SINFUL INDULGENCE 2

"Yen!"

Kim's voice was low but loud enough to echo his silent frustration. I got frightened. I knew I was confusing him. Just a few minutes ago, I hooked my arms around him like a lost child who just found comfort and security. That move awakened a mutual longing deep within us, prompting a simple gesture to progress into an intimate action.

I danced along with him to the rhythm of sexual passion. Our moves even flowed out naturally and unrestrained. I felt profound pleasure and satisfaction with him, but it was something I had never experienced with Zed. I momentarily forget about reality. Everything felt so real and tangible. But after the powerful emotion subsided, the truth dawned on me.

Hell, I sinned against my husband!

I sinned against the man who put me on a pedestal. The man who did nothing but loved and took care of me like I was the most fragile thing on earth. I could never believe that there would come a day that I would destroy our sacred bond. We were still in our early months of marriage. Yet there I was, hooking up with a married person. The very thought of this made me feel I was swimming in a pool of dark and slick filth. And I couldn't dare to look at myself in the mirror.

I quickened my pace until I was already running. My light footsteps echoed against the eerie silence of the hall. But before I could open the door that separated Door 13 from the rest of the units, a powerful pair of arms caught my waist.

"Yen, I won't hold you back, but please hear me out first. Take it easy."

I struggled to get free from Kim, but his arms tightened around me. Then, feeling that somewhat familiar warmth of his body against me, I broke into a sob. Because I felt Kim wasn't just a stranger or my boss, but someone related to my past.

Thinking that whatever it was in the past that linked him to me had nothing to do in the present, I begged.

"Kim, let me go. My conscience is already killing me. Look, I'm a married woman. I don't want to go on sinning against my husband!"

I heard his heavy sigh on top of my head, his breathing even tickling my scalp.

"Take it easy, Yen. I'm sorry I got carried on. It's all my fault."

Sorry. My mind was jeering at this. But, that simple word was never enough to put back the pieces of dignity I had broken out.

After a moment, my soft sobs turned into loud wailing.

"Why did you take advantage of my weakness? You know I have a husband, and I'm even carrying his baby in my womb." I knew I sounded foolish to say this since I was the one who started the act. And I just couldn't pin my sin on him.

"I'm sorry, Yen. I'm really sorry." Kim didn't let me go yet. He placed his chin instead of on top of my shoulder.

"But please, don't mind it so much. We are only human."

I forcefully separated his hands, which were interlaced in front of my navel. And then I turned and faced him, looking straight into his eyes.

"Why are you here? Are you stalking me?"

I surprised myself with the courage I got in confronting him. However, I couldn't help myself from voicing out the suspicion that was raging in my mind.

He may have planned all these. But, everything that happened to me was not a mere coincidence. His business partner misconstruing me as Jakara Blue. The consistent dreams I had about him. The outer structure of the apartelle. The interior design of the room. The furniture and appliances inside Door 13. Thinking about all these sent shivers down my spine.

"I followed you because I saw you coming out of the taxi while I was at the office."

I raised my head subconsciously, and my eyes fell on the glass wall along the corridor. Kim Yuan Microelectronics' signage that was attached to the beam of the second level greeted my eyes. Below the signage was indeed the glass wall of his office. It may be dark from the outside, but it gave off an unrestricted view of its surroundings from the inside.

A few hours ago, we were there attending the board meeting. We went back to the hotel together after the session. But why was he there again?

Reading through my mind perhaps, his voice cut into my confusion. "Vic and I went back to the office because of an important matter. And it so happened that I saw you as I looked out from my desk."

I may be half-convinced, but he had a point. His office was facing this apartelle, and he could view the front area of the building through his glass walls. There was nothing else I could argue about, except because his business partners misconstrued me as Jakara Blue.

My thoughts then went back to the passport I saw on the table. And that was how I discovered he got married to Jakara Blue five years ago. Although I knew him as the husband of Maezy, my best friend Ara's friend, Trish had also told me that there was no marriage between them.

I almost got tempted to ask why his business partners had mistaken me for Jakara Blue, but then I lost the courage. I couldn't dare. What would he think if I would? Even if I hadn't known who really Jakara was, I wouldn't want him to think I was assuming I could be on Jakara's level, worthy enough to become his woman.

