Chapter Five: Get Married And Have Children

Third Person's POV

Marissa listened to Diego’s mother as she explained how the doctors could not do anything to her health. It was too personal and emotional to be there, listening and watching, but she could not do anything about it.

She could see how Mrs. Margarita Montero seemed so kind and intelligent, not to mention how she talked angelically with her son like her child was still a kid. She could sleep just by the sound of the lady’s voice. She suddenly wonders how it would feel to have a mother. A mother who cares for you when you have problems in life. A mother who would laugh at your jokes. A mother who nurtures your well-being and teaches you how to become a great woman.

Sometimes, Marissa misses her parents, but she does not know how to feel when she would have been with them – because they were never there. The bitterness went to her throat, but she swallowed it, for it was not her moment. It is her boss and his mother’s.

The secretary must have roamed all of the corners of the office while Madame Margarita Montero and the CEO exchanged personal conversations. They are both comfortable since for so many times Marissa existed in every moment of the CEO’s whereabouts, but she leaked no information. It only meant that she was a trustworthy person and the best secretary of the company.

“I don’t want you getting angry with your father,” Madame Margarita said and smiled at Diego. “He might have done something wrong, but it still does not change the fact that he is your father.”

Diego snorted and placed his arms on the sofa’s backrest side by side. “Then what do you want me to do? Pretend that I do not know anything about it?” he sarcastically asked. “Mom, he just did something bad that stained your marriage. What would other people say? The people who respect and look up to him a lot about this? They will create gossip about our family!”

“Do other people still matter to you, my son?” Madame Margarita retorted and inhaled sharply. “It would be an easier issue if our family and our businesses were not reputable in the city. The media will talk, and of course, it would affect us.”

Marissa could not agree more. The competitors would also utilize their issues to lift their businesses. It would degrade the company’s reputation and marketing. Diego is logically right. So his only resolution is…

“This cannot go outside. I have to talk to Dad-“

“No, you cannot,” Madame Margarita firmly refused to approve what the CEO wanted. “It will only put our family into chaos, Diego. This must be a secret between us only. I do not want anything to be worse!”

“But-“

“I only want you to be at my side, son, until I am on my deathbed,” the old lady said. “You have to promise me that you will do whatever I wish.”

Diego did not say anything and merely thinned his lips, but he nodded after a while. Madame Margarita, on the other hand, seemed satisfied about that, too.

“You know that he is capable of kicking you out of your job position, son. We both know how you worked hard to earn a Chief Executive Director’s position, thanks to your father,” she added. “So the best thing you can do is wait for things to happen, just let your father do what he wants to do, and live your life in success.”

When Marissa looked at her boss, he lowered his gaze, as if he realized that his mother was right.

Even Marissa knew how important the CEO position was to Diego, which is why he should not be impulsive like this way. For over the three years she worked for him, she has seen him work hard for the things that she has now – a good reputation, overwhelming net worth, multiple businesses, and a perfect life. He did not just get that from his old rich family, but he built his name himself.

“I know,” Diego admitted. “And I understand that he was the one who gave me everything the moment that I was born. But what I could not comprehend was how could he hurt you just like easily. Does he even love you?”

For a moment, Margarita Montero fell silent and just stared at her son. Her hands that were holding her bag that was on her lip began trembling like she was so nervous about the question. She then nodded reluctantly and smiled wistfully.

“I have felt the love of your father for me the moment he laid his eyes on me. And the best gift he has ever given was you. Also, I love your father very much,” Mrs. Montero stated firmly and had a bold glimpse in her eyes. “Now, it is the time that you give him what I think would be the reason he will leave his mistress.”

Diego asked curiously. “Then what do you want me to do, Mom?”

“It could be a lot to you,” the madame said truthfully and shrugged.

“Not if this is for you, Mom.” Mrs. Margarita Montero looked intently at her son who was prepared to listen to what she was saying.

She even took a deep sigh to look thrilled. “Get married and have children,” she suggested and bestowed a constipated smile.

Diego was motionless, while Marissa slowly lifted her eyebrow. She slowly shook her head, and Diego almost chuckled out of frustration, not because it was funny. Marissa knows his tone and mood very well, and she could guess that the suggestion made by his mother was not funny at all.

“You’ve got to be kidding me,” Diego said and demonstrated his hands like it was very ridiculous. “I never had a girlfriend, Mom!”

“It’s because you never go out. You are always in your study, and your father expected you to be like that. He is gone sick about it, that is why he needs to shift his attention from having affairs to having a daughter-in-law and his grandsons and granddaughters!” she explained. “Maybe this is also what you need, son, so I could see you smiling and truly happy with your life before I leave.”