Chapter 5

"Hey Laki!"

I stormed into the house, my face looking just as stormy. My hair was in disarray from the windy jeepney ride. I commuted because I realized I had given the wrong envelope to the guard earlier.

I thought I had handed him the letter, but in my unlucky haste, I had given him the envelope containing my salary. I only found out when I was already seated in the taxi, and I quickly got out when I realized I had no money to pay.

In my rush, I didn't even bother to check.

"Momma, what's 'gago'?"

I was startled when I heard my son's voice from behind the sofa. He was poking his head out like he was hiding and peeping at me.

His curious eyes held a hundred unasked questions.

"What are you doing there, baby? Come here..."

"Hush, Momma! We're playing hide and seek, po!" He immediately hid and didn't peek at me anymore.

He really didn't want to show himself to me.

I cursed in my mind while thinking of ways to punish Laki.

I moved to where my son was hiding, but I froze when something caught my eye.

A burly man was leaning against the kitchen doorframe. I blinked when I saw the devilish grin on his face.

Why wasn't this guy wearing a shirt?

Laki was still smirking at me, so I gave him the middle finger and rolled my eyes.

Thankfully, my son couldn't see that.

Physically, Laki looked like Lazarus, but Lazarus had a stricter and more serious face. Laki was the playful and mischievous version of Lazarus. They both had undeniable sex appeal, with or without clothes.

"Zon baby, come out now," my voice was stern, which made my son quickly come out from his hiding spot.

I really wanted to throw a flower vase at Laki when I saw my son in full view.

My son was half naked too.

Really frustrating. What if he gets a stomach ache? I would really bury Laki alive.

I picked up my son and placed him on the sofa. Now, he was standing in front of me on top of the sofa. "Baby, did Uncle Laki feed you?"

"Yes, po, Momma! I ate a bucket of fried chicken!" He patted his little tummy. A few strands of hair covered his face, so I fixed his slightly messy long hair.

I looked at Laki. He crossed his arms against his chest as he leaned his left upper arm to the side of the polished wooden door.

"I'll get his clothes."

I didn't pay him any mind as he walked past me to go upstairs to Zon's room. The house wasn't that cramped, but it was just enough for the two of us. Just me and my son.

I took the rubber band from my handbag and tied my son's dark hair. He was sweating a bit from playing.

"Momma, I want to cut my hair, po. Tito Laki said I look like a gay with long hair, po," his reddish moist little lips pouted as he said those words. He still had a bit of difficulty pronouncing the letter r.

"You don't look like a gay to me, baby."

"But you should cut it, you're just too shy."

I shot Laki a death glare. He had already come down and laid out a plain dark blue tee shirt.

I harshly accepted the shirt from Laki and gently put it on my son.

I really don't know why I get so angry with the Cavanaugh brothers. I'm irritated, annoyed. It's just frustrating. Maybe it's because of what happened between Lazarus and me, even if it was just for a month.

That one month was really hard to forget.

"Hmm, Momma? Are you done working? Can we play now?"

I was momentarily stunned by my son's question. I bit my lower lip, trying to contain the anger, lest I punch Laki without a second thought.

I didn't want to lie to my son. He's young, but I just didn't want to fill my son's curiosity with lies.

"Yes, my work's done, baby," the hint of anger was still there in my voice, but I didn't let it show. "But you have to sleep first, okay?"

Laki was still standing at my side. I could see his stiff posture in the corner of my eye.

I picked up Zon and went up the stairs to his room. I left Laki there, knowing he wouldn't leave until we had a talk.

After half an hour of telling his favorite story and singing his favorite lullaby, my son fell asleep.

I went back downstairs after kissing my peacefully sleeping son's forehead. I always put him to sleep at noon because if not, he'd be asleep by six in the afternoon from playing too hard.

I didn't enroll him in school yet because he has a tutor every weekend, and I'll enroll him in a private school next school year. It's my Mom's idea that he should go to a private school. They said they'd help me with the expenses for their grandchild.

When I got downstairs, Laki was pretending to be seated on the sofa, watching Nickelodeon. At least now, he was wearing clothes.

He took the remote from the center table and turned off the television when he saw me.

"You look serious," the teasing tone was evident in his deep voice. "Oh? What did I do now?" he asked, looking genuinely puzzled when he saw the burning anger in my eyes.

"Did you give Lazarus Zon's DNA sample?" I couldn't help but be suspicious of him.

"He'd be so lucky if I were the one who gave it to him," he said seriously, but the teasing tone still hadn't left his voice. "I know Kuya Lazarus, he doesn't need my help just to do what he wanted. What if he demands custody of his own son?" he smirked teasingly. "I'll support you in court."

This guy is really infuriating. Both him and his brother are demons.

Maybe their blood boils against each other. They don't seem to get along. Lazarus aims high for their company, while Laki is a competitive magnate with lots of connections in politics, business, and more.

I wouldn't be surprised if he found out more about what happened between Lazarus and me before, and how it all ended up with Luzon.

I stood in front of Laki while he was sitting on the sofa. His knees were apart, and his elbows were resting on them, and he looked up at me.

"You're fired?"

"I have no choice."

"Still won't accept my money?" He's really testing my pride.

I shook my head. "I'll just look for another job."

"Why didn't you just accept my brother's offer? You're just making things difficult for yourself."

That got me silent.

I've been struggling ever since I got pregnant with Zon. I tried to contact Lazarus, even though I knew it was unlikely he'd answer my call.

He wouldn't want to hear my voice or see my face.

I'm done trying to force my way into his life. All I cared about before was ensuring that my child wouldn't grow up without a father, so I felt obligated to talk to him about the baby. But he never listened.

Now that my life is quiet and peaceful, he decides to disrupt it? After all the trouble he's caused before?

Hasn't he done enough damage?

"I would never do that," I said firmly.

I promised myself I would never beg again.

If someone doesn't want me, I won't force myself on them. I don't want my son to see me as pitiful. He used to see me as brave and strong.

A week after the incident in Lazarus' office, I immediately started looking for a new job.

"I'm so sorry, Ms. Belmonte, but we don't have any vacant positions in this office for you. Try applying at Cavanaugh Finance Corp."

Every bank and company I went to rejected my application, even though I could see that they were hiring. They all suggested I apply at Cavanaugh Finance Corp.

It's clear that Lazarus is involved in this again.

I've been hungry since earlier. It's scorching hot outside, but I'm walking. I can't afford a taxi or any other mode of transportation. My car is just sitting at home, the gas almost empty. My parents will send money next week, but I'm not relying on them. I need to find a job.

I left Zon at Irithel's house. That rich witch offered me money, but I didn't accept it.

It's not all about pride.

"I'm so sorry, Ms. Belmonte, but—"

"Fine! Fine! I'm leaving! Is this another suggestion to try applying at Cavanaugh Finance Corp.? Take my resume!" I said this in frustration. It's happened to me several times before.

They're like broken records, saying the same things over and over again. It's infuriating.

It's already hot outside, and I've been walking for quite some time. I don't even know where I'm going next to apply for a job. I don't have money for a taxi or any other transportation. My car is just parked at home, almost out of gas. My parents will send money next week, but I'm not relying on them. I need to find a job.

I happened to stop in front of a tall building, several meters away.

My feet brought me to the building of Cavanaugh Finance Corp.

I saw Lazarus near the entrance, talking to a businessman. I also saw his expensive car waiting below.

He's probably leaving.

The anger I carried earlier weighed heavily on my heart.

Maybe it's time I let it out.