Chapter 3

“How are you, Ms. Maya?”

“How is your mother doing?”

Like a wind passing by, I ignored the questions being thrown at me. I sighed in much frustration to let them know I am not in the mood to answer something like that. I don’t care if I am being such a brat. They should know their boundaries and should have a common sense.

“Do you have good news for me? How was it? How’s dealing with him?” Judging from her look, I can already tell the answer to my questions. I tapped Sandra’s shoulder to lighten up her mood. She’s been trying to reach for him these past few days and he’s always busy, too busy to even give a damn thing for us.

“I am sorry, Ms.” I smiled at her to tell her that everything is okay. “I couldn’t catch his whereabouts. According to one of my sources, he just flew to Bangkok early this morning.”

“Don’t worry about it. You can rest tomorrow.”

Mr. Alexander has been avoiding us. I don’t know why but it’s been weeks since we are trying to catch him but all I heard were news of him, flying from one country to another. We always try to catch him here but minutes later, we will just know he’s off to somewhere.

“After his Bangkok trip, I think he will stay here for the meantime. I have heard they are already preparing for the wedding. Ms. Tamara just posted something about the wedding.”

I nodded and didn’t bother to butt in. I closed my eyes, leaning my back on the chair to relax. I sighed deeply. He is really testing my patience. That man… how can he be so cruel?

“I will go ahead, Ms. I will update you something if I’ll get another information of Mr. Alexander.”

The deafening silence echoed in my office. As I am trying to relax myself, I can’t help but regret the time when I rejected his fucking offer. I am not definitely into him but I don’t care about anything. All I want is to save this company from facing bankruptcy. I don’t fucking care anymore about my feelings.

As my secretary said, Tamara really posted about their upcoming wedding. She was just showing off her engagement ring. She put a date in the caption. Must be their wedding date. Majority of the comments were just congratulating her. I didn’t bother to scroll anymore because I already know who is the groom.

Tamara is an influencer woman. She’s a talented woman, a model, an actress, and an heir of her family’s businesses. She’s a public figure that likes to tease her fans with anything in her life that she finds interesting for people even though it’s really not that exciting.

Only few people know about her being engaged with Mr. Alexander. I have him investigated to know about his fiancée and found out it was just Tamara all along. I have known Tamara for almost half of my life because my mother likes to critique someone who’s doing modeling.

I was about to sleep when suddenly my phone rings.

My mother?

“Yes, mom?”

“Nothing… how are you?” why is she asking about me all of a sudden?

“I am about to have my lunch. Do you want me to eat there?” I asked her. It’s the first time that she called since I started working here. Acting as my father’s substitute. I can’t recall the last time that she called me on my phone.

“No, no, no. I am just checking on you. Enjoy your lunch. I love you.”

And that’s the last time I have heard her voice. That’s the last time I have heard her soft voice. That’s the last time I heard her ‘I love you’. That’s the last time I felt love.

Looking at my parents’ picture, I suddenly felt alone. They all left me. I am all alone now. How am I going to live my life now that I don’t have anyone? How am I going to continue living? How am I now?

I smiled bitterly as I stared at my parents picture. They are smiling happily without worry and doubt. They are happy.

My father has a cancer. They have hid it from me for years. I just knew about it when my father went back from his trip.

It was so saddening but I can’t do anything about it. Weeks of spending our time with him, he left us. I was so heartbroken but I know for a fact that my pain can’t be compared to my mother’s pain.

She knows the pain of my father when they decided to keep it a secret from me. She knows everything about his suffering. She knows everything. She prepared herself but she still couldn’t accept it.

I tried to be strong for her. I tried to look tough at everything because I don’t want her to be sad. I don’t want her to be hurting because it pains me. It kills me inside.

Her tears are my weakness.

“You’re so selfish, mom,” I said as I look at her picture. “You’re really selfish for leaving me. How am I going to face the world without you both?”

Staring at them made me realize that they are too in love with each other that they chose to be with each other after everything.

Staring in front of the mirror, I can’t help but feel pity for myself. Dark circles, pale lips, frizzy hair, and lonely eyes. Looking at myself, there’s only one thing I have realized.

I never cried. I couldn’t cry even though I wanted to cry and feel the pain.

“Sandra, cancel all my meetings tomorrow.” Sandra looked so confused for a second but nod right after. “Find me a dress that’s fit for the wedding and also…” I saw how her emotion changes when she finally got what I wanted to do. “Give me the wedding invitation of Mr. Alexander and Tamara.”

