Viel Salvador is a known businessman in Manila, the owner of the Salvador Hotel. He has the looks that cannot be easily compared with other men; he has an amber eye that could steal the hearts of the ladies at one glance, a broad shoulder that his fans would want to rest their heads on, and a luscious lip waiting to be kissed. A perfect physique as the media describes him however, Viel is still a bachelor despite his gorgeous looks and that is what the people are very curious to know; why is he still a bachelor? And that is what Jasmine Tolentino needs to answer; Jasmine is a new employee of a popular magazine and for her debut article she needs to reveal Viel Salvador's secret.
On a certain night of August, Salvador Hotel is holding its 80th anniversary, therefore a big celebration is currently happening that has been attended by celebrities, businessmen and women, and of course reporters from different TV networks and writers from magazines company just like Jasmine. She saw this luxurious event as an opportunity to properly uncover the private life of the most wanted bachelor of Manila; She began observing Viel by herself, because the last time she hired a private investigator, it did leave a positive story. Because that investigator had been caught by the security and was threatened to be lock in jail hence, the investigator quitted the job immediately.
While the beautiful lady that is wearing a laced and white-colored off-shoulder ball gown named Jasmine is observing the CEO from distance, her hawk-like eyes did not miss the odd movements of Viel's eyes. Suspicious, she thought.
"Is he looking for someone?" Jasmine voiced out her suspicion. Her hands quietly wandered the corners of her purse then once she had touched its zipper, she grabbed it and moved it to another direction, unzipping her purse. Her purse remained open while her hands drastically search for her phone; once she felt a smooth rectangular thing touches her delicate skin, her five fingers and palm grabbed it removing it from its former place inside her rose-gold colored purse thus revealing her smartphone.
Her thumb dances around the screen of her phone and stopped when she pressed a certain application named 'camera' then she held her phone upward and its camera lens facing the location of the bachelor. She pressed the white button displayed on her phone and suddenly her phone produces a bright flash and a certain sound.
"Why the flash is on?" Jasmine mumbled to herself while she hurriedly places her phone inside her purse as felt the presence of the bachelor starting to walk towards her, and the people around her who had witnessed her act. Due to her panic and embarrass feelings, she ran her way to the restroom despite wearing four-inch-high heels. She went inside a vacant cubicle and tried to catch her breath to calm herself.
Jasmine untied her low bun hairstyle to her natural chest level and brown-colored wavy hair and fixed her curtain bangs. She let a few minutes last before she left the restroom, leaving the place with the hope that her comedic act earlier will be forgotten. To avoid further attention, she went to a nearby table with the crowd however her heart had missed a single beat when she noticed Viel alerting the security and some of his friends before he went up to the stage.
The bachelor is wearing a black tuxedo with a white polo underneath and a black necktie. His suit has perfectly embraced his toned body, giving the audience a pleasing sight of the poise of a handsome bachelor that passes everyone's ideal type of a man.
"Thank you for coming everyone. As you all know, Salvador Hotel is holding its 80th-anniversary celebration, and I am proud to say that for those 80 years; Salvador Hotel since its founding by my grandfather, has maintains its number one position as the most wanted place to stay at and having the highest rating for a Hotel. To honor the hard work of the late Gregorio Salvador, I wish that with this celebration, our hotel remains to be the epitome of the hotel business." Viel finished his remark and toss a glass of champagne, then leaving the stage and in just a second, he had disappeared from the crowd.
"Where did he go?" She whispered and removed herself from the crowd.
While searching for Viel, Jasmine decided to take a break and have her dinner for tonight. There had been various performances by popular celebrities. They sang a song and dance a traditional dance. The event has been planned properly from its design, food, and program. After Jasmine finished her dinner, she began looking for Viel however, someone grabbed her hand.
"Dave, why?" Jasmine asked Dave, the person who grabbed her.
