Chapter 4: Ranz's Birthday

Today is Ranz's birthday that makes Jacob's Group closed today. Not all employees will be able to attend their COO's birthday, but their superiors have also ordered their company to close today.

Until now, Bela is still asleep. She worked overtime last night because they don't have work today. She also needs to have a beauty-rest because Ranz's birthday will be later.

For a moment her phone rang. Although she's drowsy, she tried to reach her phone.

"Hello," she said from the other line.

"Good morning!" she heard from the other line. "What time will I pick you up?" That's when she realized that Ranz and her had a talk to each other that she will get herself fixed in Ranz's house. Also, her things were already set-up there.

"I think, it's best at three in the afternoon," she replied.

"Okay, see you later."

She get up on bed and head to the kitchen. She brewed coffee and sat down on the chair. She was just mesmerizing. To this day, she still can't believe what is happening to her. How quickly for her to get involved in the lives of the Jacobs?

She sipped her coffee. What if for two months Daryl still doesn't agree to their arranged marriage? Is it true that his younger brother is his replacement? But knowing that she was a year older than him and that she didn't want her future husband to be younger than her.

And here is Ranz now, the person who is kind to her and seems to like her already. Speaking of kindness, she remembered that she hadn't bought a birthday gift for him yet. Yes, Ranz is already rich, but that doesn't mean he doesn't accept gifts anymore.

Bela is in the shop now and looking at a watch. She noticed that Ranz is a fan of rolex so she decided that this will be her gift for him.

"Miss, can I take a look at this one?" she said while pointing at the watch.

"Sure Ma'am. Is this for your boyfriend?" the sales lady asked.

"Oh no, just a friend of mine," she corrected. "This one also and that one," she added.

She's currently looking at other watch when she hears a familiar voice.

"I'll take that one and also the other one." She heard from the familiar voice. "Ms. Bela?" She looked beside her where the familiar voice came from.

"Sir!" She was surprised. She didn't expect to meet her boss there.

"What are you doing here? I thought you have your family bonding?" She remains silent. Her boss doesn't need to know that she's buying a gift for Ranz.

"Ma'am, are you done picking?" the sales lady said between their talk.

"You're going to buy a watch, too?" her boss said in a astonishment.

"Yes, Sir," she replied. After that she returned her gaze to the sales lady. "I'll take the first one," she said.

"Okay, thank you Ma'am."

"Is that a birthday present?" her boss interogated.

"Ah, no Sir. I will give it to my father later," she replied.

"Really Ma'am? You said a while ago it's for your friend," the sales lady said. She again returned her gaze to the sales lady and smile.

"Ah, you know, my father is also my friend." She laughed a little and turned to her boss. After that, she bid farewell to the two because she knows that this was a hard situation for her.

And the time has come when she needs to dress up because Ranz is on the way to pick her up.

It only took a few minutes for Ranz to get there. What if Daryl behaves like this? Maybe she doesn't need to disguise himself as Bela Isidro anymore. But anyway, that is her present name. And she had already started it and she just had to finish it.

She was surprised when she arrived at Ranz's house. She was wondering if Ranz really lives here alone in this huge mansion? The venue is almost finished and set-up inside his mansion. If you look at it, the occasion that will take place here is very grand.

"We're here," Ranz said when they enter the Master's bed room. The make-up artist who will fix them came up to them.

"Your girlfriend Sir Ranz is so pretty." Bela turned to Ranz at what she heard.

"Of course, I'm Ranz Jacob and I have a good choice when it comes to whom I'm going to live with," Ranz replied pinching Bela's cheeks.

A few hours passed when they finished. Ranz and Bela are in the room now and just waiting for the time to turned into eight o'clock in the evening. They take photos together and seems like they can't let go of each other because they are hugging about an hour ago. Bela didn't object, she just gave in because it's Ranz birthday today.

Time has passed and the long-awaited of all has begun. The birthday celebrant went out with his partner. It is not known who was with him because the girl was wearing a mask since it is a masquerade party. Many are wondering who it is because Ranz just brought a girl to his birthday party just now which he didn't do to his past birthday.

