“I regret to inform you all…that the wedding is off. You may all leave. I am sorry for the trouble.”
Romina stands at the centre of the massive gate adorned in her wedding gown, with a bouquet of flowers in her hand, her face covered with a veil. When she walks into the church, her mother Rosanna, Daniela, and all the other guests in attendance sigh with relief. Robert, who stands close to the aisle turns to stare at her for a while.
Romina walks over to the aisle. The glow on her face expresses her joy, for she’s waited so long for “this day” to come.
A voiceover by Romina: “They say that the best feeling in the world is to lövê and to be lōvêd back. All my life, I searched for it. For a lövê that will make me whole. For someone who will stand by me, and lövê me for eternity.”
Romina carries on smiling nervously. She makes eye contact with Daniela, who gives her an unimpressed, phlegmatic look.
“No matter how much we lövê someone and how hard we fight for them, it’s not always enough to keep them in our lives. Sometimes, the lövê that we think would make us whole is what ends up hurting us. Even more…”
Finally, Romina arrives at the aisle and stands beside Robert, who smiles back at her. Without warning, she drops the flowers and Robert stares at her in amazement. What could be happening? Romina stands on the platform looking so misërãble, a mic in her hand. Rosanna, her mother is almost on the brink of tears. Things were going to turn out very badly, her eyes signal that fear.
“I regret to inform you all,” Romina begins, sniffing back tears as Rosanna, Robert and everyone else stares up at her. “…that the wedding is off.”
Rosanna breaks down into tears. Robert bows his head down, shaking it in dismay while the guests murmur among themselves.
“You may all leave. I am sorry for the trouble.” And with that, Romina runs out of the church. Daniela gloats over the unexpected turn of events. Anyway, Romina runs as the rain beats her down.
Surprised, Robert runs after her and Rosanna follows, calling out to her. Robert catches her and holds her for a moment before she slips away and eventually sinks onto the floor. Rosanna, who is now out of breath from all the running, finally reaches them. She holds her daughter as she keeps on crying, and Robert just stands there, watching.
Six months ago, Robert Mondragon stands on an elevated floor, of his fish factory, observing as his employees work. Outside, Romina alights with a car. She checks her time and realizes that she is ten minutes early. Unfortunately, a reckless driver startles her with his horn and she jumps out of his way and falls, eventually staining her shirt with mud.
A coworker comes to her aid, but she tells the guy that she is fine. She brushes off the mud from her dress, but the stain still remains, so she gives up and hurries to the workplace. Romina meets Miss Cely who asks her how she got her dress stained and she said that she tripped and fell.
“Next time make the driver drop you at the entrance,” Miss Cely admonishes.
Once miss Celt leaves, Alvin, a co-worker, comes up behind her and asks what had happened to her.
Romina merely tells him that it was just an accident and when the guy asks if she’s free today, she says that he already knows her answer. Romina excuses herself and leaves as Alvin looks at her in disappointment. With her shirt still decorated with mud, Romina walks into the workplace and Bonita, a coworker asks what had happened to her.
“Just my luck,” she replies. She has five minutes left before she has to meet the boss.
Bonita stops Romina. “Wait, will you really face Mr Robert looking like this? No way!” She reminds her that Mr. Mondragon is handsome, kind, rich, and a widower who wants all things to be done perfectly.
A security man pulls the glass door and and Mr. Mondragon walks in majestically. In the meantime, Bonita drags Romina along, saying that she has a spare outfit for her to change into. A moment later, Romina comes out of a room. She’s changed from her mud-decorated dress, complaining that the size of the skirt is too small for her.
While in the office picking up some documents, another co-worker comes to inform Romina that Mr Robert Mondragon has arrived. It is 8:57am and they still have three minutes left. Romina comes out of the office and gives the file to Eva, who had asked for it earlier. She still looks uncomfortable in the outfit but her coworker told her she looked good, so she rushed to Mr Mondragon, pulling down the skirt as she goes.
Mr Mondragon asks Romina if she needs more time to get ready, and she replies in the negative and hands him some documents. While going through them, Robert eyes her questionably as she continues to fidget, pulling down her skirt again. Romina tells him about how her uniform got stained, and Robert carries on with his inspection of the document.
