Ruled by the Blaze (The Unwanted Marriage)

Callum's POV (Meeting with Patricia)This belongs to NôvelDrama.Org.

"Sir, may meeting po kayo mamayang 11 a. m"

Isang tango lang ang sagot ko kay sharlene, secretary ko bago tuluyang pumasok sa office.

I just sat in front of my table when I received a text message from mommy. She says that I need to pick up Patricia at their house and bring her here at the company since she's my wife now. I need to make her understand how I deal with the business industries.

I massaged my temple with so much stress. My secretary entered the office and was holding folders.

"Do I have errands before 9 a. m?" I asked before I glanced at my watch.

"Wala, sir. Pipirmahan niyo lang po ang mga ito" she laid the folders in front of me. "Kailangan na rin po ito before 8"

It's only seven o'clock now so I can still pick up Patricia. My secretary left and I immediately signed the folders and papers.

"It's already signed. I'll be back at before 9" I told my secretary on the call.

Umalis agad ako at nag drive papunta sa bahay ng mga Clemente. I haven't been to their house yet but I can find it using online map. Hindi ako nahirapan sa paghahanap ng bahay nila at nakarating agad ako sa malaking bahay na may itim na gate.

Sinalubong ako ni Mrs. Clemente at agad pinaupo.

"What drink do you want? Coffee?" she suggested. Umiling ako. "I'm full, madam"

"Ano ka ba! You can call me tita!"

She laughed so I just smiled.. awkwardly. Hindi parin ako komportable na kausap sila pero masasabi kong mabait naman sila at magaan kausap.

"Wala rito ang asawa ko, nasa trabaho. Hintayin mo na lang si Patricia. Nag-aayos pa kasi siya pero pababa na rin 'yon!"

Tumango ako bago siya umalis. She seems energetic unlike her daughter huh?

Naiwan akong tahimik sa sala nila. Ilang minuto pa ang hinintay ko pero hindi parin bumababa si Patricia. Napailing na lang ako sa pagkainip. Is it really this long for her to fix herself?

To reduce my impatience, I stood up because the certificates displayed on the wall of their living room caught my attention. I approached to take a closer look at it. Almost all certificates are belong to Patrica. It was from the beauty pageants she participated in and her academic certificates from grade school to college.

My eyebrows rose and couldn't hide my amazement. So she really undoubtedly beauty and brain.

No doubt that Raven also like her.

Napunta naman ang tingin ko sa isang wide table kung nasaan ang mga picture frame. There's a picture of Patricia during her pageants, she's even wearing a sexy two piece, a sash and crown. Some was her other pictures when she was young with her brother.

I swallowed and couldn't take my eyes off her pictures.

Nang makarinig ako ng yabag pababa sa hagdan ay mabilis akong bumalik sa puwesto kanina and act as if nothing happened. Lumingon ako sa may hagdan at nakitang bumababa si Patricia habang nakasuot ng puting dress. Bumagal ang pag hakbang niya ng makita ako.

"Let's go?" sabi ko bago tumalikod at naunang lumabas.

Nang makasakay siya sa sasakyan ko ay wala akong mabasa na emosyon sa mukha niya. Blangko lamang ito. Tahimik kami buong biyahe just like the usual. Hindi ko na rin sinubukan mag salita dahil wala rin naman akong sasabihin. Nakarating kami sa company at halos mabali ang leeg ng mga empleyado sa pag lingon sakin at sa kanya. Lumingon ako kay Patricia na nakasunod sa likuran ko, nakayuko siya at tila hindi komportable sa mga titig at bulungan ng mga empleyado.

I took her hand and accompanied her as I walked. I could see how her eyes widened in shock but I ignored that. I looked at the employees and they stop whispering and went back to what they were doing.

Dire-diretso kami sa office ko at dun ko lang binitawan ang kamay niya.

"I'm sorry about the people outside.." paumanhin ko.

Pinaupo ko siya sa mahabang sofa. Bumalik ako sa table ko at agad din tumayo dahil sa tuliro. Now that she's here.. what will she do? Watch me while working? Damn, that's awkward!

It's mom's silly plan and I am now the one she's pressuring. Paano kung ayaw ni Patricia na sumama rito? What if she gets bored?

"Uh.. are you hungry?"

Napapikit ako sa tanong ko. That's really a dumb question.

"N-No, busog ako" aniya habang nakayuko.

She's shy I guess. I just sat in my swivel chair and reviewed the documents relevant for my meeting later. Patrcia was also silent but I can see her pressing on her phone. I can already feel the awkwardness in my office when her phone suddenly rang.

Nagkatinginan pa kami bago siya nag-iwas na para bang nahihiya.

"Hello?" I heard her answered the call.

I was back with the folders but my ear is waiting for her words.

"Nandito ako sa.. office. Oo, mamaya na lang Jess"

She immediately ended the call. Hours pass by and my secretary entered my office again.

"Sir, hinahanap na kayo sa meeting room-" she stopped talking when she saw Patricia sitting on the sofa, Patricia's reaction was the same, she bowed her head and seems embarass.

My secretary's shock face eventually change into a sweet smile.

"They're waiting for you, sir" aniya bago muling sumulyap kay Patricia at tuluyang lumabas.

I stand up nand walked closer to Patricia. I cleared my throat. "I have a meeting, do you want to come?"

She seemed stunned. "Ah, I'll just wait here"

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"You'll just be bored here" I said, encouraging her.

Umiling siya bago umiwas ng tingin. Takot ba siya sakin? O sa ibang tao? Or maybe she's afraid that people here in the company will found out that we're already married since no one else knows because it's too private? Yeah, I respect what she wants so I left the office and went to the meeting room.

"Mr. Velasquez! Nice to see you again"

I was greeted by the smile and handshakes of our business partners when I entered the room. I sat in the center of the table and the meeting began.

Lumilipad ang isip ko at halos wala akong maintindihan sa mga sinasabi nilang suggestions tungkol sa panibago naming project. Their other suggestions are common so I objected to that. I noticed that our meeting had been going on for almost an hour and it's also lunch time. I thought of Patricia, maybe she's hungry so I texted my secretary to order food and bring it to my office for Patricia to eat.

I calmed down and continued listening to the meeting. When they almost had finished speaking, I stood up while resting my both arms on the table. "For me, all your suggestions were good but it will also be better if I could see the outline of your plan"

My eyes narrowed when I saw that almost all of them were looking in my hands. I was confused so I also looked at my own hand and realized that my wedding ring was exposed.

I faked a cough and their attention returned to what I was saying.

"I will also present the idea I developed at the next meeting. Thank you"

Tumalikod ako at dire-diretsong lumabas at saka lamang nakahinga ng maluwag. Ang tagal ng meeting na 'yon. Tumingin muli ako sa oras at nakitang halos alas tres na ng hapon. Damn, Patricia waited for me for so long. Pagkabukas ko pa lang ng pinto ng office ay hinanap ko agad siya.

"I took so long-" I stop when I saw Patricia sleeping peacefully.

I feel like I'm having a hard time with her situation right now. She was just sitting asleep and her neck was bent and leaning on the side of the sofa, her neck might be numb so I took one of my small pillows and put it on her head, it's good she didn't wake up.

I looked up at the table where the food I had ordered earlier was placed. I saw an empty plate so I bet she ate. I looked at her angelic face again.

I wonder why she hasn't had a boyfriend, with this beautiful face of her? O baka naman maarte siya at maldita? I won't be surprised because I haven't experienced receiving a smile from her.