Author's Preface
Author’s Note: Since this is a one-shot short story, the pacing may feel fast to you. I hope you understand that I wanted to include this in a short drama format
IMPORTANT AUTHOR’S NOTE: This story contains violence and strong language. It is not suitable for children. It is intended only for open-minded readers with strong tolerance for heavy themes, and is meant for adult audiences. If you are not comfortable reading such topics, please do not proceed, as this may not be to your liking. Thank you very much.
“Please… give my child back to me,” Samantha said, her voice trembling with tears
Nicole walked up to her and gripped her cheeks tightly
“No,” Nicole said firmly, holding the baby in her arms
“Nicole, please,” Samantha begged
“Throw her away!” Nicole ordered her men
They threw Samantha into the river, with no one else knowing what had happened
“Francis,” Nicole said with a smile, still holding the baby
“Nicole, where have you been? And what is that you’re holding?” Francis asked in surprise
“A baby, of course. What else do you think it is?” Nicole replied, walking arrogantly into the house
“Haven’t you seen Samantha?” Francis asked her. Nicole was his secretary, and she had long hidden feelings for him.She was also his childhood friend
“No,” Nicole said. “But this child I found… will be our child.”
“What are you saying, Nicole? I already have a wife,” Francis told her
“Francis, your wife is never coming back. She left with another man,” Nicole lied
“My wife would never do such a thing,” Francis said
“Mr. Francis, Amara from the office called. The clients have arrived,” said his bodyguard, Roman
“Thank you, Roman,” Francis replied. But before he turned away, he added firmly, “Take that child back to his real parents.”
When they arrived at the office, three clients immediately came to greet them—two men and one woman who owned a luxurious company
“Mr. Francis, may I introduce to you the owners of the Luxurious Company: Miguel Chavez, Rico Chavez, and their only daughter, Lureta Chavez,” said his assistant, Gaston
“Hello, it is a pleasure to meet you all,” Francis greeted them. “Are you planning to invest in our company?” he asked
They all took their seats
“Yes, because we heard that your company is very well managed,” said Miguel Chavez
“Well… who told you that?” Francis asked with a smile
“Our employer owns the Luxurious Company. He sent us here to discuss the contract,” said Miguel
“About that…” Francis paused, thinking carefully
“Wait, we heard you have a beautiful wife? We would like to meet her. Where is she?” asked Miguel Chavez
“Ah… she is doing well. She is currently on vacation,” Francis answered
A beautiful woman entered Francis’s office. She was wearing a red gown and expensive jewelry
It was Nicole Sanchez. She was accompanied by two bodyguards
“Well, well… is the meeting about to start?” Nicole said, walking over to Miguel Chavez
“And who are you?” Miguel asked, frowning
“Oh, didn’t Francis introduce me? I am his wife, Nicole Sanchez,” she said firmly, wearing a proud and arrogant smile
“You?” Miguel said, looking unsure.
“Yes, me.”
“Ah… just a moment, please,” Francis excused himself from the clients and pulled Nicole aside
“What is it, Francis?” Nicole asked.
“What are you doing?” Francis whispered to her
“What do you mean? I just want to help. Your wife isn’t here right now, after all,” Nicole said, acting flirtatious and provocative
“You are not my wife, Nicole,” Francis told her
“I know, but let me introduce myself properly,” she insisted
“Okay, fine. Just don’t ruin the meeting with our clients,” Francis agreed
“Of course,” Nicole replied
They then returned to the clients
“Ah, yes, sir. Allow me to introduce myself—I am Francis’s wife,” Nicole said, still smiling
“Oh, really?” said Lureta Chavez, with a strict and unimpressed expression
“Yes, that is right,” Nicole said
“Mr. Malvar, I did not expect… your wife is not as beautiful as I thought,” Lureta said mockingly, looking Nicole up and down from head to toe
Nicole’s eyes widened in anger. She was about to lunge at Lureta, but Francis held her back
Lureta was a true fashionista. She wore an elegant outfit and a red hat on her head
“Let me go, Francis!” Nicole shouted
“Nicole, stop it. You are embarrassing yourself in front of our clients,” Francis said, trying to hold her back
“Do you know, Ms…,” Nicole turned to Lureta
“Ms. Lureta Chavez. Or you can just call me Ms. L,” Lureta said, emphasizing the letter “L” with a sharp tone
“Hmm… if you were not a client, I am sure you would have been dealt with by now,” Nicole whispered angrily
But Lureta was not affected at all.Instead, she smiled playfully
“Is that so? Well… is it really true that you are Mr. Malvar’s wife? Or perhaps… you are just someone who thinks too highly of herself,” Lureta teased her
Nicole narrowed her eyes in rage
“Hey, Ms. L! Don’t test me just because you are a client! Do not forget where you are right now—you are in our company!”
“Our company?” Lureta laughed
“Are you sure?” Lureta said firmly
Nicole felt humiliated. Lureta stood up, walked slowly toward her, and faced her with great confidence
“Nicole Sanchez, is it?” she repeated, saying her name clearly. “How can you call yourself Mr. Malvar’s wife when your last name is Sanchez?”
Nicole felt nervous and panicked
“That is none of your business!” she shouted
“It is my business, because I am one of the investors in this company!” Lureta shouted back
Francis Malvar stepped in to stop the two women from fighting
“Ah, please excuse us. I apologize for my wife’s behavior, Ms. L,” Francis said, forcing a smile
“Wife? If she is your wife, why do you have different last names?” Lureta asked, looking closely at Francis’s face
“Ah, well…,” Francis said, his eyes widening in surprise
“She is not your wife, is she?” Madame L’s eyes burned with anger. “Because the truth is… your real wife is dead.”
Francis, as well as Nicole, was shocked to hear this
“My wife is not dead. She is alive,” Francis insisted
“Are you sure she is alive? Then where is she?” Lureta asked
Francis had no answer. He did not know where his wife, Samantha, was
“You do not know? That is because you abandoned your wife!” Lureta accused him
“What you are saying is not true! I love my wife!” Francis said, looking directly at Madame L
“Love? You do not love your wife at all!” Madame L declared
But Nicole spoke up again
“Stop it! If you want, you can leave right now! You are not our only client!” Nicole said, already angry and annoyed
Madame L laughed again
“You have a lot of nerve to say that to me. Just what is your position here?” Madame L closed her eyes for a moment, then continued coldly. “You are nothing more than an assistant, are you not?”
Nicole’s eyes widened, and she swallowed hard
“Shut up!” Nicole screamed
“Does the truth hurt to hear?” Lureta teased her even more
“Stop it!” Francis shouted loudly, stopping the argument between the two women
“Please excuse us, Madame L. You may leave our company now. We do not need investors like you,” Francis said
“Oh, come on,” Lureta said. “You would be losing a great offer. One billion pesos.”
Francis’s eyes widened in shock when he heard this
“One billion pesos?” he repeated
“Yes, one billion pesos… I will invest this money into your company, which is about to go bankrupt,” Lureta said. To be honest, Francis’s company was really on the verge of failing
“Our company is not failing!” Nicole said, acting as if she were the owner
“Oh really? Is that so? The last I heard, it was about to collapse, wasn’t it?” Lureta teased her
“Our company is not going to collapse!” Francis insisted.
“If that is true, then why don’t you ask your assistant—who calls herself your wife—about it?”