Red String of Fate

Chapter 3: Intertwined

"Pero, Miss Lianna-" 

"Please. I'm not used to the honorifics especially from someone who's older." 

"Pero..." 

"Manong, ayoko pong mailang sa inyo kasi sa totoo lang kayo lang po ang kilala ko dito ngayon maliban kay Daddy." She pleaded and her father's assistant looked at her for a long time before he nodded his head. 

"Masusunod." He replied and Alexa smiled gratefully. 

"Salamat po." She said. She closed her eyes and fell asleep until she heard someone call her name. "Nandito na po ba tayo?" She asked Manong Edgardo.

"Nandito na." He replied and she suddenly felt nervous. What do you tell your sick father whom you have not seen for fifteen years? She thought as the chauffer opened the door for her.

"Sino bang hinihintay natin at ang tagal na nating nakatunganga dito? Aba, alas sais ng umaga pa kami dito at mag-a-alas nuwebe na! Kung kayo hindi busy kami ni Lia maraming gagawin!" A tall, elegant woman asked with a trace of irritation in her voice. 

"We're waiting for Atty. Carbonel's daughter, Ms. Valderama." Atty. Jose answered and Clarissa Valderama glared at him.

"Atty. Carbonel's daughter is already here!" She said before she flicked her fan open. "My Lia is the eldest daughter of Atty. Carbonel, hindi ko alam kung sino pang hinihintay natin!" 

"Are we sure she's coming?" Lia Agatha Carbonel calmly asked. 

"Sinundo sya ni Sir Edgardo sa airport. Siguro maya-maya lang ay nandito na sila." Atty. Jose replied. He's a friend of Atty. Carbonel and he never liked Clarissa Valdrema and her daughter. 

"Si Edgardo mismo ang sumundo sa kanya?" Lia asked, her neatly trimmed brows arching. 

"Oo." 

"She must really be important." She scathingly said. 

"Of course she's important since she's the legitimate daughter." A very tall man who's dressed impeccably stated. He nodded his head at Atty. Jose and took the seat opposite Lia and her mother. 

"Nickolai Sandoval, still the bastard I see." Lia muttered, displeasure evident on her face. 

"Lia, Lia, Lia. You know it's always a pleasure to be in the same room with you." Nickolai drawled as he gazed insolently at the two women. 

"The pleasure isn't mutual." Lia replied as she stared at Nickolai defiantly. The door opened and a fifteen-year old girl with waist-length black hair walked inside the room with her head bowed low. She shyly mumbled her greetings before she walked quietly towards an empty seat at the far corner of the room. 

"Lee Ann, saan ka ba nanggaling?" Clarissa asked the teenager who glanced at the older woman briefly before she lowered her eyes again. 

"Sa labas po, nagpahangin." Lee Ann Carbonel replied. 

"Hello, Lee Ann." Nickolai addressed the young girl whose cheeks tinged pink at the attention. 

"Good afternoon po, Atty. Sandoval." Lee Ann said in a small voice and Lia rolled her eyes knowingly. Napaka-obvious nitong batang to. But what the hell does she see in that idiot Nickolai? She thought. A phone rang and Nickolai Sandoval excused himself from Atty. Jose and Lee Ann not sparing Lia and her mother even a glance as he quickly walked out of the room. 

"Napakabastos talaga ng taong yun!" Clarissa said as Lia looked at Lee Ann's bowed head. 

"Pathetic." She said shaking her head. Lee Ann bowed her head lower as she pretended to examine the embroidered flowers on her sling bag. "What a loser." Lia added. Someone knocked before the door opened and Atty. Jose immediately stood up when he saw Atty. Carbonel's assistant.