Hopeless [Heartthrob Billionaire Series #3]

Chapter Four

CRAZY

SKY

I successfully closed the deal with the client. Hell yeah!

The breakfast meeting with the client just finished and now we will head off to the company for the lab tour. They will personally check and see the lab kung saan dine- develop ang drug na pinunta nila rito. After that ay lilipad na pabalik ng Switzerland tonight ang kliyente.

I was in the middle of discussion with the head of the group when my phone started ringing from the inside pocket of my suit. When the client heard it, he gestured for me to answer the call. I nodded and excused myself for a while. Tapos na rin naman kami rito kaya it was okay to answer the call. Nang tingnan ko kung sino ang tumatawag ay nakita ko ang pangalan ni Shin. I wonder what this guy needs from me.

“Yo! This is a surprise, napatawag ka?” I said.

This fool rarely calls. Madalas ako ang tumatawag sa kanila ni River dahil ako lang naman ang walang pinagkakaabalahan maliban sa kompanya. The two are busy with their love lives kaya bihira nang magparamdam. Mga tarantadong to. Kinalimutan na ko ng makahanap ng constant f**k buddy nila. Syempre joke lang yon. These two are madly in love with their women. Don’t tell them I said that. Magwawala ang santong si Shin Ryuzaki kapag nalaman niya yon. He practically worships the ground his angel walks on.

Fucking love sick. Damn!

“Hey, man. Am I interrupting anything?” He asked.

“Hindi naman. I just finished an important meeting actually.”

“Is this the Cenovac deal?” He asked. “You got it, didn’t you?”

Agad naman akong napangiting muli. “Of course! Ako pa ba?”

“Congratulations, man! Now this really calls for a celebration!” He cheered. He seems to be in a good mood. Mukhang may magandang nangyayari sa love life na isang to. This guy is not very cheery unless related sa mahal niya ang pangyayari. Damn. I really can’t believe someone like him would fall head over heels for that girl. She’s very beautiful alright… angelic and kind. But malayong-malayo sa naiisip kong magugusuhan niya.

Cause damn… Okay never mind. It’s not my story to tell. I’ll just shut up.

“You're in a good mood. Something good happened?” I asked him.

“Good is an understatement.” He answered in a relaxed tone. Damn. Mukhang may nangyari nga. Abot hanggang rito ang kasiyahan ng isang to. I wonder if it’s because of what I’m thinking right now. Posible kaya? “Zorb at 8pm tonight, okay? I already called River. You have to be there. I expect you guys to be there…”

Will I ever let down this guy? Kahit tarantado ako minsan, kaibigan ko ang isang to. He’s one of the very few people I can consider as my friend. Silang dalawa ni River ang masasabi kong tanging kaibigan na mayroon ako sa magulong mundong kinalalagyan namin. After all, birds with the same feathers flock together.

“I’ll be there, man. You don’t have to worry.” I smirked. “Suportado ko ang lahat ng kabaliwan niyo.”

“Gago.” Natatawang saad niya. “You can bring a date if you want.”

Mas tumawa pa ang gago. Hindi naman na ako nakasagot pa dahil naputol na ang linya. Napailing na lang ako. That kind of mood only means one thing. Anyways, I'll find out later.

I tucked my phone back inside my pocket and walked back to the room. I stopped midway when I heard voices coming from the next room. The door opened and it looked like the guests there were just about to leave. I paid no attention to it and was about to enter the private room we were occupying when a familiar figure made me stop again.

Lo and behold, Aria Ross is here.

She was still laughing at something when she came out of the room. I was only about three meters away from her. She was quite near to me and wasn’t wearing glasses anymore kaya naman kitang kita ko ang kanyang mukha ngayon. Kasunod niyang lumabas ang lalaking kasama rin niya sa airport kanina.

Hmm… A private room? Trying to keep her man a secret huh?

Aria finally looked up and met my gaze after laughing again at what the man said. I saw how her eyes slightly widened upon seeing me. Natigilan rin siya sa paglalakad. Hindi ko mapigilang magtaas ng kilay sa kanyang reaksyon. She’s that surprised to see me?

Now I really can’t help but think she’s got something about me. The last thing she said to me was weirdly mysterious. The way she reacts to me now… there’s just something about it.

I stared at her blatantly as I waited for her to react. Like I expected, her expression changed from stunned to cold and blank so fast. I fought the urge to smile at her reaction.

