Chapter 6

(Reese's POV)

            I was silently chewing my food. I remained looking down at my plate because I felt suffocated. I could barely swallow the food because of his presence. The intimidating aura from him is so much.

            Kagat ang ibabang labi ng hiwain ko ang steak dahil hindi ko maiwasang alalahanin ang nangyari bago kami nagpunta dito. Hanggang ngayon ay hindi pa rin ako makapaniwalang magkaharap kami ngayon habang kumakain. Every time I try to open up the reason why I'm here, he's just raising his eyebrows at me. Wala akong ibang magawa kung hindi yumuko na lang at tumahimik.

            "Have dinner with me, future wife."

            Kulang talaga ang salitang nagulat ako para i-describe ang naging reaction ko sa sinabi niya. Hindi iyon ang inaasahan ko. Base sa mga nabasa at narinig ko mula sa kanya, malayo ang ipinapakita niyang ugali ngayon. They said that he's a monster in business, cold hearted, serious and such. And playful isn't included in the list. But here he is, staring at me intently with a small smirk plastered on his lips. This is crazy!

            "Kumain na ako," sabi ko ng makabawi ako sa  pagkabigla. Pero ang totoo, hindi pa talaga ako kumakain dahil balak kong pagkatapos na lang ng meeting na ito. Buti nga at hindi pa ako ipinapahamak ng tiyan ko dahil tahimik pa ito. At sana ay manatili itong tahimik hanggang sa makauwi ako.

            "We will talk about what you want to know." I raised my left eyebrow. "Your choice if you want to come." He walked towards his table and picked a folder before facing me again. "Follow me if you want to come with me." He walked towards the door. Wala akong choice kung hindi sumunod sa kanya. Mababalewa ang pagod at oras ko sa pagpunta dito kung hindi ko makukuha ang sadya ko.

            Wala ang Secretary niya sa table nito ng lumabas kami. Hanggang sa makapasok kami sa elevator ay walang nagsalita. Nasa magkabilang gilid kami at nakatingin lang sa pinto. Naghahalo ang amoy ng mga pabango namin sa loob pero hindi naman nakakahilo. Akala ko ay wala talagang iimik sa'min pero bigla siyang nagsalita.

            "Here!" I looked at him. Nakalahad ang hawak niyang  folder sa'kin pero ang tingin niya ay nakatutok pa rin sa pinto ng elevator. With furrowed brows, I accepted the folder. "Read it later."

            I held it with both hands before imitated him looking at the door before leaning my back at the wall. It was as if I suddenly felt that even though I had done nothing that could make me tired.

            Nang tumunog ang elevator, hudyat na bubukas na ang pinto ay tumayo na ako ng maayos. Nang bumukas ang pinto, una siyang lumabas at agad naman akong sumunod. Hindi ko naman alam kung saan kami pupunta. Walang imik na sumusunod lang ako sa kanya hanggang huminto siya sa harapan ng isang grey Mustang. I'm 100% sure that it's the 2021 Ford Mustang Shelby GT500. Sobrang yaman ba talaga ng taong ito?

            "Hop in, wifey."

            "What did you call me?"My forehead wrinkled as I stare at him, confused at what he called me. Hindi ko alam kung tama ba ang narinig ko o guni-guni ko lang. Bakit naman niya ako tatawagin ng gano'n, 'di ba?"

            Bahagyang umangat ang isang sulok ng labi niya. Bakit ba namumuro siyang gawin 'yan? Pang ilan na ba mula pa kanina? Akala niya siguro ay nakikippagbiruan ako. Pwes, nagkakamali siya.

            "Just get in the car." He walked to the driver's side, pressed the key fob and opened the door. He glanced at me and raised an eyebrow. "Get in the passenger seat, Lincoln," he commanded before getting into his car.

            I rolled my eyes. "Napaka-demanding ng talipandas!"I grumbled before walking towards the passenger seat. Baka biglang umiral ang saltik sa utak niya, iwanan pa ako. We still have and unfinished business.

            The car was filled with silence. Wala siyang imik at naka-focus lang sa pag-da-drive kaya hindi na rin ako umimik. Hindi ko na rin inasahang tatanungin niya ako kung saan ko gusto kumain dahil kahit kanina ko lang naman siya naka-usap ng medyo matagal, alam kong siya ang tipo ng tao na kung anong gusto, dapat ay siyang masunod. Siguraduhin lang niyang makukuha ko ang sadya ko kung ayaw niyang ihampas ko sa kanya ang sling bag ko.

            "Have mercy on the steak."

            I was slightly taken aback when I heard his voice.  Nag-angat ako ng tingin sa kanya. He pointed at my plate with the fork he was holding so I looked at it. I almost gasped when I saw the outcome of the steak. Did I torture it too much as my mind wandered to what had happened earlier?

            I took a deep breath before putting down the utensils I'm holding to my plate and looked at  him, straight into his eyes. Here I am again, I can't take my eyes away from him like usual. I swallowed the lump on my throat bago umayos ng upo. I set aside my plate first before placing in front of me the folder he had given me earlier in the elevator.

            "Pag-usapan na natin ang sadya ko para maka-uwi na ako," I said without beating around the bush. Wala akong pakialam kung hindi pa siya tapos, gusto ko lang talagang matapos na ito para makauwi na ako. Kailangan ko talagang bumawi ng tulog dahil halos isang lingo ng kulang-kulang ang tulog ko. Ngayon ko talaga sobrang na-realize na dapat kapag may bakanteng oras ka, matulog ka. Tumatakas pa ako minsan no'ng bata ako kapag pinapatulog ako sa tanghali ng nag-a-alaga sa'kin. Kung pwede lang talagang ibalik ang nakaraan, hindi ko siya tatakasan kapag gusto niya akong matulog.

