The Billionaire's Proposal

CHAPTER 1 : HIS PROPOSAL

"Our request was rejected once again." marahan kong hinilot ang sintido ko sa sobrang stress . This is the fifth time we've been rejected at hindi ko na alam kung ano pang pwede naming gawin.

"How about we ask Him?" napabalikwas naman ako ng bangon bago ito pinanlakihan ng mata. He just raised his hand as a sign of defeat.

"Isn't it weird how we got rejected every time when we're offering a large sum of money in exchange? Hindi ba pumasok man lang sa isip mo na baka pakana n'ya 'to?" It is suspicious, pero hindi naman tayo pwedeng mambintang lalo na kung wala naman kaming hawak na ebidensya . Tsk I'm sounding a lot like him now. I hate this.

I wasn’t expecting him.

I didn’t think that we would end up together.

The single most extraordinary thing I’ve ever done with my life is fall in love with him.

Pero gano'n talaga ang buhay may nananalo at may natatalo.

Ang tanging paraan na lang na pwede nating gawin is to look forward our future. Wala rin naman mag-babago kung tutunganga ka lang.

(Eleanor's POV)

"Ms Saito I need my schedule in three minute tops." narinig kong sigaw ng boss ko mula sa intercom.

"Certainly Attorney." chi-neck ko muna ang listahan ko bago ito inilagay sa binder.Hi I'm Saito Eleanor, half Japanese half Filipina. Halos isang buwan na rin nang maging sekretarya ako ni Attorney Riverton and I think this would be the first time he lost his composure.

I smirked and opened the door. Sopistikada akong naglakad patungo sa harapan ng mesa ng boss ko habang hawak sa kaliwa kong kamay ang hinihingi niyang schedule.May binabasa itong ilang papeles, baka isa ito sa mga kasong kailangan pa niyang aralin. Habang abala ito sa ginagawa nito ay hindi ko napigilang mamangha sa magagandang katangian ng Attorney. His hair is golden like the sun, shoulder length and perfectly tied in a man bun, bright hazel eyes and that thick furrowed eyebrow. Marahil ay nagtataka kayo kung bakit nga ba ako naging secretary. Well then let me tell you my story.

FLASHBACK:

"Already at point B, how's your spot Larke?" I didn't answer; despite I checked my gear and rappelled down swiftly without anyone noticing. I grabbed my Mk23 and aimed my g*n sa mga lalaking nakabantay sa labas ng pupuntahan kong unit, I really love this g*n it makes my work easier. It fires the .45 ACP which is common and powerful cartridge and has good amount of stopping power, especially against unarmored targets.

Nang marating ko ang pinto I placed a bug that Drew gave me earlier, he said this is some sort of drone ewan hindi ko alam, s'ya 'yong magaling sa aspects na iyon hindi ako.

"Larke! Wait for my signal! You damn hard headed woman!" I just shrugged and made my way through the room without Drew's go signal. Ngunit nagulat ako nang marahas akong nahuli mula sa leeg. I guess he's already been warned; now how shall I deal with this without using much of my energy? Kanina pa 'ko inaantok eh.

“SINO KA?! Sinong nag-utos sa'yong patayin ako?! Magsalita ka kung ayaw mong pati ikaw ay idamay ko dito!! " ngunit imbes na matakot ay nginisian ko lamang ito at dahan-dahan na nilingon. Mabilis kong hinila ang Fairbarn-Sykes Fighting Knife na dala ko at mabilis itong sinaksak sa bandang tenga. The old man fell on the floor. Since the knife gets straight into the target's brain he will be dead in two to three minutes. Nanlaki ang mga mata nito sa takot nang umupo ako at bigyan ito ng mala demonyong ngiti.

"The name is Larke remember that." That was the last thing I said before I left the unit. Pagbalik ko ng headquarters ay nakahanda na ang tenga ko sa sermon na matatanggap ko dahil hindi ako sumunod sa plano. But instead she dragged me inside her office and gave me a phone. I looked at her confusingly but she just mouthed to answer the call.

"Good evening Larke." The user is using a voice changer so I can't really tell who it is. Hindi ko ito sinagot at naghintay pa sa mga sasabihin nito.

"I need you to take care of someone for me." Oh another person to kill, hooray for me. Take note of the sarcasm.

END OF FLASHBACK

Well apparently I misunderstood her message. Sa tingin ko ang nais iparating ng kliyente ay mayroon akong kailangang manmanan. I don't really know why they chose me. Hindi naman ako agent para mag-undercover! Assassin ako at ang trabaho ko ay ang pumatay! hindi ang mag-bantay ng taong hindi ko naman mapakikinabangan for goodness sake!