Are you really just cold? Or are you trying to hide something?

“Ms. Ross.” I said.

The man standing beside her looked at me too when I spoke. Aria cleared her throat. “Mr. Contierra.” She said with her poker face still on. She nodded at me before turning her head to her companion. “Let’s go, Ry.”

Isang huling tingin sa akin at isinuot ni Aria ang kanyang salamin. After that she walked off as if she didn’t see me at all. Damn girl.

I could only shake my head in mixed amusement and disbelief.

I didn’t know if I should be pissed or what. Did I just get buzzed off by a girl?

Damn, Aria Ross… Why do I feel like you’re hiding something?

Now I want to know your secrets.

“Sir.” I was only pulled out of my reverie when Simon came out of the room and called me. Agad kong idinerekta ang tingin sa kanya.

“Simon.” I said, feigning indifference over what happened. “Are we done now? Should we head to the lab?”

He nodded. “Yes, sir. We’re all set.”

“Okay. Good.” I nodded. “What time is the client’s flight tonight, Simon?”

“9PM sir.”

Fuck.

He must have notice the troubled look on my face. “Is there a problem, sir? Do you have a prior engagement for tonight, sir?”

“Apparently, yes. Shin just called to say that we are meeting at Zorb later tonight.”

“Then I'll escort the clients myself tonight.” He said. I was undecided though. I wasn’t sure if that would be okay to do. “Don’t worry, sir. It’s not a very formal send off. We will just escort them to the airport. No need to make it so formal.”

I sighed. “You’re right. But as the CEO, I think it’s only proper that I send them off properly. This is a big deal for us after all.”

“But the deal has been signed and sealed, sir. No need to worry about anything anymore.” He assured. “Would you rather disappoint a good friend?”

Shin never asked for such a favor before. Ngayon lang. For the past years, he was always the one to do favors for us. I know this is a very important matter for him too. He wouldn’t call both River and I and expect us to be there kung hindi iyon mahalaga sa kanya. If River, the married one, is coming, anong dahilan para hindi ako pumunta? Damn. I am so torn right now.

“I’ve been working for the company for ten years, sir. You can trust me with this.”

I sighed. “I guess I have to.”

He chuckled. “Don’t make it seem like you are forced to do so, sir.”

“Of course not.” I said while chuckling too. “Let go, Si. We still have a client to entertain.”

We headed back to the room to continue with our business.

ARIA

“Don't you need to go work, Ryan?” I asked Ryan while he was busy watching a basketball game and eating pizza in my living room couch. Kauuwi lang namin galing sa ospital where we visited Cedric’s father. I was expecting him to go back to his usual schedule dahil tapos naman na ang lakad namin for today. After all, di pa naman officially start ng one week vacation ko. Bukas pa yon.

He took a slice of pizza from the box and then munched down on it. His attention was still on my flat screen tv when he answered my question. “I already called my secretary. I’m not accepting new cases muna. I will take a vacation too.”

“You don’t have to take a vacation just because I am having one. I know you gotta work.” I told him.

“I can take a vacation too. Isa pa, I just won a case two days ago. It’s up to me if I want to handle a new one. And I decided not to.” He said nonchalantly. Binalingan niya ako at saka tinapik ang couch para paupuin ako roon. He wanted me to sit next to him so I did. “Aren’t you happy to spend your vacation with me? Didn’t you miss me? Why do I feel like you’re kicking me out already?”

I rolled my eyes jokingly at him. “Nagtatanong lang naman.”

“Question answered.” He shrugged. “Eat.”

Iminuwestra niya sa akin ang box ng pizza na kinakain niya. Hindi na ako nagsalita at kumuha lang. Our meal was already four hours ago. Hindi pa naman ako gutom pero alam kong sesermonan lang niya ako about food kaya mas mabuting kumain na lang. I’ll just double my work out, I guess.

“Are you even dating, couz?” Bigla ay naisipan kong itanong sa kanya.

I’m quite curious about it. Ni minsan kasi ay wala pa siyang nabanggit sa akin na kahit sinong babaeng nagugustuhan niya, He’s been around me for four years now pero I never heard about a girlfriend before?

