Desiring Mr. Carter (ONGOING)

Chapter Nine: Past Mistakes

[Ivana's]

"Good morning! My assistant told me that you wanted me see me. How can I help you?" I greeted him with a bright smile pestered on my lips. I can't let him see that I'm struggling to deal with his intimidating presence.

"Kate," pag-uulit niya habang nakatayo malapit sa pinto. I just frowned and pretended that I don't know what he's talking about. "Are you alright? My name is Van Perez and I heard you want to buy some of our paintings?" I asked him.

Tulala pa rin siya kaya lumapit na lang ako at mahinang kinalabit ang kaniyang braso. Instead of recovering from his shock, he just hugged me tightly.

"Kate. Kate. Kate," paulit-ulit niyang sambit.

"I'm sorry but I don't know what you're talking about, Mr." ani ko habang pinipilit na kumawala sa kaniyang yakap. "And my name is Van Perez, not Kate," sabi ko pa.

"No, you're my Kate!" his voice cracked. Naiiyak ba siya? No, it's impossible. Hindi iiyak ang isang Gene Marcus Carter dahil matigas ang puso niya.

"Uhm. Can you let go off me? I'm not so comfortable with our position right now," I told him. I'm trying so hard to talk to him in a very professional way so that he can't find any loophole.

Wala yata siyang balak na bumitaw kaya mahina ko siyang tinulak palayo sa'kin. Luckily, he let go off me so I made a distance between us. “Are you okay? I think you need to take a seat first," anyaya ko.

Nakatitig lang siya sa akin nang mabuti bago umupo sa couch. Naiilang ako sa mga titig niya pero hindi ko na lang pinahalata. ”Do you want a glass of water to calm you down?“ tanong ko.

Umiling siya at huminga ng malalim pero sa'kin pa rin siya nakatingin. His stares make my knees go numb because it reminds me of how he looks at me when he held me captive four years ago.

"Can I have your name? I need it on my personal list of clients but I swear to keep it private since you're a VIP client," I asked him.

"Gene Marcus Carter," he murmured with his eyes still fixed on me. I think he's observing every move I make to find a similarity with my old self but sadly, I changed everything about the old me.

"Well, Mr. Carter. Shall we proceed with our business then? My assistant told me that you want to buy a gift for your mom. Do you want to see the paintings?" I asked him but I didn't get a reply. I waved my hand in front of his face to get his attention and luckily, he came back to reality. What was he thinking?

"Yeah. I want to see the paintings. Shall we?" aniya.

"Kindly follow me, Mr. Carter," anyaya ko. Lumabas na ako sa opisina habang siya naman ay nakasunod lang sa'kin. "So, what does your mother like? I can show you different kinds of paintings until you get to choose which painting are you going to buy."

"Ahhh. My mom likes minimal but elegant stuffs," he directly replied without blinking. Seriously? He's creeping me out already!

"Wow! Your mom has a good taste. If that's the case then kindly see our latest collections. We just produced them the other day," I told him.

"Alright. Show me what you got in here, Ms. Perez," aniya na may diin sa family name ko. Hindi pa ba siya kumbinsido? Sige, gagalingan ko pa ang pagpanggap.

"You can choose from these paintings. Sana may mapili ka para sa nanay mo," maligayang sambit ko habang tinuturo ang mga paintings na nakadisplay. Halata sa kaniyang mukha ang pagkagulat dahil nagsalita ako ng Filipino.

"You're a Filipina?" he asked me.

"I have a Filipino blood runing through my veins. My grandmother is from the Philippines," sagot ko. Tumahimik siya saglit at tinignan ako mula ulo hanggang paa. "That explains the sudden speaking of Filipino," he murmured.

"Yup," mahinang saad ko. Hindi na siya nagsalita muli dahil nakatuon ang kaniyang atensyon sa paintings. Dahil hindi siya nakatingin sa akin ay malaya kong pinagmasdan ang mukha niya. His facial features changed in a good way. Four years must've changed him so much.

"I wonder who's the painter of this one?" he asked while pointing my piece. I gave him a warm smile as I honestly said, "I am. I don't mean ro boast but most of the paintings here in my art gallery is made by me."

"You got a very good skill just like her," he whispered but I heard it clearly. Pinili kong hindi na lang magbigay ng komento sa sinabi niya para iwasang ungkatin ang nakaraan.

"May napili ka na ba, Mr. Carter?" pag-iiba ko sa usapan.

"I'll buy this one. I'm sure my mom will like your work," aniya.

"Thank you, Mr. Carter," nakangiting pasasalamat ko. Lumingon ako sa desk ni Dianne para magtawag ng dalawang employee. "Dianne. Kindly call two employees to pack Mr. Carter's pick. Thank you!"

"What's that?" tanong ni Gene kaya hinanap ng mga mata ko kung ano ang tinutukoy niya. No'ng napagtanto ko kung ano ang tinuturo niya ay nginitian ko siya. "I call that painting, The Past Mistakes," ani ko.

"The Past Mistakes?" pag-uulit niya.

"Yes. Would you like to see it closer?" I asked him and he agreed. Lumapit kami sa painting tsaka niya ito tinitigan ng mabuti.

"As you can see, the painting is void and lifeless. The brushstrokes are uneven which gives you the feeling of wilderness when you look at it," I explained. His eyes are glued on the painting as if he's trying to fivure out something.

"I can see the subject's pain, suffering, longing, regrets and torment reated by his messy past," he later commented. I saw a glint of sadness in his eyes but it was quickly replaced by his emotionless black pair of orbs.

"I can say you have an exquisite taste of art," I complemented him.

