The Wicked Mrs. Gastrell (English version)

What is love?

That’s the question I always had in my mind when I was young. Being aware of an incomplete family and a member of a broken family, there’s not a day that goes by that I don’t ask my father why my mother left him.

I had questions like ‘Is love really like that?’ Every time, he always gave me a smile and repeated the same answer. “True love is tolerance, Karina. I freed your mother because she would not be happy with me. But she gave more than happiness to me when I held you in my arms and heard your first cry.”

I cannot understand my father back then. I can’t understand how one can surrender love that easily. For me, love is supposed to be fought upon.

You’re weak? You will grow stronger because of love. You are strong? You will be weak because of it. Are you kind? Wait ’til someone or something threatens your relationship. You are arrogant? Love will make you humble.

See, love is only for the strong ones. You have no right to love if tolerance is always on your mind. In my case, I was tolerant at first but look where I am now. I’m coming back to get what is mine.

Letting go didn’t do anything to me. And I heard from a reliable source that it didn’t do any good to Cholo either in the first few years of my absence.

I stopped looking back in the past because of a knock on the car window. Celeste, my assistant, pressed the remote control and it opened.

“Ma’am, you cannot enter the event because you are not on the guest list. You also don’t have any invitation with you.”

I looked up blankly from the couple who are walking down the street hand in hand and shot a sharp look at the uniformed man who blocked my entourage earlier when we tried to enter into the hotel where a party is currently underway.

I crossed my legs and tapped my thigh with my hands impatiently.

Celeste immediately understood what I meant so she joined the conversation.

“Ms. Karina is not used to waiting, Mr. Mateo. If I were you, I’d prepare the red carpet for her already. na siya. Every second for Ms. Karina costs a million so who are you to block us?”

“Right,” I mumbled while still tapping my thigh.

The poor man scratched his head.

“Ma’am, how can I prepare what you want if you are not allowed to go inside? This event is exclusive only for the delegates. I will escort you outside.”

My ears perked up when I heard him. It was like bells rang inside my head to wake up my mind.

What I really don’t like are those people who don’t understand the events. The truth is even coming to light but then they still don’t want to believe it and prefer to look away.

I raised my hand to stop Celeste from discussing it with the man.

“It’s okay. We’ll leave,” I said in a calm voice.

The car window went back up and the driver immediately revved the engine and drove the car away. Even if I don’t look, I know that our convoy of fifty vehicles is just behind and in front of us. Celeste poured me a glass of wine and gave it to me. I accepted it and gulped in one go.

“Are there people inside?” I asked while looking outside.

The light of the road is dazzling, spying on the multitude of people and cars in the early of the evening.

I’m not used to seeing Cerro Roca like this. I still remember the lush mango trees on the side of the dark and barren road that has now been replaced by lamp posts and a wide paved road.

“Yes, Ms. Karina. Just one call away and the event organizer can’t do anything about what you want to happen.”

“Celeste,” I called her in a gentle way.

She alertly picked up the phone and waited for what I would say next.

“You know how much I hate waiting, right? You’re the witness to what I do to people who make me wait.”

She swallowed first and then nodded.

“I understand, Ms. Karina. What do you want me to do?”

“Call Louis. Tell him to prepare the helipad for my arrival.”

“Did you mean?”

I asked for another refill on my glass before I answered.

“The entrance is not the only opening we can enter. I was originally planning to announce my presence in the most discreet way possible but they leave me with no choice. Make it fast. I badly missed Cholo so much. I wanted to see my husband. I want to hug him again. you don’t want me to be sad, do you Celeste?”

She shook her head.

“No, Ms. Karina. The Chairman instructed us to do whatever you want and whatever makes you happy.”

I caressed her beautiful face and tucked a stray strand of hair behind her ear.

“Good answer, Celeste. That’s why I personally asked for your assistance. I like people like you. You bring out the best in others by being the best yourself. Keep it up.”

I smiled at her and lazily toyed with my fingers.

“Thank you for the kind words, Ms. Karina.”

In a few minutes, Celeste already made a number of calls. Every time a call ends, I can’t help but just smile. This woman has been trained well by the Chairman.

When the car stopped at a huge clearing inside a hangar, the helicopter was already on its best appearance while perched meters from us. The driver opened the door and helped me down. The red carpet that I started walking on is already laid out. I was greeted by the pilot when we reached the end of the carpet.

“It’s a pleasure to be able to take you into the air, Ms. Karina.”

I just gave him a small smile before my bodyguard reached out to help me up to the helicopter. We were in the air a few moments later. I looked down and tasted bitterness in my mouth. The old Cerro Roca that I was looking for is really gone. Gone are the big trees, the crystal-like ponds, and the silence I loved in this place. I saw from the air the gigantic hotel where “Fuentebella Hotel” is written on the top of the building. I know the owner of this gigantic renowned establishment.

