Sinful Pleasures - Chapter 3

The three-meter wide lanai wrapped around the house. It has two-step stair all-round, where the pathways started. It overlooked the flowing hills and beyond. The sun sets here, too. Rye appreciated the perfect view.

"I've been a good patient, Nurse Sanchez. Surely, I'm allowed a glass of wine?" Rye said cajolingly.

"A glass of white wine only, sir," Nurse Sanchez agreed formally.

Rye just laughed. "Okay. Please, join us."

Sam prepared three glasses of sparkling white wine.

Dinner is always buffet style. The food is prepared by Gunda and left in the kitchen. Nurse Sanchez and Sam transferred them to wherever Rye wanted to eat.

They stayed at the lanai for one hour. Nurse Sanchez is the first to remind them of the time.

"It's time for your medicine, sir."

"Of course." Rye was a little tipsy when Sam wheeled him to the elevator.

That night, the mysterious woman appeared in his dream again. Rye welcomed her with open arms. He touched her silky hair. It curled and flowed down to her waist. He caressed the curves of her waist and hips. He kissed her lips. His tongue grazed her breasts. She rode him passionately but he still did not see her face.

"Gillian!" He shouted her name when he reached his peak.

Rye woke up with sweat streaming down his face and neck. His whole body was covered with perspiration. The air is rife with the smell of sex.

God, I'm going crazy!

He couldn't sleep again. His wheelchair was nearby so he would be able to move from the bed to the chair. It was difficult but he managed with determination. He wheeled it outside to the balcony.

Rye watched the dark blue skies turn to golden pink then sky blue. The sun has just risen.

He used the binoculars to observe the movements of Li-an in her tin-roof house. He could see nothing except the twitching of the curtains in the front room and the slight smoke coming from the kitchen.

Rye imagined Li-an having coffee and a slice of bread or milk and fried rice with eggs. He closed his eyes to continue his daydreaming. When he could walk again, he would invite her himself to have lunch or dinner with him. After several dates with her, he would ask her to marry him...

Rye opened his eyes and smilingly chided himself for daydreaming. He used the binoculars again. He got curious when he saw two women standing in front of the house. They seemed to be in an argument. From afar, they looked identical. But through the powerful lenses of his binoculars, Li-an is taller and curvier than the younger woman. They are probably sisters.

Nurse Sanchez arrived on time for Rye's morning medicine. She took his blood pressure and heartbeat while a thermometer was in his mouth. The routine took only ten minutes.

"Would you like to take your bath now or you will see the young woman downstairs first? She's applying to be your physiotherapist," Nurse Sanchez asked formally.

"So early?" Rye was startled.

"Sam is interviewing her when I went up."

"I'll see her now."

"Right."

They used the elevator to go down. The nurse wheeled Rye to the living room before excusing herself to go up to his room again to finish tidying the medicine table.

Sam saw Rye but his expression remained blank.

"You said you've been servicing old folks around the area and yet you just turned eighteen?" Sam's long nose twitched slightly. He is getting suspicious.

Rye decided to remain silent. He could always rely on Sam's instinct.

"There's my certificate," the girl's voice turned petulant and whining. "And there's the clearance and the names of my, er, patients, if you need references."

"When's your birthday again?" Sam interrupted.

"Last week," the girl answered in a small voice.

"Well, Miss Gillian Reyes, I'm very sorry. But--"

"Gillian?" Rye was suddenly galvanized into action.

Both Sam and Gillian turned to Rye's direction.

"What's your name again?" Rye asked in a gentler voice.

"I--er--Gil--gillian..." the girl stammered. Her head was bowed but her eyes kept darting to look at him.

Rye looked at her hair and her body critically. No. She is not my 'Gillian,' he thought.

"Genevieve Reyes, come out this minute!" Someone shouted outside.

"Who is Genevieve Reyes?" Sam questioned the nervously defiant girl.

"Genevieve? Where are you?" The angry voice came nearer.

Rye watched the archway. His pulse was visible on his temple. He knew that the true Gillian Reyes will emerge any second now.

A woman stalked in furiously. She was wearing her usual loose attire and the straw hat. She grabbed the arm of the girl and swiveled to direct her fuming gaze on Sam.

