EMERALD

In the morning, mother wakes me up with a glass of milk.

"You need this," she says with a smile, right before she detects the trouble in my face. She wouldn't be mother if she wasn't good at that. I hardly have any success at hiding things from her.

"I'm your mother. I detect your troubles from a mile away," she would say.

I quickly defend myself before she gets the chance to ask.

"Job hunting isn't going well. And I miss Theo," I shrug. At least I'm not lying. I just want to divert her attention.

She sighs loudly. "We all miss him. It sickens me that the police aren't doing their job. My son was mugged, and the culprits are probably walking free while he fights for his life," she snaps.

I try hard to mask my expression because I think it would be best if she remains with that analogy.

"How are you handling your heartbreak?" Her change of topic is almost shocking.

"I have bigger fish to fry than think about a lying scumbag."

Trying to divert the topic as far away from Theo as I can, I smile and ask, "Do you think I'll ever get what you and dad have?"

She smiles back.

"Life doesn't always pan out as we want it to, Emerald. True love isn't easy to find these days. But you're a precious jewel. Our precious jewel. And you deserve so much better." She cups my cheeks. "I'm sure your prince charming will come. Look at your father and I. How we found each other during our rough times. How we saved each other. All of that was unplanned."

I've heard that story a million times.

My father, too, likes to remind us of how they met. He always claimed mother saved him from destroying his life, and there began a beautiful love story. I was the highlight of their love. Their precious jewel as they have always said.

"Don't think too much about Gabriel. He doesn't deserve a single space in your head," she insists.

"He's supposed to be your past." The smile that follows makes me aware of her next words. "I'll keep saying this." She takes my hand. "Past is past, present is a gift, and the future is bright."

Why am I finding it hard to agree today? I know it sounds much less, but six months of my life have been wasted. I still have Lindsey's threat in my head. They could be mere threats, or she could execute them for real.

"Will you come to the shop later?" Inquires mother.

"In the afternoon. I'm meeting Alicia first. She'd promised to help me apply for some jobs online," I inform her.

___________________________

I'm headed out to meet Alicia for lunch. She'd agreed to buy, well... I'm jobless.

I open the door to the sight of Gabriel standing right there, with his arms crossed in front of his chest.

Urgh

"I've been calling you," he says.

I lock the door before I turn to walk past him.

"And I've been ignoring you."

He grabs my wrist.

"Let go of me, or I'll scream bloody murder. You have no right to touch me!" My pupils widen as I snap.

"Emerald, we need to talk. Let's fix this. I don't want to lose you, baby," he pleads, but I know better than to fall for those empty words.

A painful laugh escapes my lips. "What's there to fix? You fucking lied to me. I lost my job because of you," I remind him.

"I can always get you another one," he offers.

"I don't need your help," I retort.

"Really, where will you get another job without credentials, Emerald? I can get you a better job, get you to a more comfortable apartment."

"Funny how you only think of that when we're done. Why would you care?" I ask.

"Because I love you." He reaches out for my hand, and I avoid it like the plague. Before, those words were soothing to the ear. Now that I've opened my eyes, I can't fall for his manipulating schemes again.

"You know, I was talking to my mum, and I kept asking myself, did I really love you, or was I just fascinated by the fact that I've always wanted what my parents have? Maybe I went for the bare minimum, hoping it would lead somewhere."

He scoffs. "You don't mean that."

"Stay away from me and tell your dramatic, brainless girlfriend to stay away from me too," I warn as I walk away, ignoring his calls of my name.

The next time I put a smile on my face is when I sit at the restaurant with Alicia.

"You dodged me yesterday," she complains.

Before I get the chance to defend myself, she adds, "Just like you dodged a one-night stand with-"

"The guy from the club? That's where this is headed, right?"

Of course, the next thing I'm going to hear is the proverbial saying, the best way to get over a man is to get under another one.

