THE CEO'S POSSESSION

PROLOGUE

Batangas City, Philippines.

The warm afternoon breeze gently swayed the leaves of the mango trees surrounding the small Marfori house.

Inside, Diana Marfori stood in front of the mirror, wearing her graduation toga. Her eyes glistened with tears as she carefully held her diploma.

She finally did it.

After years of sleepless nights, endless projects, and countless sacrifices, she had officially graduated with a degree in Business Management.

"Lolo..." she whispered with a smile.

From the doorway, Amado Marfori watched his granddaughter with nothing but pride in his eyes.

"Napakaganda mo, apo," he said, smiling warmly. "Kung buhay lang ang mga magulang mo, siguradong sila ang pinaka-proud sa'yo."

Diana walked toward him and wrapped her arms around the old man.

"Ikaw ang dahilan kung bakit ako nakapagtapos, Lo. Kung hindi dahil sa'yo, wala ako rito."

Amado gently patted her back.

"Hindi, apo. Ikaw ang nagsumikap. Ako lang ang naging gabay mo."

Tears rolled down Diana's cheeks.

"I promise, Lo... hahanap ako ng magandang trabaho sa Maynila. Gagawin ko ang lahat para hindi ka na mahirapan."

Her grandfather smiled.

"Huwag mong kalimutang alagaan ang sarili mo. Hindi lahat ng tao sa mundo ay mabuti."

Diana laughed softly.

"Don't worry, Lo. Kaya ko na ang sarili ko."

Little did she know...

Those would become the very words she would regret.

---

A week later...

"Congratulations! You passed the final interview."

Those words echoed inside Diana's mind as she stepped out of a corporate building in Manila.

She had finally landed a job.

Hindi man ito ang kumpanyang pinapangarap niya, sapat na iyon bilang simula.

Excited siyang umuwi sa Batangas upang ibalita kay Lolo Amado ang magandang balita.

She boarded a provincial bus before sunset.

Habang nakatanaw siya sa bintana, hindi niya napansing may isang itim na van ang kanina pa sumusunod sa kanilang bus.

Inside the van...

"Target confirmed."

"Graduate. Female. Twenty-two."

"Wait for her to get off."

A man wearing black gloves smirked.

"The buyers will surely love this one."

---

The bus finally stopped along a quiet highway.

Diana got off, smiling as she hugged the envelope containing her employment documents.

"Malapit na lang," she whispered.

She decided to walk the remaining distance toward their house.

The road was unusually silent.

Then...

Screeeech!

A black van suddenly blocked her path.

Her smile instantly disappeared.

"Anong-"

Before she could run, two masked men grabbed her.

"Bitawan n'yo ako!"

She struggled with all her strength.

"Tulong!"

One of the men covered her mouth with a cloth.

Her vision slowly blurred.

"No..."

"Lolo..."

Those were the last words she whispered before everything turned black.

---

When Diana finally opened her eyes, she found herself trapped inside a dark room.

Her wrists were tied.

Her feet were chained.

She could hear women crying from nearby cages.

Fear slowly crept into her heart.

"Nasaan ako...?"

A woman inside the next cage looked at her with lifeless eyes.

"You should stop asking."

Diana looked at her in confusion.

"Bakit?"

The woman lowered her head.

"Because we're no longer people..."

She paused before whispering the words that made Diana's blood run cold.

"We're merchandise."

At that very moment...

Far away in Manila...

A billionaire CEO unknowingly prepared for a mission that would change both their lives forever.

Rafael Matsunaga had no idea...

That the frightened woman imprisoned by a ruthless syndicate...

Would soon become the only woman capable of possessing his heart.