And by being Attorney Radleigh Riverton's secretary for over a week now it makes me wonder why the client wants me to do this job.Kung hindi ko lang alam na isa akong assassin baka inisip ko na isa akong bodyguard tsk; I just tell the client what this man do every day, oh 'diba? sinong gaganahan sa trabahong'to!

"Ms Saito? Are you with me? Ms Saito!" I was taken back from my thoughts when I heard my boss roared. Kung katulad ako ng mga ordinaryong babae ay baka kanina pa nangatog ang mga tuhod ko, thank God I'm not.

"Yes sir, tumawag po ang Mama ninyo kanina. She said dinners at eight at hindi raw po n'ya tatanggapin kung tatanggi kayo." I heard him groan as he massages his temples. Pinaalis na din naman ako nito pagkatapos at hindi na tinanong pa ang iba nitong schedule so I returned to my table outside his office. Uupo na sana ako nang pabalang na bumukas ang pinto mula sa opisina.

My eyes landed on Attorney Radleigh whose now breathing heavily habang titig na titig sa'kin. Pinanood ko lang s'ya habang pinapakalma nito ang sarili. Mabagal itong nag-lakad patungo sa'kin ng may seryosong ekspresyon. Anong trip n'ya?

"Saito Eleanor WILL YOU MARRY ME?" he said in a straight face.

A-Ano daw? Tama ba 'yong dinig ko? Is he seriously asking me to marry him?! Nasisiraan na ba s'ya ng ulo?! o baka naman nakasinghot s'ya ng rugby?!

"C-Come again sir? parang mali ata 'yong narinig ko." sabi ko at ilang beses pang kumurap dahil sa sobrang windang.

"I need you to marry me Eleanor," he said.Kung gano'n ay hindi mali ang pagkaka-rinig ko, but I don't think he would make that decision because of LOVE. There might be another reason. Kung iisiping mabuti pag tinanggap ko ang alok n'yang kasal mas mababantayan ko s'ya. Instead of being just his secretary, yung level ng pagiging asawa ng isang Radleigh Riverton maaring tumaas ang chansa na makakuha ako ng mas malalim na impormasyon tungkol sa kanya.

(Radleigh's POV)

10 minutes before the proposal...

As soon as Ms Saito left my office my phone rang, my mother is calling. I don't really want to answer it but my mom can get very scary sometimes, minsan iniisip ko kung nanay ko ba talaga s'ya tsk.

"Hi mom," I answered boringly.

(You should really answer my call the moment it rings Radleigh. Anyway I presume nasabi na sa'yo ng secretary mo ang ibinilin ko.)

I sighed and answered her Yes at nag-simula na naman nga itong magsermon tungkol sa pag-dadala ko ng mamanugangin n'ya which I think is totally absurd. I don't date and I don't want to date. Don’t get me wrong I have been in love with someone before at nakakatawa lang kung paano tayo pag laruan ng tadhana.

Ipinangako kong hindi na ako magmamahal aside from my mom simula ng maikasal ang babaeng mahal ko sa kaibigan ko. I was brought back to my senses when I heard my mom yelled.

(Radleigh! Are you even listening?!)

"Yes mom. Continue,"

(I really don't want to go this far para lang magpakasal ka but I guess I have to do it. Can you kindly look at Ms Saito for me please?)

Anong— I moved my eyes towards my secretary na nag-lalakad ngayon patungo sa mesa nito ngunit ang mas nakaagaw ng pansin ko ay ang pulang ilaw na na sa likod nito. What the hell is that?! Is that a freaking sniper?! Mabilis kong ibinaba ang tawag para matawagan si Azul upang humingi ng tulong mula rito but he quickly declined it and sent me a message instead.

Azul: I'm sorry man, QUEEN'S orders.

I gritted my teeth ang dialed my mom’s number and she immediately picked it up. I can't believe she'll stoop down this low just to get what she wants.

"What are you doing?! 'Wag n'yong idamay ang ibang tao para lang masunod ang kagustuhan nyo! "

(Oh I would Radleigh, I would. See the bomb underneath your table? There's another bomb on your secretary's table. In just one flick of a finger BOOM!)

She wouldn't — I know she won't do it. But the moment I let my guard down I shrieked in pain when I felt something hit my arm. I gripped my arm to stop the bleeding but it wasn't enough.

“Mom! Seriously?! You would shoot your own son?! What in the world is your problem?!"

('Wag mong isiping hindi ko kayang gawin ang mga banta ko Radleigh you know me. So if you don't want to bathe in blood you would do as I say. Magdadala ka ng asawa sa loob ng isang linggo and that's final! if you don't? you know what would happen. Ciao! Love you! )

I can clearly see my mom’s triumphant smile right now. I dashed out of my office and looked at my secretary; she looks like her life wasn't in grave danger earlier. I can't afford to drag someone like her dahil lang gusto na akong magpakasal ng nanay ko.

