GINA
She could almost see the whole Metro Manila when they reached the rooftop of the hotel. They were now at the elegant restaurant where Brando had brought her. She appreciates the place because of its romantic ambiance, but she would still prefer to escape that place.
"Gina?"
"Gina?"
Reluctantly, she faced Brando who seemed to be losing his appetite. When she sees Brando, it seems like he will soon lose his patience with her because of her lack of interest in the man in front of her.
"Gina, I'll give you everything you want, I'll put you in the mansion where you'll live like a princess, and I'll also give you unlimited access to my credit cards, if you'll just agree to be my wife."
She became uneasy by what Brando offered her, especially to be his wife. Yes, she wants to get married but not to the man she doesn't love. She looked at the waitresses who served because she could see herself in them, wondering how they also get tips from their customers. She doesn't get a big salary at the restaurant she works at, but somehow she is still thankful for the tips given to her. It also helps with her daily expenses. But even if she suffers, she will never get married just because of money.
"I don't usually make an offer so freely." Brando added. "You're exceptional in fact."
Was she supposed to feel flattered because there are so many women out there, but the famous businessman proposes to her?
Their food had been served before, but she didn't even manage to touch it. She really needs to tell Brando that she doesn't want to marry him. She was about to speak when she suddenly noticed the newly arrived woman she was familiar with, she's wearing an elegant red dress, capturing and holding everyone’s eyes. The woman sat at the table and she was behind at the woman's back, and as she can see, the woman was busy talking to her companion, so Gina wasn't so sure if she really knew that woman.
When the lady turned around, she was suddenly hopeful.
"Oh, hello dear! What a surprise to see you here."
She smiled as Maryam touched her shoulder and felt relieved for the first time that day.
"Hi Maryam," he greeted enthusiastically.
"Happy Valentines, Brando."
Brando stood to shake Maryam's hand. They exchanged pleasantries for a minute. Why is it that Brando didn't ask Maryam for a date? she thinks the two of them are better together.
"Gina, my dear, I'm going to the powder room, please come with me."
She quickly stood up in her seat, not giving Brando a second to stop her. She linked her arm through Maryam's and they walked quickly towards the restroom. When they reached the front of the restroom, she immediately pulled Maryam inside.
"Maryam, I have a big favor to ask you."
"What about?"
"Can you help me get out of here? It's a long story for me to explain to you now, and I also know that Brando will be mad at me, but I'm willing to risk sneaking out, even though I know what he can do to me."
"That's the right thing to do, my dear. In the river of life, he's a crocodile and you're a tadpole." Maryam said, in a meaningful statement.
Maryam took her iPhone from her purse and called someone.
"Hello there, Jalen. This is Maryam Velez..."
She was just listening to Maryam how she made arrangements just so she could get out of the sky-rise restaurant, then Maryam ended the call and put her phone back into the purse.
"It's all set, my dear. Jalen will be right outside the door."
"Thanks Maryam, I owe you this."
"It's a lesson learned for you, my dear. Just don't bite a man that you can't chew." Maryam told her.
"I didn't bite this one, Maryam." She replied. "I've never experienced this in my whole life. And honestly, I only consider Mr. Nicolas as one of our good and respectable customers. But, what I just don't expect is for him to do something against my will. So I'm afraid of what he might be going to do, Maryam. I know that by the time I get out of here he will be angry."
"I'm scared for you too, Gina. Trust me, this is not the man you're going to be involved with."
She frowned at what Maryam has said. "Maryam, I can't leave you here as long as Brando's here, he might suspect you're the one who helped me escape from him. I also don't want you to get hurt."
"Don't worry about me, my dear, I already knew how to deal with men like him," Maryam said.
"But, Mar--" Maryam interrupted her.
"Sshh..just follow me out."
She took a deep breath before following Maryam out of the restroom. During their conversation in the restroom, she expected that when they came out, Brando and his bodyguards were already waiting there. But when they come out, a tall man meets them whom she knows by the name Jalen, she hugs Maryam and she says goodbye. Jalen guided her through the kitchen and showed her an elevator.
"Ma'am, that's our service elevator." Jalen told her.
"Thank You, Jalen"
Jalen nodded in response.
She was about to press the button on the elevator when it suddenly opened.
"Hi Alice! How was your adventure in wonderland?"
"Ace! How are you--, what are you doing here?" she asked the man.
"That's what I'm trying to ask you." Ace replied.
"Don't start Ace, because I'm not in the mood right now." She said irritably.
She entered the elevator and pressed the button for the ground floor, but it did not work so she pressed it several times. "Oh come on! Come on!" She said irritably.
"Just calm down, Gina, you're ruining it even more. By the way, aren't you carrying a coat or even a blazer? It looks like you're wearing something cold."
"I left it at home, why? Do you have a problem with what I'm wearing?" she glared at Ace. "Be honest with me Ace, are you following me? It's impossible that it's just a coincidence that you're here, too."
"Please be patient. I'll tell you later."
Her whole body was shaking now, not from the cold but from fear. After a moment, she just felt Ace wrapping his leather jacket around her. It gives her warmth and comfort plus his addictive scent.
"Thank you." She said shyly because in fact she's really cold wearing a backless dress.
She was very grateful when the elevator function again, and at the same time she and Ace rode the elevator down to the ground floor.
They are now walking towards Ace's car without talking to each other.
*****