The Billionaire's Wife

Five.

Pakiramdam ko ay naglalakad ako sa ulap. 

Rinig na rinig ang tunog ng high heels ko at nag i echo pa ito habang naglalakad kami ni Vaughn papunta sa conference room ng Destileria Calderon. Kasunod namin ang tatlong lawyer ng Arciega Corporation. Vaughn wanted to bring the seven lawyers on our retainer pero sabi ko ay kahit tatlo na lang.

This is the day that I have been waiting for.

Well, just one of the days na hinihintay ko.

Sigurado ako na may mga araw pang darating na matagal ko nang hinihintay. And Vaughn will make sure that those days will come.

Naka sukbit ang kamay ko sa braso ni Vaughn. Hindi mawala ang ngiti ko kahit nakapasok na kami sa conference room kung saan may limang tao na naghihintay.

I am sure that the two unfamiliar faces are the lawyers from the other side. Samantalang ramdam na ramdam ko naman ang matalim na titig sa akin ni Lyzander Calderon. Katabi nya ay ang mga magulang nya na sila Alana at Mariano Calderon.

Amidst the problems they are facing, they kind of look relaxed.

Pwera na lang kay Lyzander na kulang na lang ay patayin ako sa talim ng mga titig nya. Nginitian ko pa sya para lalo syang maasar.

“So, let's start, shall we?” Vaughn doesn’t want to waste any time. Agad nya iyong sinabi nang makaupo na kami sa kabilang side ng long table.

Our lawyers laid the papers as their own lawyers did.

I gave Lyzander a smug smile while Vaughn and everyone are busy with the contract. We are buying their family business for sixty million pesos kahit na alam ng lahat na ang value lang noon ay fifty million. Or even less.

Well, what can I say? Vaughn knew that I wanted to hurt them, and the only way I can hurt them more is for their ego to be crushed.

“Wait, why does it says sixty million? We just want fifty million.” Alana said after a few minutes. Punong puno ng pagkakata ang mukha nya.

Vaughn looked at me. Sumunod na tumingin sa akin si Alana at si Mariano.

“Well, we think that the Distillery's value is at that price point.” Painosente na sabi ko.

Lyzander stood up hastily. “Revise the contract. We don't need your f*****g charity.” Gigil na sabi nya habang papalapit sya sa akin. Doon ko lang napansin kung gaano bumagsak ang katawan nya. He seemed to be taking it the hardest than his parents.

Kung ikaw ba naman na namulat sa yaman ay bigla na lang magising na baon kayo sa utang at kailangan nyo nang ibenta ang business nyo para maibayad sa utang na iyon, I am pretty sure anyone would feel worse.

Vaughn stood up too, ihinarang nya ang katawan nya sa akin. “You should be very careful with how you talk to my wife.” May pagbabanta na sabi nya. Yes, Vaughn can be very protective.

Unti until akong tumayo, pero isinasangga pa rin ni Vaughn ang katawan nya para protektahan ako. I felt his body tensed. Hinawakan ko ang braso nya para kumalma sya. Ayoko naman na imbes na magpirmahan kami para mabilis na namin ang Distillery ay mauwi kami sa pirmahan sa police station dahil nagkasakitan si Vaughn at Lyzander.

Lyzander stopped walking. His hands are clenched at masamang masama ang tingin nya sa akin. Agad na lumapit ang mag asawa sa anak nila.

“Zander, please calm down.” Alo ni Alana sa anak.

“How can I calm down when these two f*****g crooks are trying to get our family's legacy?!” And just then. Lyzander broke down. He started tearing up.

Lalong nag panic ang mag asawa.

Nagkatinginan kami ni Vaughn.

“We will buy the Distillery for sixty million pesos. Take it or leave it.” I said as I cleared my throat. Iniwas ko ang tingin sa kanilang tatlo.

I might be trying to look ruthless and heartless but it's just not me. Naaapektuhan pa rin ako ng awa kahit na galit ako sa kanila. Kahit na balot ng poot ang puso ko para sa pamilya nila.

“W-we will take it. Please, I'm sorry.” Halos hindi magkada ugaga na sabi ni Alana. Liningon nya si Mariano. “Go, susunod na lang ako. Ako na ang bahala rito.”

“Zander, let's go.” Hinila ni Mariano ang anak palabas habang kita ko ang awa sa mukha ni Alana habang nakatingin sa mag ama nya.

Mabilis ang naging pirmahan. In ten minutes ay nakapangalan na sa akin ang Destileria Calderon.

“Are you happy?” Tanong Ni Vaughn nang nasa sasakyan na kami.

“Very,” I answered with a smile on my face.

Vaughn's listed net worth is four billion dollars. With that money comes a great responsibility. Tuwing umaalis kami, magkasama o magkahiwalay ay may security kaming nakasunod. We don't want it to be obvious, so we don't really acknowledge them. Once na makita kasi na may security kami, lalong makaka agaw ng pansin.

So we act as if we're alone, or kung sino lang na kasama namin.

We may be well known, pero hindi lahat ng tao kailangan malaman na bilyonaryo ang asawa ko. We try to be low key as much as possible.

“Lalabas ako mamayang gabi.” Sabi ko habang nag-aagahan kami.

It's one of those rare moments na nag-aagahan si Vaughn. Madalas kasi ay itinutulog nya na lang ang pagkain ng breakfast at nagpapabili na lang sya sa assistant nya kung gutom sya.

Natigil sya sa pag nguya. “Saan ka pupunta?” Kunot ang noo na tanong nya.

“Dinner with a friend.” Kibit balikat na sabi ko.

“With whom?” 

Tumawa ako. “I won't cheat on you, if that's what you want to know.” 

“That's good, and I trust you anyway. But you still have to tell me kung sino ang kasama mo.” Seryosong seryoso na sabi nya ulit.

“Okay, fine.” Natatawa na sagot ko at tumingin sa kanya. “Si Luna.”

He blinked a few times. “Luna? Why? Alam mo naman na-”

“Vaughn,” I cut him off. “Don't worry. Gusto ko lang naman mangamusta.”

“Well, you can do it on the phone. Paano kung may makakita sa inyo?” 

“Please? Ngayon na lang naman ulit. And sa hotel kami magkikita. Pinauna ko na sya doon. No one would know na may kasama ako doon.” 

Tinitigan nya ako ng ilang segundo. Alam ko naman na papayag sya. Vaughn can't really say 'no' to me. And I don't know kung dapat ba akong maging thankful dahil blessing iyon or sumpa. As much as I like doing what I want, minsan naiisip ko na nagiging careless na ako and Vaughn can't seem to see that.

Ang gusto nya lang, masaya ako sa kung ano ang gusto ko.

He made it clear that my happiness is important to him in this relationship.

And as f*****g cheesy as it sounds, wala iyon ibang kahulugan. We're on this together so we prioritize what we need to prioritize.

He sighed after a little while. “Fine. Just be careful. Call me if you need me.”

And with that, I was thinking that his obedience is a blessing.. for now.