It Started With A Lie

--Chapter Five--

        His smiles annoyed her more. "Plenty of reasons." He raised his finger, "One, you told everyone in the lobby that you are my wife. Some of my business associates were there nang walang pakundangan kang nag-announce. Now every one of them is asking me kung bakit kita itinatago sa publiko. They were thinking that I am being a bad person, a bad husband for that matter. You marred my reputation. Hindi maganda sa business 'yon. Also, the woman I was seeing didn't showed-up on our dinner date and called me a two-timer."

      Napaubo siya ng di sinasadya sa sinabi nito.

      "You owe me with that. And if that reason is not enough, alam ko ang sekreto mo."

       Natilihan siya bigla. Ano ang alam ng lalaking ito tungkol sa kanya. Her heart started to race again.

     "I know James Kane at alam kong you ran away from your wedding. Alam mo ba ang pwedeng gawin ni Mr. Kane sa iyo oras na malaman niyang naririto ka at nagtatago sa resort ko? The man is known for his temper. Who knows what he will do to you oras na matagpuan ka niya rito."

     "What do you want?" This guy is going to blackmail her.

      "Are those reasons enough? I can give you more if you want just to convince you."

       "I said, what do you want."

        "Have dinner with me tonight. I'll tell you what I have in mind."

         Hindi siya sumagot. Pinaningkitan lang niya ng mata ang lalaki.

          He smiled and she's starting to hate the way he raised his lips in one corner as if teasing her. "I guess silence means yes. So, see you tonight at seven. Josh will fetch you." Matapos nitong sabihin iyon, he took a step backward and turned. He started to jog away from her, leaving her, looking like she's lost in some unknown world.

       IT'S ALMOST seven at kanina pa hindi mapakali si Xandria. Kanina pa siya paroo't parito. Noong una ay gusto niyang ignorahin si Rayven, hindi na siya sisipot at makipag-usap dito; iiwasan na lamang niya ang lalaki. Ngunit naisip niya, paano kung ipaalam talaga nit okay James Kane na naroroon siya sa resort? She has been hiding there for almost a month now. Wala siyang balita tungkol sa siyudad, sa kung ano ang nangyari sa araw na tinakbuhan niya ito at kung ano ang naging reaksiyon ng kanyang ama. Siya na mismo ang umiwas sa mga news. Sa tamang panahon ay malalaman niya ang naging resulta ng kanyang desisyon, pero hindi pa sa ngayon. Wala pa siyang plano. Hindi pa niya alam kung saan magsisimula ulit.

     Nakapag-ayos na siya. She was wearing a green maxi dress na sleeveless at umaabot sa kanyang sakong ang haba. She braided her long hair at hinayaan iyon sa kanyang kaliwang balikat. Flipflops na kulay pink ang sapin niya sa paa. Nag-face powder rin siya at nagpahid ng lipgloss.

         "Nagpapaganda ka te? Anon'g meron?" kausap niya sa sarili habang naka harap sa salamin.     "Mag-uusap lang kayo ng lalaking 'yon, nagpaganda ka na?"

          She was busy mocking herself in front of the mirror kaya nagulat pa siya ng may biglang kumatok sa pinto. She checked herself one more time bago pinagbuksan and nasa labas.

      "Good evening Miss. I'm Josh, ang assistang ni Mr. Monticillo. Ipinasusundo po kayo ni Boss Rayven. Are you redy to go?" nakangiting bati at tanong sa kanya ni Josh.

       'Am I ready?' Sinuklian niya ang ngiti ng lalaki. "Yes. Let's go."

        Matapos i-lock ang kanyang silid ay nagpatiuna na ang lalaki. Iginiya siya nito sa elevator at nang makapaso na sila, the man slide a cover beside the elevator buttons revealing what looks like a keypad of numbers. He pressed several numbers and she felt the car moving-up.