CHAPTER 5

Chapter 5

ELIZABETH went home with her son that evening. She hired maids and bodyguards after she left Greg’s house. She can’t let Greg get near to her son anymore. Alam niyang malaki ang utang na loob niya dito pero ngayong alam na niyang hawak nito ang kaso ng kanyang ama, kailangan niya muna itong layuan. 

Kahit na hindi sila gaanong ka close ng kanyang ama ay ama pa rin niya ito. Hindi niya ito kayang ilaglag. 

“Mommy, papa Greg is outside. I think he wants to talk with you.” Sabi ng kanyang anak habang kumakain sila ng almusal. 

Greg is handling the case of her father’s illegal doings. Greg is an international attorney. Ang hindi niya maintindihan ay kung bakit tinanggap niya ang kasong iyon knowing that they’re friends. She trusted him. Ni hindi man lang ito nagpaliwanag kung bakit nito tinanggap ang kaso. 

“I’ll talk to him, baby, but not now. Your papa Greg did something bad to me.” Sagot niya dito. As much as possible, she wants to be transparent and honest to her son. 

Her son just nodded like he understands her reason. She smiled and finished their meal. Niligpit niya ang kinainan nila at nagbilin sa mga maids nila na bantayan at linisin ang bahay. 

“Baby, I have to go now. Mommy has important things to do at work.” Paalam niya sa anak at masuyong hinalikan ang pisngi nito. “If you want anything, just ask our maids or call me. Okay?” Malambing niyang bilin sa anak. 

Nang makalabas siya ay pasimple niyang binilinan ang bodyguards na nakabantay lang sa labas. “Make sure to guard my son. Don’t let anyone enter this house without my permission. Not even my Dad and Greg. Understood?” 

The guards straightened their backs and slightly bowed their heads. “Yes, Ma’am!” 

She gave them a serious and deadly glare. “If anything happens to my son, kayong lahat ang malalagot.” Banta niya bago lumabas. 

Sa hindi kalayuan ay kitang-kita niya ang sasakyan ni Greg na naghihintay sa labas ng gate nila. She almost forgot, naiwan niya pala ang sasakyan niya sa kompanya niya. This is Alaisters fault!

Humugot siya ng malalim na hininga bago tuluyang lumabas sa gate. Kaagad namang sumalubong sa kanya si Greg. Akmang babatiin siya nito ng halik nang bigla siyang umatras.

“I told you I don’t wanna see your face, bakit ka andito? Are you testing my patience?” Pigil na inis na aniya dito. 

Greg gave him an apologetic look before trying to reach for her hands pero iniwas niya iyon. 

“Eli…” tawag nito sa kanya at hinintay niyang magsalita ito pero nanatiling tahimik at nakatitig lang ito sa kanya. 

Elizabeth scoffed and walked away from him. 

“Elizabeth! Please…” 

Hindi niya ito nilingon at patuloy na naglakad. 

“I’m doing this for your sake,” dugtong nito na nagpalingon sa kanya. She raised an eyebrow and faced him, crossing her arms around her chest.

“By ruining my family’s image and legacy? You must be insane, Greg. I thought I could trust you. Pero bakit? You know that by taking that case could be our downfall. Bakit mo hahalungkatin pa ang matagal ng nakabaon? For what, Greg?” She’s close to burst up in tears, not because of him taking the case but because of betrayal. 

Wala namang kaso sa kanya kung ibang attorney pa ang kumuha o humalungkat ng kaso ng kanyang ama, but her friend? The only friend she has and trusted?  

She took a deep breath. “I’m not cutting you off as a friend, Greg, but please, give me some time to understand you…of why are you doing this.” 

“Eli, I promise I’ll explain but please bear with me for now. I’m trying my best to help you out.” Tanging sabi nito at may idudugtong pa sana ito nang may biglang bumusina sa kanilang likuran.

Napaigtad si Eli sa lakas ng busina kaya inis niyang nilingon ang sasakyan. Seconds passed, a familiar built stepped out from the car. Wearing a blue polo shirt paired with tailored charcoal wool trousers and a black italian leather oxfords is none other than Alaister. Sinadya pang hindi ibutones ang polo nito.  He looks so expensive and hot. 

Ipinilig ni Eli ang ulo at tiningnan ng masama ang lalaking palapit sa kanya. As much as she wants to escape from a confrontation with Greg, being with Alaister would also be a pain in the head for her. 

Nagulat nalang siya nang bigla siyang hinalikan ni Alaister sa pisngi. 

“Good Morning, Eli.” Bati ng loko sa kanya na may mga ngiti sa labi. 

“Anong ginagawa mo dito?” Nagngingitngit na tanong niya. Dumadagdag lang ito sa mga problema niya. 

“I’m here to drive you to work, am I amazing?” Hindi alam ni Eli kung anong hinithit ng lalaki at parang nasisiyahan pa itong makita siya. 

“I thought we already talked about this, Alaister? Hindi ka ba makaintindi?” Inis niyang asik dito but Alaister’s gaze went to Greg. She saw how his jaw clenched. Gone with the playful glint in his eyes. 

Eli sighed as the two men in front of her are staring or should she say, glaring like they’re in a contest. 

Left with no choice, she grabbed Alaister’s arms and guided him towards his car. 

“I’ll come with you, let’s go.” 

ALAISTER IS glaring at the road as if the road did something horrible to him. They’re on their way to her company at walang ni isa sa kanila ang bumasag sa katahimikan not until they got stuck into the traffic.

“I thought I made things clear with you?” Elizabeth started. “I told you we can’t go back to what we were before, Alaister.” Ilang bese ba niyang dapat ulit-ulitin para lang maintindihan ng lalaki na hinding-hindi na nila maibabalik ang nakaraan. 

Alaister shut his eyes for a moment before looking at her. 

“You lied,” turan nito nag nagpasalubong sa kanyang kilay. She gave him a confused look. 

“You’re not dating Atty. Alvarez, or anyone?” Dugtong nito na nagpairap sa kanya.

“I never said I’m dating him. You assumed and that’s your problem.” Ibinaling niya ang tingin sa labas at hiniling na pabilisin ang oras.

“Then I have the right to claim you, again."