Marissa's POVI stopped Mr. Montero's car in front of his mansion's gate. The guards who were guarding the gates became alerted due to their recognition of Mr. Montero's car. When I looked at him, his eyes were still fixated on the road. He was frustrated, I observed.I almost rolled my eyes. Why would he be the one to be frustrated when he ruined his anticipated date?"Sir?" I tried to catch his attention. "You are home.""Then tell the guards to drive my car inside," he said and opened the car door without even consulting me. "Goodbye..." And slammed it shut my face.What an attitude you have, you monster!Just like what he asked me to do, I asked the guards to drive his car inside the mansion. I merely contacted a taxi driver through the Grab App, so I could go home now.I am so, so, so tired that I vowed to myself that I will sleep. Even in the taxi, I was already yawning. I withdrew my cell phone and tried to call Grandma to check on what could be her dinner since I was already d
Diego's POVDamn, what was that?I blinked repeatedly as I looked at the screen where my secretary just dropped my call. She even raised her voice at me! How could she do that when I am having my crucial times here?Do I have to marry her or not?I paced back and forth currently inside my study with the storm of my thoughts. It was so silent yet so loud in my head. I could not forget how I was bothered by how Ms. Dela Cruz described me and how he memorized every good and bad that I had in myself. On the other hand, I must say that she does not have a pleasant socioeconomic status and position in society. It means... she is just ordinary. Her candidates were good choices, but they would only try their best to please me and exploit my marriage with them for their status to elevate.Argh, this is driving me nuts!I have to ask the expert.I dialed Tito George's number. After three rings, he answered and greeted me with his annoying chuckle. I thought he was laughing at me, but when I he
Marissa's POVI did not attend to my office work and to regard what my boss was thinking. As long as I submit my excuse letter for my absence at work, I don’t have to worry about him anymore. Not to mention that he is mad at something that has to do with me that I have no idea whatsoever.I have no time for him, anyway, right now. My grandmother is more important than anything or anyone. Nica has been a thoughtful, caring, and loving best friend ever since we were in college. She never got tired of proving that even until now we have jobs. She was also the one who I ran to when my grandmother was unconscious and who was with me here in the hospital. For the past few days, she always brings fruits and offers to help me take care of my grandmother. "Thank you so much," I said to her when we both went to Starbucks and purchased our coffees. "I would have died in a panic if you did not show up when my grandmother collapsed. You are one of a kind, Nica."Nica sipped on her coffee and pro
Marissa's POVI lowered my head and thanked him, while he merely tapped my shoulder and left me in the hallway. My hands clenched at the sides of the paper I am holding.The bill amounts exceeded my salary over the years as a company secretary. It is only for the rich ones; not for the poor folks like me. I had savings, of course, but I don’t think it is ultimately enough.But I cannot just let my grandmother die easily. It would also be the death of me. Who will be there for me if she’s gone? She’s the only family I have right now, and I can’t bear for her to disappear in my life.“Is it delicious?” I asked her while I was spooning her with the soup I prepared for her after the conversation I had with her doctor.“Thank you, darling,” my grandmother said and smiled.I stared at her while she was fixing the blanket. She had dark circles underneath her weak eyes. The bones of her face were already lined in obvious patterns. She has gotten so thin, even though it has still not been a we
Marissa's POV“Because I find my reason as confidential, and I find you not very caring and sensitive in everyone’s reason, sir,” I explained. “Am I not right on that factor?"He tilted his head and squinted his eyes. “You are only reckoning that I am a heartless person, Miss Dela Cruz," he said.“Are you not?”He did not speak instantly and thinned his lips. I remained unfazed and did not even regret telling what I thought.Before one of us could even utter a word, the elevator opened again and all of the people inside started to withdraw one by one, until the two of us were alone. I immediately stepped back away from him and noticed that I was chasing my breath. I was breathless when we were closed, and it was just awkward. I have to admit that.“I am not used to not having you around in my office, Miss Dela Cruz,” he muttered when he straightened up as if that was the truth he was holding back from himself. “I need you there. When your absence became frequent, I had to admit that I
