Entangled

20

Sinundan ng tingin ni Arkel ang asawa habang papalayo ito sa kanya, napamura siya ng tahimik. Hell, he'd done it again. He should've complimented her on the damn dress. Hindi lang kasi siya handa nang bumungad ang asawa sa itaas ng hagdan at bumaba ito, ready for the party.

The electric blue dress dipped low in the front, clung to the edge of her shoulders, and fell down to the floor in magnificent, flowing folds of shimmering material shot with silver thread. Strappy silver sandals encased her feet, her hot pink toenails peeking out and playing hide and seek as she walked. Her hair was pinned high on her head, with corkscrew curls tumbling around her ears and caressing the back of her neck. Her lips were painted red. When she blinked, her silver shadow threw sparkles over her lashes and caught the light. He bet she'd also catch the attention of every man in the place.

Muntik na niya itong pagsabihang magpalit.

This was no cool sophisticate he could control. This was a full-blown Eve, who dared a man to Hell and made a poison apple seem as sweet as candy.

At imbes na i compliment ito, nagbitiw na naman siya ng di magandang salita. Hindi niya alam kung namalikmata lang siya, pero nakita niya ang sakit sa mga mata ng babae sa kanyang binitawang salita, but when he looked again, she was the same troublesome, sarcastic woman he'd married.

Galit ang naramdaman niya dahil sa abilidad ng babaeng paramdam sa kanya na may ginawa siyang mali. Wala namang mali sa sinabi niya. She married for money, and freely admitted it. Bakit kailangan niya pang magpanggap bilang inosenteng biktimanat siya ang palabasing masama?

He forced thoughts of his wife out of his mind and concentrated on the group of businessmen circling Kaito Nishida. Arkel sensed one important factor to secure the Japanese man's vote.

Excitement.

Get Kaito Nishida excited, and Arkel had the job.

At ang huling bubuo sa puzzle ay si Maximo Bianchi. Kilala siya sa business world for his charm, money, and sharp intelligence. Naniniwala ito sa passion at hindi sa preciseness, at ibang- iba ito kumilos kumpara sa dalawa niyang partner.

Arkel hoped a lively conversation with his wife might help him gain a bit of an edge, especially since gossip pegged Maximo as a womanizer. He stifled the quick flare of guilt and stepped into the group of men to speak.

......

Nagdecide si Deniah na oras na para hanapin ang kanyang asawa.

Maliban sa pagdating nila kanina at pag- uusap habang kumakain ng dinner, hindi na sila nagkita at nag- usap. Humming under her breath to the music being played, pinaikot niya ang tingin hoping na makita niya ang asawa sa mga grupo ng taong nag- uusap pero di niya ito nakita. She decided to make her way down the elaborate hallway. Maybe he'd gone to the bathroom.

Her heels clicked against polished marble. Unti- unting nawala sa pandinig niya ang tugtug sa ballroom, pinagmasdan niya ang mga paintings na naka- linya sa dingding ng hallway, at tumatango sa sarili kapag may nakikilala siyang painting. Dinala siya ng kanyang mga paa sa next corner ng isang room na mukhang gallery, puno ng mga naka- display na lumang libro at mga bago. She held her breath as her fingers itched to caress the binding of old leather and relish the sound of crackling as she turned the pages steeped in history.

"Ah, so to get you to notice me tonight, I should turn into a book, no?"

Humarap siya kung saan nanggaling ang boses ng isang lalaki.

A man stood in the doorway. His eyes filled with a mischievous humor she knew to be a part of his core. His hair was long and caught back in a low ponytail, giving him the look of a pirate who had charmed women for centuries. His lips were full and his nose dominated his strong features in typical Italian style. Dressed in black pants, a black silk shirt, and expensive leather shoes, he exhibited a graceful, seductive air just by standing.

Alam na kaagad ni Deniah na charming ito, warm- hearted, and deadly to woman. Napangiti siya sa tinatakbo ng isip. She had a soft spot for womanizing Italian men. They reminded her of puffed up peacocks who inwardly wished to be kept in line by the right woman.

"Oh, I noticed you." Tumalikod siya at ipinagpatuloy ang ginagawa kanina. "I knew you'd get to me by the end of the night."

"And were you looking forward to the moment, Signorina?"

"With baited breath. So, should we use one of the bedrooms here or go back to your place?"

Naghari ang katahimikan.

Pinagmasdan ni Deniah ang reaksyon ng lalaki mula sa kanyang balikat. Makikita ang disappointment sa mukha ng lalaki. She bet he missed the idea of a chase, but didn't want to turn down such an offer. Tumawa siya sa itsura ng lalaki, halatang nalilito at medyo nawalan ng kumpiyansa sa sarili.

A knowing light gleamed in dark eyes. "You are teasing, no?"

Humarap ulit siya dito, still laughing. "I guess I am."

"You are a wicked woman to tempt a man like that."

"You are a wicked man to think a woman would do such a thing."

"Perhaps, you are right. A woman like you should have a husband watching at all times. Such a treasure could be stolen at any moment."

"Ah, but if I were a true treasure, I wouldn't be stolen easily. Certainly not by the first line thrown at me."

Nagkunwari itong na- offend. "Signorina, I would never insult you by thinking it would not be a long treasure hunt. You'd require a lot of work."

"Signora," she corrected. "I am married."

His face pulled into a low, sad look. "Pity."

"Somehow, I think you knew."

"Perhaps. But let me introduce myself formally. I am Maximo Bianchi."

"I am Deniah Lagaz- er, Deniah Huxley."

Mukhang napansin nito ang kanyang pagkakamali. "Newly married, yes?"

"Yes."

"Yet you wander the hallways alone, and were not seen in the company of your husband all night." He shook his head.

"My husband is here on business."

"Dark Arkel Huxley, correct?"

Tumango siya. "You should know him well. He's making a pitch for the waterfront deal."

Walang anumang emosyon ang makikta sa mukha ng Italian business man. Obviously, behind his charming facade lurked a sharp businessman and she bet he knew her identity when he approached. Dark underestimated Bianchi if he believed a conversation would soften him. This man obviously kept business and pleasure in two separate worlds.

"I have not had the pleasure of meeting him as of yet." He leaned in ever so slightly. His musky cologne rose in the air between them. His eyes met and held her own. She waited for a blast of s****l energy, a hum of chemistry, a note of hunger to shake her body and confirm Dark Arkel wasn't the cause of her problems.

Nothing. Not even a spark.

With a tiny inward sigh, she resigned herself to battling her attraction for Dark and admitted maybe she still harbored a crush from her girlhood days. If Maximo Bianchi couldn't stir a shred of s****l emotion, she was in deep trouble.

Deniah sighed. "I think you will love my husband as much as I do," ika niya.

He received her message and accepted the implication with grace. "We shall see. As for us, we will be friends, no?"

She smiled. "Yes. Friends."