"I will also buy this one," saad niya.

"Wow! Thank you, Mr. Carter. I didn't expect you to buy two of my masterpieces," I thanked him. Tinawag ko ulit ang dalawang employee ko para i-pack ang painting na pinili ni Gene.

"So, Van, right?" he called me.

"Yes, Mr. Carter?" Ano na naman kaya ang sasabihin niya sa'kin?

"You have a nice tatoo on your nape," he complimented. Napahawak ako sa leeg ko at hinimas ang banda kung saan may tatoo. "I had this when I was eighteen," untag ko.

"You said you're a half Filipino, right? Nakauwi ka na ba sa Pinas?" tanong niya. Bakit ang dami naman yata niyang tanong tungkol sa akin?

"Nakauwi na ako minsan when I was ten but my grandparents ad I went back here when I was eighteen," I lied. Sabi ni Mr. de Guzman na natural lang na madaming itatanong sa'kin si Gene kapag nagkita kami and tama nga siya. Ang kailangan ko lang daw na gawin ay sagutin ang mga tanong ni Gene ng diretso.

"Do you have any other skills aside from painting? You know, like dancing ballet?" je asked me. Alam ko kung ano ang gusto niyang palabasin. He's invistigating and trying to drain me with information but too bad for him, he can't get what he wants.

"You want to a know a secret? I'm really bad at dancing," I said and faked a laugh. The corner of his lips rose up then he laughed too. "Of course, you are. What was I thinking?" he blabbered.

"What?" I asked him. I didn't get what he said.

"Wala," tugon niya bago kinamot ang kaniyang kanang kilay. "Hey, so uhmm.... You busy this evening?" he asked, feeling uneasy.

"Yeah. I have to go home and see my son." He seemed surprised and shocked when I told him I have a son. Binaboy mo ako noon kaya may anak na ako ngayon, gago!

"I didn't know you're married," he said before rubbing his index finger on his lips. His mannerism didn't change. He's still doing his old habits like running his hands through his hair, rubbing his index finger on his lips and putting his right hand on his waist when he's uneasy or anxious.

"I wish I did get a chance to walk on the aisle. My fiancé died on a car crash two weeks before oir wedding." Kasinungalingan. Ilang kasinungalingan na ang sinabi ko sa kaniya pero parte `yon ng laro. It's all part of my plan.

"Thanks God he died," he rudely uttered.

"I beg your pardon, Mr. Carter?" I asked him with anger. Hanggang ngayon ay hindi pa rin nagbabago ang ugali niya. He's still rude and insensitive.

"Nah. Don't make me repeat my words. So, tell me, how did your supposed-to-be groom died?" he aksed with pure sarcasm. Really? This Gene still has the nerve to make fun out of someone else's misery. I know my whole story is fake but I didn't expect him to be this rude. Four years had passed and you're still the same.

"Oh, dear Mr. Carter who I met not long ago, please mind your business," pagtataray ko. Bigla naman siyang humalakhak kaya lalo pa akong nainis. "You're hilarious, Ms. Perez. You know, when something sparks my interest then it becomes my business," aniya bago sumeryoso nang bahagya.

"Then keep that business to yourself, Ms. Carter. Don't cross the bridge."

"But you're my business now since the moment I saw you sitting hot in your office. Damn it, luv, I can't believe you're still single." I froze when I heard him said, luv. He used to call me that way, four years ago. Bakit ako naaapektuhan hanggang ngayon?

I cleared my throat. ”I'm pretty sure your mom told you that you're cocky, Mr. Carter," I changed the topic. He flashed his grin before looking at me from head to toe. “Oh yeah? Wanna try me?"

"What? Nevermind. Why are we talking nonsense anyway?" ani ko. Bakit nga ba kami napunta sa usapang walang saysay?

Nagkibit-balikat lang siya. "I don't know. I haven't argued with someone over nonsense shits for a long time now."

"Yeah, whatever."

"So how did your fiancé, or should I say E-FIANCÉ died?" he asked me again. Ano ba ang gusto niyang malaman?

"He was driving his way to our house when he was hit by a drunk driver. I was devastated when I heard the news. I was so lost, depressed and had no reason to live. Three weeks later after his death, I found out that I was pregnant with his child. Choosing between giving up or not, I decided to continue my life and be with my son, our son." Naiiyak na kwento ko. Lahat ng nga sinabi ko ay hindi totoo pero kailangan ko siyang kumbinsihin na totoo ang mga sinasabi kong kasinungalingan.

"Our son?" he posed a question. Agad akong lumingon sa kaniya habang nanlalaki ang mga mata. "I mean, my fiancé and mine," I explained.

"You look ugly when you cry," he teased and I gasped. Hindi pa rin talaga siya nagbabago. Malakas pa rin siyang mang-asar.

"Oh, thank you very much for completing me," I uttered with a little bit of sarcasm.

"You're very much welcome, luv," he replied and grinned.

"Do you know what your forte is? Mr. Carter?" I asked him, trying to control my temper.

"What is it then, Ms. Perez?" he said with a challenging stare.

"It is being incredibly rude," I answered amd smirked. Muli siyang tumawa ng malakas habang pailing-iling. What's wrong with him?

"Hmmm. Touche." Turning his back from me, he waved his right hand and said, "See you tomorrow."

"What?" I asked him. Hindi niya ako nilingon dahil diretso ang kaniyang lakad papunta sa pinto. "Hey! What do you mean?" pahabol ko.

"Nothing. See you soon!" That was the last time I heard from him before he slammed the door behind him.

"Sira ulo talaga." Sana hindi ko na siya makita ulit. I'm done with him.