Secretly Married to the Billionaire

Chapter 4

|Tamara|

“I missed you, sweetie,” my Dad said and planted a soft kiss on top of my forehead.

“I missed you too, Dad,” I kissed him and hugged him tightly than ever.

“Are you well, sweetie? How are you now?” Dad asked and broke free from our hug.

“Come on, Dad. You were the one who was far and away from us, and now you’re asking me? Shouldn’t I be the one asking that instead?” I said as I wiped my tears away from my cheeks.

This is the first time that he wasn’t able to come home for three years that’s why I am being like this. Even if we face time almost every day, it’s still isn’t enough for me.

“I’m just concerned, Hija. You know what, we have a lot of catching ups to do. Let’s start with this,” my eyes followed when his hands pulled something from his pocket.

A tiny green box wrapped with a gold ribbon came out from his pocket.

Uh, not again.

It’s not my birthday today but it’s been Dad’s routine to give me gifts every time he comes home from another country.

It’s not because I demanded it from him or what. He said it’s just one of his ways to ease the guilt he is feeling because he’s always not around. I also told him that there’s no need for it but he keeps on doing it anyway.

“You know I’m not a fan of these things, Dad?” I let out a sigh and accepted his gift. It left me with no choice because his hands were still holding the box.

“Of course, I know that. It’s already embedded on our bones,” he said and both of them laughed at it. It’s nice seeing them this way. I just wish Dad won’t have to leave ever again.

“Don’t worry. Your Dad made sure that it’s nothing fancy this time,” Mom said and got up from her swivel chair. She softly caressed Dad’s arms and rested her head on his shoulders. Now, both of them are staring at me, waiting for me to open the box.  

“Oh, about it sweetheart. Is the car too ‘fancy’ for you?” I was in the middle of untying the ribbon when dad suddenly asked Mom. I immediately pictured out a car key inside this little box I was holding. 

“Don’t start, Dad,” I warned him as my eyes settled on the gift box. I know that he’s just kidding.

As soon as I opened the box, my eyes settled on the silver pendant necklace. It looks simple without any design. The shape is like a half-moon and as big as my nails on my finger. It’s just perfect for my size.

I opened the pendant and saw our picture in it. If I can recall correctly, it was taken on my 9th birthday. I smiled at the thought and looked at them once again.

“Do you like it?” Daddy asked me.

I went closer to them without answering his question. I wrapped my arms around both of them and hugged them tightly.

“Thank you, Dad, Mom,” I closed my eyes tenderly as I cherish the moment with them. Ah, it feels so good that we’re complete again.

After that intimate moment, we continued talking at the dining area. Both of them were eating their lunch. I just joined them at the table since I already ate my lunch with Thea outside.

I just sat there while listening to them as they talk. It’s kinda cute how Mom became more lively today. She looked younger even more. It’s just amazing how Dad’s presence can lift everyone’s mood.  

Even the smallest gesture, like serving the food, Mom did it for Dad. Somehow, there are moments where I cringe because they are so cheesy when it comes to expressing their love, especially when Mom wiped some food on Dad’s chin.

 I just shook my head then suddenly, Geoff’s handsome face popped on my head as I fed him with food.

Shoot, what the f**k? Did I just think of that?

Me and Geoff? f**k. I think I’m going crazy with all these thoughts.

I dismissed the thought by focusing on Mom and Dad’s conversation. I even leaned closer to them just so their words could fill up my ears and up to my brain. Nothing happened though. Damn it!

Then evening came and we ate our dinner together. It was a long one though. Dad literally means it when he said we have some catching ups to do. Well, it had always been like that. That’s fine with me actually but this time, it’s almost midnight and we haven’t left the dining area yet. I just hate the idea of breaking their moment when they look so happy just by talking at each other.

My phone suddenly rang in the middle of our conversation. I excused myself as I saw Thea’s name on the screen. Good timing!

I let them continue their conversation and moved farther away.

I even heard them talking about my upcoming birthday. It’s already on the 24th of May. It’s a month from now. Ugh, I shouldn’t let them decide what to do on my birthday since it’s my party. I should be involved the next time they talk about it. I don’t want a grandiose party.

“Thank goodness you called!” I let out an exasperated sigh as I put my phone on my ear.

“Why? Is your Daddy home?” she said after her short silence. I wasn’t surprised when she asked that. She always knows that I came from a very long conversation with my Dad every time I give her this expression. I was in elementary when I started not to like our very long conversation.

