Discovered My CEO's secret

Summer have ended swiftly. This is so far the busiest summer I've been through. Although I was new to the system of life, I gradually learned everything. Lourd is always there to guide me all through out my struggles. Photo shoots, trainings, etiquettes and such all I had to go through. Even the school I've enrolled in Manila is all set. Everything was taken care of by Lourd's manager. I'm just waiting for my signature to make everything more real. There's no turning back even though my signature isn't there yet. Everything is turning into colors slowly and surely.

"Is New York beautiful? I saw on the internet that there are many buildings there."

I heard him laugh from the other line. I pouted. I feel like I'm just always being ridiculous in his eyes. Hearing, by the way.

"You love buildings, I forgot." He mocked.

He knew it. He was really just teasing me. He knew how much I wanted to see the City lights that he keeps on flexing about. He knew how much I've draw buildings on my sketch book. He knew it.

"Do you want to come here?" I sighed.

This one is teasing me again.

"I'm serious Ava. Do you want me to bring you here?"

I fell silent. I can't seem to imagine what he wants to happen. Is he asking me if we want to travel together?

"Hmm-hmm" I nodded.

I like that. I love that but I don't know why I have so little pain in my heart. I never knew that we've come this far. I never knew that I could dream that far. I thought there should always be a limit when you dream, especially if the dreamer is a scoundrel like me. I remember dreaming about him, dream or illusion all that I remember. Dreaming of being with him for more time every time he's in the office, dreaming for at least a minor attention.

Before, he seems so far out of reach, now he told me he is I feel all that ispossible. He'll always be the range of my limit, nothing equals his dream. Even reaching heaven is unmatched.

"After you graduate I'll bring you in any country you want." He breathed.

I miss him so much. It's only been a week since he left Mar De Vena again and headed to New York for what he says is the conference. He said he was sent as the representative of his father. In addition, we only met for a short time when he was here because he was staying at their hotel in the center.

The Solidad's are here but Sir Constantine left for Manila. It's okay and I'm not alone here in the mansion. So I couldn't help but miss him even more. And now that he's saying this, another dream of mine was molded. We'll come that far soon Levi. Not just at the end of Mar De Vena.

"Are you still not gonna sign the contract?"

Lourd presented me with the contract. I looked at him and just gave up.

"Can I handle all this?"

I brushed my curled hair because of another photo shoot we did this afternoon. Right here in their hotel bar. My make up is heavy and it's a bit new and daring than the usual photo shoots we do. So now that I am aware of the reality of the job I will be entering, I am wondering if I will be able to handle all this by the time I sign this contract.

"You know that I'll always be here right?"

Let's face it. Although Lourd and I didn't have a good start, she has played a big role in my life in recent months. He is the reason I am facing the big change in my life today. I'm thankful that I had a friend but an enemy at the same time. Even if I didn't tell him, he knew I was very grateful to him. Suddenly he entered my life, things I did not expect God to give me.

Levi:

Baby,

I opened his message while going out in the elevator, Lourd was about to take me back to the Solidad. My chest throbbed for no apparent reason. I felt nervous reading his texts, he had that text before but it was alone and he seemed to have something important to say.

As we walked into the lobby, I typed on my cellphone to reply to him. Me: Is there a problem? Before I could even send it Lourd stopped walking in front of me. At his height I had to side to see the reason for his stop.

Lourd's expression seemed bored and when I ruled out the reason for his stop I was also surprised. A middle aged woman wearing a tan sleeveless knee length coat. A skinny black pants was underneath that coat. The belt was close to his waist and I could see the curve of his body. The tans talons heels are clacking while straightly looking at our direction.

She got the smirk on her face as her straight hair didn't seem to be disturbed by any gust of wind. I also stopped because of Lourd's disposition. Why does he look so shocked and afraid? The woman finally came in front of us and two strong men were behind her. Now that she's near, now I see more of her beauty, not paying attention to her age. Even the flap bag she's holding was mesmerizing. I'm intimidated.

"How are you hiding in your son's nest?"