Ranz started the party by greeting and thanked all those who went there and gave a message to everyone.

"Happy birthday Ranz. I wish you'll find your happiness," Bela said. After that, the famous band invited by him started to play. The song was romantic, this was probably the first request of Ranz because he wanted Bela to dance with. He took Bela's hand and carried her to the center of the venue.

Bela seems a little discomfort. Even if she averted her eyes from Ranz, she had nothing but to go with the flow. Suddenly, her eyes turned to her boss. Even wearing a mask she still knew it was her boss. She remembered that her boss was also invited to this celebration but she hopes she doesn't get to meet him. She hid her face in Ranz's body and she came even closer to him. What she didn't know was that was Ranz wanted that to happen. But she had no choice but to do that. Also, Ranz's body was also fragrant so she was not at a loss. She also wonders what her boss will think when her boss finds out that she is the woman with Ranz. Aside from the fact that she rejected her boss proposal to be his partner that night, her boss would even think she was a liar about the dating rumor her boss was throwing at her.

On the other hand, Ranz took that opportunity to do what he wanted. He grabbed Bela by the waist and brought her closer to him. And now they are dancing in the middle in each other's arms.

"I never thought that you were clingy," Ranz said. Bela was wrapped in shame because of what she did, but that was not the time to act. She just thought of going with the flow.

"It's because I wan't to let them know that you are mine." Ranz laughed a little and turned his gazed at her intimately.

"I want you to own me for real." At the same time Ranz smiled at her. She grabbed her chest feeling if what she feels right now was love? But no, the man she's dancing with now has a big crush on her.

"For real?" She acted as if she likes what Ranz said. They discussed earlier that they have to act as lovers tonight to save Ranz from his parents' agreement to marry him to a woman he doesn't want. His parent would only revoke that agreement if he could introduce his girlfriend on his birthday and that is exactly what he did.

"Yes. May I?" Ranz asked. She suddenly averted her gaze to Ranz.

"Let me think about it. You know, it takes a lot of process for us to come up with that."

"Well, I'll take that as yes, soon." She decided to be silent, because if not there is a possibility that she'll agree with him. But is it right knowing that she will going to marry this man's cousin? She's out of her mind giving someone's chances but will dump him in the end.

When the song ended, she invited Ranz to a place that was far away that her boss could not see or recognize them. And that's when she took the opportunity to tell Ranz that Daryl should not meet her there because she also offered her to be his partner that night but she didn't accept that.

"Really? You dumped him?" Ranz said in disbelief. He couldn't imagine that Daryl Jacob has also a move like that.

"Just use the word reject, dumped is way to harsh," Bela said softly. She's just careful because who knows that her boss might have an ear around them.

"Let's enjoy the wine." And they toast it.

"Ranz?" A voice caught Bela's attention. Even if she didn't look back at the person who owns the voice, she knew who it was. And she has no intention of looking back at him.

"Daryl?" Ranz replied.

Bela seemed to have been poured with cold water. Her heartbeat was started to pound harder. She looked at Ranz's direction to ask for a help of what they should do. She was surprised when Ranz squeezed her waist and faced the man who had just arrived.

"So she's your girlfriend?" the man said. Obviously, it's her boss because Ranz called this man Daryl. Their eyes met, but she did not avoid her boss. She was wearing a mask so she had the courage and she knew that her boss wouldn't recognize her.

"You're right bro." Ranz said proudly. But deep in side, his feet were shaking.

"For real?" Daryl said in disbelief. He knows his cousin when it comes to women. He's a total player. And he was just surprised when his cousin did introduced his girlfriend on his birthday which he had never done before.

"Of course," Ranz replied. "By the way, Caleen this is my cousin Daryl and also he's the CEO of Jacob's Group." Bela just smile at her boss because she's avoiding to talk with him, if that would happen she knew she will be caught up.

Daryl held his hands to Bela for the shake hands. It took a second for Bela to hold it because she's in hesitant.

