The Billionaire I Married By Mistake [Filipino]

20. KNOW

|Javier|

Billy closed the door of the conference room as soon as the last department head left. Nanatili ako sa kinauupuan ko, staring at the projector screen in front of me.

Kakatapos lang ng meeting ko with the department heads of the company and I was thinking right away of how we should face the current problem of the company. Though, I’m sure I can take care of it pero basta sa mga ganitong bagay, I always wanted to hear our employees' opinions.

Pero…hindi iyon ang bumabagabag sa akin. It’s about the deal I had to offer to Katherine for the mistaken marriage we had.

I suddenly remembered seeing her asleep on the sofa last night. Guilt immediately crept within me. It was a genuine mistake on my end that I ended up coming home late and let her wait for me. Nawala sa isipan ko na…may naghihintay pala sa akin. I was so preoccupied with my work that as soon as I stepped inside my penthouse and saw Katherine sleeping on the sofa, doon ko lang din naalala na mag-uusap pala kaming dalawa.

I always came home late anyway. Sanay akong mag-isa palagi simula ng bumukod ako sa aking mga magulang. It was like a muscle memory to me. Nagpadagdag pa sa guilt ko ay ang makitang…nagluto siya ng hapunan. Though, instead of waking her up and finally talk about some things, I decided to let out talk happen today.

And I’m expecting her today before lunch time. Pero…anong oras na ba?

I glanced at my wrist watch and saw that it was already past lunch time. Umalis akong tulog pa siya but I left a note for her. Is she still asleep?

“Sir Javier…” I was in deep thoughts about it when Billy called out for me. Nilingon ko siya and he was already standing near me. Hawak nito ang iPad na palagi niyang dala tuwing trabaho.

“May impormasyon na ho pala ako tungkol kay Miss Katherine Lopez.” aniya. I couldn’t help but suddenly correct him in my mind on how he addressed my wife.

She’s already….a Mrs. though. I smirked at the thought.

“I’ll hear it in my office,” I said, then stood from my chair and headed out of the conference room.

Nasa dulong bahagi lang naman ang opisina ko kaya hindi rin nagtagal ay nakarating rin kami ni Billy doon. As soon as I sat on my swivel chair, he handed the iPad he was holding.

“This is the information given by the private investigator, Sir.” I looked at the file on the screen. May stolen picture doon ni Katherine. Beside it was her bold name.

Name, Katherine Lopez. Age, 25. My eyes scanned her basic information before it landed on the summarized information about her. Inisa-isa ko itong basahin.

Apparently, she’s an orphan at the age of eight. She stopped school for a year. Then her grandfather, Antonio Lopez, brought her to Manila to continue her studies here. Kumunot ang noo ko ng mabasa ang pangalan ng kanyang…lolo.

So…she’s the grand-daughter of that old man? I’ve known him because he is well known in his field. Though, he monopolizes the construction industry in Iloilo and I somehow commend him for it. And currently, I heard they are in…crisis after an…accident.

Naalala ko naman ang mga sinabi ni Katherine sa akin. Ito pala ang ibig niyang sabihin. I was thinking of what kind of deal we should set between us. Hindi sapat ang impormasyon na binigay ni Katherine sa akin patungkol sa kanya that’s why I instructed my secretary to do some digging.

Now, with this information, alam ko na ang mga susunod na plano.

I was busy reading more information about her when suddenly, there was a knock on my office’s door. Mabilis na lumipad ang tingin ko doon at si Billy ay naglakad rin patungo sa pintuan upang tignan ang sino mang bisita ko. I have no appointment for today until three in the afternoon dahil baka mahaba-haba ang magiging usapan ko kay Katherine.

Did she finally arrive already? She’s late.

Kaso, bago pa man buksan ni Billy ang pintuan, it immediately slides open without warning. At niluwa roon si Gabriel, the person I wasn’t even expecting to see right now.

I sighed heavily as I put down the iPad on my table. In his disguised clothes, with black jacket, cap and shades, Gabriel headed toward the receiving area of my office as if he owned it. May suot-suot pa siyang scarf kahit na ang init-init sa Pilipinas. Mabilis nitong hinubad ang cap at carf na suot-suot at inilapag ang bitbit din nitong itim na paper bag sa coffee table. I stared at him coldly as he took off his shades. He slowly put his sunglasses on the hem of his inside shirt.

Anong ginagawa nito dito ng ganitong oras? I thought he was…abroad?

