Chapter 3: Marry Me in Two Weeks

“So, Chester, your name is rising pretty fast in the industry since you took over the company. That’s quite impressive,” Daddy praised Chester habang kumakain kami ng lunch.

Meanwhile, I couldn’t even raise my gaze dahil sa kaba. My mind is very clouded, at hindi pa magandang… ramdam na ramdam ko ang titig sa akin ng pinakamatanda sa tatlo. Chester Lancelot Del Fuego was staring at me angrily like I did something fucking horrible! Bakit ganoon siya makatitig? Dahil ba sa nangyari kagabi?

Ang kapal naman ng mukha niya kung ganoon! Last time I checked, he was the one who introduced himself as Chancellor! Kaya kung may dapat mang magalit sa aming dalawa, ako iyon! He tricked me! He lured me! He kissed me and… it was… 

I cleared my throat at the thought of it. I wouldn’t say I didn’t enjoy it, pero kahit na! He should’ve known that I was looking for his brother! And I… I can’t believe I haven’t differentiated them.

But now, I think I know how it goes.

“Thank you, Sir. Well, honestly, I haven’t taken over the company yet. I just made a simple contribution when it comes to the machines we’ve been distributing,” Chester answered.

His eyes are actually way deeper. His gaze were surprisingly more intense and heated. At ang boses niya ay mas malalim. He speaks like he’s well too fond of himself, hindi gaya ni Chancellor na marespeto at palakaibigan.

At first, I really thought that maybe, I was just confused at the three of them kaya naiisip kong si Chester ang nakasama ko kagabi. But as he talked slowly, I realized that I may be confused at the three of them, but I was sure that he was the one I did it with last night.

His eyes tell me it.

“Simple contribution? Your new products received high ratings. Isama pa ang magazines and… other services that you enhanced. They were all at the top of the chain.” My brows furrowed at Fiona’s compliment. I know her very well. Those compliments have other meanings. Is she flirting?

“See? Kailan mo ba ibibigay ang presidency sa anak mo, Chris? He seems well-prepared for this,” Dad said.

However, Tito Chris laughed before he pats his son on the shoulders. “Kung alam mo lang, I was already pushing him to do so. Pero matigas ang ulo. He said he wanted to do one thing before handling the company.”

Daddy seemed amused. Hindi ko tuloy mapigilang mag-angat ng tingin dahil kailanman ay hindi ko siya nakita o narinig na ganito kaproud sa isang tao. Funny that he never seemed that amused whenever we showed him our achievements.

When I breathed heavily, I looked away from my father. Pero nang gawin ko iyon, nahuli ako ng titig ni Chester. My eyes locked at his intensed gaze, pero kaagad ko iyong iniwas. I couldn’t hold that stare longer. Titig niya pa lang, para na akong sinisilaban dahil sa kaba. It felt like I was a candle melting under his stare.

“Oh, really? Ano ba ang gusto mo pang gawin bago mo ihandle ang negosyo niyo? Maybe you can do it while managing the corporation!” Daddy suggested.

But to our surprise, Chester’s answer was quick… and damn demanding.

“Simple,” he said and started wiping his mouth, telling us that he was serious about it. “I want to marry your daughter before I completely take over the company. So that means that I… want this marriage as soon as possible.”

What the fuck?!

The annoying sound of utensils filled the room nang wala sa sariling mabitawan ko ang kubyertos dahil sa narinig! He wants this marriage as soon as possible when we barely even know each other?!

“As soon as possible?” bago pa ako makapag welga, kunot noo nang itinanong iyon ni Daddy sa kanya. However, the way he asked Chester seems like he’s damn excited!

No… this can’t be. Hindi porke’t wala na akong magagawa ay mamadaliin na nila ito!

“Yes. if you’d allow it, I want a wedding in about two weeks–!”

“Two weeks?!” I exclaimed. “Are you in a race or something?”

Halos matawa ako dahil parang hindi totoo ang lahat nang nangyayari dahil napakabilis naman ng gusto niya?!

“Paris,” saway sa akin ng Daddy dahil sa pagpalag ko sa kagustuhan ng golden boy niya. 

Who the hell wanted to get married in just about two weeks?! Hindi ako papayag na matali sa kanya, sa ganoong kabilis na oras! I want to buy time to escape this damn engagement kagaya ng ginagawa ko noon sa nakaraang engagements ko! But with this pace, na gusto niyang ikasal kaagad, mababaliw ako bago ako makatakas!

“That's just impossible. I mean… sa preparations pa lang–!”

I tried to look for an excuse, pero mukhang pinaghandaan niya na talaga ito!

