SPINSTER'S PLANS GONE WRONG

CHAPTER 3: Flirtatious Yam

When it was already time to go home, Mariam was the last one to leave the office building. She hadn't gone home to her house in Victory Homes yet. Her parents were there. For sure, Kathleen might have already told them her plans to just have a child and not marry anymore. She wanted to avoid any discussion with them. She left her brand new SUV in her designated parking space in the commercial building's outdoor parking area and just walked to a nearby bar that she and her work colleagues usually hang around on Friday night since it was opened up a year ago.She just went there alone for the first time to clear her mind while drinking her favorite cocktail drink, French 75.

She was thinking - Shall I still go on with my plan? Can I honestly sleep around with any random man just so I can get pregnant? My baby plan had even angered Kat. I am sure that my parents will not approve it either. I had just been ignoring their calls. If not, they would definitely nag me about my baby plan. Good thing, I still have my apartment unit. I am the only one who is single and unattached at their firm. Julie had even found herself a very loyal and loving boyfriend in the person of our other colleague, Atty. Rupert Novicio. Rupert even hinted to me that he already had plans to propose marriage to Julie. Everyone is getting married, being proposed to, or having a baby except me. I am very lucky with my career, but not with my love life. The first and only boyfriend I had cheated on me. My other suitors do not give me any giddy feeling. I don't want to settle for less. So what is wrong with just having a baby from a random guy? I will be very choosy anyway as to whom I will sleep with. I will not even ask the man who got me pregnant to support me and the baby if I ever get pregnant. Anyway, I just need to sleep with a random guy when I am ovulating. And once I am already pregnant, then no more sleeping around. This bar could be my hunting ground. That sound funny! I sound like a cougar already. But I will not flirt with a younger man anyway. So I am not a cougar. I am just a lady in her 30, who is willing to finally go all the way for s*x, even if the man is not my husband. A lot of ladies are having pre-marital s*x already. I am just one of the few ones who is still a virgin at 30. Well, I am not totally inexperienced when it comes to intimacy. I might not have gone all the way with my ex, but we did do things to satisfy each other. I just did not allow him penetration, but he was also able to explore it using his fingers and tongue. But I was so right about not going all the way with him. He just cheated on me. He was not able to resist the temptation.

On the other hand, a man who also went to the bar at almost the same time as Mariam, had closely watched her. In his mind - Why on earth is a pretty lady drinking alone in a bar on a Monday night? I had not seen her before, since I invested in this sports and music bar to help my cousin, Marius. As a business partner / co-owner, I am earning quite well. Marius even hired an independent accountant for the day-to-day bookkeeping from an accounting firm nearby just to show his integrity to me. Anyway, this lady is indeed very beautiful. She looks like she is on her late 20s. Her physique is great. With those skinny jeans, her perfectly shaped butt was really emphasized. Her legs are also not that big, just the right size. And her bobcut hair framed her beautiful face so well. She also looks very sexy with that loose white tee. Good thing she removed her blazer. But she seemed to be in deep thoughts. What is she thinking? Anyway, she is alone. She is probably single, 'cause no man will allow his girlfriend to go alone in a bar. This bar of ours is famous among young professionals. Well, going back to this lady, could she possibly still be single? If she is, then why? Shall I approach her and introduce myself? The moment I arrived back here today, all I can hear from Dad is to think of settling down. Lola said the same thing.

He was then approached by his cousin, Marius Gozon. Marius was the son of his mother's cousin and best friend.

Marius told him, "You just arrived this morning from Macau and you are already here, Oli."

He said, "I just need to clear my mind off the nagging I had received from Dad and Lola. Plus, the housekeeper that Lola sent to clean house in Victory Homes might still be around. It will take a while before it becomes ready for occupancy because I want it to be very clean."

Marius asked, "Is it fully furnished already?"

He replied, "Yeah. Before I left last year, I hired our cousin-interior designer to have it fully furnished to my taste. I just left the key with Lola. She sent a housekeeper regularly to clean and pay for the utility bills."

Marius then asked, "So, where will you be staying for the time being?"

His answer was, "I still have other residences here in the city, Marius. You are even renting one of my studio condominium units near this area. I don't like staying with Lola. I also don't like living in Dad's residence. So, if none of my other residences are vacant, then I will just stay in a hotel for some time."

Marius commented, "Yeah, you have lots of residences, even if, eventually, you will inherit the ancestral residence of the Del Castillos as well as the ancestral residence of the Quirinos."

