CHAPTER 2

"Alam mo bang kinausap din 'yan ng ama niya dahil gusto ka rin daw niyang maging asawa ni Gustavo?"

Maaga pa lang, marami na itong sinasabi sa akin na kinagaganda ng buong araw ko kahit alam ko na kahit anong oras ay mawawalan ako ng lisensiya. All the things that I am doing is just a little precaution to save my hard-earned title. Ang sarap lang mag mura dahil wala na nga akong naibibigay na oras kay Rajah, nagkakaroon pa ng ganitong issues. 

"Just hope that the discussion will be clear and successful, Jam. Malilinis din ang pangalan ko." I fixed my long hair and tied it loosely. 

"But their intentions are good. Antenor family really likes you. I overheard so many things during the party we have aattended. This is your validation, girl." Jam took her bag.

We're both working on my father's law firm. Pareho kami ng pinapasukan ngunit ngayon ay ihahatid muna niya ako sa korte. I still have a case to settle. Sa sasakyan na ako nagpatuloy na nag-ayos dahil kaunti lang ang aking gamit na dinala.

"Jam, I want you to know that it is a marriage for convenience. Nothing more than that."

"What if he likes you too?" She started the engine of car and pulled over and u turned.

It's too impossible to settle down with a person with personal issues and unfinished business, hindi rin sigurado kung maaayos ba ang hindi naayos. The damage was severe, but I did everything to heal my heart by making mistakes from my own stupid decisions. I hope he's finally healed, too.

Nobody knows about it. Hindi magiging gano'n ang pamilya ni Gustavo kung alam nila ang isang sikreto na tinatago naming pareho. Even my parents, they only decided under the current issues, but they can't look back at the past. The walls I have set are too high to cover my flaws.

"Tignan mo..."

Jam slightly stopped the car. Hindi ko na nga natuloy ang make up ko dahil napatingin ako sa harap ng building kung saan dinumog ng mga media si Ellie. She's a popular actress. She's probably getting all the attention. Who cares? She can ruin the things she wants but I'm not one of those.

Ellie ruined my image. She's also trying to mess with my name. I admit that I was flawed and imperfect. Sobra naman yata ang ginawa niya. I feel like I was defined by the mistakes I made.

Tumayo ako at naging mabuti ako. Hindi ba sapat ang mga nagawa kong tama para hayaan na lang sana ang isang kababawan at daanin sa matinong usapan?

If Ellie wants something personal and painful, I have trained myself to prepare for a traumatizing one.

I am not yet sure about the exact time of meeting up with Gustavo, so I had the chance to meet up with a client first. Basta ang alam ko ay magkikita kami ngayong araw na 'to. Ilang oras din akong naghintay sa kliyente bago dumating. Hindi ko na nga rin namalayan ang oras dahil sa pakikinig. 

Tumayo na rin ako matapos ang matagal na pag-uusap sa kliyente. It's a business issues with a bank and well-known company named Palacio Inc. 

I was preparing for the things that I will be bringing at the law firm to make the next step. Naririnig ko ang mga rant ni Ellie sa isang balita. I am almost lost my focus on walking when she shows up the confirmation of her subpoena.

"Ilalaban ko 'to. Mananalo ako laban sa 'yo. Saksakan ka ng kalandian."

Binato ko abg cellphone ko sa backseat ng sasakyan. Why do I need to keep myself updated? I am so rich to get what I want. 'Yong gusto niya, gusto ko rin. Uunahan ko siyang pabagsakin. 

"Is the deposition done?" I asked my legal team.

"Yes, Attorney. The bank have sent several trust receipt but the Palacio Inc. didn't fulfill their obligation..."

I nodded my head while walking with a colleague. 

"Demand letters were sent to the corporation. Palacio Inc attempted to modify the loan in the first demand letter, but this did not occur. The second and third ones fell on deaf ears..."

Patuloy lang ang aking pagtango sa pinakikinggan ko. Hanggang sa umabot ako sa isang bakanteng lamesa sa office ng legal team ko.

"Napag-isipan din agad ng kabilang kampo to file a complaint of e****a..."

Ilang ulit akong ngumiti at madramang tinignan ang katrabaho. "That’s enough information. Prepare for the things I need to know. In the meantime, I need to attend a meeting."

Ellie will have the biggest mistake of her life. Kaya pala usap-usapan na may patago silang relasyon ni Gustavo dahil mayroon siyang hidden agenda. She's the heiress of Palacio Inc., that's why she's trying to take my wild billionaire.

No one could tame him but me. He even made a first move to reach out for me to discuss the business proposal. 

Now that I am in the reality, I feel nervous. I just want to be calm. Nagsisimula pa lang ang laro. May kundisyon din ang ama niya sa kanya kaya hindi niya ako pwedeng iwanan sa ere.

Hindi ko siya kailangan. Kaya kong ipaglaban ang sarili ko ngunit alam kong mahina ako dahil maimpluwensiya ang asawa ng usap-usapang lalaki ko. Gustavo needs me, too. I know that he can't lose the things he worked hard for year to keep his lifestyle admirable.

"Call me when you are at the entrance and I will tell my men to escort you," si Gustavo. 

"Are you sure you're already waiting for me?" hindi naniniwala kong sinabi sa tawag. 

"What do you think of me, Audra? Ikaw lang ang matigas ang ulo sa ating dalawa. Rule breaker!" 

Parang sigaw iyon sa aking tainga kaya naman bumuntong hininga ako dahil para niyang pinamukha sa akin ang isa sa kasalanan ko. 

"Do not call me a rule breaker, Gustavo! We were both concealing something. Don't play as a victim." 

He chuckled over the phone. "Hurry up, baby. I am so eager to talk about how we will play again. Let's get yourself ready, Audra, para hindi ka na namang magtago kapag natalo ka." 

That's so personal.