CHAPTER 70 Choose Him
AFTER EATING, THE group decided to do a movie marathon in the living room. I just quietly sat while waiting for Lawrence, who’s talking to his father on the veranda. A few moments later, I sat up when I felt he sat next to me.
“Dad’s gone,” he said casually before hugging me.
Only then did I breathe properly because of what he said. I leaned on his shoulder and hugged my arms around his body.
“How’s Clarence?”
“He slept in his room before I got off here,” I answered.
“I’m sorry about Dad.” He lowered his head to look at me evenly. The same feeling hits me big time. It is even worse now because I gradually feel that it has a good destination.
“It’s okay. I know he doesn’t like me.” My heart twisted a bit. Until now, the effects of what happened earlier still weigh heavily on me.
I felt him grabbed my hand. He played it for a while and finally folded our fingers.
“We talked earlier. You have nothing to worry about Dad,” he said gently.
Eventually, I calmed down and enjoyed the TV show.
But we were awakened for a moment when Elliesse suddenly sat down next to her as if she had not seen me. Then she suddenly pulled Lawrence’s arm to hug her.
My lips pursed tightly. Gradually I felt the warmth of my two cheeks.
“Elliesse, why don’t you go home with dad? You have nothing to do here!” Franco told her with the lace of sarcasm.
Elliesse didn’t reply. She just hugged Lawrence’s arm even more as if no one knew about it.
I tried to pull my hand away from him, but he held it tightly. Lawrence awkwardly moved away to Elliesse and pulled his arms completely.
Until Cindy broke her silence and confronted us while we were waiting, her eyes were blazing with fire, and I knew it was about to explode.
“If you take a picture today, your picture will definitely be good. And the title of your picture will be . . . the wife and the mistress,” she said sarcastically. She even gestured with her hand in the air while tracing a crazy smile.
I shut my eyes in exasperation. Damn it! I violently withdrew my hand from Lawrence, whom he had consciously given.
“So who will be the mistress, then?” Elliesse boldly asked Cindy with a raised eyebrow. “Because probably, not me,” she added in a nasty tone.
Cindy burst out laughing; a burst of great booming laughter rolled from her mouth. But her seriousness returned when she spoke again.
“You are the mistress because you’re a joke,” she said while hitching a brow at her.
I felt a blockage in Lawrence’s throat, which made him feel uncomfortable in the conversation.
“Who do you think your wife to be, then?” Jocko sighed as he sat up and then hugged the pillow in front of us. Jocko’s teasing of Lawrence was evident in his smile.
“Who will you choose?” Franco said in a low, rumble voice. He leaned against the jamb of the elegant staircase while examining his stares.
Instead of answering, Lawrence turned his gaze to me. I was immediately nervous. His eyes looked more serious than ever. I can clearly see the tightening of his jaw.
He then finally stood up in front of me. I quickly glanced at Franco and his comrades, who seemed to have no idea what was going on.
“Lawrence, what are you doing?” I asked him with my shaky voice.
Elliesse immediately got up from her seat. “What?! Are you crazy? You can’t do this to me, Rence! I’m your fiancée!” she hysterically said.
But he did not listen to Elliesse.
He finally knelt in front of me. My breath was ripped from my lungs. My heart erratically thumped as I stare into his deep-set eyes.
“I think this is the right moment to propose to you, Margaux, officially,” he started. He grabbed my left hand and caressed the ring I was wearing.
I shook my head and held back the tears that want to get out of my eyes.
“I have nothing but confidence with you and very little of that . . .” His lips settled into a sly smirk.
“We grew up in separate worlds, but the only world I want to live in is the one where we can be together.”
My red cheeks rose, uncontrollably inhaling and covering my mouth due to suddenness.
“Will you marry me, Margaux?”
I heard Julia and Samantha’s screams that were obviously shaking. Cindy raised an eyebrow but eventually smiled as well.
I said nothing. Peal-shaped tears were rapidly streaming down my face, and I started to whimper. I tried to hide my tears beneath the blanket of my hair. I want to speak, but it’s as though something is choking me.
“Will you just stop it, Lawrence!” Elliesse stopped him.
“Can you stop being so insecure and pathetic, Elliesse? You can leave here freely!” Cindy said to Elliesse.
His hand slowly reached for my face and swept my tears away. I took a deep breath and filled my heart with courage before facing him.
“I’d choose you in a million lifetime and choose you over anything in this world, and I will still choose you because . . . I love you. And yes, I will marry you!” I answered.
***
IT’S BEEN A week since Lawrence and I became engaged. Our relationship has been very smooth. Even though Mom and Dad were surprised by what they heard, it is also not surprising that they were happy for us.
A lot of good things were happening in my life. I am the new president of Collins Hotel. Lawrence and I were planning our wedding first. Since our encounter with San Felipe, I have not spoken to his dad again. Perhaps someone already knows this in the course of the relationship we have with Lawrence today.
Even though we are busy running the hotel and holding regular meetings with investors, Lawrence and I still do not forget to meet after office hours. And he never failed to surprise me with some gifts and a bouquet of roses every day.
“You have a meeting today with Mr. Sarmiento at 10 o’clock in the morning for the upcoming event of their product at the main function hotel, then a closed-door meeting with Mr. Talameda at 1 pm, as usual for the renewals of their partnership with Collin’s hotel.”
“And lastly, meeting with—” she paused and turned her gaze at me. “Meeting with Mr. Saavedra?” Karen asked with her furrowed brows. “Samuel Saavedra, am I right, Margaux?”
My quiet heart pounded quickly. “You didn’t inform me that I had a meeting with . . . him today?”
“I’m sorry, Margaux, I thought it was Lawrence. I already told you about this yesterday.” She seemed nervous as she explained because the gap between the older Saavedra and us was not hidden to her.
I sighed before speaking. “Alright, what time again?”
“It’s 4:00 pm at the Luxury estate hotel,” she answered smoothly.
“Alright, please make me some coffee.” I thought before I spoke again. “Uh, pineapple juice is much better, please,” I said while rubbing my forehead. I feel like my blood pressure has increased with what I heard.