Lie with Me, Mr. CEO

Chapter 4: Requirement

Nigel’s pov:

My grandfather ordered the maids to prepare a special dinner. He insisted on calling the whole family and even though I was reluctant to partake of the meal with my paternal siblings, I could do nothing but go. Naisip kong maaaring may importanteng sasabihin si lolo kaya niya kami pinatawag lahat.

Yes, I’m an illegitimate child. Ang aking ina ay naging kabit ng aking ama noon, ngunit ang paliwanag sa akin ni mama ay hindi niya alam na may asawa na pala si papa kaya siya nakipagrelasyon. Huli na ang lahat nang makipaghiwalay si mama; I was already in her womb when she left him, and when papa found out that he was going to have a son with my mother, he was overjoyed and insisted on being a good father to me. Dad supported us and even though he would only show up occasionally, we were happy with our family, not until an unexpected incident happened. Inatake siya sa puso at namatay noong ako ay walong taong gulang pa lamang. Naghirap kami ni mama; wala ng nagsustento sa amin at wala siyang mahanap na trabaho dahil nga isa daw siyang kabit at masamang babae. People are idiots and so judgmental, that even if they don’t know what really happened, they immediately throw hurtful words and criticisms. They are all stupid.

When he died, grandpa took me. He said that my mother could not raise me well, and because his grandchildren were all women to my father's legal wife, he needed me to continue the Montecillo Legacy and spread our name. But ever since I came here to the mansion, I never felt like it was my home.

…

Dumating ako sa mansyon at naratnan sina Margaret at Maureen sa mesa. They were laughing like crazy fools but they stopped when they saw me enter the dining area. I even saw Maureen's eyes roll and shake her head afterwards. She really looks like a witch in my eyes.

“Don’t mind them, baka may mga regla na naman ang mga ‘yan,” pabirong sabi ni Maddie, ang ikalawang anak ni papa sa legal niyang asawa.

Sa kanilang tatlong magkakapatid, si Maddison lang ang nakikita kong matino. Margaret was the oldest, and Maureen was the youngest. They are diligent in their jobs to squander money on useless things; they are crazy rich while Maddie simply wants to become a teacher. That is also the reason why the two underestimate her. The family calls her the black sheep because Maddie doesn’t want to follow her mother’s preference; she just wants to build her own school instead of working for our company. Wala akong nakikitang mali do’n, hindi ko lang talaga maintindihan kung bakit siya tinatawag na black sheep just because she doesn't want to do what they want her to do.

Tumango ako kay Maddie at sabay na kaming naglakad papunta sa mesa. We had just sat down when Margaret suddenly spoke.

"So, you actually sat there, next to 'him' instead of on our side?"

Nilingon siya ni Maddie at nangunot ang noo nito, “A-And, so?”

Huminga ng malalim si Margaret at napangisi naman sa pagkadismaya si Maureen. I'm sure they're mocking Maddie again in their minds. How pathetic.

“You, fool! Bakit sa kaniya ka tumatabi, kami ang mga kapatid mo!?” iritableng tanong ni Maureen.

“Yes, you are my sisters, but he is also my brother, my sibling,” Maddie's immediate response made me glance at her. “At uupo ako sa kahit anong upuan ko gusto maupo.”

Naningkit sa inis ang mga mata ni Maureen at si Margaret naman ay tila hindi makapaniwala sa sagot ni Maddie. Napangisi na lang ako sa katigasan ng ulo ni Maddie. I really like that attitude of hers.

“Enough with your chaos,” said grandfather who suddenly came with Mrs. Marthena Montecillo, my father’s legal wife. “Nag-aasal mga bata na naman kayo! Kailan ba kayo titino sa harap ng mesa!?”

“Lolo, si ano po kasi—”

“That’s enough, Maureen!” Marthena immediately restrained her youngest daughter from speaking.

Mabilis na itinikom ni Maureen ang kaniyang bibig at padabog na lang na sumandal sa kaniyang upuan. Even though she’s already 23 years old, ganiyan pa rin siya umasal. Hmn.