Maverick Fuentebella is a figure from my past I can’t forget. He is one of the figures who helped me. I smiled at the memory. He was recently married to an Alcantara.

It was the talk of the whole country which means it cannot be helped when people started uncovering again the past of the Alcantara clan.

Right now, the couple is lying low because he doesn’t want any untoward light towards Femella, his wife, because her pregnancy with twins is very delicate.

I learned it all from the chairman who loves to tell me all the stories he heard from his friends.

I’m happy for him. No matter how people perceived the great Maverick Fuentebella as the wolf in the industry, I still respect him for being Cholo’s friend and for showing me his kindness.

The two helicopters landed at the hotel’s helipad at the same time. The bodyguards got out of the other car at the same time when the other uniformed personnel entered the exit door.

I took the compact mirror and looked at myself. The wind messed up my hair in a ponytail earlier so I just let it down, giving it a natural curl in the process.

“Do I look good, Celeste?” I asked pertaining to my black mermaid cut off shoulder gown that stretches all the way down to the floor.

I paired it up with my favorite six inch black platform heels. I have no jewelries in my body except the cheap ring in my finger.

“You look perfect, Ms. Karina. I’m sure Mr. Gastrell will be so happy to see you again,” she praised.

“You think so?”

She nodded exuberantly.

“I’m sure Ms. Karina. You are a goddess.”

I just smiled before raising a hand. Holding the hem of the gown in one hand, I reached for the hand of my head guard, Vishen, when I saw that the staff had finished laying the red carpet for me.

Celeste handed me my pouch as I walked like a movie star across the red floor into the open exit door. The entire security team was around me, alert to every move and every possible of assassination.

“This way, Ms. Karina.”

But before I entered the open private elevator, I managed to turn around to see a man standing at the end of the hallway staring at me. I recognized Jex, the longtime ally of Maverick.

Our eyes locked for a few seconds before I turned around and entered the elevator. I only saw his back before the bodyguards surrounded me. The elevator door opens on the 27th floor where the new acquisition of Gastrell Global Conglomerate is currently being celebrated.Content (C) Nôv/elDra/ma.Org.

They ventured into oil trading this time. Aside from cementing its position as the top shipbuilding company here and overseas, the giant corporation is now heading to the energy industry.

Not bad for a CEO who is in his late twenties.

I raised my hand when the bodyguards moved to follow me.

“Stay here. Vishen and Celeste will accompany me inside,” I ordered them who immediately responded.

I started walking. I was not shocked when the security force stopped us. Vishen stepped in but before he could say a word, Jex cut through the scene and dismissed the guards. The two men looked at each other before Jex spoke.

“Let Mrs. Gastrell through,” he said while staring intently at Vishen.

We heard a gasp before the two large doors of the hall were opened for me. I started walking in with overflowing confidence.

I stopped walking for a moment when I passed Jex. He never changed. He’s still the same cold guy I know. Those cold murderous eyes never failed to send shivers to me. From then until now, I have only known one person who was able to melt his thick and cold armor. Sadly, she’s gone and so is his soul too

I turned my gaze back to the room before I traveled back in time again. I removed any trace of my previous weakness and flashed a devious smile.

These people here don’t deserve an inch of genuine expression. Here in this expensive golden cage lies the lions and wolves on the hunt for frail prey.

As soon as I stepped on the very soft, expensive carpet, I could smell something. The smell of the rich hiding in their golden cages. The light coming from the giant chandeliers and the jewelry worn by the attendees was dazzling.

My eyes surveyed the whole area. None. I went further into the middle of the crowd and there in the group of dignified men in the country is my one and only husband, Cholo Gastrell, proudly standing on his feet with a glass of whiskey on his hand while talking confidently to a man I know so well.

His rock hard solid frame shows even on his admiral men’s suit. Few buttons of his dress shirt were open and a part of his hairy chest was on display.

I licked my black lips when he took a sip of his drink. The urge to cross our distance and taste the liquor in his mouth is so strong I have to take a step back or else I’ll devour him this instant.

My eyes went down to his luscious red lips.

The lips that kissed another woman’s lips. The lips that took me countless times to seventh heaven.

His lips are sinful but they were exactly perfect just the way I want it to be like. The lips that will make me crazy and will make me scream for more and more until we both pass out.

I didn’t waste any more time. I started walking in his direction. I took a glass of wine from the passing waiter. His gray eyes spotted me the same time I came right in front of him. The lighthearted conversation of those around him stopped and the attention of the crowd turned to us.

I smiled sweetly at him.

“Good evening, Cholo. I missed you, hubby.”

He wasn’t able to speak. It was like he was bitten by a snake with his open mouth and shocked expression on his face.