Chapter 4
1196 Words
RIZ
I FINISHED eating and was surprised when we crossed the street and walked back to the building I had just visited. Didn’t the receptionist say there was no Paul Gonzales here? What were we doing here?
And then I thought, maybe Rowan just had to stop by somewhere. I put my mind at ease and let him lead. We passed the lobby, but the receptionist I spoke to earlier wasn’t there. Maybe she went to the washroom.
We went straight to the elevator, and when he pressed the P button, I frowned.
“I forgot to tell you that the penthouse is here. This is where you’ll wait for him, and later on—”
“I’m sorry to cut you off, Rowan. Does he live here?” I asked him sharply.
Usually, company owners have penthouses for long workdays and to rest after a tiring trip home. I am assuming Calderon Holdings is owned by the Calderons . . . not the Gonzales. Maybe Paul is Mr. Calderon’s driver!
I hate the fact that I can’t remember much about that night. It was definitely the alcohol’s fault. Reysa went home early because her boyfriend got mad, leaving me with Matet.
“He lives here.”
He was so stingy with his answers. I waited for him to say more, but he didn’t. I felt shy to ask again. When the elevator opened, a lobby greeted me. There was a double door in front that provided privacy for the penthouse. Rowan pressed the code and opened the door for me.
I planned to look for pictures inside. Sadly, very few pictures were hanging on the wall, and they were all abstract. They complemented the interior, but it wasn’t what I was looking for. There were also no picture frames on the tables.
“Have a seat. Would you like some bottled water, coffee, or tea?”
“Water is fine. Thank you.”
When he turned his back, I couldn’t hold back a yawn. I don’t usually take naps even before my pregnancy because I have a lot to do. Also, when Madame Liberty gives me orders, I have to follow immediately. Usually, they are just small tasks that she could do herself, but she still orders me around.
I looked around, and when I heard footsteps, I spotted an older woman. Her hair was wet, and she looked like she had just taken a shower. I stood up and greeted her.
“Good afternoon, ma’am.”
She slightly furrowed her brow and nodded. “Who are you?”
“I’m Riz. I’m a guest of Paul,” I introduced myself to her.
Her frown deepened. “Paul? The—”
“Manang Dolor, I’ll take care of this.” Rowan immediately cut her off and handed me the water. “By the way, Sir said to prepare dinner before you leave. He’ll be eating here. You can decide on the menu.” The older woman nodded and took her leave.
So, she wasn’t a stay-in; she goes home in the afternoon. Maybe the owner of this penthouse always wants to be alone. After a long day, you really want peace and quiet to rest.
“By the way, the—” Rowan’s sentence was cut off when his cell phone rang. “Excuse me for a second.” He answered the call and moved away from me, so I sat back down.
After a while, I leaned back on the sofa. When I couldn’t fight off the drowsiness anymore, I rested my arm on the armrest and laid my cheek on it. Just a short nap, and if I could power nap for five minutes, I’d be okay again. But all the things that happened today with my father made me so tired. If I were to measure my stress level, it would reach the heavens. I didn’t notice anything and woke up in a room. I was still wearing the same clothes when I peeked at the comforter. The only thing I wasn’t wearing was my sandals. With the cold air conditioning and the softness of the bedding, I wanted to sleep some more, but my drowsiness had passed. I scanned the room with my eyes, and like the living room, there were no pictures here either. Maybe the owner is afraid of flash photography.
The door opened, and a familiar face appeared. It was Paul. I suddenly sat up straight and fixed my hair.
“You’re awake. Are you hungry?” he asked me emotionlessly.
“I’m fine. How long have you been here? I’m sorry for falling asleep on the couch earlier. How did I end up here in this room? Is this yours? Your boss might get mad.”
He was wearing a white T-shirt and denim jeans, with both knees torn. The only expensive thing on him was the diver’s watch. I recognized that from the magazines. It must be a gift from his boss.
Paul looked amused and stared at me for a quick second before asking, “How did you know where to find me?” He remained standing in the middle of the room. His commanding aura dominated the space. He was tall and well-built, making the room feel smaller.
In fairness, he spoke English well. I was wrong about my guess. He wasn’t a driver; he might be a personal assistant.
I grimaced. Moment of truth. “I-I took a look at your wallet at the hotel.” I scratched my neck. “But to be honest, I don’t remember where you work.”
His brow furrowed. “Then how did you end up here?”
“I just remembered the logo. When I drew it and showed it to the taxi driver, he recognized it. He said he had dropped off a passenger here before.”
Paul nodded. “Okay. To be honest, I don’t remember you, but something tells me that you need my help.” He extended his hand to me. “I’m Justin Paul Calderon.”
Shock was an understatement. He wasn’t the one I was looking for. I stood up suddenly and ignored his handshake. “I’m sorry. I think there’s a misunderstanding here. I am looking for Paul Gonzales, not you.”
“I am Justin Paul Gonzales Calderon. I was born Justin Paul Gonzales. My mother remarried, and my stepfather adopted me. I changed my last name. Is there a problem?”
Calderon is the father of my child?
“Those Calderons always win the bidding!” That’s what I heard from the study when I was supposed to talk to my dad. Our company was almost collapsing, and my father was always in a bad mood when he came home. We almost filed for bankruptcy, but a senator suddenly invested, and we managed to recover.
I was fourteen then, but I never forgot what he told me. “Promise me that no matter what happens, you won’t fall in love with a Calderon.”
How am I supposed to do that when the father of my child is one? And my child will also have Calderon blood?
- Writer
