Under the Billionaire's Possession [R18]

(25) Thomas and Artemis

Stone's POV

"Sir, may gusto pong kumausap sa inyo. Urgent ho raw." Napatingin ako sa aking sekretarya nang pumasok ito sa aking opisina matapos. Ibinalik ko ang aking paningin sa aking ginagawa bago magsalita.

"I don't remember having an appointment this time." Malamig kong wika sa kanya atsaka tingnan ulit gamit ang aking mga mata. Nakita ko kung paano ito napalunok atsaka yumuko.

"K-Kasi po sir, nagpumilit talaga siyang pumasok dito para makausap kayo." Napasandal ako sa aking office chair atsaka kinuha ang aking stress ball bago iyon pinisil-pisil.

"Sino ba kasi 'yan?"

"S-Si Atty. Thomas Garcia po." Napaderetso ako ng upo atsaka kaagad siyang inutusan na papasukin kaagad sa loob. The moment she swung the door open, Atty. Thomas Garcia immediately walk past her.

"I know I don't have any appointment, but this is an urgent matter Mr. Lincoln." Deretso lang itong maglakad papunta aking direksyon habang bitbit ang briefcase niya. His look was serious yet calm before putting an envelope on top of my desk.

I looked at the brown envelope before looking at his face.

"What's this?" I asked with a crease on my forehead. He motioned me to open the envelope which I automatically did. Nilabas ko ang laman ng envelope atsaka isa-isang binisa ang mga nakasaad sa dokumento.

Napaawang ang aking labi sa aking nabasa at tuluyang napangiti matapos kong basahin ang lahat. Sa oras na nilingon ko si Atty. Garcia, hindi mawala-wala ang ngiti sa labi ko.

"I guess it's good news, huh?" He said which made me nod once.

"It really is. The inheritance was passed on me successfully. All of it." Kaagad kong ipinasok ulit sa loob ng envelope ang mga dokumento atsaka ito inilapag ulit sa ibabaw ng aking mesa.

I leaned my back against my chair before placing both of my elbows on top of the armrest as I looked the attorney in front of me.

"I adore how you did your job well, Atty. Garcia. I didn't expect to get this news as early as possible." Tumaas ang kilay niya matapos marinig ang sinabi ko.

"Really? I thought you want it finish as soon as possible. Diba 'yan yung utos mo?" Natigilan ako sa sinabi niya. Did I really said that to him before?

"Whatever. Name your price for a job well done." Umiling ito sa sinabi ko dahilan upang kumunot ang aking noo. Hmm, that's new. Everyone in this world wanted money, we need it to survive and pleasure ourselves with the things that will bring satisfaction to our well-being.

Nakakagulat naman na ang abogadong ito ay tumatanggi sa pera.

"I don't need any of it, Mr. Lincoln. I just need to finish my last job for you and I'm good." Tumahimik ang buong silid matapos niyang magsalita. Nagkatitigan kaming dalawa at wala ni isa ang gustong mag-iwas ng tingin.

What's with this attorney? Bakit ba gustong-gusto niya akong tulungan? Utos ba 'to ni Lolo sa kanya? He's my late grandfather's personal lawyer to begin with, but then here he is standing in front of me like he didn't help me go against my grandfather's last will.

"What are you really up to, Atty. Garcia? Bakit ba sobrang bait mo?" Dahil nakakapagtaka na talaga siya.

"Mabait na ba ang tawag sa taong ginagawa lang ang trabaho niya?"

"Your duty is to make sure that my late grandfather's last will testament will come to reality. Ano 'tong ginagawa mo sa'kin ngayon?" He shrugged his shoulders before taking a seat in front of my desk.

"Oh please, Mr. Lincoln, sasabihin ko pa ba ulit sa'yo ang sinabi ko noon? I am a lawyer and it's my job to help people in need. That's my nature. And you need help, Mr. Lincoln, aren't you? I'm doing you a favor already, just be thankful." Tinitigan ko siya ng mabuti at pilit na binabasa ang kanyang iniisip pero masyado itong mahirap.

