The Rancher's Soulmate

CHAPTER 6: Neighbor

November 27, 2017. Early Monday morning, Iñigo had done his usual morning run by the beach before his morning rounds at the farm.

When he looked at the beach house of the Sierras, he noticed some movement in the bedroom with a balcony overlooking the beach. He assumed it to be Teia’s bedroom. He just moved into his private residence in the beach a few months ago. Teia had not visited their beach house since then. Perhaps, because she was too occupied with her reign as Miss International 2016.

When he arrived the previous evening, he had told Edgar, his chief of security to deploy some of their men to keep an eye on the property of the Sierra and immediately report to him if there would suspicious men lurking near the property.

Teia woke up late that morning. She just woke up with some fresh produce as well as a basketful of white roses from Bermudez Ranch when Manang Lara handed her the closed envelope.

She had read the paper inside the envelope with the message –

My Queen,

You just left without saying any word. But I do understand. In as much as I want to do things right between the two of us because of what happened on that wonderful night, I cannot force myself onto you if you are not ready yet. Be assured that I am willing to wait. I am serious about pursuing you. You cannot deny the strong connection we have for each other. I have felt it the first time we bumped at the corridor of CVM Building. I still feel it whenever I see you even from afar. It only gets much stronger now after our union. But I will give you time.

Always and forever,

Iñigo

Meanwhile, Iñigo just arrived back to his own residence when Edgar immediately told him that some men were manning the vacation home of the Sierras. It was also reported that they were waiting for their boss before they struck.

He rushed to the adjacent property via the beach.

Teia just finished reading his note while Manong Dario was rushing to tell her that he had sighted her ex-boyfriend was trying to gain entrance at the main gate of their property through the security camera by the main gate.

Iñigo spoke out, “You should go with me. I will hide you from him.”

Teia was shocked with all the turn of events, “Why are you here?”

Iñigo answered, “I will answer all of your questions when you are already away from here and safe at my place,” he instructed the male caretaker, “Manong Dario, stall them for as long as possible. Manang Lara, go to Teia’s room and tidied everything. If they searched the house and found about Teia’s luggage just told her ex-boyfriend, she just dropped by and left again via the gulf last evening through a friend’s yacht and you do not know when she would return. Teia, let’s go.”

She replied, “Wait, what about Chloe?”

He said, “She will just be delivered to you later.”

Dressed in her floral nightgown covered with matching robe and paired with dog design grey soft plush house slippers.

He held her left hand with his right hand and led her toward the beach then to the gate of his property.

When they reached the privacy of his navy and white themed modern beach house on top of the rocky hill overlooking the body of water separating Vizas and four more states from the island state of Cirabi, he led her to his state-of-the-art navy and white themed kitchen and offered her something to eat. 

“I have fresh cow’s milk, home-made cheese, home-made yogurt, fresh home-baked butter cookies, fresh eggs, fruits and vegetables. What would you want for breakfast?”

She sat down by the white wooden counter chair by the island counter with white granite countertop, “I cannot eat without you answering my questions.”

He remained standing opposite her at the other side of the island counter and responded, “Okay. Start asking questions then, my queen.”

“Stop calling me my queen,” she snapped.”

He said, “But you liked it a lot when we were making love.”

She snapped again, “Can you please don’t remind me of such? You assured in your letter that you’ll give me time.”

He agreed, “Okay, I wil not remind you anymore. You may now ask your questions, Teia.”

She relaxed and inquired, “Why do you know I am at the vacation house beside your property?”

He answered, “I talked to your father yesterday.”

She was shocked, “What?! Why?!”

His answer, “I asked his permission to court you.”

She asked, “Why did you do that?”

He told her, “Out of respect to your parents, it should be the right thing to do. Although that was not what happened, I really want to make all things right by us.”

She then asked, “How did you know about Christopher coming after me?”

He responded, “Your father told me. He also asked me to protect you if ever some media people went after you or Christopher or any of his family tried to do something untoward on you. He was worried about your safety. And he knew Manong Dario might find it difficult to keep you safe. So he requested me to help out and I agreed. Manong Dario and Manang Lara were already notified by your father that they could always seek my help when it comes to protecting you.  A few of my men started looking after the security of your family’s property last night when I arrived home from Missi.”

