"Mukhang ikaw na naman ang maaga," a familiar voice teased.
Chloe looked up from her checklist. Maverick Crisostomo stood by the venue's archway, crisp white shirt unbuttoned at the top, sleeves casually rolled.
"Unlike your brother," she quipped, checking her watch. "Late again."
Maverick chuckled, stepping closer. "He's coming. But honestly? I'm glad I caught you alone."
Chloe raised an eyebrow. "That's not suspicious at all."
He leaned in slightly, lowering his voice. "Let's just say... I wanted to get a read on you."
"Why?" she asked, guarded.
He smiled. "Because you're the only one here who's not pretending."
Chloe didn't know how to respond to that. So she went back to her clipboard.
"Company's bleeding," Maverick said casually, like they were discussing the weather. "But you didn't hear that from me."
Chloe froze. "Crisostomo Construction?"
"Yeah. Tumatayo pa rin ang buildings, pero hindi kami immune sa downturns. Clients pulled out. Investors panicking." He glanced at her. "Bella marrying Vince? That solves a lot of things. On paper, at least."
Chloe felt her chest tighten. "You're saying this wedding is about business?"
"I'm saying Vince feels pressure. Lahat ng galaw niya may timbang." Maverick's voice softened. "He's always been like that. Selfless to a fault."
She looked at him. "And you? What are you like?"
Maverick's grin returned. "I'm the charming one."
Bella arrived shortly after, radiant in a flowing lavender dress that made her look like she belonged in a magazine spread.
"Traffic," she said simply, kissing Maverick on the cheek.
Chloe watched the gesture — how Maverick's hand briefly rested on Bella's waist, how she didn't pull away.
It was subtle. Too subtle.
"Where's Vince?" Chloe asked.
Bella glanced at her phone. "Running late. As usual."
Maverick stepped closer to Bella, brushing a stray strand of hair behind her ear. "You look stunning. Doesn't she, Chloe?"
Chloe stiffened. "She always does."
Bella just smiled at Maverick, not denying the familiarity.
What is this? Chloe wondered.
She wasn't sure which unsettled her more — that Maverick was flirting with his brother's fiancée... or that Bella wasn't stopping him.
The shoot moved indoors. While the photographer arranged lights, Chloe stood by the window, checking the floral delivery on her tablet.
"Looks like Vince isn't coming after all," Maverick said beside her, sipping coffee.
"He said he would," Chloe replied, not looking at him.
"Vince says a lot of things. He's trying, but..." Maverick tilted his head toward Bella, who was posing flawlessly in front of the camera. "Let's just say, he's not exactly inspired."
Chloe turned to him. "Do you want them to get married?"
Maverick laughed softly. "That's the wrong question."
"What's the right one?"
"Why you care so much."
The words hit too close. Chloe stayed silent.
He studied her. "You've never been in love, have you?"
Her eyes narrowed. "That's none of your business."
"It is now," Maverick said, voice low. "Because whether you admit it or not, you're in the middle of something bigger than flowers and fabric swatches."
Later, while Bella changed gowns, Chloe found herself alone again with Maverick near the catering table.
He popped a chocolate truffle in his mouth, then offered her one. "You plan perfection. But life's never perfect. People choose what's safe, what's smart. Not always what they want."
"Is that what Vince is doing?" she asked, almost whispering.
Maverick smiled but didn't answer.
Instead, he said, "Do you know why Bella picked you?"
Chloe's chest tightened. "Because I'm good at what I do."
"She said something interesting when she saw your portfolio," Maverick went on. "She said, 'This one... she'll follow the plan. She won't get in the way.'"
The words stung more than they should have.
Chloe stood straight. "Maybe she was wrong."
Maverick met her eyes, amused. "Maybe she was."
That night, Chloe met up with Denise at their usual coffee spot.
"I don't like that guy," Denise said, after hearing everything. "He talks in riddles. And Bella? Bakit parang siya pa ang pumipili kung sino ang magmamahal sa'yo?"
Chloe stirred her drink in silence.
"Do you like Vince?" Denise asked. "Like really like him?"
Chloe looked up, eyes tired. "I don't know. But I know what I'm not supposed to feel."
"Then watch your heart," Denise warned. "Because those two—Bella and Maverick? They know exactly what they're doing."
Chloe went home that night with more questions than answers.
Was this wedding about love, or leverage?39Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0KwqhoiOp1
Was Vince a pawn?39Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrRcYsxa15d
And most terrifying of all — what if she was too?
39Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMBPsTpJm3T
and then Add to home screen.