Entangled

3

Pina-ikot ni Arkel ang tingin at tumango, satisfied with the result. Ang kanyang private conference room ay nagbibigay ng business atmosphere, at ang bouquet ng fresh flowers na nilagay ng kanyang sekretarya sa gitna ng mahabang mesa offered a personal touch amongst the plush wine carpeting, the gleam of cherry wood, and buttery leather chairs. Ang mga contract papers ay maayos na nakalatag sa mesa, along with an elegant silver tray filled with tea, coffee, and a variety of pastries. Formal yet friendly- which would reflect the tone of their marriage.

Binalewala niya ang malakas na pagtibok ng kanyang dibdib sa isipin na makikita niyang muli si Deniah Lillium Lagazca. He wondered how she'd grown. The stories his sister shared with him painted a picture of a reckless, impulsive woman. Nag-aalangan siya sa suhestiyon ni Alana- Deniah didn't fit the image he needed. Stubborn memories of a free-spirited kid with a ponytail bobbing teased his thoughts, even though he knew she owned a respectable bookstore. He still thought of her as Alana's playmate, even though he hadn't seen her in years.

Pero nawawalan na siya ng oras. Gustohin man niyang iba sanang tao ang pag-aalukan niya ng marriage contract wala siyang choice. Wala na siyang oras para maghanap ng iba. Atleast, she could be trusted.

May pinagsamahan sila, kaya naiisip niyang mapagkakatiwalaan niya ang babae. She may not fit his idea of the perfect wife, but she needed money. Fast. Nanatiling tahimik si Alana kung bakit kailangan nito ng pera, pero nabanggit niyang desperada ito. A need for cash he was comfortable with- it was black and white. No gray areas. No intimacy between them. A business transaction between old friends. Arkel would live with that.

He reached for the intercom to buzz his secretary, but the heavy door smoothly swung open at the same time and closed with a solid click.

He turned.

Deep blue eyes cut straight to his with little hesitation and clearness that told him this woman would lose any poker game- she was brutally honest and unwilling to bluff. He recognized her gaze well enough, but age had changed the colors to a disturbing mix of aquamarine and sapphire. Certain images came to mind- plumbing the depths of the Caribbean Sea in search of its mysteries. A canvas of Sinatra's umbrella skies stretched so far wide a man couldn't find the beginning or end.

Her eyes were startling against the inky black of her hair, which consisted of corkscrew curls that tumbled past her shoulders and framed her face with natural wildness she seemed unable to tame. High cheekbones set off a lush mouth. He used to ask her if she'd been stung by a bee, then crack up laughing. The joke was on him. Hot male fantasies were built around a mouth like hers- and it had nothing to do with bees. Just honey. Preferably warm, sticky honey poured over those plump lips and slowly licked off.

Ah, hell.

He reigned himself in and finish his inspection. Naalala niya kung gaano niya ito asarin nung nalaman niyang kailangan na niyang magsuot ng bra. She's an early developer, nahiya ito nang malaman niyang alam niya ito at ginamit niya iyon para asarin ito sa tuwing makakaharap niya ang babae. Pero ngayon, hindi na ito nakakatawa. Her breasts were as lush as her mouth, and match the curve of her hips. Matangkad ito, halos kasingtangkad niya, and this package of female temptation came all wrapped up in a fiery red tank dress emphasized her cleavage, skimmed over her hips, and fell to the floor.

Scarlet toenails peaked through shiny red sandals. Nanatili itong nakatayo malapit sa pinto, as if allowing him to drink his fill before she decided to speak. Feeling somewhat staggered, Iain fought past his discomposure and relied on professionalism to hide his reaction. Deniah Lillium Lagazca had grown up well. A little to well for his taste. Pero hindi na niya kailangang malaman ito.

He offered her the same neutral smile he'd offer any business associate. "Hello, Naya. It's been a long time."

Ngumiti ito pabalik ngunit di ito umabot sa mga mata niya. She shifted her feet and fisted her hands. "Hello, Dark. How are you?"

Siya lang naman ang tumatawag sa kanya ng Dark imbes na ang second name niya na Arkel. "Fine. Please sit down. Can I pour you coffee? Tea?"

"Coffee, please."

"Cream? Sugar?"

