Chapter 2

Napapailing siya  while she hurried out. But those gray eyes bothered her at may naramdaman siya ng kaba at kaunting takot. Piniling niya ang ulo trying to shake her negative thoughts. It cannot be. Madiin nyang sambit sa isip.

Dumaan muna siya  isang Starbucks at one of the commercial spaces of the building to buy a cold drink. She’s so screwed today. Wala siya ng sasakyan at coding ang sasakyan nya. 

She booked a Grab and waited. Tumayo siya  para kunin ang kanyang order pero sa halip na inumin she rested her cheek on it. 

She can’t show up na may namamagang pisngi. Alam nyang pinag titinginan siya  ng ibang mga tao sa cafe but she did not care. She was G. Gabriel, afterall. Best-selling novelist with millions of her novels sold and translated into different languages. She did not work to get contracts signed. Production studios chased after her to tie her stories in. 

No one dared put their hand on her kaya hindi niya lubos akalain that Lisa would slap her. She kept the cold drink to her face and kept adding to the tissue as it soaked up the condensation. She stood up once her ride notified her that it was close. She walked briskly to the gate and patiently waited. 

“MATT!” LISA CRIED and skirted around Matt’s bodyguard para makalapit dito. 

Hindi pa ito lubusang nakalapit when Matt put up his hand to stop Lisa from going even nearer. 

Matthew Wilson, owner of a chain of luxury hotels around the world. He came down to the studio for the official signing supposedly of  Lisa Samuel as the new face of his casino. Lisa just turned 21, came with new fame and money. The best representative of their target market, they want the young ones and their money to their casino and clubs, stripping off the stereotype that casinos are for the retirees. They were not aiming for her fans but rather for youth like her. 

Disappointment crossed Matt’s face. Tiningnanniya ang pisngi ni Lisa. It was no good for any press conference today. 

Footsteps can be heard approaching them and breathing as if trying to catch her breath. 

“Cancel the press conference,” Matt said coldly as the footsteps just stopped behind him. 

“Boss?” nagtataka namang sagot ni Melissa. She was Matt’s trusty secretary. Her feet hurt in her Manolo Blahnik’s as she ran around to catch up with her boss. Clad in a conservative but tasty Max Mara black blazer and pants. She was expected to dress her best as Matt’s secretary. Mahihiya ang ordinaryong empleyado sa laki ng clothing allowance na binibigay ng company. “Boss, do you want me to move it to another date?” 

“No, cancel it,” Matt clarified but was looking at Lisa’s Manager. 

“Mr. Wilson -- Sir,” agad na react ni Kathy to what Matt said. “We will apologize to Miss G. Sir, it was just a misunderstanding.” 

“I don’t want an endorser that will hit someone just because she misunderstands,” sagot ni Matt. And to Melissa, “Clean it up.” 

“Yes, sir,” Agad naman na sagot ng kanyang secretary. 

Matt turned and walked off. 

Sumunod naman ang driver/ bodyguard nito at si Melissa. Melissa turned back and signaled that she will call to Kathy. 

Napapabuntung-hinanga naman si Kathy na tumango. 

“Ate Kath, does it mean na hindi na ako ang endorser?” sunud-sunod ang patak ng luha ni Lisa. 

 “Diyos ko kasi Lisa bakit mo naman kasi pagbubuhatan ng kamay si Miss G?” Nanggigil na tanong ni Kathy sa alagang bumalik sa pagkatulala.

“BOSS, WE STILL NEED someone on the cover of the Hotel’s Magazine,” paalala naman ni Melissa kay Matt. 

“Call Lexie,” utos ni Matt dito. Referring to Alexandra Valdez- Montenegro, ang may bahay ng kaibigan ni Matt na si Lucas Montenegro.

“For a casino, boss? Hindi po papayag si Miss Lexie.” 

“No, bring the resort shoot with Leon forward.” Tukoy naman ni Matt sa panganay na anak ni Lucas at Lexie na si Leon.