She then stated, “Well, Christopher already knew that I might return to our vacation home anytime,” and then asked, “How will you keep me safe then? If he had men looking for me here at our vacation home, for sure he also had men looking for me in our residences in Palmaine City as well as in Palay City or even in the residences of my relatives here in Vizas. ”

He answered her question very detailed for he rnot to worry that they would be on their own, just the two of them again, “You can stay here at my place for the meantime until your family arrives. You do not have to worry about being alone with me here. I will ask my sister, Ingrid, to keep us company. I do not usually stay here that much during the day because I am either out of the field or in my office in Palay City or out on a business meeting. Andrea, my housekeeper comes in regularly to clean up, cook and wash the laundry. Then the security team and the ranch workers had their own separate dwellings on the employee’s lodge near the ranch area. There are also times when I also do not stay here during the night. I could either be in my place in Palay City or in Palmaine City or in a hotel room in any part of the world. So you will be safe here.”

Meanwhile at the beach vacation home of the Sierras, Manong Dario was able to stall Christopher and his men telling, “Miss Teia is not in the house, Mr. Poe. I have been telling you that since you arrive.”

Christopher insisted, “My men will not lie to me. They saw her arriving yesterday.”

Manong Dario acknowledged it by using the reason Iñigo had used, “That is true. She arrived yesterday afternoon but she also left yesterday evening through a yacht and they travelled by the gulf. She just dropped off some of her stuff.”

Christopher didn’t believe, “I need to see it for myself.”

Manong Dario reminded Christopher, “Mr. Poe, the Sierras had a strict instruction not to allow you inside.”

One of Christopher’s men aimed a gun by the male caretaker’s head, “Say it again or you will die.”

Shakily, Manong Dario said, “I am just telling what the Sierras told me but if you really want to see that Miss Teia is not really inside then you can search the entire house.” He let them in to the gate.

Manang Lara was already at the kitchen when Christopher and his men arrived at the house.

Manang Lara asked, “What brings you here, Mr. Poe? The Sierras had strict instruction not to allow you in.”

The man that aimed a gun on Manong Dario spoke up, “Well, your husband just let us in because he did not want to die. You’ll let us search the house if you don’t want to die as well.”

Manong Dario rushed to his wife’s side, “Just let them be, Lara. I already told them that Miss Teia arrived yesterday afternoon but also left yesterday evening with a friend. They wanted to see for themselves that Miss Teia is not here indeed.”

Christopher’s men had started searching the entire house including the garden, the pool area, and the beach.

When Christopher’s men had confirmed that Teia was nowhere in the entire property, Christopher had asked the caretakers. “Who is that friend she had gone with?”

The man who aimed the gun a while ago aimed such again to the caretakers, “You better answer the question of our boss if you still want to be alive.”

Manong Dario answered, “She is with a former university schoolmate.”

Christopher said, “I need a name.”

The man aimed the gun nearer to Manang Lara.

Manong Dario answered, “She is with Mr. Iñigo Bermudez and their other VETMED schoolmates for a reunion. Miss Teia did not tell us where the celebration would be. We also don’t know if she will be returning here after attending such reunion. She does not stay here very much without her family. She also has so many relatives and friends all over the state. She usually visits them all or stay with them for a while whenever she had the time.”

Christopher believed what the male caretaker had said. Teia had gained so many friends when she had studied at UF – Palay. She is also close to all her paternal relatives in Vizas as well as all her maternal relatives in Missi. Teia even had more friends in Vizas than in Missi. Teia was a very down to earth kind of lady. She knew no social status when befriending people.   

And then he noticed the basketful of white roses. Usually, he gave Teia red ones. He asked, “Who gave the roses?”

Manang Lara said, “It was from one of those schoolmates. Miss Teia loves white roses the most.”

Christopher asked, “Who?”

The female caretaker said, “I had no idea. We don’t meddle with our bosses’ personal lives. We are just doing our jobs.”

Christopher and his men left the property. Manang Lara immediately called up the telephone number that Iñigo handed to her before he left with Teia.

The telephone in Iñigo’s kitchen wall rang. The number was not in the caller ID yet so he assumed it was from the Sierra’s caretakers.

He answered it. When he confirmed it was Manang Lara, he put the call on speaker.

Teia asked, “Manang, what happened? Did they already left?”

