Lying outstretched on the sun lounger, Ana is getting the perfect tan with Elyn. The latter visited her and together they're having their weekend vacation in one of the premium resorts in Ilocos Sur courtesy of Ryan, who is now occupying one of the resort's function room for his meeting.

The resort is swarmed by high profile guests, and Ana, clad in her skimpy white bikini, no longer cares. They were enjoying the view of the white sand beach beyond the magnificent infinity pool.

"I still can't believe you did all that girl! I wish Bambie was here to see all the stunts you did." Elyn blurted out giggling. "How did you summon up all your courage to expose yourself to the public?" Elyn was referring to Ana's recent trysts with the media.

For the past two weeks, since that gala dinner, the write-ups never ceased. There was always something the press would comment upon be it in a positive or negative way.

There was even one talk show who interviewed Eva, and she indirectly implied Ana as a sassy brat. And Ryan counteracted the following day by uploading a photo of him and Ana on his instagram with a caption "My baby... spoiled but never a brat." The photo showed Ana was facing the camera, smiling and one eye winking as Ryan's kisses her on the cheek.

But before that, on the day he picked her up from the hotel in Tagaytay, after their long deliberation about the status of their relationship, which ended up in a truce, he took a photo of them wherein he was hugging her and her head resting on his chest. He uploaded it on facebook and wrote on the caption as "Haven't uploaded photos of us for so long. She was never gone... she was just hiding in my heart."

Ana could vividly remember that day when she retorted against Eva's harsh reception on her. Ryan had the look of amusement and pride on his face.

          ~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~

"Where are you taking me? My things are at the hotel." She asked him as he dragged her towards his car. He opened the door for her and had her seated on the passenger seat. Then he walked around the car taking the key from his driver. He was opening the door when she heard him say, "Take care of Ana's things at the hotel. Meet me at the helipad tomorrow."

"Ryan..."

He stared at her for a moment before he reached for her seatbelt. He was so near Ana that his smell intoxicated her. Oh, how she missed him. She stared at his face while he fastened her seatbelt. He looked more attractive.

Ana didn't know what to say. Should she apologize or act as if nothing happened for the past two years? Silence has overtaken them as he drove to his Tagaytay villa. Ana knew the way. He had taken her there various times for a vacation before.

(ctto)

When they arrived at his place, Ana still marveled at the sight in front of her despite this is not the first time she had been here. She didn't notice him alighting the car and opening the door for her.

"Ana..." He offered his hand.

She took his hand, and he intertwined their fingers as they walked to the door. He led her on the couch inside the living room as he went to put on the heater. The temperature outside is as cold as thirteen degrees.

Ana was about to take a seat when she heard a knock on the door. Ryan was nowhere in sight so she proceeded to open it.

It was Elias, his driver. He was carrying her things from the hotel. "Good afternoon, Miss Ana, these are for you." He handed her her things and left as soon as she thanked him.

She closed the door and turned to go back to the couch when she bumped into something. Something that sent shivers to her spine. Ryan was standing behind her when she was at the door. She lost her balance but he was quick to hold her arms.

She hastily stood upright and walked to the living room. "Why are you even standing so close?" She cockily said.

He just gazed at her and walked away. "Your still have your clothes inside the bedroom, Ana. I will only face you once you've sorted out your feelings. Dinner will be served in an hour."

She was left there gaping.

~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~

Ana was looking out the window. She was staring at the majestic site of the tip of the pine trees surrounding this place. His villa is located on the edge of a cliff. She had just freshened up and changed into warmer clothes. The closet is still full of her things.

The first time she came here was a surprise. Ryan just picked her up from the office one Friday, then they boarded the chopper, and arrived here with nothing with her but her purse. Everything that she needed, clothes and toiletries, were all provided.

Suddenly, she felt Ryan hugging her from behind. "Are you okay now, babe?" he said as he kissed her shoulders. Then he held her arms and made her turn around to face him then cupped her face with his hand. "Can we talk, Ana?"

Ana could not fathom the emotions that she is feeling at the moment. She missed him. She loves him. She wanted to hug him and never let go.

Her eyes began to water. Oh, what the heck! What's stopping her? She wrapped her hands around his neck. "Are you gonna choke me now, babe?" Ryan smiled and it melted her.

"Ryan!" She slapped his shoulder. Then she cried uncontrollably. "I-I'm sorry. I'm so sorry. I terribly miss you..." She sat down on the edge of the bed and Ryan was on his knees in front of her.

"Ssshhhh... hush, baby. I'm not letting you go anymore..." he comforted her.

"I'm sorry, I wasn't prepared for it. The changes came all so sudden. The largesse, the attention, the media, the security..." she rambled while sniffling. "And the women I have to contend with! You know me, Ryan. I'm not as good as gold. I tend to fight back and you know that."

"I know, baby. That's what I've been waiting for since then ~ you fighting back. I know you've been fighting an uphill battle, and I know you've been holding back because you care too much on how a repartee coming from you would affect my image." Ryan held her face between his hands. "But baby, I'm sorry too. I failed to realize that you were crumbling inside, and you're still coping up with the circumstances that I'm putting you into."

"I just got tired of portraying a role that contradicts myself, babe," she sniffled.

"Yeah, I know. Though you don't have to, babe. I love you for who you are. Don't change that because of what other people will think of me."

~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~

"Hello? Earth to Ana!" Elyn snapped her fingers in front of Ana. "Am I still talking to someone here? Or am I doing a monologue?"

