This chapter is dedicated to: Lena0209

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I sashayed towards Maverick's office. He texted me saying the meeting has ended already when I was still in Spencer's car.

I didn't told him I'll come but I know he's still here.

Wala na sa table ang sekretarya niya. Siguro ay dahil tapos na ang office hours at umuwi na ito.

Si Maverick at ang sekretarya niya lamang ang nasa floor na ito kaya't wala ng ibang empleyado na makikita rito.

I knocked at the door twice. I was about to pull the knob when the door suddenly opened.

Bumungad sa akin si Draven na agad na nagpabilog ng aking mga mata. Bakas pa sa mukha niya ang epekto ng suntok ni Spencer. The smirk in his face widened.

"Well, here's the--"

"Fuck off," I roared.

So he recovered already from what I did earlier? What the hell is he even doing here! I gritted my teeth when he widely opened the door. Dahilan para mahagip ng aking mga mata ang bulto ni Maverick.

I caught a glimpse of his knitted brows and clenching jaw before our eyes met.

Maverick immediately stride near us. "Leave," he ordered Draven using his cold tone.

He tsked while shaking his head. "The rumor is true. You two got back together."

My brow automatically rose on him. "Now you're not just a dickhead but a gossiper too."

I forced my self to stop gritting my teeth, especially now that we're in front of Maverick. Ayokong magtanong siya sa kung bakit ganoon ang reaksyon ko kay Draven. Because I can't lie to him but at the same time, I don't think I can tell him the truth.

"Leave, I said," mariing sambit ni Maverick. This time his eyes were now piercing at Draven.

Ynares repeatedly tsked while slowly shaking his head. "You both were no fun."

Nilagpasan niya ako at akmang papaalis na siya ngunit agad ding natigilan sa paghakbang at tila may naalala. He swiftly turned to face us. "I have a gift for the both of you," he smirked before he glance at me. "To your friends and family too," he grinned and finally leave the place.

I can't help but clenched my fist at what he said.

Nang tuluyan na siyang mawala sa aming paningin ay agad kong hinarap si Maverick. "W-what is he doing here?" I hesitantly asked.

He went near me as his hand landed at my back. Agad na inabot ng kanyang mga labi ang aking sentido para sa isang mabilis na halik doon. "He wants to invest in the company but I immediately turned him down."

I slowly bobbed my head for a nod. "I'm glad you did." Those words escaped my mouth.

Why does it even seems he's mad at Draven? And he turned him down... immediately. He didn't ask why I sarcastically talked back to Draven too.

"How's your day?" He asked while his hand stayed at my back.

"We went to an orphanage." I smiled a bit. "Anyway, may gagawin ka pa?"

He immediately shook his head. "Wala na. Wanna go somewhere else?" Agad na sumilay ang ngiti sa kanyang mga labi.

He's the only Russian I know who's smiling more often. Well, maybe it's because he grew up in the Philippines and his mother is a Filipina?

His first years are in here. Though on his teen years he's already in Russia. Bumalik naman siya ilang taon ang nakalipas. Ngunit hindi iyon nagtagal at bumalik din ulit siya sa Russia. But now he's here again.

"Anywhere peaceful?" It was a long day. I want something that can calm me or at least to somewhere I can't see anyone that irritates me.

"Dinner in my condo after?" His brows rose.

I let out a low chuckle. "Sure!"

"Let's go, then." He motioned the way using his hand, tila pinapauna akong maglakad. "Here, my lady."

I playfully rolled my eyes and let him see it. His shoulders vibrated as he chuckled. Matapos ay inunahan ko na siya at nagsimulang maglakad patungo sa elevator.

"Rylli!" tawag niya kaya't agad akong napalingon.

"Yes?"

His lips stretched for a smile. "You're beautiful."

I blinked. My body froze.

What the hell.

I felt my cheeks heated.

My mouth parted, trying to find words to reply but he immediately walked towards me. He leaned until his lips met my forehead for a quick kiss. Matapos ay nilagpasan niya ako. "Come on. Let's go, my lady."

My mouth's still hanging open as I turned to him who's now at the entrance of the elevator, waiting for me.

God, I can't believe him. I can't believe those words and gestures from him are enough to shut my whole system up.

I know my cheeks were still red as I stride towards him. Nilagpasan ko siya at dumiretso sa loob ng elevator habang napapakurap pa rin.

Until we arrived at his car, I'm still dumbfounded. Kahit nag-da-drive na siya ay hindi ako makaimik.

Natauhan lang ako nang matantong huminto na ang kanyang kotse. He went out of his car. Umikot siya patungo sa passenger's seat upang pagbuksan ako ng pinto. I'm already holding the handle too when he opened it for me, akmang bubuksan na ngunit naunahan pa rin niya ako.

Iginala ko ang tingin sa kabuuan ng lugar. I can't see buildings. The only thing in this place is trees. Habang natanaw ng aking mga mata ang dagat na nasa aking harapan. That's when I realized that we're in a cliff.

It was a wide cliff. Habang sa baba, kung tatalon man ay dagat ang babagsakan. A few meters behind me is the rough road. Ang mga sanga ng puno ay nakabangway sa gitna ng daan. Kaya't nagmistulang liblib ang lugar.

The cold wind blew against my skin and it was enough to sent shiver down my spine. I'm only wearing a shirt, kaya naman napayakap ako sa sarili.

But it didn't took me a while because I immediately felt a warm coat rested on my body, from my behind. Kasabay noon ang pagpulupot sa aking ng mga braso ni Maverick.

My eyes automatically shut closed as I felt his warmth.

"I miss us, Rylli." His warm breath nudged my ear.

I immediately got what he said. Mapait na ngiti ang kumawala sa aking mga labi habang nakatingin sa kawalan sa aking harapan. "I miss us too," I replied as I bit my bottom lip.

