Su Mansion

Angela and Nina spent a few hours shopping before saying goodbye to each other, promising to meet again in a couple of days. By the time Angela arrived home, it was already late in the afternoon and the sun was about to set.

Feeling exhausted, she dove onto her bed and let out a long sigh. Today, she bought a lot of stuff she didn't really need—five-inch shoes that she didn't think she would wear, an evening dress that she thought looked absolutely great on her but no party to wear it to, and a gift for someone she didn't think she would ever see again.

Her bed was a mess when she left, but she returned to her room, which looked like a hotel again—her bed was made up and her stuff that was cluttered around was already organized. Life was like this before she moved out of the mansion. She would admit that it's pretty easy for her. And that was why she left, wanting to have a life of her own where no one hovers.

It wasn't easy convincing her father to let her go and live on her own. She didn't cook, nor did she clean up her own mess in the mansion. So Angela promised him that she would learn. Cleaning didn't come easy at all as she would still mostly leave trails here and there, but she was learning over time.

Cooking, however, was a different thing. She just didn't have any interest in making food, thinking that it's too much work—especially since she lived alone in a condominium—which was why she was never good at it. Just thinking about food now caused her stomach to grumble.

How did she survive not learning how to cook?

Takeouts and deliveries.

Sometimes, their mansion's chef sends her food from time to time. Apart from that, Angela had also subscribed to a food service that would deliver her meals every day, covering her lunch and dinner, so she only had to think about breakfast. The service was programmed to fit her lifestyle and diet since she regularly trained to keep fit.

But she wasn't totally useless in the kitchen. Even though she didn't cook meals that lasted longer than ten minutes to make, she could make healthy sandwiches and smoothies. For her, this was enough.

Angela's train of thought was interrupted when her phone buzzed in her purse. She lazily got up to check the caller I.D. and recognized the number.

"Hello, this is Angela Su," she answered. On the other line, a woman spoke politely—she was the contact person from one of the sponsors for her foundation.

A few years ago, Angela had started a non-profit private foundation. At first, she only followed her father and brother's advice to start one. It was a way to redeem herself from the public's eyes after her name got dragged to the mud by her ex-boyfriend. But after some time, she actually enjoyed what she had started. The feeling of being able to help those who were in need made her feel like she was in the right place. The feeling made her feel that despite the ugly side of her, something good balanced it out.

"I see…" she muttered in a low tone after listening to what the other had to say—the sponsor backed out from what they promised. And now, she just lost an $80,000 grant to help her with her project.

Angela's foundation was supposed to build a $100,000 school project for the orphanage, and she had pledged to contribute $20,000—money that she got from her books' royalties. The contact person she was speaking to explained to her that their organization was currently undergoing a change of management because of a financial crisis, so they had to let go of their sponsorship deals.

A long sigh escaped from her lips as she closed her eyes, listening to the nth time the person from the other line had said 'apologize' or 'sorry'.

She tucked her hair behind her ear and responded, "Well, it can't be helped. Please extend my regards to the chairwoman."

The phone call ended, yet Angela's ear was still ringing from the news that she received. The image of the kids from the orphanage flashed in her mind and her heart throbbed as she relayed the message to Nina through text. She had to think of ways on how to get another sponsorship for this project.

Wanting to clear her mind, she got up from the bed, headed to the bathroom, and hit the shower. She was supposed to have dinner with her father and her brother that night at a fancy restaurant. And she had an hour left to prepare before a driver comes to pick her up and drives her to the address that her father's assistant sent her.

Forty-five minutes later, Angela was already dolled up and ready to go. She checked the time on her phone and realized that it was almost seven in the evening, yet she still hadn't heard from Gael after her text message in the morning.

"Liar." She scoffed.

The butler came to get her from her room and told her that the car was waiting for her outside. Shoving her phone into her purse, she left the mansion and brushed her thoughts about Gael out of her head.

…

The Empress Restaurant

Angela wore a white off-shoulder midi dress with a curved slit on her left leg. She looked sophisticated and classy without looking snobbish that when she entered the restaurant, several heads turned to her direction.

She sauntered towards the front desk and started, "Hi, I have—"

"Ms. Su, Welcome," a man's voice sounded from the side.

She turned her head and greeted the restaurant manager with whom she had been acquainted because she and her family were frequent patrons. He led her towards a private room, smiling politely the entire time.

"Enjoy your dinner date," he said as he opened the door for her.

"What?" Angela snapped her head towards the manager. "I'm here with my family…"

He had a surprised look on his face as he turned to look at the man sitting at the table.

She followed his gaze and saw a man whom she had never met before. He was dressed impeccably in a blue suit, and when he saw her by the door, he immediately got up to greet her.

"Ms. Angela Su?" he probed.

She walked in looking puzzled but she maintained a calm demeanor. The man extended his hand towards her and said, "I'm Vincent Stone. It's a pleasure to meet you."

She glanced at his waiting hand and then at his face, realizing what this was.

A set-up.

Just when she thought her day couldn't get any worse.