Chapter 4

CHAPTER 4

Business Before Everything

Chantal's POV

“Your father is already waiting downstairs.”

Napatingin ako sa maid na nakatayo sa pintuan ng bedroom ko.

“Dinner?”

She nodded.

“Your brothers are here, too.”

Napabuntong-hininga ako.

Once a month.

Iyon lang ang schedule na halos siguradong kumpleto kaming pamilya sa isang dinner table.

Hindi dahil wala kaming oras.

Kundi dahil lahat kami ay may kanya-kanyang negosyo, meetings, flights, investments, at kung anu-ano pa.

My family didn't run out of money.

We ran out of time.

“Tell them I'll be there.”

Pagkababa ko, agad kong nakita ang mahabang dining table.

Nandoon na si Dad.

Si Mom.

Ang panganay kong kuya na si Sebastian, kasama ang asawa niyang si Camille.

At ang second kuya ko na si Nathaniel, na ilang buwan nang engaged sa fiancée niyang si Elise.

“Finally,” sabi ni Nathaniel.

“She's here.”

“Sorry.”

Umupo ako sa pagitan nina Mom at Nathaniel.

My father folded his napkin.

“So.”

I knew that tone.

Business.

“How's college?”

I smiled.

“Okay.”

“Grades?”

“Good.”

“Any problems?”

“None.”

He nodded.

Then, without even changing his expression, he asked—

“Should I invest more?”

Napatingin ako sa kaniya.

“Dad?”

“I'm considering expanding our university partnership.”

Napatingin si Sebastian.

“How much?”

“Depends.”

Dad looked at me.

“Does the university need anything?”

I shrugged.

“I'm not really sure.”

Nathaniel chuckled.

“Dad, you could ask the administration instead of asking your youngest daughter.”

“I'm asking her because she's there.”

Mom smiled.

“She knows what's happening on campus.”

Sebastian cut his steak.

“What about the new business center?”

“Still negotiating.”

“And the hotel branch?”

“Approved.”

“And the Singapore expansion?”

“Next quarter.”

I listened quietly.

Money.

Investments.

Expansion.

Branches.

Stocks.

Contracts.

It was always like this.

Even during family dinners.

“Chantal.”

I looked at Dad.

“Yes?”

“You're graduating in a few years.”

“I know.”

“Have you thought about which part of the company you'd like to handle?”

I paused.

“Not yet.”

Nathaniel smiled.

“You're the youngest. You can take your time.”

Sebastian laughed.

“Lucky her.”

Camille looked at me.

“Your brothers were already working before they graduated.”

“I know.”

Dad nodded.

“That's why I don't want to pressure you.”

I raised an eyebrow.

“Really?”

Everyone laughed.

Even Dad.

“Fine,” he admitted. “Maybe a little.”

Mom reached for her glass.

“You're still our baby.”

“Mom, I'm already in college.”

“And?”

Nathaniel grinned.

“Still the baby.”

I rolled my eyes.

“Great.”

For a few minutes, the conversation became lighter.

Sebastian talked about his wife.

Nathaniel discussed wedding preparations.

Mom asked about my classes.

Then Dad returned to business.

“By the way, Sebastian, the Manila branch needs a new operations head.”

“I'll send someone next week.”

“Not someone.”

Dad's voice became firm.

“You.”

Sebastian sighed.

“Dad, I'm already handling three branches.”

“You're capable.”

Nathaniel laughed.

“Here we go again.”

I smiled.

This was my family.

We loved each other.

But sometimes, our love sounded like—

How's the business?

How much did you earn?

Where should we invest?

What's the next expansion?

Maybe that was simply how my family worked.

---

After dinner, I went straight upstairs.

I changed into pajamas and threw myself onto my bed.

Finally.

Silence.

I reached for my phone.

And without thinking—

I opened social media.

My fingers typed one name.

Adrian Lister.

I immediately smiled.

“Okay…”

I whispered to myself.

“Just one look.”

One post.

Then another.

Then another.

His graduation photos.

Academic achievements.

University events.

A few pictures with colleagues.

Nothing personal.

I scrolled.

And scrolled.

And scrolled.

“Why am I doing this?”

I laughed quietly.

I was supposed to stop.

But I didn't.

Then I saw an old post.

A photo of him standing beside a group of faculty members.

I zoomed in.

“Ang gwapo…”

I whispered.

Then—

tap.

My eyes widened.

The heart icon turned red.

My entire body froze.

“No.”

I immediately tapped it again.

Too late.

I had already liked it.

“Oh my God.”

I stared at the screen.

“No, no, no…”

Then—

Ding!

A notification appeared.

My heart stopped.

Adrian Lister sent you a message.

I slowly opened it.

There was only one message.

Adrian Lister:

Stalking your professor, baby?

I dropped my phone on the bed.

My face instantly burned.

“What?!”

I grabbed it again.

Read the message.

Then read it again.

He knew.

He knew I had been looking through his profile.

My heart was pounding.

I didn't know whether to laugh, panic, or throw my phone across the room.

Then another message appeared.

Adrian Lister:

You should be more careful next time.

I stared at the screen.

And for the first time…

I wondered if my little crush wasn't as secret as I thought.

To be continued…

ayan ang napapala ng mga stalker, ginawa ko rin to dati eh HAHAHHAHAHHAH tapos di na ako pumapsk kinabukasan—pero Hindi sa prof ahh Wala naman kaming prof na gwapo, puro lang matatanda tapos malalaki tiyan HAHAHHAHAHHA basta nagawa ko Yan on someone tapos ayown nakakahiya HAHHAHAHA tingnan na lang natin kung makakakpasok ka pa bukas Chantal matapos mong e stalk prof mong hot HAHAHAHAHHAH good luck na lang talaga, habang maaga pa magtawag ka na ng mga Santo baka maagapan pa. Jokes lang guyss, sana patuloy niyo pa rin basahin, samahan niyo ako hanggang sa matapos, first time ko gumawa nito eh, forbidden love HAHAHA mala Romeo at Juliet, sasabihin ko nga pala age ni Prof sa next chapter then marami pang mag info, alam niyo na rin naman na 18 pa lang si Chantal tapos si prof nasa 20+ so next chapter ko na e reveal, Wala pa akong gana magpaliwanang ngayon eh, napuputol yung kilig eh HAHHAHAH ayan mas mahaba na daldal ko kaysa sa chapter, paano ba kasi pigilan to? di ko talaga kaya ng walang author's note sa kada chapter, HAHAHHAHAHAH free chap pa naman kaya magdadaldal muna ako HAHHAHA Pero guys basta basahin niyo ahhh, exciting at maganda pa naman to tapos magsisipag ako mag update HAHAHHAHAHHAHA basta msispag din kayo magbasa and comment HAHHAHAHAHHA bye guysss subrang haba na ehhh