Chapter 3

It has been two weeks since that dinner from hell. I also changed my cellphone number the next day. It wasn't difficult because only a few people knew my number. The siblings of Sta. Catalina, Attorney, Tito Alfonso, and... no one else. I haven't spoken to him since that dinner except for informing him that I changed my number.

If it's business, I have a different cellphone for that. Besides, my employees know they can only call me until five o'clock, and unless the building is collapsing or there's a fire, they shouldn't disturb my rest. I don't even watch the news anymore. Often, JL's face appears on the E-news with his flavor of the day. Not flavor of the month because he changes his companion before a month is over.

It's Saturday and Cleo and I are together today. We stopped by for coffee and she winced at what I was wearing. It's like she's extremely bothered by my outfit.

"Aren't you sweating in your long sleeves that are buttoned up to your neck? It feels like I'm suffocating just looking at your attire – not to mention how suffocating it must be, girl! It's forty degrees outside, and that's not your age. You could wear something sleeveless with a lower neckline," she said, rolling her eyes.

I'm used to lines like these from her. And do you know what she would target next? My glasses.

"Do you want me to accompany you to the eye doctor? We could have your eyes surgically fixed so you won't need to wear glasses anymore. It's such a hassle, not to mention how big they are!" she said, teasing me.

"You're really something I'm the one who's always —"

I was interrupted when my personal cellphone rang. The number was private, so I just canceled the call. It could be a wrong number.

"You're seeing him again. What's wrong with m—"

It rang again, and it was that private number once more. So annoying! Who keeps calling?

"Why don't you answer it so the incessant calls stop? Maybe it's your prince charming," Cleo teased me.

I gave her a glare. "Prince Charming? Seriously? That only exists in Disneyland... not in real life."

I put my phone on silent so that the annoying caller wouldn't bother us anymore.

"By the way, what did Attorney say about the will? How is that going, since he doesn't want —"

"Don't even mention his name. I don't want to hear his name or see a strand of his annoying hair. Can you believe what he said during the dinner and then at the end, he offered to drive me home?! Jeez! Even if he were the last person on Earth, I would never marry him. I don't even know why I had a crush on him back in high school. He's so arrogant! He thinks he's so smart, but my IQ is five points higher than his! Hmp! And even if he were the condition in the inheritance, I would rather be poor and donate everything my parents acquired to charity — I just don't want to be tied to him!"

After my rant, I realized Cleo was just staring blankly. She looked like she had a stroke. What's happening here? Was I being loud? I just said more than usual, but she's usually even more talkative. She should be used to this by now.

"Hey, are you okay? What's happening to you?" I took a sip of my latte and almost spat it out when someone spoke from behind me. I knew that voice very well.

"I've been calling you for a while, and you refuse to answer," he said annoyedly. "I need to talk to you."

This is what I don't get. With his arrogance, he probably thinks I'm one of his staff. He's the annoying private number caller. When I checked my phone, there were ten missed calls.

"You need to talk to me, but I don't need to talk to you — so go away. I am out with my friend, and I don't remember inviting you," I said rudely. I adjusted my glasses and continued drinking my coffee.

"I said, I need to talk to you. It's important," he said again.

"I don't care. Go away." I refused to look at him as I might betray myself.

Cleo just continued to sip her coffee, not getting involved in the conversation. She's just like the day JL came to my office to pick me up for that cursed dinner. She looks more engrossed in a teleserye than anything else right now.

"I'm willing to marry you now," he said in a low voice. It was almost a whisper. Perhaps he didn't want others to hear and was embarrassed.

"I don't remember asking you."

"Look, I have no time for this. I need your help. You need my help. Let's get married. Right now, if you want," he said desperately.

I saw Cleo almost drop her jaw at what JL said. Is Jose Luis going crazy? He suddenly wants to get married and he needs it now. Is he more impatient than the two of us combined? It wasn't long ago that he was vehemently refusing. The world has turned upside down.

"I remember telling you a couple of weeks ago that I would rather lose everything than marry you. Do you remember that?" I asked him.

"Can we —"

"I'm busy," I replied to him.

"I'll wait for you at my condo. I will text you the address. When you're ready to listen to what I have to say, we'll talk. But I need it to happen before the end of today. It's about Dad."

After he said that, he left the coffee shop. I wondered how he found me, but when JL sets his eyes on something, nothing can escape him. Damn it. If it weren't for Tito Alfonso, I wouldn't have to meet him today.

"I need to go, Cleo. Raincheck?" She nodded.

***

PENTHOUSE at 79 Sunset Boulevard is what JL sent in the text message. That's the Betances Premium Towers. I don't know what I was thinking when I agreed to meet him today. I could have declined since I've already prepared myself for the loss of everything my parents left me. But here I am, in front of his door, and in a few seconds, I will knock. If he hadn't mentioned Tito Alfonso earlier, I could have deleted his text. I could have avoided all of this. After receiving his cutting insults and laughter, I wanted revenge. Even just once. But then I remembered who I am and how I was raised. This Jose Luis should be thankful that I'm naturally kind-hearted.