“Why are you here?” I asked. Prente siyang naupo sa sofa, his arms spread wide on the edge of the seat.

“Nandito ako para sumagap ng chismis,” aniya na para bang walang naging kasalanan sa akin.

Sinulyapan ko si Billy at sa isang tingin, agad siyang tumango at umalis sa opisina ko. As soon as the door closed, I leaned against my swivel chair while glaring at Gabriel. Alam ko naman ang rason kung bakit nandito ito. At least, he knew na may mali siyang nagawa sa akin.

“You fvcking bastard,” I hissed. “I hope you’re here to say sorry.”

He gave me a smirked. “Ba’t naman ako mags-sorry kung sa huli, ay nakasal ka rin naman gaya ng gusto mong—” Pinulot ko ang malapit na eraser sa akin at agad na tinapon iyon sa direksyon niya.

Bummer…magaling siyang umiwas.

“Grabe ka naman sa akin, Vier,” then he acted as if he was hurt. dagdag ko.

“Tang-ina mo, Gab.” mura ko sa kanya. “Kung sana ay binigay mo na lang ang pangalan at picture ng papakasalan ko, hindi pa sana…” I stopped and massaged my temples.

Tuluyan naman siyang napatayo sa kinauupuan at lumapit sa akin. Bitbit din nito ang paper bag na dala-dala at inilapag iyon sa lamesa ko.

“Oo na, I’m sorry. Nandito ako para mag-apologize sa ginawa ko. I also brought a gift as an apology,”

Hindi ko binalingan ang paper bag na bitbit niya, imbes ay masama ko lang siyang tinignan.

“C’mmon, Vier. Kung ayaw, ibigay mo na lang sa asawa mo. Let her know its my wedding gift—” hindi niya muli natapos ang sasabihin ng bigla kong inabot ang tissue holder na malapit sa akin. Akma ko iyong itatapon sa kanya pero hindi ko tinuloy. He protected himsefl with his hands, at nagmumukha siyang takot na aso sa lagay niya.

“Leave. Ayokong makita ang pagmumukha mo, Gab.” I said coldly. Syempre, hindi siya nakinig sa akin. Imbes ay bumalik ito sa sofa at muling naupo doon.

“Alam mo bang dito ako dumiretso as soon as I was back here? You were my prio—”

“And I didn't ask for it. Damn you.” putol ko muli sa sasabihin niya.

“You’re so ruthless when it comes to me, my dearest friend. Nakakasakit ka sa puso,” drama niya.

Nilapag ko na lang pabalik ang tissue holder sa lamesa pagkatapos ay muling napasandal sa kinauupuan. He continued babbling on how he prioritized and how he took the risk of coming here just to say his apology. Kung ano ang nangyari sa babaeng dapat kong papakasalan. Pero hindi ko siya pinagtuunan ng pansin at kinuha ang cellphone para i-message si Katherine kung nasaan na siya.

My brows furrowed when she just…seened the message.

I tried calling her but her phone was out of reach. What the hell?

Kaya naman, minessage ko si Billy to check the lobby kasi baka naroon na siya. If not, I also told him to wait for her. I was planning for us to have lunch on the nearby restaurant pero bakit wala pa siya hanggang ngayon? I clearly told her to be here before lunchtime.

“Vier, nakikinig ka ba?” Tanong niya. Ibinalik ko sa kanya ang tingin. He straightened up when our eyes met.

“So, sino ang napangasawa mo? Kailan mo ako ipapakilala?” he asked expectantly. I smirked at him.

“Sinong nagsabi na ipapakilala kita?”

He looked offended upon hearing it. Umakto muli siya na para bang nasasaktan. Now, I really wonder if the public knows this side of him. Sa mata nang publiko, hindi naman ito ganito eh.

“Ang harsh mo talaga sa akin kahit kailan,” aniya. Then he started reminiscing about the past, about how we met and how we became friends. Muli ko siyang inignora at chineck na lang ang trabaho ko habang hinihintay ang pagdating ni Katherine.

Minutes later, I heard a knock on the door. Pareho kaming napatingin ni Gabriel doon. The door slides open at ang unang pumasok ay si Billy. Kasunod nito ay si Katherine. I sighed in relief seeing her here. I leaned back against my seat once again and covered my lips with my knuckles, my full attention on her.

Finally.

“Oh? Ikaw ang asawa ni Vier?!” gulat na sambit ni Gabriel. My brows suddenly furrowed as I looked toward Gabriel. He looked surprised seeing…my wife.

Wait…

This bastard…knows her?