Chapter 1

Hindi sukat akalain ni Lizzy na aabot sa ganito.

All 12 years are wasted. Parang naglaho lang ng parang bula. Ang labing-dalawang taong pagpaplano at pagmamahal ay tila ba isang basurang itinapon na lang bigla.

She was in a mess.

Really in a mess.

"Lizzy, where are you?" tanong ng kaibigan niyang si Ady sa kabilang linya.

She was sitting in a bar trying to drown her miseries with alcohol when Ady called. =Namumugtong mga mata, magulong buhok at tila ba nakipag-away sa sampung bakla. She never had thought that her fiance would cheat on her. At ang mas masakit pa, isa pa sa inaakala niyang kaibigan niya.

"I told you before, that man Joseph, Hindi talaga siya mapagkakatiwalaan. But guest what you told me? People change, at nagbago na si Joseph. Baliw kaba? Kailan pa naging isang anghel ang ipinanganak ng dem*nyo?" sermon pa sa kanya ni si Ady. Adelaine doesn't want her friend to suffer but she needs to realize her wrong decisions. Kailangan nitong mahimasmasan sa katotohanang babaero talaga ang lalaking balak niyang pakasalan. And that Sophia? She is just a b*tch.Pagod na tinitigan lang ni Lizzy ang baso niya habang patuloy ito sa pagsesermon sa kanya.

"Come on Liz, matalino ka, maganda, mayaman, bakit ka magmumukmok para lang sa tulad ni Joseph. The world is still beautiful, minus the Joseph and that b*tch Sophia. Oh well, they doesn't count as human anyways. Babalik ako sa topic. Move on girl, 12 years lang yan, if he can't be faithful to you in those twelve years. How can he be faithful to you forever, lalo kapag kasal na kayo?" pagpapatuloy ni Ady. Habang abala si Lizzy sa tinutungga niyang brandy.

"Stop, Ady what I need right now is someone who could kill that bastard. Hindi ko kailangan ang sermon mo ngayon. Now kung meron kang kakilalang hitman, introduce me. Mayaman ako, kahit magkano magbabayad ako." wika niya at biglang pinatay ang telepono. Hindi na niya hinintay na makapagsalita ulit ang kaibigan.Tapos na siyang umiyak at pagod na siya. Tinatamad na din siyang uminom dahil alam niyang sasakit lang ang ulo niya kapag naglasing pa siya lalo. Kailangan pa niyang pumunta sa opisina bukas para sa mga pipirmahan niyang mga papeles.

"Theo, are you insane? Lucille is Mr. Hernz's daughter. Anong mali sa kanya?"Napaangat ng mukha si Lizzy at napatingin sa mga bagong dating. Napataas pa ang kilay niya nang makita kung sino ang lalaking umukupa sa upuang malapit sa kanya.He's none other than Theodore Van Kristoff. A celebrated business tycoon. Kilala ito sa business world at halos lahat ng markets ay hawak nito. Kilala din ito sa kanyang pagiging terror at cold boss. Minsan na din siyang natukso ng mga kaibigan dito, but that time, her life revolves around Joseph at wala siyang pakialam sa ibang lalaki.

Why not?

Napangisi lang siya at nakinig ng palihim sa usapan ng mga ito.

"Shut up Ron. We know what kind of b*tch she is. Ayokong magdagdag ng sakit ng ulo sa buhay ko."

"Fine, then tell me bro, paano mo ipapaliwanag kay uncle na hanggang ngayon, ang panganay nilang anak ay single pa din at wala pang balak mag-asawa?"

"Leave me alone. Kung gusto nila, sila ang magpakasal. I just don't want a b*tch ruining my life." matigas na turan nito at hindi na pinansin ang pinsan. Ronald heave out a frustrated sigh and left.

Lizzy shook her head in disbelief. She wanted to laugh but she knows it's really not a good idea. Kinuha niya ang kanyang baso at lumipat sa upuang katabi ng binata at tinawag ang waiter.

"One whiskey on the rocks for this gentleman please." wika niya, na agad namang sinunod ng waiter. Iniabot niya ang baso ng brandy sa binata.Theo has a priceless expression on his face as he looks at her. Napatingin tuloy si Lizzy sa whiskey at sa binata.

"Do you prefer it without ice?" inosenteng tanong niya at napabuntong hininga ang binata bago tuluyang tinanggap ang baso.

"Thanks."

"Funny, isn't it?"

"What?" napakunot-noo lang ang binata matapos inumin ang brandy. He felt the warm sensation on his throat down to his stomach.

"Life." wika ni Lizzy at ininom na din ang huling brandy sa kanyang baso. She called the waiter and ordered whiskey for herself.

"Life is funny but it sucks sometimes." dagdag pa niya at tinungga ang baso ng whiskey. Bottoms up.

"You know what, why don't you marry me instead?" biglang tanong ni Lizzy na halos ikagulat ni Theo at muntikan na niyang maibuga ang iniinom na whiskey sa kanya.

"What are you scheming for, woman?" inis na tanong ni Theo, but on the other hand, he found this woman too amusing.

"Scheming? Why would Lizzy Mondragon scheme? Mr. Kristoff, scheming is not my forte." she pouted and turned her face to him.

"Then tell me Ms. Mondragon, why should I marry you instead?" tanong ng binata at natawa lang ang dalaga na tila ba ito na ang pinaka-nakakatawang tanong na narinig niya.

"Mayaman ako, I don't need your money, I can perfectly run my life without it, I have my name carved in the business world, I don't need yours. Can't you get it?"

