I'm winning a date with you. Granted, it's the frigging lamest date on earth, but I'm winning it anyway.
~Liz Reinhardt, Double Clutch (Brenna Blixen, #1)~
*
CHAPTER 6: The Offer
[Nicholas POV]
Time to time, he keeps looking at her while she is busy entertaining his cousins and other family relatives, friends, and acquaintances who congratulate them in their engagement. He can sense that Chasity isn't that type of person who likes spotlight or socializing others because she does not seem happy and eager at all. Or maybe she does not want to marry him, either way napipilitan lang din ito. Same with him.
But what he does not understand is that, why did she agreed of marrying him kung hindi naman siya nito gusto? The fact that she could backout dahil wala namang mawawala sa kanya if she will not pursue to this. Unlike him that he has to agree the marriage because his dad will jeopardize his position as CEO. His dad is stubborn as his. Kaya nitong isuko ang pamamahala ng Demizticuz empire anytime he wants because he already builds his connection, he had new ventures in business. Unless, this woman has also the benefits to do the agreement. Of course, isa siyang Demizticus and it's a privilege to be his wife. She could have the life she wanted to, she could establish connections and fame. Aside from that, he can provide everything to her--money. That's all the people want. Money and fame.
Nakaramdam siya ng panghihinayang. She is the woman he wants to know better. She is the woman he is physically attracted to. He likes her looks, her smiles, and even her sexy body. He has to admit that she is not the type of woman he dated before. She looks innocent but there's fierce inside of her. She looks like a woman who could not fool anyone, but looks can be deceiving. Who knows what she really wants? Afterall, kung pera at karangyaan lang ang pag-uusapan, tingin niya ay habol din nito ang karangyaan ng pamilyang Demizticus. Probably the main reason she agreed to get married with him.
He did not want to be manipulated by anyone else. It was obvious, that she does not like him. Dahil sa umpisa pa lang, hindi na ito interesado sa kanya. His ego is wounded. But who cares? He wanted to know what she is planning for, iyon ang pinakamahalaga sa ngayon. He can deal the attraction he feels for her later. Hindi niya hahayaang manipulahin siya sa kakaibang nararamdaman sa dalaga. As long as he can hold it, hindi siya magpapadala sa nararamdaman, it's okay. Maybe he just wanted to fvck her. Wala ng mas malalim na dahilan.
"Congratulations, hijo." Bati sa kanya ng mag-asawang Chan. Nakipagkamay siya dito at nagpasalamat. Napukaw ang malalim na iniisip niya nang lapitan siya ng mga ito. Maya-maya ay may lumapit na namang kasosyo nila sa trabaho para batiin siya.
Sinisimsim niya ang alak sa hawak na baso habang nakatitig siya sa dalaga. Tumayo ito at naglakad palayo. Sinudan niya ito na lumabas sa convention hall. Marahil ito na ang chance na makausap niya ito ng solo ngayong gabi. Nakita nya itong umupo sa bench, harap ng fountain. Tinitigan niya muna ito saglit bago nilapitan. She felt relieved in her position kumpara kanina na kasama ang mga bisita. Dahan-dahan siyang lumapit sa kinauupuan nito.
"So, you're here." He approached lightly.
Medyo nagulat ito sa ginawa niya. Napahawak ito sa kanyang dibdib. Hindi naman niya sinasadyang gulatin ito. Chasity was staring at him, every inch of his body. Well, he cannot blame her for staring because he is too handsome to ignore. Hindi niya maiwasang mapangiti sa reaksyon nito. She looks so cute when she noticed na napansin niya ang pagtitig nito sa kanya.
"So, what are your plans my bride?" Tanong niya nang makahuma ito. Tiningnan siya nito na may pagtataka at tumayo. Dahan-dahan itong lumapit sa gawi niya. She crossed her arms in front of him at mas lalong umumbok ang dibdib nito. Lihim siyang napamura dahil nag-iinit na naman ang pakiramdam niya.
"What do you mean plans?" She asked confused.
...............
[Chasity POV]
"Why don't we take a seat first?" He smiled casually.
Bumalik siya sa bench at umupo sa dulo. Nicholas sits in the middle of the bench. Malapit padin sa pwesto niya. She can smell his aftershave perfume, which gives her a strange feeling. She took a deep breathe because it feels like she was suffocating with his presence. Ang ibig niyang sabihin ay naninikip ang kanyang dibdib sa malakas na pagpintig nito. Why would she become nervous all of a sudden?
