The Rancher's Soulmate

CHAPTER 10: Torn

December 2, 2017. Saturday. Christopher was trapped with all the wedding details when his men reported early in the morning that Troy had already arrived at the beach house with Teia the previous night. He was also informed that some relatives of the Sierra siblings had also arrived at the beach house.

He wanted to go back to Jinan to see Teia but he needed to attend to all the wedding details his mother wanted him to take part of. He would go on with the wedding with Louisse because he had no other choice but to. His parents had insisted that he took responsibility of his child and Louisse. Their parents were very good friends and they did not want to ruin such friendship if he insisted on being a jerk. 

Afterwards, he would just continue getting even with Teia  –   I want your dignity ruined before another man could have what I supposed to have. You have ruined my credibility when you called off our wedding and your brother revealed my infidelity. Just one taste of your body and you will already be broken, broken enough not to look for another love. You do not deserve to be happy with someone else. You ruined my credibility. I had lost most of my clients who wanted you to be the endorser of their product or service. I had lost lots of money when you decided not to listen to my explanation. You even called off our wedding. At first, I did not like when you decided to join the beauty pageant, but when you  had won both the national and international titles , it had meant lots of money for my firm. I even sealed such luck by proposing marriage to you. It was not the first time, I cheated on you with another woman because you were the conservative type. I was forced to seek other’ women's warmth because you did not want to give such to me. You wanted to wait until we are married. But now we will not even be married coz you already backed out. 

Meanwhile, the Sierras were having so much fun cleaning up and starting up Christmas decorating. Press people also lobbied at the front gate of Sierra Vacation Home.  

After Iñigo’s morning rounds at the ranch, he and Ingrid with two employees went to the beach house of the Sierras to personally deliver the poinsettia plants, six-foot balled pine tree, concrete pots and other gardening items that Teia had ordered  from the  outdoor garden shop of Bermudez Store.  

The  outdoor garden shop  was selling small plants (flowering, fruits, herbs, cacti, orchids, landscaping) garden soil, organic potting mix, concrete pots, vermicast fertilizer and other organic fertilizers. The balled pine trees and palm trees could also be ordered by piece and not on bulk order on that section of the store. The small plants for transplanting, garden soil, potting mix, fertilizers and the concrete pots sold at the garden shop of the store were produced at Bermudez Farm. When Iñigo established Bermudez Ranch, Tatay Manuel focused on: growing almost all kinds of plants for transplanting; garden soil, potting mix, vermicast and organic fertilizer production; and concrete pottery making.  All the net sales from such items coming from Bermudez Farm belonged to their parents.

Iñigo took such opportunity to spend some alone time with Teia. He showed her the best way of mixing all the soil and fertilizer for the replanting of the poinsettias while the two employees were transplanting the six-foot pine tree on the large concrete pot she ordered.

As he helped her out in transplanting every poinsettia plant, he initiated a conversation.

He asked her, “So, can we talk now about what happened to us in Tokyo?”

Teia responded, “What i s there to talk about? We both wanted it so it happened.”

He reminded her, “But I was your first and I want to make things right between the two of us.”

Teia replied honestly, “I really like you even when we were still both veterinary medicine students, Iñigo. You were actually my college crush. But after my failed relationship with my ex, I am not yet ready to invest my emotions to someone else. I know you are a righteous man that is why you keep on insisting on taking responsibility of what happened in Tokyo between the two of us. But these things do happen to a lot of people already. Once it was done, they just move on. Can we not just have it that way? Anyway, you said you can wait until I am ready to date again.”

Iñigo stated, “I just cannot let it pass, Teia. You have bestowed upon me what is supposed to be for your future husband. I have feelings for you a long time ago. But I never acted on it because I was then in a relationship. When I was out of it already, I did not have the courage to approach you coz I was nobody. So when I luckily won the lottery, I have focused on making myself worthy for you. And just when I was ready to act on my attraction for you, I discovered you already had a boyfriend. I purchased the adjacent property because I would want to have a glimpse of you even from afar. I tried to date other ladies but I keep on coming back to what my heart really desires. It is to be with you for the rest of my life. I might have been moving too fast but I just do not want to let go of this opportunity.”

“I am not yet ready, Iñigo,” she said. “I am also not sure when I will be ready. I like you a lot but I am afraid.”

He asked, “What are you afraid of?”

She confessed, “I feel so drawn into you.  I do not want what happened in Tokyo to happen again. But your nearness is making me weak.”