Marissa's POVI hung my mouth in response to him. I actually did not expect him to answer that since it was too absurd and surreal. What does he mean that he wants to marry me? What about the list of perfect ladies that I prepared for him so he could pick whom he has discerned?Am I on the list? No, I am not! I am his secretary!At first, I laughed it off and then paused when he did not laugh like me. So he must be serious then! I dropped my jaw and started shaking my head.Due to the surprise I was still savoring, I found myself being dragged away by Mr. Montero from the elevator as there were next passengers who wanted to ride and we did not want to be nuisances. He gently guided me out of the hospital and went to the garden with the sunset to end the day. His back was still turned to me as he let go of my hand gently.“Mr. Montero,” I mumbled and blinked repeatedly, almost laughing out of fun. “What were you talking about? You want me to be your.... woah... do you even hear yoursel
Marissa's POV“What do I get from this, then?” I said and crossed my arms. My forehead held high, ready to negotiate on his offer. “What if I approve to be your wife?”The hope in his eyes was evident, so he straightened up as if he were going to war. “Anything you want. Tell me your price and I will negotiate," he said. I squinted my eyes and pouted for a minute, meaningfully trying to make him wait to create suspense. “Fine,” I answered and nodded slowly. “I will send an email to you tonight. I want a contract for me to be assured that you will pay my price. On that contract, I will input my conditions to be followed during my participation on your contract."“I will make the contract as soon as you give me an email,” he said and smirked. “Are you going to work tomorrow, then? That only means you are not going to be absent, right?"I almost furrowed my eyebrows as I saw slight enthusiasm. Why does he care if I go to work? If this is any other case and he is not asking for my help,
Marissa's POVAm I doing the right thing, though?I looked at the massive building where I work from the outside after I got out of the taxi this morning - the VC Holdings Inc. Montero's Corporation is the largest building among the others in the city. I still remember how I nervously walked inside the building for the first time three years ago when I conducted an interview inside before I was accepted as the CEO’s secretary.When I got the position, all I could think about was to make my grandmother and myself proud. I promised myself that after I gained enough experience and skills, I would go abroad to earn more money and have the grandiose and successful career I want to have in life. But for some reason, now I am walking inside the building with the same nervousness and awkward walk. It is not because I will have an interview again, though. I am now in the building to finalize the contract Mr. Montero and I made. A contract that I do not know if it would change my life or not s
Marissa’s POV“You have to go. It’s going late already,” I said to Diego when we finally both went outside the house. “I don’t want you waiting for Lilith at this time. She won’t see you. Let’s give her some time.”Diego’s eyes were conspicuous in front of me, and it made my heart constrict again just like what it did when he kneeled in front of my daughter. Currently, he was subtly looking behind me as if he was hoping Lilith to go outside. He was even playing with his fingers nervously, fidgeting and blinking. The sides of his eyes have already dried up from crying. “Diego…” I called him, now claiming his attention. “Are you okay?”“Yes,” he immediately said and bowed his head. “I feel like I am just disturbing you and Lilith.”“When did you know?” I curiously asked. “That she is your daughter?”He only looked at me with sadness, his eyes venturing around my face. It did not make me uncomfortable. It even gave me nostalgia for how he looked at me every time before, side by side on
MARISSA’S POV“Are you really sure about talking to him?” Brylle asked as he hid my view of Diego who was sitting on the couch in the living room.I sighed while I was crossing my arms. “He wanted to see and know about our daughter,” I said. “What should I do? Deny? He already knew before he could even reach here.”“But you vowed to yourself that you will never see him,” he said firmly and furrowed his eyebrows. “Don’t tell me that you still have feelings for him, Marissa.”I remembered how Diego kissed me a while ago, and I felt so guilty in front of Brylle. Ever since I left the Philippines, he was the one who comforted me together with Nica. They were both supportive of Lilith and I. So I know that he is just worried about me seeing Diego.I could not help but avoid my gaze. I saw from my peripheral vision that he nodded, as if he just confirmed something.“You still love him,” he reckoned.“I have been prepared for making Lilith meet her father,” I stated, meeting his gaze again.
