The Taste Of Love

WHAT the hell did you do?!" Don Alfonso slammed the report papers he was holding on the table in front of his youngest daughter. Nica did not attend the meeting with the company who wanted to invest in their company. A big loss for them is inevitable if they continue to lose their prospect.

"Do I seriously have to answer you?" the daughter's emotionless reply as she just stare at the paper in front of her.

"This is not a school paper that you can rend just because you do not want me to see your poor grades!" he yelled at his daughter who does nothing but failure. "Fix this or else--"

"Or else, what?" Nica frowned, her voice is in a defiant mode. She has no plan on stepping back, even though she has got the idea of what his father's next move is.

"You little brat!"

"Dad!"

Don Alfonso's hand stopped in the air the moment his eldest daughter arrived.

"Oh, here you are, my angel in disguise," Nica sarcastically greeted her half sister, Janice. Janice is only three months older than her.

"We are in the company, Dad, so please calm down." Janice massaged her father's back to soothe him. She look at her sister with sadness visible in her face.

Nica angrily squint at Janice who she considers a mortal enemy. Yes, she has considered her an enemy ever since their paths met. Janice and her mother are the ones she blames for why her mother disappeared so early. She feels intense anger for them, even though she knows the truth about her mother's death.

"Nica, please stop embroiling the company into your grudge against me," Janice coaxed while she is trying to calm their father.

They are living in the same roof for nine years already, but Nica have not accepted her yet. She cannot blame her, her mother had the role of a mistress although Don Alfonso was just forced. Nica's mother was wealthier and influential, and he was coerced to marry her. Though, Janice's mother was already pregnant with her when their father got married.

Nica just smirked at Janice even though her father was looking at her. She is showing him the exact attitude of hers that he has in his mind. She grew up with only her mother by her side. She thought then that her father was really always out of town because of some business.

She believed in the woven story of her mother who secretly suffered. She loved her father so much that she was even able to accept to herself that he had another family. She neglected her health and died of heart disease.

"Let's go, Dad. Let us talk about this problem once we are home." Janice led their father out of Nica's office.

Slowly, the insulting smile faded from Nica's lips and was replaced by a bitter smile. Their father was right, she was the result of a mistake and she no longer want to make an effort to make everyone like her.

Bratty and bad mannered, that is what everyone thinks of her. How could her father blame her for behaving that way? In all her life, no one loved her but her mother who, unfortunately, died early. She grabbed a paper and crushed it with a firm closed eyes. The past she is carrying up until now played inside her mind.

She was orphaned at the age of thirteen. There was no one she could call 'grandma' and 'grandpa' in her mother side, either. She was too young when they died. She became rebellious when it was not even a year ago that her mother died and her father brought his other family into their house. She was deeply hurt but not a soul - but hers - knows it.

Her school grades dropped and her father was often called to the guidance office. She thought she could get her father's attention that way. But she was wrong, she was always chastised and compared to Janice. There was a time when she had thought of following her mother in the afterlife but she was too afraid of committing suicide.

She felt very weak until she learned standing on her own feet. She now has only a year and she can graduate in college when she overheard the talk between her father and their lawyer.

"It is a matter of months before the Young Miss' birthday, Mr. Rodriguez." The lawyer reminded her father.

"It is her will that when your daughter reaches the right age, she will handle your company," the lawyer was referring to her mother.

Alfonso clenched his fist while his other hand squeezed his temple. He is not against the last will of his deceased wife. But his headache doubled at the thought that the youngest daughter would take over their company. She knows nothing but to be happy-go-lucky and play games with everything. His spouse owns the company but it is him who worked hard to make it grow.

"Will you not inform her about that yet?" Alfonso pointed to Nica. "You have seen how hard-headed my daughter is. I do not want her to bring that attitude at work. I need to train and teach her first concerning the right and accepted acts and on how to run the company."

When Nica heard that the lawyer agreed with her father, she quickly left her her hiding place. The lawyer knows her because he is sometimes the one who fixes the trouble she was involved in. She encountered her sister and her mother in the hallway. She did not bother to even greet them. A new decision formed in her mind. She would not allow the bastard to be the 'queen' in her mother's company.

THE days passed, and she gradually began to be used in working as their company's manager. She has the same position as Janice but they are in different departments because the department is divided into two.

"Ma'am, your father ordered me to remind you of your family dinner later."

