Ms. Writer and the Billionaire Playboy

Chapter 7

WHEN SHE ALIGHTED from the sports car, she was taken by the whiff of sea salt air from afar, a slush sound of beaconing waves from the distance. It was a high picket fence, but not tall enough to hide the beautiful rest house from afar. It was a glass and brickstone designed house, rested a little bit on top of a hill from where they are viewing.

“Don’t worry, may electricity dito, there’s internet, may groceries na rin. And of course, here it’s safe dahil may katiwala rin naman na nakabantay. Specifically this time, I want you to feel safe and relaxed and just do your work. Ipinagkatiwala ka ni Limuel sa akin, and I just want you to know that you’re taken care of.”

Napatango siya, still taking in the picturesque scene in front of her. “When we go inside later on, I’ll tour you around the place, I just need to be away for a day then I’ll come back. We can start by then, until then, you can relax and maybe swim? Do you know how to swim?”

Matt has been a bit more of chatty, which helped for her to ease her nervousness.

“Hindi eh, medyo takot ako sa tubig. Sa dalampasigan na lang, nakaka-relaks din yun.”

“Oh, but why?” Matt’s brows furrowed a little bit. “Do you have a bad experience?”

“Hinihika kasi ako dati,” she mumbled, papunta na ulit sila sa kotse, after opening the fence ay humarurot na ito ulit papunta sa lote nito. “Minsan sa pool, malapit din akong malunod, buti ay to the rescue si kuya…”…and her eyes dropped more to the view after the little arcway.

Even the entrance way was manicured, filled with trimmed grass and tailored trees to create a relaxing resort accent. She bet that when it is night, iilaw rin ang mga lamp post na nakahilera sa daanan, it was rustic style.

“This is beautiful…” she whispered.

Until they were in the curb uphill. Where the view of the house is nearer to her sight. She can’t help but be amazed as to how beautiful it is even more up close, with the curtains and the interior more visible from the glass front view.

Napatinaod ang isang katiwala, si Manang Heidi. Mga nasa singkwenta na ito, may asawa ito na nangangasiwa rin sa kaligtasan ng lugar at bantay sa guard house. May anak rin na lalaki ang mag-asawa, nasa elementarya daw at nasa school pa.

Mukhang sa tono ng konbersasyon nila Matt at ni Manang Heidi ay mukhang mabait itong si Matt sa pamilya, dahil magalang ngunit warm naman ang pakikitungo ng babae dito. Mukhang respetado ito hindi dahil sa yaman nito kundi dahil sa pakikitungo nito sa pamilya. She was at least impressed.

This was something that she can write about Matt. A small curve of a smile appeared from Chelsie’s lips, and she was gently ushered inside the beach rest house. The interior consists of wooden and gray accents…it was rustic and minimalist, but still has that relaxing and contemplative feels from the brown and white mixtures of wool and fabric in the sofa. The paintings were deep blue, echoing the sea from the outside. She wonders if she can see stars at night. She already has plans in mind, and none of those things involves writing, but maybe a little bit of writing will do outdoors in one of the patio benches facing the beach.

She secretly giggled at all the exciting treat of moments she will experience here.

“At dito ka muna tutuloy,” he opened one of the wooden doors. It was more than a modest room, more of a hotel-like room, carpeted floor with everything she needed, a mini chandelier, and a really cozy looking bed with a thick matress. She even has a Jacuzzi for a bath in the shower room! She couldn’t believe it. This was the guest room she guessed.

“Will this be okay?” pahabol ni Matt, although he already knew by just the expression of her. Klaro sigurong nalulula siya.

“Thank you so much, si-“ tinigil niya ang sarili niya, “Matt…”

He looked pleased. He looked at his watch, “it’s almost lunch time. You don’t have to worry about any chores here, you can tell Manang about the food you like, she will serve it for you. You don’t have to clean, wash your clothes, or even wash the dishes. I hired you as a writer and that’s all you need to do.”

