At the age of twenty four, she was now the vice president of their company—Romano Real Estate. They've got a very successful business that made them one of the most influential families in the country today.
"Good afternoon Señorita Katerina, Señora Felice is waiting for you at the dining table already," their butler Lucia politely announced.
"I'll be there in a minute, Lucia," she replied.
When she approached the table, her daddy Eduardo was already there too but a guest who was with them now caught her attention. If she's not mistaken, the man was present at her twenty—fourth birthday party last week and he is also a current senator in the country.
She kissed her parents first before taking her seat.
"Katerina, I want you to meet my business associate, Don Valentino Castellanos. He is the owner of Infinity wine, Kumpadre, this is my unica hija, Katerina," her father introduced.
The visitor smiled at her. "You have a very beautiful daughter Kumpadre," he praised and held out his hand to her. "Nice to meet you hija."
She smiled lightly before accepting the man's handshake. "Nice to meet you too." The Don gently squeezed her palm which made her anxious.
Valentino was almost the same age as his father. The man still has a stance and is handsome but it seems like she doesn't like something in the aura he brings. She senses some dark, mysterious and dangerous personality behind the smile he's wearing. She felt that the gentleman was only disguising himself.
Lunch took place peacefully between them. They talk about business and she only talks when asked. After finishing the meal, she was about to say goodbye but her mother stopped her.
"Stay Katerina, we have an important matter to talk about," she said. Her mother's tone was too serious and she even saw her father squeezing her mother's hand that was resting on the table. The scenery makes her wonder even more about what's going on.
The two looked at each other before speaking. "You will be getting married next month, Katerina," her mother announced.
Katerina dropped the cutlery she was holding because of the shock. What kind of nonsense is this when she doesn't even have a boyfriend and then they are announcing to her, her marriage? Who will she marry?
She laughed to relieve the tension she was feeling at the moment. "Is this some kind of prank? Y—you're just kidding me, right?" She asked but she couldn't find the joke out of their faces.
Turning her attention to the other side of the table, she saw the Don staring intently at her. Gradually, the anger that she feels for him emerges. Is this the one she's going to marry that's why he's here? Based on what she heard, the old man had no wife nor any children.
"Hija—" her father tried to touch her but she held up her left palm to stop him from reaching her.
She doesn't want to burst out.
"No… Just stay right there Dad," she said through gritted teeth.
"Hija please understand us, this is for our business," pleaded her mother Felice.
She stared at her in disbelief "...business? You call that business? Since when did getting married become a business to you mom?!" She combed her hair with her fingers in frustration. "People marry because of love and not because of fucking business!"
Tears started to fall from the corner of her eyes. How could they do this to her? Why are they forcing her to marry someone she didn't love neither she had known completely? Is it that easy for them to marry her off without asking her opinion if it's okay with her or not? She thought her parents loved her dearly but she was wrong.
"Language Katerina!" Her daddy Eduardo shouted.
Her mother immediately patted her daddy's shoulder to calm him down. "Calm down honey, our princess didn't mean it. She was just shocked."
She shook her head. Shocked was an understatement of what she's feeling right now. It's not just shock, it's rage! She felt betrayed by the people she trusted the most. She feels like they just sold her to other people for business that is not necessary.
They were already on top, what more do they want?
"Hija, this is for your own good, okay? We are your parents and we know it will be good for you too," her mommy explained again but her brain was too preoccupied to listen.
"I won't marry anyone unless I want to, Dad, Mom," she uttered the last word before she stood up and stormed out towards her room. There she mumbled and cried.
She won't do it. Her parents already know her, she was born stubborn and independent and she will stand up for that even if it means she'll stand up on her own feet from now on.
No one can dictate her. No one!
A few days passed and her parents' decision was still firm that she had no other choice but to leave them. She wanted them to realize that the marriage was a bad decision. Maybe staying away from them for a few months until they give up and let her make her own choice for her life will do. She won't let them manipulate her.
