Chapter 4
1396 Words
“Are you sure, sir?” agap ni Limuel at hindi makapaniwala sa linya na pinapasulat ni Matt na kabilang sa kontrata ng kapatid niya. Yes, Chelsie is hired, he can’t be any happier! And Chelsie will be receiving a quite hefty amount. Napakalaking tulong na nito para at least ay maibsan yung mga gastos nila sa pagpapa-dialysis ng ina nila…
Matt’s eyebrow raised a little, just quick but immediately relaxed, marahil ay naintindihan nito ang mga pangamba niya. But why does it need to be stated na kelangang mag stay-in ni Chelsie ng kahit na isang buwan sa beach house nila Matt? Something was so fishy!
“Well,” napahimig si Matt, now reading the situation. “Have I hired someone else, it will still be the same agreements. You see, Limuel, I don’t have so much time. I can only spare a month or two maybe for this project. So someone needs to absorb all the information quickly, and needs to be focused as well.”
Nag-aalangan pa si Limuel pero napayuko na rin siya, he typed the much needed line in the contract. Will Chelsie agree to this? He can only give advice as what the constraints and scope of any brother could do. Matt is still a guy with a bad womanizing reputation, and his sweet dainty sister can easily fell prey to this man. Yun ang delikado.
But does it mean that he don’t trust his sister? Chelsie is intelligent. Just typing those words made him dizzy. But surely, Matt knows about respect. Siguro naman ay totoong kelangan lang nitong mapabilis ang proyekto, marahil ay may pupuntahan or aalalahanin pa itong ibang mga proyekto matapos.
He can’t lose his job either way by protesting.
“Chelsie can still spend at least two of the weekends with her family, with you guys.” Matt stated it like it was a generous offer, considering the already generous salary offer stated in the agreement. “Will it be fine?”
“Anything will do sir,” ani Limuel. “Maraming salamat po dahil si Chelsie ang nabigyan niyo ng pagkakataon na ito.”
“Kinuha ko siya hindi sa kapatid mo siya, I know she’s capable. Oh, and just print it and let her sign. I’ll let you know the other arrangements, she can start next week.”
It doesn’t take long before Matt has stood up from his chair, he was wearing his coat, was ready to leave.
“Anything else?” anito.
Napailing si Limuel. He stood up and went to his office corner. Hindi niya mawari kung ano pero parang may weird vibe na pinapakita itong si Matt lately, para bang mas sumeryoso ba ito? At least for the past two weeks, ay wala na rin itong kinikita na babae or pinapapasok sa office nito. Hindi rin naman ito mukhang broken hearted dun sa ex nito. But something was just off, but not in the extent that he can guess. Oh well, as long as Matt is still functioning his business duties ay yun na lamang ang ipinagpapasalamat niya. And he needs to warn Chelsie to be cautious, like really cautios with Matt.
IT WAS A RUSTIC MODERN VIBE resto bar, at hindi mapigilan ng ilan na mapalingon sa isang corner table kung saan nakalumbay ang dalawang mga binatilyo. Those two men were sipping their light drinks, and as if sitting like they were waiting for someone to turn around. There was a hush-hush around, as if someone famous was there, and nothing short but famous, but a sensational one – it was Carter. Carter Vallejo, second to Matt, and a multi-media model. Katabi nito ang kapatid at bunso nila, si Logan, isang university professor, who even with his dimmed and proper vibe, was equally gorgeous and chiseled like Carter.
It was a rare event, after a long time, in which we can see the Vallejo brothers in one frame. That single frame could only be described by words like power, hotness, gorgeous, flaming, classy and elite.
“Tell me brother, totoo ba yung nababalitaan namin ngayon? About that Ericka?” Logan was pertaining to Carter’s latest issue of impregnating a certain new sexy star. It was almost a whisper.
“What do you think?” Carter just smirked, and then waved his head. “Do you really think it could be true?”
“I have no idea,” Logan just half-smiled. “Anything is possible.”
And with that, Carter just chuckled a bit. “I’m still enjoying my life, Logan. Do you think I could be so careless, nah.”
Logan eyes just glinted from his eyeglasses. “Me too, I’m just enjoying.”
“What’s to enjoy? Solving math equations?” Carter was amazed and turn up into a little laugh. “You really amaze me.” Although that seems like a compliment rather than a mockery from Carter’s tone. He was really impressed because he knows he can never get into the level of intelligence of what Logan have. It was a gift that could change history or mankind.
“You will never understand bro,” iling na lang ni Logan. “But I rather compliment your ease of dealing with any issues.”
“Matagal na ‘kong nagging baliw kung papatulan ko lahat ng-“
Carter was stopped midway by the entrance of no one else but their eldest brother. In his suit, Matt hovered over them. His stature of command still very present.
“Mother holy,” Carter almost cussed.
Matt just grinned and sat, offered himself a chug of drink. “Just in time for a late dinner,” he uttered, toiled through the menu, and the next thing they knew, Matt already made the motions of ordering for them.
“How generous,” Logan smiled. “Ever once in a while, we get to see you.”
“So what brings us to this meeting?” hingap ni Carter. “Is this about mother?”
Ah, their mother. The matriarch of the Vallejo brothers. Their special one.
“Her birthday is still five months and six days due,” ani Logan, in his perfect memory of numbers. “Ain’t this too early for planning?”
Planning. Him, gazing at these two men infront of him, he can only hope for fruition of something worthwhile – Carter who yes was famous but embezzled in controversies, or Logan who is a nerd and locks himself in the university grounds.
If he is dying, at least one of them should handle the company or at least an heir. Carter and Logan are already shareholders, but will it be enough? And of course - an heir. Yet the three of them is childless. No one will continue the heritage or inherit what he has toiled for generations to come.
Something was gray and bleak infront of him. What will the future be if he is not around anymore? Everything turned into ashes. And his mother? Who would take care of her?
He has to act fast and straighten up the buffoonery of his brothers.
He cleared his throat, “Let’s have dinner for a bit and we will talk.”
Carter and Logan eyed him suspiciously but soon the aura became lighter with Carter’s joke and Logan’s counter. Matt couldn’t help but also jive into the remembrance of yesteryears memories of their youth.
When they have consumed most of the meal, Matt wiped his mouth and clasp his palms together, signaling that he is about to declare something.
“Brothers, let me announce to you,” he said it in a toned down more hushed tone, and slowly like in a critical moment, “that I’m going to die soon.”
Carter and Logan almost had an identical reaction, brows reared and furrowed together in a frown, mouth slightly gaped open and an expression of amusement and disbelief.
And then in a span of few seconds, those disbelief turned into a sudden roar of light laughter, first from Carter, and then from Logan.
“Ha! That’s really a good prank over there Matt, we didn’t know you could be funny!”
Logan bobbed his head, and then stifled another laugh. “Nice try Matt, but Carter is still funnier. You’re richer though.”
He let out an exasperated sigh. What to do with these monkeys?
- Writer
