The Rancher's Soulmate

CHAPTER 8: Family

While Teia and Ingrid were having a great time knowing each other, Christopher Poe was already in the office building of Iñigo when he arrived there. 

Teia’s ex-fiancé faced him by the lobby and demandingly asked, “Where is my fiancée, Mr. Bermudez?” 

Why did Teia fall in love with this man? He's very arrogant. What did she see in him that she even considered marrying him? He's asking me as if I owe him an explanation. He doesn't even have a sense of etiquette. He's in my territory yet he speaks as if he owns this place. But he didn't voice out his irritation over his arrogance. He didn't have any plan to pick a fight over such a disrespectful being. Instead he  answered calmly with a question, “Why are you asking me, Mr. Poe?” 

Christopher said irritated, “Well, her driver told me that you and your other veterinary medicine schoolmates were with her last night.” 

You actually threatened Manong Dario to speak. You really have no sense of propriety, Mr. Poe. Good thing Teia had already ended her relationship with you. Perhaps she did not know that you are this arrogant.  Nevertheless he confirmed it, “That's true! But after the impromptu reunion party at my private yacht, I don't know where she went anymore. I have lots of guests last night, Mr. Poe. I don't make it a habit tracking down their whereabouts once they left already.” He then dismissed Teia’s ex, “I have a very important meeting upstairs, Mr. Poe. Nice meeting you again.” 

Christopher felt defeated. I'm on a dead end once more. How could I find you again, Teia? Where are you?  Where can I find you? I don't know your friends here in Vizas except for your cousin Kerri. Why are you hiding from me? Why didn't you want to talk to me? I need to see you. I need to convince you to give me another chance. I don't want to marry Louisse. Oh Teia, please show yourself to me! Let me explain. Louisse seduced me and I wasn't able to say no coz you hadn't been very intimate with me in the course of our relationship. Then you had been very busy with your reign. I wasn't able to stop myself anymore from caving in. I'm just a man and I have needs that you had refused to provide to me. You're so old-fashioned. I have never even seen you fully naked but you're just fine parading yourself in two-piece swimsuit for all the world to see. You have to cut me some slack. You have to give me a chance to make it up with you. Please show yourself and let us talk. I don't care if Louisse if pregnant. I proposed marriage to you and not to her. I want to marry you and not her. 

When Iñigo was done with all his work at the office, he went back home to the ranch but never found Ingrid and Teia there. 

He talked to Andrea, “Where are Ingrid and my guest, Andrea?” 

Andrea answered, “They went to the farmhouse, sir. Your mother just called me up to bring Miss Teia’s luggage there as well as the puppy.” 

He told his housekeeper, “Just ready them and I'll bring them myself.” 

“Okay, sir.” The housekeeper went to the guestroom to pack the luggage. 

Chloe approached him, looked at him and wagged her tail. He told the puppy, “Yes, we will go to your Mommy.” He carried the puppy which immediately licked his face. “Yes, I know you miss your Mommy, Chloe. I miss her too so we'll go to her.” 

Teia and his family were already in the family room after having lunch conversing lively. It gave him immense happiness that Teia was getting along just fine with his family. 

His mother, who just recently retired from her work as a teacher, was asking their special guest this question when he entered the family room – “So, what would be your plans now, hija?"

Teia seemed very comfortable with his family already, she answered, “I will just be continuing on establishing my animal clinic and promoting all my advocacies, Nay.”

Iñigo customarily kissed his parents hands as he entered. Chloe tried to break free from him and so he did set the puppy free. Chloe climb on to Teia’s lap and seated there comfortably and silently while Teia patted her.

Ingrid talked to her brother, “You are early. No more documents to sign or meetings to attend?” 

Iñigo sat of the single couch opposite Teia and answered, “Yeah. Ronnie would just email me all the documents that I need to review. I can focus again on the ranch. I have been away for long. I need to make sure everything is on track here at the ranch.” He was aware that Teia was listening attentively while sipping on his mother’s home-made tea. He informed her, “Your ex went to the office asking for your whereabouts, Teia.” 

She asked him then, “What did you tell him?”

He answered, “I continued on our ruse of an impromptu reunion at my yacht. I told him I do not know your whereabouts coz it was not my job to ask any whereabouts of my guests once they left.” 

Tatay Manuel then asked, “Why are you hiding from him, hija?”