"Nice meeting you Caleen," her boss said grinning towards her.

"Nice meeting you too," she replied and immediately take back her hand.

"It seems like that you don't have a date tonight bro," Ranz said.

"I don't need to," Daryl replied.

"You know cousin, it's time for you to find someone to date," Ranz continued. He's also a bit of a concern for his cousin because it's really "no gilrfriend since birth". "That's right, didn't you tell me that uncle wants you to marry his friend's daughter," he added. "But it's against your will." Bela just listened to what Ranz was saying. She realized that her boss was also talkative. Saying things like that to his cousin was not necessary but he did tell.

"Then what?" Daryl said while drinking the wine in his glass. "I already refused and it's done. They can't do anything if I don't want too, and they have David as my replacement." Bela turned to his boss. If only they could see her eyebrows, but they didn't. It's because she's annoyed with her boss again. Is it that easy for her boss to refuse in such serious agreement?

"You can also use this as an alibi. Find a girlfriend so they don't need to find a girl for you." Her boss seems to think of something.

"Do you have a sister?" Bela was shocked when she heard that.

"Me?" She points her finger to herself. "I'm an only child." Her boss laugh a little afterwards.

"You know Caleen, your voice sounds familiar." Her boss just looking at her and seems to think of something. She then stunned and started to think what alibi she would said to her boss because she knew that her boss seems to know her already by just hearing her voice. And that's what she will going to make impossible.

"Oh, yes. I think you already heard my voice because I'm a dubber of disney movie in the Philippines." She fake a smile then turned her gaze to Ranz to asked for a help.

"Yes bro, my girlfriend is one of a kind dubber," Ranz intruded.

"Not a disney princess voice, but someone I know," her boss said in a serious tone.

"Someone you know?" she asked. She knows that she's the one her boss was referring to.

"Yeah, your voice seems similar to my secretary," her boss said firmly.

She covered her lips and laugh a little. "A lot of people already said that to me," she denied.

Moments later, Ranz's phone rang and he immediately answered the call.

"What?" Ranz said emphatically.

"What is that?" Bela asked out of curiosity. She asked that because she noticed that there's something wrong about the tone of Ranz's voice.

"Is everything alright?" Daryl intruded.

A moment later, Ranz hang up the phone.

"I'm sorry Caleen. I have to leave you here for a while, it's an emergency."

"What?" That's all what she said because she already know what will going to happen.

"I have to go now," Ranz said. Then he run away.

Bela left there with her boss dumbfounded. What if she will caught up? She shook her head and sighed.

"Announcement!" They all turned to speaker which is the emcee of the party. "Please lend me your ears," the emcee continued. "Tonight we are celebrating the birthday of Mr. Ranz Jacob. Not only us have a birthday present for him, but he also have a birthday present too, for the lucky partner for tonight's game."

"A game?" Bela said wondering what it was. Ranz did not inform her about that.

"The game will be called, "The fittest couple". And here's the mechanics: In this game, you must have a partner of course. It can be your husband/wife, boyfriend/girlfriend or a friend. Just make sure the member have an opposite sex, okay."

Almost all the guests there were cheering and seemed to be well prepared for that game. Maybe because of the gift they heard.

"The fittest couple?" Bela whispered.

"The gift that will be receive by the winner are a brand new car and one week vacation to greenland resort." Many were cheering when they heard what that gift was. "This game was made by our very own birthday celebrant, Mr. Ranz Jacob. Also, he will join the said game."

There are two usherette who went to them.

"Ma'am, Sir, this way." Then they were being guide to the venue of the game.

"Wait, I'm not going to join the game and we're not partners." She wants to get out of the usherette's grip.

"Ma'am, Sir Jacob said that you must join." She was stunned. Did this woman remembered her on the stage. The usherette then turned her gaze to her boss. "Right, Mr. Jacob?" the usherette said smiling at her boss.

Minutes later, they have reached the venue.

"For the first round, partners will be qualified if the girl wears a white gown," the emcee started. Bela look at her gown even she knew that it's color white. She was hoping that the color will change. She turned to her boss and finds out having a grin on his lips.