I could never stand by his side as his equal. He was the man behind the fame and success of Kim Yuan Microelectronics, while I was just an ordinary woman. I was just lucky enough that he offered me a job because of Ara. If it were not for her, who first invited me to join them on their team-building outing, I wouldn't have known him personally. I could have just remained watching him on social media or magazines.

"But why have you followed me here?" I still couldn't help expressing my suspicion.

"Because I am staying here. This is my home."

My gaze froze on him, my mouth hanging open. Did it mean he's still with Jakara? The apartelle's receptionist confirmed it to me that Jakara was the occupant of the unit. But what about Maezy?

Oh, dear! My head really ached.

His lips lifted into an amused smile. "This place used to be Jakara's home. Unfortunately, I lost her six years ago. But I still choose to live here because of the memories. I'm a one-woman type of man, and I don't easily fall in love with another."

Oh, my goodness! Why do I also dream about the place?

Feeling the weight of frustration and confusion in my heart, I swore to find out the truth from now on.

"Kim, that thing that happened between us-" I stopped. It's too hard to bring up that shameful subject with him.

He broke into a pursed smile, but his eyes sparkled as they glued on me. I may just be assuming, but there was a tenderness in the way he looked at me.

"Don't worry. That would just be between the two of us."

I smiled weakly, but drops of tears already pooled at the corners of my eyes. Staring into his face made the silent scream of my mind got louder. Scream of guilt, regret, and shame.

"But Yen, I want you to know that I will treasure it for a lifetime."

I furrowed my brows. What happened between us was some uncontrolled and unexpected human madness. And that's what most people defined as lust.

"What do you mean by that? It was just plain s*x."

He scoffed, but he reached out for my hands, holding them tight.

"Because I love you."

I got stunned for a moment.

"Are you crazy?" I snapped after his words sank into my mind, shaking my head. I couldn't believe my ears in this nonsense.

"I am."

No, this wasn't right anymore. For Kim to tell me that he's in love with me would worsen the situation. I shouldn't allow this to happen. I was already weak in resisting him, and for him to ride on this situation would only put the embers into flame.

This was perhaps because I had this strange but special feeling for him. But if I also had to entertain the mutual feeling he said he had with me; it wouldn't be long before I would completely fall into the pit of sinning. This I didn't want to happen.

Zed was almost a perfect husband to me, except for his sexual disorder. In our seven years of relationship, we never had gone into any serious argument. He highly respected me and consulted me in every decision-making that he made. He gave me freedom in everything I wanted to do, not suffocating me with his self-set restrictions.

"Don't flatter me, Kim, if your intention is just to pacify me for our sin. It doesn't help the situation at all."

He just pinned his gaze at me. His mouth formed out some words, but its sound never came. I wondered what made it difficult for him to say it, but that moment wasn't the time to raise the question.

I pulled my hands away from his grasps and began to walk away. I no longer turned back to see his reaction, and he also didn't stop me anymore. The moment I went out, the lady receptionist just stared at me with a curious look. Perhaps she was wondering what went through in that whole period of staying with Kim inside the room.

But whatever her opinion was, I couldn't care less.

The dazzling lights beaming from a car's headlight blinded me for a moment. I squinted to adjust to the glare, and when I did, the window from the driver's side rolled down. Vic's head then popped out of the window.

"Ma'am, I'll drive you back to the hotel," Vic hollered. He was Kim's personal driver in Japan.

I forced a polite smile, but I waved a hand in a dismissive gesture.

"Thanks, Vic, but Mr. Mori may have some errands for you."

When I didn't move, the door to his side opened and he stepped out of the car. Walking towards me, he waved a hand with a phone in it.

"Someone wants to talk to you, ma'am."

I gave him a short stare, shifting my gaze between him and the phone. I knew who was on the other line.

"Here," he said, handing out the phone to me with a wide grin on his face

I didn't have the heart to ignore his kindness anymore. He gave me a warm smile; how could I refuse?

Kim's voice flowed into my ear right away. "Let Vic drive you back to the hotel. Unfortunately, in your haste, you have forgotten to wear your..."

I looked down to see my chest, and indeed, he was right. I was naked beneath the thin fabric of my dress. I crossed my arm after handing back the phone to Vic.

"Let's go," I said with my head bowed down, wishing he didn't see my discomfort. I am gifted with a perky full size, so I knew I could barely hide them away.

