The rain had barely started to fall when Chloe Beltran's phone rang — a number not saved, unknown, but persistent. It was her day off, supposedly, but in her line of work, time off was just a myth.
"Hello, Chloe speaking."
"Miss Beltran, this is Bella Madrid. I need a wedding planner. Urgently."
The voice was smooth, almost calculated. Like velvet hiding a dagger.
"Ah, Miss Madrid," Chloe replied, opening her laptop without even realizing it. "When is the wedding?"
"Next month. Full ceremony. Guests, venue, gown, catering — everything."
Chloe blinked. "Next month, as in... 30 days from now?"
"Twenty-six," Bella corrected, calm and unbothered.
Chloe stared at her screen. No client — not even the rich and powerful ones — ever booked a full wedding that soon. Unless... something was off.
"May I ask... why the urgency?"
There was a pause on the other end of the line.
"Because I don't like waiting," Bella finally said. "And I don't want him to either."
Him?
Chloe shook the question from her head. "Alright. Let's set a meeting to discuss expectations and the contract. My office is—"
"No need. I'll come to your apartment. I already know where you live."
Napatingin si Chloe sa bintana — hindi dahil may tao, kundi dahil may kilabot na dumaan sa batok niya.
"Excuse me?" she asked, more out of instinct than shock.
"I like working with people I trust," Bella continued. "You come highly recommended. I'll be there in thirty minutes."
Click.
No further explanation. No permission asked.
Chloe stared at her phone. She lived alone in a quiet compound in Quezon City. No signage. No staff. Just her, her plants, and a tightly-run solo business that somehow managed to thrive in the ruthless wedding industry.
She quickly changed into something decent — a crisp button-down and slacks — then began tidying her small home-office space. Her heart pounded not because of excitement, but because of something else. A creeping sensation she didn't yet have a name for.
Exactly thirty-two minutes later, a black luxury car parked outside her gate.
Bella Madrid was more stunning in person than in her magazine spreads. She wore a white linen dress that barely touched her skin, her hair tied in a sleek ponytail, and her makeup minimal — like she didn't need to try, and knew it.
"Chloe," she greeted, offering a faint smile. "You look... efficient."
"Thanks. That's kind of the brand," Chloe replied politely, hiding her discomfort.
They sat across each other at Chloe's modest consultation table.
"Let's get straight to it," Bella said, pulling out a flash drive. "Everything you need is here — my pegs, the dress style, the guest list, and my fiancé's schedule."
Chloe took it, plugging it in. "And the groom?"
"Vince. Vince Crisostomo. He's busy, but he trusts me to take care of this."
Chloe paused. That surname... why did it sound familiar?
"And what about the budget?"
"Unlimited. Just don't make it tacky."
Chloe almost choked. "Unlimited?"
Bella's lips curved into a knowing smile. "Think of it as your golden portfolio piece. After this, you'll never run out of clients."
And yet something still feels off.
"You're not... worried? About planning everything so fast?" Chloe asked cautiously.
Bella leaned back in her seat, eyes cool. "No. Because I know how to get what I want."
"And you're sure he wants this too?"
Bella stared at Chloe for a moment longer than comfortable. Then she smiled — small, secretive.
"Sometimes men don't know what they want until it's right in front of them. Or until someone shows them what's best."
That was cryptic.
Chloe scribbled in her planner, hiding her thoughts behind a professional nod. "Then let's start working. We'll have to move fast."
"You'll manage," Bella said with certainty. "You're the kind of girl who always does."
Before Chloe could ask what that meant, Bella stood.
"One more thing," she added, turning toward the door. "Don't fall in love with him."
Chloe blinked. "Excuse me?"
Bella's smile was barely there now. "You'll be seeing Vince a lot. He's... charming. But don't mistake kindness for something more. He's marrying me."
Then she was gone — just like that.
Chloe sat in stunned silence, hand frozen over her planner. No client had ever given her a personal warning about falling in love with the groom.
Why would she even say that?
And more importantly... why did it make Chloe curious?
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