Thea even named it ‘The Catching Up Phobia’.

It’s not that I don’t want to be with my Dad or doesn’t want to talk to him. It’s just that, by the time it’s midnight or dawn, Dad still hasn’t reached half of his story.

“Yeah, and he’s at it again,” I replied gloomily as I closed the door on my room and threw myself on my bed.

“So does it mean there would be more days that you’ll be off of work then?” Thea asked with a hint of hopefulness.

“Maybe? I don’t know. We still haven’t talk about it yet,” I rolled on my bed and faced the ceiling of my bed.

Ever since Dad started going out of the country, I had always been the one acting as CEO of our company which is Seaborne Shipping Lines. It has lived on for three generations in our family wherein Dad’s grandfather started all of this.

During the first few years where I acted as CEO, it had been hard for me especially when Dad is out of the country. Mommy can actually help me but I prefer to do it by myself so as not to bother her. I don’t want to add to her stress.

But experiencing it all did me good. At the end of the day, I would learn something new on how to run the company better without crying in my room. I went so many hardships trying to learn everything. I studied all of it in college but it’s still different when you actually face a problem and everyone in the company relies on you.

“I just wish your Daddy would stay longer here in the Philippines so you could relax more. There were so many instances where we couldn’t be together because of your work,” she sounded upset. I took in a deep breath because of what she said.

It’s true that we weren’t able to bond that often. It’s because of me. I’m just don’t have enough time to waste.

“I wish it too. Imagine, for three consecutive years, my agenda had always been home to office and office to home. Urgh, I can’t even go to the mall. I am now wondering what a mall looks like,” I replied.

In the span of three years, I can’t afford to have leisure time with all the work that I have all day. Especially when one of our shipping lines went under, I would almost sleep at the office just to investigate where it all started.

“Whoever said that you should work nonstop? No one right? Oh geez. You will really end up not having a single boyfriend,” she laughed at the last sentence. Wow, really? Coming from her?

“You know what? If only you have a boyfriend right now, I might believe you. But you see, you don’t have a boyfriend at this moment, may I remind you,” I teased back at her

“Oh, about that. That’s where you’re wrong,” she replied. I furrowed my brows.

“What do you mean? Do you have a boyfriend again?” I asked with a tone of surprise.

“Correction. Will be having a boyfriend again,” she emphasized every word she said. I rolled my eyes at the back of my head in disbelief.

“And who’s the unlucky guy?” I smirked.

“It’s a secret for now. Anyway, are you available tomorrow night? Can you join me for dinner, please?” she suddenly begged. I don’t know what she meant by that but I didn’t bother asking her again. For sure it’s just one of her nonsense again.

“Dinner? Hmm, maybe. I’ll just message you if I’m available. Daddy might want to take a rest before joining the company again.”

“Oh come on, Tammy. It’s just a simple dinner. Why can’t you do me a favor? Is this what you want? Do you want to end our friendship too? You can just say so,” I could already imagine Thea wriggling on her bed right now out of frustration.

In the end, I agreed to join her. The bill’s on her anyway and she said I don’t have the right to say no. I just can’t believe the way she thinks. She can bend whatever thoughts you have.

We ended the call when we felt sleepy already. My eyes automatically shut as soon as I saw the time on the clock which read 12:34 at midnight or should I say morning? Argh! She drained all of my energy compared to when I talked with Dad.

~*~

“Dad, will you go to work today?” I asked Daddy when I saw him dressed in a corporate suit inside of the study. It’s still six in the morning but he’s about to go as soon as he finishes his coffee.

“Yes, Hija. Am I too excited to go back to the company?” he chuckled as he fixed the tie on his coat.

“You’re not that excited, Dad. I didn’t even know you were going to the office,” I joined joking around.

Daddy left the house as soon as I gave him all the papers needed for the company. His secretary will help him anyway to segregate and review the reports from the past three years when he was out of the country. Well, I’m confident that we don’t have any problem as of the moment even though none of us anticipated Dad’s arrival.

I got up too early in the morning so I decided to cherish the free time that I have. I jogged around the area like I used to do every day. But then, even though I did some warm-ups, my body started to ache. I can already feel I’ll be having leg cramps tomorrow.