"What are you talking about?" Malamig ngunit mahina niyang tanong. She crossed her legs and put her hands on her lap.
He chuckled softly.
"About us. You know, I don't give a damn shit about marriage. I just agreed marrying you because of my dad. Dahil lang sa isang kundisyon." He began confessing. Mas lalong naninikip ang dibdib niya. Nanghihina siya sa narinig.
At least he was being honest about it. She was right. Hindi ito papayag na magpakasal sa kanya kung walang kundisyon ang mga magulang nito.
"Like you, I had no choice. And it's not my fault if napipilitan ka lang dahil ganoon din naman ako." Hindi niya napigil ang sariling sabihin din sa binata ang kinasasadlakan niya.
Alam niyang nakatingin ito sa gawi niya pero hindi hindi na siya nag-abalang tingnan ito. He laughed sarcastically. What's wrong? She just shared the same sentiments.
"Really? Or you were just after our money?" May halong pang-iinsulto nitong tanong. Kaswal na tanong pero may diin sa salitang 'money'.
Mapakla siyang natawa. Tinaasan niya ito ng kilay nang tingnan niya ang binata.
"Mr. Demizticus, I believed that may kinakain pa naman siguro kami para manglimos ng kayamanan niyo."
Madiin niyang sumbat sa pagmumukha nito. Gumalaw ang panga nito sa kanyang sinabi. She stood up. Hindi niya gusto ang ganitong pag-uusap. Naiinsulto nito ang pagkatao niya. And of course, baka magkasakitan lang sila sa isa't-isa.
"If that's the case, why did you agree of marrying me instead of declining our parent's agreement. Alam naman nating fix marriage lang ito and besides millennial na tayo ngayon to pursue this nonsense."
Nicholas stood up at ipinasok nito ang mga kamay sa magkabilang bulsa. He's favorite pose.
Nonsense? So all of these are nonsense, she concluded in her mind. Nicholas is naturally a rude person. Magaspang magsalita. Mapagmataas. At higit sa lahat, insensitive. She sighed in disappointment.
"I guess I have nothing to explain it to you, Mister." She blurted out.
Nag-umpisa na siyang maglakad palayo nang magsalita ito.
"You're the only who can refuse our wedding, Miss Berlin. Unless na lang kung may iba kang intensyon. We can make a deal for our convenience. How much do you want para tumanggi ka sa pagpapakasal sa akin? Come on, name your price." Pahabol nito. She stopped walking. Mariin siyang napapikit, tinitimpi ang kanyang pasensya.
So, this is all about? He thinks that he can buy anyone or anything with his money and power. Tingin nito kaya siya nito paikutin sa pera. Well, she's not.
She turned around slowly. At this moment, how she wished she could kill him this instant. Was he goading me? Mukha ba talaga akong pera? Hindi niya mapigilang tanungin ang sarili. He has those stern expression. Her eyes were cold and no expression. Mata sa mata, they were both staring each other intensely. Nagkasukatan silang dalawa. Walang nais magsalita sa kanila.
She sighed and saglit na yumuko. Siya nang unang bumitiw sa pakikipagtitigan. Mapakla siyang natawa at napailing-iling.
"Why don't you do it yourself? Ikaw kaya ang mag-backout sa wedding? I think that's the best thing you can do, Mr. Demizticus." She said flatly. Bakit siya pa ang gagawa no'n?
Hindi niya kayang suwayin ang ama. Pero kung si Nicholas ang umayaw sa kasunduan ng kanilang mga magulang, hindi niya ito ikakasama ng loob dahil hindi naman siya ang gumawa ng hakbang. Hindi siya ang masisira sa mga magulang. At isa pa, hindi ang pamilya niya ang mapapahiya. What he is suggesting now is ridiculous. If he can do it to his parents, well, she's not.
Mabigat ang hiningang binitawan nito. And his jaw was moving in a sexy manner. She fought hard on herself not to gaze on him as he flexes his muscles. But it seems that it's very difficult to avoid, she briefly stared at his manly features as he is moving his jaws, suppressing an anger inside of him.
"My Dad will disown me if I don't marry you. Just in case you'll be the one who pursue not to marry me, I think that would be the best excuse for us..." He paused for a while, lumunok ito saglit, "for us not to get married." He continued. Gumalaw ang Adams apple nito.
Hindi niya maintindihan kung bakit bawat galaw nito, salita, ay napupuna niya ang bawat detalye. And how odd of her, that she finds it attracted.
