A Trouble Called Marriage

A Trouble Called Marriage Book 1 | The CEO's Forced Wife Episode 2

ETHAN Rivaldi broke into a satisfied smile as he ended the call he got from his representative when the latter announced that the lawyer of the family who owned the huge real estate he was trying to acquire since last year has finally agreed to a price to sell the property to him. The last couple of months dealing with the eldest son of the property owner for the negotiation of the sale has not been very simple. But Ethan Rivaldi always gets whatever Ethan Rivaldi wants. And he was glad that the issue has finally been taken care of.

““Ethan, stop neglecting me,”” purred the beautiful naked woman lying beside him on the bed who immediately wrapped an arm around his toned abdominal muscles.

Yumuko si Ethan upang halikan ito sa labi. ““Sorry, baby. I had to take that call.””

““You should know, I turned down a huge international modeling project to be with you like you asked,”” sabi pa nito.

Napangisi lamang si Ethan. He traced the woman’s neck with the tip of his nose as his hands wandered around her soft body. ““I know. And I’m glad we get to do this before I leave for my flight later today.””

““What?”” Itinulak siya ng babae upang diretso siyang tingnan sa mga mata. ““What do you mean? You’re leaving?””

Inilayo ni Ethan ang sarili mula sa babae na lalo lamang naguluhan nang magsimula siyang bumaba sa kama at magbihis.

““Ethan Rivaldi!”” She demanded.

Nagkibit-balikat siya, zipping up his pants and putting on a belt. ““I told you I was only here on business. The deal’s done and my representative will take care of the rest. I should be back in the Philippines tonight.””

Nanlaki ang mga mata ng babae sa kaniya. ““You told me last night you want me! Were you lying?””

Tiningnan niya ito. ““No, I wasn’t. I want you. And last night, we did what we did to satisfy that.””

““You’ve got to be kidding me!? I—”” The woman almost choked on her words. ““I broke up with my boyfriend last night because you said you wanted to be with me.””

Hindi na tinapos ni Ethan ang pagbubutones sa isinuot na shirt. Pinulot niya ang jacket at neck tie na nasa sahig bago tinungo at binuksan ang pinto. ““Sorry, babe. I just don’t do relationships. Besides, I didn’t tell you to do that, did I?””

Nagsisigaw sa galit ang babae. Kinuha nito ang isang unan at ihinagis sa direksyon niya. Ngunit bago matamaan ang gwapo niyang mukha ay kaagad na niyang naisara ang pinto. Kasunod niyon ay ang sunud-sunod at malulutong na pagmumura ng babae sa kaniya.

Ethan combed his hair with his fingers. Isinuot niya ang jacket at tinapos ang pagbubutones sa suot na putting sleeveshirt nang makapasok sa loob ng elevator. Nakatanggap siya ng text sa secretary niya na naghihintay na sa tapat ng hotel ang sasakyang magdadala sa kaniya sa airport.

Bumukas ang pinto ng elevator dalawang palapag pababa at kaagad napatuwid ng tayo mula sa pagkakasandal sa dingding ng lift si Ethan nang makita ang malaking hinaharap ng babaeng pumasok sa elevator. He shamelessly made eye contact and the woman just shyly smiled. Ethan licked the bottom of his lips with a smile. The woman’s got the perfect ten body that he would love to take to bed.

Nang pindutin ng babae ang floor button sa elevator panel ay muli siya nitong sinulyapan. This time, she winked at him. Hindi na nahihiya ang mga ngiti nito sa kaniya, at tila nang-a-anyaya ang bawat pagbukas-sara ng mga talukap.

Ethan crossed the distance between them, kissing the woman deeply which instantly elicited a moan from her, his hands grabbing her breasts and buttocks. And then the elevator doors closed.

TUMITIG si Yanna sa mini calendar na nasa ibabaw ng bedside table. Kung tama ang bilang niya, fertile siya ngayon. If she and Miles would make love tonight, she would definitely be pregnant.

Ngunit pagkatapos maisip iyon ay kaagad na bumagsak ang mga balikat niya. She wanted to look forward to it but it’s hurdled by the fact that she and her husband had never consummated their marriage yet. Ni hindi pa nila napag-uusapan kung kailan nila balak i-celebrate ang honeymoon nila at kung kailan nila planong magka-anak kahit na dalawang buwan na silang kasal.

At siguro nga hindi pa naman ganoon katagal ang pagsasama ng dalawang buwan, at iyong ibang mag-asawa nga ay naghihintay ng ilang taon bago pag-usapan ang pagpaplano para sa pagkakaroon ng mga anak. But is it normal for newlyweds to not have s*x two months into marriage?