But more importantly where would I find a woman to marry in less than a week?! A bulb popped from my head when I looked at my secretary na sa tingin ko ay hinihintay pa din ang sasabihin ko. Kinda think of it Ms. Saito is pretty much the best candidate to pick.

First, she doesn't mix personal emotions in work; in short hindi s'ya 'yong klase ng babae na magkakandarapa sa akin. Second, her educational background is a big check and lastly aminin ko man o hindi she might be the hottest secretary I have ever seen. The way her long wavy hair dance whenever she walks, the scent of strawberry and vanilla always lingers through the air. Her smoky emotionless blue eyes that will pierce through anyone she looks at.

If I ask her to marry me for a cost would she agree?

"I need you to marry me Eleanor." I abruptly said without even blinking. She's my last resort so if she doesn't want to accept I might do it the hard way.

"Okay" wait what? That’s it? Tatanggapin na lang n'ya agad? Naguguluhan ko itong tiningnan ngunit ngumisi lamang ito.

"So what do I get in return Radleigh?" she said in crossed arms. What the fcvk?! Did she just call me on my first name?

"Ano? Don’t expect me to accept your favor without anything in return Radleigh. Radleigh is okay right? Since papakasalan mo na din naman ako. Wait bakit nag-dudugo yang braso mo? “She said with a grin.

I think I changed my mind tch. Mabilis akong umalis at iniwan s'ya do'n ng walang pasabi. I could find somebody else to marry.

***

IT IS the last day of the week at wala pa rin akong nahahanap na p'wedeng pakasalan! Pero ngayon, na sa isang mamahaling restaurant ako kasama ang kaisa-isang babaeng hindi ko dapat makita.

"Sabi ko na babalik at babalik ka sa akin eh.” she said with a cheeky smile plastered on her face tch. Since when did her personality changed?

"Tch. I can't believe I'm doing this. Here, I prepared a contract. If you agree to marry me you would carry my last name, accompany me in any events especially if it concerns my crazy family. You would be given a black card; you can spend it whenever and however you want. Wala tayong pakialamanan sa buhay ng isa't-isa. And lastly we pretend to be a lovely couple in front of my mother. Kung meron kang hindi naintindihan please tell me now." I lazily said without even looking at her.

"Oh gusto kong tanggalin itong pang-apat ." why would she want to drop that? Hindi maganda ang pakiramdam ko sa babaeng ito. Kung ano man ang pinaplano n'ya hindi ko s'ya hahayaan. After she signed the paper shook hands. We're now driving to the nearest church we can find. I already called someone to set up a simple wedding pronto. Pagdating namin ay nandoon na agad ang ilan sa mga kaibigan ko as well as the priest they hired.

"Dude I don't know what's your deal right now but a wedding in the middle of the night?! Pare naman!" Daryl said.

"Singer s'ya diba? Hindi ko alam gano'n ka pala ka big time para magkaroon ng kaibigang sikat." I heard Eleanor whisper beside me. Instead of answering her, my attention was on the woman beside Daryl. She smiled then waved her hand. She’s still as beautiful as ever.

"Oh I see now. May gusto ka do'n sa babae tama? Kaso lang mukang kasal na s'ya sa kaibigan mo aww kawawa ka naman Pfft." I heard her whisper again with a mischievous smile. Tch Kung hindi s'ya babae baka kanina ko pa s'ya nasapak. I ignored her once again and told the priest to start the ceremony.

"Do you Radleigh Riverton take Saito Eleanor as your wife? To have and to hold, for richer or for poorer, in sickness and in health, till death do you part?" the priest asked.

"I Do." I bitterly said without even glancing at the woman I'm marrying.

"Do you Saito Eleanor take Radleigh Riverton as your husband? To have and to hold, for richer or for poorer, in sickness and in health, till death do you part?" the priest asked. Ngunit ilang minuto na ang lumipas pero hindi pa din sya nasagot. I glanced at her but I found her looking intently at me. The moment our eyes met her lips formed a smile.

"Edi lumingon ka din sa'kin,gusto pa tatagalan ang pagsagot eh. “She said and smirked. “I do father. I fcvking Do." she continued. Damn she's weird in so many ways. I can't figure out what's going on in that woman's head.

"I now pronounce you Husband and Wife, You may now kiss the bride"napangisi ako nang makita ko kung paano magsimulang mamutla ang mukha n'ya. Oh please don't tell me nakalimutan n'ya ang part na 'to? Pfft. I grabbed her shoulder then held her waist to move her closer. I gave her a smirk nang makita ko ang takot sa mga mata niya. Now that's what I wanted to see.

I bend down and cup her face. Hahalikan ko na sana ito nang—

"What the hell?!"