He took her by surprise by holding up her chin, looking into her beautiful eyes and saying, “You do not have to fight it. I love you and I will do anything for you, my queen.” He inched his lips closer to hers. Their lips locked and they kissed passionately.

Teia just pulled away when she heard some steps getting near. It was her brother.

Troy looked at Iñigo meaningfully as if congratulating him.

Troy said, “Kerri told me that you want the poinsettias by the staircase. Shall I carry them in now?”

His sister  answered, “Yeah, we are already done here.”

Altogether, the three of them carried some pots and went inside the house.

Teia instructed them to line up the pots one by one on the steps by the left side close to the wall.

After such, Teia helped out in the kitchen in preparing lunch for their guests. Kerri and Ingrid also helped out. Teia was not at all surprised that the two already knew each other. Kerri’s fiancé works for Iñigo.

Kerri had told Ingrid, “Thanks for keeping my cousin company while she was in hiding, Ingrid.”

Ingrid said, “Anything for my idol, K. So where is Ronnie? Kuya gave him the entire weekend off because he had worked for him on that weekend during his Japan business trip.”

Kerri answered, “He is running some errands for his parents. He might join us this afternoon or tomorrow.”

Teia had asked, “How long have you actually known each other?”

Ingrid answered, “We studied the same course in UF – Palay. She was just a year ahead of me.”

Kerri added, “She was the one who introduced me to Ronnie three years ago.” Kerri is certified public accountant as well. She works as a chief accounting officer in the accounting department at the administration and support services of UF – Palay.

They just resumed Christmas decorating that afternoon.  After a while, Ronnie arrived. Kerri introduced him to Troy and Teia.

Then Ronnie addressed his boss, “I did not know you were here, boss.”

Iñigo responded, “I and Ingrid are just helping out, Ron.”

Troy reacted, “You work for Iñigo, Ronnie?”

Iñigo answered for his most trusted employee besides his sister, “He is my executive assistant, and a very competent one.”

Ronnie was humble enough to say, “Just doing my job. Working for him is both an honor and a privilege.” 

Troy then asked, “So when will the wedding be?”

Ronnie answered, “Kerri and I are thinking about early June.”

Afterwards, Iñigo’s ex arrived. Noreen came with her brother who delivered the life size nativity scene made of wood carvings that Teia ordered via phone from the local shop owned by Noreen’s brother. She saw such display outside the shop when she arrived from Tokyo.

“Oh, you are here, Iñigo,” Noreen said as she saw her ex-boyfriend helping out his executive assistant and Troy Sierra in setting up the lights at the railings and baluster of the front porch. “Why are you all doing the hard labor yourself considering you are both rich and famous? Just hire someone else to do such.”

Iñigo whispered to Troy, “My ex.”

Troy replied, “We do enjoy doing things our way as bonding activities. Iñigo and Ingrid are just helping out their neighbors. Are you here to deliver my sister’s order?”

Noreen replied, “Yeah, my brother owns the shop. I just tag along to see if our beauty queen is really here.”

Chloe came out and barked on Noreen thus making her hide behind her brother.

Teia was already by the doorway scooping Chloe into her arms, “I am here.”

Noreen’s brother asked, “Where would you want us to put the nativity scene, ma’am?”

Teia replied, “I want it set up by the garden on the left side of the wall fountain.”

Noreen’s brother responded, “Okay, ma’am.”

Noreen did not follow her brother and Teia. She approached Iñigo and Troy, “Need some help.” 

Iñigo responded, “We are fine here. You can help your brother instead."

Ingrid came out serving drinks. So Noreen greeted her because no one was talking to her. “Hi, Ingrid.”

Ingrid’s reply was, “Why are you here?”

Noreen answered, “We are delivering the nativity scene.”

Ingrid then asked, “Then why are you not helping your brother?”

Noreen had no choice then but to go to the pickup car of her brother, who was unloading the wood carvings with his assistant. She just observed from inside the car and saw how Iñigo was stealing glances at Teia every once in a while. He is looking at her the same way he had looked at her during our UF – Palay days. They are both single already. Iñigo could already pursue that beauty queen. Teia had become even more beautiful compared than before. With Teia’s presence, it would be even harder for me to win back Iñigo. It was quite obvious that  Iñigo is very enamored with that beauty queen. I am really regretting cheating on you, Iñigo. I should have not given you any reason to break up with me back then. I could already be enjoying your billions if I did not cheat on you. But then who would have thought that you will win in the lottery? It was just your first try having your luck in the lottery and then you won. All the while you want to stay here in the countryside even if you will have a brighter future in the big city or other countries with your intelligence.  But you being a billionaire already changes everything. i do not mind anymore living here in the countryside for the rest of my life if I will be your wife. What must I do to get your attention again? You are always avoiding me. I cannot even get a chance to have some privacy with you so that I can seduce you. We had a past. We had been intimate. You might have not taken my virginity  but  you were just holding back then because we were still young. Once you see everything that I can offer then I am sure that you won't be able say no anymore. You will definitely love my body. 

