Blood Between Us

CHAPTER 2

ESTHER HAD JUST SETTLED to her desk with a half-cold coffee when the bell above her studio door chimed.

Hindi agad siya tumingin sa kung sino ang nasa pintuan.

Clients always come in pairs, or not at all. Kadalasan pumupunta lamang sila para mag-browse ng mga samples at pag-usapan ang tungkol sa mga presyo. Abala siya sa dalawang project kaya naman pati ang pagtingin sa mga papasok sa kaniyang studio ay hindi na niya magawa.

“Esther Sorrell?”

Biglang napatigil si Esther nang marinig niya ang boses na ‘yon. The voice was deep, calm and familiar.

Too familiar.

Dahan-dahang nag-angat ng tingin si Esther at napatingin sa taong nakatayo sa pintuan ng kaniyang studio.

Her heart raced.

Ciaran Vireaux stood in the doorway like he owned the floor beneath his feet. Nakasuot ito ng dark slacks, open ang collar nito, one hand casually in his pocket. Sa ayos nito, mukha tuloy itong nanggaling sa isang fashion show at pumunta ito sa studio niya ng walang pasabi.

O baka naman namalik-mata lamang siya.

Esther blinked. Once. Pero pagmulat niya naroon pa rin ang lalaki.

Meanwhile, Ciaran didn’t know what he was doing here at Esther Sorrell's studio. He didn’t mean to come here.

Does he? At least, that’s what he told himself.

The driver had been halfway to the Vireaux tower when Ciaran changed course—quietly, firmly—and told him to reroute to the arts district. The man didn’t question him. They never did. That was the luxury of being who he was.

“You weren’t on the schedule, Mr. Vireaux,” Esther said. Unti-unti siyang napatayo mula sa kaniyang upuan. Her voice, to her credit, didn’t shake. Nagtataka siya kung ano ang ginagawa ng lalaki sa studio niya.

Ciaran looked at Esther. “I wasn’t aware I needed an appointment. I remembered you said your studio was in the art district. I was curious.”

Kumunot ang noo ni Esther. Hindi siya naniniwala na curious ito? No one just visited her studio. Certainly not the heir of a multibillion-dollar empire.

Napainom na lamang si Esther ng kape para basain ang nanunuyo niyang lalamunan dahil sa hindi siya makapaniwalang nasa harapan niya ang tagapagmana ng multibillion-dollar empire.

“I didn’t think I’d made that strong an impression,” Esther said, coolly.

“You did.” Napatingin si Cassian sa loob ng studio. “Gusto kong makita ang mundo mo sa labas ng boardroom.”

Hindi nagsalita si Esther. She should have been flattered, but she was alarmed and became defensive. Parang may naramdaman siyang panganib dahil sa lalaki.

And she was curious about his plan for coming into her studio. Hindi naman engrande ang studio niya. It was actually warm, with wooden beams, natural light from the windows, clay samples lined up on the wall beside the potted plants, and shelves of architecture books. The room smelled faintly of sandalwood and lemon oil, and this scene comforted her, not the sterile coldness of glass towers.

At nasa hitsura ni Cassian, he looked like he had never stepped into a space that didn’t reek of polished metal and power like the Vireaux Tower.

“Nice place,” Ciaran commented. “This place suits you.”

Tumaas ang isang kilay ni Esther. “And what does that mean, Sir?”

Tipid na ngumiti si Cassian. “You build a place people want to stay in,” he said. And that was true. Hindi siya nagsisinungaling. It came from the bottom of his heart. He felt comforted in Esther’s studio, like it felt a home.

Ciaran didn’t care about buildings. Not the way his mother did. Not the way the board calculated them as line items and legacies. But for Esther, she seemed like she was trying to save something. Maybe herself.

“I had a meeting across town. Found myself a few blocks from here. Thought I’d drop by.” Alam niyang hindi naniniwala sa kaniya ang dalaga. And that was fine.

Esther crossed her arms over her chest. “So, what do you want?” she asked in a flat voice.

Ciaran’s expression sobered. He hesitated for half a breath and then decided on the truth. “You.”

Napakurap si Esther. “Anong sinabi mo?”

“I mean,” Ciaran cleared his throat, correcting himself. He needed to correct himself, even if he didn’t want to, when he saw Esther’s expression. It was like Esther wanted to punch him in the face. “Your design. Solace. I want to move it forward with you. My team was already interested. But I’m not handing it over to them unless you’re attached.”

Napatitig si Esther sa lalaki. “Akala ko ba preferred ng board mo ang legacy. That’s what they said when I presented my design,” she said in a wary voice.

Ramdam ni Ciaran na hindi naniniwala sa kaniya si Esther. Hindi naman niya ito masisisi.

“My board prefers control,” he replied. “But they’ll get over it.”

Napalunok si Esther. Hindi niya gusto itong nararamdaman niya na parang ang dali niyang maniwala at mapaikot ng kausap niya ngayon. Hindi ito katulad ng iba. But that only made him more dangerous.

Ciaran could see Esther’s resistance. The wall she was trying to keep between them.

“Wala kang alam tungkol sa akin.” Kalmadong sabi ni Esther. Sa tingin mas mabuti kung maging totoo siya.