Nica just looked at her secretary who was obviously uneasy because of her presence. She had only been in her position for five months but she feels that everyone is afraid of her. She did not insist on her desired position because she knew not everything was that easy. But she did not agree that he had no authority over their company. She even went crazy when she found out that her sister had been an employee there for a long time even though she was still a student. It was obvious that their father was preparing her to be good at business.

"Rose," Nica said the name of her secretary. She can tell that she is surprised. How can she not be? It was the first time she called her by her name and it was also in a calm voice.

"Is it okay for you to eat with me outside?" She scratched her forehead when shock and confusion registered on the secretary's face.

She feels comfortable with Rose, mayhap because she is turning old. She has always wanted her to be her friend but she always puts distance between them. It seems that she knows about her bratty attitude before she even stepped foot in the company.

"Ma'am?" confused, Rose asked her young boss.

"Ah, forget it," Nica replied with a smile and told her to leave. It was on her face that she was confused and would like to ask again, but she chose to shut her mouth. She figured she would ask why would she eat outside with her when they have a family dinner.

Nica sighed and rested her back on the chair she seats in. One of the reason why she declined the client's proposal just a week ago was because of their connection with her step sister. She found out that it was the father of Janice's suitor. She admits that it was too unprofessional of her.

"Is your great daughter not here yet?" Margaret asked Alfonso when he sat down in front of the table.

"Mom," it was Janice's way of asking her mother to behave acceptably. She used a low and tender voice. "Not now, Mom." After reprimanding her mother, Janice released a frugal smile at the young man, their guest.

They met when his father invited them to have dinner with them in their house. As usual, Nica was not with them, she always eat outside with her friends. It was a sad thing to think that she is not giving them a chance to come closer in her heart.

Alfonso awkwardly asked for pardon to their guests because his youngest daughter did not make an appearance on the dinner. The new friend did not stay for a long time because they are going out of the country tomorrow.

"I expect you to have this big project before I go back, son."

"Stop worrying about our company, Dad." Chrismith slung his arms on his father's shoulder. "Enjoy your vacation with Mom and get well soon, okay?"

"Do not neglect yourself, too, son." The woman hugged her only child the tightly. They have to leave the country for her husband to continue his treatment abroad. He had a heart complication and she and Chrismith are very worried even though it was not severe.

"C'mon, Mom! I am old enough, so do not worry about me that much." He hugged his mother back with a smile.

"Right, you are old, so I hope that when we come back from our vacation, you will introduce us to a daughter-in-law as well!" Philip joked with his son.

Chrismith just laughed at what his parents want to happen. He did not promise but he nodded at his father's wish to make him happy. He did not want to upset him like what happened last week. He sighed as he remembered the first job that had to be done.

It was the first time that his father was rejected in a project, and it made him depressed. The owner of the company himself settled the matter but his father did not want to pass just because of the company owner's gratitude.

He got no choice but to take responsibility in their company and give up his passion for singing. He left the band he formed and he blames it all on that immature woman. He knows her by name and what her nature is, her own family said it.

"You will pay for this!" Chrismith told to the picture of a woman, her face is beautiful but the arrogance cannot be unnoticed.

"THIS is all your fault," for the second time, Alfonso was furious at his youngest daughter. The project that they should be in charge of was given to other company. "Do something or else, I will remove you from your position!"

Nica kicked the foot of the table even though her father was still in front. She knows it is too late to regret everything, and she wants to fly into a rage. She did not know that the proposal he had previously rejected was from a larger company. Everything was turned upside down, now, she was the one who got rejected. There was a new product that their company will be releasing, she herself designed it. But it was not a pass for the buyer of their imported clothes products.

Their company's line is in the clothing industries and they are exporting their products in various countries. Nica's eyes laid upon the drawing of clothes she was so fond of drawing. She is relieved that nobody knows that it was her work. She does not want receiving negative feedbacks nor her work to be rejected and it was exactly what happened. Who would ever guess that someone like her can draw? Even their father had no idea because he believes all she wants was to go to parties.

"Dad," Janice called their father. She immediately followed him into Nica's office when she heard the news. "Please don't be so mad, your blood pressure might get high again." This time, she glared at her half-sister. Don Alfonso's health condition have gotten worse because of her and her shits.

"I will try to fix it." Nica said in a low voice, she is not in the mood to sneer. Apart from not wanting herself to be the cause of his father's attack due to anger, she is also on the stage of self-pity. She always felt this but now's on a higher level. It was for the first time that she tested her passion and no one knows it.

Her father left her office without a word. She did not bother watching him go out with the help of her venomous sister.

