CHAPTER THREE: ”BE MY AFFAIR”

Caesar had already arrived at the resort Rizzy provided. He was still wondering why the girl who had almost completely ignored his existence finally reached out to meet him.

“Uncle!”

Malayo pa lang ay kita na niya ang babaeng kumakaway sa kaniya. And he could not believe that it was Rizzy.

She was not wearing her big t-shirts anymore. She was wearing a goddamn hot outfit. A red two-piece.

Fuck.

May namuong tensyon sa loob ni Caesar. Alam niya sa sarili niyang naakit siya sa suot ngayon ni Rizzy.

Her loose shirts and leggings did not do justice sa hubog ng katawan nito ngayon. Her body exuded an undeniable sex appeal.

May nabuhay sa loob ni Caesar nang sandaling ito. Agad niyang inayos ang kaniyang necktie dahil pakiramdam niya ay naninikip ang kaniyang paghinga.

‘Calm down, Caesar,’ aniya sa kaniyang utak.

“Let’s sit here…” nakangiting ani ni Rizzy, and she ordered drinks.

Naupo naman si Caesar. Hindi pa rin niya maintindihan kung bakit bigla siyang tinawag nito.

“I hope you like the view, Uncle…”

“I like it,” pagsang-ayon ni Caesar. “But why this sudden meeting, Rizzy?”

“Ahm, Uncle, well you know, Ross and I are getting married. And for some reason, he’s rushing our wedding. Ross just wanted a quick civil wedding. But you know, my parents just passed away three months ago, and the inheritance is still not fully settled.”

Caesar finally grasped her situation. And for some reason, Caesar was relieved that Rizzy, perhaps, finally realized that Ross wanted to exploit her.

Rizzy looked so concerned. “My parents left quite a large inheritance to me. And I’m still overwhelmed by their death. I don’t want to burden my husband furthermore, so I decided to put all my inheritance into a corporate holding company—which you own, Uncle…”

That was a wise move.

Using the excuse of being overwhelmed to transfer her inheritance to him—completely leaving no assets to her name.

But Caesar decided to tease her.

“But what if I refuse? You see, if you marry Ross, he will be at an advantage. If you move your assets into my holding company, it means it becomes legally owned by my company. So when you and Ross get married, the supposed marital split will be meaningless. Even if Ross insists, the family court will have zero jurisdiction over it. Walang makukuha sa'yo si Ross. You also know that Ross is volunteering to handle your family's inheritance.'"

“Y-yeah, that’s… we already talked—”

“And I don’t think it's because you are overwhelmed, nor because you want to burden Ross, Ms. Zañon. Ross is really looking forward to helping you with the family business. So, you are aware of what you are doing. You never talked to him about this.”

Nagbago ang ekspresyon ni Rizzy. Pakiramdam niya ay na-corner siya agad sa unang salita pa lang nito.

“And Ross is my nephew. Do you not trust my nephew to handle everything?” he added teasingly. “Or are you planning something while acting like an overwhelmed bride ?”

Rizzy's face turned stern.

“Then, Uncle, I will proceed to my next plan instead.” Rizzy's fierce expression became cunning.

Caesar's eyebrow lifted. “Hmm?”

“What if I tell you that Ross is planning to kill you? Would you still trust him?”

Caesar smiled even wider. “I know. But that's a completely different matter to you…”

Lalong nabigla si Rizzy. He knew? Buong akala niya ay magugulat at magagalit ito kapag sinabi niya ang balak ni Ross. She had even prepared proof, too. But this was not what she expected.

Caesar laughed inwardly at how distressed she looked. The kind and innocent Rizzy now looked like she was willing to kill.

‘Just what happened?’ ani Caesar sa utak niya.

“So you want to use me against him? What? For revenge?” ani Caesar.

Nakagat naman ni Rizzy ang kaniyang labi. She could not have expected that her uncle-in-law would be so cunningly sharp. Akala niya ay madali niya lang itong mauuto.

Of course, mas kakampihan pa rin nito ang pamangkin!

“Let’s forget what we talked about, Uncle,” saka balak sana mag-walkout ni Rizzy sa kahihiyan.

“Okay, I accept. But what will I gain in return?”

Nagliwanag naman ang mukha ni Rizzy. “What do you want, Uncle? I will help you with your plan!”

“Hmm, plan with what? Ross is very easy to deal with. Even if he tries to make me infertile or kill me, he won't even touch the tip of my hair. You see, I am a very influential person.”

The sheer arrogance in his voice made her skin prickle. “So? What do you want me to do?”

“Be my personal secretary, Rizzy.”

She blinked, caught off guard. “A secretary? That’s it?”

“You misunderstand, Rizzy. I don't mean someone who organizes my calendar and pours my coffee. What I mean is a completely obedient secretary. When I tell you to sit, you sit. When I tell you to kneel, you kneel. Your time, your loyalty, your absolute submission—it all belongs to me.”

Rizzy’s breath hitched. She realized that maybe, she had walked into a trap that was even harder to deal with than securing her inheritance.

But… it was better than what she originally planned… dahil handa siyang gumawa ng mas malala pa rito makuha lang ang kaniyang paghihiganti.

“You misunderstand my intention, too, Uncle. Being your secretary is way too… predictable and easy.” Rizzy's lips curved into a seductive smile.

She then leaned closer, dangerously closer, to her uncle-in-law, Caesar, and grabbed his tie. She yanked his face closer to hers—making him completely and utterly speechless. His breath became heavier.

The completely innocent Rizzy was gone.

“Let’s cross the line, Uncle. Be my affair…”