A Chance Encounter

CHAPTER 19

“I HAVE ALREADY FINISHED your papers. From now on, your surname will be Montenegro.” Sabi ni Emerson habang nasa kama sila ni Audrey. Emerson was leaning on the headboard, his laptop was on his lap while Audrey was lying on the bed, facing Emerson.

Audrey smiled. “Salamat.”

Emerson sighed. “Salamat na naman? Audrey, I told you. Stop saying that word to me. It’s not needed for either of us."

“I’m not used to it.”

Sumulyap si Emerson sa asawa. “We’ve been living on the same roof for almost a month now. Hindi ka pa ba nasanay sa akin?”

“Hindi naman madali ‘yon,” sabi ni Audrey sa mababang boses pero narining ito ni Emerson.

“It’s not easy? Then let’s make it easy,” Emerson said as he closed his laptop and put it on the bedside table.

Hindi naman napaghandaan ni Audrey ang sumunod na ginawa ni Emerson, kumubabaw ito sa kaniya.

Audrey’s eyes widened in surprise. “A-anong ginagawa mo?” gulat niyang tanong.

Ngumisi si Emerson. “Getting you used to me.”

Nag-iwas ng tingin si Audrey.

“Audrey, I think you really need to get used to me otherwise our relationship won’t improve.”

“Ah?”

Emerson sighed and kissed Audrey on her cheek.

Ramdam ni Audrey ang malambot na labi na lumapat sa pisngi niya. Napahawak siya ng mahigpit sa bedsheet. She didn’t move, didn’t react. Deretso lamang ang tingin niya sa kisame. Nanigas siya sa kinahihigaan at parang tumigil rin ang mundo niya.

“E-emerson…”

Hindi nakontrol ni Emerson ang sarili. Magkadikit ang katawan nilang dalawa ni Audrey at ramdam niyang nabubuhay ang pribadong parte ng katawan. He trailed his lips on Audrey’s skin, placing small kisses on her jaw down to her neck. When he reached Audrey’s neck, he suddenly stopped. Mabilis siyang umalis sa ibabaw ng asawa saka nagmamadaling bumaba ng kama. Tinungo niya ang banyo saka ito ini-lock nang makapasok siya sa loob.

Napahinga ng maluwang si Audrey nang makaalis si Emerson sa ibabaw niya. Sinundan niya ito ng tingin habang nagmamadali itong nagtungo sa banyo. Narinig pa niya ang pag-lock nito ng pinto.

Audrey took a deep breath to calm her heart. Kapagkuwan napahawak siya sa pisnging hinalikan ni Emerson. She felt like the softness of Emerson’s lips was still pressed on her cheek. Naipikit niya ang kaniyang mata. Nang nasa ibabaw niya si Emerson kanina, she only felt awkwardness and embarrassment. She didn’t feel any discomfort.

Napatingin siya sa nakasarang pinto ng banyo. Can I really trust him?

Audrey let out a deep breath.

Pagkalipas ng labinlimang minuto, lumabas si Emerson mula sa banyo na halatang nagshower ulit.

“You took a shower again?” Audrey asked, leaning on the headboard.

Tumango si Emerson.

“Bakit?”

Emerson looked at his wife. “Baby, hindi mo alam o nagpapanggap ka lang na hindi mo alam?”

Confusion was drawn on Audrey’s face. That hit Emerson. His wife didn’t know why he took a shower again. Napabuga na lamang siya ng hangin habang pinupunasan ang basang buhok. “Forget it. You’re innocent in this.”

Audrey looked smart, but when it came to intimate things, she was naïve. The condom was the evidence. And he actually felt guilty that he lied about it. Isa rin kasi ang Jeff na ‘yon. Kung ano naman kasi ang nakain nito at nagbigay ng ganoong regalo. Sa dinami-rami ng pwede nitong mapiling regalo, ‘yon pa talaga.

After drying his hair, Emerson went to bed. He looked at his wife. “I’ll give you a warning.”

Napatingin si Audrey kay Emerson. “Warning? What warning?” nagtataka niyang tanong saka humiga na sa kama. Ramdam na niya ang antok na dumadalaw sa kaniya.

“Since you are not used to me yet, then I will make you get used to me.”

Nakatitig lang si Audrey kay Emerson.

Emerson grinned. “I will kiss without prior notice.”

Mabilis na tinakpan ni Audrey ang bibig.

“Of course, if you don’t like it, you can push me away,” said Emerson and smiled. Inabot niya ang pisngi ng asawa saka ito pinisil. “But if you wish to kiss me, you can kiss me anytime.”

Nakatingin lamang si Audrey kay Emerson. Hindi niya alam kung ano ang itutugon niya rito.

Emerson slightly flicked his wife’s forehead. “Breath, Baby.”

Huminga naman si Audrey saka napahawak sa noong pinitik ni Emerson. She pouted and turned her back at Emerson.

Ngumiti si Emerson saka humiga sa kama. He pushed himself towards his wife and put his arm on his waist.

Nanlaki naman ang mata ni Audrey. “Anong ginagawa mo?”

“Cuddling you,” kaswal na sagot ni Emerson na para bang normal na nilang gawin ‘yon. “At isa pa, lagi ka namang nakayakap sa akin kapag natutulog tayo. This was not new.”