Dave Halili is a friend of hers who had helped her to land her current job. Because of her busy schedule as a new employee, she rarely had the time to meet and catch up with him. Her hazelnut eyes traveled around the gentleman in front of her. He is wearing a red suit partnered with a white polo underneath. Dave looks dashing for tonight.
"Can I have this dance?" Dave asked and pointed at the dance floor where everyone is doing the waltz.
If someone would ask Jasmine who she trusted the most, she will answer with his name, hence accepts his offer and follow Dave to the center of the dance floor. Dave has his both hands on Jasmine's waist while her hands land on Dave's shoulder. They dance under the chandelier with a slow romantic song. Dave has his eyes staring at Jasmine and she does the same.
"I did not know you attend this kind of event." Dave teased her with a smirk plastered on his lips. After knowing each other for two years, Dave has mastered her personality. Jasmine is not the type of person to go party, she likes to stay home and read, that is why it took Dave to take a second glance to ensure if Jasmine is the one, he had seen trying to capture the bachelor with her phone and its sudden flash.
"It's for my article," Jasmine answered with a pout.
"What article?" Dave asked her.
"Why is he still a bachelor?" Jasmine answered him with a boring tone.
"I bet; He is not a bachelor." Dave commented with his eyes screaming the sentence 'I have a theory to tell.'
"What do you mean?" Asked Jasmine with a confused tone.
"Who knows if he is just having a secret affair," Dave replied and that made Jasmine gasp. She remembered Viel's eyes earlier, they are like looking for someone.
"You are maybe right! Earlier, while I was observing him, it looks like he is looking for someone. I mean, of course, he might have just caught me, but I was so far away." She said and started connecting the dots.
"Maybe because of the flash?" Dave teased her again.
"No. He is acting like that even before I tried taking a picture of him." She spoke.
"If that it is, that article will go viral," Dave commented and chuckled at Jasmine's expression.
"But that is still just an assumption, I will go look for more evidence later," Jasmine replied.
They continue to dance and have their little chit-chats because of it, they did not notice someone angrily heading in their direction. People gasped when Viel Salvador grabbed Jasmine away from Dave and placed her in his arms.
Viel tightly holds Jasmine's waist causing other ladies to get jealous of Jasmine's situation; People started to gossip and record the situation, is the girl cheating on Viel Salvador, who is that girl, and what is her relationship with Viel? Those are the questions circling people's minds now.
"Leave now," Viel told to Dave with his warning tone. Jasmine frowned and looked at the bachelor's expression with a confused expression visible on her face. Dave looked bewildered and is ready to ask and punch the bachelor however he is forced to leave the place when he noticed all the phones and reports ready to record the situation.
"Fine," Dave mumbled in annoyance and left the place leaving Jasmine confused while in the arms of Viel.
Jasmine does not know what to do, she was about to ask what is happening but gets shut by the flash of hundreds of cameras and such glares from various ladies at the ball. Jasmine knew she is in trouble, so she forcefully gets off at Viel's hold and ran away from everyone, and there Viel was left at the center of attention with hurt showing from his beautiful amber eyes.
With today's modern technology, the whole world can witness a certain situation with just a single file, that is what happened last night even at Salvador Hotel. Jasmine and Viel have occupied the top ten trends until the next morning. They were even at the headline news. Jasmine becomes famous in just one night and clearly, she is not having it. She had been receiving hundreds of messages both on her mobile number and social media accounts; most of them are asking about her relationship with Viel while the others are bashing her because of her cheating, which is false.
Jasmine took the LRT on her way to Cubao while wearing a facemask and her sunglasses, not wanting anyone to recognize her. She noticed the article being read by another passenger; its caption was "Fiancée of Viel Salvador a cheater?" of course she wanted to complain and make a scene but who is she for them to believe her? Jasmine knows very well how the public see her for now, which are as a cheater, and gold digger. Because of this, Jasmine knew it will be a mistake for her to attend her work so instead of heading to her company, she heads to Salvador Company.
