I was overwhelmed by the grandeur of the building in front of me. I suddenly recalled my first day of work at this company, and now it's been three years since. I still can't fully grasp that I've been here for so long.
"Ana!"
I quickly turned to the caller and saw Elena rushing towards me.
"Why did you come in? Sir Ares is already gone. He didn't leave any work for you," she informed me right away.
I frowned and entered the main entrance of the Aragon Estate building with Elena.
"What do you mean?" I asked her in surprise. She seemed equally bewildered.
"Didn't he tell you? The board has an out-of-town trip today and he's with Sir Ares and Don Damien," she replied, surprising me.
I didn't respond because I didn't know what to say. Ares never mentioned this to me. I just talked to him on the phone earlier, but he didn't say anything. It couldn't be true. Is she playing a joke on me?
"Really? Why didn't he tell me?" I asked as we waited for the elevator to open.
Elena just shrugged. "I don't know. I'm not his girlfriend. You know, you're really lucky. Just imagine, your boyfriend is our boss," she said excitedly, irritating me.
"I'm lucky for him because he's a good person, not because of his status, Elena," I quickly defended, and she laughed.
"I'm just kidding. I know that. You're my best friend, after all. I have a question for you," she continued, and I looked at her.
I noticed that she was acting weird, but I decided to let it go. She seemed to be hiding something from me and was struggling to tell me.
"What is it?"
"Do you want to get married? I mean, we're not young anymore. I know you're still focused on supporting your family, but you know... do you have any plans for marriage?" She asked, looking very eager to hear my answer.
I frowned as I contemplated Elena's question. Sometimes dealing with her randomness was challenging. I often found it hard to have meaningful conversations with her.
However, regarding her question, I do want to get married to the person I love, of course. Who wouldn't? I want to marry Ares. He's the only man I can see myself spending the rest of my life with, and I know he feels the same about me. But on the other hand, I'm not sure if I'm ready. I still have so much to achieve and prove to myself.
"That's quite a random question, Elena. You go upstairs first. I'll just call Sir Ares," I deflected.
She quickly turned to me with a pout, making me chuckle.
"You're such a buzzkill. See you later. I've got something important to tell you," she said as she bid me goodbye and hurried out when the elevator doors opened.
I followed her with my gaze until she disappeared from my sight. As the elevator closed again, I picked up my phone and quickly called Ares. It was still ringing when he answered.
"Yes, babe?" He greeted me on the other line, and I automatically smiled.
"Where are you?" I asked, leaning against the elevator frame. Next, I heard him swearing on the other line.
"Oh, damn! I'm sorry. I forgot to mention earlier that I'm on an out-of-town trip. I'm sorry, baby..." he apologized softly, pleading in his tone, making me smile even more, especially at the sound of his deep voice. Never gets old.
"It's okay, Ares. Elena already informed me, but I'm planning to stay here at the office. I have a lot to catch up on—"
"No, no. You should go home. I don't want you staying at the office without me. You know how I feel about that," he interjected, catching me off guard.
Even to this day, he still struggles with this issue. It's been a few months since that incident happened, but he can't seem to let it go. This man is really something else.
"It's fine, Ares. I'll stay in your office for now," I insisted and stepped out of the elevator when it opened.
I headed straight to the pantry when I felt hunger gnawing at me. I hadn't had breakfast before leaving home earlier due to the rush. Also, mama was in a bad mood, so I wasn't sure if I'd have much of an appetite at home.
Ares sighed on the other line, seemingly patient again.
"Just do as I ask, Anastacia. Go home and wait for me. Let's discuss things once I get back. Don't you dare disobey me," he warned me, making me swallow any retort. I wasn't really winning with this guy.
"Fine, Sir Ares Constantine. See you soon. Please be safe," I conceded, finding a seat on a sofa nearby. Next, I heard a slight grin in his voice.
"I'll see you soon. Take care. I love you, Ana," he said seriously, and a smile involuntarily spread across my face. The butterflies in my stomach were starting to flutter again, and my heartbeat quickened.
Things haven't changed much. It's been two years since I officially accepted his love, but his demeanor towards me is still as it was from the beginning. I'm gradually falling deeper into him, and I don't know how to convey it. I fear that if I do, he might change. But then again, I doubt it.
Ares is a good man. From the moment I met him, his kindness was evident, much like his father, Don Damien, the owner of the Aragon Group of Companies. Their family stands among the wealthiest and most successful businessmen in the country, with ventures ranging from hotels, casinos, resorts, and malls. Ares serves as the CEO of Aragon Estate, which focuses on managing casinos and resorts.