Meanwhile, Troy had asked Iñigo when his ex was already at the car. “How did you and that lady breakup?”

Iñigo answered honestly, “She got pregnant with another man’s child. Her parents wanted me to take responsibility of it so her infidelity was revealed when I denied it.”

Troy reacted, “That was tough!”

Iñigo shared, “When she noticed my attraction toward Teia back then during our UF – Palay days, she would often pick a fight on me. She was so insecure of Teia and other pretty ladies in the university that she did not appreciate what she has anymore. I never acted on such attraction I have for Teia back then because I was then in a relationship with her. Besides, your sister was so focused with her studies back then. She was not even entertaining any suitor.”

Troy agreed, “True!” Then he shared, “She got plans to set up her dream animal clinic.  Before joining the national beauty pageant, she already had purchased a business space in Palmaine City as well as in Palay City. She wants to focus with such for now. Her dedication to her projects and advocacies will be your topmost rival.”

Iñigo responded, “And I won’t back down.”

Troy praised him, “Good! Guess my sister had finally found her match then! Will versus will. And I do hope you win. I won’t be around to protect my sister much anymore once I got married this coming January. I worry for her safety against her ex. The restraining order wasn’t at all bothering him. He still send some men to watch over here. He might strike when we least expect it.”

Iñigo assured Teia’s brother, “I got it all covered already plus you have provided her a diver/ bodyguard.” 

As Noreen’s brother was done setting up the wood carvings at the garden with his assistant, Teia offered them snacks but her brother declined because he had to be on time with another delivery. Teia had already paid for the wood carvings in advance through Manang Lara so her brother decided for them to leave.

Kerri joked when Noreen, her brother and her brother's assistant had already left, “Chloe really knew who is not welcome here. That lady was mean to your Mommy when we were in college,” even patting the puppy who licked her hand in return. “Where did you get Chloe, Teia?”

Teia replied, “Chloe was a present I received when I was in Tokyo.”

“From whom,” Troy asked.

Kerri seconded, “Yeah, who gave Chloe to you?” And lovingly asked the puppy, “Who is your Daddy, Chloe?”

Chloe as if knowing what the people around her were talking about approached Iñigo and barked and looked at him as if asking him to tell everyone the truth.

Iñigo bent down, patted the puppy and said, “Yes, Chloe. I will tell everyone that I am your Daddy.” Chloe licked his hand and then his face.

Ingrid was rejoicing from within. It was confirmed ! Her brother was really making his moves on Teia already much earlier than she had expected.

When Kerri and Ingrid got a chance, they cornered Ronnie and asked him details regarding Iñigo and Teia in Tokyo.

Ronnie said what he knew since his boss already confirmed that Chloe came from him.

Ingrid asked first, “How did they meet in Tokyo?”

Ronnie said, “We checked in the same hotel. We arrived first then they bumped at each other when Teia was about to check in.”

Kerri asked, “Did he ask her out on a date?”

Ronnie answered, “We had really been busy with all the business meetings but he did  a few activities without me, purcahsing Chloe included as well as clubbing with a business associate on our last night. I assumed you already saw their group photos with the two Japanese couples.”

Kerri then said, “Michiko is a close friend of Teia. Teia was bridesmaid on Michiko's wedding to the club owner.”

Ronnie then added, “The other man was the one boss met for a business transaction on farm equipment. The other lady on the photo could be his wife. Perhaps they just met there. I was not there. Boss had a chauffeured limousine provided by the hotel.”

Ingrid then asked, “Did they meet again after bumping to each other and before the clubbing incident?”

Ronnie answered, “I have no idea. I respect your brother’s privacy, Ingrid. And I think that the two of you should also do the same. Do not meddle with their affairs. They are already both grown ups. They are already old to do what they want for themselves..”

Kerri commented, “But there is no harm in making a little push every once in a while. Right, Ingrid?”

“True, Kerri,” Ingrid agreed.