“Boss, hindi papayag si Doc Lucas that I will drag her wife and kids to Maldives nang ganun na lang.” Leon was now five years old at two years old naman ang kambal ng mag-asawa.

Napabuga nang naiinis na buntung hininga si Matt. His secretary used to cower when talking to him. “Melissa!” 

“Boss, natatakot kasi kay Doc Lucas.” paliwanag naman nito agad. Lexie’s schedules all went through Jewel - Lucas’ secretary and anything na dumadaan kay Jewel passed through the eagle eyes of Lucas kung hindi man isumbong agad ni Jewel dito. 

Matt stopped in front of the entrance. His driver rounded to the driver’s seat, hindi naman agad pumasok ng sasakyan si Matt. “I’ll make the call.” 

“Thank you, Boss,” malapad na napangiti si Melissa. She even opened the car door for Matt. 

Matt was about to step into the car when he turned to Melissa again. He raised a finger, 

“I’ll have the endorsement contract canceled. All travel arrangements for Miss Lexie and her kids arranged in two days,” inunahan na agad ni Melissa si Matt. 

“Good, but I was not about to say that,” Matt looked at what Melissa was wearing,” Stop shopping for sale items at Nordstrom.” sabi nito and entered the vehicle. Matt smiled when he closed his door -- Takot pala kay Lucas pero hindi sa kanya ha.

THE CAR WAS EXITING the gate when Matt spotted Gabby on the sidewalk. She had a cold drink to one of her cheeks at panaka-naka ang tingin sa cellphone nito. 

“Romy, ihinto mo,” he said and pointed to where Gabby was standing. 

It has been awhile - four years since he split with Jessica, and he was never genuinely interested in someone since. But he was never without a date or nawalan nang kahit na sino connected to him. But there was something about the writer he was very curious about. 

Romy rolled the car to a stop and Matt rolled the window down. 

“Hi, do you need a ride?” He looked up to her and he saw the shock and fear cross her eyes briefly.

“No. But Thanks.” Gabby curtly answered. She put down the drink na dinidikit niya sa pisngi ang lightly tapped dry her moist cheek.

“Where are you going?” Tanong pa ni Matt ulit. His eyes briefly moved to her cheek and he was somewhat relieved it was not as bad as Lisa’s face. He quickly scanned her features. Mestiza, he smiled inwardly, his favorite. Probably Fil-American with what looked like natural dark brown hair, a prominent nose, and full pinkish lips. There was also a splattering of some freckles on her cheeks and nose. Adorable. 

Gabby frowned and closed her eyes briefly calming herself. She can’t believe she was approached in late afternoon by what she suspected was one of those young, rich businessmen who kept actresses for their bed games. And that face!

“I can give you a lift,” Matt added. 

“Mister, if your expensive watch,” Gabby looked at the time piece on his wrist,”is not working, it’s only 4 pm, parang masiyado pang maaga para mag umpisa ang trabaho nang hinahanap mo. And for the record I am not one of them.” 

Matt can’t help laughing. “I have not even introduced myself yet,” he said and opened the door meaning to go out and properly charm her. 

Napaatras naman si Gabby and looked at her phone. She raised her hand to a Grab car that finally came to pick her up. 

“Pervert,” malakas nyang sinabi before she left and got inside the car. 

Matt followed her with his eyes until she got inside the car, bumalik din ito sa sasakyan agad. 

“Romy, follow that car,” utos ni Matt sa driver. 

“Sir?” 

“Don’t let it get away.” 

Masunurin naman nitong sinunod ang sinabi ni Matt. They were tailing the grab car na sinakyan ni Gabby. Pero mag-iisang oras na at paikot-ikot lang sila. 

Matt sighed. He was sure she knew they were tailing. But he did not have enough time as he needed to go to the airport. But he still smiled, he likes it when women play a little hard to get. 

“Romy, let’s go to the airport now,” he ordered then took out his phone to call someone. 

