Dangerous Solace

CHAPTER 7

NATIGILAN si Lucien nang maramdamang humawak si Neriah sa braso niya nang makababa silang dalawa mula sa sasakyan. He smiled because Neriah didn’t seem awkward about what she was doing.

One character of Neriah that he likes was that… she was bold in her actions. Well, maybe that was just her upbringing.

“Is this the place? I thought it was hidden or something that was not visible,” komento ni Lucien at tiningnan ang luxury hotel na nasa kanilang harapan.

Natawa na lamang nang mahina si Neriah. “You will see later.”

They entered the luxury hotel and went to the elevator.

Inaasahan ni Lucien na tataas ang elevator. But Neriah swiped a card into the machine, and Lucien felt the elevator descend.

“Huwag ka nang magtaka,” sabi ni Neriah. “We’re really going down. This hotel was owned by one of the family members who belonged to the underground organization, so this was the entrance going to the event.”

Lucien looked at Neriah. “Am I supposed to know that?”

Ngumiti si Neriah. Hinaplos niya ang mukha ni Lucien. “You seemed powerful. A Verdan Heir, but I can see that your eyes were full of emotion. Looks like I was right, you never seen the world—what the world looks like.”

Hindi pinansin ni Lucien ang huling sinabi ni Neriah. Ang pinagtuunan niya ng pansin ay ang ikalawa nitong sinabi. “Really? What kind of emotion?”

Tumingin nang diretso si Neriah sa mata ni Lucien. “Longing. Hoping. Sadness. And there was no glint of happiness.”

“So?” Nag-iwas ng tingin si Lucien.

“So… because you are mine. I will show you the world you haven’t seen before.”

“By bringing me here?” Lucien raised an eyebrow. “Miss Neriah, this is an underground auction which was allegedly illegal,” he said as if he was trying to explain himself.

Ngumiti si Neriah. “So?”

“So, should I thank you?”

Neriah leaned forward to Lucien. “You’re mine, Lucien. And my man should see what the real world is.”

You’re mine, Lucien. Nag-replay ‘yun sa isipan ni Lucien. And he felt happy hearing that from her. But—

“Neriah, did your family belong to an illegal—”

Pinutol ni Neriah ang sasabihin ni Lucien. “My family is Laurent from the maternal side, and Rios from the paternal side.”

Lucien was surprised. “Laurent-Rios…?” his eyes widened. Hindi niya inaasahan ang pamilyang pinagmulan ni Neriah.

He never heard of Laurent before, but Rios—the Rios Group was known all over Asia. They are one of the top conglomerate companies in the world. And no one dared to cross the chairman of Rios Group.

“Your father is Ashriel Rios?”

“The one and only.” Ngumiti si Neriah at nagkibit ng balikat.

Pakiramdam ni Lucien na nawalan siya ng lakas. “Unexpectedly.”

Neriah chuckled.

When the elevator stopped, the door opened, and they stepped out. Sumalubong sa kanila ang isang hallway. Pero malayo pa lamang sila sa event, naririnig na nila ang boses ng mga tao.

Lucien adjusted the black mask covering the upper half of his face as he followed Neriah.

The nearer they walked, the louder the voice became.

Pagpasok nila sa event, nakita ni Lucien ang mga bagay na hindi pa niya nakikita sa buong buhay niya. Though he managed the Verdan Group before his father handed it to his brother, he never saw this kind of event, nor entered one. Because Verdan did not belong to any underground organization.

And speaking of being the Verdan Heir—it was just a name, and he knew that his father had never intended to let him inherit the Verdan Group. Of course, he won’t let that happen. Verdan was originally the hard work of his mother, and he won’t let anyone take it away from him.

But right now, he should focus on the main event.

Ngayon, naiintindihan na niya kung bakit ito ay tinawag na underground.

The atmosphere carried the unmistakable scent of power. The kind that operated outside the law. Outside governments and outside public view.

Lucien immediately disliked it, while Neriah looked delighted.

“Halatang ine-enjoy mo ‘to.”

Sinulyapan ni Neriah si Lucien. “Halatang hindi ka nag-e-enjoy.”

Lucien rolled his eyes. “I’m standing in an underground auction attended by criminals.”

Tumango si Neriah. “You’re right.”

“Neriah.”

Tumawa lamang si Neriah. Muli siyang humawak sa braso ni Lucien. Fortunately, she didn’t wear a dress, but instead, she wore formal attire and paired it with close-in heels.

Then Lucien couldn’t stop his curiosity anymore.

He looked at Neriah. “So, your family…”

“My brother asked me to attend on his behalf.” Sabi agad ni Nylah.

Napatango na lamang si Lucien at hindi na nagtanong. Being here… in this underground auction, it was already obvious that Neriah’s family belonged to an underground organization.

Pero ano ang plano ni Neriah?

Why does she let him know that her family belonged to an underground organization?

He won’t be killed after getting out of this event, right?

After all, the Rios Family was powerful and influential, and they are not to be underestimated. Pero bakit kaya kasali pa sila sa underground organization?

How exactly powerful was Neriah’s family?

Though Verdan was also powerful, his father controlled it. And he has no control over the group, kaya naman kailangan niyang sumunod.

