Prologue
"Are you saying that if you didn't take it, someone else will?" Elwin said.
The brown liquor travelled smoothly on my throat after I downed almost half of my glass. I grimaced when it hit the pit of my stomach.
Elwin laughed a bit. "Didn't you think about that when you gave up the organization? If you won't take it, someone else already did?"
I shrugged. "I'm not willing to keep it up. Nobody among us is willing to do it. So, who will?"
Elwin laughed. "Are you serious? Are you serious? If I were in your shoes, even when I didn't want to take it, I'd do it. It's an empire. Some people only wished to have that; they pray to have that. And you guys just threw it away like that?"
I didn't speak anymore. My eyes lingered on the liquor.
That's probably the case. You will never understand if you are not in the position. People pray and strive for the very top, for the fame, wealth, influence, and connections, but when you have it all-you start to see the problems. You start to realize that some things are not worth it. That maybe being the most powerful men in the shadows, could never equate being a man out of that shade.
"Didn't she want it for herself?" Elwin's voice was almost a whisper.
I looked up at him. "Yes," I said lingering at the thought of my family.
Elwin and I looked at each other. He wanted to speak, but I guess my glare at him made him shut up.
"And where is she now?" I said darkly.
Elwin sighed.
"This is the reason why none of us want it. Sure, if you want it so, you can take it, Elwin. But can you live hiding, and afraid for your own life?" I smirked.
"Maybe, yes, you can manipulate the biggest corporations of the country. Maybe, the president would kiss your feet and do whatever you want. But what is all of that for, if you can't live in the open? Or if you live a life full of fear, you'd disguise it with violence-not just to your men, but also to your family to your children."
It took him a while to sigh and nod. "I guess I'll never know. I've never been there. You must have it so rough from your family."
I only smirked and sipped on my glass again.
"Well, I guess it's a big responsibility, and there's so much pressure involved, and betrayal. When you're the leader of a syndicate, you can't expect the people around you to be good. You'd always think they could kill you anytime. If you think about that every day, it will eat you up inside until you're not-"
Elwin was stunned because we heard a glass break not far from the table where we were drinking.
My eyes lifted on the employee who was watching us, now panicking as she started wiping the mess she had made. I shook my head because it wasn't the first time that had happened, in the almost a week I've been here at Mana.
"I'm sorry," Elwin said after glancing at the panicked female employee.
I came here because I wanted a vacation from all the work I've done. Sure, maybe, I hope for a hook up somehow, or a one-night stand. But that was not my priority. I just want to relax and not think about the work that awaits me.
If I had wanted to have some kind of sexcapade, I would have brought one of my fuck buddies so I would enjoy.
"I guess you're used to it-being ogled by women shamelessly, huh?" Elwin said in a lighter tone now.
I glared at Elwin who was still smirking as he glanced at the woman's way.
"I don't know, Elwin. Maybe the more appropriate thing to do here, since you're the owner, is to at least fire her or something?"
He laughed again. He leaned on the table only to talk with a much smaller voice
"Oh, come on. She didn't do anything."
I took another sip of my drink.
"Just look at her, she seems to like you. There's nothing wrong with that, huh?
"She's messing up with your guests..." I groaned when I realized I really don't care anyway. "Well, whatever. That's your problem."
She sighed. "Mana is short of staff, and she's one of those willing to have many positions in a day."
I sighed when I realized that explains it. The other day she was in housekeeping. Now, waitress here?
"We can't be too choosy these days, we're short of staff. We're the only big resort here in Dapitan, so I make sure that the requirements are stringent-the result? No one wants to provide the documents. They would rather apply in Ozamis."
I didn't say a word. A part of me is thinking that maybe this is my fault. I didn't mean for Elwin to come here and accompany me to my vacation.
Why would I? Now, he's here to talk about things I don't even care about. I thought it was courteous to at least tell him, since he's the owner of this resort.
"I heard that her husband just died."
I sneered
"She's too young to be a widow. So it's a bit...you know," Elwin said meaningfully as he glanced her way.
The fuck I care, honestly.
"And don't deny it..." he said and glanced her way.
She's gone. She must have been there a while ago. I don't know because I didn't follow her wiping and panicking.
"She's pretty."
I scoffed.
"Hey, man, I know you've dealt with prettier women. But seriously? You've been here a week, no company? Don't tell me you can celibate your way out of this vacation-"
"Did someone already tell you?" I asked.
Elwin was still grinning as he looked at me. "Tell me what?"
