The Past Behind Us

Chapter 2

"I didn't know Patrick's daughter is a promiscuous young lady," a man with a baritone voice spoke with disgust.

What is he doing here?

Before I even ask the question to the man beside me, I saw his luggage beside him and a backpack in his lap. I knew Grant was taking vacation during summer and Christmas break when he was still a student. But I haven't seen him for years after he graduated BS Management.

"Hi," I greeted him while trying to compose myself from what Alexander just did. Grant just nodded and looked away, giving signals that he wasn't interested in talking to me. "Are you having a vacation?" I asked to start a conversation and tried to dismiss my embarrassment.

"No," he responded dryly. "I'm staying for good."

"Where's Luke?"

"He'll be here next month after he finishes his study."

A long moment of silence came after. I wanted to ask more and make the conversation continue but he was intimidating enough that made me dumb. Compare to him and Luke, his brother is friendlier and pleasantly easy to approach.

"Please don't tell my father what you saw a while ago," I asked him as the car entered the gate of Montellone and stopped at the entrance of the office building.

"You father know nothing about your boyfriend, Jade?" he asked her with his lips twisted upward followed by a mocking smile. I shook my head. "How old are you?" he asked following with his forehead creasing and his eyes intently looking at me as if I just did something stupid.

"A-almost seventeen," a low voice came out from me. I don't understand why I became anxious all of a sudden, his perfume lingered in my nose and his stare brought panic to my senses.

"Sixteen, you mean," he corrected when I tried to make my age a bit older. I raised my head to show some amount of confidence but I saw something in his eyes that I can't comprehend. "I don't care whatever you do with your life. Just leave our family alone," he said with anger in his voice which puzzled me. He went out of the car and grabbed his luggage without looking at me while I kept on watching his every move.

"What is that supposed to mean?" I followed him as he walked towards the company's parking lot where his mother's car was parked. One of the company's staff handed him the key.

"I wonder why you didn't know what's happening around you," he answered in the same manner he did a while ago. "Don't you have anything to do besides flirting with your boyfriend?" He went inside the car and drove away as fast as he could before I even open my mouth again, leaving confusion in my young mind.

Yes, he was right – I know nothing. And from this morning with Mariz up to this hour with conversation with Grant, they made me feel that I wasn't acting as responsible as I should. I immediately ran to the building with my heart raging in irritation, and rage strikes again when Mariz stopped me for entering my father's office.

"He is in a closed-door meeting with Attorney Feliciano, Jade," Mariz told me and mentioned the family's lawyer. I sat at the couch beside Mariz's table which serves as waiting area for visitors. My cousin was still busy with phone calls and whatever she was typing in her computer. A picture of Grant's face registered suddenly in my mind and what he said about me uncaringly keeping an eye on what's happening around me. I knew he meant something but I really had no idea what that was. Maybe my father does, and I wanted to know.

Another thing that I was puzzled about was the anguish I saw at Grant's eyes when he was talking to me. I knew that he was not as friendly as his brother even before. We don't share the same circle of friends that made us strangers with each other during company events. He is five years older, a serious type, and anti-social. When Grant's father transferred his business in Manila, Grand and Luke also transferred school. They only visit Emma during summer and Christmas holiday.

But I didn't remember Grant being so hostile the way he did a while ago.

I waited for half an hour more before the door opens in my father's office. I saw Attorney Feliciano walked out while my father stays in his executive chair. I made a grimace when Mariz came in before me.  But when my father saw me, he asked Mariz to leave the reports on his table and leave us alone to talk.

"Hi, Dad!" I kissed on his cheek and sat at the receiving chair cross-legged. "What's wrong? You look tired," I asked my father when I saw him massaging his temples.

"Just a little headache," Patrick answered. "How's school?"