For a moment, the thought of it is not repulsive, especially since my brain starts to conjure up a hot image of him, but then I remember the type of asshole he was. Anyway, we'll never meet again. He was just a stranger...a hot stranger with a bad choice of words.

"Was he really an asshole?" Alicia asks.

"Are you an idiot?"

"All he did was state what he'd witnessed. You didn't even explain-"

"I'm the asshole, then. Got it." I nod listlessly. "Why are you defending him, anyway? Who is he?" I probe. She'd told me I would find out for myself, but I've not been interested.

Okay, that's a lie. Just that I've been busy with my troubling issues. Part of me is curious.

However, her response is a groan, followed by complaints about how old-fashioned I am, with a boring life, and then she returns her attention to her laptop.

"Anyway, let's talk about important things. I have been looking into this agency." She carefully slides the laptop over to my side.

"A housekeeping agency?" I narrow my eyes at the screen.

"I know... it sounds strange, but it's legit and worth it. The best part is that you get to work for billionaires. Pays well and has good reviews," explains Alicia.

"There are five vacancies," I state, after scrutinizing.

"That's the point. Try your luck and pray that you don't encounter an asshole of a boss."

For goodness' sake.

I could keep on complaining, but then I remember how much I need the money. It's worth the shot.

After lunch with Alicia, I head to the florist, just as I had promised mother.

She had asked me to take her space because she needed to see Theo.

I want to tell her that at least I applied somewhere, and I'm hoping for a positive response.

I even googled the salaries. Call me delusional, but since I hit the apply button, I've been having imaginations about getting paid, planning for the money I haven't received, let alone getting the job itself. I don't care about counting your chicks before they hatch and all that stuff.

My fantasy is interrupted when I get to the entrance of the shop. I notice two familiar faces I had hoped not to see again. My mum and dad are at the counter laughing at a joke they must have told them. What is the meaning of this? A mixture of anger and fear courses through me.

My mum notices me and calls me over.

"Emerald, you're here." She says.

Both men look at me with smiles I know very well to be fake.

"I want you to help me with these two customers. They are the funniest. It's been a long time since I laughed this much, right, honey?" She asks father, who is quick to agree.

I would have appreciated the fact that they made my parents laugh amidst the troubles in our lives, but there's nothing funny about Jake and Spencer.

What are they doing here?

FLAVIAN DURAN

THREE DAYS AGO...

Money, power, connections, name it all. The aspects of life I've achieved through my hardwork. I can boldly say, I have it all. Yeah, that's my life.

Except, that's not all...

Hatred and resentment. A normal person would call that ill will. Yeah, a normal person. Normalcy and I don't fit in the same sentence. It's what has kept me going for the past few years. Loathing, marinated with a passion for revenge. Topped with a few strategies executed bit by bit.

Is it possible to hate someone with every part of your body, and I mean, including your liver, pancreas, and loop of Henle? That's how I feel about Unai Merino. The bloodthirsty murderer who would do anything for power, no matter the cost. Even throwing his best friend under the bus.

However, a quick death would be a luxurious journey to hell for him. This is why after a few careful strategies, I have spent the past few months playing dangerous games, annoying the hell out of him, and incurring losses on his side. Do I care about his feelings?

Hell no!

Do I sound ferocious? Well, I didn't say I was a saint.

Somewhere in the future, I would like to make his life even more miserable.

He's wealthy, powerful, and has connections with various servants in his pocket, but that only heightens my determination. What better way to beat your enemy than when they think they've won it all?

This morning, Derrick and I, with the help of my men, hijacked one of his big shipments of the week. This one is usually international. I know what it means to him. Unai is a careful man. No one can easily get to him.

We had to plan our moves so carefully, with a little help from the inside. In case you're wondering, well, here's how; To some people, loyalty has a price. A disloyal minion for Unai is a huge win for us. All we had to do was offer a huge sum, enough for the guy to start over at a very far away place after betraying his boss.

