Aubrey Alexandra Valdez is standing in front of the floor-to-ceiling windows of her office, gazing out at the city skyline. The sun was setting, casting a golden glow over the concrete jungle below. She was the heiress to the Kyrexis Holdings empire, and she had always been groomed to take over the family business. But tonight, she has meeting with her husband, Leonardo, and her bestfriend Danielle, at a discreet location. Something didn't feel right.
Aubrey's mind was racing with thoughts of her family's business and her role in it. Kyrexis Holdings was a multinational conglomerate with interests in various industries, from finance to real estate. Her father, the current CEO, was grooming her to take over the company, and she had always been eager to prove herself. But lately, she had been feeling suffocated by the pressure and expectations that came with being a Valdez.
As she turned away from the window, her gaze fell on a photo of her family on her desk. Her parents, her younger brother, and she were all smiling, happy, and carefree. It was taken a few years ago, before her mother's passing. Aubrey's heart still ached when she thought about her mother, but she knew she had to be strong for her family's sake. "Kailangan ko talagang maging malakas para sa kanila," she thought to herself.
She took a deep breath and focused on the task at hand. She had to meet with Leonardo and Danielle to discuss some business matters. Her husband was a successful businessman in his own right, and her friend was a brilliant lawyer. Together, they made a formidable team.
Aubrey arrived at the designated spot, a luxurious penthouse apartment in the upscale part of town. The building was sleek and modern, with a rooftop pool and a stunning view of the city.
She was greeted by the doorman, who escorted her to the penthouse floor.
As she stepped out of the elevator, she saw Leonardo and Danielle waiting for her in the living room. They were sipping champagne and laughing, but their smiles faltered when they saw her.
"Aubrey, darling," Leonardo said, walking towards her with open arms. "You look stunning, as always."
Aubrey smiled politely and accepted his kiss on the cheek. "Salamat, Leonardo. You look quite dashing yourself."
Danielle smiled and handed her a glass of champagne. "Let's celebrate, shall we? We've got something to discuss."
Aubrey's instincts told at her to leave, but she pushed aside her doubts and joined them. They sat down on the couch, and Leonardo began to explain their proposal.
"It's a business deal that will make us all very rich," he said, his eyes shining with excitement. "We'll be investing in a new venture, and we need your signature on the documents."
Aubrey's eyes narrowed. "Anong klaseng venture?" she asked.
Danielle leaned forward, her voice filled with enthusiasm. "It's a real estate development project. We'll be building a new complex in the city, and it's going to be huge."
Aubrey's mind was racing with questions, but before she could ask any of them, Leonardo handed her a folder. "Here are the documents. Just sign on the dotted line, and we'll take care of the rest."
Aubrey's instincts were screaming at her to be cautious. Something didn't feel right.
She looked at the documents, and her eyes widened as she saw the logo of Kyrexis Holdings on them.
"What's going on?" she asked, her voice firm.
Leonardo's smile faltered, and Danielle's eyes darted away. "It's just a little business proposition, darling," Leonardo said. "We're just discussing some... investments."
Aubrey's eyes narrowed. "Investments?"
The smile on Leonardo's face grew wider, but it seemed forced. "Yes, which will make us all very rich and successful. But it requires your signature on this document."
Aubrey's heart sank as she realized what was happening. She tried to grab the folder, but it was too late. Danielle had already pulled out her phone and taken a photo of the document.
"You're going down, Aubrey," Danielle said, her voice dripping with malice.
Aubrey's world came crashing down around her. She knew she had to get out of there, fast. But as she turned to leave, she felt a sharp pain in her head, and everything went black.
When Aubrey came to, she was in a hospital bed, with no memory of how she got there. She was surrounded by machines beeping and nurses rushing around her. A doctor came in, looking concerned.
"Ms. Valdez, you're awake," he said
The doctor's voice was gentle, but Aubrey's mind was racing. She tried to remember what happened, but her memories were hazy. She remembered meeting with Leonardo and Danielle, but after that, everything was a blur.
"What...what happened?" she asked, her voice is weak.
The doctor hesitated before answering. "You were brought in with a severe head injury. We're not sure what happened, but it looks like you were attacked."
Aubrey's eyes widened in shock. Attacked? She couldn't believe it. Who would do such a thing?
As the doctor continued to explain her condition, Aubrey's mind was reeling with questions. Who could have done this to her? And why? She thought about Leonardo and Danielle, and her heart sank. Could they have been involved?
The doctor's voice brought her back to reality. "Ms. Valdez, you're lucky to be alive. But we need to run some more tests to make sure you're okay."
Aubrey nodded, still trying to process everything. She was alive, but her life was far from normal. She knew she had to get to the bottom of what happened, and fast.
As the doctor left her room, Aubrey's thoughts turned to her family. She had to tell them what happened. But how would they react? Would they believe her?
Just then, her phone rang. It was her father, calling to check on her. Aubrey's heart swelled with emotion as she answered the call.
"Daddy," she said, her voice shaking.
"Aubrey, anak ko, I'm so glad you're okay," her father said, his voice filled with concern. "What happened?"
Aubrey hesitated, unsure of how to explain. But as she looked around her hospital room, she knew she had to tell him the truth. "Daddy, I think someone tried to hurt me," she said, her voice barely above a whisper.
There was a pause on the other end of the line. "What do you mean?" her father asked, his voice firm.
Aubrey took a deep breath and told her father everything. She told him about meeting with Leonardo and Danielle, and how she woke up in the hospital with no memory of what happened.
As she finished her story, Aubrey felt a sense of relief wash over her. She knew she had to trust her father, and she knew he would do everything to protect her.
"I'll take care of it, anak ko," her father said, his voice filled with determination. "You just focus on getting better."
Aubrey nodded, feeling a sense of hope for the first time since waking up in the hospital. She knew she had a long road ahead of her, but with her father's help, she was ready to face whatever came next.