Ruthless [Heartthrob Billionaires Series #1]

Chapter One

BETTER BE GOOD

JADE

"Ms. Jade, eto na po yung finance report. The editorial team also submitted their works and it’s in the folder below. " sabi ng sekretarya kong si Alice habang inilalapag sa mesa ko ang mga folders.

I sighed deeply. Namataan ko kasi agad ang manipis na pahina ng papel sa folder na tinutukoy niya. Nag-set ako ng deadline sa writers pero hindi iyon nasunod kaya naii- stress ako. Alam kong loaded kami ngayon dahil sa dami ng kailangang i-meet na deadline tapos may mga rejected pa na need i-revise. Mukhang manenermon na  naman ako bukas.

"Salamat Alice." sabi ko na lang sa kanya. "You can go home now."

"Thank You po." she said then left my office.

I looked at the geometric clock on the wall at the far left. It reads 5:30 pm. I was prepared to work overtime because I was expecting a lot of works to review. Not that I have nothing else to do, there are also some reports I have to finish. It's just that my overtime work would have been more worth it if the writers submitted their works today.

Sighhh...

No use in ranting by myself now. I just have to finish all these work. I have to leave before 8PM if I want to make it in time for my date with my boyfriend.

I took out my phone from my bag to check for some messages. I saw a couple from some friends and my family. Then there's one from my love.

From: My Love

Still at work, love? Take it easy. I'll see you later. Love you.

I smiled and started typing in a reply.

To: My Love

Yes. I'll see you later. Love you too.

Itinuloy ko na lang ang mga ginagawa ko hanggang sa di ko namalayan na gabing- gabi na at nakaidlip pala ako. Nagising na lang ako nang makaramdam ng mahinang tapik sa may balikat ko. Nakatulog pala ako?

"Love..." Medyo disoriented pa ako kaya naman di ko namalayan na nasa tabi ko na pala ang boyfriend ko. s**t.

"Love, what are you doing here? Anong oras na ba?" Sunod- sunod na tanong ko. Napatingin ako sa desk clock ko and saw that it was already 11 pm. Halos dalawang oras pala ako nakatulog.

"I went to your condo but you weren't there. I also tried calling you but you weren't answering so I figured out na baka narito ka pa." he told me.

"Sorry love. I'm really sorry." I apologized repeatedly. I felt terrible. This isn't the first time this happened. Ever since I got promoted as managing editor, I've become too busy. He's also busy being the director in their company but he always manages to make time for me. It's just me who has problems managing the time.

I don't know if it's my bad time management skills or I just really focus too much on work. It's been a few months with a setup like this. It's either I am late for our dates or I cancel last minute. I'm such a terrible girlfriend.He reached out to touch my cheek. He caressed it gently. "It's okay love. I understand."

I leaned on to his touch and kissed his palm. I closed my eyes to feel the warmth of his touch. Can this guy be any more perfect? And I'm so lucky to be his girlfriend. 

"Thank you for being so understanding. Oh, what will I do without you? I love you so much."

He pulled me in for a hug and immediately I tiptoed so I can wrap my arms around his neck. I touched my nose with his before he leaned down to give me a soft kiss. I smiled against his lips. He was about to pull away but I held onto him tighter and bit his lower lip. 

He responded to it with a deeper and more passionate kiss. His tongue licked my lower lip, seeking entrance to my mouth. I let his prying tongue in and responded by moving mine against his. I let out a soft moan when his hands traveled to my butt and gave it a soft squeeze. My right leg hooked onto his left and we became even closer that I could feel how alive he was for me.

He groaned against my mouth before we pulled away. I chuckled when he shut his eyes closed, halatang nahihirapan siya ngayon dahil sa kung anong nararamdaman. I caressed his cheek with my hand.

"You okay, love?" I asked him with an amused tone.

He sighed before grinning. "I'm about to lose the last string of my patience... You gotta stop being so hot, love."

I bit my lip at his response. "You won't have to wait for long..."

