Owned by a Billionaire

4

CHAPTER FOUR

Another sleepless night for me. After we argued at the bar, I went home. I haven’t seen him in a month. Seeing him will bring back the pain and heartaches so we’re better off this way.

I want to cry and hug myself out of pity for some reason. I used to mean the world to him but now, he can’t even look at me without disgust. I saw loathing in his eyes.

The ringing of my phone brought me back to reality. It was Christian.

“What’s up?” I answered laconically.

“Tapos nang itayo ang billboard mo sa Edsa today!”

“Nice,” walang gana kong sagot.

He laughed and even called me masungit before he dropped the call.

Tumayo na ako sa kama at bumaba ako sa sala para mag-agahan pero sa kasamaang palad ay hindi pa nakakaalis si Alvido. He was seated at the dining table. Wala sana akong intensiyong sumabay pero gutom na ako.

He looked up from his newspaper and I noticed the bags under his eyes. He’s getting thinner lately. “Ang daming problema sa kompanya.”

“Go fix it then.”

“Kailangan ko ang tulong mo.”

I stopped walking and turned to face him. “It’s your company now, Alvido. It’s not my problem anymore.”

I would never help the man who poisoned and corrupted my mother’s brain. He doesn’t deserve my help, or anyone’s help.

Naglapag na ng mga pagkain ang mga maids sa table. Alvido looked at me sternly. “Nagbabawas na tayo ng katulong dito.”

“Nagbabawas ng katulong? Naghihirap na ba tayo?” I asked with a small bit of sarcasm.

“We’re close to that.” He replied.  I didn’t take it seriously and just continued eating. That’s absurd! We have millions at our disposal.

My phone rang. I took it and saw that it was Ivy, Christian’s assistant. “Hello, Ivy?”

“Miss Cassi, may nagwawala rito sa office ng Galvan Corp!” Hindi ko maintindihan kung bakit ako ang tinawagan niya. The Sales Manager of Galvan was the one who hired me as an endorser. That’s why I now have a billboard in Edsa.

“Just call the guards?” I suggested.

“Miss Cassidy, he’s a very powerful man. Hindi siya malapitan ng mga guwardiya. Sinabi niyang hindi siya aalis hanggang hindi ka pumupunta rito.”

“Who is he and what does he need from me?”

“He’s the renowned entrepreneur, Aaron Monteverde.”

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I drove fast to get to Galvan Corp immediately. My heart was pounding inside my chest.

Nang makarating ako sa opisina ni Mr Chua, the Sales Manager, ay nakita ko agad ang pagkabahala sa mukha ni Ivy.

“Take down her f*****g billboard.” Dumagundong ang boses na iyon sa buong kuwarto. Magkahalong gulat at galit na humarap ako kay Aaron. 

“What is the problem with you?”

He glared, obviously pissed off. “Why did you accept their offer? You’re showing too much skin in that damn billboard!”

I was too stunned to react. Humarap siya sa akin na nagtatagis ang bagang. “Have you lost every bit of your decency?”

“It’s my job!” I raised my voice. “ And I’m not even naked on the billboard!”

“You almost are!” he hissed.

I raised my arms in surrender. “Sabihin mo ang gusto mong sabihin. That billboard will stay and you can’t do anything about it,” naiinis na tugon ko. Hindi nakalagpas sa akin ang tigagal na tingin ng mga tao sa loob ng opisina. They were probably shocked with the appearance of the CEO of Montever Group of Companies.

Tinaasan ng kilay ni Aaron. “Watch me,” he said with finality in his tone.

“What are you gonna do?” I asked, panicking.

He reached for his pocket and took out a thick pad.

I gasped when I realized what he was about to do. He took a pen from his other pocket and signed the paper. Then he tore it from the pad and set it above Mr. Chua’s desk.

Tinitigan siya ni Aaron ng mariin. “I’m paying you thirty million to take down the billboard.”