Craving for Love (Cougar Series #43) - SPG

Chapter 4

NAPAHINGA AKO NANG malalim habang nakatingin sa kabuoan ng room. This isn’t so bad. Mukhang desente naman pala talaga ang lugar na ito at ako lang itong sobrang judgmental.

Inuga ko pa nang kaunti ang kama. It is soft with white cotton, at kulay itim naman ang bed sheet at unan. Mukhang hindi naman sasakit ang katawan ko kung sakali mang ngayon na kami magjug-jugan nitong si Erick.

He seemed decent, too. I can tell just by our first conversation. Magaling siyang makisama, or he is just a good actor. Anyway, marunong naman ako ng self defense in case he is a scam. I used to be a black belter on my college days, and I didn’t stop exercising even after graduation.

As long as he gives me a baby.

Nahilata na lang muna ako sa kama dahil medyo matagal siya. He told me that he needs to get his suitcase where his contract is.

I guess he is a businessman or something if this kind of deal is a big deal. Mukhang hindi naman siya isang architect, he is a CEO, o ang susunod na CEO. I am also the boss of my mini architectural firm since I just started. Hindi naman ako agad nagtayo ng sariling firm after graduation. I need experience first before that, and Alpha Architects built me into who I am today.

Lumapit ako sa malapit na side table na gawa sa mahogany at sinipat ang ilang mga pabango doon. Mostly ay scents iyon kapag naliligo. Mukhang may bathtub sa banyo. Good.

Wala naman na akong ibang nakitang interesante sa lugar na ito bukod sa ilang essentials like towels, bathrobes, and the like. This place is really clean. Ni alikabok ay hindi nakatakas sa mga tagalinis.

The room gives me a contemporary architecture vibe. It’s simple yet sophisticated. The lines used in the interior is deliberate, and it shows space rather than things. I have to admit, ganito ang gusto kong klase ng kwarto. Actually, this feels like my room, only it’s not black and white.

My head flew towards the door when it opened.

“Sorry, it took me for a while.” He heaved a sigh before heading to the bed. He laid his suitcase there and opened it.

Ako naman ay naupo sa kabilang dulo ng kama at hinintay kung ano ang gagawin namin. I only saw papers there, nothing more. Mukhang wala naman siyang patalim o kung ano para ipanakot sa ‘kin. I think I am safe for now. I can’t be too careful, though.

Nasaan na ba kasi si Nash? Akala ko ay kilala niya halos lahat ng mga nagpupunta rito. I need to know if this one is not dangerous. Hindi pa rin kasi ako mapakali kahit na ilang ulit kong kumbinsihin ang sarili. I feel safer when Nash is around.

“Here.” He handed me two pieces of paper. “Those are a set of rules for the two of us. It took me minutes because I asked my secretary to add rules about your case. Feel free to add and alter some of them, though.”

“Is this necessary?” I asked. Hindi ko maiwasang pangunutan ng noo dahil sa mga papel na binigay niya. “I will not go to jail if I sign this, right? You know, my signature is expensive.”

He laughed. I notice how manly he sounds compared to Nash’s sweet laugh. Kaya lang madalang ko naman marinig na tumawa si Nash. I just missed it suddenly.

“Mine is expensive as well, Architect Nathalie. I am a CEO from a well-known architectural firm as well.”

I gaped. Muli kong binalik ang tingin sa papel at binasa ang pangalan ng kompanya na ayon sa kaniya ay siya raw ang CEO. “Holy crap!” Binalik-balik ko ang tingin sa kaniya at sa papel, hindi pa rin makapaniwala. I thought my eyes are playing tricks on me! “You are Synergy Architectural Firm’s CEO?”

He extended his arm and smiled. “The one and only.” Agad kong tinanggap ang kamay niya.

I scoffed and started reading his terms and conditions. I didn’t see anything wrong, in any case. As long as he gives me a baby in exchange for saving his company from his uncle, we won’t have any issue.

“Isn’t this a little too much for what I am asking?”

He shrugged. “A life in exchange for a life. My life depends on this one, Architect. I have nothing without the company. I guess it is only fair.”

“But what do I have to do? I mean, you are a CEO, and I am just an architect.”

“Good question,” ani niya. “You need to pretend as my fiance so that bastard can’t do anything with my company. You know how big companies make a big deal about their CEO having an heir. And it will be a bonus because you are an architect.”

I sighed. “Ah... I am starting to understand now. So, you want me to tell your company that my baby is going to be the heir when he is not?”

He snapped his finger. “Exactly.”

I sighed and shook my head. “Deal.” I signed my name on the paper before he secured it inside his suitcase.

The moment he secured it, I grabbed him by the collar and started kissing him hard.

Hindi na ako virgin. In fact, I already had s-ex with Sebastian for so many years. Hindi naman ako masokista para tanggihan siya for seven years. Akala ko rin naman kasi ay siya na talaga ang para sa ‘kin habang buhay.

But maybe we are not meant for each other. Baka hindi pagmamahal ang mayroon kaming dalawa, but purely lust. Ngayong wala na kami, saka ko lang natanong ang sarili ko kung minahal ko nga ba talaga siya o I just kept him beside me para may masabi akong may boyfriend ako at pitong taon na kami.

I loved him, though. But maybe it wasn’t the type of love that I was looking for. Gusto ko ng pagmamahal na pangmatagalan. Gusto ko ng pagmamahal na handa kaming mag-commit pareho sa harap ng simbahan. Iyong pagmamahal na dadalhin namin hanggang sa mga magiging anak namin.

And yet here I am, having s-ex with another man, who I barely know. He wasn’t even Nash, my best friend since college. He was just a man I meant an hour ago here at the same bar. And yet, nothing held me back. Ang nasa isip ko lang ng mga oras na ito ay ang pagkakaroon ng anak.