The Billionaire's Rebound Wife

10

“What if I say yes? How much for a night, Miss Clemente?”

I froze and looked at him obliviously. I was expecting him to say that he’s just joking but he just stared at me with his usual cold and serious eyes as if he’s waiting for my answer.

I gulped, unable to answer him. Despite of nervousness, after a couple of seconds, I drew in a long breath to remain calm. Ibinalik ko ang tingin sa kaniya at tipid na ngumiti. “How much can you offer, then?” paghahamon ko pa.

He seems taken aback because of my question. Alam kong ang inaasahan niyang maging reaksiyon ko ay ang tumayo at lapitan siya, pagkatapos ay malakas siyang sasampalin dahil sa itinanong niya—but I am not like that.

“Are you serious?” tila nahihiwagaang tanong niya.

I leaned back on my chair, crossed my legs, and shot a brow up. “Do I look like I’m joking? I am not that cheap, Lieutenant Fontanilla. Bakit naman ako makikipag-s*x sa kung sino-sino lamang diyan nang libre? Mahirap na ang buhay ngayon—“

“So you’re admitting that you’re selling your body in exchange of money?” His brows arched an inch as he licked his lower lip. Matiim niya akong tiningnan na animo’y sinusuri kung anong magiging reaksiyon ko sa itinanong niya.

“May sinabi ba akong ginawa ko na?”

He clicked his tongue and reached out for his glass of liquor. “Then why are you so feisty now? The way you talk. . . it’s as if you already experienced such thing,” mahinang sagot niya.

I can’t help but to roll my eyes because of what he said. Paano ba ako magsalita? I am hella nervous now! Hindi ko lamang ipinapahalata sa kaniya dahil baka isipin niya, ako ang nagsimula pero ako rin ang aatras. Saka isa pa, ngayon lamang kami nagka-usap nang ganito. I haven’t talked to him like face to face and serious about ourselves.

“It’s for you to guess. Do I look like a slut to you, huh?” Walang pag-aalinlangan kong tanong sa kaniya.

From my direction, I saw how he stilled from his spot. Sa halip na uminom sa isinalin niyang alak, hindi niya iyon naituloy. He looked towards me. I secretly gulped when I met his menacing gaze but I shot a brow up to hide my nervousness and embarrassment.

After a couple of seconds, he scoffed. “I guess I don’t have the right to judge,” tanging sagot niya at muling nag-iwas ng tingin.

Hindi ko alam kung dapat bang makahinga ako nang maluwag dahil hindi niya sinabi o mainis dahil nga hindi niya sinabi? I want to know what he thinks of me!

I cleared my throat, still looking at him. “So do you still want me to testify against my father or. . . you’ll just give me money?” Walang hiyang tanong ko sa kaniya.

Marahas siyang lumingon sa gawi ko, bahagyang nakaawang ang mga labi. “Are you f-cking serious?”

For the umpteenth time, I rolled my eyes and groaned because of his response. “Ilang beses ko bang sasabihin na hindi ako nagloloko? Do I look like I’m joking? No, right?” Naiinis na tanong ko sa kaniya.

“There are a lot of men here,” he trailed off as he roamed his eyes around the place. Matapos makatingin sa paligid ay saka niya ibinalik ang tingin sa akin. His jaw clenched and clicked his tongue. “Why me?”

Hindi agad ako nakapagsalita. What am I supposed to answer him? My lips puckered while thinking of an answer but he cleared his throat and loose his necktie, interrupting my train of thoughts.

“Don’t f*****g try to seduce me, woman.” Katulad kanina ay hindi na naman maiwasang umarko ng isa kong kilay dahil sa sinabi niya. What did he just say? He looked away and sipped on his glass of liquor. Upon understanding what he said, I can’t help but to let out a soft chuckle. He scoffed. “Walang nakakatawa sa sinabi ko.”

