A Kiss Before Betrayal

Chapter 2

Xavier

I can’t believe this s**t. Making me do something na sobrang labag sa kalooban ko. I don’t want to partner up with Rosalita Araneta but my grandfather wants me to. Yes, the Astrogaze is one hell of a project and I know she’s willing to accept help.

I was planning on waiting another contract pero pinilit ako ni lolo na mag presenta para tumulong dito.

“If this is about the Astrogaze, I firmly remember that I stated a while back that tomorrow will be the presentation?” I looked at her intently. It’s my first time speaking to her after how many years of leading this company. We saw each other at functions but due to family complications, hindi kami makapag-usap kahit business lang kaya nagulat ako ngayon na kinausap ako ni lolo para tumulong dito sa Astrogaze kahit sa Araneta napunta.

Noon pa ayaw na ko ni lolo makipag-involve sa kanila. So, why now?

“Sorry to disappoint, sweetheart. But… yes and no. I want to talk to you about something regarding our family.” I lied. It’s about the Astrogaze. All about it. Pero alam ko hindi ako papayagan na makipag-usap ngayon sa kaniya kung dahil doon lang so I had to quickly come up with a solution.

Lolo was so fired up nung sinabi niya na dapat ako ang kuhanin kungdi aalisin niya ako sa kumpanya. Ayaw naman ng kapatid ko ang kumpanya at the same time, my cousin is a full bastard s**t and doesn’t deserve the company. So, with all my will power, kailangan makuha ko ang partnership na ito.

Thank God pumayag siya though she wants to talk somewhere private kaya inaya niya na lang ako sa penthouse raw niya. Naka-convoy kami and what a f*****g surprise, magkatapat lang pala kami ng building. All this time, magkatapat lang kami ng building residence.

We went inside her penthouse and I chuckled when it’s all in red color. All her stuff is red.

“I take that your favorite color is Red?”

“Welcome to my home, Xavier.” She just stated sarcastically. “Wine?” She asked before going to her kitchen. I walked up slowly to her living area and saw that in front is literally my living area, too.

“Wine is good.” Sagot ko na.

Pumasok na ulit siya sa living area at nakitang hinubad na niya ang blazer niya. She gestured the sofa and I sat the moment she sat.

“What brings a Sevilla to talk to one Araneta?” She asked as she was pouring wine to my glass.

“Same question that I don’t have answers to.” I mumbled which is the truth though. I guess grandpa really wanted Astrogaze.

And another moment of silence. Hindi ko tuloy alam paano ko sisimulan… I’m f*****g nervous.

“Did your grandmother mentioned something about us?” I asked.

She drank a bit of her wine before looking at me. I just noticed that her eyes are in a shade of light brown.

“Uh, nothing bad but she asked who’s handling Sevilla Real Estate now and I mentioned you.” Kwento niya.

“Grandfather asked me the same question and I mentioned you…”

She nodded at that. Another moment of silence. Damn. I’m usually good with conversations so why is it so hard with her? Is it because she’s Araneta?

“Anyway…” I started and her attention is fully on me that I got nervous and can’t even get to look at her this time. “I was curious why… my grandfather suddenly wanted me to work with you for Astrogaze…” I stated carefully and when I noticed she’s just listening, I continued. “For years… I know that Astrogaze isn’t only the wonderful project you got in the recent years yet my grandfather always told me and reminded me to not work with the Aranetas.”

“Same with my grandmother.. okay, continue.” She gestured her hand a swaying motion as a sign for me to continue speaking.

“And suddenly, my grandfather told me just a while ago at dinner, ‘enough with this feud. Astrogaze is a big project and partnering up with the Aranetas will be a good choice.’ And just like that my grandfather pushed me to work with you. Although not fully the reason why I wanted to talk to you it’s because to ask if you know something?”

Hope she buys that.

She shrugged. “Honestly? Wala rin ako alam. Kanina rin sa dinner namin I expected the usual wherein to keep my distance from the Sevillas no matter what but my grandmother didn’t mention about it. She just said to trust my instincts and to be careful who I’m partnering with.”

Well… that’s a good sign. It was a sign that I have a chance to have this partnership.

“I can’t deny the SRE is a good choice of company for partnership regarding this project. But to answer your question again, I don’t know. Hindi ko alam anong trip nila ngayon para magbati bigla siguro?”

I chuckled. “I know that your father and my father are friends.”

“Oh, that.” She pointed at me while nodding.

“If… possible can… we…” Damn it. “Can we be friends?”

She paused stirring her wine in her hand and looked at me, shocked. Ako rin, nagulat, eh.

“I’ve always wanted to talk to you back then sa mga functions but due to family complications…” Now I’m speaking too much. Totoo rin na matagal ko na siyang gusto approach kasi alam ko tatay ko at tatay niya magkaibigan, so, bakit kailangan dahil magkaaway mga grandparents namin, eh, mag-aaway na rin kami?

“Not sure if your grandfather and my grandmother will approve to that.” She smirked.

I smirked back. “Well, they did give a signal for us to work together so why not take the chance to be friends?” I raised my brow and finished the last drop of my wine.

“Fine. Friends. But this doesn’t give you a granted access na ikaw kukuhanin kong partner sa project. You need to be fair and present tomorrow.”

Damn it. “That’s easy. I was the top 2 choice regarding this project which is after you.”

She raised her brow. “Yeah, right. But I’ll hear that proposal again tomorrow.”

“Time?” I asked.

“Anytime in the morning. I’ll be at my office at 8am.”

“Oh, so, this is a one-on-one presentation?”

She nodded at my question and I leaned back to her maroon sofa with bright red pillows. All I see is red.

Nagpaalam na rin ako kalaunan sa kaniya at nabigla rin siya na sa kabilang building lang ako. We both exchanged numbers and socials as start of this friendship.

I looked through my curtain wall by the living area and saw she turned off her lights. She’s probably going to her room now.

To: Red Rose

So, ikaw pala nakikita ko minsan na umiiyak sa sofa because of ‘Me before You’ movie?

From: Red Rose

Mind your own business, Xavier. See you tomorrow. Goodnight and Goodluck

Luck? Damn. I smiled at that. Is this really a good choice? Makipag kaibigan sa ka-family rival?

Whatever it is. I plan on staying just friends with her and not involve any kind of family complications within my friendship with her. I won’t also involve with her romantically.