A Trouble Called Marriage

A Trouble Called Marriage Book 1 | The CEO's Forced Wife Episode 9

DALAWANG mahihinang katok ang nagpatigil sa pinipirmahang dokumento ni Ethan habang nasa loob ng pribado nitong opisina. Mabilis niyang sinulyapan ang nakapinid na pinto. Kahit na hindi nakikita ang taong nasa labas ay sigurado ang secretary niyang si Byron ang naroon.

““Not now, Byron,”” ang tanging nasabi niya.

““Pasensiya na, sir. But Miss Alyanna Goncalves is here to see you, sir. It seems important.””

Naputol ang pagpirma ni Ethan sa kaharap na papeles nang banggitin ni Byron ang pangalan ng babaeng ilang araw nang gumugulo sa isip niya. He was just at her house this morning and she almost chewed his head off as she was telling him never to try to get near her or her husband again. Pero ngayon ay ito pa ngayon ang narito sa hotel niya para makita siya.

A smile appeared on his lips. Would you look at that?

““Come in.”” Pagkasabi niyon ay kaagad namang nagbukas ang pinto ng opisina niya at pumasok ang pamilyar na bulto ng sekretarya niya. ““Are you sure it was her?”” Tanong niya rito. Hindi niya ito kasama sa loob ng bahay ng mag-asawa nang bisitahin niya ang mga ito kaninang umaga. He wanted to make sure that he’s not mistaking anyone for Yanna. After all, he’s willing to free some of his valuable time for her. At ayaw niyang sayangin ang mahalagang oras niya sa maling tao.

““Yes, sir,”” confident nitong sagot. ““She seems quite adamant to speak only to you.””

Muli siyang napangisi. ““Of course,”” he muttered, barely above a whisper.

Mabilis siyang tumayo mula sa kaniyang mahogany desk at isinuot ang jacket na nakasabit sa likod ng kaniyang swivel chair. Bago pa siya tuluyang makalabas ng pinto ay tinanong siya ni Byron.

““If this was regarding the business you were referring earlier, sir, gusto niyo ba’ng mag-schedule ako ng meeting so that everything could go on record?”” anito.

Nilingon niya ng sandali si Byron saka nakakalokong ngumiti. ““I told you I have some buttering up to do. This was it.””

Confused na sumunod na lamang ang assistant sa kaniya.

AS SOON as the elevator doors open, kaagad na natanaw ni Ethan ang pamilyar na pigura ni Yanna habang nakaupo sa black leather couch ng VIP longue ng hotel. Katabi nito ang kaibigan nitong sumundo rito sa mula sa penthouse niya noong isang araw. Hindi na niya maalala kung ano ang pangalan nito—Audrey? Annie?

He just whisked the insignificant thought away from his head. Hindi naman iyon ang mahalaga ngayon. His sweet, sweet treat is right there in his play pen. That’s where his head should be at.

The truth is he didn’t know how to deal with that kind of attraction kaya kahit alam niyang nagsasayang lamang siya ng panahon at atensiyon dito dahil may-asawa na ito ay hindi naman niya magawang pigilan ang sarili. Ngayon lamang kasi siya nakaramdam ng ganoon sa kahit sinong babae. Nauunawan na niya ngayon kung bakit nauuwi sa pagiging stalker ang ilan sa mga babaeng naka-date niya noon. He had no idea that there are these kind of attraction that can make people do things they don’t normally do. Katulad na lamang ng nangyayari sa kaniya ngayon, he usually keep away from married women no matter how smoking hot and gorgeous they are, but with Yanna, he’s like a moth flying directly to the flame. And he didn’t even care if he’s going to burn himself alive.

He made eye contact with her as he approached her and he couldn’t believe that she didn’t break his gaze. She obviously wanted to rub it to his face that his charms are not affecting her even a bit. Sa kabila niyon ay lalo lamang naman siyang nagkaka-interes dito.

““Yanna.”” Nang tuluyang siyang makarating sa harap ni Yanna at nang kaibigan nito ay hindi niya maiwasang mapasulyap sa mga labi nito. What he wouldn’t give to be kissed by those full, sensual lips again like she did the last time they were alone in his penthouse? Ipinamulsa niya ang mga kamay at matamang tumingin dito. ““I knew we were going to see each other again,”” nakangiting bati niya rito.

““Thank you for seeing me, Mr. Rivaldi. I’m here to discuss something with you. Saan tayo pwedeng mag-usap?””

He shrugged. ““My penthouse is empty. In fact, it’s been lonely since you left.””

Yanna just scoffed. ““Take a look at my left hand again, Mr. Rivaldi. Parang palagi mo yatang nakakalimutang may asawa na ako.””

““Hindi ko nakakalimutan. I just choose not to acknowledge it,”” pilyo niyang sagot.

Nang balingan ni Yanna ang katabi ay tila hindi nito inaasahan nang makita ang kaibigan na nakatulala sa kaniya. Ethan just chuckled silently. Sanay na siya sa ganoong reaksiyon ng mga babaeng nakikilala niya.

The stark difference between Yanna and all the other women he had ever come across with just made him all the more attracted to her. She obviously didn’t want to make a fool of herself for him. And like they say, the sweetest prey are the ones most difficult to catch.

““How are you?”” Walang permiso niyang inabot ang palad ng kasama ni Yanna. He gently kissed her knuckles and peered at her with his intense gaze.

