Unordinary Hope (Book 4)

CHAPTER 5 Watching You

Halil Dela Questa.

I heard a soft knock on the door, I glance at it for a second then I get back at what I'm reading on my table. I sigh. "Come in," I said without looking at the door because I already know who it was.

Lumapit sa may table ko si Xero and he clears his throat to get my attention. I immediately raised my eyebrow at him because Xero is a direct-to-the-point kind of man. Hindi s'ya nagpapaligoy-ligoy at iyon ang talagang nagustuhan ko sa kaniya.

Kapag ganito si Xero, it only means that whatever he has to say is important so I tore off my eyes away from the contract that needed my attention and stare at Xero's dazzling hazel eyes.

Umayos ako ng upo sa swivel chair ko at bumaba ang mga mata ko sa nilagay niyang enveloped sa table ko.

Napaismid ako ng tawa. Hmm. So, she said No again, eh? I mentally smirk at that. Very impressive.

"Binalik n'ya lahat ng suhol mo and she said that I'll shove those credit cards deep in your throat."

Both Xero and I laugh heartily at that. Our laughs booms around my wide-space office.

Gosh, that woman really.. She's really different.

Napailing ako habang pinagmamasdan ang familiar na enveloped na 'yon. Actually, these things are just, let's say, "patibong." Tinitingnan ko lang talaga if kakagat s'ya and I was right all along.

Venus is a woman of great pride. Pinapakita n'ya talaga na hindi n'ya kailangan ng kahit na sino para mabuhay s'ya, lalo na dito sa New York, USA; where everything is expensive. Well, at least not for me.

I can give everything that she needed in just a snap of my fingers because I have a lot of money and when I said a lot, I meant it. Siguro kahit magiging apo ng magiging anak ko ay hindi mauubos ang kayamanan ko.

Madali lang kitain ang pera. I've worked my ass to where I am today. Hindi naman sa gahaman ako or what, in fact I'm extremely generous. I supported a lot of charities, I help a lot of homeless people around the world, I feed a lot of kids in the least developed countries like Africa, Chad, and South Sudan. I can go on and on but the main point here is, I just don't search for a surrogate that can give me the heir that I longed for. In fact, I'm searching for a real woman, a woman that can fight beside me. And my mother said that I should go for a badass kind of woman; and with that she actually meant good heart, soft but strong. Unapologetic and most of all, honest.

"She's the perfect kind of woman for you, Your Grace." Xero commented. He's like a robot while saying that. Halatang may agam-agam ito.

Xero is actually my butler magmula ng tumuntong ako ng sampung taong gulang. But he's not just my butler, but also my confidant, a brother, and a good adviser. Lalo na kung pagdating sa mga babaeng nagiging sugar baby ko.

"I know," sabi ko habang may ngiting naglalaro sa aking manipis na labi. Naalala ko kasi kung paano na naman mag-bounce ang sexy butt ni Venus noong tampalin ko iyon, eh.

Napailing na lang ako sa sarili ko. Gosh, nagiging maniac na ako kagaya ni Arabella.

But heck, who gives a sh*t about it now? Wala ako sa Greece para isipin lagi ang lahat ng kilos ko.

"But,"

That made my smile fade away quickly. I also stop arching my swivel chair to stare right through on Xero's tiger-like eyes.

"What?" I asked.

He nonchalantly shrugged. Kumibot din ng kaunti ang maninipis din na labi nito.

"Just be aware, she's studying psychology,"

"And so what?" I asked again with an eyebrow raised.

He shrugged boringly. "If you don't want other people to know your secret, especially the woman of your choice, then I advice that you should take precautions. That's all. Alam ko naman na maingat ka pagdating sa bagay na iyon."

Ewan ko pero parang bigla akong naging defensive.

I gritted my teeth, I bet lumilitaw na ang mga ugat ko sa ulo ngayon.

"No one is going to replace her in my heart, Xero."

He slightly smiled at me. "I know. That's why I'm saying if you want to help her, lend a hand. But you should stay away from her. Remember, you have to be bold, hard, and firm about what you really want."

That advice from Xero made me do this sh*t, because here I am right now, like a f*cking psycho.

Ahm, let's just say na sinusundan ko ngayon si Venus. And right now, papunta s'ya sa isang restaurant at nakasuot ito ng casual na damit, which I bet, pupunta s'ya sa isang job interview.

I don't know why, pero napangiti ako rito sa nearby cafe habang naka in disguise na damit para hindi ako makilala ng mga tao. I'm also holding a news paper na covered ang mukha ko but not my eyes because my eyes are focus on Venus.

And I can't help but to smile. Paano kasi she's looking great today kahit alam kong stress na stress na s'ya sa kakahanap ng trabaho. And I kinda know kung bakit hindi s'ya natatanggap sa mga trabahong sinusubukan niyang pasukan.

Well, ako lang naman kasi ang punot dulo ng lahat ng kababalaghan sa buhay n'ya.

I was the reason kung bakit hindi na gumana pang muli ang junk-like car nito at ako rin ang dahilan kung bakit s'ya natanggal sa strip club na pinagtatrabauhan n'ya, kung bakit s'ya iniwan ng abusado niyang gagong boyfriend at higit sa lahat, ako ang dahilan kung bakit hindi s'ya natatangggap sa mga trabahong gusto niyang pasukan.

I know it's evil. But what can I do? I warned her that she should have it her way when she walked out on me. And she deserves way more better compared sa mga trabahong gusto n'yang patusin. She should know her worth kahit alam kong desperadang-desperada na siyang magkatrabaho.

Hindi dapat s'ya mag-settle sa "puwede na." Ano 'yon? Doon ka na lang sa puwede na lang hanggang dulo?

She should remember that she's special that she's born into this world.

Gosh, isipin mo? Sa dinami-rami ng sperm cells, ikaw ang nanalo sa labanan. That's why Venus should claim it, that she deserves so much better dahil hindi lang s'ya babae lang.

Speaking of, napakunot noo ako nang may mapansin ako kay Venus habang kausap s'ya ng guard sa tapat ng restaurant.

"Hi, here's your pot of tea, Ma'am." Pagbati ng isang crew dito sa coffee shop. Inilapag n'ya ang inorder ko sa pang single table.

Aalis na sana ito nang pigilan ko ito sa kamay. I looked straight into her deep blue eyes. "Hey, are you in need of money? I have money and I'm willing to pay you 2 thousand dollars. I have a job for you, you want it?"

The woman's eyes grew wider in shock. Well, two thousand dollars is a lot of money already. I'm sure she won't say No.

"Proof."

"Of course." Mabilis na kinuha ko ang aking wallet at bumunot doon ng dalawang libong dolyar saka iyon nilagay sa palad n'ya.

Kita ko ang malawak nitong ngiti sa mala-rosas niyang mga labi. I just mentally rolled my eyes.

Hindi na ako nagsayang ng kahit anong oras, sinabi ko kaagad ang pakay ko sa kanya. At parang akong nakahinga nang maluwag nang makita kong nilapitan na ng inutusan ko si Venus dala-dala ang mga pagkaing binili ko para sa kaniya.

Because Venus seems like she didn't eat for days.

Geez, I don't know why I'm doing this in the first place. She's just supposed to be a surrogate.

I mentally massage my forehead. Gosh, Xero is right.. I should stay away from her.

******