Manang Lara narrated, “They did not want to believe Dario when he said you were not here so they insisted to search the entire property. Dario told them the excuse Iñigo had thought of but insisted for us to give the name of such friend you are with. Dario thought of saying Inigo and your other VETMED schoolmates invited you for a reunion and you did not tell us where it would be. Dario also told them that you may not return especially that your family isn’t around yet. He further told them that you have lots of friends and relatives here in Vizas which is the truth, and that whenever you have the time, you visit them or stay with them. Your ex seemed to believe it. Dario is now locking the gates. Teia, your ex might contact Iñigo or your other VETMED schoolmates he knows of.”

Teia tried to alleviate the worry of her beloved second mother figure who had taken good care of her as a real daughter since her father hired her and Manong Dario as her companions when she was studying in UF – Palay. Both of them were like real second parents to her, “Do not worry much, Manang. Christopher had only met a few of my schoolmates once. Iñigo offered me to stay here while Dad, Mom and Kuya haven’t arrived yet. I also don’t think that Christopher will contact Iñigo. He kind of hated Iñigo because Iñigo chose his rival advertising firm instead of his for the ad campaign of the farm produce and processed products of Bermudez Farm, Bermudez Garden Restaurant, Bermudez Farm Store, and Bermudez Ranch.  It was such a big project that he lost over his archrival.”

Iñigo did not know that Christopher Poe had taken it against him when he did not to choose his advertising firm’s pitch for the ad campaign. He, along with his parents, sister and executive assistant, just really didn’t like the ad campaign pitch of Christopher’s firm. 

Manang Lara further stated, “Your ex came with a lot of armed men. One man even aimed a gun at us so we would talk about your whereabouts.”

Teia didn’t expect such. She was so disappointed with what Christopher had done, “Did they hurt you and Manong Dario?”

The female caretaker assured her, “We are not hurt, Teia. But we’re really worried about you. Dario is already contacting your Dad to report everything that happened.”

“I felt relieved knowing you are both safe.” Teia informed the female caretaker, “Iñigo already informed Dad of what happened, Manang. I would have to stay here for the meantime. Ingrid, his sister, will keep me company. He also told me that you and Manong are free to come here. I will still continue on my plans decorating the house for Christmas. So I will still be coming there every once in a while. Iñigo had already stationed some of his men to look after my safety whenever I had to go there.”

Manang Lara suggested, “It is not safe for you to return here, Teia. Just go on with all the online shopping. Tell me how you want the decorations done and I will make it happen. I can hire some helpers. Your parents have enough budget for all the household activities here and in the house in Palay City. Just be safe there with Iñigo and Ingrid. The Bermudezes are good people. I will already pack your luggage and bring them over there along with Chloe.”

Teia agreed, “Okay, Manang. Thank you very much. I will just update you every now and then regarding the decorations that I will order online.”

Manang Lara agreed, "Yes, we will do that. Your safety is our utmost priority."

Teia then said, "Okay, Manang. I will just wait for you and Chloe here.  Bye for now."

As she ended the call and handed the wireless telephone to Iñigo, their fingers touched again. They both felt that some sort of electricity flowing through their veins. Their eyes locked. Teia bit her lips and Iñigo found such very alluring. He could not seem to control himself and so he closed the gap between them and kissed her lips again. Their lips mated and he probed much deeper and she allowed access and responded to it with equal warmth, passion and longing.

Teia responded to it. At the back of her mind – Why can't I  stop myself? Why didn't I stop him? Why are you doing this to me, Iñigo?  I love the feel of your lips on mine. I love kissing you. I have not even felt this when I was still with Christopher? Whenever our fingers touched or our eyes locked, I just seem to lose control. Why am I so drawn to you? Why can't I stop myself anymore with my strong attraction towards you?

On the other hand, in Iñigo's mind – No matter how you try to stop it, Teia, you will not be able to. I was also not able to stop myself from kissing those rosy and pouty lips of yours. They are just so delectable. I love kissing you. The feel of your lips on mine is just divine. I feel so alive. How will I be able to behave myself while you are here under my roof? We have set aside our connection for very long. We're both free now. I don't have a girlfriend and you had already broken up your engagement. I can wait until you're ready to be in another relationship. But how can I stop kissing you? Every time our fingers touch, my longing just grows much stronger and I seem to just lose control.

And then they heard a door opened and footsteps getting near.