He stated, "They are called investments, Marius. See, I do not even have to work but I am earning money from the income that I got from those investments. You actually have given me an idea. Lola's accountants and lawyers are all at their retirement ages already. I would need a good accountant as well as a good lawyer who is still young."

Marius stated, "Then you can avail of the accounting and legal services of Atty. Acosta's firm, even if it is not as big as the others here in the city. They charge reasonable fees, unlike other big accounting firms and law firms in the cities. Most of their clients are from the middle class like me. They also have a few big-time clients. They also provide pro bono services to the very poor."

He said, "Then I guess I also have to check on her firm."

Marius stated, "You have not been around for a year. If your Dad did not have a health scare, you would not even come home," and then asked, "Will you already be staying for good?"

His response was, "You know me, Marius. I do not want to be restrained and controlled. Is it not enough that I finished medicine and passed the licensure examination? Why do I have to spend years in residency just to be a surgeon? I do not even want to be a doctor. My dream is to become a professional musician."

Marius said, "You learned how to play all the instruments you wanted to play. You even studied musical composition in the USA while you were participating in several poker tournaments. Perhaps you should perform on our music stage this coming Friday. Sing one of your compositions. Who knows you might still be discovered."

His reply was, "Even if I get discovered, pursuing a music career won't be possible anymore, Marius. Lola and Dad wants me to take over the top management of Prime Care Medical Center. I had avoided it for a long time. I even left Lola the power-of-attorney over the shares that Mom had left for me when she died in a car accident. I have earned a medical degree for nothing because I was not even able to save Mom from the physical trauma that she sustained from that accident. So I had to leave."

Marius reminded him, "But you are not getting any younger, Oli. It had already been nine years since Tita Odessa died. You are already 35. The CEO position had always been reserved for you by your Dad. Your Mom even left you her shares as a member of the Board of Directors of Prime Care. Lola is also not getting any younger. She is already in her 80s. You should give her a break from battling it out with your father. Eventually, she will already be leaving you her own shares at Prime Care. It would be the same thing with your Dad. You are his only son. He will definitely leave you his shares at Prime Care."

His reaction was, "But I do not want that position. Dad's stepson wants it anyway. Jonas is a very good cardio-thoracic surgeon. And I do not think that Dad's second wife will allow me to be the CEO of Prime Care."

Marius pointed out, "Jonas is a Medina, not a Del Castillo. As for Jonas' mother, she could not do anything about it. You will eventually inherit your father's shares as stated in your Lolo Osvaldo's last will and testament. Those shares could only be passed on to a legitimate heir or heiress. Even if we suspect Jonas to be your fatehr's son, up to now he i not legitimized yet by your father. even if Tito Rodolfo married Jonas' mother."

He changed the topic, "Anyway, do you know that pretty lady at the bar?"

Marius answered, "Yes. She is Atty. Mariam Acosta, an extraordinaire CPA -lawyer. She owns the accounting and law firm doing the accounting for this business establishment of ours. Her cousin, Miss Julie Acosta, is second in command of their accounting services department, while her best friend, Atty. Kathleen Dy, is the second in command of their legal services department. I heard that Jonas' cousin, Atty. Carlos Medina, used to be his fiancé. But I am not sure if that rumor is true. Your stepbrother's cousin never won any case against her. Anyway, if you are looking for your own personal accountant and lawyer, her firm will be a good choice"

He was impressed.

In his mind - So she is not just pretty, she is also brainy.

He then asked next, "Is she still single?"

Marius' response was, "I think so. She often comes here with her work colleagues on Fridays. This is actually the first time that she has come here alone. It is not even Friday yet," then he suspected, "Are you interested in her? This is the first time you asked me about a lady."

His response was, "Let us just say that I felt intrigued when I saw a pretty lady like her alone in a bar on a Monday night, just like you do."

Marius gave a possible answer, "She could be having a problem."

His reply was, "That is possible."

Mariam was already having the third glass of her favorite cocktail when a very handsome man in a casual suit sat on the bar stool next to hers, and ordered Rusty Nail, and then talked to her, "What on earth is a pretty lady like you doing on a Monday night here at the bar, Miss?"

In her mind - Is this his pick up line?

Then she decided to casually say, "Just trying to clear my mind. My best friend got upset with me?"

He asked, "Why would she be upset?"

Her answer was, "Oh, just the usual thing, different points of view. But I know that she is just looking out after me. She just gets easily upset because she is pregnant with her first baby."

He stated, "Yeah, pregnant ladies could be very moody and emotional due to hormonal changes, so you need to have more patience with her."