"Hmm... what do you mean?" He looked at me curiously but I could see the faint hope in his eyes. I guess he already know what I was talking about, he just wanted to make sure by hearing me say it.

I tiptoed so I can reach his ear. "I know what you're planning for our anniversary..."

"Huh?" He looked dumbfounded, and then something must have dawned on him. He groaned, frustrated. "It's Riri, isn't it?"

I smiled widely but didn't answer his question. "I went to my OB the other day... I started taking the pill."

I stepped back to see his reaction. He was speechless for a while and he just stared at me dumbfounded.

"T- the pill? F- for?" He asked carefully.

I bit my lip to stop myself from smiling. "On our fifth anniversary... L- let's do it. I'm ready... "

His eyes widened in surprise. "A- are you sure? I thought you want to do it after we get married?"

"I guess I can't wait for it anymore too." I felt my face heating up in embarrassment. "And I'm already sure of you... We'll end up together anyway... so we'll just do the honeymoon part in advance."

I lifted my gaze to take a look at him. He was biting his lip to stop himself from smiling. His eyes were soft as he looked into mine.

"I'll be happy to do it with you babe... you're the only woman I'd love make love to..."

He bowed down and caught my lips for another passionate kiss.

After that little make out scene, we both decided to go home. It was already late to continue the supposed dinner date and he already canceled the reservation so we just ended eating a local fast food near my office building.

When we were done, we carpooled to my condo and he left after giving me a goodnight kiss.

I was smiling so widely until I fell asleep.

RIVER

I pulled my car to a stop in front of our gate. I honked and automatically the gates opened. Damn, I feel so f*****g tired after that business trip to Thailand. If only I knew that would I be caught up in such a riot, I would have cancelled that damn trip.

Because of that f*****g riot in Bangkok, I had to extend my stay for a day. I wasted 24 f*****g hours of my time for nothing. Damn it!

The next time I receive a deal from any investor, I'll make sure na mas malaki ang pakinabang ko kaysa sa perwisyong tulad nito. Dapat talaga ay si Alfonso na lang ang pinapunta ko roon.

I grabbed my things and went out of my car. I need rest to clear my mind. I still have a meeting to attend tomorrow morning.

I was about to open the door to our house when I saw Alfonso parked his car next to my BMW I8. Hinintay kong makababa siya, I need to talk to him.

"Bro, kadarating mo lang din?" He asked with a smile, I just nodded.

"You're out late. Went out on a date?" I don't usually ask such things but since I was planning to get into the topic, might as well open it now   

"Yeah." He answered thrifty. He never talks about his girl when it comes to me. I smirked internally. He knew better than to introduce his girl to me. But I have my ways of knowing... keeping her a secret is futile.

"It's about time you break up with the woman." I said flatly. His expression faltered and the smile was immediately wiped off from his face. Anger crossed his eyes. "Five years is already a pretty long time to play. You know better than to keep a bed warmer for too long."

"You shut your f*****g mouth." He was about to attack me but managed to stop himself. I smirked. Still a f*****g coward. "Jade isn't that kind of woman! And I will marry her no matter what!"

"Marry her then... see what happens after that." I told him with a shrug. He gave me a hateful look as if he wanted to kill me with it. I gave him a bored look. "I'm just saying, brother... It's your choice. But be prepared to lose another in the process."

"Gago ka! And you call yourself my brother?! You make me f*****g p**e!" 

"It's nothing personal... it's all damn business..." I smirked to irritate him more.

I didn't wait for him to say more. I wasn't really planning on starting a fight. I just wanted to get rid of the stupid smile.

I smiled victoriously as I climbed up the grand staircase of our mansion. My lovesick of a brother may think he's too f*****g in love with his girl right now... but when he realizes just what he will be losing in the process, it will all make sense to him.

He'll break the f**k up with his girl and I won't even have to do anything for it to happen...

Or maybe I already did.

