back in square one

"Why did you come back? Man, you should have stayed there forever in your cave. It was so much fun here when you were gone."

I threw a crumpled paper at Luther, who was sitting on the edge of the desk and tampering with the stacked papers.

"You're just happy because you're free to flirt with my secretary. I heard from Ivan that you're starting your dark plan. I'm warning you, man. Leave Christine alone. She's like my sister. Don't line her up with your women. "

I signed the finalized design for the capsule hotel that Luther and I would be building.

"Woah! You're really a different person now, man. You seem to be a saint now. Looks like Femella did something good to you other than break your heart."

My hand stopped on its own at the mention of the woman's name. Our separation still hurts me until now. I sighed and diverted the conversation.

"It looks like we're going to have a problem with the acquisition of some properties. A few families have refused to sell their land."

Luther stood up and sat in the chair in front of my desk.

"We can double our offer to them. I'll call the legal department about this. You didn't raise it during our meeting."

I took the fountain pen and played with it by hand.

"It didn't pose a problem during that time. The head of the family agreed during our first negotiation. But just this week, our team was called to pull out of the agreement."

I sipped on a cup of coffee.

"I'll take care of it. You'll take care of the construction."

"Leave it to my expertise." He stood up. "I need to go. I just passed by here to say hello. I haven't seen you in a month because you just disappeared. I came back from Japan when you came home last week so I wasn't able to visit you."

I shook my head. He's treating me like I have some sort of terminal illness.

He tapped me on the shoulder.

"It's just a woman. Don't miss our trip next week. Let's go back to Indonesia. I miss rock climbing. Don't refuse this time."

I stood up and accompanied him to the door. Christine immediately stood up upon seeing us. She blushed and averted her gaze when Luther winked at her.

"Do I have any appointment for this afternoon?"

She nodded. "You have a meeting with Mr. Hauyingco at three o'clock, sir," she replied politely.

Christine only looks at my direction as if it's a sin if she considers looking at Luther's way.

"Okay. Remind me later."

"Yes, sir."

"Bye, Tine."

Luther waved at her.

"Bye, sir," she replied.

I pulled Luther away because he might melt the girl with his stare. We went down to the lobby together. We already agreed to eat out to discuss other details about the projects.

"Maverick!"

I stopped from getting into the car and turned around. I sighed when I saw Trisha. Luther stopped from opening his car and frowned at us.

"What do you want, Trisha? I thought we've talked it all through. I have no intention of giving any more if you ask for more money."

She looked down, sighed, then looked up at me again.

"I just wanted to talk to you for a moment. It'll be the last one, I promise."

I glanced at my wristwatch.

"Make it fast. I don't have much time."

"In private, please."

"Okay. Let's get inside."

I was about to enter back into the hotel but she stopped me. I looked at her.

"Just here in your car so you won't be disturbed too much. It will only take a few minutes."

I turned to Luther who was still looking at us.

"You go first. I'll just deal with this."

He looked at Trisha and then back to me before nodding and getting into the car.

I turned to Trisha and then stepped aside to let her inside the backseat.

"Talk."

"Don't you still remember anything?" she reluctantly asked.

I blew air. The rest of my patience is running out.

"If this is about that fucking issue again then cut it off. I don't want to hear anything from you. Get out."

"I'm sorry," she said. "Let me finish first, please."

I took a deep breath.

"Go. Talk."

"First of all, I'm not doing this for her. I'm doing this for you. For the guilt in my heart to completely disappear. I'm sorry, Maverick."

She sobbed.

A knot on my forehead formed when I saw the tears on her face.

"For what?"

"For lying to you and Femella. We also had a relationship back then so I feel really guilty now. I only did that because I really love you. But when you helped me and you let me live in your unit and gave me money, that's when I realized that no matter what I do, you still won't be able to love me. "

"If this is your another ploy to get something from me then I'm afraid I can't take it anymore. Go home, Trisha."

I pushed a button and the door to her side opened.

But she did not budge from the seat. She looked at my arm with determined eyes.

"The bracelet. Do you still have it?"

I was puzzled by her question. Bracelet? What bracelet? My heart started beating erratically.

"What are you talking about?"

"The gold bracelet. I took it from Femella's bag to se but I found out it was fake. You saw me wearing it when we were on our way home so you went angry."

I clenched my fists at the extreme tension I felt. There are also scenes and memories playing in my mind. I gripped her hand on my arm and forced the words out of my mouth.

"What about it?"

I can already feel my nerves throbbing in my head because of the anticipation of what she will say next.

She seemed scared because she pulled her hand that I was holding tightly. I let her go but I pushed the button again to lock back the door. She turned pale.

"I won't do anything to you if you tell me everything."

