TWO
1051 Words
MARIA
A mistake worth making again?
As I recoiled on my chair, memories of Alfredo's touch lingered on my skin. The musky fragrance of his cologne clung to my skin, a constant reminder of the wild time we just had the previous night.
"No! I'm supposed to feel dirty about myself!" I shuddered, pushing the thoughts away.
Just as I was about to focus on work, Elena appeared beside me, arms crossed.
"Hey, Did you ditch me last night or what?" she asked, with a worried glance.
My heart skipped a beat. I suddenly remembered I didn't leave with her after the party.
"Uh, I...I just went out to get some air," I stuttered.
Her eyelids drew together. "You left without letting me know. I was worried"
I sighed, knowing I couldn't hide anything from her for long.
"I met someone," I started.
"Who?" She asked, curiosity piquing.
"Just a random guy at the party. Said his name was Alfredo"
"What happened?" she pressed.
I hesitated at first, then continued.
"We...spent the night together. It was stupid and impulsive."
She seemed excited as I sensed a wide grin on her face.
"That's what I'm talking about!" She asserted confidently. "How was it? Tell me everything about this mystery guy" She giggled, drawing a seat closer.
"I... I don't..."
"You know what? I'll be back for the story once I'm done with Miss Monique's make-up. Catch you later!" She darted away excitedly.
Elena suggested I get some good action at the party to move on from Miguel, and she was excited I finally took her advice, despite still feeling shitty about it.
I was still lost in thoughts when my phone rang, sending a shrilling sound in the air.
"Mum?" I answered, trying to sound cheerful.
"Maria, I need you home right now. Come home" She urged, her voice dripping with an urgency different from her usual warmth.
"What's wrong?" I asked, jerking up from the chair.
"I'll explain everything when you get here. Just come home as fast as you can," Mum insisted, her tone firm, but worried.
I sensed something was terribly wrong. My mind raced to the worst. Was someone hurt? Did anyone die?
"Mum, please tell me!" I pleaded for more information.
"Maria, just come home. Enough of the questions!" She repeated, her voice cracking.
The urgency in her last words made my spine tingle with unease. Something was definitely wrong.
"Okay, mum. I'll be there" I grabbed my purse and made for the exit door, not informing anyone of my departure.
I got to the roadside and flagged down a cab.
The old man stopped and I got in immediately.
“Rua Augusta, please” I instructed, as I relaxed on the seat.
As the cab drove away, my thoughts wandered. What could be wrong? Was Mom sick? Did Felipe get into another fight with the street boys?
It was definitely Felipe. Not a week went by without me being called home to help bail him out of trouble.
I tried shaking off the thought, but it was no easy feat.
The cab got to my destination and I tossed him some notes, not caring how much it was, and ran into the house.
I didn't pay much attention to the cars parked outside the house. All that was on mind was to see my mother and get an explanation from her.
As I walked in, I was met with the familiar faces of my mother and Felipe, and two men sitting at a corner of the scantily furnished living room.
I could only recognize one of the men- the older one with wrinkles, but couldn't recall where we had met.
"Mum" I went to sit beside her, concern etched on my face.
"Maria!" She exclaimed, relieved. "Thank goodness you're finally here"
"I had to come as soon as you ended the call. What's wrong, mum? Who are these men? Felipe?" I shifted my gaze to my brother.
"Talk to her, not me" He stared into the air absentmindedly.
The men looked uninterested in my display of shock. All that I could detect from their faces was that they were there for serious business.
"There's something I need to tell you, Maria" She started, sighing.
"Okay? What is it? Did anyone die? Did he get into another trouble?" I said, risking Felipe's eyes rolling at me.
"No... None of that, Maria"
"Then, what is it, mum? You sounded so despaired over the call that I thought something was terribly wrong" Anxiety clouded me.
"Before your father died, he used to be actively involved in the Real Estate industry" She narrated.
"Mum, I know this already. You know how much topics about father make me feel. Why are you telling me this?" I protested.
"I'm not done, Maria" She slightly raised her voice out of frustration.
She looked at the men and noticed they were busy with their own stuff and not really focused on us, then continued.
"Like you already know, he was involved in different businesses around Real Estate, and had a lot of deals with different persons" She took a pause and looked at the men. "Don Rodrigo right here was one of those people" She pointed at him.
That was it! I knew that face was familiar. No billionaires list in the country would be complete with an exception of Don Rodrigo.
"Oh! That's him?" I whispered to her.
"Yes, he is. Before your father died, he got into a partnership with Don Rodrigo and unfortunately, he couldn't deliver his own end of the deal. Due to his failure to meet up, he ran into debts worth billions. He lost everything he ever worked for, trying to pay back the debt to Don, but he couldn't" She bit her lips to hold back tears.
"Was that... Was that why father was always asking to be on his own?" My lips quivered.
"Yes. He became an unhappy man after going bankrupt. But before he left us, he got into another deal with Don Rodrigo" She tucked out the brown envelope by her side.
"And what was the deal?" My chest heaved, curiosity setting in.
She handed me the paper in the envelope and my eyes widened as they met a shocking revelation,
CONTRACT MARRIAGE AGREEMENT.
- Writer