“Nico,” bati ni Matt sa tinawagan as soon as the call connected. 

“Yes?” Nico answered. 

“I want you to check someone out for me.”

“Problem with your security? I did not get any from the team’s last report.” Nico said. Nico owned a security and intelligence company and he provided services to the richest of the rich. And Matt was one of his biggest clients, all of Matt’s hotels were secured by their systems and security forces.  

“Not really.” 

“Who is it?” 

“G. Gabriel.” 

“The novelist?” 

“How did you know?” 

“Ally reads her stuff.” 

“I want you to get me all her information.” 

“For?” 

“You have too many questions,” naiinis naman na balik ni Matt.

“We are invading her privacy. I want to know what for.” 

“I want her in my bed. Satisfied?” sagot ni Matt. 

Nico laughed on the other line. 

Matt ended the call with a smile on his lips. 

NAPAHUGOT NG MALALIM NA HININGA si Gabby as soon as she was inside the vehicle. Her heart was still racing. Napahigop siya  sa hawak na inumin that melted already. It cannot be. She had an opportunity to look at that face longer at binalot ng takot ang puso nya. 

She looked and she saw the Black BMW Series 7 following a few cars back. It wasn’t exactly trying to secretly tail them. 

“Kuya,” tawagniya grab driver, “huwag nyo po muna akong ihatid agad. Pwede po tayong magpa-ikot-ikot muna? Dadagdagan ko po yung bayad.” She passed a few bills to the driver. 

“Sige po ma’am. Pero kailangan po muna natin dumaan doon pa rin sa destination nyo para ma mark ko na nadrop-off ko na kayo.”paliwanang ng grab driver. 

“Sige po, huwag lang po kayo hihinto.” 

Gabby chewed her lips carefully as her destination passed by. She took out her phone and quickly sent a message na malalate siya.   

Gusto niya nang maiyak nang halos isang oras na ay hindi pa rin sila tinatantannan ng sumusunod.

“Ma’am, gusto nyo po bang sa police station na lang tayo tumuloy?” tanong ng driver na sumilip din sa rear view mirror. 

“Pag po hindi pa tayo nilubayan, kuya. Isa pa pong ikot.” 

Tumango naman ito sa sinabi nya. 

Gabby turned around to check behind. She was relieved when the BMW finally turned on the next right turn. Finally, she was dropped off at her correct destination. She was an hour and thirty minutes late. 

She crossed without a problem at the gate. Lakad-takbo ang ginawa niya to the waiting area. 

“Mommy!” malakas na bati ng batang lalaki. The small boy jumped out of a small chair and rushed to her. 

Lumuhod naman siya  so they were eye-level. She spread her arms at sabik-na-sabik itong yumakap. 

“You’re late.” the little boy directly said. 

“Sorry, Baby.” she quickly said sorry and kissed his cheek. She picked him up and brought him to another small chair where a baby girl was sleeping with her head on the desk. She stroked her hair na naka takip sa mukha nito. Gabby smiled when she saw the drool on the paper. 

“Teacher Martha, I’m sorry I’m late. I had trouble at work.” Gabby apologized to the twins’ teacher na sinamahan ang mga ito while waiting for her. 

“No prob, Miss G.” nakangiti namang sagot ng guro. “Basta pa autograph ako.” 

Napangiti naman si Gabby. She sat in another chair and signed the books na inabot ng guro. 

Tinulungan na siya  ni Teacher Martha na ayusin ang mga gamit ng kambal. She gently wiped the drool from her Baby girl’s face at maingat na kinarga.  

“Chico, are you okay with walking?” tanong niya sa anak. Hindi niya na kayang kargahin ang dalawang anak. They were five years old already.

“Yes, mommy.” Chico looked up. 

Gabby tried to calm her heart. It was a kid version of the face that was looking up at her from his car’s window. 

“Mommy, what happened to your face?”Chico asked as he looked at her red cheeks. His gray eyes were worried.