She confessed, “I think it is either he wants me back or he wants to get even from the embarrassment I caused him because of the breakup, Tay. And honestly, I just don't want to see him or even talk to him. I will never ever change my mind about ending our relationship anyway.” 

Tatay Manuel commented, “Well, he caused such embarrassment to himself. He should have not cheated on you on the first place. Your brother did the right thing punching him. It is not even enough. Cheaters like him is a disgrace to us men. He should have treated you with utmost respect.”

She shared, “Dad said the same thing, Tay. He was really furious but I just told him I do not want to make a big issue out of it. I did end my relationship with him and I think that’s enough. I can start anew and focus more on my career and advocacies.”

Then Nanay Pilar informed Iñigo, “By the way, hijo, I already asked your housekeeper to bring Teia’s luggage here. You would be mostly out of the field. It would be better for her and Ingrid to stay here rather than in your beach house.”

Iñigo acknowledged it, “Yes, Nay. If Teia would be more comfortable here. There will not be any problem on my part. The goal is just to keep her safe from all the nosy press or even from her vindictive ex until her family arrived for the Christmas break,” then he asked Teia, “Will you just be fine staying here with my parents and Ingrid, Teia?” But in his mind – I know that you are trying to avoid what happened in Tokyo to happen again. And I respect such. I will be very patient with you, my queen. Staying here with my family is also an opportunity for you to get to know them much better.

She answered, “I really do not like to impose but I really cannot say no to your parents. It will also be easier for Ingrid to stay here should anything came up at the restaurant at the store.” But at the back of her mind – I can also prevent what happened in Tokyo from happening again if I stay here. I just could not seem to resist you whenever we're near. Your parents and your sister could be my shield.

Nanay Pilar said, “It is not an imposition, hija. We really love having you around. Neighbors do help each other in times of need. Your parents had been good neighbors to us. Besides, Ingrid and Iñigo are both busy with work, we don’t see them much anymore except during breakfast. You will actually do me a favor keeping me company here. Manuel would be busy again helping out Iñigo here at the farm and at the ranch now that he could walk without crutches anymore.”

Teia asked, “What really happened to Tatay? Ingrid said he had a horse accident.”

Tatay Manuel answered, “I fell off badly from a horse when it was spooked seeing a snake. After a hip replacement surgery, I had undergone physical therapy so I can walk again.”

Ingrid added, “Tatay is excited again to be in the field.”

Iñigo added more, “We cannot convince him to just enjoy his retirement. I already suggested that he and Nanay go on a trip but he still preferred helping me out at the farm and the ranch even through overseeing the workers.”

Tatay Manuel explained, “I have been a farmer all my life. I love being one with the nature. I have not done it for a while after the accident. So just let me be. I won’t be doing hard labor anymore anyway.  You already have a lot of workers to do such.”

Iñigo reminded his father, “And no more horseback riding, Tay. You can use the quad bike instead.”

Tatay Manuel acknowledged it, “Yeah, I am not forgetting,” then asked Teia and Ingrid. “Teia, Ingrid, would you like to accompany us on our morning rounds at the ranch?”

Ingrid agreed, “Sure!” Then she focused on Teia, “Teia, it would be fun! You should come.”

“Sure,” Teia agreed.

Then Nanay Pilar said, “Then I will go too.  I can also prepare a picnic basket for our breakfast by the meadows.”

Ingrid gushed, “Just like the old times! I really miss that.”

Meanwhile, at the Sierra Residence, while having dinner, Teia’s family talked about her and Iñigo.

Troy asked, “Are you sure, we can entrust Teia to that Iñigo Bermudez, Dad?”

Nicolas assured his son, “He is a righteous man like his parents. He had already asked my permission to court your sister. He is very serious to have Teia as his wife. And he is willing to wait on your sister until she is ready. Teia is already with his family at their farmhouse. Christopher went at Jinan this morning searching for your sister. Iñigo’s quick response had saved your sister. Dario told me that Christopher was with four armed men and insisted to search our vacation home because his men had seen Teia when she arrived yesterday. So you better keep your cool when it came to Christopher. I hope that the incident on your bar will never happen again. The Poes are vindictive people.”

Jacqueline also told Troy, “Your sister already called as well. She is very well taken care of by the Bermudezes. She even included Iñigo’s parents and sister during her video call.”

Troy commented, “That is nice to know. Anyway, Dianne told me that there are rumors that Louisse is pregnant so Christopher will marry her on the date he was supposed to marry Teia. I have not told Teia about it yet. But Dianne said that Louisse already took some time off from work because of her morning sickness. They are mum about the wedding but all the reservations for the wedding was not cancelled by Christopher’s mother. The bosses at the TV network where Dianne and Louisse work are invited to the wedding.”