Vic opened the door for me, and the moment I sat comfortably, he pointed a finger to the box sitting on the corner of the passenger's seat.

"Mr. Mori asked me to lend that to you."

I gave him a questioning look before I slowly opened the lid of the box. He also walked to the driver's side and got in.

"That's a jacket. He said you should put that on. He's afraid you might catch a cold."

I glanced at him through the rearview mirror, and our eyes met. He was also observing me through that mirror. Somehow, I managed to smile before I spoke.

"Please thank Mr. Mori for me. I indeed need this." I needed it to shield myself from shame.

"Sure, ma'am," he replied; his tone was kind, but his suspicious look didn't escape me. But, of course, I could tell what's in the mind of those who knew that I came out of that building and who I was with.

"Vic, how long have you been working with Mr. Mori?"

"Ten years, ma'am."

A sense of excitement wrapped my heart. Maybe, I should make friends with him. I was sure he knew Kim a lot, being his driver for ten years already. He could be the answer to the hundreds of questions running in my mind.

I chuckled softly and said, "I wonder how Mr. Mori looked like ten years ago."

Vic laughed softly as well. "He's stunning when he was younger, but I like his looks better now that he has matured."

"He's gorgeous, indeed. Perhaps he already has a long list of women queuing to get his attention."

"It's true. Lots of women have played tricks to get his attention, but sorry, his heart belongs to Jakara only."

I heaved out a deep sigh to calm down my rising curiosity again. The more they mentioned Jakara, the more intense my desire to know her more became.

"Is Jakara a Japanese woman?"

"By adoption. She worked for Quicksend International Remittance when Mr. Kim met her."

Oh, dear! When Shirley presented my work experiences to the Board of Directors, she also mentioned that I worked for this same company six years ago.

And she was adopted?

"Who adopted her?" My heartbeats hammered against my chest again. I quickly recited some words of prayer in my mind that Vic would just answer my question.

"Mr. Jake Williams, an American national who ran some of his businesses in Japan."

Mr. Jake Williams. The surname may be a common name, but hearing it from the lips of Vic sent shivers down my spine. I had the feeling that I had also met this man before.

Drawing a deep breath again, I gathered my courage for another question.

"Vic, do you have some saved photos of Jakara?" I asked, holding my breath

"Yes, wait."

Vic pulled to the roadside and picked up his phone from the car's phone stand. I moved forward so I could take a clearer look while he browsed on his saved photos. When Vic's finger finally stopped scrolling, I also felt my heart skipping a beat.

"Here, ma'am," Vic said with a triumphant smile on his lips as he handed his phone to me.

My hand that held the phone immediately shook as I saw the photos on the gallery. My heartbeats fluttered, and the hair on my spine crept. All those were intimate poses with Kim.

"Vic, is it me? Or, do I have a twin sister?" I asked, and my tears immediately flowed out like a deluge.

"I'm not in the position to answer your question, ma'am. So why not talk to Sir Kim about it, instead?"

Reading the meaning between the lines, my suspicion that I was indeed Jakara grew higher. I could consider having an identical twin, but the intuition, or "lukso ng dugo" made me eliminate the thought. Not only that, there was something in the way Kim looked at me that attracted me to him ever since I knew him. And there was a strong emotional pull within me that I could not explain every time I got near him.

My thoughts then went to that day I first met him at Ara's office. I was sitting across from Ara's desk when Kim entered the office. His eyes fell on me right away, and he seemed to freeze for a second before he shifted his gaze to Ara.

"Ar, Mr. Sato, and his team are coming over this weekend. They'll be staying for about a month," he said, but his side glances didn't escape me.

"Got it, sir. I'll be meeting them as soon as possible," Ara replied, but an amused smile spread on her lips.

As I caught his perfectly chiseled jawline and the dark brows above his peach-shaped eyes, my heartbeats immediately throbbed against my chest. If he were to look at me closer, he would surely hear them pounding like drums on a showdown finale.

"By the way, Ara, aren't you going to introduce the beautiful lady here?" Kim's eyes were already sticking on me.

Ara scrambled to her feet and walked around to my side, grabbing my arm. I also stood up; the sense of unexplained thrill and awkwardness made me blush.

"Sir, it's my honor to introduce my best friend Yen to you."

I reached out and pinched Ara's side. He should have introduced him first because he's the company's CEO and I was a nobody.

