Chapter 3

Chapter Three

Nakatulala ako na nakatingin sa kawalan habang inikot-ikot ang hawak na ballpen. Kanina pa ako wala sa sarili dahil paulit-ulit na nagre-replay sa utak ko ang mga nangyari kanina sa bahay habang naghahanda ako ng almusal. As usual, ay nasa isang out-of-town business na naman ang asawa ko at sa isang linggo pa ito uuwi.

Being the wife of the CEO of one of the wealthiest companies, I expected to experience all of it. Wala namang problema sa akin kung palaging busy ang asawa ko dahil sa negosyo, naiintindihan ko ‘yun, and I had my own business kaya hindi ako masyadong nababagot. I was always left in the house alone with the maids and I was fine with it until yesterday. Sebastian suddenly appeared at our doorstep yesterday night, grinning like a Chesire cat, and said he’ll be staying here for how long we know and Niu can’t do anything about it.

 They were the Altamirano’s, they owned several houses in the city not to mention all the condo units and town houses they owned. They were filthy rich and I don’t understand why he had to crash here for the night like a homeless person.

I was snapped back to reality when Kate, my friend, and secretary wave a hand in front of my face. I stared at her for seconds, deciding whether to tell her what has been bugging my thoughts for the last twenty-four hours or I’ll just have to keep everything to myself.

“Can I ask you something?” maingat na tanong ko. I was a bit nervous. I’ve been keeping this for a year and if I tell her now, this would be the first time that I would admit this feeling.

Kate raised her beautifully arched brows at me that made me uncomfortable, her intimidating aura got me, and it made me want to reconsider the decision on confiding to her. It was not that I don’t trust her, I just don’t feel like telling her sensitive things, and this one was a very sensitive topic, especially for someone like me who is married.

“Well?”

I heaved a deep sigh.

“I have this friend from high school and she was a bit bothered because she was attracted to her brother-in-law. I mean, this man was also giving signals to her.”

Kate surveyed my face as if weighing the intensity of what I said. My heart drummed louder every minute that passed and she was just staring intently as if she was reading me and trying to get into my soul.

She crossed her arms across her chest and raised her perfectly shaped brows again.

“What?”

Kilala ko?” tanong niya.

Nakahinga ako maluwag nang ibaling nito ang tingin sa mga daliri at pinaglaruan ang kukong bagong manicure.

“She’s a friend from high school and no, hindi mo siya kilala,” mabilis kong sagot. Umiling pa ako dahil baka mag-duda pa ito sa akin dahil nauutal ako.

Tumango-tango ito at umayos ng upo, she even extended her arms on my table and leaned on it.

“You know what? You don’t have to hide it from me,” prangkang saad nito.

“Hide what?” nauutal kong tanong. My heart pounded loudly and my breath hitched.

Natawa ng mahina si Kate, parang alam na agad nito ang tinatago ko. Namula ang aking pisngi dahil dito, I felt ashamed that a married woman like me was attracted to another man other than my husband. Though our union is not in the bounds of love, still I was bound to be faithful to him as long as we stay married.

“You can’t hide anything from me, Claire. We’ve known each other since we’re babies. We are technically like sisters here,” paalala nito sa akin. I feel stupid for trying to hide something very obvious.

“Hindi ko sinasadya, okay? That man is a walking sin, and you know him personally, right?”

“Yeah…but, Samuel was way more attractive than him,” sagot niya. May pagmamayabang nitong sinambit sa pangalan ng lalaking nangliligaw dito ngayon. I rolled my eyes at her.

Well, Samuel Ortigas was one hot male species, hindi iyon maikakaila, but then there’s something about Sebastian Altamirano that drowned me to him. I really can’t point it out but he is someone that could shake my world just by standing in front of me.

“We’re not talking about Samuel here, Kate. We’re talking about Sebastian Altamirano, Niu’s older brother.” I frustratingly balled my fist in my hair and slouched my body in my seat. “Being attracted to him was one thing but, him sending signals and all is another. I can’t figure what he wanted when he knows I’m his brother’s wife.”

“Look, Claire. Men are like that, mga bastos ‘yan sila, e. Hindi ‘yan sila rumirespeto basta nalilibogan na ang mga ‘yan,” prangkang saad nito na ikinagulat ko.