“Copy, ma’am. Anything else?”

I shook my head.

If he will always avoid having a conversation with me, then might as well use the wedding invitation that he gave. Does he think I won’t be there?

Oh no, Mr. Alexander. I am sure that there will be no wedding tomorrow.

“What a surprise to see you here, Ms. Maya. I am so sorry for your loss. How are you?”

“I’m good.”

I don’t have an idea who that was. Bumping into people I rarely saw and some were not familiar, was sickening. It’s a beach wedding and they booked the whole hotel for their guests, friends, and families. I opted booking for another hotel not far from here.

It’s almost midnight. Some of the guests were dancing at the beach front. Some just chose to relax, watching the cold breezy night sky above. The ambiance of the place makes you feel welcomed and relaxed. It’s a bit late but my eyes were searching for that someone.

I have seen Tamara with her friends, dancing in front of the bonfire that they made.

Where is that man?

“Come on, man. I know you are better than this.”

A man laughed after. Mr. Alexander and I were not that close, I can’t even consider us as friends but I think I know whose voice was that. I think I know that deep and sexy laugh. “I am a bit tipsy… See you tomorrow, man.”

And, I was right.

Standing not far from me was Mr. Alexander, wearing board short and nothing on top. His back was facing me. It took him almost a minute to finally be free from them. Oh… Fate must be on my side. I smiled as I saw him almost losing his balance while walking towards the hotel.

There were men trying to help him but he politely declined them.

Okay… change of plan.

“Hey… can you help me with something? I think I lost my earring…”

What a stupid excuse, Maya.

“Stop with the stupid acting, Ms. King. I am a little bit tipsy because of alcohol but I am not dumb.”

What? How the fuck did he recognized me that fast? I wasn’t even looking at him to make sure he won’t notice that it was me who’s talking to him. I finally met his gaze and saw how his tired eyes landed on my boobs. I saw how he smiled and shook his head in disappointment.

“What do you want?”

“I need you,” I directly said without tearing our eye contact. His jaw moved at my sudden confession. Was I too straightforward to say that I need him? I really need him. The amusement in his face can be seen.

“Sorry… but in my eyes, I don’t find you attractive.”

What the fuck was he thinking? Does he think I am giving him my body? No! No way! I can feel the coldness in my body as the wind tried to touch my bare torso. “I need you in my co---”

“I’m sleepy. Have a good night, Ms. King.”

I immediately hold his hand before he could leave. Before I could make a scene, I started dragging him with all my might. Due to his tipsiness, he just let me drag him until we are already at my hotel. I locked the door before he could change his mind and leave me.

“What the heck? Where is he?”

I looked at my bed and saw no one. Did he leave? I was just closing… the door… just then, I heard someone using my shower. The bathroom door is not properly closed. I can hear the water pouring on the tile of the floor.

I got the contract already ready on my bed. I sat at the edge of my bed and waited for him to finish.

It took him almost 5 minutes to finish showering. A white towel was wrapped around his waist. He didn’t even bother to dry his wet hair. There are still droplets on his body yet he left it unnoticed. “I won’t waste my time anymore, Mr. Alexander. I want our shares to be back in my hands.”

My forehead creased. Did he just laugh at me? Did he think I was joking? “It won’t be that easy, Ms. King and besides, your father was the one who willingly sold the shares to me.”

“That’s why I am here to make a deal with you.”

“Uh huh, what kind of deal have you got there?”

I swallowed hard. I don’t know… I already have it in my mind but… i’m scared. I don’t really know…

I met his gaze. He is intensely waiting for my answer. “You know, my time is precious, Ms. King.”

“I’ll do whatever you want.”

He laughed so hard at my suggestion. “What more can you offer aside from your small sized…” he licked his lower lips as he traveled his eyes on my boobs.

I shallowed hard as I matched his intense gaze to me. I pulled the string on my top and bottom bikini without avoiding his eyes. I saw how his Adam’s apple moved.

I stood up, slowly walking to him. I felt my bikinis leaving my body to met the floor. “How about this one?” I said. I halted when he’s just an inch away from me.

This wasn’t in my plan! But I don’t think there’s any other greater option than this one.

“You can use my body anytime you want, Mr. Alexander.”

He laughed and shook his head. “Sorry but I don’t repeat—-“

I closed our distance and covered his mouth using my mouth to stop him from talking. He didn’t move, enough for me to do my thing to make him amazed by me.

I will make sure there won’t be wedding tomorrow, Mr. Alexander. I will make sure you won’t forget this night with me.