As they entered the main event, Lucien saw that the auction room itself was extravagant. Crystal chandeliers illuminated the massive chamber and masked guests, just like Neriah and Lucien filled the private tables.

Ilan sa mga guest ay nakasuot ng designer suits, habang ang ilan ay nakasuot ng military uniforms. A few carried themselves like politicians.

The truly dangerous people never looked dangerous.

Napansin ‘yon ni Lucien; ganoon din si Neriah.

Unlike him, Neriah seemed completely relaxed. As though she belonged here. The realization unsettled him. Not because she fit in, but because she fit in too well.

Umupo sila malapit sa gitna.

Tiningnan ni Lucien ang paligid. A stage occupied the front of the room, and various rare items were being presented—artifacts, jewelry, private collections, and information. Hindi rin inaasahan ni Lucien na pati sikreto ay pwede palang i-auction—the most expensive commodity in the room.

The bidding war was intense. Money flowed like water. Millions exchanged hands without hesitation.

Tahimik na nag-obserba si Lucien.

Habang si Neriah naman ay mas interesado sa mga taong nasa loob kaysa sa mga mamahaling bagay na naka-display. Her gaze constantly moved—studying, observing, and collecting stories. The same way she always did.

Tiningnan naman ni Lucien ang dalaga. Halatang naroon lamang si Neriah para i-presenta ang kapatid nito.

Several minutes later, a man approached their table. Agad itong napansin ni Lucien. A middle-aged man with an arrogant posture. The kind of confidence that came from inherited power rather than earned respect.

Nagtagal ang tingin ng lalaki kay Neriah bago siya lumipat kay Lucien.

Then the man looked at Neriah. “Name your price, Miss. Have a night with me rather than staying with your companion.”

Kumuyom ang kamay ni Lucien dahil hindi niya nagustuhan ang sinabi ng lalaki. Pero tumingin sa kaniya si Neriah.

Neriah shook her head, signaling him not to make a move.

Lucien hesitantly obeyed.

Ngumisi ang lalaki. “What are you? A bodyguard?” tanong nito kay Lucien.

Nanatiling tahimik si Lucien.

The man looked at Neriah again. This time, he looked at Neriah from head to toe. “Though I can’t see your face, your body was in great shape,” he said.

Then he looked at Lucien. He used his finger to push Lucien’s head, and that made Neriah lose her patience. Walang sinuman ang basta na lamang manduro kay Lucien.

Napansin ni Lucien ang unti-unting pagbaba ni Neriah sa hawak nitong wine glass.

“Neriah,” Lucien warned.

But it was too late.

The man laughed. “Did I offend your pet?”

Hindi nagsalita si Neriah.

Then a crack was heard from their table.

Napasigaw nang malakas ang lalaki na ikinatigil ng lahat.

Napakurap naman si Lucien. He was trying to process what had just happened. Because somehow, within the span of a second, Neriah had risen from her chair, grabbed the man’s arm, and twisted it into a position, arm was absolutely not meant to occupy.

Napalunod na lamang ang lalaki habang namumutla. His arm hung at an unnatural angle. His arms were broken… completely broken. Well, he can’t blame Neriah for what she did. The man deserved his broken arm because of what he said to Neriah.

Binitawan ni Neriah ang lalaki. “My man is my bottom line, and no one should point at him like that.”

Napatigil si Lucien. Napatitig siya kay Neriah. So, she was upset because someone pointed at him, not the other way around.

Neriah returned to her seat as if nothing had happened.

Several guests suddenly became very interested in their own tables.

The injured man stared at her in horror.

Neriah tilted her head. “You seemed confused. So let me clarify something,” she said. “If you insult him again…” She looked at Lucien, then glanced at the broken arm. “…I’ll fix the other one to match.”

Mabilis na tumayo ang lalaki at nagmamadaling umalis.

Tumingin si Neriah kay Lucien. “Sa susunod, huwag mong hahayaan na basta ka na lamang nilang duruhin.” Kalmado niyang saad.

Neriah smiled. “You are a proud man, Lucien. Don’t let others insult you. You are mine, and Neriah’s man is not someone whom anyone could point their fingers at.”

For a long moment, Lucien simply stared.

Neriah picked up her drink and took a sip, completely unbothered. “What?”

Tumingin si Lucien sa direksiyon kung saan nawala ang lalaking binali ni Neriah ang braso, saka ibinalik ang tingin rito.

“Ano?” She sounded genuinely confused. As though breaking someone’s arm in public was a perfectly reasonable response. Perhaps in her world, it was.

Pero hindi sigurado si Lucien. “Binali mo ang braso niya.”

“He insulted you. He pointed his finger at you and even pushed your head like that.”

As if that explained everything.

Maybe to her it did.

Napatitig si Lucien sa dalaga at ganoon din si Neriah.

Eventually, she just shrugged. “He was annoying.”

Lucien rubbed his forehead. Because somehow that wasn’t the shocking part. The shocking part was how effortlessly she had done it. No hesitation and no struggle. Just a decision and a broken arm.

Kapagkuwan, may na-realize si Lucien.

Isang napakaimportanteng bagay. One that would undoubtedly preserve his future health.

Remind me not to provoke her.

But being protected felt good.