ASHLEY NICOLE AMORES
"Bess! I miss you so much! I'm dying of boredom in that mansion!" Yvie shrieked, throwing her arms around me.
"Tell me about it," I sighed. "Why don't you ever visit? It's so incredibly dull."
"Look at this," I said, gesturing to the entourage of bodyguards surrounding us. "So many bodyguards! It's infuriating. No freedom whatsoever!"
Andrea chuckled. "No kidding. It's like living in a gilded cage."
"It's not funny, Yvie," I said seriously.
"Oh, but it is! Look," she pointed, and I followed her gaze. We both burst out laughing.
"Twenty-five bodyguards for a simple safety check," she whispered. Yvie, like me, is married to a much older man. She's 23, and they've been married for three years, yet they're still distant. Five months into my own marriage, and I feel the same way.
"Let's go to the mall," Yvie suggested. And so we did, indulging in some much-needed retail therapy.
Later, we decided to visit the company where our husbands work, since they're business partners. Yvie's husband was at Mr. Labrador's company.
As we approached, a nervous guard stopped us, his brow furrowed.
"Ma'am, sir said no one is allowed in," he stammered.
"Even his wife?" I asked, my voice hardening.
"Yes, ma'am," he mumbled, bowing his head. His reluctance piqued my suspicion.
"Excuse me, madam, you're Mr. Moonroi's wife, correct?" A man with thick glasses approached.
"He's busy andâ" I cut him off. "Shut your mouth, you bastard! If you're not going to let us through, we'll handle this our way."
I exchanged a look with Yvie, a smirk playing on my lips. We simultaneously drew the hidden guns of our personal guards, July (Mr. Padilla) and Jhuvan, carried, pointing them at the four-eyes.
"Then we'll kill you before we go through," Yvie and I said in unison.
More guards were arriving, but I was already losing my patience.
"Bess, I told you," Yvie said, and we started our plan.
"July, let's go," I whispered, giving her instructions. "Ready, July? Ready, Jhuvan?"
We sprinted past the stunned guards, our personal guards expertly covering our escape. It was a move we'd practiced.
"Woohoo! That was amazing!" Yvie laughed, still running.
"I told you," I said, panting slightly.
We reached the elevator, the employees staring at us with a mixture of shock and apprehension. Yvie's irritation was palpable.
"What's their problem?" she muttered.
I shrugged, but we stopped abruptly when three heavily made-up women blocked our path.
"Hey, poor things, what are you two doing here? And who are you?" the leader sneered.
"Oh, nothing. Just, you know, bonding," I replied smoothly.
"Tss, who let you in? Get out! You don't want to anger Sir Zandro," she threatened.
A slow smile spread across my face. Yvie mirrored my expression.
"Excuse me," I said, and we brushed past them. I barely reacted before one of them grabbed Andrea's hair, and another yanked mine.
"This isn't a playground for childish brats," one snarled. The leader just watched as her accomplices manhandled us. I didn't get a chance to react before I was thrown to the ground.
"Hey, Nic, that's not fair! I want in on the fun!" Yvie shouted, mirroring my actions. We both overpowered our attackers, leaving them unconscious on the floor.
Turning to the leader, who was now visibly terrified, Andrea sneered, "Know your place, ugly bitch."
I added, "Don't ever bother us, disgusting clown."Â We left the cowering women and headed towards Zandro's office.
We barged in, finding him with another womanâa woman who looked strikingly similar to the others.
"What are you two doing here? And what's with that look? Oh, come on, you're really best friends? Same vibes, same attitude... everything's the same!" Yvie's husband exclaimed. Yvie and I exchanged a look, a silent understanding passing between us. And thenâ¦
TO BE CONTINUED