Chapter 5

PAGPASOK namin sa restaurant, lahat ng mata agad ay napako sa amin. At hindi dahil sa akin, ha. Si Damon. Parang siya ang hari sa buong lugar, kahit walang effort na binibigay. Just one look, and people scrambled to make room for him, even the owner came rushing over to greet him.

Sinubukan kong hindi mapansin 'yon, pero mahirap. Dahil as much as I hated it, the man had a certain pull. He commanded attention without lifting a finger, and everyone around him seemed to bend to his will. Sabi ko nga, siya 'yung tipo ng tao na hindi kailangang magsalita, pero sa isang galaw lang, nasusunod ang lahat ng tao.

Kahit ako, I found it hard not to be affected by it.

Pagdating namin sa reserved table, hindi ko napigilang magtaka. Bakit ako nandito? Anong role ko sa lahat ng ito? Hindi ko naman kilala ang mga taong nandito. I was just supposed to be a contract wife, an accessory to this man's life. Wala akong dapat pakialaman sa negosyo niya, diba?

Pero that's where I was wrong.

Dahil nung umupo kami sa table, all eyes were on us. At dahil si Damon, hindi ako pinansin. Hindi niya ako tinanong kung gusto ko ng order o kung anong kailangan ko. Sinimulan niya lang agad ang meeting. He barely acknowledged me, but I didn't mind. Not at first.

"Gentlemen," he began, ang tono niya, parang laging may business transaction na inaalala. "Let's get this over with."

I sat there, trying to look interested. Pero deep down, I was annoyed. Hindi ba't ako ang asawa niya? Why wasn't I included in this conversation? Bakit ako nandiyan kung hindi man lang ako bibigyan ng space para makipag-usap?

I stayed quiet, trying to stay composed, kahit na parang ang layo ko sa conversation. At lahat ng pinag-uusapan nila, tungkol sa deals, investments, and future plans-mga bagay na wala akong alam.

Hindi ko rin talaga matanggal sa isip ko ang tanong ko sa sarili: Why did he bring me here? Para lang magmukhang perfect ang image niya sa business world? Para lang may pakitang asawa sa harap ng mga tao?

"Leah," sabi ni Damon bigla, na parang napansin na yata akong nalulunod sa kalagitnaan ng meeting. Tumango siya at ngumiti ng konti, na para bang may inaasahan siyang response mula sa akin.

Huwag kang magkamali. I knew this was a test. Isa na namang manipulation para ipakita na bahagi ako ng picture perfect family niya.

I forced a smile, kahit na hindi ko pa rin alam ang mga pinaguusapan nila. "Yes?" ang sagot ko, halatang hindi ako sanay sa environment na 'to.

He turned to the men across the table, then back to me. "Tell them about your thoughts on the expansion plan. You've been quiet for too long."

What? Hindi ako ready! Alam ko na he wanted me to act the part, pero business talk? Gano'n-ganon na lang?

I took a deep breath. It's not like I had a choice. I could either sink or swim. I wasn't about to embarrass myself-lalo na't kasama ko siya, at hindi ko kayang magmukhang bobo sa harap ng mga tao.

With a slight tilt of my head, I spoke up, pretending to sound more confident than I felt. "I think expanding the market base is a good idea. Pero kailangan pa nating ayusin ang infrastructure para magka-balance yung demand at supply. That way, we won't end up overextending resources."

I tried to sound professional, but even I could tell I was fumbling. Hindi ko alam kung paano ang mga technicalities na 'yon, pero gusto ko lang magmukhang may alam-kahit hindi ko pa talaga naiintindihan ng buong-buo.

I looked at Damon for any signs of approval, pero hindi ko siya maintindihan. His face was expressionless, like always. Was he impressed? Or was he just trying to test me again?

"Very good," sabi niya. Hindi ko alam kung sarcastic o sincere.

But it was enough to make me feel a little better.

NANG matapos ang presentation at after ng meeting na 'yon, I tried my best to keep myself composed, kahit na naguguluhan ako sa kung anong nangyayari. Lahat ng tao umalis na, but Damon remained seated, still staring at his laptop. His posture was stiff, his eyes focused, but I couldn't ignore the tension in the room.

I wanted to leave. Magtago sa isang corner. Pero he was still there, still... present. His presence lingered like an oppressive force, making it hard to breathe freely. At ako, hindi ko pa rin siya maintindihan. Bakit ako andito? Bakit niya ako pinapapaniwala na may papel ako sa mga bagay-bagay na wala akong alam?

Damon closed his laptop and finally stood up, signaling it was over. "Let's go," he said simply, his voice still cold and commanding.

I followed him as we made our way out of the private room. Para bang may invisible chain na kumakatawan sa pagkakalagak ko sa sitwasyong ito. I wasn't even sure if I should speak to him, if I should try to strike up a conversation or just stay quiet like always.

Pagdating namin sa parking lot, my stomach churned. I couldn't help but ask, "Damon... do you really need me in those meetings?" His eyes flicked to mine before focusing back on the road.

"You're my wife, Leah. That's your role," he answered curtly, as if that explained everything.

"But... I don't know anything about your business!" I snapped, surprising myself. I didn't want to show my frustration, but the words had already left my mouth.

He didn't respond right away, and for a moment, I thought he hadn't heard me. But then, his gaze turned to me, piercing, unreadable.

"You'll learn," he said simply, almost dismissively. "Eventually, I'll need you to handle things for me."

Handle things for him? For a moment, I couldn't quite process what he meant. Was this about something beyond just appearances? Ang hirap i-figure out ni Damon, because one minute he's cold, then the next, he's giving me responsibilities I don't fully understand.

I sighed, rubbing my temples. "I don't know how to handle this," I muttered to myself, more to alleviate my frustration than expecting a response.

Surprisingly, he didn't snap at me, which I had expected. Instead, he glanced at me briefly, his jaw tight. "Then learn, Leah." The command in his tone was like a slap, but it also had an edge of... something else. Was it concern? Or was he just being his usual self-distant and authoritative?

We both fell into silence again as we drove back to the mansion. I stared out of the window, trying to figure out how I ended up here, how this marriage that wasn't even my choice had become more complicated than I'd ever imagined.

When we arrived, I didn't know if I should just head to my room and call it a day or try to have a conversation with Damon. Hindi ko alam kung anong gusto ko. I was angry, confused, and yet, there was still a part of me that wanted to understand him more.

But I knew one thing for sure-my role in this marriage wasn't as simple as being a wife. He needed more from me, something I couldn't even fully grasp yet. And the worst part? I had no choice but to comply.

"I'll be in my office," Damon said as we entered the house. "Make sure to get some rest."

I nodded, watching as he walked away with his usual air of authority. His back was straight, his stride confident-always in control. He was a man who never lost his composure. What about me?

I let out a frustrated sigh and headed for the kitchen, unsure of what to do next. I was torn between wanting to prove myself to him and knowing that there were some things I could never change about this arrangement.

"Leah," a voice startled me. I turned around to see Maria, one of the housemaids, standing there with a tray of food. "Dinner is served. The master wants you to eat before you rest."

I nodded, but I felt my stomach turn. I didn't want to eat. I didn't want anything that reminded me of this strange, foreign life I was now living. Pero nandiyan na eh. Kailangan ko na lang magpatuloy.

After a moment, I turned and followed Maria to the dining room, the feeling of loneliness creeping over me again. I hadn't even realized that I was already deeply embedded in Damon's world, and I didn't know how to escape anymore.