Sa halip na pakinggan siya ay mas lalong lumapad ang ngiti sa aking mga laabi. I propped my chin on my palm, my elbow resting on my legs, as I leaned closer to him. “I am not doing anything, Lieutenant. Baka kapag may ginawa ako, hindi ka na makapagsalita pa,” walang takot na biro ko.

“Don’t test my patience, Miss Clemente,” banta niya.

I laughed, still looking at him. “Am I testing your patience? Really? Why? Are you considering my offer, huh?”

“Shut up,” inis na turan niya at muling lumagok sa alak niya.

Umayos ako ng pagkakaupo at muling nagsalin ng alak sa aking baso. A small yet evil smile crept on my lips while pouring the alcohol onto my shot glass. “Just admit it. Wala namang masama kung aamin ka na—“

“I have a girlfriend.”

Hindi pa man siya nakakabawi sa sinabi niya ay malakas na akong tumawa. I laughed like there’s no tomorrow while slapping my legs. Hindi ko alam kung ilang segundo akong tumawa ngunit nang makabawi ay naiiling akong tumingin sa gawi niya. “Pinatawad mo pa?” Natatawang tanong ko pa.

His brows drew in a straight line. The way he looks at me is much more serious than before as if he was offended by my question—dapat lang, ano.

“What are you talking about?”

Kinuha ko mula sa lamesa ang shot glass ko at deretsong ininom ang laman niyon. Nang makainom ay saka ako muling tumingin sa kaniya. “I can’t believe that you’re dumb. . . why would you take someone back in your life when in fact, she broke your trust? That’s just quite unbelievable and doesn’t sit right with me.”

Mas lalong nagdilim ang paningin niya. Nagkibit balikat naman ako at hindi pinansin ang mapanuya niyang tingin. I don’t know if I became fearless because of the alcohol or because I want to knock some sense on him. Mukhang wala siya sa tamang pag-iisip.

“Paano mo nalaman?” seryosong tanong niya.

A small smile etched on my lips as I lifted my shoulder in a half shrug. “I thought everyone already knows what happened. Sinekreto mo pa pala? Why? To protect someone who doesn’t deserve to be protected in the first place?”

Mas lalong lumalim ang gitla sa noo niya kaya’t taas noo ko siyang tiningnan. “Sabagay, mahirap nga naman na matalino ka na nga sa eskwelahan at magaling sa trabaho, pati ba naman sa pag-ibig, matalino ka pa rin? Life is really fair, huh? That’s great to know,” I added and casually leaned back on my chair.

“Saan mo nakuha ang impormasyon na ‘yan? Kinausap mo ba si Tito Damon—“

“Nah,” agad na sagot ko dahil ayaw kong madamay pa maging ang Tito niya na marahil ay kumportableng nagpapahinga ngayon sa bahay nila. “I just know a lot of things. I may not look like it but I am not easy to deal with, Lieutenant. Because behind these lips lies the darkest secret of anyone.”

I yawned and crossed my arms over my chest. Walang gana ko siyang tiningnan. “What? Hindi ka pa rin ba sasagot? The clock is ticking, Lieutenant,” naiinip na saad ko.

He scoffed and cleared his throat. “You’re just drunk.”

“Oh, really? I don’t think so. I can think properly as of the moment—“

“All right. Sabihin na natin na hindi ako ang pumunta rito at si Tito Damon ang pumunta. Are you going to do this too just because you want money?” Tila naiinis niyang tanong kaya’t muling umarko ang aking kilay dahil sa inis. Hanggang kailan ko ba sasabihin dito sa lalaking ‘to na hindi ko type ang Tito niya na may asawa na?

I chuckled. “Your uncle has a wife. Huwag mo akong itulad sa girlfriend mo, Lieutenant. I won’t be a mistress and I am not a cheater. Saka hindi rin naman counted na cheat ang ginagawa ko ngayon. . . you and your girlfriend already broke up, am I right?”

Hindi siya kaagad nakasagot sa tanong ko. Nakibit-balikat naman ako at tipid siyang nginitian. “If ever you’re thinking that I am a stalker, you’re already wrong. I lived in the same village as your ex-girlfriend. Brielle Clarkson, right? That’s her name?” tanong kong muli.

