Desiring Mr. Carter (ONGOING)

Chapter Eleven: Mrs. Carter?

[Ivana's]

"What took you so long, Van?" bungad sa akin ni Dianne noong pumasok ako sa gallery. She's giving me a grin and I'm not liking it. What's happening here?

"Why? Is there something wrong?" tanong ko. Bumuntong-hininga siya at tinuro ang visitors' lounge sa'king likuran.

"What?! Why is he here this early?!" gulat na tanong ko kay Dianne pero hininaan ko ang boses ko para hindi marinig ni Gene. He's reading a magazine that's why he didn't notice my presence, at least not for now.

"I don't know. He's already standing in front of the main door when I came to open the gallery," aniya. He did send me a text last night pero hindi ko naman alam na mas maaga pa siya kaysa sa akin. "And he brought a bouquet of white roses with him," she added. Dianne even smirked and I just rolled my eyes.

"Don't give me that look, Dianne. I just met him yesterday," pagsisinungaling ko.

"Hey, he's looking at you. Gotta go, bye!" she whispered before she made way to her desk.

Aalis na sana ako papunta sa'king opisina pero narinig kong tinawag niya ang pangalan ko. "Hey, Van!"

"It's MS. PEREZ, Mr. Carter," I corrected him.

"I texted you last night, right?" aniya bago tumayo sa couch. He's walking towards my direction holding a bouquet of white roses.

I cleared my throat and composed myself. I need to act professionally. "Yes, I did receive your text message. Kindly follow me to my office and let's talk about it," ani ko.

"Sure, MS. PEREZ," sumbat niya nang may diin sa apelyedo ko. Anong problema niya sa family name ko?

"Let's get to business, MR. CARTER," resbak ko naman. Sinadya ko rin na bigyang diin ang apelyedo niya na siyang rason bakit siya tumawa.

"Seriously? He's weird," I thought.

"You’re hilarious, Ms. Perez," he commented.

"Do I look like a joke to you?" I posed a question.

"Nah, I'm just tryin' to lift your mood. C'mon, don't be so serious." Why does it sounds like he's mocking me? Nasaan na ang Gene sa seryoso sa lahat ng bagay? He's confusing me, damn it.

"I'm always serious at everything, Mr. Carter."

Noong nasa harap na kami ng office ko ay kusa niyang binuksan ang pinto. "Ladies first," aniya.

Tumaas ang kilay ko habang nakatitig sa kaniya. Really? He's gentleman now? I don't believe him! Umiling na lang ako tsaka pumasok sa loob ng hindi nagsasalita. Diretso akong naglakad papunta sa'king desk at umupo. Siya naman ay sinundan ako at nilapag ang bouquet sa desk ko.

"Flowers for you, luv," he muttered while grinning. He called me luv just like what he used to address me. He even gave me white roses. I know what he's trying to do but I won't let him win this time.

"Luv? I'm sorry Mr. Carter but I don't let clients address like what you just did. Thank you for the roses but I prefer tulips rather than white rose," nakangiting sambit ko.

"Oh, pardon me. I just remembered someone from the past," he murmured while massaging his temple.

"You're my client, Mr. Carter and I don't want to be rude but can we just talk about business and nothing else? I still have lot of things to deal with." I know I was being rude pero alam ko kasi kung saan mapupunta ang usapan namin kapag hinayaan ko siyang magsalita tungkol sa nakaraan.

"You busy this day?" tanong niya.

"Oo dahil may importanteng business meeting pa ako mamayang ten o'clock. Lumabas na tayo rito at nang makapili ka na ng painting na gusto mong bilihin."

"Are you mad?"

"No, I'm not," maikling sagot ko.

"Bakit parang naiinis ka yata sa'kin, Ms. Perez?" tanong ulit niya.

Pumikit na lang ako dahil sa inis tsaka ko siya hinarap. "Can I be honest? Oo, naiinis ako sa'yo kanina pa. Can you take it seriously?"

"Fine, I'll be serious then." Kinabahan ako nang biglang sumeryoso ang kaniyang mukha. Mali ba ang sinabi ko? "Cancel your appointment later," he added.

"What? No, I can't do that!" I protested.

"Why? Are you closing a deal with a client?"

"Oo at kailangan kong dumalo sa meeting na `yon." Malaki ang profit na makukuha ko kapag na-close ko `yung deal.