“Regarding that, you don’t have to worry. I have them all prepared. If you’re unsatisfied with the decor and preparations, then we can just… have another ceremony.”

What?!

Shit… ano ba talagang plano niya? Are his brothers in a race for this, or what? Bakit siya nagmamadali sa pagpapakasal na ito?

Am I a good catch? I don’t think so. Despite being the daughter of my father, the well-known business tycoon in this industry, I was never his heir! Plus, I have tons of issues trailing behind me, kaya anong makukuha niya kung papakasalan niya ako agad?!

“Hmm, that actually… sounds great,” Dad said with a smirk. Of course, he likes it. Chester is… a good catch for sure!

“So… Paris?” Chester asked in a low and naughty tone, parang nang-iinis o kung ano!

“She doesn’t have any problems with this,” Daddy interrupted before I could even damn speak. “Right… Paris?”

My jaw dropped at how disrespectful it was. Hindi ko alam pero hindi ko na talaga kinakaya ang ginagawa niya! Getting married in two weeks? Sinong baliw ang papayag sa ganoon?!

I angrily sighed and put my spoon and fork down. Umiiling kong tinanggal ang dining napkin at kinuha ang purse ko dahil hindi ko matatagalan ang hapag na ito!

“Excuse me,” I said before I exit myself.

“Paris–!” Narinig ko pa ang tawag ni Daddy at ni Tito Christopher pero hindi ko iyon pinakinggan. I immediately walked away from the damn restaurant dahil naiirita na talaga ako sa mga napag-uusapan.

I couldn’t even swallow an engagement that he arranged, tapos ngayon, basta-basta niya na lang akong ipapakasal sa lalaking napili niya dahil fast-rising ito sa business industry?! Is that any way for a father to behave?!

Hindi ko… hindi ko siya maintindihan. At mukhang hindi ko na talaga siya maiintindihan.

With heavy breathing, I walked at a fast pace, determined to get out of there kahit wala naman talagang pupuntahan. I just want to leave. I just want to be out of his reach before I completely lose my mind and my dignity!

But when I was just about to call the approaching cab, I felt an arm wrap around my waist and pulled me away from the pavement!

“What the–?!” 

“You can’t just run away from everything, you know.” His deep and rough voice penetrated my ears, making me feel different emotions. Kahit ngayon ko pa lang siya nakilala, pakiramdam ko’y sauladong saulado ko na ang boses at ang galaw niya!

“Let go of me, Chester!” I shouted and removed his damn thick arms around me!

I’m not sure if he’s just going easy on me kaya ko natanggal iyon. But seeing how his brows shot up, I’m sure that no matter how soft he portrayed, he’s still not letting go of me today.

“Oh, you suddenly knew the difference between me and your boy, hmm?” I gasped at his words. Aminado akong dahil sa napag-usapan kanina, bahagyang nawala sa isip ko ang issue na iyon. But because of his remarks, siguradong sigurado na akong siya nga iyon!

“Bastard,” I insulted him before I turned my back. Bahala siya riyan!

“Ano ba?!” sigaw ko nang muli niya akong hilahin bago pa ako tuluyang makaalis sa kanyang harapan. “Nasasaktan ako, bitawan mo nga ako–!” 

However, he suddenly pulled me closer, making me face him. My heart started racing wildly when I saw how angry he already is. His jaw is tightened, and so is his grasp on my wrist. Parang kaunti na lang, sasabog na sa galit.

His glare made me shut up. I’ve never seen someone this angry, and I… don’t think I want to see it again.

Chester closed his eyes and breathed heavily. It’s like he’s trying to calm down as he loosens his grip. “Sakay,” he calmly said when he clicked the car door open.

“Bakit naman ako sasakay diyan–?”

“Don’t make me repeat myself, Paris Felicity. Sumakay ka na,” he said, still annoyed. “I’m not going to harm you. Just get the fuck inside the damn car.”

I glared at him. Balak ko pa sanang tumakbo palayo at huwag siyang sundin, but it seems like luck isn’t really on my side. It started to drizzle. And I’m sure that anytime now, maaaring lumakas pa iyon. Damn it.

Wala akon nagawa kundi ang irapan siya at pumasok sa sasakyan. He closed the door before he went inside the driver’s seat. I immediately fastened my seatbelt habang panay pa rin ang buntong hininga. I can’t believe that I’m actually in his car after that damn wedding he’s offering to my father. Sa tingin niya ba makukumbinsi niya pa ako? I barely know him!

And last night… did he… did he do that dahil alam niyang ako ang magiging finacee niya?!