"Where are my credentials?" she asked Sam fiercely.

Sam handed the papers wordlessly. His mouth left open.

She hauled the wayward Genevieve and marched outside the house. She did not even glance at Rye.

"W-what happened?" Sam asked after recovering from shock.

"A goddess arrived," Rye declared in an amused tone. "And gone in ten seconds!"

"Li-an's real name is Gillian, sir!"

"I gathered that." Rye wheeled himself towards the elevator, still smiling. "I'll take my bath and morning exercise now, Sam."

He is in a very good mood all day. He tasked Sam to research about the relationship between Gillian and Genevieve. According to Gunda, they are sisters. The latter has been rebellious ever since Genevieve was sixteen years old.

"Gunda said Genevieve was an adorable child who idolized her older sister until she overheard some gossiping men."

"Gossiping men?"

"Gunda didn't elaborate. But I'll dig deeper, boss," Sam promised. Curiosity about the elusive Li-an or Gillian was fully awakened.

"Okay. You do that," Rye said encouragingly. He is also very much intrigued.

The next afternoon, Rye was having a rest by the avocado tree when his old schoolmates visited him. Desmond, Roddy, and Tim are older than Rye by two years. They were called the 'Terrible Three' at high school. When Rye graduated and moved to Baguio City to study at the Philippine Military Academy, he lost connection with the people from his old school.

"Hey, old Rye, what have you done to yourself?" Tim said sympathetically.

"Can you ever walk again?" Roddy observed bluntly.

"I bet he will. When Li-an works her magic on him," Desmond snickered maliciously.

"What do you mean?" Rye indicated that they have a seat on the benches scattered in the garden. The three men ignored his silent invitation to sit and continued on standing in front of him.

"We hear you want to hire her as physical therapist," Roddy explained.

"We just wanted to warn you--" Desmond stopped when Tim interrupted.

"We just want to offer the services of Conchita, sister of Desmond, as therapist instead. She works on cases like yourself."

"And Conchy is not a golddig--" Desmond was interfered once again by Tim kicking his shin.

"A golddigger?" Rye continued calmly.

"You and your big mouth!" Roddy whispered loudly.

"Well, it's true! My sister has pristine reputation unlike Li-an."

"Stop bad-mouthing Li-an!" Tim protested.

"Conchita has no child at the age of fifteen. Li-an has!" Desmond continued belligerently.

Tim groaned.

"We are here to recommend Conchy, Des," Roddy reminded sensibly.

Sam came out to investigate the loud voices from the garden. Rye moved his head slightly to stop his assistant. Sam retreated back and hid at the house to eavesdrop.

"Conchy will not seduce you to get at your money," Desmond continued.

Rye weighed the information being fed to him. Desmond seemed hell-bent to put down Li-an. Roddy and Tim seemed to know something but afraid to add more.

"Conchy shall be ready to start tomorrow morning," Desmond concluded when Rye remained silent.

Rye was poker-faced.

"We won't be staying long, Rye." Roddy shook hands with Rye.

"Yes. Get well soon." Tim seemed ready to bolt.

"No one will take advantage of our old friend, Rye, while we are here to protect you and your riches!" Desmond waved his fist to the air.

Sam took that as cue to appear. He escorted the trio out of the property.

Rye waited for his assistant to come back.

"Who are they, boss?"

"Old schoolmates. We're not friends."

"Good. I wouldn't wish them on my enemies, boss."

"What else did they say against Li-an?"

"That Li-an is a widow to a rich old man. That she is a child bride and a child mother. And that she gave birth to Genevieve when she was fifteen years old."

"Do you think that's the truth?"

"They are not reliable sources but, I think, they are the 'gossiping men'," Sam deduced correctly. "I will have to validate the new info, boss." Sam's eyebrows arched, waiting for Rye's approval.

"You do that but do it very carefully," Rye said slowly.

Sam gave a silent salute. "Call me, boss, when you're ready to have lunch."

"I'm sure, Nurse Sanchez will beat me to it," Rye chuckled softly. He wasn't disillusioned by the new information of Gillian's past. The mystery is slowly unraveling.