Chapter 4

CAEA'S POV

Nang magising ako, ilang segundo akong nakatitig sa puting kisame habang unti-unting bumabalik sa isip ko ang mga nangyari kagabi.

Ang pagtataksil. Ang sakit. Ang pakiramdam na parang dinudurog ang puso ko.

Bigla akong napabangon, ngunit agad ding napangiwi dahil sa matinding hilo.

“Damn…” mahinang bulong ko.

Napatingin ako sa paligid. Malinis at tahimik ang silid. Gray ang walls at black furniture. Simple, pero halatang mamahalin ang bawat gamit.

Dahan-dahan akong bumangon, ngunit napangiwi nang makaramdam ng kirot sa ibabang bahagi ng katawan ko. Napatingin ako sa sarili at napansing iba na ang damit na suot ko.

Pagkatapos, nakita ko ang bahid ng dugo sa puting kumot.

Nanlaki ang mga mata ko.

Biglang nagbalik sa isip ko ang mga alaala kagabi.

The wine. The stranger. His scent. At ang halikan naming dalawa.

“Oh, my God!”

“Did I really sleep with a stranger?”

Hindi ko lubos na maalala ang lahat ng nangyari pagkatapos naming umalis sa garden. Ang alam ko lang, kusang sumama ako sa kanya at hinayaan kong manaig ang emosyon ko.

Isang mahinang katok ang nagpabalik sa akin sa kasalukuyan.

“Miss Cara? Hinihintay na po kayo ni Sir Xander sa baba,” tawag ng isang maid.

“Sir Xander?”

“Opo. Nasa dining area na po siya.”

Xander? Parang pamilyar ang pangalan.

Pagkababa ko ng hagdan, nakita ko ang isang lalaking nakaupo sa mahabang mesa. Nakasuot siya ng simpleng itim na polo habang nagkakape at may binabasang dokumento sa tablet niya.

Nang iangat niya ang tingin, agad akong natigilan.

“You?”

Bahagya siyang ngumiti.

“Good morning, Cara. I see you still remember me.”

Hindi ako makapaniwala sa nakikita ko.

“Wait… Ikaw si Xander Valentino?”

“Last time I checked, yes.”

Napahawak ako sa sentido ko.

Ang lalaking nakasama ko kagabi ay si Xander Valentino pala—the powerful uncle ni Luis!

“Bakit hindi mo sinabi sa akin kung sino ka kagabi?”

Kalmado siyang sumandal sa upuan.

“You never asked.”

“I was drunk!”

“Not completely. You were still capable of flirting with me.”

Napairap ako.

“Can you stop bringing that up?”

“Why? You're the one who kept flirting with me last night. I was only responding to your advances.”

“You're unbelievable!”

“I'm just stating what happened, Cara. ”

Umupo ako sa tapat niya, hindi alam kung saan titingin. Hindi ko rin alam kung paano ako kikilos sa harap niya pagkatapos ng nangyari kagabi.

“By the way, there's something I didn't expect last night,” sabi niya.

“What?”

“I didn't expect you to be a virgin.”

Nanlaki ang mga mata ko.

“Excuse me?”

“You've been engaged to Luis for quite some time. I simply assumed you two were already intimate.”

“Your assumption was wrong.”

“Apparently.”

“Does that surprise you so much?”

“Let's just say it wasn't what I expected.”

“Can we stop talking about that?”

“Of course.” Itinuro nito ang pagkain sa mesa. “Have breakfast. You look like you need it.”

Wala talaga ako sa ganang kumain, pero kailangan ko siyang makausap.

“Actually, there's something I want to ask you."

Ibinaba niya ang tasa. “I'm listening.”

“I need your help. Villa Corporation is in serious trouble. We're facing financial difficulties, and I need someone who can help us recover."

“And why did you think of approaching me?”

“Because I know you have the resources and influence to save my family's company.”