It made sense to me now! Akmang kokomprontahin ko siya nang maagaw ng pansin ko ang pigura ni Chancellor na kalalabas lang ng restaurant. He seems like he’s looking for someone, at sigurado akong ako iyon!

“Chancellor–!” I was cut off when Chester honked so loudly that even made his brother jump in shock!

“Pahara-hara,” Chester whispered before continuing to drive at nilampasan na si Chancellor!

“Why did you do that?!” I angrily shouted at him, dahil muntik niya nang banggain ang kapatid! 

“Do what?”

“You know what I mean! Ibaba mo na nga ako! Chancellor is already here. I’m sure he’s looking for me. Sa kanya na lang ako sasabay–!”

“And you really think I’d allow that?” he asked in a low and cold tone. “We’re getting married in no time, Darling. So if you think that way, then think again.”

I glared at him. Dahil sa sinabi niya, parang muling nanumbalik ang init ng ulo ko. I badly want to confront him earlier, pero Dad kept interrupting me! Now, I have my chance to do so.

“Let’s get things straight, shall we? I’m not getting married to you,” deretsahang sambit ko sa kanya dahil wala naman talaga akong planong pakasalan siya!

“Like your father would allow that after I gave him my proposal,” he said in a mocking tone.

My lips parted in annoyance. Galit ko siyang hinarap dahil sigurado akong kung ano man ang inoffer niya, napakalaking opportunity noon dahil kinaya ni Daddy na bitawan ang mga Rodriguez!

“What did you offer my father?”

“Nothing much,” he said. “But it sure seems precious for him to… marry me off to his beloved daughter.”

I rolled my eyes. Does it? I don’t think so. I don’t even think I’m that precious to him. 

“Don’t be too fond of yourself. He’s easily carried away by such things,” I said. “Surely, if somebody offered better, he’ll take me off of this–!”

“Kaya nga magpapakasal na tayo–!”

“What the hell’s with the rush, golden boy?!” I asked in annoyance. “It sure seems that no one from your brothers is after your damn throne! And what could you possibly gain from marrying me? If you think I’ll be inheriting something from that man, then think again,” panggagaya ko sa paraan niya ng pagsasalita.

I just met him once pero sa sobrang galit ko, parang kayang kaya kong ibuhos ang lahat nang iyon sa kanya. He’s just as crazy as my father!

“All I want is you, Paris Felicity. All I want is you…” he whispered.

His words made me shiver. Hindi ko alam kung bakit pero ang paraan ng pagkakasabi niya noon… nagdulot kaagad ng kakaibang kaba sa akin. It’s like he’s completely owning me or something. It’s like he’s declaring me as his property.

“Kaya kung iniisip mong magiging kagaya ako ng iba mong engagements na matatakasan mo lang, then quit thinking, because I own you already.” He stopped the car. “Last night, remember?” 

When he smirked and looked at me with those naughty eyes, I gritted my teeth in anger at hindi ko na napigilan ang sarili na sampalin siya. How dare he use that excuse in my face when he has tricked me!

“How dare you mention and be proud of it when you clearly know that I don’t intend to give myself to you!” I shouted angrily. “You clearly know that I was seeking your brother! You knew last night that I was seeking for Chancellor because I am… in love with him–!”

“How could I know–?!” he said but stopped himself immediately. “Chancellor, huh? So you’d rather be his mistress, then?”

My brows furrowed at it. What mistress is he talking about?

“He’s that good at making women fall, huh?” He smirked. “Flash news, Darling, he’s wooing someone else, so quit it,” he said angrily.

Parang tinambol ang puso ko dahil sa gulat sa nalaman. Chancellor is… wooing someone else? How could that possibly be? How could he possibly love someone else at the same time that he can make me feel that loved?!

Paanong…

“Not believing me? Then why don’t you go and ask him yourself? I’m pretty sure that his answer won’t be the same as I did last night,” he said.

My teeth gritted in anger habang nanlilisik ang matang nakatingin ako sa kanya. I hate it. Dahil sa sinabi niya, pakiramdam ko’y nawalan ako ng uuwian. Pakiramdam ko’y nawalan ako ng masasandalan at ng dahilan para umalis at lumaban.

I felt like I lost my home. Like I have nowhere to go anymore, Dahil ang pahinga at tahanan ko…

“And I wouldn’t let him too, of course,” he said and held my chin. “Because you’re mine, Paris. And starting last night, I will be your Chancellor.”

With a swift move, he leaned toward me for a passionate kiss. 

“I know what you’ve been through, Darling. Marry me in two weeks, and I will take you away from your possessive father. I will give you the things that you know you deserve.”