Ch2: Business Deal

Daddy nodded his head. “But I want this to be a secret between Mia and Daddy. Can you help daddy keep a secret?“

I hurriedly nodded. “Sure, Mia will keep daddy's secret,” I said. I liked being dad's confidant. He would tell me anything and I would tell him anything.

He carried me to the wall closer to the shelves and pointed at them. “Daddy keeps his secrets here,” he said. “I only want Mia to know.“

Saying that, he pushed aside the shelf and I was shocked to see a hidden cabinet. “Mia, only you can open it now,” he spoke up and brought my finger to the wall.

To my surprise, it opened. A broad smile appeared on my lips. “Wow! That is great daddy,” I said.

Dad nodded. “All the secrets here are Mia's and daddy's. Don't tell anyone about it. Also, don't open the shelf until you turn twenty, okay?“

I pouted. “That is too long,” I said. That was fifteen years to come. How could I wait for that long?

Dad nodded his head. “Daddy knows that it is too long. Just be a good girl, okay?“ I nodded in understanding.

Daddy sat me back on the desk and looked at my face. “Daddy is going to miss you so much. Just know that I love you so much,” he said and brushed away some hair from my face.

I hugged him with my little hands. “ I will miss daddy too. Come back quickly, okay?“ I said.

Dad nodded, but he looked disturbed. He gave me another kiss on the forehead. “Just remember not to tell anyone that I have left, okay?“

I nodded and he took me back to the maids. With one last glance, he walked out of the house with his suitcase.

…

When mom came back in the evening, she asked me where dad was, and I told him he had just gone out.

When dad did not come back after a few weeks, mom started questioning me, asking me if he had said anything to me before leaving.

It was only after I remained adamant he has not said anything that she stopped talking about him. A year later, she poisoned me, saying that that might attract my dad back.

…

On Wednesday, I was coming home from class when I saw some cars in the front of the house. I immediately knew that there were visitors at home.

Usually, mom never introduced me to any of her visitors. I did not want to bother them. I decided to use the back gate.

There was a backyard at the back side of the house. It was the first thing that one would meet when using the back gate.

I had just planned to open the gate when I heard loud laughter. I paused. Mom and her visitors were in the backyard instead.

“I really want the project, son,” mom's voice could be heard clearly. “I know that you are going to push it for me, right?“

There was silence for some seconds. I even thought that it was just some work-related thing they were talking about. I was about to turn and leave when I heard another voice. I froze in place.

“Um… the thing is a little complicated. I don't know if dad will allow it…”

“Name anything you want!“ Mom interrupted him. But I had already heard it. That was Carlos, Carlos Gilbert.

There was another silence. “Anything? You mean anything?“ Carlos asked. And for some reason, I felt my heart beating so fast.

“I know,” Mom spoke up after some seconds. I swear I did not want to eavesdrop. But I was just curious. This was one of the few times that mom talked with her visitors in the backyard. “Mia… she is what you want.“

I froze in place when my name was mentioned. They were talking about business, how I did he come in?

I could hear Carlos chuckle. “You got me here. But I have to confess. I want her. What do you say?“ He asked.

My eyes opened wide in shock. Was that the one Carlos Gilbert I knew of? Of all the people I knew, he was the only person who cared a little about me. Yeah, apart from Dan and Emah, the only two friends I had.

“I have seen your interest in her for quite a while now. I knew you would want her. But you have to know a little more about her. She has only a few days to live…”

Tears welled in my eyes the moment I heard that. Did mom really have the courage to say such words to anyone else when she had caused everything?

And what were they talking about? Was mom selling me to Carlos just because of a business deal?

Wait! So, all this time that Carlos was so good to me, was it because of his own interests?

“So it is true?“ Carlos asked, his voice a little lower. I clenched my fists. Even if I was going to die, was it worth announcing it to everyone else?

“Yeap, she has at most two years to go. You can play with her now if she is what you want. After she is gone, there is still Denny. She is not bad either. She will make a good wife…”

That was the most I could take. Play with me? After I am gone? Seriously? I knew that my mom hated me, but I never thought it could be to that extent.

“Do you think she will give in to me? She seems a little difficult to handle,” Carlos said, his voice a little worried.

Mom chuckled. “If I ask her to, she won't have a choice. Just remember not to mention to her about Denny for now…”

“Actually, I think I should give it a try first before you intervene,” Carlos said. And it hurt me to think that he, out of everyone, would agree to such a thing. Tears continuously fell out of my eyes as I stood at the gate.

“Deal!“

“Deal!“

I could even hear the clinging of glasses as they tossed each other. Hatred, pain and anger filled me. I didn't know how much I stood there, crying. I felt so hurt.