Jacqueline said, “It would be best not to tell Teia. Let her just enjoy the company of the Bermudezes. Anyway I have a gut feeling that she would eventually be part of that family.”

Troy had sensed something, “Do you and Dad know anything I did not know of?”

Nicolas answered, “We just have to wait and see. Coz if our wishes would come true, then your sister might get married before this year ends as well.”

Troy was puzzled, “Marry who?! Iñigo Bermudez? Why? How?”     

Jacqueline gave their son a hint, “They were schoolmates remember. Iñigo had long been interested to your sister but he was never able to get the opportunity to court her in the past. They met in Tokyo during her stay there while Iñigo was on a business trip. Iñigo talked to your Dad yesterday about his intentions to your sister.”

Troy commented, “I still do not see why they would marry immediately except if…”

Troy was not able to finish anymore, her father said, “There is a possibility on your assumption, Troy. A man had finally succeeded on melting down your sister’s defenses. It is the reason I asked Iñigo to look after her safety. He will do everything for your sister. He is a very righteous man. And he really loves her. He is updating me with your sister’s whereabouts every now and then. She is safe with the Bermudezes.”

Troy still couldn’t believe, “How did it happen?”

Jacqueline had an explanation, “I think that they are soulmates. And the universe has already conspired for their connection to be realized. We shall see if it will follow through in the coming weeks.” She was really excited.

Troy then asked, “And what if it did not happen?”

Nicolas said, “Iñigo is determined to pursue your sister and I feel he would succeed even if their union in Tokyo did not become fruitful. If it becomes fruitful then wedding bells are in order. Iñigo had already asked me for your sister’s hand in marriage in advance.”

Troy declared, “Christopher might be angered even more. They had been together for almost two years, yet Teia never give herself fully to him.”

Jacqueline gave an explanation again, “Because Christopher wasn't the right man for her. You cannot fight destiny. Teia belongs to someone else. She is fated not to be with Christopher. She is destined to be with her soulmate whom we think is Iñigo." 

On the other hand, when Manuel and Pilar were already in bed, they talked about their son and Teia.

Manuel stated, “I think our son is finally enamored with a lady. Teia seems to be the one.”

Pilar agreed, “Yes. I thought I am the only one who noticed it. So you also noticed?”

Manuel also voiced out, “I also think that Teia feels special for our son but she is kind of suppressing it.”

Pilar asked, “How did you know?”

Manuel answered, “You were like her when I was still courting you. You will always say no but deep inside you really want to say yes.” 

Pilar recalled those times, “Well, I really did not like you at first but you were so persevering. And you really made me feel so special.” 

Manuel teased his wife, “Do  I not still make you feel special up to now?”

Pilar smiled and said, “Yeah you still do. But going back to Teia, how do you find her? You are a better judge of character than I am. I really like her for our son.”

Manuel said, “She is sweet, thoughtful, respectful and very kind. No wonder our son was drawn to her. Her inner beauty is far much better than her outer beauty. Despite being raised into a privileged life, she is so down to earth. I did not expect her to help you and Ingrid out at the kitchen. She is also respectful among our household helpers. Our dogs and cats also like her and she is indeed an animal lover not just for show up.”

Pilar asked, “Do you think, she will like the life here at the ranch? Noreen was drawn to the city life and that I think was what prompted her to cheat on our son.”

Manuel commented, “Noreen was never the right one for Iñigo. His love for Noreen was not that deep. It was young love which eventually faded. Noreen is just trying to get back to Iñigo for his fortunes. Our son is not blind about it. As for Teia, I think she will like a life here at the ranch. Of course her family is in the big city, so there will be times that she need to be there. But I think she will be satisfied with the laid back life here at the countryside.”   

Meanwhile, Christopher still had the hunch that Teia was in the country even if she posted in her social media accounts several photos of her in Japan with her close Japanese friend. But what caught his attention was the group photo that her Japanese friend posted which also included Iñigo. There were three couples, the two Japanese couples and the third was Teia and Iñigo. He had a bad feeling about it. Iñigo and Teia used to be schoolmates. They were also neighbors at Jinan. Why were they both at Tokyo at the same time? Was it possible that the billionaire rancher was hiding Teia? But why Teia sought his help rather than her relatives in Vizas?