I did nothing for the rest of the day though. I just realized it’s too boring if you have nothing to do. I got so used to working every single day, and now my body is looking for all that work. I still have work to do at the company, actually. It’s just that all I have to do is to check the updates and surveys for the maintenance of the ship. It’s not an everyday work though, and unluckily, today isn’t one of those days.

“Hey, Thea, where are you now? I have been waiting for a long time already,” I finally called Thea because I got impatient.

Thea already reserved a table for the both of us in Makati that’s why there wasn’t much hassle as soon as I entered the restaurant. The waiter guided me towards our reserved table and I scanned the room as soon as I sat down. There were already a few customers inside the restaurant.

I only wore a simple dress for our dinner. I’m wearing a brown blazer dress partnered with my black mules. I chose this dress because I can’t find any decent dress that I can wear comfortably. My closet is almost full of corporate attires. I just let my hair down on my shoulders. It would be too hassle for me if I do my hair and besides, it’s just a simple dinner with my best friend.

Supposedly, we were to meet by 7 PM but I got too bored so I left the house early and went straight to the restaurant even if it’s still 5 PM. I will die of boredom if I stayed at the house any longer without doing anything.

“Tammy, are you serious? It’s still 5 in the afternoon!” she blurted out with disbelief.

“I got bored, okay? I will die at a young age if I stayed at the house without doing anything!” I reasoned out at her. It’s true. Mommy went somewhere in Cavite to visit her friend. I don’t want to disturb Ate Lena with all her work. Kuya Albert went with Mom so I was left in the house with no one to talk to. I don’t want to reach the point where I have to talk to the plants just to ease my boredom.  

“Okay okay. I’ll get ready now. Just wait a little bit longer there,” she said then ended the call.

Hunger is now kicking in but I still waited patiently for Thea. I didn’t even eat my lunch because I didn’t have the appetite awhile ago. Now, I think I can finish all the food that is served at the buffet.

She really made me wait though. Urgh! This is getting frustrating! She’s doing this purposely. She’s just a ten-minute drive from here but she still hasn’t shown her face yet.

I laughed at my thoughts. I’m the one who insisted to go here early and now I’m angry and hungry but I can’t totally blame her. Besides, Thea didn’t protest when I told her to come here now. In fact, she’s on her way.

My stomach started to growl like a lion as I started to take a peek at Thea through the window. The hostess immediately guided her to our table. I squinted my eyes as I looked at her. She’s wearing a black peplum dress and red hot heels.  She’s overly dressed just for our simple dinner. I thought she came from work? I know for sure that ‘this’ is not what she wears when she goes to work.

“Woah. You look so girly today. What’s the occasion?” I greeted her with a tease as soon as was in front of our table.

“Is there any law that I can’t wear girly dresses, huh?” she said and sat right in front of me. She grumpily threw her Channel bag on our table.

“Nothing. In fact, you look so beautiful today, Thea. Why are you dressed like that anyway? Are you meeting up with someone?” I asked as I examined her dress.

“Of course, I need to look pretty and fresh every day, especially now that—Oh my, he’s here!” she didn’t finish what she was about to say and immediately looked behind me. She even waved her hand and I got curious with what she’s doing so I turned my back to look where she was waving at.

My eyes grew big with what I saw. I immediately connected everything that has happened and why she was dressed like that.

It was Neil who entered the restaurant. My brows knitted automatically as I looked at Neil getting closer to our table. When did they become friends that they are now inviting each other to dinner? And why is it I don’t have any idea about this?

My heartbeat instantly doubled when I suddenly thought that maybe his cousin went with him too. What if—wait, no!

They wouldn’t always be with each other, right? I tried to reason out with myself. Somehow, there’s a part of me that wants to see him too. Half of it doesn’t want to. I need to prepare myself for that time!

All the convincing that I did for myself crumbled down in an instant. Half of me started jumping inside my mind. After Neil entered the door, a few seconds later and Geoff entered the restaurant too. s**t! They’re both dashing with their smart casual look! But how come Geoff’s looks stikes harder?

Geoff is wearing a white polo shirt dress folded up to the elbows. He’s also wearing brown khaki pants.

Ugh! I should have dressed up as well.

Wait, what? Did I really think that I should dress up prettily in front of Geoff? Why did I even think of that?

I shrugged it off my head but I can’t help but be mesmerized with his looks. Everything surrounding us got blurry as soon as he entered the restaurant. All I can see right now is how glamourous he is. Oh my—

Why does he have this effect on me? All of my thoughts get shattered every time I see Geoff. My goodness!