Allie gave him a puzzled look but she never dared to ask. It's clearly a confidential matter but perhaps because of his anger for destroying his family as he said, he couldn't help himself but blurt it out at times.
How did that woman destroyed his family?
She ate silently as Hayri got occupied with something in his phone. The food tasted so good and the energizing aroma of the brewed coffee blended it so well. She looked up absentmindedly just as Hayri ran his eyes on her. Their gazed locked up for a moment which momentarily made Allie clumsy but he hurriedly stood up and leave the room. She wondered if she had offended him but when he was back, he already brought with him a glass and a pitcher of cold water.
"Sorry, I forgot your water. " He said as he poured down the water on a pitcher into her glass.
"Here, take this. "
Allie got overwhelmed and she suddenly ran short of words. Who was Hayri in this company? Was he a new employee Mr. Gregorio hired? "
"Hayri, I'm already so ashamed. Thank you so much. " She gave him a pursed and shy smile as she forced herself to look up at him.
"Women should be loved and taken care of according to dad and uncle. I'll be taking care of you because you are the only lady out of the hundred employees here except the housekeepers. "
"Thank you," was all Allie could say.
Soon, Mr. Gregorio came in and gestured for them to come out. They walked together to the parking lot beside their office building. As she was about to open her car, Mr. Gregorio called out for her to join them in their car.
As she was walking back towards them, Hayri held out the door for her before he sat down beside her as Mr. Gregorio settled himself beside the driver. She was already becoming uncomfortable that Hayri was indeed taking the role of a gentleman for her.
Once in the registrar's office, Mr. Gregorio saw to it that they had the same schedule and course that would start in the afternoon.
"Hayri, what's the course you were taking prior to this? " Allie had been wondering about it eversince they started picking up the prospectus.
"Business, going fourth year. "
So, he was already a graduating student!
"Why are you shifting? "
Hayri glanced at her sideways before he answered.
"Because dad wants me to also understand the business. I will be continuing my business subjects in the morning. "
His dad wanted him to understand the business? What was their business? Was it also related to ship
building?
As the three of them went to the cashier, Allie prepared the amount enough for the enrollment and miscellaneous fee. Though she had an access to Ajie's money, she made sure that she wouldn't be touching it unless it would be for business transactions.
"Give me the sum of the whole year's
payment, miss. " She heard Mr. Gregorio spoke to the teller as she stood in queue after him. Hayri was just sitting down on the bench and played with his phone.
"Here, sir. " The teller handed him the statement and in return, Mr. Gregorio also handed her his card.
Was the company paying for Hayri? Her curiousity of who Hayri was intensified most especially that he called Mr. Gregorio as his uncle.Perhaps, he was his nephew.
After the teller handed Mr. Gregorio the receipt, he moved away and Allie walked forward to the front.
"Missy, let's go. " Mr. Gregorio said as he gently pulled her shoulder with his hand.
"For a while, sir. I have to pay first. "
"I have paid both of your whole year's tuition fee already. "
"What? " Her eyes widened in disbelief as she stared at him to see if he was indeed sincere or not.
"Yes. Hayri's dad offered to pay your tuition as long as you will give him a good grade. But under two conditions..."
"I'm already afraid, sir. " She said as she hadn't still got over with the surprise.
"Once you will have a failing grade, you will have to pay him twice the amount. Second, you will have to move out from your current boarding house and stay in the office with Hayri. The whole top floor is Hayri's residence. I have my room there and there is also another one assigned for you. I am always out of the country so I and his dad don't want him to be alone. "
Allie breathed out heavily. She thought it was something too difficult to do.
"No problem, sir. "
Their next stop was in a huge grocery store. Allie now understood why Hayri said they only had eggs and beef tapa and that they need to drop by in a grocery. Hayri picked up the foods he liked while Allie focused on the spices, fruits and vegetables.
On their way back to the office, they picked up her things and Allie officially moved into her new home.While Hayri pulled in then luggages into her room just beside his room, the housekeepers picked up their grocery bags and placed it neatly on the cupboards.
Allie looked around her room. It was beautifully designed like a hotel's suite room. Her floor - to - ceiling window across her king - sized bed, gave her a full view of the shipyard. The view would be her daily reminder of her new dream. She also had a small, fully - furnished living room with expensive sets of appliances and furnitures like its private home theatre. The 4o - inch - TV set with diamonds studs across its sleek, black frame, looked like a jewelry box attached to the wall.
In one corner was a computer set of latest model and in other corners were a bookshelf, a study table and a coffee table.
Allie's tears dropped in seeing this display of elegance. Having grown up in the swamp area of Kamelyo, she didn't deserve to enjoy this alone. She could have been happier if she's with her daughter, her husband and her parents. They were her only treasure, her only reason why she chose to run away. As for Ajie's dishonesty, she could always forgive him if only he would admit it.
She could always go back to him if he could wait, if he wouldn't marry Dr. Jane instead. If he would file for a marriage annulment, the process would take faster because she would have no court appearance.
It was already five in the afternoon when she finished her rearrangement inside her room. She hurriedly went out to the kitchen and prepared for their dinner. She was good in bringing out the taste of her dishes, only that she needed to learn more about cooking. Back then, she always loved to cook but their financial constraints in buying ingredients hindered her progress. Now that Hayri seemed to have no problem in buying it, she could also be the best cook she wanted herself to be.
She knocked at Hayri's door after having prepared their dinner. He was on an ear set when he opened it up and he gestured that he would still be into it for a while. She nodded but instantly froze when she heard him shouting orders into the other line.
"Of course, all the computers in the office and all the files were burned. So go to all universities the company was offering the scholarship program before and look for the name Allyza! "