Grabe. Sobrang na pa-wow talaga siya. Kaya pala naman siguro maraming nahuhumaling dito kay Matt Vallejo, dahil ganito naman siguro talaga ito ka-charming! Or kaya kabait. Mabait naman pala ito sa babae ‘eh.

Where did those stories from the tabloids come from? Na babaero ito? Na papalit palit ito ng babae. She can’t imagine him dumping women that easily for whatever reasons because mukhang mabait naman ito. Oh well, hindi na niya problema iyon.

“So, do you need anything else? Maybe I’ll go in a minute, I’ll leave you to this place. Manang will continue touring you in case you still wanna see more.”

Grabe wala na talaga siyang masabi.

Sobrang bait nito. Napailing siya. “Okay na iyon, baka may lakad ka pa. Puwede mo na akong iwan. Maghahanda lang ako ng mga questionare, parang preliminary set of questions na puwede mong sagutan para makapag-draft na ‘ko ng outline ng biography mo.”

Matt look pleased, “very well then, I’ll be looking forward to those questions.”

Napasinghap na lang siya as Matt’s back view became smaller in her sight, his footsteps leaving a small hush behind, until she can see nothing more…but a tiny piece of him emerging back to his sports car.

“Sobrang bait at gwapo, kung dalaga ako, noong una pa ko nagpa kendeng-kendeng diyan kay sir,” aniya ng boses sa kilid niya. Mukhang masayahin si Manang Heide, mas bata itong tingnan dahil palangiti at palahagikhik lang ito. Tinapos nila ang paglilibot sa bahay, kung saan ang mga sulok ng kusina, anong mga laman ng ref, kung saan pwedeng maglaba. Kahit pa sinabihan siyang puwede siyang magpalaba ay sinabi niya kay Manang Heide na siya na ang maglalaba niya ng damit ng kusa.

Kung may mga grocery daw siya na gustong ipabili ay twice a week daw pumupunta ang asawa nito sa mall, kaya’t pwede niyang ipalista ang gusto niyang ipaluto o ipabili, tugon daw iyon ni Matt.

Hindi niya alam kung napagsabihan na ba ni Matt si Manang tungkol sa role niya at kung bakit andito siya sa beach house, ngunit marahil ay alam na nito, dahil nagtanong ito kung maisasama ba daw siya sa libro. Parang excited itong maging part daw ng kwento ni sir Matt.

“Ewan ko ba diyan kay Matt, hindi pa naman siya matanda, mga mag fo-forties pa lang ata yan eh, pero bakit nagpapasulat na siya ng libro? Minsan kasi, mga matatanda na ang gumagawa niyan.”

“Hindi naman po, may mga batang CEO na rin na nagpapasulat ng life story nila. Depende na lang siguro, siguro gusto niya rin mag-share ng tips tungkol sa negosyo o buhay nito.”

“Marahil,” tango-tango ni Manang Heidi.

“Madalas ho ba dito si Matt?” aniya. Out of curiosity niya iyon, hindi dahil sa parte ng trabaho niya. Marites moment lang kumbaga.

“Masasabi kong sa isang buwan, mga isang beses or dalawa ganun, mag-unwind kumbaga. Minsan dala nun pag may girlfriend, nag ste-stay sila isa o dalawang araw weekends, ganun. pero wala pa kong nagustuhan sa mga naging girlfriend niya.”

Napanganga na lang siya.

She got information of what she asked for. Now, it will be an interesting ground for discussion as to what Matt wanted to share to an extent. Will he share about his romances in his book? As to what extent will he name, names?

She has a sumptuous lunch, adobo, fresh salad and a punch of lemonade juice. May desert din na leche flan. For the meantime, hinayaan siyang mag-impake ni Heidi ng mga gamit niya at makapagpahinga muna sa kuwarto. She opened her luggage bag, compartementalized her clothes at inilatag sa table ang laptop at iilang libro na dala niya. She needed to carry inspiration books of autobiographies and biographies.

Hopefully, her only wish is to provide a material that Matt will be pleased to read upon. The life of Matt Vallejo begins…