Walls
A COSTA LEONA SERIES FANFICTION
Pairing: Jacques Riego and Mercadejas Heiress (Ali & Aia's daughter)
Disclaimer: I don't own Costa Leona series. It is written by the wonderful Jonaxx on wattpad.
To Jacques, she is the forbidden fruit. They may not be related, their family’s ties are closer than a real family’s. She is off-limits to him, she must be. Longing for her could lead to complications he doesn’t want to even think about. But darn, is she tempting as she is forbidden. The rules walls he built are the same ones he destroyed.
They first met when he was seven and she is barely one-year-old. He remembered how his uncles teased him with her but he didn’t give that much thought. All he cares about was the food, his long-lost cousins that he could play around with, the beautiful ball-gowns and the dashing suits.
They met again in on her 7th birthday. He can still remember her wide grin even though she’s missing some teeth and how she gracefully attends to her guests. Everyone adores her in her tiara and gown, but he wasn’t giving too much attention. He was thinking about the 5th girl who confessed to him that week and how he will reject her the nicest way possible. He may look like an asshole, as what his friends call him, with his perpetual scowl but disrespecting a girl is never a choice. He was pre-occupied when she reached their table and greeted him along with his family. He was preoccupied when he personally gave his gift and replied a “you’re welcome” to her “thank you”. He was preoccupied when she kissed his cheek goodbye.
After that, there will always be the constant gathering that includes the Riegos, Hidalgos and Mercadejas, be it corporate or casual. And he would always spend his time conversing with the young men of the families about mundane things or discussing business matters to the elders. Some say he always thinks ahead of his age, being interested with stock-market and taxes instead of obsessing towards girls and parties. He would just chuckle in response. And she would always be there, with her elegance and charm that he never paid attention to.
He finally noticed her when she almost died; well there is the tiniest possibility of it. It was her 18th birthday, her supposedly biggest day. She was dressed like a princess. Looked and moved like one as well. Wearing her expensive smile, she walked down the staircase when she stepped on the wrong foot and fell, almost, if Jacques wasn’t standing at the bottom of the stairs, drinking champagne.
His reflexes were quick enough to catch her. They toppled on the floor, crashing towards her tall birthday cake in the process causing a huge mess. She can’t decide whether she almost died because of falling down the stairs or because of shame. She also can’t decide whether it was her worst day because her debut was ruined or her best because the man she came to love actually noticed her… and saved her.
That was the day when Jacques’ dilemma started.
That was the day he realized how dangerously tempting she is.
That was the day when he started building his walls.
Until one day, she came unannounced to his office, applying—no, begging to be his personal secretary. The idea was absurd. Her family has their own empire. She can be the boss, if she’d like to. But she insisted that she needed the job. She wants to start from scratch, far from the influence and power of his parents.
She looked so determined, like a tigress. She looked like she can devour him and he will gladly agree. That was the day when his long-time secretary was assigned to a different position and was replaced by a satisfied defiant Mercadejas heiress.
It was supposed to be a strictly-professional relationship between a boss and a secretary but poor Mr. Riego can’t help but be distracted by the way Ms. Mercadejas bites her lip or roll her eyes or simply exist.
And the first moment he got a taste of those sinful lips of hers, was the moment he damned all his rules and his principles.