So when he told me one day that he wanted to date me, I was stunned. Initially unsure of his intentions, I felt like he might just be messing with me. But my skepticism disappeared when he introduced me to his parents and expressed his deep love for me.
After my conversation with Ares, I decided to meet up with Elena outside the building. As much as I wanted to stay at the office, I also refrained from doing so, knowing Ares might catch wind of it and come home because of that.
"Got any plans for later?" Elena asked while we waited for a taxi.
"Just heading home. Why? What's up?" I inquired.
My attention momentarily shifted as I received a text from my older brother, Matthew.
Matthew
Lend me some money
I stared at it for a moment before replying and then turned to Elena. It was then that I noticed she had also glanced at my phone, so I placed it back in my bag.
"The audacity of your brother is truly something else. He's the eldest and still asking you for money," she remarked. I just shook my head.
"You know the situation. Maybe he needs it to find a job," I responded, turning my attention back to the road.
"He's still job-hunting? Your family really is different. You're fortunate in your love life but less fortunate in your family," she said seriously, so I patted her arm.
"I'm still fortunate because I still have a family," I replied briefly, and she simply stared at me. Before she could say more, a taxi pulled up in front of us, and I bid her goodbye.
"I'll text you later. Take care," she said before parting ways, and I nodded.
As soon as the car started moving, my phone rang again with another text, still from my older brother.
Matthew
Just hand it to mom when you get home
I winced as I read that. I chose not to respond and simply looked out the window. That's when I noticed the gloomy sky, hinting at an upcoming rain. I felt even heavier as memories of that incident resurfaced amidst the heavy rain.
"I miss you so much, papa..." I whispered to myself as the rain poured down.
I reached home in about an hour. The quiet ambiance enveloped me as I headed straight to my room.
After changing into comfortable clothes, I went out to look for Mama or Agatha. In the backyard, I spotted Mama chatting with some of her friends. When I saw what they were up to, I felt a wave of fatigue and let out a sigh. I was about to head back to my room when I ran into Agatha, just coming out of her room.
"When did they start playing?" I asked her, but she didn't even look at me.
"Agatha," I called her name again, thinking she hadn't heard me. She glanced at me for a moment, then turned away once more.
"Let her be, Ana. You always object like that. It’s annoying," she replied firmly.
I pursed my lips, ready to say something, but she entered her room and nearly closed the door. I bit my lower lip and sighed heavily. Gambling is not a hobby...
Later that afternoon, I was taken aback by a series of phone rings. I quickly picked up and answered when I saw Elena's name.
"Hello..."
"Ana! I've been trying to call you! It's Ares!" Elena shouted on the other line. I felt a sudden rush of energy due to her words and tone. She seemed confused and scared, so I immediately got up.
"What... why? What happened? Where are you?" I bombarded her with questions, my heart starting to tremble.
"I'm outside your house!" she continued. I could still hear her gasping, so I hurriedly left the room.
"Elena, why? What's going on?"
"Ares... had an accident on his way home. I've been trying to call you!"
My heart seemed to stop for a moment when I heard that. Without another thought, I ran out of the house as tears streamed down my face.
Ares...