She said, "I definitely got lots of patience for her. All her siblings are males, so I am the closest she can get to a sister."

He then stated, "I have just recently arrived from my travels around the world. Are you quite familiar with the city? Any law firm you can recommend? And also an accounting firm?"

Her answer was, "You just asked the right person," she got a box containing the official business card of their firm from her handbag and handed it to him, and then said, "I work for that firm. Our office is just a few blocks away from here. Just feel free to visit us and you will be accommodated by our very helpful front desk personnel."

He accepted the business card, and then expressed his gratitude, "Thanks. Anyway, I am Oli. May I know your name, Miss?"

She responded, "Just call me Yam."

He expressed his gratitude once again, "Thank you very much for this business card, Yam."

She casually responded, "Don't mention it. We would actually benefit if you would avail our services. We always do our best to provide the best possible services for our clients."

In his mind - She does not even brag that she is the owner of the firm. She seems very modest.

He then said as he saw her finishing her third glass, "Can I offer you another drink, Yam?"

Her casual reply was, "No, but thank you, Oli. I already need to head home. I still have work tomorrow."

He then offered, "Then perhaps I can offer you a ride."

Her answer was, "Thanks again for the offer, but I just live in an apartment a few blocks away from here."

He then requested, "Then please allow me to walk you home. It is already getting late. It is not advisable for a pretty lady like you to walk the streets alone."

She casually responded, "Okay," and then left some bills at the counter for her p*****t, put on her blazer inside her handbag, stood up, and then whispered softly to his ears, "It is actually my 30th birthday today. Do you want to celebrate with me?"

He whispered back, saying, "Sure. How do you want to celebrate? My birthday treat for you."

She said, still whispering, "I just don't want to be alone for the night."

He responded, still whispering as well, "Then your wish is my command. Let us ride my car then and we will celebrate together, Yam."

When they reached the privacy of his blue Ferrari convertible sportscar, he put on her seatbelt and then tried to kiss her.

She responded to it with no inhibitions. It had been almost three years since she kissed a man. She liked the feeling of his probing lips and tongue on hers. His cologne also smelled so good.

As she parted her lips from his to breathe in some fresh air, she asked him, still holding on the lapel of his jacket, "Your place or my place?"

His answer was, "Neither. I know a secluded place here in the city."

She agreed, "Okay, then let's go."

He drove his car to the five-star hotel at which he had checked in upon his arrival that morning. He parked his car in the basement parking area of the hotel, and hand in hand, they entered the elevator from the basement.

When they reached the privacy of his hotel room using his card key, she immediately kissed him, and tried to remove his jacket and then unbutton his shirt. He also reached for the hem of her tee and whisked it away from her head.

He whispered softly when their lips parted for a while, "You are driving me crazy, Yam."

Her response was, "The feeling is mutual, Oli," and then seductively asked him, "So shall we continue."

He said, "Let me order some food first, and then asked, "Do you drink champagne?"

She replied, "Yes," and then excused herself, "I will go to the bathroom first."

He agreed while dialing the phone, "Yes."

As he placed her order, Mariam was panicking a little inside the bathroom first, while washing her face and then removing her contact lenses. She was telling herself - Are you indeed ready for this, Yam? You will be giving yourself fully to this man. This is now or never. And if you are lucky, then you will be impregnated by this very handsome man. This is your chance. The universe seems to hear your birthday wish for a man with good genes to come along and be the sperm donor for your baby.

She was still removing her other contact lens, when he went inside the bathroom to join her.

He hugged her waste from behind, nibbled on her right ear, and then asked her, whispering, "Shall be take a shower first together, birthday girl?"

She faced him and then said, "Sure. But I need to remove my clothes properly first. I have no change of clothes with me."

He said, "You don't have to worry about it. I already ordered a change of clothes for you from the fashion boutique of this hotel. They will be delivered here with our food."

She responded, "That's so thoughtful of you, Oli."

He said, "I just want your 30th birthday to be a memorable one for you," and then he caressed her cheeks with his right hand.

She felt so warm inside and so she kissed him again passionately.

He tried to unbuckle her belt, unzip her pants and lowered them as she also did with his.

When she was only wearing her matching bra and panties, he carried her up onto the counter of the bathroom sink, reaching for the front fastener of her bra and unhooking it. He then said, "Just the right size, my queen, not too big, not too small."

She then toyed with his n*****s using her fingers.

Then he inched his face towards one of the twin peaks of her chest to suck on it hungrily as he caressed the other one. Both of them enlarged and hardened.

Then they heard the door bell chiming.