JADE

"Kanina ka pang palinga- linga dyan sa labas tapos biglang kakalikutin ang cellphone. Sabihin mo nga Jade, ano bang problema mo?" I heard Gabbie, my best friend since college, ask. We are currently having lunch at some restaurant here in Ayala kung saan parehong naroon ang mga opisina namin.

I work for GLAM Magazine while she works as a Teller Supervisor at JRA Bank Ayala Branch. Magkatapat lang ang mga buildings ng mga opisina namin.

Napansin niya pala ang kinikilos ko. Hindi lang talaga ako mapakali. It has been three days since Quen last called. Yun pan yung gabing inihatid niya ako sa condo ko. I know he's busy and all pero kilala ko siya. Hindi siya tatagal ng tatlong araw na hindi man lang magte- text or tatawag. Kung ganun man ang mangyayari, he'll make sure muna na masasabihan niya ako para hindi ako nag- aalala ng ganito.

Ngayon, tatlong araw na ang lumipas na walang kahit isang text o tawag. Hindi rin siya pumupunta sa condo ko. I wonder what's wrong. Nag- aalala na talaga ako.

"Quen hasn't texted me for three days." I told Gabbie. "Nag- aalala ako. Never pang nangyari to."

"Did you try calling him?" she asked and I just nodded. "Kung ganyang nag- aalala ka na sa di pagpaparamdam ng boyfriend mo, mabuti pang puntahan mo na siya."

Puntahan siya? Hindi ko yata kaya. What if nandun yung kapatid niyang pilit niyang iniiwas saken? I already met his family except for his older brother River. Yung dalawang kapatid niya at parents niya lang talaga ang na- meet ko.

I remember na sinigurado niya talaga noon na wala yung River na yun before niya ako ipakilala. All he said is that his brother is really dangerous for someone like me. Kung anuman ang ibig sabihin nun, di ko alam. He told me how cold and ruthless that guy is.

At kaya naman ngayon, kahit gusto ko siyang puntahan ay di ko magawa dahil kinakabahan ako. Hindi naman talaga ako takot sa River na yun. Natatakot lang ako sa magiging reaksyon ni Quen once na magpunta ako sa mansyon nila.

"You have RiRi's number right? Why don't you try calling her? Baka alam niya ang pinaggagagawa ng magaling niyang kapatid." she suggested.

Damn! How could I even forget about RiRi? I quickly looked for her number and called her. After several rings ay sumagot rin siya.

"Hello Ate Jade?"

"RiRi! Thank God you answered." I said. I feel relieved. Bakit ba hindi ko agad naalalang tawagan itong bunsong kapatid ni Quen?

"Bakit ate? May problema ba?" she asked, worry evident in her voice.

"No, nothing much. Itatanong ko lang sana kung alam mo kung nasan ang Kuya Quen mo. He's been ignoring my calls for three days now."

"What?! Kuya did that? I'm so gonna kick him." she said and it made me laugh a bit. "He's at home lang naman. I heard he's not going to office today kaya surely ay naroon lang siya. Puntahan mo na lang siya dun."

I sighed. Nasa mansyon lang pala siya, bakit di man lang siya sumasagot sa mga tawag ko? Nagalit ba siya dahil hindi ako nakasipot sa date namin at kinailangan niya pa akong sunduin?

"Ate, you still there?"

"Yes, I'm still here." sagot ko naman. "Uh, Riri, does River still visit you guys there?"

"Just occasionally, ate. Don't worry he has a flight to Japan tonight. He won't be around when you visit."

I couldn't help but sigh in relief. I think Riri heard me from the other end cause I heard her chuckle. "Thank You so much, Riri. Sorry for disturbing you."

"No biggie, ate." I could imagine her smiling. "Oh ate. Something came up. I have to go. Bye!"

"Sure. Thank you, Riri!" I told her then ended the call. I turned to Gabbie and saw her watching me, waiting for my reaction. "He's at home."

She shook her head. "Looks like someone is getting in trouble."

"One day would have been okay... but three days, that's just too much." I don't know just how many times I sighed today. "His explanation for this better be good..."