Hindi kaya ako ang may problema? Baka ako dapat ang mag-bring up noon kay Miles? Naisip niya.

Siguro iniisip lang siya ni Miles. Hindi pa niya nararanasan ang makipag-siping. Baka naman gusto lang siguruhin ng asawa niya na handang-handa siya kapag ginawa na nila iyon. Pero hanggang kailan ba niya kailangang maghintay? At kung siya ang unang magbabanggit noon kay Miles, hindi ba siya magmumukhang desperada sa asawa?

Itinakip ni Yanna ang dalawang palad sa pinamumulahang mukha. Just thinking about it makes her blushing like a teenage girl getting her first kiss.

Muli niyang sinulyapan ang kalendaryo. May note na nakasulat doon, ‘M & L, two months.’ The rest of the space was filled with hearts.

Maybe I can use this, she thought. Pwede nilang i-celebrate ang ikalawang monthsary niya sa gabing iyon, with some good food and a bottle of good wine. And maybe they can also end the night curled up naked in bed together.

Tumayo si Yanna sa pagkakaupo sa gilid ng kama, naligo siya at nagbihis. Alam na niya ang gagawin niya—bibisitahin niya si Miles sa opisina nito sa BrighTech Corp. Sigurado siyang maa-appreciate iyon ng asawa niya. Then she can tell him that she wants to celebrate their second month anniversary so he could look forward to it, too.

Gusto niyang maging mali sa iniisip pero nitong mga nakalipas na araw ay napapadalas ang paghuli niya sa asawa na may kausap sa cellphone. Of course, she always pretends to know nothing. But she knew that he was cheating on her. And she strongly believes that as soon as they make love, Miles will drop whatever disloyalty he is doing and become a doting, caring husband to her. Intimacy seals marriage. At ngayong gabi ay handa na siyang isuko ang sarili kay Miles. Sisiguruhin niyang mangyayari iyon.

Dumating si Yanna sa opisina ni Miles kinahapunan at sa reception lobby pa lang ng BrighTech Corp. ay binati na kaagad siya ng mga empleyado ng kompanya. Nasa elevator pa lang ay hindi na maalis ang ngiti sa mga labi niya. Excited siyang makita si Miles. Sigurado siyang masosorpresa ito na makita siya roon.

Ngunit siya ang nagulat nang makarating sa private office ni Miles sa top-most floor ng BrighTech Corp. Hustong pagbukas niya ng pinto ng opisina nito ay nakita niya ang asawa na masayang nakikipagkwentuhan at nakikipagtawanan sa matalik na kaibigan at best man sa kasal nila na si Zach Tuazon.

Napatigil si Yanna sa ilalim ng doorway ng nakabukas na pinto. Sa dalawang buwan ng pagsasama nila ni Miles ay iyon ang unang beses na nakita niya itong tumawa. And it was even with her.

““Yanna,”” nasosorpresang bati nito sa kaniya. ““I’m not expecting you will drop by. Ano’ng ginagawa mo rito?””

Malapad siyang ngumiti. ““Wala. Na-miss lang kita. Pwede ba kitang kausapin?””

Tila naintindihan naman kaagad ni Zach ang sitwasyon at mabilis na tumayo sa leather chair na kinauupuan upang tunguhin ang pinto. ““I’ll go ahead and let you two talk.””

Nang makalabas si Zach sa silid ay nanatili sila sa kani-kanilang pwesto; her, in the middle of the room, and Miles behind his desk in his chair. Ni hindi ito tumayo para yakapin siya. Well, if she thinks about it, he never really hugged her.

““I can step outside for an hour. Gusto mo bang mag-dinner sa labas?”” Tanong nito.

Yanna dismissed the fact that her husband blatantly avoided touching her. ““Huwag na. Actually, pumunta ako rito kasi gusto kong sabihin sa ‘yo na second monthsary natin ngayon.””

““Oh,”” Miles turned to the calendar on his desk. ““Is it today?””

Nagkibig-balikat si Yanna. ““I can cook for you and we can celebrate it at home. Kung okay lang sa ‘yo””

Tumango ito. ““Oo naman. Uuwi ako ng maaga ngayon. Do you want me to grab some wine on my way home later?””

““Yes, that’ll be nice.””

““Great! I look forward to it.””

When what followed was awkward silence, Yanna decided to say goodbye. Hinigpitan niya ang hawak sa handle ng handbag niya. ““S-sige, mauna na ako.””

““Take care. I’ll see you at home.””