I pointed at him before I sipped on my glass again.
"You have a punchable face."
He burst out laughing. I just shook my head while drinking. He raised both hands.
"Look, I'm just saying. I'm concerned about your stay here, and I want you to have a good time. If you want your mind off work, I thought you'd want a woman for this vacation. But you didn't bring any, and you also refused to-."
"I told you I don't like one-night stands, in general-"
"Yes, yes...they could be a spy-"
"I don't want to contact any disease from that shit, Elwin. And like I said, I'm here to rest."
"Could I request one with a medical document?"
Maybe he's right.
I didn't think through it. I just really want to take things off my mind, so I decided quickly. If I had to think about this vacation, then what is the point of taking work off my mind, anyway?
Well, if I need one, I can always call and get a private plane. But my plan is to relax here alone. I wanted to have a quiet retreat, and for once not be seen with a woman only to end up in the headlines of the news.
"I'm from Cebu, actually..."
Yes. All that blabber, and here I am in the bar talking to a guest.
Elwin was gone. He said he wanted to leave me to myself, while he goes to his gym routine at night. We were just eating a while ago, on a square table near this bar. The lights dimmed when it was eight o'clock, and the restaurant became its darker version, music shifting to trance, and the bar as its center piece.
So I moved here to have more drinks, alone.
"Just taking a vacation to take my mind off work."
I glanced at the woman. She's pretty, alright. Passable. But like I said, I'm not into one-night stands. I guess it wouldn't hurt if I socialized somehow. Besides that, we got the same reason for being here.
"Where are you connected?" I asked curiously.
"I'm a lawyer."
The corner of my lips stretched. Well, fuck. She smiled at me.
"You're familiar to me. So I approached..."
Well, shit.
"You look like that General...the youngest one? General Sanvitores?"
Before I could even think of an answer, the waitress suddenly spilled the drink on the person I was talking to.
"Sorry! Sorry!" she sounded so apologetic, but it was already done.
Our stools were close enough that I got splashed by the fruit shake.
"I'm sorry. Excuse me," the woman looked humiliated as she started walking away.
She refused the waitress' attempt to wipe her. It was an avocado shake, and for God's sake it looked like bird diarrhea against her white dress. So I could see the woman blushing slightly in the dark, and she hurried to leave.
The waitress is now busy wiping shit on the bar stool. Someone approached her to mop, but she refused and took it for herself.
I shook my head and just kept drinking while I glanced at her, who was now panicking again on my side. She lost me a night's companion. She's ridiculous for fucking up all the time, it's impossible she's not doing it on purpose.
It was dark. The bartender was tending another customer on the other side. I don't know if anyone was watching him clean up but because there were still a lot of people eating, and in the dark, I felt like there wasn't any. If there was, I didn't care either.
I made her stand on the edge of the bar stool when the woman left. I covered her body with mine, as I took a peek of her reaction from the side behind.
"I was about to fuck that woman. Do you know that?"
She gasped. Of course, I lied. I smirked at her scandalized reaction.
"Sorry. I didn't know. I didn't mean to. I swear-"
"You lost me my chance of a good time."
She panicked and tried to look my way. I pressed my hand against the marble counter top, making her stay in her place despite her wriggles.
"Did you mean-"
"I didn't mean-"
"Really? Why are you staring at me?"
She was about to speak but her words were caught in midair. Her mouth was open, and no words came out. Her cheeks flushed again.
"I heard you're a widow?"
She was still flushing hard but her eyebrows furrowed. She struggled to meet my gaze on her side.
"Were you talking about me?"
My lips stretched. She looked defensive, but the hope in her voice was so hard to miss.
"Why are you talking about me?" she panicked, but she was more curious than shocked.
That excited her, huh? I don't care at all but it was funny how desperate she is. She thinks I'm interested, reason why we talked about her.
Desperate.
"Why shouldn't we? You can't stop ogling me," I whispered.
"Huh?" She wriggled again.
Come on. Deny it.
My smile widened.
"Isn't it true?"
"I was just looking...uh..."
She could've easily denied it. But... no...she really has to fuck around and find out...
"Why? How many years has it been?"
She swallowed hard and I can feel her body stiffen against mine. My eyes widened.
"I don't want to talk about-"
"Oh, still fresh, huh?" I teased.
She stiffened even more. Now, her hand was on my wrist, trying to push it away so she could get away.