After arriving at the Salvador Company, she has been stopped from entering by security hence, she took off her mask and sunglasses revealing her face. Once the security had seen her face, they let her enter the building; and just like the securities reactions; the other employees also gave her a space on the way to Viel Salvador's office, as if she is walking on a red carpet.
As soon as she reached Viel's office, she angrily opened the door and glared at Viel who is currently seating in his chair while reading some documents.
"She's here." She heard someone whispered. She also glared at the man beside Viel.
Viel looked up at her and immediately stand from his seat. His mesmerizing amber eyes stare at Jasmine as if there is no tomorrow. I imagined, it might look like a romantic encounter however, it is not. Jasmine drags herself closer to Viel. Every sound made by her heels by her steps fills the silence in the office. Jasmine slapped Viel as soon as she gets in front of him.
"Do you have any idea what kind of mess you put me into?" Jasmine shouted at Viel.
"I can explain," Viel said calmly and tried to hold Jasmine's hand.
"Everyone thinks I am an ann a cheater because of the scene that you caused! I do not even know you!" Jasmine weakly screamed at Viel. "Do you know what this might do to me?" She asked.
"I can lose my job; I already have haters by the way and this rumor ruins my image." She continued as her tears slowly roll from her cheeks. Viel watched her tears as they roll down to her cheeks; He wanted to wipe those tears away but chose not to, for he knew this is his fault, but he was desperate.
"Sir, I will take my leave now." The man beside Viel whispered then left while the bachelor nodded in response.
"I am going to clear your name. However, be my fiancée for four months." Viel offered to Jasmine and hands her his handkerchief.
Jasmine raised her eyebrow as she realized how thick-faced the bachelor is. While Viel on the other hand looks at her with no emotion visible on his face.
"Why would I agree with that?" Jasmine fought back and slapped Viel's hand causing the handkerchief to fall.
"Do you want me to sue you for stalking and writing about my personal life without my permission?" He asked but for Jasmine more felt like blackmail and that made her bite her lower lip.
"Stop biting your lips," Viel whispered as his gaze focusses on Jasmine's pinkish lips.
"What's in it for me?" Jasmine asked; She is not stupid, she knew very well how powerful Viel is, she is aware that she can be jailed in just snapped if Viel wants to. Jasmine chooses the safe yet rocky path.
"Me." Viel teased Jasmine and chuckled a little bit. He knew he is handsome, Jasmine thought to herself. Jasmine glared at Viel who is currently playing with his ring; she noticed the gold ring his wearing on his ring finger; she thought what Dave said about Viel having a secret affair is true.
"Your lover might curse me or perhaps, I am the cover for your lover," Jasmine replied as she tried to connect the dots. Jasmine thought Viel and his lover is using Jasmine to cover their secret affair.
"I want her back." Jasmine notices the hint of sadness in Viel's tone. Unknowingly, she felt as if some actresses her heart.
"If you want her back, then go to her and beg her instead of bothering other people." She said bitterly.
"That is not easy. Jasmine, once you accept the four months and I promise no one will bother you anymore." Viel replied.
"Yeah, the press will not bother me anymore but, you will." Jasmine mumbled revealing her snarky side that made Viel chuck; "I'll take it however, once I feel I don't want to continue anymore; we will stop our pretend relationship." She continued.
"I understand, Love. I will take care of the press." Viel said that made Jasmine cringe because of what he just called her.
"Geez, cut the endearment- "Jasmine tried to complain but stopped by Viel when his lips suddenly crushed into her lips. Jasmine was stunned by Viel's kiss; she is not going to lie, his lips felt perfect and has a sense of familiarity with it and she does not know why.
"Don't do that again, you do not have a right to kiss me." Jasmine scold Viel and left him with a death glare.
Viel watched Jasmine as she left his office, he smiled knowing his planned work. He smiles as he reminisces their kiss, even it's just lasted for a second, he loved it. And as for Jasmine, she left the building with her hands on her chest feeling her heartbeat, but both knew their deal was sealed with a kiss.