Its cold voice echoed in the quiet lobby. Her side of lips rose but I don't see any humor in it. I was confused by what was happening. This was probably the first time I had seen Lourd without saying anything. His face was restrained but could not look into the woman's eyes. My leg shook as it shifted its gaze to me. Her eyes are cold and intimidating. She scanned me from head to toe until she almost state words as if she's spitting it.

"The news is true, that you brought a hypocrite here."

She smirked. My mouth fell open. My eyes are shocked by her words.

"Ma, please. Let's not include Ava here."

Lourd blocked his arm and forced me to go behind him. My whole being seemed to cool when I heard what Lourd had said. Ma? His mother? Levi's mother? "Ma?" She spat with amusement.

"I'm never you mother, kid."

Her words were even sharper than a dagger, which caused Lourd to bow to his mother's words. The people in the lobby seemed to stop what they were doing.

"Ava?"

She turned his gaze to me, parting my lips to release the building pressure in my throat.

"There is no one else. Until the next life you will still force yourself on the life that is not for you."

It was as if a dagger had pierced my heart. Especially when I saw his eyes full of disgust and hatred. I couldn't understand anything he was saying but to hear it from the mother of the person I love I couldn't bear.

"Ma, please!"

Lourd exclaimed but that doesn't shake her.

"Like your mother, you also try to squeeze yourself into someone you can't reach."

Gradually tears welled up in my eyes, my legs are shaking so bad. The whole lobby's attention was on us.

"The thickness of your face stick your name on my son's name! You inherited from your ambitious and inaccessible mother!"

Lourd kept me hiding behind him. I bowed down to shed my tears. I tried to hide the sobs that I almost vomited. Her anger was clear, the way she shouted and pointed at my face was all clear. The only vague thing was that he joined in my mother's name.

"Isn't your mother's soul still can't move on and when she can't get my husband it's my son you're trying to take !?"

It was as if my heart was pounding with the pain of his words. It was as if I was being killed by the fact that it was slowly opening up in my mind.

"We're leaving here, Ma. You don't have to make a scandal here-"

"I'm not your mother!"

He tried to catch up with me but Lourd blocked between the two of us. The female crew was fast and in a flash Lourd was holding them. My cheeks filled with tears when I saw his eyes mocking and full of anger. Full of hatred and abomination.

"Is it money again? For sure it was all about the money, that's really what your mother wanted first."

With dim eyes I could clearly see the rage that was alive in him. I was unable to defend the mother because of the unknown fact. Has the mother been a fixture? And who? When his wife? The father of the person I love the most? I shuddered as I tried to suppress the sobs.

"I love Levi-"

"Ma!"

Simultaneously with the numbness of my cheek was the suddenness of everyone. During these times my mind went blank. Eveything went blank as soon as I felt her palm on my cheeks.

"You're disgusting! You're not only flirty like your mother, but you still look like money!"

My knees are weak and my heart seemed to be killed over and over again. Not even my sobs were left in the air and I could barely breathe in the pain I felt. I understand the loath, I understand where she's coming from, understand the critic but I think this is enough.

"This is what you tell your mother the next time you meet, neither in heaven nor in hell, you will never get the men in my life no matter how many times you desire!"

Even before I could kneel in the weakness I felt, Lourd caught up with me.

"Enough! You have no right to hurt Ava! We know you're the criminal here!"

His mother spat a shocked laugh at his son's statement. I can't take my eyes off him. I struggled to memorize how furious he looked so that even in the next life I could carry the pain of the truth I just found out.

"You've caused the fire in their Island so Ava's family died! So my real mother disappeared!"

I thought that was all there was to it. My whole system trembled, my gaze fell to the floor and I completely lost myself. All I can think of was my mother and my father. How much I've wanted to disappear at this moment. I can't digest everything. It's even worse than the nightmare.

"Don't worry. Cause every time I declare your name as my mother, I despise it a lot. It's embarrassing to carry your last name. It's embarrassing to be part of your family."

Levi, we've really come so far.