Chapter 4: Morning Visit

I got home safely after a what-so-called-date that Rodney set up. 

“How was it, darling?” Dad asked as he waited for me to enter the living room. He was sitting prominently with a newspaper in his hands.

“It was fine, dad, Rodney is really nice and a gentleman," I lied, but I didn't care. 

“Really? Then it's good. All settled. You should rest. Have a goodnight, dear," He said as he reached out to kiss my forehead. 

“Good night, dad, I love you," I sincerely said to him as I looked into his eyes. 

“I love you too, sweetheart. I'm sorry, if you need to do this,” He sincerely said, and that's what I've been waiting for. 

“No. Don't be Dad, I promise you, I will be fine with Rodney. I'm going to have a better life,” I assured him, but I'm not so sure about myself. 

“Very well then, get some nice sleep tonight,” He said as he walked me into my room.

My tears fell as I closed the door. I was holding it already when I got home and finally, I released it but suddenly, my phone rang, it was the unknown number again, but it's not unknown anymore because it was Rodney. He was a man of his words when he said he will call me when I get home, so I turned on the green button and started to talk to the other line.

“Hello?” I said, attempting to clear my voice so that he wouldn't notice that I was crying. 

“Hey, did you get home safely?” He said in a very thoughtful tune. 

“Yes.” I simply said.

“Okay, goodni–” I cut off his words when he was about to end the call.

“Wait, Rodney,” I said alarmingly.

“What?” He asked. 

“If you want to ask me out again, please just ask me. You don't have to order your men to abduct me. I'll go with you," I calmly said.

“Sure. Goodnight,”

“Goodnight," 

I ended the call and threw my phone into the bed and walked towards the bathroom to cleanse myself and as soon as I opened the shower I reminisced what happened earlier, Rodney's big brown eyes are so mesmerizing. I bit my lip while cleansing myself. 

"Ranz? where are you?!" I woke up when I suddenly heard Deborah shouting into the corridor, she was finding her five year old son, Ranz. My nephew. 

"Over here, mommy!" Ranz shouted as he heard his mother. 

I got out of my bed and walked through my dressing table and saw my face on the vanity mirror. 

"You're a tough bitch, you can do it!" I reminded myself in front of the mirror. That was my daily affirmation. 

I leave my room to join my family having breakfast at the dining area. Everyone was sitting and eating except me so I sat down and grabbed some muffin on the table and poured a black coffee on my coffee mug. 

"Ms. Sushmita, can I ask where I should put these?" Caroline said, she was holding a big bouquet of flowers. It's a combination of fresh pink tulips and red roses. It's so vibrant and it smells really good.

"That? wait. Is that for me?" I asked her. Caroline is my personal maid. She was a year older than me. 

"Yes Miss, Mr. Xiu dropped these by himself," Caroline said and I was shocked. 

"He came here?, Dad?" I asked if it was true. 

"Yeah, he also handed me the documents for me to sign," Dad simply said.

"And you saw him?" I asked my siblings but they just looked at me and I turned to Caroline for her question. 

"Just arrange it in my room please, thank you Caroline," I instructed. 

"Yes, Miss," She said and immediately climbed to the stairs. I looked at Deborah for an answer.

"No. We didn't see him, it's just Dad," Deborah said. 

"But I saw him, Aunt Sushmita, and I like him. He fixed my broken toy train earlier. He's your boyfriend, right?" Ranz asked me. 

"Just finish your food, sweetie," I said to Ranz. He's just a child, so he doesn't need to know what's happening. 

"What time did he visit, Dad?" I seriously asked my father as he drank his black coffee. 

"6 a.m." Dad simply said.

"It's too early so we didn't see him," Deborah added. 

"Will Uncle Rodney visit you again? I want to play with him," Ranz said to me. He's not gonna give up, such a naughty kid. 

"Ranz can I ask you something?" I said to him,

"Sure, Auntie," He said. 

"Uncle Rodney, what does he look like?" I asked him. 

"Uhm, he's fine. Except the scar on his face. It was a very big scar but it doesn't matter. I still like him," He simply said. 

"And you're not scared of him?" I asked. 

"No. Why would I, Auntie? I like him. He's just like Uncle Brent and Uncle Royce. I asked him earlier if his scar is aching, and he says that it hurts him everyday, can you make his boo boo go away so that it won't hurt him anymore?" Ranz asked me but I didn't know the answer either so I didn't reply back to him and just ate my breakfast. 

Rodney, what are you doing? You are full of surprises.  

As soon as I finished my breakfast I went back to my room again to see the flowers that Rodney dropped by. The scent of the flowers has already scattered all over my room. 

Caroline put it in a large vase and I saw a small red envelope in front of it so I opened it and let the card drop.

It says, 

Contract signing will be held at the Xiu Grand Hotel at exactly 9pm. I'll pick you up at 7. 

-Rodney Xiu

I put the card back on the red envelope and lay in my bed. It was Saturday today and it was my only day off. Why do they have to do this on my day off? Damn it! 

I owned a restaurant somewhere in Manila but I've given all my shares to save our company. I had no choice but to close it but still, it wasn't enough to cover up the debts and we're in a tight situation right now. 

My father thinks that marrying Rodney and having a business arrangement with the Xiu's is the only way to solve this problem and besides, who would say 'no' to a three hundred million compensation, right?