The Billionaire's Bundle of Joy

Chapter 28

RIZ

THERE is no way I’m admitting he is my type. My pride is all I have left; I won’t let my weaknesses ruin me. But instead of getting mad, Justin suddenly burst out laughing.

“Good one, Riz. I like your sense of humor.” Justin stood up, still smiling. “What did Manang say you wanted for dinner?”

Honestly, this is the first time someone asked me what I wanted to eat. In Madam’s house, everything she wants is followed. Even if I want dried fish, I can’t cook it because the whole house would smell. Also, they said that cheap food is not allowed there. I just shook my head then. I’m not the type to comment, especially with our household staff. Their loyalty lies with Madam. Whatever I do or say will reach her.

“I’m not picky. Anything is fine.”

“You don’t have cravings?” I shook my head. “Don’t you want spaghetti with ice cream?” he teased.

“Actually, what I want to eat right now is dried squid. And then with chopped tomatoes and onions. Oh, and some tinola soup.”

I expected him to gag because of the wealth of the Calderon family; it’s impossible for them to eat dried fish. In Madam’s house, which isn’t even as wealthy as Justin’s, there are various cuisines, and most of the time, the food is westernized. They rarely eat rice there, and it’s mostly just salad, so at night I feel hungry, but I just endure it.

“Is that all? Are you sure?” I nodded. “Okay. Let me tell Manang. She can still make it to the market.” He excused himself and walked into the house.

I was so tired that sleep overtook me. I was alone in the room, and the sliding door was closed, but the curtains were left open. The sky was dark, but because of the scattered little bulbs in the garden, the surroundings were bright. It’s beautiful during the day, and it’s still beautiful at night. I should get some flowers tomorrow and multiply them to sell.

I’ve always wanted to start a business. I can begin with a small flower shop. It’s not stressful, and in terms of time, it’s not too demanding. I would still have time for the baby, and I would only need one assistant for the days I can’t come in.

I grabbed my hair tie from the table beside me and tied my hair up. I wonder if Justin went back to Manila. It’s almost seven in the evening. When I felt hungry, I stood up and headed for the door. But before I got there, the door opened, and Justin walked in. Did he not leave?

“You’re awake. Dinner is ready.”

I nodded and followed him. “What time are you leaving?”

“It depends. Your friends are coming tomorrow, and I want to meet them.”

“They’re visiting me, not you. You don’t need to be here if you have work to do.”

JUSTIN

“YOU sound like you don’t want me around in my own house.” Riz suddenly blushed and looked embarrassed.

“Not like that. I’m just thinking about your work. You’ve been absent for two days.”

“The company won’t go bankrupt even if I don’t go in for weeks. Besides, it’s our honeymoon week. I should stay here with you.” I joked with her to ease the tension.

She suddenly quickened her pace and didn’t look back at me as she led the way to the dining table, where Manang had already set the food and was pouring water into the glasses.

“Eat up. The soup is delicious while it’s still hot. By the way, Ma’am Riz, I didn’t know if you wanted the crispy part, so I separated the tougher pieces. Some people don’t like it overcooked.”

“Thank you, Manang. I like the crispy part, but don’t worry, I’ll eat it even if it’s tough.”

Riz is easy to get along with. She’s humble and close to the household staff. She’s not snobbish, even though her stepmother treated her poorly. If it had happened to someone else, they might have become rebellious and developed a bad attitude.

“Stop staring. Eat already,” she said to me. I didn’t realize I had been looking at her for that long. It didn’t feel like it was that long.

“I wasn’t,” I denied.

She rolled her eyes, looking unconvinced. “Sure.” She picked up some dried fish and placed it on her plate, then spooned some tinola soup. “You don’t eat dried squid, so—”

“I’d eat it if you feed me.”

Her spoon with soup froze in mid-air. “You’re kidding.”

“Nope. If you don’t feed me, then I won’t eat.” Of course, I was just teasing her. I’ve been hungry for a while now, but she was sleeping soundly, and every time I peeked into the room, she was still asleep. Manang said that pregnant women tend to be sleepy.

She stared at me. “Fine, starve then.” Then she slurped the soup and smiled sweetly at me.

I scoffed. “Savage.”

“What’s that?”

“Nothing. I said, just eat so Baby can be healthy.”

And because I was standing firm on not eating dried squid unless she fed me, I had the tinola. Riz didn’t know that dried fish was my favorite. It’s a delicious dish when it’s raining, paired with hot barako coffee. Our life was simple before Dad came into our lives, and even when we started enjoying everything, my mother made sure we kept our feet on the ground. She said that humble people are more blessed. Truth be told, I didn’t practice much of that because Dad taught me that it’s a dog-eat-dog world in business. Nothing will happen in life if you’re always giving. So I make sure that when I show up, I mean business.

“Those who clash will be crushed,” as the locals used to say in our area.

Maybe she thinks I’m delicate because she doesn’t know my background. Dad made sure the press would stay quiet, so we’re not in the newspapers unless it’s about business. So unless she asks me or the few people who know us, she wouldn’t know what kind of life I grew up in.

“Are you sleeping in the guest room?” she then asked me.

“Nope.”

“Don’t tell me you’re sleeping—”

“With you? Yes. Definitely. Every night we’re together, you’ll find me in the same bed. Wife.”