"I still love you, Amaryllis."

Pinaglandas ko ang aking mga daliri sa mga kamay niyang nakayakap sa aking tiyan. I held it tightly as I leaned my head on him. "I still love you too, Mav. So much."

I can feel his heavy breathing from behind. He's way taller than me and I stilled when I felt his forehead on my shoulder. His head moved towards the hollow of my neck. He's not doing anything, just leaning his head on my neck.

"Will you let me court you again?" he whispered and I felt his breath against my neck.

I held his hand that's hugging my stomach and started pulling him towards his car.

I leaned at the hood of his car while facing the end of cliff, the vastness of the see and the sky. I removed my hand who's holding Maverick and tapped the space beside me. Agad siyang tumabi sa akin.

"You know we're done that stage, Maverick."

His eyes landed on my direction. His gaze stayed on mine like he's waiting if I'm done with what I said already or I'll add something. 

"We can just..." I nibbled my bottom lip. "Continue what we have before. But where should we start?"

"Where do you want to?" He asked and I blinked.

I stared at him for a quite while before adverting my eyes towards the cliff. I let out a deep sigh and shrugged. "I don't even know how and where."

He chuckled.

"Wait..." I trailed off. Seryoso ko siyang tinignan kaya't ganoon din ang ginawa niya. "Knew it already. Let's go to your condo and have an early dinner."

His lips parted, like he's not expecting what I just said. Matapos ay napakurap siya at napatawa. "Alright. Alright. Let's go to my unit."

I smirked at him. I didn't wait for him and immediately went towards his passenger's seat.

Ngunit naunahan niya akong magbukas ng pinto. He gestured me to enter and grinned.

I removed his coat from my body before settling on the passenger's seat. Maingat kong itinupi ang coat niya at nilagay iyon sa back seat.

I watched him walked towards the driver's seat as memories filled my mind. Wala sa sariling napangiti ako. Those memories that I thought would only be in my past. I never imagined having him beside me again.

"Early dinner or take out?" He asked as he settled in the driver's seat.

He started the engine of the car as he gently maneuvered it.

"Let's just take out then dine in your condo."

He agreed and I settled my eyes at him. Agad niya namang naramdaman ang aking mga titig. Mabilis niya akong tinitigan ng tingin. "Rylli, don't stare at me."

I chuckled. "Can't I?"

"Come on, stop it if you don't want us to get into an accident."

Nakangiting umikot ang aking mga mga mata. I settled at looking outside through the window.

"You can stare at me when I'm not driving," agad na pahabol niya.

I chuckled and I know he heard it. Hindi ko na siya nilingon at baka pa maaksidente kami tulad ng sinabi niya. I don't know if he's exaggerating things or what.

We bought take out for our dinner. Fast food lang para na rin mabilis na makauwi.

It took us half an hour to finally arrived at his condo. He's holding the paperbag containing our takeouts while I'm standing beside him, waiting for the elevator to open at the floor where his unit is in.

"Can I stay overnight?" I hopefully asked while widely smiling at him, waiting for his approval.

His eyes narrowed as he looked at me ovee his shoulder, like he's reading my mind if I'm planning something.

"I'll just sleep, I swear."

"I didn't say anything. You're too defensive," he smirked.

My lips parted at him. "I'm not."

He nonchalantly nodded his head and lifted his shoulders for a shrug. "Yeah."

Kasabay noon ang pagbukas ng elevator sa aming harapan. I'm about to step out of it when I saw who's waiting outside.

My eyes widened a bit as the smile in my lips faltered. Katrice's eyes fixed on my direction before she slowly turned to Maverick and blinked.

"Katrice," Mav greeted to acknowledge her presence.

She nodded. "Galing ako sa..." Muli siyang napakurap. "Sa unit mo. I figured you're not there, wala kasing nagbubukas."

"Yeah, you need something?"

"I just want to inform you about Uncle Fergus' condition," alanganing sambit niya. I figured she's pertaining to Maverick's biological father.

"His nurse informed me already. I'll come by tomorrow," Maverick casually muttered.

Katrice's lips parted but still nodded her head after awhile. "I'll... go ahead," paalam niya bago bahagyang iniyuko ang ulo.

Maverick started walking towards his unit. Ang kamay niya ay pumulupot sa aking baywang. But I can't help but look back at Katrice.

I bit my lower lip and frowned when I felt a pang of pain in my chest for her.

"Are you always like that?" I turned to Maverick, frowning. "You seemed... distant."

They're friends too. And as I think of it, sa tingin ko, hindi ko kakayanin kung ganoon ang magiging trato ni Spencer sa akin. I might punch him to wake him up.

Nilingon niya ako. We're now in front of his condo, opening his door. "What do you mean?"

"You should invite her," I stated.

At noon niya ako tuluyang hinarap. He heaved a deep sigh and slowly shook his head. "I can't, Rylli. After what she did. After she admitted that she did gave you the invitation to broke us apart? I don't think I can look at her the same as before."

Mataman akong napakurap at bumuka ang aking mga labi. She what?

And that broke their friendship. Why would she even tell him that? Admit that she wants me and Maverick to broke apart?

Naguguluhan akong napailing. Akmang papasok na kami sa condo ni Mav ngunit agad na nag-ingay ang aking phone.

I immediately fished it from my pocket to see who's calling but it suddenly ended.

Kasunod noon ang pagpasok ng mensahe mula sa hindi rehistradong numero. I unlocked my phone and immediately opened the message.

Unknown Number:

My gift has arrived, Amaryllis. I hope you all enjoy.

That message sent shiver down my spine. Even the number isn't registered on my phone, I know who's this. And my heart can't help but beat faster than normal at the thought of the devil behind this.

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