"Just taking some notes," I shrugged my shoulders. "Graduation is a month away. I can help you here and study how you run this business." It was a quick decision I made while waiting outside my father's office. I won't allow Mariz or Grant treat me like a spoiled-brat kid who doesn't know about being responsible. Besides, I am the only heir of Patrick Montefalco. According to my grandmother, we have bigger shares in the company that's why my father became the CEO and said to have the controlling interest. When I finish my college, it's just right that my father would train me to be the next CEO.

Her father looked at me with amusement. "I'm glad you came to that realization, Jade. In fact, that's what I want to talk to you about. I just talk to Atty. Feliciano to transfer all my properties to you, including some of my shares in this company."

"Why?" My confusion and curiosity rose up. My father talks as if it was an urgent thing to do if you'll pay attention on the look on his face. I wanted to disagree, because even if I am open about running their business in the future, I don't think there's a need to transfer everything to me at this time. "You're only fifty-four years old, Dad. There's no need to hurry."

"Everything will be yours eventually. But I didn't say I am retiring. And your grandmother specifically mentioned that you will not get any responsibility in the company until you turned twenty two."

"Okay, Dad," I agreed. "Starting next month, I will be working with you here. I am taking up Accountancy anyway; I think that would help me a lot in running this business."

"Hmmm. . . I still wonder what makes you decide right away," he looked at me puzzled. He rested his back on the leather seat and made a weary sigh that made me worried about my father.

"Are you sure you're alright?"

"Don't worry about me, Jade," he replied. "I like the way you're showing interest in handling the company that your grandmother had put all her money and effort into. By the way, what gift do you want on your graduation?" Patrick's expression became lively again – or was trying to. "Do you want to travel? I can take a few days leave," he suggested but I refused in an instant. There was something in my father that I couldn't fathom – something like he was hiding something.

"I'd rather start working with you, Dad," I said with conviction. For whatever reasons, I decided to take more responsibilities now like a grown-up woman. I couldn't tell him that my decision has something to do with Mariz and Grant though. "I saw Grant a while ago," I said, leaving the question I have in mind on what Grant meant by me not knowing what's going on around me. If I will work in my father's office, I would eventually find out soon.

"Yeah, Luis and Grant will fill some position in the company," my father replied as he gathered the pile of folders on his table. If I will start working next month, I will also be working with him – certainly.

Days passed by, I tried to forget what happened between me and Alexander and the embarrassment he brought me. He never bothered to talk to me after that and I didn't care anymore. I soon found out that he was dating another girl in the campus. I realized how stupid I was to even think that he was an ideal guy when he didn't even ask me for a proper date a man and a woman should have.

After my graduation, I fulfilled my promise with my father that I'll be working with him and learn how he manage the company. Mariz, as usual, didn't think that was a good idea because I haven't even entered college. She thought that it was just a piece of caprice, a whim to fritter away my time, which motivates me to try harder. I would never allow Mariz belittle my capabilities and intelligence. I am the real Montefalco after all.

On my second day working in my father's office, a familiar stare followed me as I walked along the hallway. Grant Castillone Miller. I was sure Grant saw me but never bothered to talk to me. I asked my father about him as soon as I entered my father's office.

"What is Grant's position in the company, Dad?"

"He is Emma's assistant," a short replied from Patrick.

"When I saw him last month it didn't occur to me that he'll be staying for good." Another picture of Grant's mocking face suddenly entered in my memory. I could clearly recall how hostile he was with me at that time and the way he ignored me this morning still puzzled me. I haven't answered that question in her mind.

"Emma was planning to retire early," Patrick told me that made me stare at her father for a while. Grant's mother is still young to retire. As far as I know, Emma is the Vice President and handles Marketing and Logistic Department.

"We will be having a meeting at ten o'clock. I think you should be there since you are now actually working here," my father suggested.

"Okay, Dad," I agreed. I wanted Grant to see that he was wrong about his perception about me. It was odd. There was something inside me wanting to please the man that showed hostility towards me, besides proving him wrong, I wanted us to become friends – if it is not too much to ask.