Hiding His Mistress: Diovanni de Marcel | B-1 ✔

Kabanata 36

KABANATA 36

Shuen's POV

During the entire meeting, Diovanni did nothing but stare at me and smile. I couldn't understand why he was doing that and it didn't make me happy. So after the meeting, I excused myself and quickly left the restaurant.

I just told my secretary to send the documents that needed my signature to the office and that I would take care of things at home. I also bid farewell to Ester and hurriedly made my way to where my parked car was. But before I could get closer, someone suddenly grabbed my arm and gently turned me around to face him.

I was surprised to see Diovanni, so I quickly pulled my arm away from him. I tried to act normal to hide the nervousness his presence brought.

"Mr. de Marcel? Do you need something?" I casually asked.

"Can we talk for a moment?"

I raised an eyebrow slightly and smiled. "Talk? About what? The meeting is over, isn't it? Did you forget to mention something?"

Confusion instantly appeared on his face. "Shuen? This is not about business, and please stop acting like this," he pleaded.

I chuckled a bit at what he said. "Acting? I have no idea what you're talking about, Mr. de Marcel," I said, further furrowing his brow. "And if this isn't about business, then we have nothing more to discuss."

He gently took my hand. "I have something to say, Shuen. And please, this is personal."

I quickly withdrew my hand and smiled at him again. "I just want to clarify, Mr. de Marcel. I don't want you to call me by my name. You should address me as Ms. Balmeda because we don't have a personal relationship for you to call me by my name," I said, surprising him with what he heard from me.

I saw him swallow, appearing to have lost his words. "Sh-Shuen, I-I..."

"Again, it's Ms. Balmeda," I corrected him emphatically, then glanced at my watch. "I'm sorry, Mr. de Marcel, but I need to leave," I said, and I left him to get into the car. "Let's go, Mang Berting."

Nang makalayo na kami, saka lang ako nakahinga ng maluwag. Pero ramdam ko pa rin ang panginginig ng aking mga kamay dahil sa nangyari. Hindi ko maikakaila na may epekto pa rin sa akin ang presensya ni Diovanni, lalo na ang kanyang mga titig. Kitang-kita ko sa kanyang mga mata kanina na may gusto siyang pag-usapan na ayaw ko nang balikan.

Pagdating ko sa bahay, diretso ako sa opisina at kumuha ng alak. Nagbuhos ako sa baso at ininom ito agad. Hindi pa rin ako nasiyahan, naglagay ulit ako at ininom. Doon ko lang naramdaman ang pait sa aking lalamunan.

Napabuntong-hininga ako at naupo sa swivel chair. "Bakit ba kailangan pa kitang makita ulit?" bulong ko sa sarili. Umiling na lang ako at kinuha ang mga papel na kailangan kong trabahuhin.

Ilang araw ang lumipas at hindi na muling nangyari ang pagkikita namin ni Diovanni. Mabuti na lang at umalis ako ng Batangas, kaya malaki ang posibilidad na hindi niya ako madaling matagpuan kung sakaling hanapin niya ako. Bumaba ako ng hagdan papunta sa veranda para lumangoy sa pool.

Tinanggal ko ang aking cover-up at lumusong sa tubig. Habang nagpapalutang-lutang ako, lumapit ang isa sa mga kasambahay dala ang telepono.

"Madam, may tumatawag po sa inyo," sabi niya.

"Sino ba?"

"Si Ma'am Atasha po."

Dali-dali akong lumapit para kunin ang telepono. "Hello, Atasha? Bakit ka napatawag?"

"Shuen, nasaan ka ba?"

"Nandito ako sa bahay. Bakit?"

"Andito ako sa golf club, sama ka naman dito. Maglaro tayo," yaya niya na agad naman akong napangiti.