I was about to knock when the door swung open and there was JL, with a furrowed brow. I'm here already and he's still angry. He didn't even give me any time, and I arrived before the day ended. In fact, it's only two o'clock now.

"Well, it's good that you're here. I thought you could endure being away from Daddy," he sarcastically said.

"Are you going to let me in or do you want to talk in the hallway? I'm not staying long anyway, so I don't really mind," I casually replied to his remark. In fairness, he looked really stressed.

He opened the door wider and stepped aside to not block the way. But you know what? He still didn't invite me in. So you know what? I'll just stay where I am.

"What? Aren't you going to come in?" he annoyingly asked.

"You didn't invite me in. Maybe later when I step inside, you'll call the police on me. You know, you might even accuse me of being a stalker... and you don't like me. I've seen that in the movies once or twice."

"What?" He became even more irritated with me. "Could you just come in so we can talk? Stop saying so much."

I chuckled as I entered.

"Do you want a drink?" he asked me. At least, he's hospitable despite being rude.

"No, thanks. I'm okay for now. I don't really have much time, so tell me why you wanted me to come here?"

He shrugged and went to the bar. I saw him grab a beer and take a gulp as soon as he opened it. Ugh, he must be really problematic. Even during our dinner, he wasn't like this. He was wearing khaki casual shorts and a cotton white t-shirt. His hair, which was often styled with gel, was now undone. It had little waves at the ends. It was in between straight and tousled. I don't know how to explain it, but he... he looked really... damn good. Even my jaw was drooling. I shouldn't be thinking like this, but seeing him helpless makes me want to wrap my arms around him and... comfort him.

***

JL

Gia is my last resort to save my father. I won't allow him to stay a single night in jail. Who knows what might happen there. Even Mommy can't sleep at home and she's constantly crying. As their only son, it is my duty to make sure everything is okay, including the welfare of my parents.

"I need your help. You need my help, right?"

What surprised me is that she's still standing and not sitting down. Can't she just be like other women? Calm... and composed. I haven't brought any other woman to my condo because I always go to their place. Gia is actually the first one to come here, aside from my parents.

"More like you need my help, I no longer need yours. But sure, I'm willing to listen." I can't read her expression, but it seems like she is tired of me. And those hideous eyeglasses bother me too. Doesn't she like contact lenses or maybe consider getting LASIK surgery? If she doesn't like those options, she can choose a smaller pair of glasses that aren't as large as Miss Tapia's. I'll even pay for it if she can't afford it, although we both know her family is richer than ours. Especially now.

"You still need me to marry you to get your inheritance, right?" I asked her. I am confident that she needs me more than I need her.

"Yes, but I have made my peace with that. I am ready to lose everything and start from scratch. I know how smart I am and I can always start from the bottom. But that's a story for another day. Tell me what you need, Jose Luis, so I can leave."

I was surprised by her words. Genovia Ganfornina is one of the smartest people I know. She has a killer IQ. If only she could... you know, change a few things here and there, maybe I would come to like her. Even just as a friend, for now.

"I'm waiting," she impatiently said.

"Dad is in prison and I need your help." There, it's out. I don't know why she was so shocked and confused. Doesn't she watch the news? I thought geeks like her knew only CNN and BBC, aside from Discovery and History channels.

"What?" she asked, surprised.

"You heard me. He's in prison." I finished my beer and faced her.

"Since when? What happened?"

"The tax people went after us. Something about unpaid taxes, yada yada. They took Dad and froze all our assets. Now, his bail is set at half a million."

"Then get him out. Don't you have money? I changed my mind, I'll take that drink you're offering." Her eyebrows almost touched each other.

"Wine, beer, vodka? Tequila?" I offered her.

"Tequila."

I prepared the salt and lime for her. I poured her a little bit of tequila. She licked the skin between her thumb and forefinger, then sprinkled a bit of salt on it. She breathed out, licked the salt, downed her tequila shot, and bit the lime. For a moment, she took off her large glasses, and even though she had her hair tied up and no makeup on, her simple beauty shone through... which she forcefully hides. Gia did it so seductively that my cock stirred.

What is happening to me? Suddenly, I want to get to know her. More of her...

"Jose Luis, I'm asking you. You've been staring off into space. Is something wrong?"

"Huh?"

She raised an eyebrow. "I said, don't you have half a million to bail out your father?"

She poured herself another shot of tequila and was about to sprinkle the salt again when I found myself walking towards her. When I was just a few strands away from her, I answered her question.

"I don't have that kind of money. My money is invested in Dad's company."

"Okay, but you don't have to walk over here to tell me that. And... you're a little too c-close, J-Jose L-Luis," she said, stuttering. Is this the kind of effect I have on her?

"I'll do anything if you help me get my father out," I whispered to her.

She cleared her throat. "It's... it's actually not just the getting married part that I need help with."

"You mean it's just the tip of the iceberg?" Her natural scent is intoxicating. I want to bury my face in her neck and fall asleep there. I haven't had a proper sleep since they took Dad. Strangely, Gia's shampoo and soap help me relax. When my lips touched the side of her ear, I heard her gasp.

"It's... uhm... yes. I... we... need to make a baby too," she said, her voice hoarse.

"Then let's start making one right now."