3.

Santiago knocked on the door and entered his dad’s office when he heard a faint ‘come in.’ His dad was engrossed in looking over the documents in front of him on the table.

He walked closer to the table and sat down in front of his dad as he waited for him to state his reason for calling him.

Julian was still going over some papers when he spoke. “You asked for my presence.”

“Yes, I did.” Julian briefly looked up from arranging the files on his table. "There is a very important matter I want to discuss with you." He stacked the document on the side of his table, then entwined his fingers while looking straight at Santiago. "It's about your future,” Julian continued.

Santiago didn't need his father to spell the words out because he knew this talk all too well. It was too familiar.

"Dad—" Julian raised a finger to silence him.

"I don't have to keep going over this with you," he pointed between them. "We've gone through this over and over, and I think I am tired of saying the same thing." Julian sat straight, his shoulders squared. "You are probably tired of hearing it too."

"I don't want to get married," Santiago breathes out.

"Your mom would be glad about this."

Santiago glared at him.

"Don't bring Mum into this," Santiago warned, his voice sounding dangerously low.

Julian pointed at him. "Don't ever use that tone on me," icy cold eyes glared at him.

Santiago hunched back with his head hung low. "I'm sorry, Dad."

Julian leaned back and adjusted his tie. "I don't like how wayward you've become since..." He paused, and for a moment Santiago thought he saw a wash of regret in his eyes, then he cleared his throat and continued, "She wouldn't be happy with how you've turned out to be."

"I have been trying my best to cope."

"You're a man; you don't cope. You own up to things whether they get hard or not"

Silence filled the room briefly, then Santiago spoke.

"I've been managing your company for a few months now; that should give me credit."

"Credit? Like this is some high school project?" Julian scoffed, "This is your life. Your future and your responsibility. You need to handle it."

"I can very much handle my responsibility."

"Then you agree you need to get a wife."

“I handle the affairs of the company fairly and responsibly; I don’t need to marry a woman to be responsible,” he said in annoyance.

“A wife will make you more responsible. I experienced it when your mum was alive." He looked up at the ceiling, a small smile on his lips. "You'll never know what it feels like having someone who will love you for you till you have one."

"Well, I do have one who should love me as his own, but he doesn't care to do so," Santiago snapped.

Julian looked at him, his brows furrowed.

"You are getting married, Santiago, and that is final."

"I don't agree with you."

"Then when Director Chen comes to collect his dues, you shouldn't have a problem handling him?"

All the color drained from Santiago's face at the mention of Director Chen.

"Yes, I know all about your little secret." Julian patted a document he retrieved from his drawer. "I don't get how you could be so stupid to do that, but then again, you're not your brother." Julian looked like he was in pain. "He was always the bright one."

Santiago felt a sting in his heart; the tips of his fingers felt cold.

"If you don't comply with my terms, I will put the word out and expose what you did, and everything, everything you worked hard for, will go down the drain."

Santiago had no word to defend himself. His body still felt cold from this little revelation of his secret.

Daniel promised it would never resurface.

“I did everything you ever wanted, even when they were inconvenient. I did it to please you, to prove that I am not as worthless as you think I am,” Santiago said in a small voice, unable to express the mix of grief, pain, and fear he was feeling.

“I don’t think of you as that, son. I want you to be responsible."

“I manage the company well, and I didn’t need a woman to keep me in check,” Santiago argued.

Julian's face hardened. “You have two weeks to get yourself a wife, or I am pairing you up with a lady of my choosing.”

“Mum will be disappointed in you,” Santiago muttered bitterly.

“You have two weeks to make a decision,” Jullian said.

Santiago opened the door, got out, and slammed the door hard; the hinges would have given way for the door to fall off.

…

It’s been two days since his dad gave him a deadline to bring a wife home, and as much as he doesn’t want to take it seriously, he knows his dad well enough for that.

He is a man of his word and would make sure he goes ahead with all of his threats if he doesn’t take steps now.

Santiago had no plans to settle down with anyone now or in the near future. His ex-girlfriend taught him the hard way, and the few affairs he had didn’t raise any ray of hope for love.

He didn't want to meet with any girl who would be matched to him by his dad but would rather look for a girl who he can have a contract with, strictly business and nothing more.

He slowed down when he noticed the long line of cars waiting for the lights to turn green. A sigh left his lips; he rolled his eyes at how long it might take for the line to move.

If he had paid attention earlier and not let the threat of his dad distract him, then he would have avoided this and taken another route.

Santiago relaxed back on his chair as he thought about all the things that had been happening in his life lately.

The memory of his past flashed through his eyes, and he groaned, then banged his fist on the steering wheel but was glad that he didn’t hit the horn.

He thought of the argument he had with his dad about getting married and finally settling down. He groaned again at it and saw that the line was moving, soon he was able to get to where he could make a right turn.

He was thrown out of his reverie and had to hit the brakes quickly to prevent himself from hitting a young golden-haired lady who was crossing at that time.

Fear went through Santiago as he thought of what could have happened if he hadn’t hit the brakes on time.

He was about to get out of his car to check if she was okay, but she walked away from his car fast after glaring at him for five seconds.

Santiago wondered what he did wrong but shrugged it off because it wasn’t his business where she went. He continued his journey back home.