"What?! You're leaving?" Wilma exclaimed on the other line.
"Yes Wilma, in fact I'm just waiting for midnight so I can leave," she whispered.
She was currently in her bathroom leaving the faucet on in the sink so she wouldn't be heard outside just in case.
"Bestie, please don't do it. What you're thinking is a crazy idea. Do you think your daddy can't find you plus you said your fiance is a senator? They'll probably search the whole world just to find you," Wilma said worriedly.
She could feel the fear in her friend's voice but she was really determined to escape.
"I have already found a place. I'll transfer to a rural area, far away from technologies and etcetera. I would live a simple life where no one would recognize me. I'm sure they won't find me there," she beamed confidently.
"Rural? You mean you're going to be a province girl?!"
"If that would cancel the wedding then yes! I'll do anything Wilma. Anything!"
"Bestie, you don't know anything about how provincial life works, you don't even know how to cook! Oh god please listen to me. I'm the one who's afraid for you!"
She just shook her head. No matter what Wilma says, her decision will not change at all.
Later that night she saw that the guards outside were almost sleepy and the light in the living room was already off. Carrying her duffel bag, she slowly walked down the stairs.
Every step she took was very careful until she reached the secret gate at the back of the mansion where no one noticed her. When she got out, she took one more look at their mansion before driving her bicycle away…
Goodbye for the meantime Mom, Dad…
Katerina took a deep breath while looking at the vast ocean. It's been three months since she left their place leaving only a piece of goodbye letter. She felt a lot of longing for her parents but she endured it rather than marrying that creepy old man. After leaving Manila, she ended up in Isla Dominica in the Visayas region. The place was far from the town so she felt comfortable that her parents would not learn her whereabouts. The lifestyle of the people there is also simple which she adapted immediately. No electricity. No gadgets. No advanced technology. It feels like the place was very far from civilization. "Katerina?" from the view of the ocean she turned to the person calling her name. She saw a masculine and handsome creature standing not far away from her. "Achilles!" she called him smiling. Achilles was a fisherman on the island. A month after she arrived at that place she found the man unconscious on the beach after a strong typhoon struck the island. When the you
Katerina was nervous upon seeing the new arrivals. She had seen them once on the island when she was still new to the area. Her neighbors warned her not to go out when this group would be there because of the trouble these men were making and she might become their target. They often come to take half of the fisherman's catch. Even if she didn't agree with what they were doing, she didn't have the strength to reprimand the men. They are known for being fiery and feared even in the neighboring islands. "It looks like you have a lot of fish caught today, Ben," said the leader. As far as she remembers the man's name was Edgar. "Ah—y—yeah, it's just a bit of luck, boss," replied the old man whose fear was obvious in his voice and face. Edgar grinned evilly before speaking again. "Well, if that's the case every day, I'll take everything you've got here today." "Uhm…I g—guess that's too much boss," Ben complained weakly. Anger suddenly flashed in Edgar's eyes and grabbed the old man'
"Are you alright? You didn't get hurt, did you?" Achilles asks worriedly while checking her face to see if she got any scars. "I'm fine Achilles," she said and scanned his face too. She saw some wounds on Achilles' face, especially the cut on the side of his lip. She caressed them absentmindedly. "Does it hurt?" she asked gently. "Yeah, a little." Achilles replied, pouting. She sighed and later hit Achilles' arm in annoyance. "Ouch! Why are you hurting me?" Achilles complained. "Why were you so brave earlier! What if you can't handle those rascals?! What do you think would happen? They could've killed you Achilles!" She combed her hair in worry and frustration. Achilles looked at her as if she had said something wrong. "Then what do you want me to do? Let them touch you and take you with them?" he said in a cold manner. She swallowed multiple times. If Achilles had not intervened earlier, she would probably have been completely taken away by those rascals and made her their s