"Chrismith Yuchan," she read the name of the man who is the cause of everything that made her self-confidence become low again. "Why it has to be my half-sister?" She smiled bitterly while talking to the man's picture. If only he did not like Janice, she could have not thought of rejecting his father one month ago.

She has not met him personally yet, but based on his bio, he is someone who is hard to reach. He has a high standard for women. She sniggered when she remembered that Janice is his type. There are rumors that they often go out but she is not sure if the two are already in a relationship.

Even though there are still work to do, Nica decided to leave her office. She went to a place where her heart and mind can relax. Whenever she feels down, she would go idling somewhere where she can hear noises. She was automatically cheered up when she heard the noises of the drums of a band singing. The bar and resto were newly built and she immediately liked the ambiance there.

"Good evening, Ma'am. Welcome back," the guard gladly greeted her when he recognized it was her. She is treated like a V.I.P. here and she is already known by the members of the band who regularly performs there.

"Thank you." She smiled simply at Mr. Guard before proceeding inside. Everyone's attention was given to her when she got in, but she ignored them all. She is here to relax and not to look for a partner nor flirt.

"CONGRATULATION, dude!" A loud greetings from Chrismith's friends as he entered the backstage. He is here today to celebrate the success of the first project he has handled since his father left. Aside from that, the number of customers of the resto which he built is increasing, so the celebration will be doubled. He felt bad for the talent of his friends who have got a hard life, and so he thought of building this for them to manage.

"Thanks, and I would like to congratulate the four of you, as well!" He gave each of them a handshake. The music is really loud that he had to maximize the sound of his voice in order to be heard.

"Jake, it's your crush!" Larry teased a friend when he noticed their V.I.P. customer.

Chrismith's gaze followed where Larry was looking.

"That girl's nice, dude." Larry points Chris to a woman who enjoys eating alone. He ships Jake with her because he admitted that she is his type.

"It's just that our friend is embarrassed to take the initiative 'cause she seems rich." Larry continued to tell to Chris.

Chrismith stared at the woman, her head is bent down, making her face barely visible. She ordered a lot of food, but she is eating alone.

"I bet she's gonna wrap up the uneaten foods."

He turned his gaze back to his talkative friend and raised an eyebrow. "Was it really Jake who like her or you?" he asked Larry teasingly.

"Where did you get that idea?" Scratching his head, Larry replied to Chris.

"She is a regular customer of ours here, Bro. She always leaves big tips." Leo joined their conversation, even him, admired the beauty of that woman.

"Does she always go alone here?" Chris asked interestedly. The light in her seat was dim, thus her face could not be clearly seen.

"Yes, dude. She just sits there until we finish performing. I just don't know which of the four of us would she like to take home."

Chris laughed at Larry's last joke. His friends indeed have good looks, plus that they are amazing at singing and holding musical instruments. He looked at the woman again when she called a waiter and asked a question.

Nica suddenly became bored and lost her appetite to eat, it is because her favorite group has not yet start to perform.

"The owner came, so their performance is postponed for a little while, Ma'am." The waiter politely answered the young lady's question.

"I see. Please bring me a glass of red wine." She requested to the waiter. She also asked them to wrap up the remaining foods. She wants to spoil herself with liquors tonight.

"Maybe you'd like to hold a mic tonight?" Jake offered to Chrismith before gulping down the wine in the goblet.

Chrismith did not hesitate to stand up and go with his friends. He is the original singer in their group and Jake is just a substitute. Before reaching the stage, they pass by that certain woman. Her head was bent down and she seems to be lost in her own world, so he did not see her face clearly.

"This song is for the one who is always sitting alone there." Chrismith declared, looking at the table of the woman who caught his attention.

Everyone applauded. Nica raised her head when she heard the man's melodious and resonant voice. It was new to her hearing so she thought a new group would be playing again. She knew she was who the man was referring to as always alone.

"He is the owner of this place, Ma'am

" Said the waiter when he figured she was curious about the identity of that man. He carefully put down the glass of wine she ordered and immediately leave.

Nica was unable to even hold the glass of wine when the group started playing the musical instruments. Her consciousness flew to a colorful life and her gaze would not leave the mini stage. He stared at the tall man, wearing a polo tight-fitted to his arms and chest. This is what she likes in this group, the cool look and the hats they wear. They look like cowboys. She can only see the moving lips of the singer.

Her heart is beating rapidly, she liked the song he said to be dedicated to her. Even though she could not see his full face, she knew he was a bit beyond those four. Her eyes missed nothing, she really watched him intently. She smiles every time she sees a beautiful smile form on the man's lips as he sings. The message of the song is sad and it really suits someone like her.