My cheeks heated on what Kate said, kahit naman may asawa na ako ay nasanay akong palaging pormal at bawal sa bahay namin ang mga bulgar na salita. Kate’s choice of words is always scandalous, dapat ay sanay na ako dito.

Bumuntong hininga ako at ipinikit ng mariin ang mga mata. Niu won’t be home for a week and having Seb in their house was a big problem for me. Sa isang taon namin bilang mag-asawa ni Niu ay minsan lang umuwi itong si Seb, kapag may mga importanteng meeting or family gatherings lang, and every time he’s in the country I always made sure to stay away from him as much as possible.

It frustrates so much that I can’t avoid him now that he’s living with us, hindi ko alam kung ano ang balak niya pero sigurado akong meron. I can’t trust him, aside from the fact that he’s a ruthless businessman, he’s a notorious playboy. Marami na itong pinaiyak na babae at ni isa wala pa itong sineryoso kahit na matanda na ito. I scoffed at my thoughts, yeah, sure he’s in his forties but the man was still a total hunk, he aged like a fine wind.

Napaigtad ako nang hampasin ni Kate ang lamesa, para yatang lumabas ang puso ko dahil sa gulat. I glared at her for doing that.

“Stop thinking about that already, mamaya mo na ‘yan isipin at paparating na Miss Stanford dito, we can’t afford to be lousy in front of that lady, ang taas masyado ng standard nu’n pagdating sa mga jewelries niya.” paalala nito.

Yeah, a big-time client is coming, dapat ito muna ang iisipin ko. I’ll think of something later, dapat ay paghandaan ko ang pagtutuos namin mamaya ni Seb. Hindi-hindi ako magpapa apekto sa kanya mamaya kahit pa maghubad ito at ihain ang sarili sa harapan ko.

Tumayo ako at inayos ang damit bago naglakad patungo kung saan naka display ang mga alahas na binibenta. My love for gems and jewelries made me decide what I really want to be, a jeweler. Simula pagkabata ay nahuhumaling na ako sa mama ko madalas ay may suot na mga alahas, mas nagiging maganda at sopistikada kasi ang tingin ko sa kanya kaya gustong-gusto ko itong nakikitang nagsusuot ng mga kumikinang na diamante.

“Isabel, okay na ba lahat?” Nilapitan ko ang sa isa sa mga empleyado na busy sa pag-aayos ng mga alahas sa estante.

Nalahelira sa isang side ang estante kung saan naka display ang mga kuwintas, sa isang bahagi naman ay nandoon ang mga singsing. I personally designed the store kay may personal touch ito galing sa akin, but the overall design was made by a friend of mine.

This is one of the reasons why my father decided to marry me off to one of our affiliates, as the sole heiress, he thought I was incapable of ruling the empire. Sinisiguro ng ama ko na mapupunta sa mabuting kamay ang kompanyang pinaghirapan. My father hated me when I joined the national competition, for him beauty pageants are gateways of those women who wanted to get themselves a wealthy man to spoil their whims. Pero tinuloy ko pa rin ang pagsali sa pageant, at hindi naman ako nagsisi dahil natupad ang isa sa mga pangarap ko, ang maging isang beauty queen. But just like any victories, it comes with a price, I agreed to let my father choose a groom for me.

I was busy instructing my employees when an unexpected customer arrived, kasama nito ang aming inaasahang customer, si Ms. Stanford.

He looked ruggedly handsome with his brown jeans and white shirt, kahit pa hindi ito naka damit ng pormal gaya ng palagi nitong suot ay hindi pa rin maikakailang napaka guwapo nito sa suot na damit, his aura is a mixture of intimidation and authority.  

I bit my lower lip as he slowly approached me, naka-akbay ito kay Stephanie Stanford at parang enjoy na enjoy naman ang dalaga sa pagkakadikit ng katawan nila. He looked intensely into my eyes as if eating my soul, and I lost all the power to look away, parang hinihigop nito ang mga mata ko.

Bumaba ang tingin nito sa suot kong tube top, mas lalong naging madilim ang tingin nito sa akin, and for some reason his intimidating and dangerous aura excites the hell out of me. My slender neck, and cleavage were all exposed to his eyes, he stared a little longer than he should and my knees suddenly wobble when he purposely licked his lower lip while intensely staring at my exposed cleavage. I saw the tip of his tongue as he licked his lips and lewd thoughts invaded my mind.