            Ang akmang pagsubo niya sa isang hiwa ng steak ay natigil dahil sa sinabbi ko. He put down the knife and fork on his plate and looked at me with slight confusion. "Really, Lincoln?"  I leaned my body on the chair, crossed my arms and looked at him with left eyebrow raised. "Check what's inside the folder." He also leaned  back on his chair and crossed his arms, mimicking my position. Annoyed with his move, I pressed my lips together before checking what's inside the folder.

            "What the heck?!" I shockingly exclaimed upon seeing what's inside. I looked at him with creased brow. "You asked someone to investigate me?" Putspang buhay naman! Nagpa-imbestiga talaga ang talipandas. Anong akala niya sa'kin, masamang tao? Baka pati record ko sa NBI, pinakalkal  niya para makasiguradong wala akong itinatagong mali.

            "Don't give me that look, woman."

            "Or else what?" I countered. Not giving a damn if his glaring at me. I f only looks could kill, I'm dead by now.

            "You wouldn't want to know." He smirked at me. I rolled my eyes. "Ask me questions now."

            I raised my left eyebrow at him. He glared at me. Now, it's my time to smirked at him. "What are the rules?"

            "Rules for?"

            "After the wedding, Mister. Duh?" I rolled my eyes, again. "After signing the marriage contract, what's next?"

            He uncrossed his arms. "Who said you'll just sign the contract?" he asked with furrowed brow. "Your father?"

            I let out an exasperated sigh. "Ang gulo niyo kausap. Promise!" With lips pressed together,  I continued checking the files. I laughed with no humor when I saw what's written on the last page. "Who made this rules?"

            "None of your business."

            Napa-ismid ako. "Okay lang sa'kin na itago ang kasal," I said, eyes still fixed on the paper. Mas pabor sa'kin ang rule na ito. Hindi naman sa ikinakahiya ko siya ayaw ko lang makarinig ng kung ano-ano mula sa ibang tao.

            "You'll be living in my house starting tomorrow."

            Agad na napatingin ako sa kanya. "What?" I exclaimed. "Pardon?"

            "You'll be my wife so—"

            "In papers," putol ko sa sasabihin niya. "Your wife in papers." I waited for his next words but he just kept quiet so I returned my eyes to the paper. "Aba! Dapat lang!" bulalas ko ng mabasang hiwalay kami ng kwarto kapag tumira ako sa bahay niya. Alangan namang tabi kami? No way!

            "I'll add more if I want."

            I closed the folder before looking at him. I felt my hands became sweaty when I thought something that he might add. Pero baka hindi niya 'yon i-dagdag. "Like what?"

            "You know what it is." Bahagyang umangat ang isang sulok ng labi niya.

            "I don't know what—" I stopped when I realized what he's talking about. "You're not taking me to bed. Ever!" agad na depensa ko. Talaga naman ang lalaking ito. Anong akala niya sa'kin?

            He leaned both his arms on the  table and smirked at me. "Who said it had to be on the bed?" He even wiggled his brows that annoyed me more. The things I would do just  to wipe off that smirk on his lips.

            "Naka-drugs ka ba? O sadyang gago ka lang talaga?" Ang taong kaharap ko ba talaga ang tinagurian nilang 'monster' sa business world? Hindi ganito ang  ugali niyang nabasa at narinig ko. Alam kong gago siya pero hindi ko inasahang ganito ang ipapakita niya.

            Umayos siya ng upo bago naging seryoso. Gone the playful smirk plastered on his lips earlier. The playfulness in his gone was replaced with seriousness. He looks like he's dealing business. "We will annul our marriage after 3 years."

            "Why 3 years?" Hindi ba p'wedeng isang taon lang?...gusto ko sanang i-dagdag pero hindi ko na lang sinabi.

            His playful smirk came back all of a sudden. His serious and intimidating aura is now gone. It was already replaced with playfulness. "You want it to be lifetime instead?"

Pinulot ko ang kutsilyo na nasa plato ko at ipinakita sa kanya. "Gustto mo bang i*****k ko 'to sa lalamunan mo?" I said then gave a fake sweet smile. He chuckled. "Gago!" padabog na ibinalik ko ang kutsilyo sa plato. Buti na lang ay dito kami sa VIP place kami pumwesto kaya walang nakakarinig sa'min. Kung nagkataon na may mga kasama kami, tiyak na mapapatingin sila sa gawi namin.

            "What do you want for dessert?" pag-i-iba niya sa usapan.

            "Mag-order ka ng suman."

            "Funny, Lincoln."

            "Then laugh, Taylor," I countered. Namumuro na ito sa pagbanggit ng last name ko. Lintek lang ang walang ganti.

            Kung may makakakita sa'min na ibang tao, sigurado akong iisipin nilang may LQ kami. Daig pa namin ang mag-asawang nagkatampuhan. We kept throwing sarcasms towards each other. Wala yatang matinong usapan ang mangyayari sa pagitan namin.

            "You know there's no suman here." His eyes narrowed towards me.

            "Nagtanong ka kung anong gusto kong dessert, 'di ba? Para malaman mo, dessert ang—"

            "You better shut that pretty little mouth before I put it to work." I stared at him with wide eyes. Naramdaman ko ring biglang uminit ang pisngi ko. Hindi naman ako tanga para hindi maintindihan ang ibig niyang sabihin. He smirked. "Want to say—"

            "Shut up!" I hissed.

            "Why don't you come over here and make me?"

            I placed both my palms on the table and gritted my teeth while glaring at him. "For the love of f*ck—"

            "Yes. That's me. I like to f*ck."

            My jaw dropped. My eyes almost popped out of its socket. What he said really caught me off guard. What the hell?