enough to trigger to her mind.
A knock resounded in the room and Sia permitted the person to come in.
Liam strutted in and held Sia’s gaze. As always he can’t seem to peel his eyes off her nor has he overcome the clawing feelings deep inside him.
Sia regarded him from under her lashes before humming to the somewhat dazed Liam.
“How may I help you?” she asked him. When Sia’s rigid voice zapped into Liam’s ears, he schooled his features.
“I just want to inform you about the work you gave me. Just to brief the progress, ma’am.” He uttered.
Sia wordlessly gestured for him to take a seat. Liam helped himself and began spilling the details to Sia.
“I was able to buy shares from ten shareholders today. But they were too curious to know who the anonymous is.” He said holding Sia’s gaze.
Sia gave him a lopsided grin. “Worry not about that. Just keep working as the anonymous.” She told him.
She told herself that she’ll stake a claim of the Evangelista’s group on the day of her debutante. Speaking of the debutante, Sia’s interest to learn how the new ruler of the family makes their debutante sparkle inside her.
Well, Michelle would be a better help in this case. She discharged Liam with a wave of her hand before driving her eyes back to her computer.
Time dragged by fast and before Sia looked up from her screen again, it was already dark. Exhaustion circled the edges of her vision. She let out a long yawn and sigh before rising from her seat to stretch herself.
She gathered her stuff together and bee-lined for the door. Liam quickly drove her home.
By the time she hobbled into the house, Michelle already adorned the table with her favorite cuisine.
Sinking into the seat, Sia clutched her utensils and devoured the food.
“How was your day?” Michelle asked, aiming to stir a conversation between them. Sia nod her head as she speared the steak and stuffed it into her mouth.
“Michelle,” Sia called as she gripped the paper napkin. Wiping the corners of her mouth clean, she asked. “How does each ruler of the family make a debutante?”
Michelle settled on the seat across from Sia’s. A sharp, contagious grin slid on her face.
“It varies. Just like individuals’ choice varies. You could organize a party where you showcase yourself. You could spread it through gossip magazines that you’re the new ruler. So it depends on your choice.” Michelle said.
“I’m so not ready to organize a party. I think I know how to go about mine.” She murmured, wagging her brows at Michelle.
Fur dashed into the dining and snuggled at Sia’s feet. She picked her up and nuzzled her a little.
“She was on a house tour since today,” Michelle said, grinning.
“As I had expected. It’s good she get used to the house.” Sia gushed, patting Fur’s back.
A little close to midnight, Sia took the plate of apples Michelle kept for her and clambered to her room with Fur.
By the time she was done showering, her eyes were already clipping close. Sia endeavored to wolf down the apple she cut before slipping into her comforter.
Fur snuggled beside her and Sia switched off the lamp before fluttering her eyes close.
The room turned pitch-black. Only the gray rays of the moon slithered inside and shone on Sia’s face.
Sia is a shallow sleeper sometimes but on the days she’s more than stressed out, she dives into a deep slumber.
Three hours after she dived into her slumber, she heard Fur barking, inexorably. Deep in her sleep, Fur’s barking was muffled and she ignored it. It was not until she found it hard to breathe and someone trapped her legs with his thighs that she forced her eyes open.
Sia couldn’t suck some air and her eyes remained dead close. She figured as she struggled to free herself that the person wants to smother her with a throw cushion.
In the midst of her fruitless struggles, her hand staggered on the nightstand and she clutched the kitchen knife.
Much to the murderer’s surprise, Sia sank the knife into his neck.
A shrilled groan of anguish danced off his lips and he staggered backward.
Sia flipped off the throw cushion and her eyes pasted on the staggering masked man.