Not that money is an issue, but I don't regret a single penny. It was all worth it. His firearms deal is facing trouble now. He's going to be so furious, but with his fury comes my jubilation. He's aware of our rivalry, and there are repercussions to this, but I'll always be ready. In this game, you should never be caught off guard.

I spend the night at Derrick's place, where we ponder more strategies. The following morning, I head for the Barnes' manor. I'm meeting Nicholas Barnes. The head of the Barnes syndicate. With the kind of war that is going on, the more support I gather, the better. Good thing I have been making collaborations with him. He is a strong ally.

You know, the enemy of your enemy and all that stuff...

We are having coffee in his living room when I hand him a file.

"What's this?" He asks, stretching his hand to receive it.

"I'm not here for a girl talk over tea. That's Unai's biggest shipment. All the information, including its current location, is in there," I point out.

The man stares at me briefly before returning his attention to the file. It won't be difficult for him to understand. He is in his fifties and has been in business for longer than I have, so there isn't much to explain.

"It was in my hands, and now it's in yours," I proceed to explain.

"This is huge, Duran." He acknowledges and then frowns. "Don't you think you've unleashed a great war?"

"Haven't you folks always been at war with each other?" I throw back a question.

"Besides, his clients are going to think he double-crossed them, which is going to cause a hiccup in their partnership. That's where you chip in."

He smiles.

"You really hate him." He grins.

"Do we have a deal?" I cock a brow.

We shake hands, although we are going to need more than that as a sign of an alliance.

________________________

I'm having lunch with my mother at The Galaxy. You could be a strategist, a manipulator, or even a gangster, but Olivia Duran will always want to tame you into her adorable son. It's been three years now since she adopted the behavior.

But I get her. After everything that happened to the family, I wouldn't blame her for being paranoid and always on my neck about my well-being.

For example, this lunch wasn't on my schedule for the day, but she had to insist.

"How have you been? I haven't seen you in like forever," she begins.

"It's only been four days, mother."

"That's the same difference." She raises her brows. "Anyway, how are you?"

Nothing much. Just going after Merino. Making plans after plans and reading myself for the Third World War.

I can't tell her that, of course.

She isn't aware of my extracurricular activities. I wouldn't want to have her explode with worry. For three years now, she's been preaching about normalcy and spending more time with me. All she knows is my company and my nightclub. In her eyes, I'm just a normal businessman, and yes, I am, but some sins can't go unpunished.

"I've been busy," I smile. "I have a company to run and...do you remember my nightclub? I didn't become a billionaire by sitting back."

I try to be sarcastic, but it gets lost in the air.

"Then you should move back to the mansion so we can spend more time together," she suggests, as always.

Yeah. I got myself into that one.

"For the millionth time, mother, I'm not moving back to that place. I still love you, even if we don't live together."

That place is full of memories I don't want to resurrect.

She scoffs. I know this conversation is far from over.

"Lucian would have loved..."

"Don't use Lucian to manipulate me, otherwise this lunch will be over before it begins," I warn.

For the next few minutes, we eat in silence, but I know there's another bombshell coming.

"Let's talk about a wife, then."

And there it is. The other topic I'm usually not interested in.

FLAVIAN

"I still have time. Marriage is not something to make rash decisions about." I recite my regular response.

"Thirty is calling. Time waits for no man, you know."

"Then I'll have to bribe it to wait for me." I focus on my food, not willing to engage further. I'm aware of the kind of glare coming my way. My mother and I have different opinions about this. She wants normalcy for me. How can I have a normal life when I'm always at war with Unai Merino? I have dangerous unfinished business to take care of.

"I'm serious, Flavian. You need someone to take care of you. Someone who's not your mother. I can help you find a housewife," she offers.

"Thanks, but I'll pass."

"Your loss," she shrugs, like I'm missing out on a great opportunity.

Settling down is the last thing on my mind, but now that we're talking about certain topics... "Stop sending servants to my villa. I can take care of myself, thank you very much."

