Manang Rosing had a kind look on her face. Suddenly, hope rose in my chest. Caleb told me that nobody would help me in this place but I still want to give it a try. I can’t give up just like this. I must do something at least.
“Do you have a phone, Manang Rosing? Can you please let me borrow it?”
“I am sorry, Gianna, but Sir Caleb told me that-“
“Please? You see, I was about to get married in six days, Manang Rosing. But your boss kidnapped me while I was at the shop for my gown-fitting.” Before I knew it, tears flooded my eyes again while remembering Manang Rosing’s monstrous boss.
Manang Rosing held my hand. “I believe you, Gianna. I mean how could I not when you are still wearing your wedding gown? I really want to help you, but Sir Caleb will fire me once he finds out about this.”
“Just for a minute, Manang Rosing. Please.”
The old woman sighed before she took her phone out of her pocket. For the first time after waking up, I felt relieved. Because it meant that there was a signal in this place.
“Make it quick, okay? Come and meet me downstairs once you’re through.”

“WHERE ARE YOU?” Alaric asked the second he answered the phone. I could tell by his voice that he was just as anxious as me. I looked outside the window. All I could see was the sea, the white sand, and the coconut trees. Under normal circumstances, I would have appreciated the lovely scenery, but not now. Not when my heart was still too dazed by the sudden changes in my life.
“I don’t know, Ric. And that’s the problem. I don’t know where I am.” I said in a hoarse voice. The more I try to think about the situation, the heavier my head felt. “All I can see are trees and... and...” My tears started to fall before I could even finish my sentence.
“Hush, sweetheart. I will get you out of there, okay? I promise you that.”
“I know that.” I said while sniffing. I know that Alaric will never fail me. “While I am away, please take care of the kids at the orphanage.” I took a deep breath. “And about the wedding-“
“What the hell?!”
I almost dropped the phone when I heard that familiar voice thundered inside the room. My whole body froze when I turned around and saw Caleb standing near me. His face was unreadable. I trembled as I clicked the End button before I hid the phone behind my back. I regretted not locking the door.
“Hand me that phone, Gianna.” He said in a rough voice.
I held the phone tightly. “I-I don’t want to.”
“Hand me that phone or else I will give you something to be guilty about. I will fire Manang Rosing and-“
In the end, I had no choice but to give in. I handed him the phone. “I hate you.”
Caleb was startled for a moment. “It’s okay. I didn’t ask you to love me in the first place.”
I opened my mouth and was about to talk but decided against it at the last minute. I have never been this angry in my whole life. Even I was surprise at the intensity of my anger. Even when I found out that someone just dropped me at the gate of the orphanage, I was not this angry because Mother Annita filled my heart with her love. The children there also became my siblings. We were like a big family in the orphanage. We had a tough life but we managed to get through the hardships because we supported each other. That’s why this anger that I was feeling right at this very minute was new to me.
At this rate, Caleb and I might just end up wounding each other by the words we say.
I clenched my fist and pressed my lips tightly together to stop myself from talking back. I was about to go back to the bed when Caleb suddenly held my arm. My eyes widened. He leaned in and before I knew it, he was already kissing me on the lips!

(Caleb)
“YOU HAVE TWO OPTIONS, man. A, take her away, drop her in the ocean, and let the sharks take care of her or B, make her fall in love with you. That would definitely devastate Ric.”
While kissing Gianna, I remembered what Evan told me before I took a vacation and left the management of our company in his care. We were business partners. We had hotels and resorts located in different parts of the United States.
When I opened my eyes, I caught Gianna looking back at me. She had a pair of expressive eyes. They mirrored exactly what she felt. I saw fear, confusion, and shock in those eyes. And for a second, I felt guilty. I knew I had to let her go. When I released her, her legs became wobbly that she just dropped on the cold floor.
None of my plans included kissing Gianna. I did not even take Evan’s advice seriously although I must admit I had no concrete plan on what I would do with my captive aside from ruining her wedding.
But when Gianna said she hated me, it was as if she really... meant it. I did not know why but the fear in her eyes and the disgust in her voice kind of affected me in ways I could never figure out. Gianna looked at me as if I was the most terrible person she had ever met and I knew I had to do something about it that’s why I kissed her, hoping to somehow comfort her which obviously did not happen.
Because it only made matters worse.
Damn it! I shook my head before I motioned her to eat. I brought a tray of food in her room a while ago. I left it on top of the bed side table when I caught her calling Alaric.
“Eat.” I said in a now calmed voice. “I know you haven’t had lunch yet ever since Alaric took you to your friend’s boutique.”