"Must be hard. Still so new and-"
"Three years!" she said angrily. "I'm still working. I'm sorry if-"
"Three years?" I asked in shock.
Somehow, that shocked me and I couldn't move.
"And don't tell me your last was three years ago, too?"
Her cheeks flushed again and she tried to corner my gaze again. She looked embarrassed at my question.
"Don't look at me like you haven't had sex talk with anyone."
"We don't know each other so why should we talk about this matter?"
I smirked. Without ado, my right hand on the marble flew to her waist. She couldn't escape on my right because the bar stool was in her way, and it wasn't moveable.
"I told you, you lost me my good time tonight," I said my breath was against her neck.
Her breathing hitched. Her chest heaved up and down and she swallowed hard.
"If it's been three years, then maybe you're too thirsty, you can't help it but ogle, huh?"
"I'm not thirsty-"
"But you can't help but ogle?" I asked.
She swallowed hard. I guess she really just can't deny it, huh?
"You're so nervous all the time, you mess up your orders. You watch me too much more than your tray."
He bit his lip. He only breathed more deeply.
She's too simple. Maybe, yes, too desperate.
She looked down at my hand that was already on her stomach. I stroked it slowly, in circles. I smirked as I saw her nervous but anticipating.
Slowly, I moved my hand down. She gasped.
I moved it up, back her flat stomach. And the damn woman turned to me as if I had disappointed her. I smirked.
I played and moved it down, this time, I played with the zipper on her black slacks. Her head turned back down.
I traced her zipper with my finger, then my hand went back up to her stomach again.
"I'll do the work so do your part," I whispered. "Unzip it."
I can almost hear her thoughts. She looked defiant, but she swallowed hard. Her eyes were glassy and it looked like she knew that if she didn't do it, she would never have another chance.
I smirked when she slowly unzipped her black slacks.
My hand slowly went down and entered her. Even from the cloth of her underwear, I could tell that she was unshaven.
We'll that doesn't matter. My finger will take care of it, anyway.
My eyes lingered on the way she gasped quietly, when my finger traced the cloth down.
"Sure. You're not thirsty, because you're so full of water..."
I chuckled. My finger got wet, even if it was just outside.
"Maybe you've been like this for a while..." I whispered.
She bit her lips. She was about to counter it but I slipped a finger inside her underwear and felt her wetness.
"You've been walking all over this place, this wet, as you looked at me, huh?" I whispered darkly on her neck.
She tried to say anything but it was caught midair again because I put one finger in her very wet center.
Damn, she's thirsty. It was obvious this was against her judgment but she must be so desperate to have some.
She was so simple. Even the desperate people I know have some better dignity, and would definitely say no even if they wanted to.
She bit her lower lip as I stroked her in, one, then two fingers.
"You look so flustered, and we're in public. You can't keep it to yourself, huh?"
I saw her panic a bit. She realized it. She looked dizzy as I did it, and it seems like she didn't care that we were in public. She straightened up after I reprimanded her and pretended there's nothing going on.
I laughed again. Fuck it
"Yeah, don't show it...kay?"
My finger stopped going in and I searched for her nub. Her legs shut; my hand could hardly move because of what she did.
"W-What are you doing?" she asked.
"Fingering you. Open up," I ordered.
"Huh?"
She tried to open her legs. I moved freely. She jumped a little and closed her legs again.
"Are you fucking playing with me? I said open it up."
"But...it tickles..." she said softly.
"Open up," I ordered.
She did. I freely moved this time but she was always an inch away to close her legs. She didn't hold her gaze any longer. I could see her feeling it again.
"I'm not doing this if you continue to look like you're being fucked," I said.
The last thing I want is someone spreading rumors that I'm doing this thing. If she invites me to a private place, I will refuse. I don't do these things but it was funny at first, and annoying at the same time.
She struggled to keep a straight face as I continued. I smirked when she kept it straight the whole time I played with her nub. But she has to work on the small jumps she's doing. She grabbed my wrist.
She kept a straight face, and tried her best not to jump, until after a few moments. She buckled. Her thighs fell together, trapping my hand in her. And her eyes fell back her head. I smirked as I felt it-her pulse.
With my strength, I moved my finger from her nub, then touched her entrance for that more pronounced feel of her pulse. She moaned.
Damn She can't keep it together. I looked around. Nobody was looking and it was too dark. But I think I have to ask Elwin to delete the CCTVS and shut his employees up.
"Shh. I made you orgasm. The least you can do is shut up, damn it." I whispered.
