Episode 10

"Go, Boron!"

Reinne edged her horse to run faster. The moment she woke up and finish her breakfast, her brother challenge her to a horse race. His main reason was she's leaving tomorrow. She's a few meters ahead of her brother. She laugh out loud when her horse jump on fallen tree trunks which nearly cause a branch to snap on her face.

She glance back to see her brother's horse drawing nearer.

"Losing already?" She screamed. They only have a few meters left to their finish line.

"Shut up!"

She direct her horse towards their driveway, which serves as their finish line. She can see a car making a turn towards their driveway also. The path way is wide enough for a car and a horse to pass by. She push Boron to go faster and to overtake the car.

"Ivy! Slow down!" She heard her brother scream right behind her but she kept on.

Hayden glance on his side view mirror to see a horse running towards his way. What captures his attention wasn't the horse but the person riding it. He completely forgot that he was driving with a horse alongside him. For him all that matters is that carefree smile she wore. Reinne glance at the car she was riding with and to see Hayden looking at her caught her off guard. She shrug her thoughts and concentrate on her horse. She over take the car completely and calmed Boron when she reached the driveway first.

"Ivy!" Her mother sent her that your-a-girl-you-should-behave-like-one look before heading back inside the house.

She just shrug it off and hop down her horse. She saw the black car that she bypassed stop beside her and Hayden emerge like a dark knight.

"Your early," she commented not minding that she's practically covered with dust.

"Its noon, already," Hayden watch her glance at her watch to confirm his statement.

Reinne mentally cruse herself for getting of track of time. "I lost track of time. Why don't we head inside?"

"Oops," her brother blurted when he saw them talking. "Did my sister forget your agenda?"

"Shut up, Adrian."

Hayden chuckled. "She did and I have to remind her."

"She does that all the time when she rides Boron," Adrian dismounted his horse and grab its reigns.

"Boron?" Hayden glance at her.

"My horse, Boron," she patted her horse mane and give Adrian Boron's reign. "Can you bring Boron to the stables?"

"Yeah," he ruffled her hair. "Go grab a shower first. You stink."

"Look who's talking," she roll her eyes at him.

"By the way, tell mama that I'm going to Andrea's." Her brother yell before turning.

She wave at him and turn her attention to the person in front of her. "Come on in."

She led him inside to their living room, just in time to see her whole family excluding her brother heading for the door.

"Where are you going?" She asked, while removing her gloves.

"We'll be going to town for a little while," her mother said. "Where's Adrian?"

"He's going to Andrea's," Reinne shrug it off and turn her attention to Hayden. "By the way, Mr. Sarmento met family. Family meet Mr. Sarmento the son of Kurt Sarmento."

"Please, Miss Lacson," Hayden address her. "Just call me Hayden. Mr. Sarmento is my father and grandfather."

"We've met," her mother replied but Reinne shrug it off and watch her aunt and uncle shake hands with him. She glance to see her mother and father sending her a look. She caught her cousin's eyes and she gave her a wink. She laugh at her, if only she knew.

"Well, should you get going?" She said when she sense her mother was about to speak up.

"Right," Her mother kissed her on the cheeks. "Mae's on leave so you have to cook if you want to eat."

"I know," she roll her eyes and wave her family goodbye. "Sorry about that." She turn to Hayden the moment she heard their cars left.

"I don't mind," He said.

She nod. "Can you wait? I'll just shower."

He nod. "Sure. You stink anyway."

"Hey!" She glared at him before heading upstairs.

Hayden chuckle at her and glance around the place. Since her family went out and their housekeeper on leave that leaves them alone in the house. Hayden toured the living room and to see trophies lining on one side of the wall.

He saw academic medals and trophies named to Christian James Lacson. That was probably the name of her brother who was with her at the hospital. He saw a big frame with cross stitched horses and seven medals right beneath it. Hayden move closer to see the picture pasted. It is her. Who knew she did sports before.

Hayden look up and see five single portraits. One graduation picture for each member of the family. Hayden's attention was rooted on her graduation photo. Her dark hair was a bit shorter than her present hair and her eyes twinkle in merit. He glance at other portraits around.

Reinne tiptoed towards Hayden when she saw him staring at their portrait. Especially her high school graduation photo.

"I look so different there," she said from behind him. Luckily, she moved aside or else Hayden would have hit her with his elbow because of his sudden turn. "Did I scare you?"

"No," He denied. "How long were you standing there?"

"Just now," she shrug. "Come on. I'm starving."

Reinne lead him to the kitchen and start looking for her ingredients. She signaled Hayden to sit on the breakfast counter while she starts to prepare their lunch.

"Is fish carbonara okay with you?" She asked while chopping the mushrooms into smaller pieces.

He nods and watch her move around the kitchen. While she was boiling the pasta, she's sizzling something on a pan. He was lost in what she's doing and the next thing he knew a large bowl of steaming pasta was already in front of him.

"What do you want to drink?" She ask searching in their fridge. "Tea, juice, beer, wine?"

"Wine will do," he took a forkful of the pasta and held his groan. He never tasted carbonara as tasty this.

She place a glass of red wine in front of him but he seemed to be in gross in eating. "Is red wine okay?"

Instead of answering her, he simply nod. She let out a soft laugh and dig in on her own serving. Half way through her bowl she heard Hayden call her. "Miss Lacson?"

"Please, just call me Ivy or Reinne," she said. "We're outside of the office and were alone."

"Reinne," he hands her his bowl. "Can I have another serving?"

Reinne let out a chuckle and serve him another bowl. She can feel her chest warm up when he called her name. She decided to toast some French bread before sitting back down.

"So," she started. "About the will, how will it work?"

Hayden swallow his pasta before answering her. "Basically, I'll handle the group and you'll handle the plant."

"Are you fine with this arrangement?"

He nods. "I've known all of this ahead of you."

"Shouldn't you feel resentful or any hatred towards me?"

Hayden drop his fork and gulp his wine. "Why? You want me to?"

"No," she let out a chuckle. "I'm juts wondering."

She was lucky the toaster pinged and she pull out the toasted bread. "So... Hayden, is it okay if I call you that?"

"Yes."

"Why now?"

Hayden glance at her. "What do you mean?"

"I mean," she grabs a toast. "You said your grandfather died three years ago. You could have had told us that time. So, why now?"

Hayden thought about what she said. "To be honest, I don't know. I was just asked to look for your family."

Reinne nod and continue eating her lunch. Hayden watch her eat. He remembered what she said awhile ago. He should been mad if something like this would happen and he would do anything to get the Plant under his name. But how come he can't find a single ounce of anger or revenge flood in his mind when his father told him about the will? Is he falling for her?

No, Hayden suddenly dismiss the thought. But it can be, his brain countered. Hayden decided to shut his thoughts and enjoy his meal.

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