"Hindi ko kailangan ang pera at pangalan mo, you don't have to worry that I am only here to use you. At higit sa lahat gwapo ka at maganda ako, don't you find us perfect?" tanong ni Lizzy at Napaangat ang labi ng binata.

"Hmm. What are your demands if we get married?"

"Demands?" napipilan si Lizzy. Hindi niya naisip kung anong demand ang hihingin niya sa binata kung saka-sakaling ikakasal nga sila.

"Nothing. I guess. I just want someone to drive those bastards away from me." sambit niya at tumango-tango lang ang binata. Hinugot niya ang kanyang telepono sa bulsa at tinawagan ang kung sino.

"Leo, prepare a marriage contract. Yes, right now. Legal of course. Yes. Send it to Bar Trattoria. And we need witnessess." wika nito bago pinatay ang telepono at ibinalik sa bulsa.

"Do you want to call someone?"

"No, my parents are out of the country, I don't have any siblings and as for my friends, they were all busy," she told him honestly.

"That's fine, it is just a simple contract signing. I'll have someone arrange a church wedding as soon as possible after this.Halos mabingi si Lizzy sa narinig. Her eyes perk up. Ibig bang sabihin nito, magpapakasal ito sa kanya? Theodore Van Kristoff is marrying her?

"What's with that look woman?"

"What look?"

"You look like you're going to pounce at me." sambit ni Theo at natawa siya.

After signing the documents, Lizzy looks at her copy of the marriage contract childishly. Huh, sino ang mag-aakalang ang broken hearted na si Alyzzana Mondragon ay ikinasal na. She felt like laughing as she looked at her new name. Allyzzana Mondragon Kristoff.

'Huh. Saan ka ngayon Joseph Clayton. Di hamak naman na mas maganda pakinggan ang Kristoff kesa sa Clayton.'Tahimik niyang sulsol sa sarili at tinapik-tapik ang papel bago ito itinago sa kanyang folder.

"Are we good?"

"Good." nakangiti niyang wika at muling tinungga ang whiskey. Ngunit bago paman dumikit sa labi niya ang baso ay inagaw na ito sa kanya ng binata.

"You, as my wife now, should listen to my requests first."

"Requests? Mukhang madami-dami yan. Let's hear it then, Mr. Hubby." Nangalumbaba si Lizzy habang nakatitig dito.

"First, I want you to move into my flat."

"Do I really have to? Hindi ba pwedeng hindi?" kunot-noo niyang tanong sa binata.

"Not good." sagot ng binata habang umiiling. Tinapik-tapik nito ang mesa na tila ba binibigyan siya ng oras para mag-isip.

"Fine, what else."

"I want you to behave accordingly. Don't give me troubles."

"I can do that. I am very well behave. Mabait naman talaga ako, pero hindi ba dapat ang ibang tao ang sabihan mu nyan Hubby? Don't those mere human should behave themselves when I am around?" tanong niya sa binata at napabuntong hininga lang ito.

"Give me your number, and office schedule and you should give a heads up to me whenever you have late-night meetings or outside-the-city meet-ups."

"Shouldn't you do the same, hubby?"

"Wife, don't worry, I will." wika nito at napangisi siya habang tumatango.

"What else?"She was enjoying their conversation. They were as if having a game.

"Introduce me to your parents as soon as they come back."

"I will. Anything else?"

"Let's stick on that for now. Kailan mo ililipat ang mga gamit mo sa bahay? Do you need help?"She looked at her watch and shook her head.

"It's already late. Tomorrow, I think. Ika-cancel ko muna ang meetings ko bukas."

"Okay, beep me when you need help."wika nito at inagaw ang cellphone sa kanya at may kung ano itong ini-type dito.

"That's my number." Napanganga na lamang siya at tinanguan ito. Matapos maisave ang number mg binata ay sinubukan niya itong tawagan.

"That's mine. You should name it Wife. I named yours Hubby." utos pa niya na ikinatawa ni Theo.

Hindi mawala ang ngiti sa labi ni Theo kahit pa ilang minuto na ding nakaalis ang dalaga. He had never met someone as straightforward as her. Alyzzana Mondragon is well known for her chains of restaurants and resorts. At the age of 25, she had already climbed as high as she could in the business world. That only mirrors her attitude and straightforward behavior.He stared at the contract with a rare smile on his face. Para namang nakakita ng multo ang kaibigan nitong si Nicholas ng dumating ito sa bar.

"Bro, what happen, sinong ililibing?" Tanong ni Nick bago umupo sa kaharap nitong upuan.

"What the hell Nick? Are you trying to curse my wedding day?"

"What wedding? I thought you broke up with Lucille."

"Broke up? Why should I break up with her when there's no us in the first place." Irap na sagot ni Theo.

"Then who did you get married to?"

"Alyzzana Mondragon."Saglit na natigilan si Nick at kinuha ang isang bote ng brandy sa kamay ng waiter at walang anu-anong binuksan ito at ininom.

"You're just kidding, right?" Nick asked and he shook his head no with a straight face.

"How did you do that? I heard Alyzzana Mondragon is engaged with Joseph Clayton and that they were getting married already."

"She asked me to marry her." He said.

"You. Man, don't you know you're one of a hell of a lucky guy? Marrying Lizzy M, the goddess of the business world. Alam mo ba kung ilang lalaki ang nagluksa nang malaman nilang ikakasal na siya kay Joseph Clayton? How come you are married to her now?"

"That is why I called you here. I want you to find out what happened. That Goddess of yours was drinking when she asked me. "

"And you taken it for granted?"

"She's not drunk."

"Okay. I'll go and investigate. Expect a call tomorrow. Bye." Mabilis na wika ni Nick at mabilis din itong nawala sa harapan niya.