Sa halip na sagutin ako ay nag-iwas siya ng tingin at uminom ng alak. Napailing naman ako dahil doon. Why is he being loyal to someone who already cheat on her? Alam ko naman na hindi na sila nagkabalikan kaya puwede na niyang gawin ang mga gusto niya sa buhay.

I let out a harsh breath as I grumpily rose up from my seat. Agad naman siyang nag-angat ng tingin sa akin at kunot noo akong tiningnan. “Seems like you’re not interested with my offer so I think I gotta go. About my father’s case, mas mabuti siguro kung pag-usapan natin ang bagay na iyon kapag kasama mo na si Attorney Fontanilla at kung hindi na masama ang mood mo. I don’t want your emotions to overpower your decisions,” kalmadong smabit ko.

Hindi siya nagsalita kaya’t nagkibit-balikat ako at akmang lalagpasan na siya ngunit agad niyang hinuli ang aking palapulsuhan, dahilan kung bakit tumigil ako sa paglalakad. A small yet triumphant smile etched on my lips before looking towards him. “Is there any problem? May gusto ka pa bang pag-usapan?” patay-malisya kong tanong sa kaniya.

Malakas siyang bumuntong hininga. “How much for a night?”

My breathing ragged as my chest fell and rose with rapid breaths. Dahil sa kaba ay hindi agad ako nakasagot sa kaniya ngunit pagkatapos ng ilang minuto ay agad din akong nakabawi. I smiled sweetl towards him. “Saka na natin pag-usapan kapag tapos na. . . mayaman ka naman, hindi ba? Ang tanong, are you willing to spend your money on me o magpapakuripot ka lang din? I odn’t like cheap—“

“Is fifty thousand pesos enough?”

Agad na nanlaki ang aking mga mata at gulat na tumingin sa kaniya. “W-What?”

Hindi tulad kanina na umiiwas siya ng tingin sa tuwing tumitingin ako sa kaniya, ngayon naman ay walang takot niyang sinalubong ang aking mga mata. I can’t help but to gulp because of the intensity of his gaze. “Is that enough? Gusto mo bang dagdagan ko pa?” he added.

My jaw went slack. I thought. . .

“Is that for a night or—“

“A night,” mabilis na sagot niya kaya’t mas lalong nanlaki ang aking mga mata. “But I just want something in return.”

Agad na kumunot ang aking noo at taka siyang tiningnan. Tila may naghahabulang daga sa aking dibdib dahil sa lakas ng kabog niyon. Idagdag pa na hawak niya ang aking palapulsuhan at nakatitig siya sa akin. “W-What is it?” Kinakabahang tanong ko.

He drew in a long breath before looking at me with his emotionless eyes. “Can you get her out of my head?”

Hindi agad ako nakasagot. Malakas akong bumuntong hininga at nagbaba ng tingin. “Just for a night? I want to know your purpose first. Ano ang gusto mong mawala? Gusto mong mawala sa isip mo na nagtaksil siya. . . o gusto mong siya mismo, hindi mo na maisip?”

“The latter,” he answered as if he’s so sure of his choice. “I don’t want her on my mind anymore. C-Can you do. . . can you do something to replace her?”

I swallowed the lump on my throat, unable to answer him. Can I really do something to replace her on his mind? Ano namang gagawin ko? Maaari bang mangyari ‘yon? I mean, they were together for years! How can I do something to make him forget all of his memories with her? Can I. . . can I really replace her on his mind?

Even just for a night?

Malakas akong bumuntong hininga at humarap sa kaniya. I saw hwo his jaw clenched when he met my gaze. “Try me,” I said, almost a whisper, but enough for him to hear.

“Hmm?” he asked softly.

“Let me try to replace her tonight. And remember that I don’t want to just replace her, D-Dylan. I want to. . . to be better than her.”

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