My Husband's Secret

Chapter 1: Playboy

--- A R L I A H ---

“Is that all?”

I lifted my gaze to my secretary. She was looking on her planner. And upon hearing my question, she immediately gave me her attention and meet my gaze.

“Yes, Miss President. That would be all.” She said with her usual formal tone.

I heaved a deep breath then automatically shut my eyes. I leaned my back against the backrest of my seat. Feeling the soft material behind my back made me sigh in relief. And somehow, the schedule that I had heard from my secretary added to the solace I was starting to feel.

“Thank you, Miranda. You can go home now.” I said to her in a soft voice. I opened my eyes and looked at her direction. Her small smile was the first thing that greeted me and I end up equaling her expression.

“I hope you enjoy your weekend,” I added.

“Likewise, Miss President. I hope you enjoy your weekend.” After she said that, she finally turned her back and graced her way out of my office. And when the door finally closes behind her, I let out another set of deep breath. I shut my eyes again and savor the peace and silence of my office.

The thought that I would have no work tomorrow woke up in the excitement within me.

Finally, after months of working my ass off, I managed to have a break from all my business problems. As for my life and other problems… well, that can be given attention on the other days. As for now, I badly needed to find some peace, relaxation and will to continue before pushing through on the next challenges of my life that would come.

One step at a time, like everyone had said. My problems won’t ran away anyway so why chase it?

I was enjoying my peace when I a familiar ringtone started to break the silence of my office. My body suddenly became tensed. A familiar thought crossed into my mind. As much as I wanted to ignore and forget about that thought, I just can’t, especially when my phone continued to ring and vibrate.

It took me a while before I decided to peek on the screen of my phone. When I saw the name of my dearest friend, my shoulder instantly relaxes. I thought that caller was someone who was working in the health center. The nurse working there usually calls me around this time so I was suddenly worried.

I reached out for my phone then swipe the answer button to answer the call. I haven’t yet put the call into the speaker mode but I could already hear the pitchy voice on the other line.

[“Wow, Arliah! You are such a feeling—very important person! You actually dare to answer my call after a few rings?!”]

I let out a soft chuckle when Lee’s voice echoed on every corners of the room after I tapped the speaker mode.

“I’m sorry. I was contemplating to answer it at the thought that the caller was the nurse working at the center. I was not expecting you would call me tonight.” I explained honestly to him.

[“Oh. Is that so?”] he uttered like he fully understand my reason. I could not help but grin wider when I hear his voice toning down a bit.

[“Well, then, please excuse my rude opening a while ago,”] his voice was finally back to its usual girly tone.

“So… why did you call?” I asked.

[“Well, the usual. I am calling to invite you to party. Everyone’s here in our favorite club. And I know your reply would always be the same—“]

“Alright, I’ll go…” I said between his speech.

[“…that you can’t go and busy as a bee. But I am still inviting—wait, wait, wait,”]

I bit my lower lip to suppress the small laugh that was about to escape from me. But then, hearing my friend’s exaggerating squeal on the other line made me burst into laughter.

[“Oh my god! Am I hearing things!”] Lee, my bisexual best friend and confidante, exclaimed excitedly. Like my response was something new to his hearing.

[“You are finally coming here?!”] he shrieked.

“Yes. It seemed that the ship won’t go sail without me,” I kidded. I stood on my seat and started arranging the things that I need.

[“Of course the ship can always sail without you but it’s always better when passengers are always complete!”]

“I get what you mean. Wait for me. Don’t start the fun without me, a’right?”

[“Of course. Everyone’s celebrating that you’re finally coming here! They said that it’s your turn to be the captain for tonight!”]

I let out a small laugh once again when I heard the squeals of my other friends on the line. I could hear them saying that I should hurry and some were even suggesting that they should start finding me a man to flirt with, especially that everyone has their partners! They don’t want me to feel out of place for being alone!

I could not believe them when I heard those. They actually had the face to invite me when they foresee what will be my situation if I accepted their invitation!

Oh well, it’s not that I am finding a partner anyway. I’m going since I wanted to spend time with my friends.

A thought suddenly crossed into my mind but I immediately disregarded the idea. There’s no way that I would consider finding a man in a bar. Relationship that starts in that kind of place would always fall apart.

And that is not based on my experience. It is based on my friends’ experiences. I don’t need the experiences to be the teacher of me. I witness enough life experiences and let it be the teacher of my own.

[“Okay. Order anything you want. The bill is on me. I will be there in 30,”] I said. I heard another series of screams and squeals before I ended the call.

I was smiling widely as I put everything I needed in my sling bag. As soon as I ensured I left nothing important, I left my office and drove my way toward my destination.

Well, to be honest, it is. I rarely accept any invitation from Lee whenever he invites me to a party.

Ever since I got back here in the country three months ago, to fix and tried my best to save my parent’s failing company, I have decided to give my full focus on helping out. I gave my entire attention in finding better solutions and talked out to my father’s business partners that were already withdrawing and selling their shares.

