His Sweet Desire

Chapter 4

MAHIGIT dalawang oras din ang itinagal nila sa restaurant dahil nakipagkwentuhan pa si Lucas sa kaibigan nitong si Albert pagkatapos nilang kumain.

"Nakasakay ka na ba ng kalesa?" tanong ni Lucas kay Bella noong nakasakay na sila sa kotse.

"Kalesa? Hindi pa..."

Ngumiti si Lucas at kinausap ang driver na ibaba sila sa susunod na kalye.

Paghinto ng kotse ay bumaba ito ng kotse. Umikot ito para pagbuksan si Bella ng pinto ngunit nakababa narin ito.

"Next time wait for the man you're with to open the door for you and gives him an opportunity to act as a gentleman," he uttered with a smile.

"Uhh," tanging nasabi ni Bella. Syempre alam niya 'yon pero hindi naman niya iniisip na gagawin iyon ng boss niya para sa kanya. "Mr. Thomas, may I ask where are we going now?"

"Lucas, call me Lucas when we're alone," he uttered.

"But---"

"No buts... I'm the boss here, right? So, you should follow what I say," turan nito sa seryosong tono.

She was stunned and didn't know how to react. How can she call her boss on a first name basis? He's one of the big bosses in the big company she's working at and the future CEO to be exact for Christ sake.

"Anyway, your Ilocos trip would not be complete if you did not visit this amazing World Heritage Calle Crisologo. It's a must for anyone visiting Vigan. And since you accompany me on this trip, I will give you a little tour," he said with a wink that almost took Bella's breath away.

Kinawayan ni Lucas ang isang kalesa sa hindi kalayuan sa kanila na kaagad naman minaniobra ng kutsero ang kabayo palapit sa kanila.

"S-Sasakay tayo diyan?" gulat niyang bulalas.

"Are you afraid?" Lucas asked.

Hindi nakasagot si Bella.

Ang totoo ay takot nga siya pero ang mas natatakot siya ay ang isipin na makakatabi niya si Lucas sa maikling upuan ng kalesa. Sa kotse nga nito na maluwag at hindi masyadong nagkakadikit ang mga katawan nila ay sobra na ang nararamdaman niyang pagkailang at pagwawala ng puso niya, paano pa kaya sa kalesa...

"Come on, you'll have a lot of fun, promise!" pangungumbinsi ni Lucas dito at iniabot ang kamay kay Bella para tulungan itong sumakay sa kalesa.

Wala siyang nagawa kundi tanggapin ang kamay nito.

"Ayyy!" napatili si Bella sa takot nang muntikan na siyang malaglag nang ma out of balance dahil gumiwang ang kalesa sa paggalaw ng kabayo bago pa man siya makaupo. Mabuti nalang at agad siyang nasalo ng matikas na mga braso ni Lucas.

"I got you, sweetheart," he said smiling.

Natulala siya sandali habang nasa mga bisig ni Lucas. Nakatitig lang siya sa mukha nito. Iniisip kung tama ba ang narinig niya itinawag nito sa kanya.

"Are you hurt?" nag-aalalang tanong ni Lucas.

"I-I'm fine. Thank you!" napapahiya niyang pagpapasalamat dito noong ma-realized niyang nakakapit pala sila sa leeg nito. Dali-dali siyang bumitaw at halos pagapang na umakyat paupo sa kalesa sa takot na maulit ang nangyari.

"Are you okay?" Lucas asked while looking at Bella's hand, holding very tight at the side of the carriage.

She gave a shy smile. "Better safe than sorry, right?"

"Don't worry, I'm here. I won't allow something bad to happen to you."

Bella realized that riding the carriage with her boss was actually not a bad idea. Even though she felt a bit uncomfortable sitting next to him, skin to skin, she won't deny that she also enjoys the carriage ride a lot. Lucas is very accommodating and patiently explains things about the place like a real tour guide.

The place is one hidden treasure of the Philippines, Bella thinks. It really gives her an ambiance of how old times were like and gives her feels like walking during the Spanish era. The shops are although modern they followed through the concept of the whole street which is a plus. The souvenir shops add the look of authenticity to its look adding character to the place.

After more than an hour of tour they went back to the place where Lucas driver parked the car and they drove to the rest house where the company chopper brought her this morning.

"You may go to your room and have a rest, Bella. Make sure that you're ready before seven for the dinner party tonight."

"Party? We are going to attend a party?" Bella realized that it must be the reason he told her to bring a cocktail dress. "B-But I don't have a party dress with me."

Lucas smiled. "It's already waiting for you in your room. See you later, Maria Bella," he did not even give Bella a time to react. He turned his back and climbed the stairs to go to his room.

Walang nagawa si Bella kundi ang sundan nalang ito ng tingin.

The real Lucas Thomas. Manipulative and do things his way. Bella realized that since yesterday, Lucas has not given her a chance to refuse or ask her opinion at least about anything they do together.

❤❤❤

ONE hour and a half later, Bella almost can't recognize herself as she looks at herself in the mirror.

"What in the world had I gotten myself into?" she uttered.

She liked to wear nice things. She likes to wear them just as much as any girl. Normal lang naman 'yon dahil tao lang din siya. Babae lang din siya na mahina pagdating sa magaganda at mamahaling materyal na bagay sa mundo. But this...? This had taken that sentiment to a whole other level.

