Chapter 4

Chapter 4

"I'm going to lose myself even more, Papa, especially since this bodyguard you sent to watch over me is so disrespectful!" Her voice was about to reach a high pitch but she was talking to her father. She still has to respect him. She heard his father laugh again.

"Love, I was just making sure that you're safe and I trust Gabrielle—"

"Well, I don't trust him," she immediately interjected.

"Love, I am in a state of danger. I just don't want you to be affected by your Godfather Albert's problem." She frowned.

"What are you saying Papa?"

"Your godfather Albert borrowed money from a big-time loan shark. The amount he owed was millions and your Godfather Albert made me the collateral. I was so stressed knowing that problem—"

"Wait! What!? How did he make you a collateral Papa? Did he blackmail you?" She heard her father sighed on the other line.

"Those loan sharks were a friend of mine and Albert, ija. I didn't know Albert was addicted to playing poker. Your godfather Albert is addicted to gambling then he purges my signature. Telling that whatever loans he gets, I will be the one who will pay for it."

"That's bullshit! I mean—I'm not cursing you Papa—Godfather Albert. Ugh! Whatever! But we can pay for that, right?"

"Actually, I can ija but I won't tolerate your godfather Albert. He says he could pay for it. Actually, yesterday, there was only one person he hadn't paid yet."

"Okay then if he can't afford the amount, I can cover him up?" she said confidently. Of course, she can pay for it. She's that filthy rich!

"You can't," he replied.

"What? Why not? And speaking about me? What do I have to do with that, Papa, for you to decide to throw me here in the province?" Her eyebrows were raised. She badly needs an answer. He sighed.

"Honestly ija, I talked to him and he won't take my money. He wants something and it's you." She was stunned. Feels like she was somehow deafening because of what she heard.

"What!? Say it again?" she said again.

"He wants you, ija. He offered me a marriage," his father said without a break. Her eyes rolled.

"What!? Are you kidding me!?" she said in horror.

"I'm not."

"No! There's no way I'm gonna marry a stranger! No!" Now she's starting to be hysterical.

"Even me, my child, I'm not willing to do what he wants, that's why I sent you to a distant province first. I want to convince him first—"

"Wait," she stopped her father.

"Hmm? What is it?"

"Something's off. Your tone Papa. You don't sound worried!"

Her eyebrows met. Believe it or not but that's what she feels. Her father's tone was definitely calm. She wonders why that is when there are problems like this she loses the more she tries to argue.

"Dad, don't tell me you're doing something crazy!" she said and she was really suspicious.

"No, ija, I'm not kidding, not even joking or making an excuse for you to get settled. I am telling the truth. In fact, I am just calm because I know you're not like the other woman. You're not that vulnerable to give in." She smirked. Yes, that's where her father is also proud of her. She was not that weak to give in.

"But Papa, I don't want this set up. This is driving me crazy. It's not that I'm overreacting Papa, but this is not what I dreamed of!" She shouted and she had the right to complain. She heard her father sigh violently.

"This is just temporary. I will make sure to persuade that man. I also don't want you to marry any man."

She smirked. Good thing her father isn't that low when it comes to finding her husband-to-be.

"Ija, I'll call you again, be good okay? Gabrielle will provide you everything—"

"Yeah, everything..." she answered sarcastically. He hung up and she turned to Gabrielle. She makes faces at him.

"Will you take back my cellphone again?" she asked. Maybe he'll get crazy again if she doesn't act nicely and hopefully she won't be banned from something she wanted. He crossed his arms and wet his lips. She was stunned there for a moment. Why the hell does she find that—err—attractive? Shit! She snapped to herself.

"No, but your cell phone must be in airplane mode. You only open it if you have important documents to attach and when you disobey me. I'll get it from you again." He grimaced.

"You're driving me nuts!" He just shrugged at her. He turned his back on her but suddenly stopped and looked back at her.

"You will just use your cell phone for only five minutes," he added, then left her completely.

"Son of—a grasshopper! You?" She stopped cursing him because she was shy when suddenly his mother came with an old man. It must be Gabrielle's father.

"Kathleen, come and I'll introduce you to Gabrielle's father," Gabrielle's mother called her.

"Yes," she answered weakly and approached them nicely.

"That's Kathleen, Efren. She's the daughter of Gabrielle's boss."

"Susana, it's embarrassing for Kathleen to see me looking so messy like this," said Efren with a deep shame on his face.

"It's fine," she said and smiled at them. She stared at the couple for a moment and glanced casually at Gabrielle. She wonders why he doesn't look like his parents. Gabrielle is very tall. She estimated that he was like 5'9 ft. tall. She's 5'5 ft. tall, so she was able to say that because that was her observation. The man was taller than her.

"Oh, I told you, our son's bosses are kind," said Susana. She smiled wildly. She felt so awkward because they were really embarrassed by her presence. But she should be the one who will feel that way because she's a disturbance for them.

"Oh, it's still really embarrassing," said Efren as he scratched the back of his neck. His clothes are not that dirty. It's normal for a farmer to be muddy and she admires farmers like Efren. They work hard for it and that is why we have rice to eat to satisfy our hunger.

"It's really fine. Please don't be ashamed of your work. It is something you can be proud of," she said.