"Looks like were qualified," her boss said still grinning towards her. "You shouldn't wear that kind of dress, it's white and it's quite revealing," her boss continued. She wears a backless gown that made her back seems showy.

"We only have fifty couples now," the emcee continued. She was nervous that they might qualified again. That should not happen, because if that happened she knew something bad would happen. "For the next round, the couples are qualified if the girl has a straight hair!" She touched her hair. She remembered earlier that she wanted to curl her hair, but Ranz changed it and made it straight. No, what she was thinking should not be happen.

They have walked again to the next venue. There are only thirty couples left.

"For this round, seems like we have more couples that will be eliminated. This round requires a girl that has a tattoo. It doesn't matter if it was place in random parts of your body." Bela suddenly covered the side of her neck. Her tattoo was there, but she can't hide it because there are usherettes who check every couple there to see if they are qualified.

"Seems like Ranz wants you to win this game," her boss said being confident that they would really win this game.

"I don't think so," she replied. Even if that's what she thought in the first place. After all, everything was in accordance with her. From the white gown, straight hair and now the tattoo.

"We have 15 couples left, this time the requirement is the girl wearing a white masskara."

The two entered again and headed to another venue. There are only five couples left and they are among them.

"I'm sure for this round we will know whose the winner," the emcee said gladly. "For this round, we will turn to a male partner. The boy must have a surname of Jacob." The two looked at each other. Bela's mouth just fell open. Now, they realized that this game was manipulated by Ranz and that was so clear.

The usherette was surprised when she asked the partner of the boss they know. They expected it to be Ranz, but the usherette just covered her mouth when he heard it.

"I'm Daryl Jacob."

And they also heard a man from the other side.

"I'm David Jacob."

"So we have two Jacobs in the game," the emcee was surprised. The emcee only knew that this man was Ranz but it turns out to be other man.

"Bro! You're here, too," David said.

"Really? Is that you brother Daryl?" David's partner intruded. His partner is Rona, the younger sister of Ranz.

"Oh, you're with your secretary?" David said that made Bela frost in her ground. How come this man notice her?

"My secretary?" Daryl said in astonishment. "She's not my secretary," he corrected.

"Oh yeah, you're my brother's girlfriend," Rona intruded. Bela's mouth seemed to be locked up, she can't open it. She feels like she was cornered by the two.

"I thought she's your secretary because she also has a tattoo beside her ear," Ranz explained. "It's just that, the last time I saw your secretary in your office, she has a tattoo beside her ear and your partner just now have a similar tattoo," David continued.

"You must be mistaken, I'm Caleen, Ranz's girlfriend," Bela said changing the topic. "The tattoo must be a coincidence," she added.

"For the final round, the final requirement is that the girl must not have a surname of Jacob."

"What?" Ranz's sister complaint. "This game is bias! My brother wants you to win this game." She turned to Ranz's sister because of it's action. Hell she know from the start, and she's not happy about the result.

Since they were both winners, they were invited on the stage.

"Here they are, the lucky winner!" the emcee said. "There's this last rule of the game, you'll have to take each other masskara for us to know and see your faces." Bela's only wish was for Ranz to come and pull her away. But where is him? He wasn't there for a few hours. "After I count one to three, you'll have to remove it." They were facing each other and ready to take their masskara off to each other. "One, two, three!" Daryl was stunned to what his seeing right now. So all along he's with her secretary. His brother was right. His secretary just stared at him and did nothing. He didn't know if he would be angry towards her secretary because he was being deceived by her or he would act happy because they won the game. The crowd seems so loud as they know who's behind the mask of the two winner. Many were shocked by what they saw and could not believe it.

"For the luckiest couple, can you give us your sweetest kiss for tonight." Suddenly, Daryl squeezed Bela's waist. He stroked the girl's right cheek and gave her a kiss on the lips. Bela then grabbed her boss chest and eventually put her hands on her boss neck. Though confused, they both respond to each other's kiss. Aggressive, ambitious and passionate.