Robert has a meeting with the board members in the conference room and announces that he has read the proposal that the finance had made. He asks the shareholders whether they really have to lay off workers and one of them said it is bound to happen. Robert worries about what could happen to the families of the workers who are depending on them.
“Business is not run with sentiments,” grumbles a random shareholder.
Still concerned about the welfare of the workers, Robert asks whether the company would go bankrupt if they fail to lay off workers.
Another board member replies in the negative and asks if he would wait till things get worse before he takes action. Robert declares that he can buy them out if they are not happy about how he runs his business. The shareholders glance at each other as Robert lectures and urges them to support his vision and mission for the company.
Romina interrupts Robert and informs him that they have a problem. There’s been an explosion at the factory where the workers are currently striving to rush to safety. In no time, Robert arrives at the factory with Romina and a few others. Bryan, a staff shivering tells him that the steam pump has blown and they need to replace it right away.
They find Miss Cely and she seems to be sick from all the smoke she had inhaled. Robert then tells his subordinates to get the car ready.
A helicopter lands on a rooftop, and out comes the daughter of Mr Mondragon, Daniela, in a radiant red dress. She meets Bonita and asks for her father. Bonita tells her that he is at the factory, and they could go there if she wants.
However, Daniela refuses to go there, saying that the place stinks. On that note, she decides to wait at the comfort of her father’s office.
Mr Mondragon discovers that the expløsion was due to the negligence of Mr. Pan, an old engineer. He’s upset that his mistake has left several workers injured.
The old man pleads with Robert not to fire him. Still unsettled with the incident, Robert leaves with the Human Resource (HR) manager to discuss matters. Later, Robert pulls up the sleeve of his shirt. Romina notices that there were some burn marks on his arm, so she points it out to him and Robert stares at her in silence.
“Good morning, Miss Daniela.”
“Good morning.”
“Hello…”
The workers greet Daniela as she walks her way into her dad’s office, but she ignores them all and carries on.
“What’s up with Mr Robert’s daughter?” a worker asks.
Daniela stands behind a wooden wall, unnoticed, listening to their conversation. The girl doesn’t look happy.
“Keep it down,” someone cautions.
“But what do you expect?” another chimes in. “She is the only daughter. I actually heard she was sent to America because she turned rebellious after her mother’s dëāth. Besides, she just comes in here to get her allowance.”
“She looks pretty on the outside but ugly on the inside,” a male worker added and the rest nodded in agreement.
Daniela then confronts the workers. “It isn’t nice to talk about people behind their back.”
Robert took off his suit for Romina to dress the burn on his arm. He commends Romina for her magical touch of healing and jokingly asks if there’s something she can’t do. Romina laughs, saying that she is used to giving first aid for burns as she was a factory worker before becoming a secretary. Robert notices the worried look on her face and asks about it.
“I was just thinking about Mr Pan,” Romina replies. She asks whether Robert would forget about all the good things someone has done just because they make a mistake.
“If it were up to me, I would fire you all on the spot,” Daniela taunts the workers. “But I don’t have that right, do I? That’s why I expect your resignations first thing in the morning.”
The male worker boldly told her that they work for Mr Mondragon and he is the only one who can terminate their contract or fire them.
“I am Daniela Mondragon! The sole heiress to this company…do you really want to be here when I take over? I’m saving you from hell. Take it.”
Romina tells Robert that Mr Pan is passing through some personal challenges – his child has been admitted at the hospital and he can only depend on Robert for survival. The cellphone of Robert drops onto the floor, and as he and Romina both bend down to pick it up, they lock gazes. Daniela walks in just then.
Daniela mocks Romina on account of her dressing. She told her father that she’s found a perfect place to open her club business. Robert says he has an important meeting to attend so Romina would assist her. Later, Romina signs a cheque for Daniela, and tells her that her father had said that her allowance had to be managed. Pissed off, Daniela berates her for acting like her father’s accountant.
“I am just following your father’s orders. You’re very lucky because your coffee allowance alone can feed an entire family for a day.”
Daniela wonders why her father trusts Romina to the extent of letting her handle blank cheques. She says Romina might run away with her father’s fortune. Romina declares that she does not spend money she hasn’t worked for. Daniela tears up the cheque when she realizes that it’s only 150,000 peso. She needs 200,000 pesos for her business.