Hindi ko alam kung nagsasabi ito ng totoo o hindi. O baka naman ako lang talaga itong hindi kaagad nagtitiwala sa iba. I have some trust issues and it started when my grandfather betrayed me the moment he chooses Diane and her mother rather than his own grandson.

"Fine." I said before leaning back again against my seat.

"Nga pala, bago ako umalis. Gusto ko lang sabihin sa'yo na nilalakad ko na ang annulment ninyo ni Diane." Natigilan ako sa sinabi niya dahilan upang mapatingin kaagad ako sa kanyang direksyon.

Nang makita niya ang reaction ko, kaagad na kumunot ang kanyang noo na tila nagtataka.

"Bakit hindi mo muna ako sinabihan bago mo 'yan gawin?" Hindi ko maiwasang mapagtaasan na siya ng boses. Halos mapatayo ako sa aking kinauupuan. I gripped the armrest in my chair before leaning my body closer to my desk.

"Do I have to?"

"Of course!" Salubong ang kilay kong saad sa kanya. Natigilan ito ngunit kaagad ding nawala ang pagkabigla sa kanyang mukha.

Atty. Garcia leaned back to his chair before crossing his arms against his chest. A smirk suddenly flashed on his a little bit wrinkled face until it become a grin, a wide grin. Umiling-iling ito habang nakatingin sa akin na mas ikinasalubong ng aking kilay.

"What the hell is that look?" Sabi ko na may halong inis sa boses.

"Are you falling on your own trap? Or you already have fallen, Mr. Lincoln?" Natigilan ako sa kanyang sinabi at hindi maiwasang maikuyom ang aking kamao.

"Are you mocking me?"

"No, of course not. I'm just asking questions." Isang masamang tingin ang ibinigay ko sa kanya bago umiwas ng tingin. Why the hell am I reacting like this? This is not how I supposed to act.

Pero parang iba kasi ang hatid ng mga tanong sa akin ni Atty. Garcia. O baka ako lang 'tong masyadong mababaw. I'm too dense at this moment, I'm not like this before which made me triggered. Now, I sound like a defensive jerk.

"Fine. Just do what you need to do. Process my annulment as soon as possible and I want the papers the next time you visit my office." Yun lang ang sinabi ko bago ko muling tinignan ang mga papeles sa ibabaw ng aking mesa. I am looking at the important documents that was submitted to me earlier by my secretary.

Hindi ko siya nilingon ulit at itinuon lamang ang akin atensyon sa hawak-hawak kong dokumento. I saw at the peripheral view of my eye that Atty. Garcia stood up and fixed himself before taking his briefcase.

"If that's so, I shall go. Expect the annulment papers in a few months, Mr. Lincoln." Hindi ko siya nilingon, ni hindi rin ako nagsalita pa ulit. Hinayaan ko lang siyang tumalikod atsaka naglakad papalayo sa aking mesa hanggang sa muli itong magsalita dahilan upang mapatingin ako sa kanyang direksyon.

"You got your father's trait, Mr. Lincoln. Parehong-pareho kayong dalawa." Huminto ito atsaka ako nilingon sa aking pwesto bago ngumiti.

"Both of you are so easy to read when you're in love." I froze when he said that. What the f**k? Bigla akong napatayo sa aking kinauupuan bago magsalita.

"I'm not in love!" I roared as I point him my index finger. He laughed at me which made me furious.

"Jesus! What a deja vu. That's the exact words your father said to me way back then." Napaderetso ako ng tayo atsaka napakurap sa kanyang sinabi.

"Good old days..." I heard him said before flashing a little smile at me and waved his hand at me. Napakurap ulit ako sa kanya nang tumalikod na ulit ito atsaka binuksan ang pinto ng aking opisina. Tumigil ito sa kanyang pwesto ngunit hindi niya ako nilingon.

"Your father was a great man, Stone. Artemis was the only best friend I've ever had." And just like that, he stormed out my office before leaving me dumbfounded.