She bit her lips at mapaklang natawa. Kumurap siya at saglit na napailing-iling sa sinabi ni Nicholas. Ito na ang sampal ng katotohanan sa kanilang sitwasyon. It turned out that him is worse than her expectations. She cannot do it, she cannot backout on their wedding. It's impossible for her to do that.
"I don't care, Mr. Demizticus. Marry me or face the consequences of your dad." She smiled nonchalantly. She crossed her arms. Umangat ang isang kilay niya at itinaas ang mukha, ignoring his mood right now.
'I just want my freedom. I don't care about your money.' Bulong niya sa sarili pagkatapos makita ang reaksyon nito na parang hindi makapaniwala sa sinasabi niya.
If she's going to marry him, she's going to be free from her controlling father. Sakali mang maghihiwalay sila, she can do whatever she wants. Her father cannot manipulate her again to do the same thing if failure may come. At itataga niya sa bato na kahit anong mangyari ay hindi siya maging sunud-sunuran sa lalaking ito. Hindi siya magiging submissive like her mom to his dad.
Taas noo niyang hinarap ito. Tutal wala naman siyang dapat ikabahala. Mabubuhay siyang walang milyones sa bulsa. Unlike this man standing in front of her na takot na takot mawalan ng mana o karangyaan. Gusto niyang matawa sa reaksyon nito.
Ngumiti si Nicholas ng pauyam pagkatapos hagurin ang kabuuan niya. Alam niyang insulto ang klase ng pagkakatitig nito, but she did not care. As long as hindi siya nito kayang manipulahin, o api-apihin ay walang magiging problema.
"I have to admit that you're really a smart woman. Well, kung magpapakasal ka sa akin mas malaki ang makukuha mong pera. Is that what you're up to my fiance?" Diniinan pa nito ang salitang pera, as if affected siya sa salapi nito.
Para matapos na din ang usapang ito, why not feed him his expectations?
"Paano kung sasabihin kong 'Oo'? May magagawa ka ba?" In case, he'll be the one to backout sa wedding nila, it's not a problem on her. Her dad will be mad of him, not on her.
As a dutiful daughter, she did not want to disappoint her parents. Lalong lalo na ang Papa niya na ibang klase kung magalit. Umigting ang panga nito. Whatever Nicholas thinks of her is not her concern anymore. Hindi ito nagsalita at sarkastikong napangiti at napatango, wari narinig na nito ang gusto marining mula sa kanya.
"You can refuse the wedding if you want, you see I have my reasons." Dagdag niya. "Adios Mr. Demizticus, see you on our wedding." Agad niyang tinalikuran ito.
She didn't wait for his reply. Binilisan niya ang mga hakbang palayo. Siguro napag-isip-isip ni Nicholas na ang pakasalan siya ay ang pinakamalaking pagkakamali nito. Nalungkot siya sa bahaging iyon. Iniisip pa lamang niya ang hidwaan nila ngayon ay tila magiging malaking isyu ito sa kanilang pagsasama kapag sila'y naging mag-asawa na. Pera ang isyu ni Nicholas sa kanya samantalang ang totoo ay wala naman siyang pakialam doon.
Ganoon ba talaga ang mga mayayamang mapagmataas? They think they are worth because of their wealth? Hindi niya alam saan nagmana ang kagaspangan ng ugali nito gayong mabait at humble naman ang mga magulang nito.
Nicholas has a perfect appearance. Kulang ang salitang gwapo sa itsura nito. Matangkad, makisig, has blue-green eyes, perfectly-shaped ang ilong at labi. Kapag ngumingiti ito na litaw ang mapuputing ngipin na nakakabighani titigan. Kaya hindi nakakapagtakang habulin ito ng mga babae. Aside from his looks, he has also this prestige lifestyle, mayaman, maraming pera, kilala sa lipunan, and etc. Kanina habang tinitingnan niya itong nakikipag-usap sa mga pinsan, hindi niya nakikita sa personality nito ang pagiging hambog nito. It is his natural attitude na mataas ang tingin sa sarili because of his accomplishment and status in their society. But does he have to brag it on her face? Like she was nothing compared to him? Kahit alam naman nitong wala talaga siyang panama sa kayamanan nito.
She is just Chasity Berlin, born in a middle-class family. Nothing special. But she is who she is, hindi niya hahayaang maging alipin ng lalaking ito.