“Why come to me when you're about to marry my nephew?”

Napayuko ako.

“Because I don't want to marry Luis anymore.”

Bahagya siyang nagtaas ng kilay.

“Are you sure?”

“He betrayed me, Xander. I caught him with my best friend.” Huminga ako nang malalim.

“May nakatakda kaming corporate gala sa Prime Suite Hotel. Doon pormal na iaanunsiyo ang merger between Villa Group and Valentino Corporation sa harap ng business partners and investors.”

“So, your families are planning a merger?”

Tumango ako. “Yes. Bahagi rin ng kasunduan ang engagement namin ni Luis. Our marriage is supposed to symbolize the unity of our two families and companies. Kapag umatras ako ngayon, maaaring bumagsak ang company ni Dad.”

“Quite a complicated situation.”

“That's why I'm asking for your help. I want you to save Villa Corporation without forcing me to marry Luis.”

Bahagya siyang natawa.

“You want me to rescue your company, protect your family's interests, and help you get out of your engagement. That's quite a long list for one breakfast conversation.”

“I'm serious, Xander.”

“So am I, sweetheart.”

Napabuntong-hininga ako.

“I'm a businessman, Cara. I don't make deals out of sympathy. Every agreement has to make sense.”

“I know. That's why I'm offering you a business deal. Please, Xander. Tell me what you want in exchange for helping me. I'll do whatever I can. This company is all my family has. My parents worked hard to build it. I can't let it fall apart.”

Ilang sandali niya akong pinagmasdan bago sumagot. “Cara, I have no intention of going against my own nephew just to help you. I don't want to interfere in your relationship with Luis.”

Napayuko ako. Hindi ko alam kung paano ko pa siya makukumbinsi.

Bigla kong naalala ang nangyari sa amin kagabi.

“You took something from me last night.”

Bahagyang tumaas ang kilay niya. “Are we going back to that conversation?”

“Since you took my virginity, shouldn't you at least take some responsibility?”

Napatawa siya nang mahina. “Are you trying to make me pay for it?"

“I'm asking you to help me save my family's company. Consider it compensation.”

Napatingin ako sa kanya. Unti-unting nawala ang ngiti niya.

“Listen carefully, Cara. Your virginity doesn't give you any claim over me. And what happened between us last night doesn't mean I owe you anything.”

Napatingin ako sa kanya. “Are you saying it meant nothing to you?”

“I'm saying you shouldn't mistake one night for a business deal.”

Napakagat ako sa labi. Hindi ko alam kung bakit masakit marinig ang mga salitang iyon mula sa kanya.

“Fine. Forget what happened last night. I'm only asking for your help.”

“That's better.”

“Are you going to help me or not?”

Muli niyang kinuha ang tasa ng kape. “I'll think about it.”

Napabuntong-hininga ako. “That's not a yes.”

Tumayo siya at inayos ang manggas ng kanyang polo. “I have a few meetings to attend today. I can't spend the entire morning negotiating with you.”

“Xander, please. I really need your help.”

Saglit siyang huminto at tumingin sa akin. “Cara, you came here asking for a business deal. Don't expect me to make a decision without thinking it through.”

“Fine.”

“Good girl.”

Napakunot-noo ako. “Excuse me?”

Mahina siyang natawa. “Nothing. Enjoy your breakfast.”

Pinanood ko siyang umalis sa dining area.

Xander Valentino was impossible to read. Minsan, para siyang nakikipaglaro lang sa akin dahil sa paraan ng pang-aasar niya. Pero ramdam kong isa siyang makapangyarihang businessman na hindi basta-basta nagpapadala sa emosyon.

Hindi ko alam kung papayag siya sa business deal ko. Ang tanging pag-asa ko ay maging katanggap-tanggap ang magiging kondisyon niya.

Dahil hindi lang ang kinabukasan ko ang nakataya. Nakataya rin ang kinabukasan ng buong pamilya ko.