I took off my necktie and threw it on the seat.

"Go on," I said in a hard voice and rubbed my aching head.

"You gave that to her."

"Why would I give her a bracelet if you were my girlfriend back then?"

I closed my eyes because of the intensifying headache.

"I lied to her. I told her that you're my boyfriend back then. She believed me because we became friends even before Femella came to Sta. Barbara. I was the first one so I can't accept that you liked her more than me. I pretended to be an adult so that you'll like me. You said you like her so I made a way for you not to confess to her first. I did it so that she would stay away from you. I'm sorry, Maverick. I was young then so I didn't really know the consequences. I'm sorry."

I angrily grabbed her arm and my eyes blazed with anger as I looked at her.

"Suppose that what you are saying is true, why did you still lie when I met you?"

She turned even paler with my reaction but she still chose to answer me.

"Femella told me you don't remember anything so I took advantage of that. If for a long time you don't remember, there's a good chance you'll never remember again."

"And if the fool in me believed you, would you lie to me all throughout our lives? You guys are sick."

I let her go and sighed frustratingly. Shit. Why are they doing all these to me? First, Femella lied to me. Now, even her sister also intends to play me on her palm?

"Get out, Trisha. Your confession is useless. We're not together with your twin anymore. If what you only wanted is to clear your conscience then consider it done," I said coldly.

I unlocked the door and signaled her to leave.

"I'm really sorry, Maverick. I hope you find in your heart to forgive me. And if you ever meet Femella, please let her know that I apologize to her. I'm blinded with so much envy. I hope you fix your relationship."

"It's just really funny how you love her until now. She's still the one you wanted to be with," she said in a sad voice. "Femella is really lucky." She wiped away the tears before they came down. "Goodbye, Maverick."

She closed the doors but I didn't flinch on my seat. I'm still shocked about Trisha’s confessions. So all this time, Femella, whom I used to love, was referring to herself. I laughed bitterly. Destiny is really playful.

But what do I do with this information? Will she be back in my arms if I tell her that? Will this erase the fact that she has already ended our relationship?

"Damn!"

I got out of the car to move to the driver's seat and drove away before calling Luther.

"Eat alone, man. I have an emergency."

I didn't wait for him to answer. I ended the call to call Jex.

"Jex, give me Vida's address."

"Right away, sir."

When I got Vida's address, I accelerated the car. I knew Femella had left her apartment. The bodyguard I assigned to look out for her was able to report for me right before I could pull him out of his duty. She left the night we broke up.

"This is the last time I'm going to chase you Fem," I whispered against my lips.

I parked beside a white Ford inside a posh apartment building. I walked into the reception desk where the attendant stood up with a sweet smile on her face.

"Good day sir—."

"Give me Vida Corales' floor and unit number," I cut to her greetings.

"Sir, we do not give the renter's information upon request. It's against our security protocol. I will call Ms. Corales right now if you have business with her. Would that be okay, sir?"

"No need Sia," said a voice behind us. I turned to see the woman I was looking for standing and carrying a few plastic bags.

"Good day, ma'am."

"Good day, too. Now, if you'll excuse us." Vida turned to me then motioned for me to follow her.

"You're looking for Femella?" She motioned me to sit in the lounge area of ​​the apartelle.

"I am. Where is she?"

She shrugged and took out the chewing gum from her mouth and played with it with her finger.

"I don't know."

She leaned on the seat and grinned at me.

I clenched my teeth and curled my hands into a fist. I'm not here to play games with her. I took a deep breath then wrapped my hands between my thighs. I smiled at Vida.

"Okay, tell me anything you want. I owe you one this time."

I got her attention given her wider grin.

"Really? Shoot! But ..." She stopped, face became serious. "Why should I tell you? Femella is my friend. If I tell you her location, I'll be betraying her. You should start deploying your minions because a long search will happen if you really want to find her. She's in Europe and it looks like she's going to live there forever. "

I sighed at what I learned. Europe is too big for my search. I looked up at the woman who's busy chewing her gum.

"That will do."

I can tap my resources in the Immigration.

I stood up and washed my hand over my face. Sometimes I get angry with myself because I’m really doing whatever I want impulsively. I've been a risk-taker all my life. I do everything I set my eyes on. Just like today. I knew Femella wouldn’t like it. She could hate me for this. I promised to let her go for good but here I am, ready to search every nook of every country for her.

"Thank you, Vida. I owe you." I turned my back and started walking away.

"Just wait." She held me by the arm. "I'm just joking. I'm just making sure your reaction is authentic. So far, if you're lying, your characterization is good."

I frowned. What does she mean?

"You know I'm not kidding. Say what you have to say. Please, let me know her location."

She examined me from head to toe and folded her arms.

"On one condition."