Halos parang mahihimatay naman itong sumandal kay Yanna.

““Abby!”” Hinawakan at hinila ni Yanna ang braso ng kaibigan para itayo ito ng tuwid.

Ah, right, that’s her name.

““Oh my goodness, I didn’t know you are such a gentleman, Mr. Rivaldi,”” nahihiyang komento ni Abby sa kaniya.

He coyly smiled. ““As every man should be in the presence of a lady.””

Nag-ikot lamang ng mga mata si Yanna sa sinabi niya. ““Wala kaming balak aksayahin ang panahon mo, Mr. Rivaldi. Can we start talking about the matter I am here to tell you about?””

““Bakit ka naman nagmamadali, Miss Goncalves—””

““Mrs. Samonte,”” matigas na pagtatama nito sa kaniya.

Bahagya niyang iniyuko ang ulo. ““Right, sorry. Mrs. Samonte. Why don’t I give you a tour of the hotel first? You’re here in this lounge after all. Let the CEO himself treat you as a VIP.””

““No, thank—””

““We’d love to!”” Naputol ang sasabihin ni Yanna nang sumagot para dito ang kaibigan.

““Abigail!”” Saway ni Yanna kay Abby. Pinanlakihan nito ng mata ang kaibigan.

Lumawak ang ngiti sa mga labi ni Ethan. ““Great! It’s settled then.”” Binalingan niya si Byron. ““Make sure to have enough staff available to accommodate our guest.””

““Yes, sir.””

Inilahad ni Ethan ang kamay sa tapat ni Yanna nang hindi ito kumilos mula sa kinatatayuan nang magsimula silang maglakad papunta sa private elevator ng hotel.

““Should I carry you on my back, Mrs. Samonte?””

Napa-ingos lamang ito. ““That won’t be necessary.””

YANNA had been to several five star hotels all her life. At bawat lugar napuntahan niya tuwing nasa ibang bansa o out of town siya ay may kani-kaniyang charm at attraction na nagpapaganda at nagpapa-unique sa mga ito. Pero hindi niya inaasahan ang magiging experience sa The Dome Hotel. The luxury, convenience and relaxation that she found was something she had never experienced anywhere else. Kaya naman pala napaka-successful nito.

Hindi niya maintindihan kung bakit hindi siya gaanong pamilyar dito. This was also the first time that she has been in one kahit na napakarami rin nitong chain of hotels sa iba’t-ibang bansa.

Masyado lamang siguro siyang occupied sa ibang bagay tuwing umaalis siya ng bansa. At isa pa, hindi naman siya ang gumagawa ng hotel reservations niya kapag bumabyahe siya. Secretary ng mga magulang niya ang nag-hahandle niyon. At may private car naman kasing naghahatid sundo sa kaniya mula sa airport papunta sa hotel at sa mga lugar na pupuntahan niya kaya hindi na niya kailangan tandaaan ang address ng hotel na tinutuluyan. Kung hindi naman sa hotel ay sa property ng pamilya niya siya nagpupunta. Just what is expected of an heiress.

Una silang dinala ni Ethan sa isa sa presidential suites ng hotel. Ang assistant nitong si Byron ang nag-explain ng mga features ng suite na wala pa raw sa ibang hotel. Bukod sa mamahaling mga kagamitan sa kwarto na custom-ordered ng The Dome mula sa isang exclusive furniture distributor sa Japan, ay una rin daw silang may access sa mga bagong advancement sa smart technology. May sariling artificial assistant ang kwarto na nagsisilbing personal room servant ng bawat guest. Bawat request ng guest at ikino-connect nito sa receptionist area, and someone will swiftly attend to the guest kung kailangan nito ng assistant mula sa actual staff.

The security in the hotel is top notch, too. Surveillance cameras are installed all around the hotel for the safety of their guests and their brand guest register system ensures that only the paying guests will be inside the hotel premises. Naiiwasan nito ang pagkakaroon ng crashers at unexpected intruders. Mahipit din ang proseso ng pag-checheck sa mga luggage ng guests. Of course, the hotel has a way of doing it without disrespecting their client’s privacy. Mayroon silang sariling equipment na nag-ke-clear ng luggage ng mga guests ng hotel in under 30 seconds. At mas reliable pa sa airport security ang kalidad niyon.

Hindi maitago ni Abby ang pagkamangha matapos idetalye ni Byron ang features ng hotel. ““Wow, I could live here.””

Wala namang naikomento si Yanna. Nagpatuloy lamang siya sa pag-iikot ng tingin sa buong silid. There was a duvet by the bed that she was very interested in. Ipinaalala niya sa sariling magpahanap ng ganoong duvet kay Felice, and executive assistant ng mommy niya.

Napansin marahil ni Ethan na kanina pa siya nakatanaw sa kama dahil bigla na lamang itong lumapit sa kaniya. ““The hotel can accommodate you and your husband for a stay in the hotel, Mrs. Samonte. Anytime you like. Take advantage of all the amenities here. Everything will be free of charge.””

Kunot noong nilingon niya si Ethan. ““We can pay kung gusto man naming tumuloy dito.””

““I know, but I’d like you to help you with the problems you are experiencing in your marriage.”” Nagkibit-balikat ito. ““As a friend.””

Nahihiya niyang tinapunan ng tingin ang ibang mga kasama sa kwarto. ““Hindi ko alam ang sinasabi mo.””

Napatikhim si Byron. ““Let’s show you the pool area.””