Chapter 1

CHAPTER 1

ADDISON's POV

A loud ring of my phone filled the whole meeting room. Napatingin ang lahat sa akin nang tingnan ko ang cellphone ko. It's an unregistered phone number, sino kaya 'to at paano niya nalaman ang number ko. Only Bao know my number—

Wait... Baka ibinigay na naman niya sa kung sinu-sino ang number ko kaya naman ay buwan-buwan ako nagpapalit ng sim card to avoid unknown callers. At ngayon, meron na naman?!

I decided to answer the call para naman humingi ng paumanhin. Tumingin muna ako sa mga ka board meeting ko bago sa boss ko at nagpaalam.

"Excuse me for a while," sabi ko at tinanguan niya lang ako.

Pagkadating ko sa labas ng meeting room ay agad akong nagsalita.

"Sorry for—" a voice of a kid cut my words.

"Mommy!" Matinis na sigaw ng isang bata sa kabilang linya kaya naman ay nailayo ko nang bahagya ang cellphone ko sa taenga ko.

It's Bao's voice!

"Bao? Is that you? Wait... why are you using someone's number? And where are you?" Nag-aalalang tanong ko. Nasa trabaho ako and I called Wayzz to babysit my son for a while. P*nyeta ka talagang lalaki, patay ka sakin mamaya 'pag nagkita tayo.

"Uncle Wayzz and I parted ways when we're wandering around the mall but don't you worry mommy, I'm in good hands." Tumaas bigla ang kilay ko sa inakto niya, tatlong araw palang kami dito at nasisigurado kong wala pang kakilala si Bao dito.

"And how can you be so sure, hm?" Sinubukan kong pakalmahin ang tono ng pagsasalita ko pero ang totoo ay gustong-gusto ko nang hanapin ang anak ko. But I trust my son, he's a genuis.

"Remember mommy, in the airport? When I hooped into someone's car? I saw him in the mall when I am lost then he helped me and bring me to his company. Mommy, I like him to be my daddy." Pabulong na sabi niya sa huling salita at tumawa na para bang kinikilig.

I sighed. "Bao, can you give this phone to the guy who brings you there, please." I really have to talk to that guy who helped my son.

"Ookay," he answered. It took a minute before a manly voice spoke.

"Uhm?" What a cold voice. Nanindig ang lahat ng balahibo ko sa katawan dahil sa kalamigan ng boses niya. Huminga ako nang malalim bago magsalita, he seems a scary person.

Tumikhim muna ako bago nagsalita. "Sir, sorry for the trouble my son made. I'll talk to him afterward but before that, could you please send me the address where you bring my son?" I said directly but it took minutes for him to respond. Anyare?

"Okay," then, he gave me the address. Nagpaalam muna ako sa boss ko at humingi ng paumanhin sa lahat ng ka-board meeting ko and they decided to continue my presentation tomorrow. They expect me to present it all, with no interruption. Humingi ulit ako nang tawad sa kanila at kaagad na nagtungo sa naturang address.

LIANDRE's POV

"Hey, uncle? Can I ask you a question while my mommy is not yet here?" The little boy who's sitting on my swivel chair asked. I nodded and he clapped his hands.

"How rich you are?" What kind of question is that? Ang bata-bata pa niya para magka-interes sa pera.

I cleared my throat. "What do you mean by that?"

"You see, I want you to be my daddy. You're handsome, my mom is beautiful, see? You two are a perfect match!" He clapped his hands and he's grinning from ear to ear.

I was about to answer his question when someone opened the door without knocking. Sisinghalan ko sana ang walang modong taong bumukas ng pintuan ko ng hindi kumakatok. Everyone in this company knows what I hate the most.

Pagkalingon ko ay kaagad nawala ang pagkainis na nararamdaman ko at napalitan iyon ng galak at saya. She's still so beautiful, just like that night. I know her, she's the girl I met five years ago in the hotel. I can still remember what happened that night. I can remember it clearly, clear as a distilled water. Her soft body pressed to mine, her loud moans—

"Mister? Are you okay?" Pagpukaw niya sa akin. Kanina pa ba niya ako tinatawag? Am I spacing out?

Tumikhim ako at tumayo. I offered her my right hand and introduce myself. "Hi, I'm Liandre Shen. The owner of all shipping lines here in the Philippines."

Tinanggap niya ang kamay ko at ngumiti. "Addison Takeshi, just a normal citizen." Her hazel eyes are so tantalizing and hypnotizing as well. I can't help to stare at her.

"Ah, Mr. Shen, pasmado ang kamay ko. Hehe, nakakahiya." Kaagad niyang binawi ang kamay niya at itinago iyon sa kaniyang likuran. Maybe she's shy,wait...

"Do I look familiar to you? Like, haven't you met me before?" I asked.

"Sorry but this is the first time we meet, by the way, sorry for all the trouble my son made. Pasensya na talaga, sorry." Kanina pa siya hingi nang hingi ng sorry, she can just thank me instead.

"It's okay, not a big—"

"Mommy, why not we bring uncle Shen to our home? Cook him a dinner for the kindness he showed to me." The boy said with matching puppy eyes. What an adorable kid.

ADDISON's POV

I secretly glared at Bao and he just winked at me. What a troublemaker kid. I can't believe Bao trust this man easily, he seems the scary type of person. 'Yong 'pag nagalit ay nagangain, 'di ba nakakatakot yun?

"Bao, your uncle Shen is a busy person. He has meetings to attend—"

"I'm free, let's go?" Napanganga nalang ako ng wala sa oras dahil sa sinabi niya. Hindi makapaniwalang tiningnan ko siya at bakas sa mukha niya na sigurado na siya. OMAYGHAD! I can't believe that I'm letting a stranger come to my house.

Habang naglalakad kami palabas ng kompanya niya ay pinagtitinginan kami ng mga tao which is making me uncomfortable. Halata sa tinigin nila ang pagkagulat at pagkalito. Hindi ba sila sanay na may kasamang iba ang boss nila? Nagpasalamat ako at nakalabas na kami ng tuluyan.

"Uncle Shen, aren't we supposed to go on the parking lot? Aren't we riding your car? Are we riding a taxi?" Pangungulit ng anak ko kay Liandre habang magkahawak ang kamay nila. Ako ang mommy niya pero iba ang kahawak niya.Is my son dumping me?

"My driver will arrive here in a minute, don't worry kiddo." Ginulo niya ang buhok ni Bao at bumungisngis naman ang anak ko. 'Nyeta 'to ah, ano ako dito? Third wheel?

We waited for a while and if I am not mistaken, a Bugatti La Voiture Noire stopped in our spot. Nabasa ko kasi sa article na ang sasakyan nasa harapan namin ay isa sa pinakamahal na sasakyan sa buong mundo. Kahit siguro ibenta ko atay ko hindi ako makakabili nito, char.

"Wow! A Bugatti!" Tili ng anak ko at dahil nakabukas na ang pinto ay kaagad siyang nakapasok. I really have to talk to my son after this, para naman may mukha pa akong maiharap kinabukasan.Napailing nalang ako at bumuntong-hininga.

Hay nako, Bao. Ewan ko ba kung sa'n ka nagmana.