I had been restless in the car since earlier, while Elena seemed unfazed. I wanted to ask her what was truly going on because I felt like she was just playing a prank on me. As we traveled to the hospital where she said Ares was, she didn't talk to me, and I sensed no concern from her."Are we still far away, Elena? Is there no one we should contact at the hospital? Should I call his dad or his mom?" I bombarded her with questions, periodically checking my cell phone."Don't call anyone, Ana. We're almost there, don't worry," she replied, her tone was serious. I looked at her in surprise."What do you mean—""Just relax, Ana," she interrupted me and accelerated the car.Confused, I waited for us to reach our destination. A few more minutes passed until we stopped in front of an upscale restaurant. I turned to Elena, ready to question her. But before I could speak, she swiftly got out of the car and opened the passenger seat door. I was met with her apologetic face."What's going on? W
"So, what did your mom say about Ares' proposal?" Elena asked me once more, leaning into my cubicle.I chose to ignore her and focused on my work, stealing a glance at Ares' still-empty office. Elena was already beside me, eyeing my arm."What happened there?" She asked, her tone serious and a bit threatening.I swiftly adjusted my dress, pulling down the blouse's sleeve to cover my arm. I avoided her gaze and started stapling the scattered papers."Aren't you going to take any action? I'm swamped with work, Elena. Let's talk later," I evasively replied, but she didn't seem to take that for an answer.She grabbed my arm, making me look at her. She looked at my bruises. I winced as she raised her eyebrows. That was where Matthew gripped me last night. I couldn't even come up with an excuse because his fingers had left scratches that turned into bruises."Has Sir Ares seen this?" She pressed on, and I simply shook my head."We haven't spoken about it," I replied sparingly. Then I heard
"Are you sure you don't want me to take you there?" Ares asked again as we reached the front gate of our house.I turned to him and took my bag. When I looked at him again, I noticed he was yawning and struggling to keep his eyes open."Just rest. I'm sure Elena will pick me up," I reassured him. He took my hand and gave it a gentle squeeze."I wish I could rest with you in my room," he confessed, looking visibly exhausted. His eyes were soft, and he seemed like he could fall asleep right there.I gave him an apologetic smile. I didn't know how to respond because even though we'd been in a relationship for two years, we had never shared a bed or even been left alone in the same room. Even if I wanted to, I couldn't give in. It had never crossed my mind. Luckily, he understood my situation."I'm sorry..." I whispered to him and hugged him. "We're getting married, so...""Hush, it's fine. I don't want you to think that I'm excited to marry you just for that. I understand," he said gentl
"Where were you? You're taking forever!" Elena greeted me as I reached their table."Oh my gosh, Ana! It's true you're engaged! Can I see your ring?" Riley exclaimed loudly, quickly grabbing my hand to inspect my ring."How long have you been here? We were starting to think you weren't coming," Via said, her usual seriousness in her tone."The bartender at the counter chatted with me for a bit. There was even a guy—""Oh my god! Please tell me you didn't drink the wine Christian offered you?" Elena interrupted, and I looked at her."How did you know? I didn't drink because—""Thank goodness! Never accept drinks from that man or anyone here. You don't know what sort of
If only I could turn back time to that night and change what occurred, I would, a million times over. But it's too late now. Far too late.Waking up from a nightmare is bad enough, but waking up next to a stranger and discovering you're now married is far beyond what I imagined. Especially when you realize something happened between the two of you."How did this happen? I didn't... what... What did I do? Damn!" I kept whispering to myself.The frustration was overpowering because I had no memory of what happened. I glanced again at the man beside me, feeling a surge of panic. I closed my eyes tightly and hastily got dressed, gathering my belongings, though I still felt weak throughout.I rushed out of that hotel and hailed a taxi to take me home. I had no idea how to fee
"Hey Ana, we need Sir Ares' signature on this Galvez contract," Nikki said to me.I glanced up at Nikki and acknowledged with a nod, taking the papers from her."Why weren't you here yesterday? Sir seemed off without you," she commented, making me cringe."There was a family emergency. I'll get this to him ASAP. He's still in a meeting, right?" I shifted the conversation and nodded at her. She seemed like she wanted to say more but left instead.I peeked at Ares's office. He wasn't there; he was still in the conference room. I had just arrived and really wanted to avoid crossing paths with him. Even though I knew I couldn't escape once he confronted me, I was trying to steer clear for now. I was afraid he might see something in my eyes.
I've committed numerous wrongdoings in my lifetime, and amidst all of that, I've been able to acknowledge them to myself and those I've wronged. It's given me a sense of peace and a stable conscience.However, I feel this sin, this secret, might now be my undoing. For reasons unknown, I sense that even though everything that happened that night was accidental, I am truly to blame. I should know what transpired on that fateful night.And now, I find myself trapped in his arms. It's just that simple, and I can't do anything about it.LoveDon't dress too formally. Casual attire will suffice.I smiled as I read that text from Ares once more. I couldn't help but smile whenever he texted. Aside from
Unknown NumberI'll see you again, my wife.I frowned upon reading that. I chose not to reply and instead glanced at Elena, who was engrossed in her phone. It was our lunch break, and she was accompanying me since Ares couldn't make it due to an important commitment."Do you know how much an annulment costs?""Holy shit!"Both Elena and I were taken aback by her exclamation. I saw her defeated expression on her phone screen, which made me laugh."What? What annulment?" she asked in shock. "I lost. Tsk!" she added, sounding disappointed, leaving me perplexed.I bit my lower lip and recalled what the mysterious man had