"I like him." Nica mumbled to herself. Her head danced with the rhythm and she closed her eyes tightly to feel the music and his voice better. His hoarse voice is really like Lewis Capaldi's, who is the original singer of the song Someone You Love.

She only opened her eyes when the song finished. She tried to find that man, but he already left the stage. She stands up and decided to leave with dismay.

On her way home, she passed by children playing in the street. Even if they do not have a proper shelter or a home of their own, they are happy with their parents. She let out a sigh before opening the window of her car and handing the food to the woman and her daughter with a smile on her face. A smile that is seldomly seen.

"Thank you, my child!" The old woman tearfully took the food that Nica handed her. It also comes with money. It is worth it even though she rarely pass this street. She feels sad every time she sees her eyes that hides a thousand of story. She can see sadness, loneliness and joy in those eyes whenever she is looking at them.

"Good night, Madame!" Nica waved her hand at them before driving her car again.

"WHERE did she go?" Chrismith asked his friends as he looked around. He just returned to the stage, he suddenly left earlier because his mother was calling.

"She already left, Bro." Larry answered.

Chris felt disappointment. He did not have a chance to at least approach the woman. Although he could not see her face clearly, he knew she was sad and he wanted to comfort her more.

"That song you sang, looks like she liked it." Larry said with a wink at his friend who seemed to be spellbound, as well, by their certain regular costumer. Among them, he was the one who always dares to approach and talk to the lady. He asks her what song she wants them to sing.

Chrismith tapped Larry's shoulder in response. He signaled to start playing the next one he was going to sing. He did not stay for long, though, because he suddenly loses his appetite to perform.

Don Alfonso was surprised to see his youngest daughter in the kitchen with her work attire. It has been a long time since he last saw her eat breakfast. "Are you going to work already?"

Nica just nodded in response. She hastily turned away her face from him as he stared into her eyes. She wants to maintain showing them a poker face.

"Perhaps she wanted to make up for messing around, so she thought of waking up early." Margarita's sarcastic comment to Nica while preparing food for her own child.

Don Alfonso just sighed at Margarita's imputation. Nica just sniggered and resumed eating. She is already accustomed to her contempt for her ability.

"Stop wasting your time, my daughter had fix the fiasco you made." Margarita continued to vaunt.

"Mom." Janice warned her mother, she just entered the kitchen and she heard her.

"I'm just stating the truth. You will be meeting Chris today, right? All you have to do is to accept his proposal. I and your father are not against it, you know. Apart from giving you a good life, it will also help the company to grow." Margaret bragged.

Nica smirked while looking at her stepmother. Back then, she could make her cry and hurt. Who would have thought that a bitch in the eyes of all had experienced the cruelty of her stepmother in the past? Even her father looks at her like everybody else does. She would be backfired every time she would tell her father what happened.

She only learned to fight when she found out that she had a large share in the company. She used it so that her stepmother could no longer hurt her. She does not care if she has a horn in the sight of her father and even if only his wife and her daughter are loved here. Though her half-sister was kind and was always telling her mother to stop doing cruel things to her, she still holds a grudge against her. She thinks her 'kindness' is just fake. She could not even tell their father the truth, nor did she defend her from her mother.

That day when Janice did not defend her from their father was still fresh in Nica's memory.

"YOU can ask Janice, she witnessed your wife hurting me." Nica Joy complained to her father -

eight yers ago.

"Tell him!" She dictated Janice, but the latter's mouth remained unopened.

"Stop it, Nica!" Her father's voice echoed in the four corners of her room which startled her. "Enough making up a story to discredit your second mother to me. Accept them into this household if you don't want me to get mad at you!"

Nica's heart nearly got crushed that day. At an early age, she learned to keep resentment towards her father to herself. She also distanced herself from her half-sister. Whenever her father is not in the country, she would always hang out just to not be in the same roof with her stepmother. She considered saving her allowance back then to have expenses when she went out. She has many friends, but none can be considered real and trustworthy in her dark world.

Her resentment towards her father has increased since her mother died. He never see anything right in what she is doing in life because he believes in the slanderous accusations of his second wife.

"ARE you okay?" Alfonso tried to grab the attention of his gazing-at-nowhere daughter. Her

fork was just playing with the ham on the plate. He wanted to speak more when he noticed the sadness in her eyes when she glanced at him.