Damon kept avoiding Katerina until the night came. He's very annoyed with what the woman did and her reaction earlier because he feels that she is more on the side of that dickheaded Rico. Since his first day on the island, he could already feel the man's distaste for his presence and continued to insult him for not having his own house and money. The asshole almost ruined the good boy image he built to make Katerina fall in love with him. Damon sighed, he can't let that dumbass ruin his plan for Katerina. He didn't waste months pretending here just for nothing. He endured the hard life on the island including being a fishman plus his hate for the stingy smell and especially the neighbors around who act close to him. How he wished he could make them vanish with his grenades left in the city. "Achilles..." Katerina's soft voice sounds like a melody in his ears. He turned around and saw her currently standing in front of him while playing with her fingers. The woman's face shows
The next day, Mira invited Katerina to bathe on the beach together with their other neighbors. Katerina thought that Achilles would pick her up because they already made up but Rico was the one on her doorstep. "Goodmorning Katerina, I just wanna invite you to the beach today," Rico said. "Uh... I'm sorry Rico, Achilles might be coming to fetch me up, I'll just go with him," she politely declined. She saw Rico's silly grin at what she said. "Don't expect him to pick you up, Katerina, he and Louella are already enjoying each other's company." She suddenly felt annoyed and frustrated. She just held her breath and was forced to go with the man in front of her. Rico tried to open a conversation but she lost interest in talking that made him silent. When they arrived at the place Rico was not lying, Louella was there with Achilles and the two were still laughing as if they were the only people in the place. She began to feel a little hurt and regretted coming with Rico but she felt
Warning! Mature/Sexual Contents Ahead. Please Read At Your Own Risk(: After the passionate kiss they secretly shared, Achilles never left Katerina's side the entire time. Even Rico didn't get the chance to get close to her because she felt like Achilles was guarding her. She also can't explain the romantic excitement she feels every time she remembers the kiss. Night comes and the two of them are both sitting on the sand in front of the shore while drinking Lambanog(coconut wine). They were silent the whole time as they were thinking of what topic should be open for a conversation. Minutes passed by before they spoke…"about the kiss—" they said in chorus, stopped at the same time too and soon laughed out. "You go first," he said. She hesitated and thought that he should speak first. "No you go first," she replied. "Nah, it should be ladies' first." "But I want you to speak first." Deafening silence took place for a moment. Achilles drank almost all of his wine before speakin
Warning! Mature/Sexual Contents Ahead. Please Read At Your Own Risk(: Damon planted small kisses on Katerina's face to relieve the pain caused by his entrance, ripping her hymen off. He can still see stains of blood on his manhood, proof that he was the first man in her life. "I'm sorry baby..." He hugged her and planted a passionate kiss on her lips. Katerina wasn't the first virgin he had, in fact he couldn't count the women whom he fuck since he could remember. He loves sex and fucking someone became his hobby for so long. But he couldn't understand the joy he was feeling at this moment right now. He was moving slowly on top of Katerina, trying very hard not to hurt her even though her tightness seemed to be suffocating his shaft. Never in his life did he remember that he was this considerate when it comes to bed. Just her, just Katerina alone. When he heard the woman's soft moan, he decided to thrust hard, fast and deeper. He felt really aroused while watching his cock, i
She was on her way home from Mira's house. The woman became her close friend after she came to that island. Mira is kind and a very straightforward person. She puts her at ease that's why she likes her companion. It was as if she was still with Wilma, her best friend whom she left in Manila. "Katerina." From her mind in ponder, she came to her senses upon hearing a familiar voice. Katerina turned around and saw Rico standing by a coconut tree not far from her. That was when she remembered that she hadn't talked to him for a while now, the last time was when both of them bathed in the sea weeks ago. "Rico," she approached him. "How are you?" "I'm fine, how 'bout you? I see you're getting prettier every time I see you, Kat," Rico replied, making her chuckle. "Nah! You must be kidding me this time." After some time, she noticed how Rico behaved anxiously in front of her. He's making her curious that she can't help herself but to ask "...what's wrong? You seem a bit agitated?" "Uhm