She looked as though she had been painted, skin to skin painted, in shimmering metallic lace. It clung to her body like a second skin but was in no way unflattering. In fact, it made her skin practically glow translucent golden brown under its reflective swirling tints. It wound its way up around her neck like an elegant halter and then plunged down into the lower neckline she'd ever seen. It was delicately beaded over a thin empire waist, but rather than flaring out in a loose skirt the way most dresses she owned tended to do, it hugged around her tiny hips and then fell straight down to the floor.

Enchanted, she snapped a picture and sent it to her best friend Jenny. Siguradong magugulat ang matalik niyang kaibigan sa ayos niya ngayon.

Lucas was intently looking at her as she walked down the stairs like seeing a real goddess.

"Wow, you look gorgeous!" he gushed all in one breath.

"T-Thank you...," she uttered, blushing. Alam niya ang katangian niyang iyon pero bakit pakiramdam niya ay umaabot sa highest level ngayong sa bibig ng makisig niyang boss iyon narinig.

"Ready?" he asked as he offered her his hand. Inalalayan siya nito papunta sa mamahalin nitong sasakyan kung saan naghihintay na sa kanila ang driver.

This whole thing is uncomfortably new to Bella, but does she have a choice? This is not her, but she has to do her job and follow her boss.

After about thirty minutes drive they arrived in a five star hotel. The driver parked the luxury car right next to the entrance where the socialites and the paparazzi were having the time of their lives pretending they didn't care about the other.

The driver opened the door for their boss and their boss opened the door for her and escorted her like she was his queen.

"I want you to remember one thing Bella," bulong ni Lucas sa kanya.

"What is it, Mr. Thomas?" she asked with a nervous voice.

"You're here tonight as my date. So I want you to act like one. No one should know that you're just a simple worker in our company. Understand?"

"You didn't tell me that," she said with an unpleasant voice. She didn't know that she would be attending this party to pretend as her boss' flavor of the night.

Once again, she is used without her knowledge. And she hates it!

"I'm telling you now," sagot ni Lucas habang nakangiti sa mga nakatutok na camera mula sa mga paparazzi sa paligid.

Kumukulo man ang dugo niya sa inis ngunit wala siyang magawa. "Fine. You're the boss," turan nalang niya at sinubukan na huwag makunan ng buo ang mukha niya sa nagkikislapang mga camera.

The party was much more formal than Bella had imagined. The kind of party which tables with far too much silverware.

She didn't recognize anyone in the room, yet everyone looked vaguely familiar. She assumed she'd seen them before on the cover of a magazine.

Lumapit sila at binati ang may edad nang mag-asawa na siyang nagdaraos ng kanilang wedding anniversary.

"Happy anniversary, Mr. and Mrs. Cruz!" bati ni Lucas sa mag-asawa.

"Lucas, we're glad you're here!" nakangiting turan noong Mr. Cruz.

Nakipag kamay dito si Lucas habang bumeso naman ito kay Mrs. Cruz.

"Wendy will be happy to see you--- Oh, you have a date. And I thought you came to see Wendy," turan nito ng makita si Bella na hindi nito napansin kanina dahil natatakpan ng makisig na katawan ni Lucas.

"By the way, this is Maria Bella Hemenez, my girlfriend," pagpapakilala ni Lucas kay Bella sa mag-asawa na ikinagulat ng dalaga ganoon din ng mag-asawa.

Tinanguan siya ni Lucas na ang ibig sabihin ay makisakay siya sa sinabi nito.

"H-Happy anniversary po," halos mautal niyang bati sa mag-asawa.

Nagkatinginan ang mag-asawang Cruz.

"Thank you, hija," turan ni Mr. Cruz na siyang unang nakabawi. Tinanggap nito ang pakikipagkamay ni Bella ngunit si Mrs. Cruz ay mukhang napipilitan lang ang pagtanggap sa kamay niya.

Naghihimutok ang loob ni Bella sa inis na nararamdaman sa boss niya.

Nang makaupo sila sa mesa na nakareserve para sa kanila ay kinuha niya ang baso ng champagne at tinungga na parang tubig lang iyon.

"Hey, naglalasing ka ba?" puna ni Lucas sa kanya.

Tiningnan niya ito ng masama.

"Why did you do that? Hindi mo sinabi sa akin na magpapanggap akong girlfriend mo!" mahina ngunit may diin sa boses niya.

"I did. I told you, you're my date tonight," baliwalang sagot ni Lucas.

"Date but not as your pretend girlfriend!"

"Silly! Isn't it the same?"

"No, it's not!" inis niyang sagot dito.

"So you're mad because of that?"

"You should have informed me before---"

Naputol ang kung ano mang sasabihin niya ng may lumapit kay Lucas na lalaki at nag-usap ang dalawa.

Wala siyang nagawa kundi ang ibuhos ang inis sa masasarap na pagkain na siniserve ng mga nakauniform na waiters.

However Lucas could hardly eat a bite of his food before someone new would wander up and demand his immediate attention.

She was on her 3rd glass of Champagne when Lucas finally had time for her.

"That's enough," bawi nito sa baso ng alak sa kanya.

"Don't worry mataas ang alcohol tolerance ko sa katawan. Champaign lang 'to--- lambanog ang tinitira ko sa amin," naka smirked niyang turan.

"The f**k!" bulalas ni Lucas.

"What? Did you just---"

"It's not you, sweetheart," tumayo ito at kinuha ang kamay ni Bella. "The witch is coming. Come, let's dance," turan nito habang inginunguso ang isang magandang babae na palapit sa kanila.

"Who's she?" tanong niya.

"The evil witch, Wendy Cruz," sagot nito at hinila siya papuntang dance floor para makaiwas sa babae.