I: Meeting the Reckless Devil

"Oh, Ver! Don't forget your lace panties!"

My face flushed into pale crimson with Mina's loud reminder. It wouldn't have been an issue if we're not leaving a crowded resto, with a tall guy inked with a dragon tattoo on his forearm locking eyes with me after her outburst, but we are.

"Oh, I'm sorry," Mina covered her mouth with a sudden realization. "I forgot you get flustered over kinky matters," she added.

"Whatever! I'm not taking them with me!" I replied, no longer looking back at the guy behind us, at the venue, nor at Mina. My cheeks are still burning.

"You know I hate you, right? I specifically listed normal things in my Christmas wish list, but you opted for another...category," I jokingly scoffed at Mina.

"But, of course," she replied, teasing me with her crinkled eyes.

"Guess what I'm giving you this yuletide season!"

"I can't win with you," I distanced myself from Mina, while hailing a taxi. The midnight air in Colon street hasn't been refreshing for all our lives, but I seem to have more troubles with inhaling it now.

I guess it has everything to do with the fact that I am meeting the Monteverde's tonight, because as it turned out, I am Ellio Monteverde's illegitimate daughter; and this is a big deal, because Monteverde's aren't normal people. They're the "richest of the rich", and I still don't know what to make of the revelation that I am their kin.

"Hey, I'm not kidding with the underwear. You might actually need them," she started, inching closer to me, as we settled inside the cab. I could hear teasing in her voice once again, but I did not press further.

"What?! Seriously Ver, I can't believe you. You're meeting the Monteverde's, and you're not planning to seduce any of them?" Mina asked, eyebrows furrowed animatedly. The taxi driver averted his gaze from the road to his rear-view mirror.

"Oh, right. You're a Monteverde yourself." she whispered, eyes beaming. She scanned me from head to toe, expression thick with false amusement. "I am with a Monteverde right now,"

"Shut it, Min."

"Girl, I'm still in a trance about it. This stuff only happens in the movies!" I rolled my eyes, while pushing down on Mina's legs, in an attempt to tone down her voice.

"Okay, okay, at least prepare yourself for their business associates! You won't know your luck. One day, they tell you you're one of them, and the next, they're kicking you out of their mansion!" she hushed.

"Mina," I deadpanned.

"I'm just saying!"

"Urgello street?" The taxi driver looked at us with his rear-view mirror.

"Yes, manong," I replied, smiling. I glanced over the cab's window, fished a bill inside my wallet, when the taxi meter bounced to a higher number.

"Oi!" Mina began protesting. "We're not pay—"

"Here's our fare, 'nong," I handed the taxi driver my money, interrupting my companion. We immediately got out of the vehicle afterwards, with Mina still glaring at the cab's plate number.

"Forget it, Min. He might actually need the money," I said, while walking towards the entrance gate of our dormitory.

"Don't bring that personality of yours to your new house," Mina huffed. She gave me a pointed look.

"Keys are with me," she turned the lock, and I was about to get inside, when Mina set me aside first.

"I'm serious, Ver. Please take care of yourself."

"Mina, I'm not dying."

She took a deep breath before answering me. "I'm just worried, alright? It still feels surreal. I kept on thinking good luck like yours might not come without a cost,"

"Alright. I might have been watching a lot of soap operas, but they should think twice about messing with THE Kristal Veronica Ferrer. You've been through hell many times, and you never failed to pick yourself up each time around—stronger than before. They got nothing on you," Mina compressed me into a tight hug. I'll definitely miss living with her.

"Those lace thongs can act as talismans, Ver," she reminded me once again before breaking away from our embrace, teary-eyed.

I protested with a laugh after hearing Mina's suggestion, but as it turned out, she won over me. Her unholy garments were huddled inside my suitcase, when I dragged it outside the grand limousine responsible for picking me up.

I can't help but exhale in utter amazement, once my eyes caught the glorious stature of Elliot Monteverde's manor. Some people actually live in a home this huge and luxurious?

"Just wait for the housemaid to help with your belongings, Ma'am. It's what I am told," my chauffeur shyly told me. I thanked him, and nodded in response.

"Madame Kitty, please eat your food already," a maid called out to a little girl running away from her. Her voice was on edge, as if she was about to cry.