“I know what it looks like when someone creates because they have to. I know that your designs come from more than trends. At alam ko kung ang isang tao ay ipaglalaban kung ano ba ang nararapat. Nakita ko ‘yon sa ‘yo, Miss Sorrell.” Naglakad siya palapit sa dalaga. He was careful not to touch the invisible line between them. “You’re not a substitute, Esther. And I think you know it.”

Ramdam ni Esther na totoo ang sinasabi ni Ciaran. At ‘yon ang problema. “I’ll think about it.” Aniya.

Tumango si Ciaran. “Good,” he said. Then, casually, he asked like they were close friends and knew each other. “Would you have lunch with me?”

“Bakit? Close ba tayo?” Sabi ni Esther saka umupo sa upuan.

“No, but I was just asking.”

Esther picked up her pencil and smiled—a fake smile. Kung nakakatakot na tao ang kausap niya, hindi niya makuhang ngumiti ng matamis. “I assumed you don’t have time to flirt with contractors.”

“Well, you’re not just a contractor,” Ciaran said, meaning every syllable.

Hindi sumagot si Esther pero tinignan siya nito. And then she said, “No. I’m not.” Then her attention focused on her work, dismissing him.

You are the only person who can make me feel like I’m nothing. Ciaran thought. He walked away, and the bell chimed behind him as he exited. The door closed.

Nang marinig ni Esther ang pagtunog ng bell chimed, doon lamang niya pinakawalan ang hininga na kanina pa niya pinipigilan. It was intense. She couldn’t believe that she’d talked straight to the dangerous person whom people feared. At para sa kaniya, isa ‘yong achievement. And she was already thinking of celebrating with Mira later.

“YOU WHAT?!” Halos maibuga ni Mira ang iniinom na juice nang marinig ang kwento ni Esther. “The heir of hell visited you?!”

“The heir of what?” Esther asked.

Napairap si Mira. “The heir of hell.”

Natawa si Esther. “Heir of hell talaga. Bakit mo naman tinawag siyang ganiyan?”

“Eh, diba sa ‘yo na rin nanggaling. He’s dangerous. And yes, dangerous naman talaga siya. At hindi lang dangerous. Very dangerous,” Mira said, quoting into the air.

Napailing na lamang si Esther at kumain ng chips. Mira was in her condo again. Well, lagi namang nasa condo niya ang kaibigan. At okay lang ‘yon sa kaniya upang may kasama siya.

“And he even invited you to lunch. You didn’t agree.” Mira chuckled. “Sinayang mo ang pagkakataon. Alam mo na ang daming babae ang gustong maka-date ang isang Ciaran Vireaux.”

“Well, I’m not one of them.”

Mira smiled. But then she turned serious. “Ciaran Vireaux never dated anyone. He doesn’t touch women either.”

Lumaki ang mata ni Esther. “Bakla siya?”

Tumawa si Mira. “Grabe naman ‘yang imagination mo. Bakla agad talaga.”

Uminom si Esther ng juice. “Anong malay ko?”

“Ciaran Vireaux is not just some rich guy with charm. His family—his company—is the reason you stopped trusting anyone in the first place,” seryosong saad ni Mira. “And I think you got his attention.”

Kumunot ang noo ni Esther. “Paano mo naman nasabi ‘yan?”

“He went to your studio. Esther, hindi biro na pupunta ang isang multibillion-dollar heir sa studio mo dahil napadaan lang kung hindi siya interesado sa ‘yo.”

Natahimik si Esther. “Hindi ko alam. Basta hindi ako komportable sa presensiya na. I could talk to him straight without stuttering, but my heart was pounding.”

Lumaki ang mata ni Mia. “You what?!” Napatingin siya sa dibdib ni Esther.

Mabilis namang tinakpan ni Esther ang dibdib. “Bakit ka naman nakatingin sa dibdib ko?”

“Gaga! Hindi ang dibdib mo ang tinitignan ko. Alam kong may dibdib ka, hindi nga lang malusog.”

“Parang malaki naman sa ‘yo, ah?” wika ni Esther saka binato ang kaibigan ng throw pillow. “Pareho lang tayo.”

Napailing na lamang si Mira. “Alam mo ang maipapayo ko na lang sa ‘yo ay mag-ingat ka.” Ngunit parang alam na niya kung saan patutungo ang takbo ng kwento ng kaibigan niya. Parang nakikita na niya kung ano ang mangyayari.

“So, are you going to deal with him about Solace?”

Esther sighed. “Hindi ko alam. I wanted to get away from danger, but the danger was coming to me.”

“Eh, bakit ka pa kasi pumunta sa presentation na ‘yon?”

“Hindi ko naman alam na pupunta ang isang Ciaran Vireaux,” sabi ni Esther, defending herself.

Parang pati si Mira ay nagproblema na rin. “Alam mo matulog na lang tayo. Saka mo na isipin ‘yan.”

Tumango na lamang si Esther. She slept that night, but her night was not a good night's sleep. Kundi kinulang siya sa tulog. Mag-uumaga na yata noong nakatulog siya dahil laman ng isipan niya ang taong walang pasabi na pupunta sa studio niya.

Ciaran Vireaux.