She sighs before giving me the usual I'm tired of your stubbornness look, but she never gives up.

"I have a personal housekeeper," I lie. Her look tells me she doesn't buy it in the slightest.

"Really? I'm having a hard time believing you."

"She's not a live-in, but I'm going to rectify that," I add to the lie.

This time, I'm not sure whether she buys it, but if she does, she'd definitely want to meet her. I'm not wrong. Knowing her, she'll keep on sending the maids until she's sure about my story.

"If you meet her, will you stop pestering me with maids every time?" I ask. Though I know it's not just about my well-being, she uses them to spy on me too. I don't want her on my neck all the time. And I don't want to stress her, either. She's been through enough, which is why I try to be soft with her, even if it contrasts with my demeanor.

"You moron!" A screeching voice suddenly attracts everyone's attention before my mother can answer my question.

The next thing I know, we're watching drama unfold between two ladies, where one accuses the other of wrecking her home. My eyes remained glued to the one whose clothes are now loaded with soup.

At first, it's her resilience that catches my attention. The way she defends herself, blocking the slap coming her way, like she and the impeccably dressed woman are on the same level. I'm tempted to order some popcorn just to see more of what the fierce waitress is capable of, despite being at a slight disadvantage.

However, now that she has my attention, my eyes trace her beauty. I mean, it's not every day you take note of a waitress's beauty, but there's something about this particular one.

Suddenly, I'm not paying attention to whatever is going on. Her features intrigue me. Her black hair is neatly tied into a bun, revealing her captivating face. Her skin looks charming, and it's not just because it survived a burning fiasco. She's furious, but that doesn't change her gorgeousness. My mind must have taken a turn for insanity if eyeing a waitress like this in the middle of a fight is any indication.

"Women." My mother's voice snaps me from my haze. I shake my head as an excuse to get back to my normal self.

"See why it's hard to find a good wife these days?" I smile at her. That is the perfect excuse.

____________________

I have a meeting with Derrick in a private booth at Luvian. The games continue. Slacking is akin to putting your life at a higher risk. The strategies never cease.

On my way, I spot a familiar blackhead at the counter. My lips curve into a smile. Of course, I can't forget that face. The gorgeous waitress from earlier. My lucky day-or night. I never thought I'd see her again.

I assume she got fired after the incident?

Can she afford this place? How much do waitresses get paid?

This is a very big coincidence, and I like it. I'm not going to let it pass. Derrick is probably waiting for me, but that's what he'll have to do for now.

I approach the counter, where she is chatting with some other lady. The bartender notices me and I immediately know she's about to call me out, but I speak up quickly, beating her to it. I end up saying the most ridiculous, "Get me five shots of tequila."

My order attracts her attention. When she turns to look at me, I finally get a closer look at her. She's even prettier at a closer angle. She has the most beautiful blue eyes. Her charming skin makes me want to cup her cheeks and kiss those lips that look so delicious.

Unlike earlier, now she has her hair tied into a ponytail.

If someone asked me which style of her hair I prefer, I'd say I want a collaboration. Both make her look gorgeous. I'm quick to call her out for wanting to swallow me alive.

Hypocrite.

I have been doing the same. I don't just want to swallow her. I want to devour her, kiss the breath out of her. Run my tongue all over that charming skin. My dick twitches at each dirty thought.

However, when I tease her about earlier, she isn't in the slightest bit impressed. She's fierce. One more thing that draws me to her. She's not tense even when she should be.

The annoyance in her eyes makes me want to tease her even more. I think it's the reason why I don't react much when she pours the tequila shots on my shirt. She's a daring devil, and she's not sorry. I would love to stay here the whole night to test her limits, but she takes her friend and they walk away. I should be punishing her, but I'm not. Yet another strange thing for me.

My eyes are glued to her backside as she looks like she sashays away. Gosh, are those real? My palm print would look gorgeous on that. She disappears, and I'm left with the shocked bartender. That's understandable.

I don't know if I'll ever see her again.