Romina signs the cheque again for the very same amount. Before Daniela tears that one too, she tells her that all their cheque books are finished and it would take about three days to get a new one. Daniela glares at her but eventually storms off with the 150,000 peso.
Romina runs into Mr Pan after work, and she excitedly informs him that the boss has transferred him from the production sector to a desk job.
Carlos shows up and when he asks Romina what she is wearing, she narrates her ordeal. Robert makes his appearance as they hug. Romina notices him and introduces Carlos to him as her boyfriend. Daniela seems surprised to see Carlos there. Romina seems surprised, and Carlos reveals that he used to be classmates with Daniela.
Rosanna praises her daughter for her hard work and completing her secretarial course. Romina tells her that she still has some dreams that are yet to be fulfilled; saving up money to set up their business and entering college to do Business Administration. A neighbor runs up to them to inform them that Carlos has been involved in an accident.
Romina finds Carlos lying on the ground with a crowd surrounding him. Carlos says that he wants to be with Romina for his entire life. In the midst of the commotion, Romina requested for help to send him to hospital for medical attention as she thinks that he’s really injured. Carlos then pulls out a ring and goes on his knees to ask Romina to marry him.
“You scared me,” Romina breathes.
“Before you k!ll me, marry me first,” Carlos says.
Romina accepts the marriage proposal and Carlos puts the ring on her finger and hugs her as the crowd cheers. At the Mondragon mansion, Daniela thinks about Carlos and the memories of their school days; how Carlos comforted her whenever she shared her problems with him.
Flashback: Daniela wakes up in bed and finds the sheets stained with bløōd. Carlos comes in with breakfast, asking when she would introduce him to her father. Daniela says she would very soon and declares she is all his.
Daniela remembers the time she told Carlos to elope with her because her father was planning to send her to America. Carlos refused to go so Daniela got upset that he won’t fight for their relationship. On that note, she breaks up with him.
Presently, Carlos sends Romina home to break the good news to his father, Mr. Kulas. Kulas says his son is rushing things.
” Are you pregnant?” Mr Kulas asks Romina.
After scolding his two young sons to study hard, he pulls Carlos away and asks if he’s crazy and whether he has thought about it. Carlos says he doesn’t need to because he lōvês Romina and Mr Kulas warns him to be careful since Romina might turn out just like his mother. Carlos asks his father to respect her since she will soon become his wife and his daughter-in-law.
Mr Kulas turns to stare at Romina who seems to have heard the entire conversation from where she sits. The next day at work, Romina gives Robert the proposal for the upcoming anniversary, telling him that it needs his approval. Daniela walks in, saying that they have to celebrate since she had been able to get a mixologist (a person skilled at mixing cocktails and other drinks) for her club.
Daniela offers to help in the 25th (millennium) anniversary of the company but she would have to work with Romina. When her father leaves, Daniela demands for all the files and requirements pertaining to the anniversary and says she does not need any help. She taunts Romina over how close she is to her father. She says that people might talk and misinterpret things, even Carlos.
Attorney Bernard Tejada informs Robert that he has already arranged the contracts for all the properties he had bought. Romina appears with two cups of coffee, telling Robert that she’s finished all the work pertaining to his 3pm meeting and she’s already told his driver to pick him up for his meeting with Daniela later.
“You are really lucky with your secretary,” Bernard remarks. “She knows exactly what you need.”
Bernard asks Robert whether he doesn’t want to marry again and Robert stares at Romina as she talks to some co workers outside. Fast forward, Daniela shows her father the venue she had chosen for the anniversary along with Savannah, one of her associates.
Robert says the place is too big for just 200 guests and Daniela tells him that she had taken over the preparations and invited 300 more guests because Romina is busy with other things. Robert tells his daughter that to avoid any problem, Romina has to be in charge of things and not her so she shouldn’t get stressed out.
Daniela asks if he trusts his secretary more than her and Robert says that it is Romina’s job and she’s good at it. After he leaves to answer a phone call, Savannah cautions Daniela not to allow a mere secretary to overshadow her. Daniela says that Robert has never been a good father to her and that she is only tolerating him because she needs him for now.
“I won’t need him one of these days. I’m tired of begging for scraps,” Daniela said in disdain.
The anniversary celebration begins and Robert Mondragon gives a speech to mark the celebration. He says that his company, which is known as Camila, started with just one can of sardine that they shared among themselves because they had nothing at that time. Daniela sits, holding a glass of red wine. When a worker congratulates Romina for organising the event well, she stands from her chair and a waiter bumps into her.