"I'm done!" Nica stand up quickly and walk away from her father. She just raised an eyebrow at Janice when she greeted her. But before she could pass her by, she uttered sharp words.

"Just be a good girl, Kitten. Do what your mother says like always."

"Don't you insult my daughter!" Margaret angrily warned Nica after she called her child a kitten again.

"Doesn't it suit her?" Nica laughed and continue with what she wanted to say even though Alfonso rebuked her. "What did you say before?"

"Nica, please..." Janice wanted to stop her half-sister from making another issue.

Nica imitated her stepmother's soft voice talking to Janice, eight years ago. "Good girl, Baby! Be kind to her, but don't side with her in front of your father."

"You're still the same as when you're a youngster. You're still immature and someone who loves to make up a story!" Margaret blushed with anger and was insulted when her stepdaughter laughed.

"Nica Joy!" Alfonso had raised his voice to stop her daughter already from mocking his wife.

Nica ignored her father, she was more inclined to picking on her stepmother. "By the way, the man you dream of being your son-in-law seems more suited to me."

"You wouldn't like snatching him away from my daughter!" Margaret yelled at Nica.

"Yes, 'cause I would love to." Nica laughed out loud at the evidence of her stepmother's irritation, her face. "You look terrible!"

Margaret violently exhaled the air that clogged her chest and she threw a glare at Nica. "You really did inherit your mother's roguery! You both have the tendency to snatch something that's not supposed to be yours in the first place."

"Margaret, enough." He now rebuked his wife when he saw the madness in his youngest daughter's eyes.

Nica was furious when her stepmother insulted her deceased mother. But she tried to calm herself down so as not to become a criminal in front of his father.

"And what do you think of yourself?" She asked the stepmother sarcastically.

"Nica, I'm begging you to please stop!" Janice said, but her sister just glared at her.

"If my Mommy and I are stealers, you and your bitch, on the other hand, are outsiders and yet, thick-faced!" Nica shouted back at Margaret.

"Nica Joy!" Alfonso faced Nica.

"Don't you dare, Dad," she preceded her father before he was able to land a palm of his on her smooth face. Her voice trembled with anger. "I hate you!"

Alfonso rubbed his own chest when it suddenly tightened due to mixed emotions.

"Dad, calm down!" Janice quickly support her father, she was very worried. Her half-sister just turned around and left them.

"Honey, I'm sorry. I know this is my fault. If only I did not fight back the arrogance of your daughter," she anxiously held her husband's arm.

"I'm okay." Alfonso raised one hand and slowly sat down on the chair. It was for the first time that he saw such anger on his daughter's face and she was even able to turn her back on him even though she saw his chest tightened.

Nica drove her car quickly. She laughed hoarsely when she realized she is not shedding tears. She felt proud because it seemed like there is no tears left in her eyes. If anyone else sees her now, they would think that she had lost her mind.

"HI!" Janice shyly greeted Chrismith, she is a couple of minutes late.

"Have a seat," Chris pulled a chair for the young lady. "Don't worry, you just come on time."

"Thank you! I'm really sorry, I had to calm Dad down before I leave."

"Why?" He asked her with concern. He knew Janice's father because he was a friend of his dad.

"His blood pressure almost went up due to being angry with my sister." She replied to him with sadness.

Chrismith just listened silently to Janice's outburst of resentment for her sister. Every time they talk, she inevitably opens up a topic about

her sister. He believed that the woman was careless and heartless. Janice and he are good friends and he admits that he admires her skill and talent. He was even more impressed with her when she showed off her own hand-made dress designs.

"Did you know why she rejected your Daddy?"

Chris shook his head in response to Janice's question.

"It was because of her grudge against me, she thought you were my boyfriend." Janice's cheeks slightly blush because of the wrong idea of her sister. But she secretly prays for it to become true.

"Childish." He chuckled, referring to the sister of Janice.

"It was also because of you that she had a fight with Daddy a while ago."

Chrismith raised his two eyebrows because of the discovery. He was suddenly curious why he was often the source of their family's quarrel. But he senses something different as time went on so he immediately diverted the conversation.

"Sorry for that. By the way, I saw the designs you made. Impressive and I decided not to revoke your company's first proposal."

Though disappointed at the sudden change of topic, Janice was happy. She was unable to refrain herself from hugging him, instead of accepting his outstretched palm in front of her for a handshake.

Chrismith just smiled and hug her back.

Nica smirked when she saw the sweetness of the two from the outside. She looked intently at the face of the man with her sister. She finds him more handsome in personal than in a picture