1 Chapter 1-Prologed

Riege Del Rio

I slightly pulled my body from leaning my chair where i just now seated and grabbed the wine glass right in front of my table.

I'm here now at one of the most expensive restaurant in manila to meet someone for business proposal.

I came earlier than the person i'm going to meet to refresh something from my mind. Shit! I got busy for the past few weeks for some conference meetings abroad. So i need new ambiance. And i think this place would do.

A couple of minutes had passed and then, Vans Ocampo finally came.

I saw how he roamed the whole restaurant to look for me, so i raised my hand to give him my attention.

Without second thought, he immediately walked towards my direction where i was standing and suddenly gave a smirked.

And so i smirked back at him.

After he reached to my table, we shaked our hands and exchanged some pleasantries before we get started.

Vans Ocampo was my college friend and now one of my business partner.

We both have tha same years of age. We are very close friends since then, way back in college.

After i graduated in college, we decided to part our ways and pursued our dreams.

He continued his study in architectural design in london and me as well in the other country.

We didn't use to call our first name basis especially when we were at some business meetings.

But i think today i have to. We are just two in this meeting so there's no need to used some business tone. And knowing vans when we used to be together.

We used to fuck girls way back then.

"hey, riege, hows life after breaking up with lucy? Oh! My bad. Did i pissed you enough for waiting?" he said and gave me a mocking smile.

"not so.." i simply answered his second question and ignoring the first one.

"take your seat vans, and lets proceed to the meeting."

"whoah!.. That fast dude? Don't you think its too early for that?come on riege let's enjoy the ambiance first before anything. Are you still mad after the broke up thing with lucy? I mean, there are somethings that you need to pay much more attention rather than this.! "he said and shook his head.

" stop it vans, don't start for a non-sense conversation that include that bitch! You know my principle, i don't mind that bitch either. I have more important things to do than thinking about that bitch. I know what's on your mind so stop that," vans just shook his head again in disbelief and shrugged his shoulder by my answer.

" and that important thing i'm talking about is business, aside from that, nothing else. That's it. "i continued talking as he watched me cooly.

Oh boy i know what your thinking. I smirked at him as i saw him speechless by my words.

" okey then, shall we start? But before anything, shall we have our orders first before we proceed to my business proposal?"

"go ahead." i answered and nodded.

A few minutes later after our short talks, i decided to call the waiter to have our orders.

The waiter caught my attention immidiately and walked towards our table.

After we gave orders, the waiter suddenly went out and came back to served the orders.

Vans chose to talk about his business proposal while enjoyed eating.

I glance at him while eating and noticed how serious he is while discussing about his proposition.

While listening, i took my wine glass and sipped the remaining wine inside it and gradually felt the bitter taste.

I swallowed hard the drink and savored it.

I don't drink some cheap kind of drinks though. What's the use of my money after all if i won't buy something which fits accordingly to my wants and needs.

Vans continue talking while i'm meditating some thoughts.

I saw my wine glass empty, so i poured some amount inside.

I feel so tired. I had some meetings these past few days and i don't have enough rest after went abroad for conference meetings.

Supposedly, today is my free time. But i chose to meet this idiot rather than staying inside of my condo to have some refreshments. But i guess i was wrong upon meeting him in this state.

I lost my attention to vans for a while as he continued discussing about his proposition.

He discussed about the joint venture of his company and my company the Del Rio Group Of Companies. (DRIGOC).

I roamed my full attention to the whole part of this expensive restaurant where we recently seated and immediately awared of some female eyes assessing towards us.

I reached for my temple to squezzed and give some massage.

Vans notice my reaction.

This whole business thing really sucked me.

I planned for a vacation in a couple of weeks to relax, but i think this wouldn't be the right time to do it.

I have many responsibilities to do for the company. That's literally the most important things for me.

I can re-schedule some other time bout my vacation maybe. But surely soon, i need to unwind.

I sighed for my thought. Vans glanced at me and stop himself from talking.

"you can get some rest riege. You owned the company. You don't have to be this stressful. You have your time. I know you're stressed enough from the past few weeks." he simply stated while sipped on his wine.

"just went abroad for a weeks for conference meetings vans. It's not as if that was my first time attending some conference meeting you know. And it only lasted for 2 weeks. Not that long time so there's no need to take a break this time. Thank you for the concern, though. "i gave him a mocking smile after then.

"just....you know.. Maybe you need someone to laid to-"

"tsss!!. Go on with your discussions!.." I cut his last last word for him to stop.

I heard him laughed a bit for my words.

Shit! This idiot didn't change a bit.

I roamed again the whole area of the restaurant, but instead of being thankful to theses woman who given me special attention, my head led to an intense doubt not only for these woman but also for myself.

I wondered how much percentage of their interest towards me as a man, and also how much percentage for me as the owner of a multi-national business company.

This is one of the reason why i became distant and at the same time doubtful to those women who given me too much attention.

In my life, i've seen a lot of woman who ruthlessly used the power and wealths of my late father when he was still alive.

My father wasn't really that careful to choose someone he can trust.

As i grew up, my respected father managed the Del Rio Group Of Companies very well and made it to the top.

I've seen those women how they used my father and how they owed him some large amount and fooled him to invest on our company for the promotion to their careers and using the wealths and contacts of my father.

No matter how good my father was, when it comes to business, but he was then even become weaked when it comes to women.

I noticed him how he can't separately managed between business and pleasure.

I've seen and imprinted in my head how those bitches used to play my father to filled up their own needs and self-ambition.

They were very ambitious to the point that they need to fool someone so they could use like a thing and afterwards throw it if they have done enough.

Fuck! This thing really fucked my whole thought.

From there, realization hit me. I learned a lot of things in life, and that thing includes about my business and personal life.

I need to separate the business and pleasure no matter what.

I need to pay extra careful most especially when it comes to those women whom i've noticed some of their hidden agendas towards me.

I won't let myself, or i won't let any of them take some advantage on me no matter how interested i might be.

I continued my eyes roaming around of the restaurant while the other side of my ears is listening to vans business proposition.

Suddenly, my grip slightly tightened when i caught someone's attention at the edge part of the restaurant. And with somebody.. Shit this woman!

I watched her as she seated calmly on her chair while leaning.

A side view position from my direction.

I can't almost even move on my seat as i looked at her talking to someone with full of confidence.

I can't keep myself well seated while watching her a meter distance away from me.

But then, i slowly landed the wineglass i was holding on the top of the table as i tightened my grip.

Vans, stop discussing ang gave his full attention towards me by my reaction. He raised his brows and gave me a "what happened" look.

"excuse for a minutes vans, we may continue this later."

I cut him off when he was about to continue his discussion. His brows furrowed and the amusement on his face was very evident as he continued watching me pushed back the chair and stand.

He watched me intently and didn't say a bit word while i put the table napkin on the top and slowly walk to the woman's direction.

I didn't cut even simple glimpse to Cathy Gomez as i'm walking on their table. I looked at her intently as i come nearly.

Cathy Gomez.

Who would have thought that we're going to meet in this day? Not even in my wildest dream.

And You even choose this place for a romantic date huh!

How lucky are you to meet me again.!lets see