"I'll pay for the amount that you will lose. Kliyente mo rin ako kaya asikasuhin mo muna ako," he demanded.

"Ano? Babayaran mo ang halaga ng perang mawawala sa'kin? Hindi pwede, Mr. Carter." He's starting to piss me off.

"Cancel that appointment and that's final, Van. Babayaran ko ang mawawala sa'yo at seryoso ako roon. You told me to take it seriously, right? I'm damn serious right now," he muttered as if I have no other choice but to say yes. Damn him!

"What do you want, Mr. Carter?" seryosong tanong ko.

"Paint me," maikling tugon niya.

"You want a portrait of you? Sure, I'll do it and when I'm done, kindly leave the gallery for good." Tumayo na ako sa'king swivel chair at nagtungo sa private room ng opisina ko. "Kindly wait for me here," sabi ko pa.

Mabalis kong pinalitan ang suot kong corporate attire ng casual dress at tinali ang aking buhok. May private room ako rito sa loob ng aking opisina dahil dito ko nilalagay ang mga damit na sinusuot ko kapag may magpapa-paint na kliyente katulad ni Gene. May bathroom din dito sa loob at pinasadya kong lagyan ng kama dahil dito natutulog si Tyler kapag sumasana siya sa'kin sa trabaho. Nu'ng tapos na akong mag-ayos ay lumabas na ako sa kwarto at naabutan ko si Gene na nakasandal sa tabi ng pintuan.

"What are you doing here?" tanong ko.

"You changed your clothes," saad niya imbes na sagutin ang katanungan ko. "Yes, I did. So, shall we?" ani ko at naglakad palabas aa opisina.

"Do you usually dress like that when you paint?" he asked when I was about to open the door.

"Yes."

"Can you wear something that will make you ugly?" I frowned because of his remarks. "What's wrong with my dress?" I asked him.

"Nothing. It's just that..... nevermind," he uttered. I just rolled my eyes and finally opened the door.

"Dianne, please tell Mrs. Williams that I can't make it for today's meeting. Tell her that something came up and ask her if she can give us another chance," saad ko kay Dianne noong nilapitan ko siya.

"Sure, I will. Are you going to paint right now?" she asked and I nodded. "Mr. Carter wants me to paint a portrait of himself and it will take long so I have to cancel the meeting for now," paliwanag ko.

"Alright. I will call Mrs. Williams to inform her about today's business meeting. Good luck," she said.

"Thanks." Iyon na lang ang tugon ko sa kaniya.

"So, this is your painting studio?" tanong ni Gene noong pumasok kami sa private painting studio ng building.

"Oo. Dito ako nagpipinta kaya umupo ka na roon at nang makapagsimula na tayo," aligagang sambit ko.

"Don't rush, Ms. Perez. I won't go anywhere."

"Hindi ako nagmamadali dahil sa'yo. Iniisip ko lang kung gaano katagal bago ako matapos." Hindi yata niya alam kung gaano katagal ang proseso.

"Let's start then," saad niya.

"Umupo ka riyan ng maayos. Ano ba ang gusto mong pustura?" tanong ko sa kaniya. Tahimik siyang umupo sa pulang sofa at pinagkrus ang kaniyang binti. "I want it like this," giit niya tsaka niya pinatong ang magkabilang kamay sa side ng sofa.

"H'wag kang gumalaw dahil magsisimula na ako," untag ko. He's just sitting there looking like a king with a very cold aura.

I started with illustrating the details before painting his facial features. I can't help but to admire his bushy brows, his unruly hair, his pair of black orbs and his naturally red lips. That same lips used to kiss me shamelessly but......... "Ghad! What was I thinking?" I whispered inside my head.

Umiling na lang ako para mawala sa sistema ko ang iniisip ko kanina. "You looked tense, Ms. Perez," giit ni Gene.

"Nope, I not," I lied. I saw him smirking from ear to ear and he even winked at me. "Please don't move because I'm not done yet," sita ko sa kaniya.

"Can't help it," he said.

"Basta h'wag kang gumalaw hanggang matapos ako rito."

"Fine. Damn it, this is torture!" he mumbled but I heard it clearly. Tinaasan ko siya ng kilay at sinabing, "I thought you're prepared for this."

"Heck, I didn't know it could be this hard" he complained.

"Bear with it," ani ko.

