Billionaire Diaries #2: Caleb Acosta

Chapter 14

She stared at the three paintings again. It's small and differ in sizes though all are portraits. The bigger one is a two lavender Iris flower with the striking long green leaves. The second one is still a lavender Iris. The single flower is slightly bending, defining how the water from the flower drops to the leaves. And the last one is a pretty bud. The leaves are still enclosed, still very light green in color. And the minimal lavender color at the tip of the stem just seems like a pretty flower will blooms.

The painting set is named "Bella Dama". It's written on italicized form, but photographs in quotation marks. The description below said that Bella Dama means 'fine lady' in Spanish. It's how a once little girl become a belle and a stunner. The lavender Iris represents faith, hope, courage, wisdom and admiration.

Is this fine? hmm..

Sa huli, iyon na lang din ang kinuha niya. She likes the twin painting too but she settles for the Iris. Since Iris is named after the Goddess who rode rainbows.

Luckily, there's a thing called automatic wrapping, Japan style. Tuwang-tuwa tuloy siyang umuwi. Iyon ang prinoproblema niya, e. She doesn't know how to wrap.

The next morning, she has a schedule interview with the editor of Philippine Circle; a popular showbiz magazine where different famous individuals are featured.

She doesn't have a plans to do it. She was invited before but she turned it down. But because of her issue recently, maybe it is better to finally give the public an answers.

"Good morning, Kelly. Welcome to the Philippine Circle, " palakaibigan nitong banggit.

Good thing, it's a one on one interview, no camera, just a recorder. Siguro dahil magazine iyon. Not a TV show. She's also done with the pictorials for magazine.

"Good morning, Kaia.. " she greeted back.

"We have some questions for you. I'm sure you already review the questions?" Tumango siya, inaalala kung ano nga ang mga tanong na iyon. "You can comfortably answer the questions. We will not include some parts if you don't like. "

Kaia's questions are pretty basic in the start. Like what is her future plans and how long she will stay in the Philippines.

"So you will go back to States to finish your contract? Fans thought you're here to finally accept the full actress.. " maingat nitong sabi.

She may like acting before but she's not really interested with it now. Siguro ay dahil mas natuwa siya sa pagmomodelo. And she still have a lot of time for herself.

"I will go back at the end of this month, maybe after my niece's birthday. And just like my previous interviews, I still don't see myself as an actress, " she answered safely.

Next week is Liara's birthday too. She doesn't know what the plans but it's much better if she won't leave yet.

"I see.. " tumango-tango si Kaia. "Recently, an article appear saying that you are in a relationship with the bachelor, Caleb Acosta? Can you tell us what is your say about this?"

She shifted in her seat. "Well, it is true that we are together that time. But we are not in a relationship nor dating. He's an old acquaintance and we just dine out for catch up. He's my brother's friend too so we often see each other at gatherings. I can say that we are somehow friends. "

Kaia immediately smiled. "I'm sure many would stop concluding it soon now that you finally explained your side. "

Ngumiti na lang din siya.

"For the last question, is it true that you're not in good terms with the  France-based Filipina model, Liliana Montes?"

Here we go again.

"Uh.. W-We never work together so I can't say that we are friends. But we are not into those fights like what many assumed. About the photos circulating online, it's probably at our junior days. We are classmates but since I went to States when I was 18, we lost contact. We have no communication for years nor had the chance to met each other in betweens. The only thing I know is that we have nothing against each other. " Now Kaia looked so pleased with her answers.

"So you're up working with her in the future?" Hindi.. that's what I wanted to say.

"I don't choose who I work for, as long as he or she is professional. So if time would come and our paths would cross, why not, right? Besides, as far as what I heard, she's one of the fastest rising model and very well known in many countries. It's an honor to work with a model like her. " Lies, lies, lies..

"Wow, I'm sure many would look forward to that! Both Philippine pride!"

The interview ended well. And now she's in the elevator of her brother's company. Paano, her mother begged her to gave these bunch of folders to her brother since her mother is going to an auction daw.  Wala na rin siyang nagawa. Anyway, she still has many things to ask her brother. Like what is his plans for Liara's birthday or so..

Her forehead creased when she saw the familiar built of a girl inside her brother's office. Agad na nadagdagan ang inis niya. Memories of her nieces and nephew crying suddenly went back in her mind.

Is this girl really serious? Damn, she just trigger the hell of me!

Kelly suddenly opened the door without permission. Agad niyang tinaliman ng tingin ang kapatid na nasa gilid bago seryosong tumingin sa babae.

"What are you doing here?" mariing tanong niya sa halatang gulat na si Eli.

Eli sighed. "I'm just here to-

"Are you that desperate?" nagpipigil niyang sambit. She wanted to pull out Eli's hair but she won't. It's cheap.

"You're stepping the line Kel. " Her damn brother interrupted! Is he that crazy smitten to accept Eli again!? He won't learn!

"Ako pa ngayon ang may mali? She's the one who's at fault! That desperate bitch!" she shouted.

"Kelly!" her brother shouted at her, galit na itong nakatingin sa kan'ya. Why? Siya ba ang may kasalanan, ha? She's just doing what she needs to do! She's just doing what she should have done before!

"You are so manipulative Eli, " she said, smirking. No one can stop her. This is the only way to avenge her stupid brother. Hindi naman magawa ng tanga, kaya't siya ang gagawa!

"Why? Do you still want to insert your life with us?!" she added again.

"I'm not doing anything wrong Kelly and I don't have a plans—

"Really? You did nothing wrong?!" putol niya sa sasabihing kasinungalingan pa nito.

"I don't have any idea—

"You drugged him!" sigaw niya kaya't gulat itong napatingin sa kan'ya. Yes, you drugged my brother! How can't she forgot that? Her bestfriend just drugged her brother to get him!

"Stop that. " mariing utos ng kapatid niya. Hindi niya ito pinansin.

She glanced at Eli again. The girl looks confused. Mukha itong inosente. But she's not a fool.

"You drugged him and you still have the guts to come back after your desperate act eight years ago?"

—
Unedited.

Note: The painting I mentioned above isn't affiliated with any existing art and all a product of my own preferred art style. I just use the Iris flower as a reference.