"Glad to meet you, Miss Yen. I'm Kim, working for Kim Yuan Microelectronics." He extended his hand, and I accepted it while holding my breath.

"It's an honor to meet the man behind the great success of Kim Yuan Microelectronics, sir," I said, fighting to win over my erratic heartbeats.

He held my hand tighter for over a couple of seconds before releasing it.

"Glad to meet you, as well."

His smile was so magnetic that it tickled me inside. He then moved his eyes to Ara and said,

"Ar, why not bring Yen over to our team building outing next month?"

"That would be wonderful, sir!" Ara moved her eyes from Kim to me, her eyes sparkling with excitement.

I just smiled without saying a word. I was too overwhelmed that I no longer knew what to say.

"See you then, Miss Yen?"

"S-sure, sir. Thanks for the invitation."

Ara walked back to her seat at the back of her desk while I was standing before Mr. Kim. My knees seemed to worsen my awkwardness since they started shaking. I even got afraid they would eventually give way.

"Alright. I must go ahead. See you next time," he said, letting his eyes stick to me for a couple of seconds before he turned to leave.

Of course, it was never a secret that Kim possessed stunning features that often attracted women to him. And even if I were one of them, that short encounter with Kim had sealed the traits I wanted in a man. Not only physically but on his consistent and unwavering drive towards perfection and success.

"Pssst! Do I see something strange?" Ara's voice pierced into my ear.

"Strange?" I furrowed my brows as I turned to him.

Ara rolled her eyes. "You can't hide anything from your best friend. I saw the way you look at him."

I giggled. I knew better than anyone else that I shouldn't keep anything from her. Or else, she wouldn't stop pestering me until I give way.

"Alright. He's gorgeous," I tried to make my confession as simple as possible.

"Only that? My goodness, Yen, I saw how you blushed and how your temples sweat while gawking at him!"

I laughed harder. I knew I put off Ara's excitement by those few words. "What else should I say? Ar, it's just a crush. And it's normal for a woman like us to admire him."

Ara shrugged and frown. I thought her enthusiasm died, but I got surprised when her eyes glowed again.

"You should go with us next month. There you will have ample time to ogle at him."

I heaved out a sigh. Ara w "You're too much, you know? Remember, I have a boyfriend, and we are going to get married soon."

Arah rolled her eyes and spread out her palms in surrender. Who knew that a month after that, I met Kim again at the beach during the company outing? And during that event, I got stung by a jellyfish, and Kim lifted me out of the water, carrying me in his arms.

The sequence of that incident flashed again in my mind...

Kim carried me again towards our cottage because Ara insisted that I couldn't walk by myself anymore. Perhaps because the wine had started to have its effect on me and because I kept thinking about him ever since that day I first met him, I gave in to the temptation of throwing my arms around his neck the moment he placed me on the bed. That move prompted him to bend down and pressed his lips on mine.

I kissed him back, giving in to the dictates of my drunken state. I was aware of what went on and that I dared to make out with a CEO, but I couldn't care less. This chance may not happen again. So I kept on giving in until we went deeper, riding on my irrationality. I didn't flinch when he took down my bikini, and I didn't refuse when he started to explore every part of my body.

He may have stopped and didn't go further than heavy petting, but for me, that was the best intimacy I had experience with a man--not even with Zed when he finally became my husband. Every time Zed failed during our intimate moments, I would imagine this experience with Kim. Only then would I have the satisfaction.

"We're here already, ma'am!" Vic's voice pierced into my reverie. I could no longer tell how long did I get lost in my thoughts. I looked around, and it was when I realized we were already in front of the Royal Park Hotel.

"Thank you, Vic," I said, smiling. "Please thank Mr. Mori also for me."

"But, ma'am, Miss Trish has called that I should be taking you to the party. Sir Cris picked her up, and you were no there, so she asked me to bring you there."

My bad. How could I forget Trish? Cris, her fiance, held a pool party to introduce her to his circle of friends, and she needed my emotional support. Soon marrying a famous business magnate, Trish wasn't so comfortable to be there with Cris alone.

"Okay, Vic. Just give me 15 minutes."

Before I opened the door, Vic's voice stopped me from stepping out of the car.

"Ma'am, I've heard that Mr. Josh Herra would also be there."

Josh Herra. Hearing that name immediately sent chills down my spine, followed by a welling anger that I couldn't explain where it came from.