Pretend as the Billionaire's Wife (SPG)

KABANATA 9

SERAPHINA ROSE P.O.V

Nagbukas nang malakas ang kinang ng mga pinto ng opisina ni Rowan, na nagpapakita ng isang eksena diretso mula sa isang mataas na kapangyarihang magasing pangnegosyo. Mula sa sahig hanggang sa kisame, ang mga bintana mula sa sahig hanggang sa kisame ay nag-aalok ng kahanga-hangang tanawin ng lungsod, at ang mga makinis na kasangkapan ay nagningning sa ilalim ng matinding fluorescent lights. Ngunit agad na bumaling ang aking tingin sa isang tao sa likod ng matimyas na mahogany desk.

Rowan, his face contorted in a mask of fury, sat in a high-backed leather chair, his sculpted features set in a rigid scowl. His gaze, a stormy blue, landed on me like a physical blow.

"Isla!" he roared, his voice echoing in the sterile office space. "What are you doing here?"

Fear, a cold, unwelcome serpent, coiled itself around my heart. My smile faltered, replaced by a grimace. "Rowan," I stammered, "we brought you lunch. We… we thought you'd like to see Feliz."

But my words were drowned out by another shout, this one directed at the guards who stood stiffly by the door. "What the hell were you thinking?!" he bellowed, his voice laced with a dangerous edge. "I told you not to let her leave the house!"

Ang mga guwardiya ay nagpalitan ng nag-aalalang mga tingin, ang kanilang matibay na mga mukha ay naglulubog sa lakas ng galit ni Rowan sa kanila.

Si Feliz, na ramdam ang tumataas na tensyon, ay nagtago nang mas malalim sa aking tabi, ang kanyang maliit na kamay ay nakakapit sa aking damit.

"Rowan, please," I pleaded, my voice trembling slightly but firm. "Calm down. Feliz is scared."

Napatingin si Rowan kay Feliz, ang kanyang galit ay pansamantala'y bumaba. Ngunit ito'y isang biglang pagbabago lamang. Nagngingitngit ang kanyang panga, at nanatiling mahigpit ang kanyang boses habang nagsasalita.

"This is not the place for a child," he spat, his gaze flickering back to me with renewed fury. "Take her back home. Now."

May kislap ng pagtatanggol na sumiklab sa loob ko. Hindi ako magpapasigaw sigaw lang sa kanya. Si Isla ako ngayon alam kong hindi magpapabaya na ganyanin ang totoong Isla at dapat hindi rin ako.

"Rowan," I said, my voice surprisingly steady, "we came here to see you. And you're going to see your daughter, whether you like it or not."

Ang aking mga salita ay mabigat sa hangin, isang hamon ang inihagis. Pumikit si Rowan, ang kanyang galit ay nagiging ibang bagay, isang bagong panganib - isang kislap ng respeto na may kasamang mainit na galit.

Binuksan niya ang kanyang bibig upang magreklamo, walang duda na isa na namang matalim na pahayag sa kanyang dila, ngunit si Feliz, na nag-aambag ng tigil-sigla, ay sumali.

"Daddy," she whimpered, her voice small but clear, "I made you a grilled cheese. With extra cheese, just like you like it."

Unti-unti nang bumalik ang tingin ni Rowan. Tumingin siya kay Feliz, saka sa akin, ang galit na nakikipaglaban sa isang bagay, isang mas malalim sa kanyang mga mata.

Ang katahimikan ay humaba, makapal at nakakasilaw, pinutol lamang ng mahinang ugong ng air conditioning. Sa wakas, may hagod na tila may dala ng bigat ng mundo, nagsalita si Rowan.

"Fine," he conceded, his voice gruff. "Bring the food in. But Feliz stays here after that. The guards will take you back."

Relief washed over me in a wave, as unexpected as it was welcome. We had won this round, however small the victory.

Nang pumasok ako sa marangyang opisina, ang malinis na atmospera ay pakiramdam na hindi gaanong nakakatakot. Ang anyo ni Rowan, ang kanyang galit pansamantalang napatahimik, ang kanyang kahinaan na paminsang lumilitaw sa kanyang mga mata, nag-alok ng isang sulyap sa lalaking nasa ilalim ng galit.

Ito ay isang mapanganib na laro na aking nilalaro, puno ng mga lihim at kasinungalingan. Ngunit sa unang pagkakataon mula nang magising sa kama ng ospital, naramdaman ko ang isang patak ng pag-asa, isang pakiramdam na marahil, baka, may higit pa kay Rowan kaysa sa galit at pagkapoot.