"Cream. Salamat." Naglakad ito palapit sa swiveled chair at umupo then she crossed her legs. The slinky red material crept up and gave him a glimpse of olive skin, smooth and athletic.

Nag-concentrate siya sa paggawa ng kape. "Napoleon? Apple fritter? They're from the bakery across the street."

"No. Thank you."

"Sigurado ka?"

"Oo. I'd never be able to stop at one. I've learned not to tempt myself."

The word tempt fell from her lips in a slow, smoky voice that stroked his ears. His pants tightened a notch and he realized her voice stroked other places as well. s**t! Completely disconcerted by his reaction to a woman he wanted no physical contact with, nag-focus siya sa paggawa ng kanyang kape pagkuway naupo sa harap niya.

Pinagmasdan nilang dalawa ang isat-isa at humaba ang katahimikan. She plucked at the delicate gold bracelet encircling her wrist. "I'm sorry about your Uncle Earl."

"Salamat. Sinabi ba sayo ni Alana ang buong detalye?"

"Yeah. The whole thing sounds crazy."

"It is. Naniniwala si tito Earl sa kahalagahan ng pamilya, bago siya mamatay kombinsido siyang di ako mag-aasawa. Therefore, he decided a strong push would be for my own good."

"You don't believe in marriage?"

Nagkibit- balikat siya. "Marriage is unnecessary. The dream of forever is a fairy tale. White knights and monogamy don't exist."

Nanlaki ang mata nito, halatang nagulat. "You don't believe in making a commitment to another person?"

"Commitments are short- lived. Sure, people mean it when they confess love and devotion, but time erodes all the good stuff and leaves the bad. Do you know anyone who is happily married?"

Bumuka ang mga labi nito ngunit nanatiling tahimik. "Bukod sa parents ko? Sa tingin ko wala. Pero hindi ibig sabihin non ay wala nang mga happy couples."

"Maybe." His tone contradicted his partial agreement.

"I guess there are a lots of issues we don't agree upon." She said, and shifted in her seat then re- crossed her legs. "We'll need some time together to see if this thing will work."

"Wala na tayong oras. Kailangang mangyari ang kasal bago matapos ang week na to. It doesn't matter if we get along. This is strictly a business arrangement."

Matagal siya nitong tinitigan ng matalim. "I see you're the same overbearing bully who teased me about my chest size. Some things don't change."

Nalipat ang pokus ng kanyang mga mata pababa sa cleavage ng babae. " Sa tingin ko tama ka. Some things remain the same. Others keep expanding."

Her breath caught at the jab, but she surprised him when she smiled. "And other things remain small." Ang kanyang matalim na tingin ay nadako sa umbok sa gitna ng kanyang pantalon.

Muntik nang maibuga ni Iain ang kanyang iniinom na kape, but he managed to set the cup down with calm dignity. A rush of heat punched his gut as he remembered the day in the pool when they were kids.

He had been teasing Deniah mercilessly about the changes in her body when Alana snuck up behind him and yanked down his swim trunks. Exposed in all senses of the world, he'd stalked away and pretended the whole episode didn't bother him. But the memory still ranked as his most embarrassing moment.

Itinuro niya ang mga papeles na nakalatag sa mesa. "Alana told me you needed a specific amount of money. I kept the figure open for negotiation."

An odd expression crossed her face. Her features tightened, then smoothed back out. "Is this the contract?"

Tumango siya. "I know you'll need your lawyer to look it over."

"Hindi na kailangan. A friend of mine is a lawyer. I learned enough, since I helped him study for bar exam. May I see it?"

He slid the papers over the polished wood. She reached in her purse for a pair of small, black reading glasses and pushed them up the bridge of her nose. Minutes passed as she studied the contract. He took the opportunity to study her. Deniah wasn't his type. She was too curvy, too direct, too... real. He liked to know he was safe from any emotional outbursts if something didn't go her way. Even when Sabrina became upset, she always handled herself with restraint.

Deniah scared the hell out of him. Something in his gut whispered she wouldn't be easy to handle. She spoke her opinion and exhibited emotions without thought. Such reactions caused danger and havoc and messiness. The last thing he needed in marriage.

Yet...

He trusted her. Those sapphire eyes bespoke a certain determination and fairness. Her promise meant something. After a year, he knew she'd wal

k away without a glance backward or a desire for more money. The scale tipped in her favor.