I felt my heart drop when I saw Diego Montero entering the backyard with Lilith holding his hand and pulling him to her friends. Diego’s expression was mixed with confusion and surprise. The guests barely cared, because in their minds, Diego must just be a guest. “What is he doing here, Marissa?” Nica asked as I followed her going outside the house. “Do you think I know?” I exclaimed and muttered a crisp curse. “So why is he holding Lilith?” “I don’t know!” Nica and I kept exchanging frustrated mumbles because we have no idea why Diego was here. How did he even know my address? “Sir, you can get a slice of cake at the buffet table,” Lilith even said and pointed at the table with her head looking up to Diego. I was taken aback that I could not help and snatch her hand away when I got to the both of them. Diego parted his lips as he looked at me, his eyes digging into mine and searching answers from the questions he must be having in his mind. Out of urge, I held Lilith and moved
MARISSA’S POV“We have nothing to talk about,” I firmly said and dropped his hand. “Why don’t you go home to your family now, huh?”Before he could see the tears stinging at the sides of my eyes, I turned my back on him and went straight to my car with my heart beating fast and my mind so cloudy with memories. When I got inside my car and looked in front of me, his car was already running towards the exit, leaving me in the indoor parking lot of the company.I wanted to break down and hold my chest while mentally saying that everything would be alright. Whatever the reason he is here is solely none of my business. Whether he has a family or not, I don’t need him in my daughter’s life.But wait a minute, how did he know that we had a daughter? And did Madame Margarita Montero tell him about what we both agreed on in order for me to leave Diego?Nonetheless, what is done is done. I can’t go back to the past anymore. I have a life here in New York with my daughter. I may not be happy jus
MARISSA’S POV I only snapped when Mrs. Rivera called me. I regarded her who was eyeing me up and down, weirded out by why I was wet. Even Diego was also coldly staring at me, couldn't care less that I was in front of him. He did not even flinch, as if he had already expected that I am here. In New York! “I… I’ll just change, madame. I’m sorry. Excuse me…” I did not waste time and immediately turned my back in order to escape from that stupid embarrassment. My little run with my high heels was awkward as I made my way to the washroom. I gave a message to Ms. Desmon to find me a pair of clothes from my locker and fix myself. “Shit, what was he doing here?!” I said in panic as I paced back and forth inside the cubicle. “He can’t be here. I mean, he can, but for all the places on Earth, why here?!” And he has a wife. And a child. It’s just five years, and he has already moved on? Or am I the only one who distinguished five years to be a shorter time? “Ma’am, here are your clothes.”
“Are you okay, ma’am? You seemed stressed. Do you want me to get you some coffee?” an assistant of mine asked me when she noticed me staring at the wall of my office.“Huh? Oh!” I exclaimed and almost panicked, but I stopped myself and just grabbed the paperwork in front of me. “Don’t mind me. Just please get to work.”Shit. I did not like the idea of not focusing on my work enough and being distracted by what had happened last night with Madame Zeana. Everything she said seemed so absurd to me and impossible.How could she be my mother? She lives in the US, and I lived with my grandmother in the Philippines. I had a simple and convenient life as an assistant, while she is the most luxurious woman who people have known, bringing success from her business and showbiz. Now I could not imagine her kneeling yesterday in front of me, just so I could forgive her.I clenched my fist, crumbling the paper inside my hand.“Ma’am, you are destroying the contract…”“Oh, shit…” I cussed and looked
Marissa’s POV“I don’t understand why you are here,” the first thing I said to Madame Zen who was in front of me. “I don’t even have an idea how you tracked me.”The nanny of my son placed the two cups of tea on the dining table. I am currently sitting in the capital opposite to Madame Zen. She was wearing a fancy cardigan and above the knee leather skirt. Her Louis Vuitton mini bag was even boasting itself that she put on the corner of the dining table. Her sparkling success was very shiny that I had to clear my throat and mind who I was talking to.Madame Zen stared at me for a while before the corners of her lips rose a little. “I have tracked you down ever since you came here in New York. The last minute that I could not see you in the Philippines, I got worried, so I hired a private investigator just to find you.”I was so overwhelmed by what she spilled that I laughed in amusement and sipped on my tea. My head was shaking in disbelief because I thought she was just throwing a jo
Marissa's POV For five years, I only wanted to take care of Lilith, my daughter, as we left the Philippines to start a new life and a new career. After my grandmother died last year, I knew that I had to be strong for the steering wheel that I had been controlling all my life to be steady. Grandma was the reason I wanted to live for a long time. Now, it was Lilith. "Mom, I told you that I wanted to play in the park with my nanny. Why would you not let me?" Lilith said as she stomped her little feet under the dining table. I turned to her while fixing the valuable things inside my bag. Her nanny, on the other hand, was helping her eat breakfast. My beautiful daughter was looking up at me while pouting her lips. Her hair was already done into ponytails and is currently wearing the dress I just bought for her in the mall. "No," I said and smiled at her. "The park is too dangerous, my love. You have to understand me." "Nanny! Help me!" she said and then looked at Nanny Elisa. Nanny
Marissa’s POV I could feel the discrete and watchful stares of Nica and Brylle in front of me. I was just staring at the hot coffee inside a huge mug in front of me. They made sure I ate today, even though it was not a lot. It already satisfied them that I had something in my stomach. “I know you won’t open up to us,” Nica said in the middle of the deafening silence. “But I want you to know that Brylle and I will be here for you.” My eyes slowly darted on both of them. They were beside each other and their hands underneath were obviously intertwined just by the visual of their hands together. The only thing that was separating us was the dining table. Currently, we are in the dining area in front of me. The night was still young. “I am leaving tomorrow,” I started with a lump on my throat, but my eyes are already tired from crying. “And I don’t know if I will be back.” “What?” Brylle exclaimed. “What do you mean?” “Madame Margarita was the primary reason why my contract with Di