The grilled cheese, now resting on a silver platter courtesy of Rowan's surprised secretary, might not solve all the problems, but it was a start, a fragile bridge built over a chasm of secrets.

Ang tensyon sa silid ay nanatiling sobrang mabigat na tila pwedeng putulin ng kutsilyo. Si Rowan, ang kanyang panga'y nakaigting, kumuha ng kagat sa grilled cheese, ang kanyang mga mata ay hindi umalis sa akin. Si Feliz, nakaupo sa gilid ng isang malambot na upuan, ay kumakain ng kanyang sariling sandwich nang may kasiglahan, walang kamalay-malay sa tahimik na paligid niya.

"It's… not bad," Rowan finally conceded, his voice a low rumble. A flicker of something that might have been grudging approval crossed his features.

"I told you you'd like it," Feliz chirped, her mouth full of bread and cheese. "Mommy used all the good cheddar."

Nagpaka-banal ang tingin ni Rowan habang tinitingnan si Feliz. Hinaplos niya ang kanyang kamay, ang kanyang galaw ay kakaibang magaan habang inaalis ang isang pira-pirasong buhok mula sa kanyang mukha. "Thank you, sweetheart " bulong niya, ang kanyang tinig ay isang malalim na hibik.

May biglang panglaw na katulad ng selos, matalim at di-inaasahang dumuro sa akin. Ang pagiging maamo, ang pagiging maamong ito, ay isang bahagi ni Rowan na hindi ko pa nakikita. Isang bahagi na inilaan lamang para kay Feliz. Hindi para sa'kin o sa totoong Isla.

"You know," I said, forcing a lightness into my voice that I didn't quite feel, "we could make this a regular thing. Lunchtime visits. A chance for you to catch up with your favorite little chef."

Rowan's gaze snapped back to me, the warmth evaporating from his eyes. "Don't get any ideas, Isla," he said, his voice cold once more. "This was a one-time thing. Feliz stays here after you leave."

Ang lamig sa kanyang tinig ay nanakit, isang malinaw na paalala ng kapangyarihan sa likod ng pangyayari. Tingin niya sa akin bilang isang piyesa sa laro, isang kinakailangang kasama sa kanyang pangangalaga kay Feliz. Ngunit hindi ko basta-basta tatanggapin ang pagkakait sa akin.

"Actually," I countered, my voice firm, "I think it's time we talked, Rowan. About everything."

Rowan's eyes narrowed, a dangerous glint flickering within their depths. "There's nothing to talk about," he growled. "You stay at the house, you take care of Feliz, and you stay out of my way."

"And what about you?" I challenged, my voice rising slightly. "What about the secrets you're keeping? The men guarding the house? Don't you think Feliz deserves some answers?"

May patak ng isang bagay na katulad ng takot ang sumilip sa mga kilos ni Rowan, napakaikling sandali na halos hindi ko napansin. Binuksan niya ang kanyang bibig upang magreklamo, ngunit biglang huminto, ang kanyang tingin ay biglang napunta kay Feliz, na ngayo'y tinititigan siya ng malalaking, mapangahas na mga mata.

With a defeated sigh, he lean his back in his chair, the fight seemingly draining out of him. "Later," he muttered, his voice laced with a weary resignation. "We'll talk later. Just get Feliz out of here."

Disappointment gnawed at me. I had hoped for more, for a breakthrough. But for now, this would have to do. I had planted a seed of doubt, a question mark in Rowan's carefully constructed world.

Habang tinutulungan kong bumaba si Feliz mula sa upuan, may kakaibang pakiramdam ng tagumpay na naghalo sa pait ng kabiguan. Hindi ko nakuha ang mga sagot na hinahanap ko, ngunit nagawa kong mag-abala sa malamig na harap ni Rowan, kahit sandali lamang.

The ride back to the mansion was a tense affair. Feliz, oblivious to the undercurrents of tension, chattered excitedly about her visit to her Daddy's office. Rowan remained silent, his gaze fixed on the passing scenery, a storm of emotions swirling behind his steely blue eyes.

As we pulled through the gates of the mansion, the stoic guards approached the car. Rowan, his voice devoid of emotion, instructed them to take me back to the house. There was no mention of another visit, no hint of compromise.

But as I stepped out of the car, a flicker of something in his eyes – a flicker of… vulnerability? Perhaps regret? – gave me a sliver of hope.

This game was far from over. Secrets still lingered, heavy and unspoken. But one thing was certain – Rowan Thorne, for all his coldness and dominance, wasn't as impenetrable as he liked to pretend.