Chapter Four

James’s Point of View

Before the Wedding Day

Tok* Tok*

“ Come in” 

“ Sir, there is someone looking for you in the lobby” my secretary.

 I am in the middle of recording the newset song that i compose. For the most popular P-pop group.

“ Sabihin mo, busy ako i have no time para makipag kita sa kanya. Sabihin mo rin na mag pa appointment muna siya bago siya pumunta. “ sabi ko, pero hindi pa rin siya umaalis. 

“ What else?” I ask.

“ Ang sabi po kasi niya na if you refuse to see her, I need to tell younger name” he said, 

“ Her? Bakit ano ba pangalan niya?” I ask.

“ Her Name  is Amelia Alcantara and she knows that you are the one who is eager to meet her” he said.

Pagkarinig ko ng pangalan na yon, parang tumigil ang ikot ng mundo. I quickly end the recoding and tell the artist that we will be having a second session tomorrow. 

Tumayo ako agad sa upuan, hindi ko a pinatapos po ang sasabihin ng secretary ko. I immediately raise from my seat, bumaba ng recording studio to meet this woman. 

As soon as I came down to the lobby, my eyes search for her. Then a woman turn her back on me sitting on a  nearby window sipping coffee.

Naglakad ako g mabilis towards her, hindi nag alinlangan tumayo sa harapan niya. I am looking at her very intensely, I’ve been trying to find this woman for almost 5 years.

She have what I want. Kaya gnun ko siya hanapin. She is the only key for the mystery I have been trying to look for. The answer to all. 

“ Mr. Ramirez, why don’t you take a sit down, Kesa tumayo ka jan na parang gustong mangain ng tao. People are looking at us right know. People will think that the Billionaire himself is trying to bully an old woman in public. With your eyes looking so intensely at me” she said, without even looking at me. Her eyes are only looking to her cup of coffee that she puts down.

I take a deep breath before taking a sit infront of her. Pagkaupo ko she then raise her head. Look at me also. Nakikita ko ang pagtingin niya sa buong mukha ko. Like she is examining my well being. 

“ Hindi ko akalain na lalaki ka ng ganyan. The youngest billionaire of his generating, Taking the Music Industry into your hands. A famous writer and composer of a such big artist. Starting his own Music records without even asking for his daddy’s help. I may say. Very impressive.

Amelia Alcantara a well known black organization member, but people doesn’t know that. People see her as a very successful business woman, having a very successful real estate company. She is well known  for being an independent woman who can have a successful career without havig a man by her side. Sa pagkakaalam ko she has no husband nor a daughter./son that she is completely loner in this life time. 

“ For the past 5 years, napakahirap mong makausap. I have done many ways para lang makipag kita sayo.  Now when i take a step back, here you are on my company looking for me. Looks like hindi lang ako ang may kailangan this time. Looks like I have something that you want” I said, umaayos ako ng upo, those 5 years she ignore me really hurts my pride. Now, maybe i can take my pride back .

 She smiles, take her cup and take another sip. 

“ And I know, I also have something you want. Those 5 years of you looking for me takes a lot of effort on your side. Maybe i have something that is very important for you na kahit maghabol ka ng parang aso ay gagawin mo para lang makuha to” she said. 

People are right about this woman, she really is like a tiger na kahit nasa lugar na siya ng ibang tao ay malakas pa rin ang loob . 

Ngumiti ako ng pilit. I can’t win with this woman.

“ So,  What can i do for you Ms. Amelia Alcantara” I said, putting my hands together. Position myself to listen kung ano ang gusto niyang sabihin. 

“ I want you to marry someone” she said. Napakunot ang noo.

“Marry someone? Haha that’s weird. Akala ko naman connection o yaman ko ang habol mo. Yun pala ako mismo. I am sorry Ms Alcantara, I am not for sale” I said, akmang tatayo na sana 

“ Jennica Anne Ramirez, a late wife of Jake Ramirez born on May 7, 1967. A famous singer/Artist.  Died 17 years ago, by the media’s report she died of sui—-” I cut her off. Bumalik ako sa kanya ang put tmy fingers across her face

“ You shut the fuck Up!! She didn’t take her own life. Someone Murdered her!” I whisper angrily to her looking at her eyes with intently of anger

She smiled agaim, she softly tinuro ang upuan para pa upuin ako. 

“ Alam kong you have been looking for evidence of what happen to your mother, at may nakapagsabi sayo na there is a black organization where a high end members ang nagpapatakbo nito. Then you came  across sa akin na kung saan I specialized information that no one can get but only me. A dirty secret of politicians, dirty secrets of a famous/rich people kayang kaya ko makuha yun pa kayang information na meron patungkol sa nanay mo”

She si right, hinahanap ko siya dahil dito, Dumaan ako sa butas ng karayom magkaroon lang ng access sa mga taong nasa black organization. Nagpursigi akog maging ganito kung ano ko ngayon. Para mapansin ng mga member ng black organization.

But when that happen, hindi ko pa rin makuha ang gusto ko. Yun ay ang makausap siya.

“ Since we are both business man/ woman why don't we make a deal. Na kung saan both sides ay may makukuha na gusto nila” she said. 

“ what do you have in mind” 

“ You marry someone, I want you to marry. Treat her with respect, loyalty and if you can fall in love with her. Simple as that” she said. 

“ Someone? You are not talking about you right? Hindi ako pumapatol sa matanda. Sa pagkakaalam ko wala ka naman anak. For you suggest and Arrange Marriage”   I said.

“ Malalaman mo sa mismong kasal kung sino ito.Then when you are married and I am satisfied with your performance, I will give you the things you want. Walang labis walang kulang. DO we have a deal Mr. Ramirez” 

She raises her hand for a handshake. 

Marrying someone I don't know? Hindi naman siguro magiging masama yon. But I can do everything para malinis ang pangalan ng Mother ko. 

Tinanggap ko ang handshake niya. 

“ Good. See you tomorrow for the wedding. My secretary will tell you the place. Kung saan gaganapin ang kasal” 

“ What!? Tomorrow? Sobrang bilis naman ata” sabi ko

“ oh come on Mr. Ramirez I am way ahead of you people. Akala mo ba hindi ko alam na your father is having a engagement party para sayo with some girl came from a wealthy family”  sabi niya.

“ How did you know about that?”

“I have a reputation Mr. Ramirez and I take that reputation like a gold. Why don’t you take your family  for the wedding para mas masaya. Magkagulatan ang lahat”  

Hindi na ako nakapag salita pa, dahil umalis na siya sa harapan ko. With her bodyguards lumabas na siya g buong building.

Me and my father have a feud, Kaya hindi kami magkakasundo nito. He wants me to marry some chick na anak ng isang investor niya. 

Maybe she’s right, dadalhin ko siya kasama ang mistress niya. Since it’s the wedding of his only Son.