Ang Unang Gabi sa Mansion

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*Chapter 2:

Ang Unang Gabi Sa Mansion*

Hindi makapaniwala si Elara na nasa loob siya ng Range Rover ni Draven.

"Don't touch anything. Marumi yang kamay mo from tomatoes," malamig na sabi ni Draven habang nagda-drive.

"Excuse me? Hindi marumi kamay ko, Sir! Naghugas ako!" inis na sagot ni Elara.

Draven glanced at her, from her sweaty shirt to her lips. "From now on, don't call me Sir. Call me husband. Or Draven. Naintindihan mo, wife?"

Elara blushed. "Hindi pa tayo kasal ah!"

"We will be tomorrow. 8 AM. City Hall. My lawyer already prepared everything."

"Ang bilis naman! Paano nanay ko?"

"Your mother is already in St. Elizabeth Hospital. Private room. Paid. So stop worrying and start obeying, Mrs. Valiente."

Elara tahimik na lang. This man hears everything pala, parang si Vincent sa story ni Kate! He knows everything.

After 20 minutes, they arrived in Lagao. Isang malaking mansion ang bumungad — white, modern, parang sa N*****x! May fountain pa sa gitna!

"Wow..." Elara gasped. "Bahay mo to lahat?"

"Our house. From now on. Let's go," Draven opened the door for her, but his face was still cold.

Inside, ang lamig ng aircon. Ang laki ng sala. May maid na nakatayo.

"Manang, this is Elara. My wife. From tomorrow," Draven said.

Manang smiled, "Welcome Ma'am Elara! Ang ganda mo naman!"

"Salamat po," nahihiyang sagot ni Elara, still holding her small bayong of tomatoes. Dinala pa niya kasi sayang.

Draven saw it. "Why did you bring tomatoes?"

"Sayang po kasi... pwede pa ulam."

Draven almost smiled, but he hid it. "You don't need to sell tomatoes anymore. You are a billionaire's wife now."

He led her upstairs to a huge bedroom. Isang bed lang, super king size.

"Isa lang bed?" Elara's eyes widened. "Saan ako matutulog?"

"With me," Draven said casually, removing his watch. "Contract says you will sleep beside me every night. That's part of the deal."

"Pero— pero hindi pa tayo—"

"I said I won't touch you unless you want me to. I'm a virgin, Elara. Hindi ako katulad ng ibang lalaki na iniisip mo. I waited 34 years. I can wait for you too."

Elara was shocked. Virgin? This Greek God billionaire is a virgin? Parang si Vincent!

"But why me? Maraming magandang babae sa GenSan na mas bagay sa'yo."

Draven walked closer to her. Hinawakan niya ang baba ni Elara, tinaas ang mukha niya para mag-eye contact sila.

"Because you didn't look at my money. You looked at me with anger. All women look at me with lust or greed. Ikaw lang ang nagsabi na makapal ako. That's... new."

Elara's heart beat so fast. Ang lapit ng mukha niya! Amoy na amoy niya ulit pabango ni Draven.

"Maligo ka. May dress na sa bathroom for you. Then baba ka for dinner. 7 PM sharp. I don't like late wife."

Dinner time. Elara came down wearing a simple pink dress that Draven prepared. Sobrang ganda niya, simple but elegant. Her hair was still wet.

Draven was already sitting at the long dining table, wearing a black shirt. When he saw her, he stopped eating.

"You look... beautiful," he said softly, his cold eyes now warm.

"Thank you," Elara whispered, sitting opposite him.

"No. Sit here. Beside me. Wife should sit beside husband."

So Elara moved beside him. Sobrang lapit nila. Draven served her food himself — steak, rice, vegetables. Parang si Vincent na super caring kay Kate!

"Kumain ka marami. Payat ka masyado from selling tomatoes under the sun," he said.

Habang kumakain, biglang tumunog phone ni Elara. Si Jonas, yung kaibigan niya sa palengke.

Draven heard it. His jaw clenched.

"Who's Jonas?" malamig na tanong niya.

"Kaibigan ko sa palengke—"

"Don't answer. From now on, no other men will call you. Akin ka lang, remember? Rule number one."

Elara looked at him, "Seloso ka pala! Contract lang to ah!"

"Contract or not, you are my wife. And I don't share what's mine," Draven said, then he took her phone and turned it off. "Even if it's just a contract, Elara, for one year, puso mo, katawan mo, at atensyon mo — akin lang."

Elara wanted to be angry, pero kinilig siya. Parang si Vincent talaga!

Later that night, they were in bed. Malayo si Elara sa edge, Draven sa other edge. May unan sa gitna.

"Good night, husband," bulong ni Elara, nanginginig kasi first time niya matulog katabi ng lalaki.

Draven turned off the light. In the dark, he said, "Good night, my wife."

Then after a few minutes, he removed the pillow between them and pulled her gently closer. Hindi niya siya hinalikan, he just hugged her from behind, his chest against her back.

"Don't worry, I won't touch you... I just want to hold you. My wife," he whispered.

And Elara, despite being scared, felt safe for the first time. The billionaire's arms were warm, possessive, and like home.

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