“Why are we always hiring idiōts?” Danny girl yells, garnering the attention of everyone.
Delivering his speech, Robert said they had all contributed to the successs of the company as they all collaborated to take care of the company like their own child. Daniela seemed unhappy to hear that. As people applaud Mr Mondragon for his powerful speech, Daniela made her way to her father still holding the glass of wine. Romina wondered what was going through Daniela’s head.
“Congratulations, congratulations dad,” Daniela mocks, dragging her smiling father away. “…to your favorite child.”
Daniela then addresses those present, saying that her father cares more about the company than his own daughter. Thinking she’s drunk, Robert grabs her and tells her to stop and Romina comes along and offers to help her sober up. Romina tries to hold Daniela’s hand but she shrugs her off.
“Let me go. Don’t touch me! Get your filthy hands off of me!” Daniela yells as Romina follows her.
Romina says she has already informed her driver to pick her up.
Daniela told her to shut up. She slaps her and pours the wine on her; “You are nothing but a cheap gold digger. Did you bewitch him?”
Romina looks agitated. She slãps Daniela back, surprising her. “You can belittle me all you want, but I would never allow you to insult my character.”
“How dare you!” Daniela yells, charging at her. She grabs Romina’s hair and starts to pull it.
Robert saw the awful scene and tried to seperate them, while calling on his daughter to stop. Daniela cries, claiming that Romina åttaçked her first but Robert brushes it off. He tells Daniela that he knows her and if she can’t respect his employees, then she has no business there.
“Apologise,” Robert says but Daniela just stares back at him defiantly. “I said…apologise.”
Daniela then says sorry, and dashes off in disbelief. Carlos sits outside waiting for Romina. Daniela comes crying, asking a servant to get her car. Carlos sees her and asks if Romina is in there. Daniela hugs him and says that he has to get her out of there. Her car arrives and Carlos, who notices that she’s drunk, reluctantly agrees to drive her after she emotionally blackmails him and threatens to drive herself in her drunken state.
After cleaning up, Robert who had been waiting for Romina, apologises for his daughter’s behavior. Romina accepts the apology and encourages Mr Mondragon to get back to the party because she is heading home but Robert convinces her to stay. Carlos sent Daniela home, and she dragged him straight to her bedroom and locked the door.
Daniela throws herself at Carlos, asking why he left her for Romina when they had so much fun together. Carlos says that she was the one who dumped him and Daniela accuses him of not fighting for their lövê. Carlos says they were children then.
“You are the only man I have ever lōvêd. It’s just you. It’s always been you,” Daniela says.
“That’s the problem,” Carlos replies. “You lövê me too much and I couldn’t lövê you the way you wanted.”
“You don’t need to. You just have to accept it.”
Daniela forces herself on him, ki$$ing him several times but Carlos rejects her and stops her, telling her that he and Romina are getting married.
“But you aren’t married yet. Carlos, I lövê you more than Romina does.”
“I lövê Romina more,” Carlos shôòts back.
Daniela stares at him, speechless. Carlos says he’s sorry. He then walks out. After the party, Robert assures Romina that he would not allow Daniela to treat her that way ever again. He says after the dëāth of Camilla (his wife), he had tried to reach out to her but she had created an impenetrable wall around her. Robert adds that now he has realised that he did not know his own daughter.
Romina says she understands him. She tells him that he and his daughter have each other to depend on and that they are still family and nothing could change that. Robert smiles and promises to work out their differences as soon as possible.
“I never thought that you’d be so important to me,” Robert says and Romina laughs at that. “What a beautiful ring,” he adds, noticing the ring on her finger.
Romina explains that it is her engagement ring her boyfriend had given her and Robert looks on in amazement. The smile on his face disappears completely when she tells him that Carlos, her boyfriend had proposed to her.
“Are you leaving me?” Robert asks and Romina seems confused. “…when you get married,” he adds.
Romina says that they haven’t discussed it yet. Meanwhile, as Robert puts his hand on Romina’s shoulder, congratulating her, Daniela’s friend Savannah watches a few steps away, a mobile phone held in front of her, taking pictures of them. Something sinister and diabolic this way comes. Read Episode 2 Update