Marthena and grandfather also attended the table. Grandpa sat in the chair at the center end of the table while Marthena sat on his left side. When they were already seated comfortably in their chairs, the servants immediately served our food. Mahilig si lolo sa Italian food, so most of the dishes on the table are Italian cuisine. Sabi nila si papa din, pero hindi ko na matandaan dahil kung ano lang ang iluto ni mama noon, ‘yon lamang ang kinakain namin. Even though it was just a homemade cook and not a special dish from well-known countries, I remember how much we enjoyed the meal. I remember how happy we were then, but now, I don't seem to know what that feeling was.

“So, father, why are we all here? Do you have anything important to tell us?” Marthena asked.

Tumango si lolo at lahat ng aming mga mata ay tumuon sa kaniya. Kahit ako ay napapaisip kung ano nga ba ang sasabihin niya. He wouldn’t bother himself to see us all if it was just nothing.

“Nais ko ng… magpahinga,” paumpisa ni lolo na lalong ikinakunot ng kanilang mga noo. Ako naman ay walang ekspresyong nakatitig lamang kay lolo at hinihintay ang karagdagan niyang sasabihin. “I want to resign from being C.E.O. of the Great Montecillo Corporation.”

Nanlaki ang mga mata ni Marthena at nagtinginan naman sina Maureen at Margaret. Tulad ko, inaasam-asam din nila ang posisyong iyon kaya naman pumapalakpak ang mga tenga nila sa tuwa. Pero alam ko, alam kong hindi lamang ito ang gustong sabihin ni lolo sa amin. Kahit kailan ay hindi naman niya hiningi ang opinsyon ng bawat isa sa amin sa kaniyang mga desisyon, kaya naman nagtataka pa din ako kung bakit niya kami pinatawag lahat para lamang sabihin ito. Sasabihin na ba niya kung sino ang napili niya na papalit sa kaniya?

“P-Papa, s-sigurado ka ba? Bakit, may nararamdaman ka ba? Tumaas na naman ba ang blood sugar mo? May masakit ba sa iyo?” sunod-sunod na tanong ni Marthena.

“Wala! Ayos lamang ako,” tugon ni lolo at binitiwan ang hawak niyang kutsara at tinidor. “Nais ko lamang na sa natitira kong buhay ay makapagbulay-bulay naman ako.”

“What’s bulay-bulay?” tanong ni Maureen na nakataas pa ang isang kilay. “Ouch!”

“Quiet, Maureen!” tinapik siya ng kaniyang ina upang patahimikin saka muling itinuon ang atensyon kay lolo. “Sige po, papa, pero… sino naman ang papalit sa inyo?”

“Good question, Marthena,” said grandpa as he leaned his back in his chair. "The person I will choose to replace me will depend on who can give me what I want!"

That's it. He called us so that he could choose his successor in the position and that depends on who can give him what he wants. And, what could that be? Kailangan kong malaman! Kailangang ako ang makapagbigay sa kaniya noon! Kailangang ako ang makakuha ng kaniyang posisyon!

“Pass ako d’yan, I’m not interested,” sabi ni Maddie at sumubo ng kaniyang pagkain.

“We’re not asking you,” pabalang na sabi sa kaniya ni Maureen. “And as if, mapipili ka ni lolo! Hmp!”

“Enough!” Marthena sighed then looked back again to grandfather. “Ano bang… ano bang nais mong ibigay nila sa iyo upang makapili ka ng papalit sa iyo, papa?”

The room fell silent and everyone waited for grandpa's response. As I looked at him and waited, I thought of the things he would ask from us. Is it a car? A rest house? Money? Imposible. Mayroon na siya ng lahat ng iyan kaya ano naman kaya ang nais niyang ibigay namin sa kaniya!?

Grandpa wore a serious look as he looked at us one by one then he said, "I want... a great-grandson!"

W-What the fvck!?