I gave them a deadline that I could still save the company, thinking that I could actually do it along the way. But it seemed that I was too confident in my ability, even though I have no experience in business management. And so, after three months, the investors started selling off their stocks to whomever interested on it.

My father’s scandal must have been imprinted into the public’s mind resulting to the drastic decline of dining in and out of the customers on every branch of our restaurant. He got involved in buy-bust operation and he was proven positive on using of illegal drvgs, which became the main headline of the news for the entire week. So, the sudden decline of revenue had created a big impact on our company.

It was already a miracle that my parent’s company survived until now amidst everything.

And… one reason, to be honest, I decided to party, was to enjoy the remaining time of my freedom. Next week, I will be starting to reconsider the marriage proposals I have received from some… bachelors.

Even my parent’s company has been facing its doom now, some says that it can be still saved through rebranding. For some aggressive magnates, they still see some potentials on our company. The others might have seen its absolute downfall but not all. The risk takers in business had sent proposals to me, marriage proposals to be specific, and most of them promised they will help our company back on its feet.

I have no idea about it. The fact that a few bachelors are still willing to help the company in exchange of being their wife, is already a… favor to me. As for their personal reason they are finding a wife… then, that’s not really the problem for me. As long as they fulfil their promise, then I can be the wife they wanted until the contract ends.

This is just… a fair share of my sacrifice. I don’t mind being titled to be an annulled woman after everything.

All I wanted to see is to let our company survive until then so the my parents' legacy could continue. This is my last memento from my mother. This was one of the important things in her life. And I don’t want it to disappear just because… I am against marriage proposals.

As for my father… I don’t blame him if he fell into the depravity of illegal drvgs. Ever since my mother’s death, he was not able to function really well. He entertained himself with gambling to fill the gap. I let him do what he wanted, with limits of course. But I did not know that the time I was away was also the time he was getting drowned in the influence of drvgs.

He was the reason I went home right away to bail him out of the jail and send him to a rehabilitation center. And I decided to bring all my work here in my home country until everything is set in place.

I did not know how long I was driving on the road before I arrived in my destination. It’s past eleven in the evening already, just the right time to arrive at a club and have a good time.

Seeing the scattered crowd outside the club is already a sign that night life is starting to get alive.

I worked late until ten pm with Miranda, especially for tonight. So that in the next five days, we’ll both enjoy our vacation without worrying about work.

I exhaled a deep breath and shrugged off the bad vibes. There’s a right time to worry about problems. As for tonight, I should start enjoying my time.

After I parked my car, I immediately made my way inside the club. The loud music and the strobe of lights greeted me. It was not yet packed so I immediately saw my group of friends on a u-shaped sofa in one corner. Anyone would immediately notice their group because their area is the only group flocked with more than ten people!

And now I was nearing their direction, they were not lying that each one of them had partners when I saw new faces!

My group of friends seemed to be expecting my arrival and as soon as I was nearing their direction, they immediately cheered for me.

But when I was nearing their direction, I was too excited that I did not notice someone was coming in my way. He was talking with someone and it seemed that he also did not notice I was coming. When I noticed his presence, it was too late when I realized that we would bump into each other at a certain point!

Before I could halt, I crashed into the stranger. He was tall and had a large built. And as cliché as it looked, I was thankful for his quick reaction because he managed to catch me on my waist before I could even fall on the floor!

My heart skipped a beat when I held onto his arms. We were inches apart now because of what had happened. It would be embarrassing if I fell on my bum. But right now, I suddenly wished that I should have fallen on the floor instead of being caught by some… handsome… stranger!

Despite the strobe light and the darkness of the place, I could see his face clearly in our distance. And what caught my attention the most is his deep… set of eyes!

The stranger's forehead was suddenly in a deep crease. He inhaled a deep breath and then he suddenly looked… pain. I was then got distracted by how his Adam’s apple moved up and down. My line of sight only leveled his neck.

“I’m sorry, miss…” his hoarse and deep voice echoed in my ears. And that had somehow taken me back to reality and brought myself to move away from him.

“No. No. It’s my fault,” I said. I was panicking. “I did not notice you coming—"

“No. It should be me who should say my apology…” he said, interrupting me before I could even finish my sentence.

“No... no…” I shook my head with conviction.

I don’t know how long we were trying to shoulder the fault when we both agreed that it was the darkness that caused the little accident. And after a while, we were finally bidding farewell so we could join our group. And when I brought my attention back to my group of friends, I was not surprised to see their mocking gazes. They were suddenly silent, as if they had just finished their favorite movie or opera.

I rolled my eyes in return. This is the reason I wished I should have fallen on my bum instead of being saved by a handsome stranger. I could already foresee what would happen next as soon as I arrived in front of my friends. I am a hundred percent sure that they would tease and taunt me with the man I bumped into especially because the love part of my life, is always… and probably would always be, the interest of their topic.