"Huh? Sorry, girl. I was just having a recollection of what Ryan and I talked about."

"I just love the way how he protects you, Ana," she said. "I guess that should give you the courage to face those damned bitches and critics."

"I just got fed up with the backstabbing, with being despised upon..." she frowned. "I think... no, no, scratch that. I believe Ryan chose me because I am someone whom he sees as a woman who can stand up for herself..."

"Yes! I think you better stand now coz your prince charming is heading this way." Elyn said looking beyond her. "And he doesn't look happy with your skimpy bikini." She giggled.

           ~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~

There she was in her white skimpy bikini, basking in the warmth of the sun. Ryan was looking out the glass window from the function room where he currently occupies for his meeting. They have just concluded their discussions and Dessa, his secretary, is wrapping up the minutes as people began to leave the room.

He had all his VPs and staff for the real estate division fly to Ilocos for this emergency meeting regarding  some problems with one of their recent acquisition plan. He desperately wanted to buy one property in Camiguin but the owner held back. Desperation sets in because it's one of Ana's dream destination.

As long as I can afford, even if I can't, I will do everything in my power to give you the world, Ana.

Inwardly he laughed in amusement over the happenings in the past two weeks.

He reminisced on how he told Macky to tell the HR Department of First United Bank that Ana be exempted from one violation on their Code of Conduct, and that is being publicly exposed. He clarified that she has no control over what the media writes-up on her and that it is not her fault to be romantically linked to one of the business tycoons in the country.

He remembered how he brought Ana to one business talk show he was guesting. She should have been sitting as an audience, but nearing the end of the show, the host invited her to join Ryan on the platform.

          ~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~

Ana was ushered to the platform by the crew and was given another chair to sit  beside Ryan. And he held her hand all throughout the interview.

Host: Just a few questions, Ana. I hope Mr. Villareal wouldn't mind. Just to lighten the mood before we close tonight.

Ryan: (smiling) You are asking my girlfriend some questions on national TV, so you should ask her if she minds giving you her answers. She has her own mind you know, and she knows what she's doing.

Host: (turned to Ana to give her his full attention) Oh! Okay. I hope you don't mind, Ana.

Ana: (her brows raised but smiling) No problem at all. Ryan had it all sorted out with the HR.

Ryan: Atta, girl! (he laughed)

Host: So, Ana, with all the issues surrounding you and Ryan, how was it being a girlfriend to one of the richest men in the country?

Ana: It was and still is never easy, given the background where I came from... but I'm coping. (she smiled)

Host: Since you've mentioned it, pardon me but I have to be blunt about this. (he smirked) How do you cope up with or how do you deal with people who thinks you are just after Ryan's wealth or fame?

Ryan: Whoa! (his brows raised and he looked upset)

Ana: I'll be blunt about that too.  (she squeezed Ryan's hand as she chuckled, telling him to calm down) It was Ryan who saw me first. I didn't even give him any attention more than a client who needs to be catered. It was Ryan who courted me. And in case you were not informed, (she faced the camera), all my shuffling skills were nothing compared to his eagle eye ability. And lastly, it was Ryan who declared to the world that I am his girlfriend, that even I, was surprised with it. (then she looked at Ryan, who was gazing at her too, and she began to speak softly) And until he says so, I will remain as his. Not as one of his possessions, but as his woman who will love him and care for him, as much as he does for me...

Ryan: Awww... babe...
Host: Wow! That was one profound answer, Ana! You have all my respect! (he clapped as he face the camera) There you go, ladies and gentlemen...

          ~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~

Oh, shit! Ryan's flashback came to a halt when he saw a man taking photos of Ana from the beach table on the opposite end of the pool.

He stomped out of the room as he dialled for Ana's security detail, and when he answered, Ryan bellowed, "Where the hell are you? There's somebody taking photo of Ana!"

"We're on it, Sir. We just took his camera..."

"Good." He ended the call and headed towards his girlfriend. He saw them got up. He took her robe on the other chair.

"Babe, somebody's been taking photos of you," he said with his furrowed brows while wrapping her with the robe. He seems agitated. "You are scantily clad in this outfit..."

"Babe..." she purred before he could finish his sentence, wrapping her arms around his neck. "I want to get a tattoo..."

"A what?!" His head jerked away from Ana and eyes widened as he stared at her, while Elyn snickered alongside as she puts on her robe.

"A tattoo, babe... right here on my arm..." she pouted her lips pointing to her right arm. "Probably a big letter C... or P... or R..."

"What is the relevance of those letters?! I'm amenable with R, but C or P?! They're not even your initials!" he howled. "Are you crazy, Ana?!"

"I'm not, babe! You are!" She began to giggle. "You. Are. So. Crazy. About me." She teased.

"I'm contemplating which one I should be donning... copyright, patent or trademark... as Ryan's intellectual property!" She and Elyn bursted out laughing. "Everybody knows I'm yours, babe!"

"Don't joke on me about that, Ana. I don't want other men gazing at your body!" He still looked serious and riled. He held her hand and led her inside the hotel while dialing on his phone. Elyn followed them from behind.

"Donna," he called Ana's personal shopper. "I don't want any skimpy swimsuits for Ana," he ordered.

Then Elyn guffawed as Ana giggled which made Ryan turned and look at them.

"Be careful with what you wish for, Ryan," Elyn said in between her laughs. "Your girlfriend is an IMP!"

The mischievous and sassy Ana coming out 😄

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