Nagtaka si Audrey. “That was impossible.”

“Then try to wake up earlier than me, and you will know if I was telling the truth, or I was lying. It’s up to you, Baby.” Emerson closed his eyes.

Napalunok naman si Audrey. Ramdam niya ang mabilis na pagtibok ng puso ni Emerson na kapareho ng sa kaniya dahil magkadikit ang katawan nilang dalawa. Maya maya pa ay narinig na niya ang patag na paghinga ni Emerson. Mukhang nakatulog na ito. Napatingin siya sa braso ni Emerson na nakalagay sa beywang niya. Gusto niya itong tanggalin pero baka magising niya si Emerson. Alam niyang pagod ito sa trabaho at kailangan nito ng pahinga kaya naman hinayaan na lamang na niya ito.

Ipinikit ni Audrey ang mata at pinilit ang sarili na matulog na rin. And about their position, though hindi siya sigurado sa pinagsasabi ni Emerson kanina na nakayakap siya rito kapag natutulog sila, getting used to him was actually a good thing. Mabait naman ito sa kaniya kaya gusto niya rin gumana ang relasyon nilang dalawa.

Maybe, later, their relationship will improve.

And for her, that was actually a good thing.

KATATAPOS lamang ang klase ni Audrey at wala na siyang klase ng hapon kaya naisipan niyang pumunta sa kumpanya ni Emerson. But before she went there, she bought a packed lunch at the convenience store.

Tinignan niya ang matayog na gusali sa kaniyang harapan. In front of the building, ‘EM TECHNOLOGY’ was engraved. Isang ngiti ang gumuhit sa labi ni Audrey. Naalala niya ang kwento ni Eliza na tagapagmana nga si Emerson ng Montenegro’s Corporation pero mas pinili nitong magpatayo ng sarili nitong negosyo.

Emerson was capable of developing and expanding the EM Technology on his own.

Naglakad si Audrey palapit sa entrance. Handa na siyang magpaliwanag sa guard nang buksan nito ang glass door ng gusali.

“Pumasok na po kayo, Ma’am.”

Nagtaka man si Audrey pero pumasok na siya. Pagpasok niya sa loob ng gusali, napansin niyang napapatingin sa kaniya ang mga empleyado na nasa lobby. Yumuko na lamang si Audrey saka tinungo ang reception area.

“Miss, anong floor si Mr. Montenegro?” tanong niya.

Halatang nagulat ang receptionist nang makita siya.

“Madam.”

Nagulat naman si Audrey nang biglang yumuko sa kaniya ang receptionist.

“Madam, sa top floor po ang office ni Mr. Montenegro. You can take the exclusive elevator.”

Napakamot ng batok si Audrey dahil halatang hindi komportable ang babae at mukha pang natatakot. Eh, wala naman siyang ginagawa rito. Hindi naman niya ito tinakot o ano.

Audrey let out a small sigh.

“Where’s the exclusive elevator?” Audrey asked.

“I’ll lead you the way, Madam.”

Audrey smiled.

“No need.”

Napaharap si Audrey sa likuran.

“Madam,” bahagyang yumukod si Martin.

Audrey suddenly felt uncomfortable. No one bowed at her before and was being respected like this.

“Martin?”

Umayos ng tayo si Martin. “Madam, I’ll lead you the way.” Iminuwestra niya ang kamay.

Audrey nodded.

Martin guided the president’s wife to the exclusive elevator.

“Martin, is there dirt on my face? Bakit nakatingin sa akin ang mga empleyado?” tanong ni Audrey nang sumara ang elevator.

Martin smiled. “Don’t mind them, Madam. It was just that they were looking at you because you are the President’s wife.”

Kumunot ang nuo ni Audrey. “Bakit naman?”

“They were afraid of offending you, Madam. Kaya naman minememorya nila ang mukha mo.”

“How did they know I was the President’s wife?”

“Your photo was sent to the company’s page for employees. Sir Emerson personally did it. In case you come here, the employee will recognize you and won’t offend you. And the receptionist is afraid of offending you,” Martin said.

Napatango na lamang si Audrey. May ganun pala? Hindi niya alam.

Nang bumukas ang elevator, iginiya ni Martin si Audrey sa opisina ng Boss.

Ipinalibot ni Audrey ang tingin sa kabuuan ng top floor. The building had a beautiful interior design. Kapagkuwan nakita niyang pasimple siyang tinitignan ng mga empleyado sa top floor.

“Madam, Boss was in his office.”

Tumango si Audrey. “I hope I won’t disturb him.”

Martin smiled. “Don’t worry, Madam. Sir Emerson was not busy and he—”

“Is this how you come up with a report?!”

Natigilan si Audrey nang marinig niya ang galit na boses ni Emerson. Sarado ang pinto ng opisina ni Emerson pero hindi ito soundproof kaya naman rinig na rinig ang galit nitong boses mula sa loob ng opisina nito.

Ito ang unang beses na narinig niya ang galit na boses ni Emerson. Mula ng ikasal sila hindi pa niya ito narinig na nagalit o nagtaas ng boses sa kaniya. Emerson was always gentle and calm when he was talking to him.

Is this the ruthless tycoon they were talking about?

Napaatras si Audrey at nakaramdam ng takot sa kaniyang puso. What should I do?