Hindi na ulit siya nagsalita kaya nag-concentrate na ako sa pagpipinta. He's just sitting there staring at me as if he's memorizing every inch of me. I know that kind of look because he used to stare at me like that four years ago. Bakit hindi ko maiwasang isipin ang nakaraan? Is it because I'm still into it? Or is it because his presence reminds me of the past?

"Damn, my neck hurts!" Rinig kong reklamo niya. Umiling na lang ako at hindi siya pinansin dahil hahaba na naman ang pag-uusap namin kapag umimik ako. "Hindi pa ba tapos?" sabi niya pa.

"Malapit na. Just don't move."

"Easy for you to say because you're not the one experiencing stiff neck," he uttered his sarcastic remark. I just rolled my eyes and shrugged my shoulders. "Do you want me to continue or not?" tanong ko.

"Don't you dare tell me that my effort for acting like a fvcking statue will go to waste. Damn it, finish it and we're done," he mumbled seriously.

"Fine." Binuhos ko lahat ng concentration ko sa pagpipinta at nang matapos na. He's getting irritated and impatient already.

Tahimik ang buong kapaligiran at tanging paghinga ko lamang ang aking naririnig. Mayamaya pa ay tinapos ko na ang buong piece kaya napangiti ako.

"Why are you smiling?" he asked.

"It's because I'm finally done. You can move now. Gusto mo bang tignan ang portrait mo?" anyaya ko sa kaniya. Tumayo naman siya sa upuan at lumapit sa akin para tignan ang portrait niya.

"I'm not a fan of appreciating others but I'll give you an exception, just this time. This one is exquisite, it looks like a picture of me but it's actually a painting. Good job, Ms. Perez."

Bakit parang hindi siya sincere sa sinabi niya? "I don't really feel the sincerity in your words. Is that you mocking me again, Mr. Carter?" I asked with my brow raised.

"Ouch! You sliced my little delicate heart, Ms. Perez," he replied as he put his hand on his chest acting like a wounded wild cat.

"Whatever. Whether you like it or not, you will pay for it and that's final," ani ko. Thw side of his lips rose up, giving me am eerie feeling. "Is that how you treat your clients?" he asked.

"Not really. I'm so kind to them except you, of course."

"And that marks the second slice in my heart." Seriously? Is he playing with me? Well, I don't buy it. Hindi ako natutuwa.

"I'm gonna call my employees to wrap this up. As for the payment, let's settle it in my offi----" I didn't finish my words when he suddenly put his index finger in my lips. "Shhhh. Let me pay it myself later. You don't have to say the price," he whispered in my ear.

"Are you mad? What's wrong with you, Mr. Carter?" I slightly move away from him to avoid feeling his hot breath on my neck.

"Yes, Ms. Perez. I'm a madman and I think I will completely lose my sanity if you won't go out for a dinner with me tonight," he said without any hesitation.

I'm so shocked right now. The audacity of this man is out of the world. "I admire your audacity but my answer would be a big flat "NO" and that's final."

"Why do you keep on rejecting me? Are you hiddinb something from me?" His question caught me off guard. Natulala ako at walang masabi sa kaniya. Ano na ang sasabihin ko?

Ilang segundo akong nag-isip ng sasabihin. After realizing that I mustn't act surprised in front of him, I finally said, “What do you mean Why would I hide something from you, Mr. Carter? We just met yesterday, right?"

"Is that so? Prove it to me by having a dinner with me tonight," he murmured and crossed his arms.

"You're crazy. I don't need to do anything to prove that I'm not hiding something just like what you said but if that's your condition then yes, I'll go on a dinner with you tonight." I'm taking the challenge. This is a part of the game that I have to win. I shoukd start moving now or else I'll miss the chance.

"It's settled then. I'll come back tomorrow for the painting. As for tonight's dinner, wear something nice and I'll fetch you up when you're ready."

"Hindi mo ako kailangang sunduin dahil may sarili akong sasakyan. Just send me the address and let's meet up there," aniko.

"Nah. Fetching you up is a part of our dinner." It's more like a part of the game for me.

"Sige, sunduin mo ako kung alam mo ang address ng bahay ko," hamon ko sa kaniya ngunit ngisi lang ang sagot niya.

"Don't underestimate me. See you soon, Mrs. Carter," he said before walking away.

What the hell?! Why did he call me Mrs. Carter?! "Damn you, Gene!"