I didn’t want to think it was because of me pero tingin ko ay hindi malabo iyon. Is it possible he’s not dating dahil inaalala niya ako? After all, we’ve been vague about our true relationship sa public. Baka hindi siya naggi- girlfriend para hindi malaman ng mga tao ang totoong relasyon namin. If they find out he’s not my boyfriend, people will surely dig deeper.

His forehead knotted when he turned to me. “Why are you asking that now?”

“Just curious.” I shrugged. “I mean, I am your favorite person diba? Surely, you will tell me kung meron kang girlfriend or dine- date.”

“Of course.” He answered simply. “But I have none. So there’s really no one to introduce.”

“Bakit?”

“What do you mean?”

“Bakit wala kang dine- date?” I asked, my lips pursed. “Are you, perhaps, gay?”

The look on his face when I asked him that question was so hilarious, I couldn't stop myself from doubling over. He was really taken aback and he gave me a 'what the f**k' look. “Seriously, Annie? Did you just ask me if I’m gay?”

I nodded, a teasing smile making its way on my lips. “I'm just asking Ryan. I'm not saying you are. Why are you so guilty? Don't tell me...”

Mas lalong lumalim ang pagkakakunot ng kanyang noo. Napaupo na rin siya ng tuwid habang tila naiiritang tumingin sa akin. “Oh no, you don't. You are not going to accuse me of being gay now, Anissa Dionne.” Napangiwi ako nang tawagin niya ako sa totoo at buo kong pangalan. “Why would you even think that? I’m straight… What the…”

I giggled before pinching his cheek. Nagbibiro lang naman ako. “Joke lang yun… Curious lang talaga ako.”

He rolled his eyes at me. “I’m single but I am definitely not gay, Aria. I mean no offense to gay people, I have nothing against them. But I am definitely not one of them.”

“Tanggap pa rin naman kita kahit ano ka pa, couz.” He narrowed his eyes at me. Tumawa lang akong muli. It’s fun teasing him talaga minsan. “Anyways, Ry… You’re handsome and you’re a successful lawyer and businessman. I don’t get why you’re still single. Dapat pinag-aagawan ka ng mga girls.”

“Everyone thinks you’re my girlfriend, who would ever dare snatch Aria Ross’ boyfriend?”  He snorted.

Agad na nawala ang ngiti ko. I knew it… Of course. Ano pa bang ibang dahilan diba?

Napansin naman niya ang pagbabago ng aking ekspresyon. “But of course if I really wanted to get a girlfriend, I could do it. I just don’t have time for it kaya I don’t have one.”

I know he’s only trying to make me feel better by saying that. Pero I know better. Ako talaga ang dahilan bakit di siya makapag- girlfriend. He’s trying to protect me. Gaya ng ipinangako niya noon.

“We can tell everyone we’re not together just to put a stop to the rumors, Ry.” I told him. “You should be free to date whenever you want…”

He only shook his head. “No need for that. I am fine. Like I said, I don’t date because I don’t have time for it.”

“You have time for me but you don’t have time to date?” I asked with an eyebrow raised.

He smiled. “You over anything, couz.”

I felt my heart warm up because of what he said. Hindi ko mapigilang ma-touch sa kanyang sinabi… I’m so lucky to have him in my life. He’s the best cousin and friend ever…

Sinubukan kong itago ang pagka- touch na nararamdaman. I’m not very expressive with my feelings after all… kahit sa kanya.

I pinched his cheek and chuckled. “Ang sweet mo. Swerte magiging girlfriend mo. Mag- girlfriend ka na. Okay lang saken may kahati.”

“Nah, I’m good… You’re enough headaches as it is.” He said. I looked at him in disbelief. Ngumisi lamang siya sa akin. “I’ve had my fair share of girlfriends… and pagod na akong pag-awayan so I’m good…”

I grimaced at him pero sa huli ay natawa na lang. If there’s one thing na pinagkapareho namin, it’s definitely the overflowing confidence.

He looked at me curiously this time. “How about you, Aria Ross? Why do you hate men so much?”

“I just don’t like associating myself with them.” I simply said.

“Is it because of the past? You think you’ll only get hurt?”

I forced a smile. I wasn’t really expecting him to throw these questions at me. It makes me quite uncomfortable but he didn’t need to know.

“No guy would be able to handle me.”

“That’s not true, Annie. If a man truly loves you, he’ll be able to handle anything… even all your crazies.”

“Not this type of crazy…”