"Ipilit ang sarili ko? Do you know what will happen tonight? My father will talk to him about our divorce because I asked him to. I wanted to get rid of Royce kaya sa'yong sa'yo na siya."
Tumayo ako kahit hindi pa tapos. Hindi ko na kayang manatili roon. Hinawakan niya ako sa braso. That's when I wanted to flip out. Ayaw kong hinahawakan ako ng kahit sino. Lalo na siya.
I pulled my arm away from her hand. Mapilit siya at mahigpit ang hawak niya kaya mariin kong hinawakan ang kamay niya para alisin iiyon mismo sa braso ko.
"Ouch!" she screamed and looked at the back of her hand.
"What, Attorney? Kakasuhan mo ako?" hamon ko.
She was fuming mad but she didn't do anything anymore.
"Tell Royce to hurry up and divorce me. I can't wait for him to leave the country."
Hindi na ako naghintay ng kung ano pa mang sasabihin niya. I walked out but I heard her words clearly.
"You really think he's loyal to your father? Think again. Once he's outside of the country, he'll leave your company. At doon na babagsak si Brandon Rockwell..."
Natigil ako saglit. Nilingon ko siya. She paled when I looked at her. I opened my mouth to speak. Hindi ko nga lang tinuloy. Imbes ay padabog kong sinarado ang pintuan ng sauna room at dumiretso na sa silid ko.
Matagal bago ko naproseso ang sinabi niya. At base sa pamumutla niya pagkatapos sabihin ang huling sinabi, it feels like she's not meant to say it. It was as supposed to be a secret.
Once he's outside the country, he'll leave our company and work where? Namilog ang mga mata ko nang naisip ang mga malalaking kalabang hoteliers ni Papa.
Did he have an offer? Hindi nga naman imposible iyon. He is a big catch given his credentials. If someone has offered him a better position in another company, then it makes sense.
At babagsak si Brandon Rockwell? What does that bitch mean?
Hindi ko na ulit nakita si Lavender sa spa. Hindi rin ako nakapagrelax na dahil sa dami ng iniisip ko.
My phone beeped and I wanted to curse when I read Royce's name on it. How dare him!
Royce:
Text me when you're done. I'm done so I can wait for you in the lobby.
Hindi ako makahinga ng maayos habang nagtitipa ng reply.
Pabagsakin si Brandon Rockwell? At hindi naman talaga siya loyal kay Papa? Ibig ba noong sabihin, may masama silang binabalak sa kompanya namin? O kay Papa?
How dare you, Royce!
It was my father who created his name. It was my father who helped him. Maaaring magaling nga naman siya at nagkataon lang na kay Papa siya nagtrabaho, but it was my father who gave him opportunities. It was my father who believed in him and he deserved his loyalty... or at least his respect.
Hindi na ako magtataka kung totoo na may masama silang binabalak. Alam ni Lavender lahat ng ginagawa ni Royce, kaya siguro mas marami pa itong alam bukod doon.
Namumutla siya at para bang nagkamali siya nang nabanggit niya ang tungkol sa loyalty ni Royce at pagbagsak ni Papa.
Ako:
Mauna ka na. Matatagalan pa ako dito. I don't want my father to wait for us.
Royce:
Magsasabay tayo, Sky. I'll wait for you.
Ako:
My father will be mad if you're late. You're just his employee, I'm his daughter. Kaya mauna ka na. Susunod naman ako.
Kabanata 25
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