"Madame, please," she begged.

"No! No eating without Mommy!" the little girl insisted, while crossing her arms. She began nibbling on her nails, a habit which the house servant called out. Then, she began sobbing, much to the helper's panic.

Another majestic limousine skidded past me, letting out a mestiza who appears to be a supermodel. She's probably in her early 30's, although her toned physique and youthful glow might fool you into thinking she's still in her 20's.

"I'll take it from here, Olivia." She reprimanded the child, and dismissed the housemaid with a stern look.

"Excuse me, but who are you? How did you get inside?" the woman called out, when she saw me gawking over her from my post.

"I'm sorry, uh, I am—"

"Miss Ferrer. Welcome to our humble abode," Mr. Elliot Monteverde gestured warmly to me, barely catching my gaze, as he dismissed his butler with a wave.

Humble? If this is "humble", to what description do other places of residence belong?

"A pleasant evening to you, Mr. Monteverde," I nodded at him, and to the rest of his family.

Silence stretched for a while. The lady tended to her daughter's nails more fiercely while ignoring my presence, with the little child ogling my suitcase intensely.

Mr. Elliot cleared his throat. "Now, if you'll excuse me, I have other important matters to attend to," he broke the deafening silence, however lingering in a moment's hesitation.

"See you in a bit, Miss F- Veronica," he added, smiling lightly, before leaving the scene.

"Come now, Kitten."

"But Mommy, the woman over t—"

The lady regarded me for about a split second, before cutting her daughter's protest.

"Nanny Agatha will come in a bit. She's going to be okay," she replied to Kitty, before stroking her hair, and casting me aside altogether.

Maybe Mina was right all along. Coming here was a mistake. But then again, if I were in their position, I would also be uncomfortable with an illegitimate relative in our home. They can't be that bad, right?

In a few, Nanny Agatha came to help me with my baggage, and as I was ushered inside the Monteverde's gigantic property, I was only greeted by dead quiet halls. Even with all its golden and ornate furniture, the living room is still far from being alive.

"Um. Ma'am Christie, we're about to go on leave, Ma'am. With Sir Elliot going to his physical meeting, Ma'am Veronica would be left all alone…" Nanny Agathy professed.

"Oh, I'm fine on my ow—"

"She can come with me," Christie abruptly replied, spraying herself with perfume before donning a slender necklace. Definitely expensive ones.

"Um—"

"O-okay, this way to your bedroom, Ma'am. We've already prepared you a wardrobe with a lot of clothes to choose from."

"She can wear that." Christie was still checking herself out in front of the big mirror gilded with emerald stone in the mansion's sala.

"Let's go. We're already late." She sashayed outside the manor without looking back at me, and I was left with no other option but to tag along. By the looks of it, I'm guessing that she's my half sister.

The limo stopped by a five-star hotel, and Christie was immediately squashed by her peers the moment we stepped outside.

"Attagirl, looking ravishing tonight, ey!"

"Missed you, Chrissy!"

To their joy, they hurried inside the hotel, and I tried reaching up for Christie, but her crowd kept on pushing me away from the entrance. I looked behind me, only to find out that the limo already drove away.

"Miss, are you getting in or what?" The security guard insolently looked at me from head to toe.

I'm now alone. I scanned my surroundings, but all of the venue's hubbub only adds to its unfamiliarity. I reached for my phone, and realized that I hadn't brought it with me as Christie was in a hurry.

"Hey! Guests are coming inside!" I flinched at the guard's remarks. Tears started to well up in my eyes.

Damned Monteverde's! Their cold welcome earlier should have been a giveaway. Damn it! I should have listened to Mina.

"She's with me," a man coolly spoke from behind me. I turned around to be greeted by a towering guy whose facial features seemed to be chiseled like a Greek god's.

"Apollon Brix," he extended his right hand towards me, with his relentless gaze still on my face. I shook it, and it struck me.

He looks familiar.

His domineering height, his eyes... I was still having problems recognizing him because of his formal getup, then I saw the black markings inked on his arms: dragon tattoos.

Apollon moved closer, until he's breathing right next to my neck.

"Did you bring the lace panties?" he whispered.